Soy (chicken breast style)

Cook soy (chicken-style) "chickenless breasts" in a frying pan with 1 tbsp of vegetable oil and 1/2 cup of chicken-style vegetable stock per breast until most of stock is absorbed.

Serve with grilled peppers, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and salad for a summery meal or serve with mashed potatoes, green beans and broccoli & cauliflower with homemade cheese sauce for more of a wintery meal.

Cheese & Veggie Pies

Bake puff pastry mini shells according to puff pastry package directions.

Mash together cooked potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots etc as well as Homemade Cheese Sauce and fill puff pastry mini shells with mixture.

Spoon more cheese sauce over top upon serving.

Serve with crusty bread and and a garden salad!

Potato Pancakes

Perfect for breakfast or as a side dish!

Potato Pancakes

INGREDIENTS

8 medium red potatoes, with peel, shredded

1 large sweet onion, minced

3 eggs, lightly beaten

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, mix the red potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, baking powder, rosemary, salt, pepper, and lime juice.

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Scoop about 2/3 cup at a time of the potato mixture into the skillet, and press down with a spatula into a pancake shape. Cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining potato mixture.

Use Gluten Free all purpose flour to make this GF!

Ice Cream Pie

• Start with store-bought pie crust, graham cracker style or cookie is always good
• Scoop the ice cream into the crust (hint.... if you choose a chocolate cookie crust, try cookies & cream ice cream!)
  
• Top with store-bought whip cream.

How easy is that?!!

Pound Cake with Honey & Rosemary

1 Pound Cake from the local grocery store

4 oranges with the pith removed

Combine the orange segments with 2 tablespoons honey

Spoon the oranges over the pound cake slices

Pizza Bites Bar

This idea came from watching Regis & Kelly when they had someone on from Real Simple Magazine. I'm just posting a veggie version of it here....

Order a large cheese pizza from your local pizza parlor and ask them not to slice it. Then, using a cookie cutter (a cirlce shape is easiest to use, but you can use a maple leaf for Canada Day etc etc) cut out pieces of the pizza. Place on a platter that can go from oven to table when you're ready serve. Next, make a "Toppings Platter" with olives, grated cheeses, herbs, colourful peppers chopped very small... whatever you think your guests will enjoy. When it's time to serve, just heat the pizza in a 400 degrees oven for about 5 minutes or until they are warm to the touch and serve!

RIP Michael Jackson

The King of Pop, music icon and childhood favourite of mine. I remember my sister having a Michael Jackson Thriller poster on her wall when we were little but she had to have it taken down because the eyes frightened her! Otherwise, she was obsessed with MJ. She had a sparkly glove that she wore, an MJ doll (but my cousin lost the glove & Lindsay never really got over that) and she really wanted a red leather jacket like him. I practiced the moon walk so often I thought I had mastered it and I had pins and buttons up and down all my bags. We would get together with David, Paul & Ashley and have concerts but we ALL wanted to be Michael. Oddly enough it worked! This is a sad day. RIP MJ.

Happy Father's Day 2009, Chris!

I know my opinion is biased, but I really do think I have the cutest boys and the greatest husband of all. Hope your Father's Day is as wonderful as you are, Chris!

I'm "Almost" Ready For Bed

Me: (from downstairs while he is upstairs) Callum, do have your pj's on yet?

Callum: Almost.

Me: What does "almost" mean? Do you have your pj's on yet or not? 

Callum: Yes, I just need to put on my shirt.

Me: Good. Ok. I guess you are "almost" ready then.

Callum: Yes. I told you. I just need to put on my shirt. (pause) Then I'll put my pajama pants on and I'll be ready. Right now I'm almost ready like I told you. 

Flowers for Aly

Read about Aly, Tracey's daughter in Connie Smith's blog about sick kids.