Food & Drink

On the weekends, I tend to go all out when it comes to breakfast/brunch – think bacon, eggs, pancakes, fried chicken and waffles (don’t judge), fancy brunch spot concoctions, you know, the whole nine yards. But during the work week, I need something that is simple and quick to assemble, but without having to compromise my level of satisfaction, both in taste and quantity.

Oatmeal is my go-to and it’s super good for you! I love that it is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed cold or hot and sweet or savoury. Inspired by the cozy Fall weather, I prepared this Warm Apple Pumpkin Spiced Coconut Oatmeal and have been literally eating it several times weekly!

This oatmeal recipe only takes a few minutes to make, read further to see how!

As much as I enjoy heading out to the city for brunch, nothing compares to pampering loved ones at home with a beautiful brunch spread. There is something extremely precious and nostalgic about waking up and smelling the fresh scent of eggs, bacon, or waffles being prepared in the kitchen.

With Canadian Thanksgiving approaching this weekend, I thought what better way to celebrate than to wake up to a delicious and festive brunch? For those of you who follow along know that I love hacking recipes and pulling together simple dishes to enjoy. I was so lucky to have reunited (believe it or not via Instagram) with my super talented friend and true foodie, Sonia of saltnpepperhere whom I haven’t seen in over 6 years! I decided to invite her over to my home last weekend to create some Thanksgiving brunch magic.

Sonia made these delicious Pumpkin Waffles (original recipe here) and we spent Sunday morning having a blast catching up.

Read further to see how you can too prepare Pumpkin Waffles for your Thanksgiving brunch!

Dairy. It’s an ongoing love/hate relationship for me.

Being moderately lactose intolerant, I’ve always struggled to enjoy dairy freely whenever I want. I’m likely luckier than some, where I can have limited amounts dairy and not be affected but where I am able, I would prefer a lactose free option. Though I’m glad to see many coffee shops and cafes have lactose free options now, I do still come across a few spots in the city that don’t.

When Natrel announced the launch of their new line of lactose free products in a single-serve format, I was giddy with joy. I no longer need to lug over my own carton of milk to a friend’s to enjoy my cup of après dinner coffee. I can now enjoy all the fresh taste of milk, without the discomfort.

See what recipe Natrel’s new launch inspired me to make!

I can’t believe it’s September! September acts as a reminder that the cooler months are approaching, and that in no time the Fall season and the great things that come along with it (i.e. warm apple pies, hot cocoa, and cable knit sweaters) will be upon us. As much as I enjoy the beautiful colours and coziness of Fall, a part of me is just not quite ready for the Summer to end.

To hold onto the heat for just a little bit longer, I decided to stir up this refreshing Iced Mint Coffee beverage to celebrate the last days of Summer with NESPRESSO’s two new limited edition capsules infused with the sweet flavours of Strawberry Mint leaves harvested from my potted herb garden.

Read more for this simple recipe and learn more about the NESPRESSO Limited Edition capsules.

When it comes to brunching in Toronto, no one will disagree with me that it’s become a favourite weekend activity. It’s not merely ordering food, consuming it because you’re hungry, or a way to get the day started so that you can simply move onto your weekend festivities.

Brunch IS the festivity.

Our nearby neighborhood, Leslieville have an abundance of mouth-watering options for brunch. However, we love exploring new brunch spots because it gives us the chance to also explore areas of the city that we don’t often frequent.

A couple of weekends ago, we ventured to the La Société patio to sample their array of delicious dishes offered on their new brunch menu. Read further to see my top recommendations!

One of the best things about Summer is the freedom to enjoy ice cream with absolutely no need for a reason or excuse! As much as I love to explore the different trendy ice-cream shops that have popped up all over Toronto, I am not a huge fan of lining up for hours just to get my hands on one! Therefore, we love ending a Summer evening with a bowl of ice-cream at home.

Not sure if any of you have the same problem in your household, but each time we buy a carton, we tend to get bored of the flavour mid way through each tub ends up being half full and then eventually thrown out when they’re finally covered with freezer burn. I recently (brilliantly) figured out a simple ice cream hack to make any ice cream flavour at home without an ice cream maker or fancy ingredients!

Inspired by my love for NESPRESSO coffee, I decided to create this simple “homemade” chocolate chip coffee ice cream from a tub of store-bought vanilla ice cream!

Shop my these cute ice cream bowls!

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When it comes to creating new recipes, throwing a quick dinner together, or even hosting an elaborate party, having herbs at home, dried or fresh, can go a long way. It can instantly transform any ordinary dish into a crowd’s favourite or even turn you into a master bartender by adding herbs into basic cocktails.

As part of the 2016 Scotts® Gro Grew, one of my missions was to create my own potted herb garden! I’m so pleased to share that with the help of a couple premium Miracle-Gro products I’ve successfully grew fresh basil, chives, rosemary, oregano (to name a few) and they’re ready to be used in my daily culinary adventures.

However, for those of you who have grown herbs before, you already know that an immense amount of herbs can be harvested in a very short period of time. I’ve come to realize that at times, I’ve got more herbs than I can use. Therefore, I went on a quest to find ways to save the large quantities of herbs on hand, and so pleased that I discovered a simple and practical way to freeze and preserve my precious herbs with olive oil, to be used at a later time.

Read more to find out how to grow and freeze your fresh herbs for future use!

To kick off the Canada Day celebrations (and for my fellow American friends, forth of July), I prepared this simple Coconut Lemonade just in time for the BBQ parties happening over the next couple of days. Natural coconut water is a great alternative to plain H2O not only for hydration but it is said to offer other great benefits such as helping with weight-loss efforts, facilitates digestion, reduces blood pressure, and even promotes healthier skin.

I personally love the taste of coconut water, especially from a fresh coconut! But, fresh coconuts are obviously not all that convenient especially in our country, so I opt for the next best option – Thirsty Buddha’s line of Coconut Water products, they are all-natural, gluten free, with zero fat and zero cholesterol. Now, Kyle isn’t all that keen on the natural flavours coconut water offers, therefore, he was actually the inspiration behind this simple beverage recipe. Thanks babe!

Read further to see literally HOW easy it is to prepare a Summer Fresh Coconut Lemonade and chance to win a Thirsty Buddha gift pack!

A few weeks ago, I shared a fun and easy protein packed Breakfast Cup recipe combining yogurt, fruits, granola and Genuine Health‘s fermented Greek yogurt proteins+ products. This is the first time I’ve ever tried protein powders and products for an extended period of time and I felt inclined to share my overall experience with you and of course – another quick, simple, and delicious recipe as well! Inspired by my mini lime tree, I decided to try this Kiwi Key Lime Smoothie with an added touch of the Genuine Health fermented Greek yogurt proteins+ in the vanilla flavour.

Read more to see the full Kiwi Key Lime Smoothie recipe and my full review!

It’s going to be a hot one in Toronto this weekend! If you’re looking for something fun to do with friends and family, the Taste of Toronto is in full effect and for you foodies out there, you’re not going to want to miss this! I was invited to join Chef Victor Barry and Master Sommelier Elyse Lambert at a private coffee & food pairing event yesterday with NESPRESSO, the official coffee sponsor of Taste of Toronto and had the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate tasting experience and launch of NESPRESSO’s newest and most intense Grand Cru of the Lungo family – Envivo Lungo.

As a proud member of the NESPRESSO Coffee Connoisseur Club for the past several months, I’ve had the chance to taste and learn about the variety of intensities, notes, and flavours that NESPRESSO coffee has to offer. I’ve also come to share their appreciation of combining exceptional coffee with excellent food, these two elements really do go hand in hand.