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Werther’s Share Your Reaction Contest

Okay party people here’s the scoop. If you’ve got:

1. A love for all things chocolate
2. A desire to win a slew of electronic gadgets
3. A webcam, smartphone or any way to record yourself…

Then you simply MUST check out this contest. From our friends at Werther’s, makers of the BEST CANDY EVER, introducing their new Caramel Chocolates. Created from the finest ingredients and a recipe crafted with European tradition, Werther’s Original Caramel Chocolates are deliciously smooth and creamy – a treasure worthy of being wrapped in gold (and unwrapped from said gold at an alarmingly quick rate).

But what’s in it for you – besides nirvana-like chocolatey goodness? How about a Grand Prize which includes:

- One Sony 8GB bloggie Touch Full HD camcorder
- One Sony 16GB Full HD Camcorder with Projector
- One 16GB Sony Tablet
- One Sony VAIO S Series Notebook
- One Sony BRAVIA TV

There will also be SIXTEEN Weekly Prizes available to be won, each consisting of two Sony 8GB bloggie Touch Full HD camcorders.

Simply grab a bag of the new Caramel Chocolates, record yourself discovering the sweet goodness and share your reaction with everyone else! Visit www.werthersshareyourreaction.ca for more details.

Here I am, sharing both my reaction and the obvious fact that I am *slightly* addicted to chocolate:



Want in on the fun? If you PROMISE to share your own reaction by uploading a quick video of yourself trying the chocolate caramels, Wether’s will send ten (10) of my readers their own product to try out. Interested? E-mail me with your contact deets and we’ll send them your way!

And now off to finish the rest :)

Raise a Toast to the 250th Anniversary of the Sandwich with Dempster’s! #Giveaway

It’s time to celebrate a meal we have all come to know and love: The Sandwich.

Whether it’s a BLT on white toast, a chicken wrap or a sloppy joe on a fresh bun, sandwiches have become a part of our food culture. They are loved for their accessibility, affordability, and portability, and better yet – they can be dressed up or dressed down. Today, Saturday, May 12th – let’s toast the sandwich as it turns 250 years old!

And who better to raise a glass crust in its honour than Dempster’s, Canada’s Bakery! Every loaf of Dempster’s bread is made with 100% Canadian wheat and baked fresh daily – making it the perfect base for a delicious, satisfying sandwich.

Curious about the very first sandwich? The sandwich is said to have originated more than two thousand years ago with various combinations of meats and cheeses placed on bread or in pastry. However, the modern concoction that we’ve come to know and love didn’t get its name until May 12, 1762. At the time, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was on a winning streak while playing cards and refused to leave the game to eat (men, right?). He asked his valet to bring his dinner out between two pieces of bread (genius!) and ever since then, people all over the world have been stuffing things into rolls, baguettes, buns and loaves of bread.

Did you know?

- The sandwich is named after John Montague (1718-1792), the Fourth Earl of the town of Sandwich
- May 12th-19th is National British Sandwich week
- 94% of Canadians say they eat at least one sandwich each week
- The most popular sandwich fillings are bacon, turkey, and ham
- Sandwiches are the leading entrée on restaurant menus
- The Guinness Book of World Records for eating sandwiches is held by Peter Dowdeswell who ate 40 jam and butter sandwiches (each 6 inches X 3 inches) in 17 minutes, 53.9 seconds on October 17, 1977

We all know that I love a good sandwich (ahem, reigning Ultimate Sandwich Champion right here) and so I’m particularly excited to indulge in some fantastic finger grub in celebration this week. Be sure to stop by Dempster’s Facebook Page, where they’ll be featuring recipes, tips and fun sandwich facts all week! And, don’t forget to pick up a loaf of your favourite Dempster’s bread and make an epic sandwich of your own!

(I highly recommend my latest addiction – Dempster’s Smooth Multigrains Loaf. A soft, smooth texture – with the added benefits of 16 whole grains.)

WIN IT!!!

Dempster’s wants to make it easier for you to enjoy your own ultimate sandwich with three (3) Dempster’s Free Product Coupons, plus a $50 Visa Gift Card so you can go nuts with your toppings! To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck every one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Olivieri Lasagna Sheets: A Passport to Flavourtown

Two nights ago, I made an epic BBQ and lasagna mash-up: I combined leftover grilled chorizo sausage with my traditional meat lasagna recipe. Expecting to plate the 8th wonder of the world – and HOT DAMN was it ever good – I was incredibly surprised to realize that the star of show was actually the pasta portion – the lasagna sheets!

Say What?!

Hand on heart, it’s true. I was trying out Olivieri’s NEW Lasagna Sheets, which are packaged fresh, oven ready and made with natural pasta ingredients. But truthfully, I just threw them into the recipe, wrongfully assuming that they were the least prevalent component. But with just one taste, I was swooning.

The smooth texture. The most delectable flavour. And just the right degree of “bite” – al dente perfection. Of course, my über flavourful sauce and gooey cheese may have complemented the pasta just a tad, but make no mistake – I will NEVER buy dried lasagna sheets again. Pasta god, thou name is Olivieri.

The pasta is packaged with six (6) fresh sheets – I recommend that you cut two in half if you’re using a standard 9×13″ pan and would like four perfect lasagna layers. And if you’d like to make your own BBQ and lasagna mash-up, here’s the recipe! (more…)

The Breakfast Of Champions

I fully endorse this Apple Kiwi Smoothie from Life Made Delicious. Three fruits plus low-fat yogurt make a tasty, energy-boosting drink for busy mornings, or any other time you need a quick pick-me-up (pretty much all day, every day).

You likely already have all the ingredients on hand (except maybe kiwis – they’re not usually a staple in my home). This smoothie makes a wonderful accompaniment to granola, pancakes or another Mother’s Day breakfast idea (hint hint).

I’d write more, but honestly – I’m off to make this smoothie now.

INGREDIENTS

1 small apple, peeled, cut into chunks
1 kiwifruit, peeled, cut into chunks
4 medium fresh strawberries
2/3 cup (150 mL) low fat strawberry yogurt
1/3 cup (75 mL) apple juice

(I also like to throw in a small handful of crushed ice to make the smoothie super cold and refreshing.)

DIRECTIONS

In blender, place ingredients. Cover; blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth. Pour into 2 glasses. Serve immediately. (Easy, right? Even hubby can do this. Translation: there’s no reason this drink shouldn’t appear on your breakfast-in-bed tray this coming Sunday.)

Click here for more Mother’s Day brunch ideas.

I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Hamilton Beach: 5 Gotta-Have Gizmos

Some people would consider it an advertorial faux pas to put together a list of “must-have” items… all from the same manufacturer. In fact, I normally pride myself on mixing it up; incorporating great pieces from a variety of different brands. But to understand my reasoning behind dedicating an entire post to Hamilton Beach, I suppose you would have had to be there with me at last week’s media preview.

It happened, friends. That twitchy, tingly feeling at the tips of my fingers, which usually signals I’m about to reach for my wallet, slap down my Visa card and declare,

“I’LL TAKE IT! I’LL BUY IT ALL! I WANT EVERYTHING!”

The last time this happened was H&M’s Summer 2011 collection. And since the price of most Hamilton Beach small appliances are actually less than an H&M outfit (I know, right? insane!) you can imagine how giddy I felt.

Want. Want. Want. Tra-la-la-la-la.

So this season, I’ve decided to forego a predictable $39.95 H&M tunic and treat my entire family to this $39.99 Mess Free Belgian Style Waffle Maker instead. Hmm… one season of wear vs. years of breakfast time happiness? No contest.

And just what makes it “Mess Free”? First, it comes with a pre-measured batter cup, so you’ll always pour the perfect amount (excellent for those who normally just eyeball it… and fail). Second, if you’re an incurable eyeballer and decide to pour away, the batter overflow channel keeps the excess from seeping all over your countertop. And third, you can break the finished waffle apart into 8 sticks, perfect for munching on the go (also guaranteed to be a hit with the kiddos.)

So what else makes the cut? Here are four more of my fave gotta-have gizmos from Hamilton Beach:

bébé All in One Baby Food Maker – Ah, products that give you little excuse for laziness. (Er – maybe this shouldn’t be on my list, after all.) But here’s the deal: hands up if you made your baby’s food from scratch… for more than two weeks. Okay, now hands up if you could have used a product that slices, steams and blends foods all in one? PLUS, can be used as a chopper or small blender? And is dishwasher safe? Like I said, zero excuses. So I present to you, the VERY BEST baby shower gift you could possibly give a mom-to-be. The Hamilton Beach bébé All in One Baby Food Maker retails for just $69.99 for the 3-cup model; $79.99 for the sophisticated 5-cup version. Go ahead. Be a champion gifter.

Party Dipper Food Warmer – Repeat after me: “I will not bring a bottle of Merlot to an informal dinner with friends.” Instead, follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Purchase the Hamilton Beach Party Dipper Food Warmer.
2. Whip up a quick spinach, artichoke or cheese dip, and place it in the Party Dipper.
3. Bring the dip to a party. It’ll stay nice and warm, and the removable ceramic dish and lid are microwave/dishwasher safe.
4. Leave the Party Dipper for your hostess. At just $14.99, you’ve now effectively given the finger to all those Merlot-toting guests. Ha ha.

Ice Shaver – This I MUST have. Because I swear that deplorable ice cream truck always slows down in front of my house, beckoning my two boys to spend every cent I earn on cold treats. $4 for a snow cone? Buy the Hamilton Beach Ice Shaver, and it’ll pay for itself after less than 12 uses. Not only can kids enjoy slushies, snow cones & icy treats with your favorite soda or fruit juice, but mommy and her girls can tip back tropical and mixed drinks once the little ones are in bed. Retails for $44.99. Heck ya.

5 Burner Outdoor Grillstation – Okay, so this isn’t really a “gizmo” as it is the answer to your summer feasting dreams. Since I really don’t speak BBQish, click here to view the specs. But know this: every inch of this Grillstation is engineered to make cooking outdoors a pleasure. From its extra large, easy to read gauges to its ergonomically designed hood and burners, even gals can take on the role of resident grill master.

(The Hamilton Beach website is actually a wonderful resource for recipes, including ones hot off the grill – Mahi Mahi With Ginger And Dill, Southwestern Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Tomatoes with Cumin Butter and more.)

And so I’ve only left about 26 Hamilton Beach items off my “Gotta-Have” list, and yes, my hand is still twitching with the need to splurge on these affordable, incredibly intuitive products. Check out their site for more amazing items, or just stick around… I’m sure I’ll be talking about another favourite product before long.

Click here to visit Hamilton Beach Canada.

Enjoy McD’s GUILT-FREE Today! #McHappyDay

It’s McHappy Day! The one day when calories from McDonald’s DON’T COUNT!

Today, $1 from every Big Mac sandwich, Happy Meal and hot McCafé beverage sold will go to local children’s charities such as Ronald McDonald Houses.

RMHC Canada is the national organization that supports Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms across the country, which provides families of sick children a home-away-from-home or a place of peace and calm within a hospital. McDonald’s Canada covers all of RMHC Canada’s administrative and operating costs, making it possible for 100 per cent of every directly donated dollar to go to Ronald McDonald Houses and their programs. For more information on RMHC Canada, visit: www.rmhc.ca.



(Good to know: McDonald’s Canada’s community involvement efforts are year long. Since 2004, the company has raised more than $36 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada by donating 10 cents from the sale of every Happy Meal.)

I was fortunate to attend the Grand Opening of the new Ronald McDonald House in Toronto last year. If you take away one thing from this post, hear this: the house is a sanctuary for families coping with a child’s illness. If you never walk through its doors, consider yourself blessed. And in the meantime, donate generously, please. Today, Canada’s Ronald McDonald Houses serve 10,000 families a year. By 2014, Canada’s Ronald McDonald Houses will serve 20,000 families a year.

And so on this guilt-free day, enjoy a Big Mac sandwich, Happy Meal and/or hot McCafé beverage!

Want to do more? Canadians can show their support of children in need and their families by texting MCHAPPY to 30333 to make a $5 donation to RMHC of Canada. A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill. One hundred per cent of the collected donations will go to RMHC of Canada.

Cinnamon Ice Cream

Three words: Straight. Up. Delicious.

Here’s a ridiculously easy recipe for cinnamon ice cream. You can happily serve this treat on its own, but you’ll find it also has a marvellous affinity with several desserts including apple pie, strudel, waffles and my favourite – sandwiched in between two oatmeal cookies. Yum!

Be sure to follow the instructions for tempering the hot liquid into the egg mixture – or you may end up with scrambled eggs!

INGREDIENTS

1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together the sugar and half-and-half. When the mixture begins to simmer, remove from heat, and stir half of the mixture into the eggs, whisking quickly so that the eggs do not scramble. Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan to combine, and stir in the heavy cream. Continue cooking over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and cinnamon. Cool in refrigerator for at least 6-8 hours or overnight.

Pour cooled mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Serves 8.

Drop Everything! Try a McCafé Real Fruit Smoothie.

This is WAY too much deliciousness for one post.

I want to keep this short and sweet – because rather than reading a long, drawn-out tale about the taste, texture and technical merits of McDonald’s NEW Real Fruit Smoothies, I’d rather you just drop everything and go try one for yourself.

Seriously folks, they’re THAT good.

Made with real fruit purée, low-fat yogurt and blended ice, McCafé Real Fruit Smoothies are available in three mouth-watering flavours – Strawberry Banana, Mango Pineapple and Blueberry Pomegranate. I’ll put this on record: they’re the BEST tasting smoothies I’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever. (You can also have a non-dairy version made with just fruit; I’ve tried both delicious versions and am a very satisfied customer.)

Cold, fruity and incredibly refreshing, I only wish the weather was warmer so we could sip our McCafé Smoothies while taking a leisurely walk along the boardwalk. In time, friends, in time. And in the meantime – try your slicing hand with McD’s Fruit Ninja game, “Fruit Ninja Frenzy“, available exclusively to Canadian Facebook fans.

Wanna try one? GREAT NEWS – Until April 22nd, grab a snack-size Real Fruit Smoothie for just $1 plus tax!

(Remember when I said drop everything? Now you know why!)

A word to the wise: if you’ve got children treat burglars, be sure to get them one of their own, or yours will go missing. You’ve been warned.

Crouching Toddler, Hidden Smoothie.

Could it Be? The Homemade “Lena Burger”?

Alas, nope. I am SO sad right now. Satisfied, but sad.

Here’s the scoop: this past weekend, my husband joyfully announced that he had found a recipe online that claimed to be a dupe of Harvey’s hamburgers. Mmm… Harvey’s. Flavourful, juicy beef… charbroiled to perfection on an open-flame grill… yes, it’s a beautiful thing.

Gleefully, he sent me a link to the site – a Canadian food blog, holla! – Kalofagas.ca.

(In Greek, Kalofagas means “Gourmet”.)

Since the photo posted by Chef Peter Minakis (see right) immediately had us wanting to reach through the computer and take a bite, I happily conceded that this recipe was indeed a must-try. And since the good Lord had bestowed a sunny, beautiful day for my birthday last week, I decided to celebrate by passing the mealtime responsibilities to my resident grillmaster.

Of course, I did help with the prep-work; thanks to a very simple recipe incorporating easy-to-find, staple ingredients, the burgers were ready for the flame in about 5 minutes (though we did rest them for an hour in the fridge, as suggested). Visit Kalofagas.ca for the complete recipe and grilling instructions.

The verdict? While the final product was a tasty, über flavourful and incredibly moist burger, it just was not a homemade “Lena Burger”. Close… but no Harvey’s.

(That being said, the recipe is a keeper for us. It’s a guaranteed trip to flavourtown and the recipe can be followed by anyone. Try it; you’ll like it.) (more…)

Post-Holiday Reality Check: Life Made Delicious

Okay, Easter is over.

And you ate chocolate.
And more chocolate.
More…. and more…. chocolate.

So now it’s time for a reality check: An all-chocolate diet does not a supermodel make. Looking for some inspiration to kick-start a healthier way of life? I’ve selected these recipes from Life Made Delicious, my favourite source for easy recipes:

Grilled Margarita Chicken and Fruit Salad
Chicken gets a lime juice and tequila-coated toss in this flavour-packed salad. Olé!

I love mixing salad greens and fruit, especially when I can sneak in some goat cheese or toasted, spicy pecans. Substitute baby spinach for lettuce and you’ve got a splendid, nutrient-packed meal!

Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Quick-cooking couscous lends to the 20-minute prep time of this Greek-style salad.

I will seriously eat anything Greek – especially salad. The mixture briny Kalamata olives, salt feta and fresh cucumber is always a winning combination in my books. Control the amount of fat by scaling back on the cheese.

Grilled Fajita Salad
No need to turn on the oven to enjoy this colourful and oh-so-delicious summertime salad.

Guaranteed to be filling – and delicious – I love Mexican-inspired flavours with beef. To add some creamy texture, consider thinly sliced avocado tossed in a simple olive oil and lime juice dressing.

Salsa Turkey Meatballs
Salsa and ground turkey makes this new twist on the traditional meatball both healthy and tasty.

Who says you have to stick to salad? Pair these meatballs with whole wheat pasta or brown rice, and you’re in flavourtown! A bonus: kids will have fun helping to prepare this dish.

For these recipes, and more delicious ways to eat right, visit Life Made Delicious.

I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

M&M Meat Shops Steam and Serve #Tots2Toddlers

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

If you’re wondering about the #Tots2Toddlers hashtag above, this month I’ll be featuring some of my favourite products that have helped me make the transition from a mama of babies… to a frenzied, erratic, disorganized and downright exhausted mama of toddlers. (I thought staying up all night with a newborn was bad. Ha! I’ll have that any day over playing referee and chasing naughty troublemakers!)

Did I mention that for each feature, I’ll also offer a kick a** giveaway? I never like to leave my readers hanging!

Now you all know that I’m an M&M Meat Shops junkie. And I’m not alone – Canadians LOVE the convenience of selecting from over 375 mouth watering goodies, specially fast frozen for optimal freshness and flavour. And, the majority of their dishes are ready to thaw-and-serve or heat-and-serve to make meal prep easier for you!

Since I love to cook, I must admit that I enjoy my time spent in the kitchen engaging in culinary adventures. But the truth is, ever since the boys entered their toddler years, it’s very rare that I have enough time to put together a meal that can be labelled haute cuisine.  Hence, with two little guys competing for my attention and my husband’s erratic schedule, sometimes life demands a quick and tasty meal. And for that, I’m happy to turn to M&M Meat Shops.

(One great thing about going from tots to toddlers? They eat whatever you do. No more baby gunk, hurray!)

Recently, we had a chance to try out M&M’s NEW Steam and Serve Entrées.

“The new steam and serve entrée collection features a selection of meal-in-a-bag solutions that slow steam in the microwave from frozen in just 10 minutes. The tasty ingredients are packed in a special polybag technology, to allow for the perfect venting of excess steam during heating.”

Pictured right – Triple Cheese Ravioli, which is generously stuffed with rich ricotta, romano and parmesan cheeses and smothered in a richly herbed homestyle marinara sauce that features vine-ripened California tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Oh… yum. (more…)

Bento Sushi: Spring Into Deliciousness

If you’ve read my previous posts on Bento Sushi, you’ll know that I’ve been indulging in their products on a weekly basis for YEARS now… in fact, no supermarket stop is complete without a tray of their famous “Handcrafted Sushi. Ready to Roll.”

In addition to their fresh, delicious, and always convenient creations, I love that Bento places a keen emphasis on creativity – coupled with quality. In fact, one clear example of their continued appreciation for ingenuity was their recent Bento Iron Chef Competition -

“1,100 Chefs from across Canada showcased their talents and creativity, ultimately leading to one Chef, being crowned the Iron Chef Champion. The competition required supreme skill, exact precision, and flawless execution.”


I sighed about 16 times while watching that video. (Mmmm…) Congratulations to Chef Zi Zong Chen – the very first Bento Sushi Iron Chef Champion! Well deserved, I’m sure :)

Now if you’re a Bento Sushi lover like me (and how can you not be?), you’ll want to indulge in their latest Limited Edition Sushi Spring Rolls: Coconut Tempura Shrimp Roll, Seven Spice California Roll and Seven Spice & Coconut Tempura Sushi Combo. The rolls will only be available until June 2, 2012 – you’ve got exactly two months to devour the delicious goodness!

I was very fortunate to receive their latest offerings for review (when have I ever turned down free sushi? That would be never!) and was only too excited to share them with my husband, another sushi lover. In fact, we stole a peek of the new rolls while grocery shopping, and almost bought a tray before the review items arrived. #obsessed (more…)

How Does Your Diet Stack Up? (% Daily Value)

Humour me for a moment.

Reach over and grab a food item – one that has the nutritional information printed on the package. Now tell me – what do you look at first?

The calories? Fat? Serving Size? Sugar?

What interests you most – or, by force of habit, what are you drawn to?

I’m a calories kind of girl – I’m always trying to keep snacks below 200 calories, and meals under 400 calories. Everything else usually sorts itself out; if the fat is too high for my liking, I’ll cut the portion size down by 30%; if the sugar is up there, I’ll skip my after-dinner square of chocolate; and, if the carbs are astronomical, I’ll simply put the food back and choose something else.

But riddle me this: how many of y’all actually pay attention to the % Daily Value of a food? They’re the figures on the far right, always displayed as a percentage. Are you familiar with how to interpret these numbers?

Essentially, the % Daily Value is a quick and easy way for you to know if a packaged food contains a little or a lot of a nutrient. As a rule of thumb, remember the following numbers:

This applies to all nutrients. Hence, if there’s less than 5% – you can pretty much surmise that you’re getting nothing (which I suppose is a good thing when it comes to saturated or trans-fats). And over 15%? Yup, that’s a whole lotta good stuff – especially fibre, iron or calcium, three ingredients that Canadians never seem to get enough of.

Bonus: You can use the % DV to compare two different food products and make a better choice for you; plus, the Daily Values used in nutrition labelling are not developed for any specific gender and age category. For example, an active man will not have the same daily nutrition needs as a six year old girl. However, both of them can still use the % DV to see if a food product has a little or a lot of the nutrients that are important to them.

Curious to find out more? Visit www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/dailyvalue.

So, how do some of your favourite foods stand up to the % Daily Value? I’m extremely happy to report that my beloved Cheerios give me 45% of my daily iron, 50% of folic acid and 0% saturated fat. Holla!

I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

History in the Breaking: Loblaw’s Cheesy Victory

Warning: The photos in this blog post may bring on an urgent craving for nutty, salty, crumbly and perfectly savoury Parmesan cheese. Just go with it. It’s futile to resist.

Here’s a little brain teaser for you:

What do you get when you take 300 wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (valued at $2,200 per wheel), over 250 participating Loblaw stores and the desire to skillfully crack them open at exactly the same time from coast to coast?

You get a Guinness World Record, that’s what.

The previous record, held by Whole Foods Inc, was 176. But on Sunday afternoon, Loblaw Companies Limited reported that 305 wheels, and counting, were cracked simultaneously.

“Today was a momentous day for Loblaw and our colleagues. It was an overwhelming experience to celebrate this achievement with our customers and colleagues at more than 250 stores; we couldn’t have done it without them,” said Metzi Liau, Senior Deli Category Director, Loblaw Companies. “Our colleagues were specially trained to crack the wheels in the traditional style upheld by Italy’s Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Consortium, and we are thrilled to have achieved this world record.”

Now it’s well known far and wide that I’m a cheesehead; in fact, given the choice to exist on chocolate or cheddar, I’d gladly take savoury over sweet. So I was tickled pink with the opportunity to experience an intimate lunch featuring dishes using Parmigiano-Reggiano created by Chef Tom Filippou (Executive Chef and National Director, President’s Choice Cooking Schools). I attended with Robin Edwards (@shopwithrobin) and we were treated to celebrity appearances (members from Italy’s Consortium of Parmigiano-Reggiano and a representative from Guinness), a detailed lesson in old school cheese-making (a method that is roughly still used to this day – you don’t mess with perfection), and of course, a tasting. Mmm… Parmigiano-Reggiano.

So what about those photos? Set you salivary glands to “drool” now – (more…)

Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa

I normally don’t hunt up the recipe for this sweet and spicy salsa before June (at the earliest), but with the unseasonably mild warm hot temperatures here in TO, I found myself throwing it together last night to complement my husband’s famous grilled Cuban Mojo chicken. (Yes, we’re BBQ’ing in MARCH! Pretty much every day this week too, because we want to make the most of the pre-summer sizzle before it leaves us.)

However, fair warning: this salsa is SO GOOD it may not make it to your main course. I usually devour my fair share with tortilla chips after tossing it together… you may want to double the recipe :) Serves 4.

1 ripe mango – peeled, seeded and diced
1 ripe avocado – peeled, pitted, and diced
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil

In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, and garlic. In a separate bowl, whisk together the salt, lime juice and olive oil. Stir into salsa mixture. To blend the flavors, refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving. (Source: Allrecipes.com)