Food Addict

Hello Friends!! Long time no blog!  Sometimes it seems life passes in the blink of an eye.  The weekly routine repeats and repeats and suddenly it's June! I haven't been that creative in the kitchen as of late.  Lot's of basic cooking going on. Veggie Burgers, salads, wraps and soup.  It's the soup that seems to have been the big winner around here. A Minestrone Soup recipe I found online. Soooo delicious and thick.  It really is a nice 'summerish' soup...great with some crusty bread.  Give it a try and let me know your thoughts.  I`ve included my substitutions below. That's all I've got today....until next time! Toby Minestrone Soup ~ http://www.allrecipes.com/ Ingredients 4 cups vegetable stock 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes 1 large potato, cubed (I used a sweet potato) 1 onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 1 large head cabbage, finely chopped (I used a bag of coleslaw) 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

Hello Friends! I always say that it's the little things in life that excite me the most.  Right now, I'm loving that my favourite 'veggie meat' has new varieties!  Yippee!!! I love Gardein because they use minimal soy product and lots of veggies!!  The Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers are delicious...spicy with a crispy crust.  I cooked them, cut them and put them on a salad.  These would also make a great 'chicken burger' alternative...guacamole, salsa...mmmmm! I haven't tried the Beefless Burgers yet...but knowing Gardein they will be tasty!!!  Can't wait for a BBQ this weekend. Here's something else I found... Polenta has intrigued me for a while now.  This looked good, but I don't know what to do with it.  I've read recipes but I'm looking for something tried and true.  Anyone?? Also today, I have a message for the Quail that seem to be drunk on berries right now.  It doesn't matter what road I'm driving on, t

Hello friends. I have something I need to get off my chest.  For years, I have been intimidated by curry.  I don't know a Vindaloo from a Tikka Masala.  What I do know is that I always enjoy an authentic Indian meal, I just want to be able to cook one myself! Last night a friend put on a fantastic Indian spread...butter chicken (none for me!)  a delicious vegetable curry and a chick pea curry.  There was of course naan bread and basmati rice.  Delicious.  Today I was inspired...I entered the grocery store without a list or any concrete plan.  I just knew I wanted a curry dish, I knew what I wanted in it and how it should look and taste.  Brave I know...but this story has a happy ending. I grabbed all my vegetables first.  Onion, garlic, red pepper, cauliflower, potato and peas.  I moved on to organic chick peas, light coconut milk and brown basmati rice.  A great base...but then the curry conundrum.  I approached the Asian Foods section with much trepidation.  I know, I know 

Hello Friends! 2011 has been a year of appreciation for me.  My focus is on the good things in my life.  My family, my friends, my health, my store.  I even include material things that bring me enjoyment like my pool and my seven year old SUV that gets me where I need to go.  No keeping up with the Jones's...I am sitting back and relishing in all the wonderous creations already here for me. It's been going pretty well...but I have to say this week, something is different.  It always happens to me in the spring.  The weather gets warmer, the sun shines and my attention wanders.  A shiny new car maybe?  A bigger, better house, or some upgrades in the one we have.  Paint, carpet, countertops...heck let's re-do the kitchen.  What is with this? I made a conscious decision before my feet hit the carpet this morning.  I was going to really set my focus on appreciation today...I mean really focus again on being completely happy with everything I already have.  So why then, j

Hello Friends! It's been a few days since I've posted.  The truth is my meals have been pretty standard lately...although I did make a killer, last minute Indian Dahl last night. NOT ACTUALLY MINE ~ LOOKED LIKE THIS THOUGH, SANS THE GARNISH!   Just threw in various ingredients...I was craving lentils!!  I know, I know, CRAVING LENTILS...LAME!!!  Lame is a kind word for what my kids thought of the meal.  It makes me giggle to think about it now actually. They tasted it...gagged, Ava spit her's in the garbage.  Nice!  Did I really think they would eat it though...lentils, veggies, curry, coconut milk?  I just was not in the mood for 'short order cooking' last night...so there was one meal on the menu...imagine that!!  They apologized for 'dissing' my stew then made themselves peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Curtis and I enjoyed our Dahl.  (He had a second helping!) Ava kept hugging me through the evening, asking if I was sad that she didn't like

Hello Friends, You may or may not know that I love, love, love animals.  Some of my happiest moments are when I'm at home with one dog on either side nudging me for attention. Sadie & Bella I treat my pets like children, I believe they have emotions that they may or may not actually have, but most of all I love how much they love me!  I am a collector of things to love and that will love me in return.  With that said...meet the newest addition to my collection! Archie  This is Archie!  He's a cockatiel and he's lovely!  Curtis and I had a cockatiel 12 years ago, before we had any children or other pets.  His name was Charlie.  He loved a morning shower and blow dry.  He ate food right off of Curtis's plate and whistled at himself in the mirror all day long.  Charlie was pure entertainment...so Archie has some pretty big shoes to fill! Within a few minutes of bringing him home last night, he was stepping up on my finger and letting the kids cart him aro

Good morning! I got back on the golf course last night!  It was fantastic.  Like many other mothers, my days of golfing were diminshed with the arrival of children.  Who has time to spend four (+) hours on a golf course with babies and toddlers at home??  Not I, if you do...congratulations! Anyway, for the last 10 years I've golfed 18 holes about once a season.  My daughters are 10 and eight now, so this is the year it changes.  My friend Sheri has put together a golf group...girls, mostly mom's, who are ready to reclaim their time on the tee box!  (and in the sand and in the water and in the rough...)  We will play once a week at various courses around the Okanagan.  I can tell you it was quite a switch for my husband and I last night.  He taking the kids home to make dinner while I headed to the golf course.  FUN! I hit some great shots and some not so great shots...but finally I feel like this will be the year for actual improvement.  Perhaps even better then that, i

Good morning. I have been missing eggs lately.  I was the 'Egg White Queen' before I changed my diet.  I would scramble them up every morning with garlic, spinach and feta...mmmm!   These days, I find myself craving egg salad sandwiches...fresh bread, pickles, sprouts, mayo...SNAP...back to reality.  This path of restriction that I have chosen has come relatively easy so I knew there had to be a solution...something to fill the 'egg salad' void.  Here it is....it's tofu based and comes with a great review from me (obvs) but also my neighbour who tells it like it is.  She actually said that if I hadn't told her it was 'eggless' she probably wouldn't have known!  Nice! Start with tofu...organic, firm and pressed! I chop it into chunks and then mash with a fork.  It works best with a pastry blender...but I broke mine...dang firm tofu! OK here it is mashed!  Now add whatever you like!  Green onion, pickles, celery, peppers, seasoning, dijon an