Food & Drink

Herb roasted corn on the cob

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Grilled patty pan squash

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Save our fruits and veggies!

She says: I know I am going to sound like a nostalgic old fart this week, but if you will indulge me a little, I think I can bring you around to a pertinent point that requires everyone’s attention, even that of the “young farts”… Last weekend we sat down for brea

Grilled vegetable pasta salad

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Summer strawberry pepper salad

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Asian coleslaw

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I am...Happy

In recent years we seem to have transcended the stereotype that paints Canadians as almost-like Americans but with a colder climate and a funny accent, thanks in no small part to those beer ads that advertise all the passions Canadians have. All the wonderful pastimes we enjoy are certainly part

A salad by any other name...

As summer gets closer I am encouraged to see the garden grow, and know that soon we will have our own veggies from the garden. Salad is a staple at our house during the warm season, and I love being able to gather the ingredients from the back yard. I remember as a kid that the usual salad was wi

Breakfast: best way to start the day

I am a firm believer that having breakfast does wonders for starting your day in the right direction. Perhaps my conviction is in part due to the fact that my father was quite insistent about breakfast for the kids in the house – I remember him saying he didn’t care if I was late for

Salt of the earth

She says:   I was reminded recently while talking at the water cooler that the simplest things in life can often be the most important. I am not talking of saving the world with a new message for peace; I am speaking of seasoning your food with salt. (Okay, pepper is good too.) Please ke

Official kitchen wisdom & other tidbits

She says: I saw a news piece this week that spoke on the topic of urban myths, or what used to be called “old wives’ tales”. They were debunking all those things your mother told you when you were a kid - to get you to eat your veggies or brush your teeth. They were the kind

Pad Thai

Ingredients: 1 chicken breast, julienned (you could also use prawn, shrimp or tofu) 1 large carrot, julienned 1 small onion, julienned 1 handful bean sprouts 1 cup spinach, julienned 1 egg, scrambled 1/3 package of Glass rice noodles (a.k.a. Rice sticks

As time goes by...at the dinner table

Photo: Contributed This weekend Martin and I will be attending my stepdaughter’s High School Commencement. To think that “the first day of the rest of her life” is here already, when I can remember her as a little girl in preschool, is a daunting memory. I

Canadian summer

Photo: Contributed In Canada, we pride ourselves on our climatic toughness. We like to trade stories of the worst winters and compare the endurance we have against those from other cities. Did you know the corner of Portage and Main in Winnipeg is the windiest street corner

Enrico Pinot Grigio 2010

          ENRICO WINERY Pinot Grigio 2010, Vancouver Island, BC $17 The pinot gris grapes are estate grown. Pale straw in colour and the nose has gentle aromas of pear, flowers, honey and a subtle minerality. The wine has

Moobery Raspberry NV

        MOOBERY WINERY Raspberry NV, Vancouver Island, BC  $19 Morningstar Farm in Parksville is home to MooBerry Winery and Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. This bright translucent red, light bodied fruit wine captures the essence

Enrico Syrah 2008

        ENRICO WINERY Syrah 2008, Vancouver Island, BC  $19.50 Although Enrico Winery is located near Mill Bay on southern Vancouver Island, the syrah grapes were grown in the sunny Okanagan Valley. The wine is medium-bodied wit

Merridale Somerset Cider 2006

      MERRIDALE ESTATE CIDERY Somerset Cider 2006, Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island, BC $20 A selection of ten different cider-apple varieties are grown to produce these exceptional ciders. They include Tremlett’s Bitter, Hauxapfel and Mic

Averill Creek Pinot Noir 2008

        AVERILL CREEK VINEYARD Pinot Noir 2008, Vancouver Island,BC $26 Situated in the Cowichan Valley the nose of this estate grown pinot is brimming with cherries, leather, violets, smoky charcoal, and stewed prunes. The colour

Road 13 Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2008

  Photo: Contributed     ROAD 13 VINEYARDS Sparkling Chenin Blank 2008, Okanagan Valley, BC $35 This lively bottle of fermented sparkling wine made in the traditional French champagne method is indeed a celebration in a bottle and perfect for