Big Appehtite

One of my hobbies is cooking up new recipes to enter in cooking contests and sometimes I win big. Recently I entered quite a few recipes into contests put on by Maple Leaf through Appehtite and I am excited to share that I won with one of my favourite quick and easy sandwich recipes.

I have shared my winning recipe before, but it's too yummy not to share again, especially when it just made me $1000 richer! Check out my recipe for my Italian Steak Sandwiches on my blog or on Appehtite.

And be sure to check out one of Appehtite's current contests for a chance to win $1000 yourself!

How Do You #Herbamare?

I am a big fan of anything that means I have an easy (but still delicious) cooking experience and Herbamare recently gave me samples of their products to prove to me that using their natural sea salt infused with organic herbs and veggies was a great way for me to achieve that experience.

I've tried all three flavours now - original, zesty, and sodium free - and it's been the Zesty Herbamare that has spoken most loudly to me. I tried Zesty Herbamare in a Healthy Caesar and that inspired me to make my own salad version of the delicious Canadian drink, a Caesar Salad with Salmon.

Peep Show

This month Dawn from Spatulas on Parade challenged us to use Peeps and lemon to make something delicious in the Crazy Ingredient Challenge. I love lemon and use it in almost everything, but I had never even tried a Peep before this challenge.

Since I knew that Peeps were sugar dusted marshmallows, I knew I would be making a dessert. I couldn't even fathom the thought of trying to stuff those little guys into a dinner. And what do I think of when making a marshmallow dessert, rice crispie squares!

I decided to "fancy up" my idea a little and used puffed quinoa in place of rice crispies and I added a few additional treats in place of Easter sprinkles too. I think this recipe is worth keeping, crazy ingredients or not!

Luck of the Irish

It's March 16 today and I bet a few of you are planning on celebrating St. Patrick's Day today. I bet some of you are looking for green food to whip up, some of you are looking for an easy and yummy meal to soak up some of the Irish brews you'll be enjoying later, and maybe a few of you are looking for a recipe you can make for a date. Whatever the case, I think that today's dish will bring the luck of the Irish to you.

Today's dish is green, easy to make and filling, and fanciest enough looking to be perfect to make for someone special. It's only fancy looking though, so don't get worried. It's not really fancy...

Read on for my take on a Veggie and Shrimp Barley Risotto. It's inspired by one from Food Network Canada. 

Birthday Wishes

I love birthday cakes. It doesn't matter who's birthday cake it is, as long as I get a taste of it, I love it. Chocolate, vanilla, ice cream, angel food, chiffon, boxed or home made - it doesn't matter. Birthday cakes are made with loving thoughts of that one special person and I know that I taste those thoughts when I am eating each and every bite.

Today is my sister's birthday and while we celebrated each other's birthdays (mine was just a few days ago) together last month, it sure would be great if I got to bake her a cake today. Instead I hope that this post containing a yummy little lemon cake will do. I know that whoever bakes her a cake will thinking all the loving thoughts I would have thought so it will be fantastic.

Happy birthday, Mary. I hope your day is great today!

Soup for On-Terrible Weather

I just arrived back home after a visit to see my family in Halifax and Ontario. I had a great time seeing everyone, but I am not sure if I'm built for such a cold climate anymore. I did love seeing my family, skiing, bundling up and walking the dog on the ice, and of course the warm home cooked meals - but I couldn't get over the cold!

And since the best part of my visit, seeing my family, is something I could do anytime of the year - I think I might be making future trips home in the summer! 

If you're looking for a warm, home cooked meal to make for your family, try my version of Chatelaine's Leek and and Fennel Soup with Poached Haddock. My version is a littler healthier and easier to make, plus I've found a great use for my preserved lemon! 

Italian Steak Sandwich

The name of this post might sound deceiving because I don't eat steak, but my sandwich is not made from an ordinary steak. It's made from a seitan steak! Seitan is a vegetarian protein alternative and it might be something fun to try if you've recently made a New Year's resolution to eat meat free more often.

Of course this recipe would also be great made with a regular steak. But they don't call seitan Wheat Meat for nothing, it really is the closest you'll get to vegetarian meat. So maybe giving it a try could be next year's resolution, if you're not ready to give it a go this year? 

My Recipe is in Country Woman Magazine!

Awhile ago I received a really exciting email from someone at Taste of Home magazine. I was told that they were considering using one of my recipes in a magazine and they wanted to know a little more about me. I quickly answered all of their questions and waited patiently for a response to hear if I made the cut.

After a couple of weeks of waiting patiently, I still hadn't heard back and I pretty much gave up. I knew lots of people had probably received the same email and there was only so much space in the magazine.

But last week something really exciting happened. I found a strange thick envelope in my mailbox and when I opened it up I found out that my recipe was actually chosen and featured in a Christmas edition magazine! The editor referred to me as "staff" and that made these cookies taste even sweeter than they did the first time I made them.

Check out my previous post for Rosemary and Lemon Tree Cookies, visit Country Woman's website, or pick up a copy of Country Woman to see me in print! :)

Preserving Summer

October's Canadian Food Experience Project challenged everyone to preserve something. I wondered about trying my hand at preserving beets, but thought that seemed like an unwanted opportunity to cover myself in pink stains.

Instead I decided to try preserving lemon. I love the flavour of preserved lemon and have always wondered if it would be easy to do myself or if I should leave preserved lemons to the professionals and buy them already made.

Well I'm pleased to share that it's an easy process. The only thing you really need, besides lemons of course, is time and patience. These suckers take about three weeks to preserve. But in three weeks time, get ready for yummy Moroccan flavoured dishes because I'll be sharing them like crazy!

Guilty Pleasure

One of the things I miss about eating meat is smearing a big chunk of pâté on a slice of baguette. I love the creamy texture and the rich flavour. Everything about pâté makes me feel guilty and in love, all at the same time. 

Luckily I found a way to relive all my guilty pleasures of eating pâté because I have made a truly decadent vegetarian version of my old favourite. I'm going to make it for my family at Christmas and I really don't think that they'll be able to tell the difference from the original version. Or maybe they will, because my Mushroom Pâté is a little bit better than the original.  

Bake Off Winner!

I love entering cooking and baking competitions because they're fun, challenge me creatively, and because I love to win! Every month for the last few months I have been entering the Food Network's Bake Off challenge and I have finally been successful and won! 

Last month's challenge was to bake Roger Mooking's Pavlova with Mango, Lychee Nuts, and Raspberries but I took a few liberties and made the dessert my own. I think that, plus how delicious my outcome was, really helped me to win. 

Check out my winning entry online at the Food Network's blog and read on for my adapted recipe. Both are delicious but I really like my decoration of a flower made out of thinly sliced mango. Thanks to Roger Mooking for a yummy recipe to adapt from and thanks to the Food Network for a great Bake Off. 

Guest Posting on Rants From My Crazy Kitchen

Yesterday I guest posted on Rants From My Crazy Kitchen and I think I brought a really excellent creation to the table. I love lemon meringue pie but I wanted  to make it into a slightly more everyday style dessert. What I ended up creating were Lemon Meringue Thumbprints, and they're delicious!

I'll let you head over to Rants From My Crazy Kitchen to read my full post, but I'll post my recipe here now. I just can't resist sharing my new delicious cookie with you in as many ways possible!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Don't make lemonade, make this Lemon Meringue Pie! 

I might be a sucker for tart, lemony desserts, but even a sucker knows a great lemon dessert from an okay version of one. And this Lemon Meringue Pie is nothing but the best. 

I made it with a delicious shortbread crust instead of pastry to mimic lemon bars, the meringue is a mile high and fluffy, and the filling has orange juice in it as well as lemon juice so it's extra tart and bright yellow. 

I'd love to know if you ever discover a recipe that beats this one, but I won't be holding my breath while I wait! 

Not Your Grandma's Gremolata

This is one of the most eye catching meals I've made in a long time. I'm not trying to toot my own horn (not much anyway) but I think it looks really pretty and colourful. 

This is my second recipe of the week for chicken thighs and its completely different from the stuffed chicken thigh dish I shared a few days ago. So I hope you don't let a big container of chicken thighs scare you the next time you see them on sale! 

Read on for the recipe, Chicken Thighs in Tomato Sauce with Polenta and Gremolata. 

Lest We Forget

Today we remember all the brave men and women who have fought for our country and given us the freedom we are thankful for today; thank you to all the veterans and fallen soldiers.

The way I thank people, congratulate loved ones, and celebrate memories is with food. I put thought and work into cooking and baking to demonstrate my feelings and hope that everything is understood. I'll keep today's post short and sweet by sharing a Lemon Poppy Seed Bread today.

What Is This?

A few weeks ago I was at the Farmer's Market and I discovered a new vegetable. It wasn't a scientific discovery or anything like that, it was just a veggie for sale that I've never tried before. And since I've tried a lot of veggies, that's a pretty tall order.

Do you know what it is? Think hard now because the first person to tell me the correct answer wins an appetizer named after them!

Discover Your Flavour

Caliente or leve? Hot or mild? What would you choose? At my house that question is always a dilemma.

Most of my family seems to prefer spicy dinners and that's why I am excited to try Old El Paso's new Hot & Spicy Fajita Dinner Kit. But some of my family also leans towards more mild meals, that's why I am also excited to try Old El Paso's new Extra Mild, Super Tasty Hard Taco Dinner Kit and new Mild Taco Seasoning.

They're all great idea for families with busy schedules because you only need about 20 minutes to make something delicious and flavourful, whatever your taste is.

One thing my family can all agree on is that when it comes to Mexican food, we like free Mexican food best. And right now you can visit Life Made Delicious's Facebook page and get a coupon for a FREE new Old El Paso Dinner Kit! But, be sure to hurry to get your coupon, because this offer won't last long.

And if that's not enough, let me know in my comment box below if your family prefers spicy, mild, or a combination of the two on Mexican night and you'll be entered in to win an Old El Paso Mexican Dinner Kit Package including all three of the new Old El Paso products and a fun chili salsa bowl.

And if you want a second entry into the giveaway, comment on my blog's Facebook page.
Please note that I will be choosing the winner on September 20, 2012 and that this contest is only open to Canadian residents. Readers may enter on multiple blogs, but are only eligible to win one prize.

“Disclosure – I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

If you're interested in a new idea for a grilled Peach and Pickled Jalapeno Salsa recipe, keep reading below. It tastes great on Old El Paso's Hot and Spicy Fajitas, especially when paired with Old El Paso's salsa!

Whole Wheat Success

Have you ever committed to baking for someone's birthday and realized that you were out of all flours except for whole wheat? I have and I was nervous for the success of my dessert until I tasted it. 

I think the only reason that my whole wheat cupcakes were a success was because I was baking a cake that had little pieces of coconut throughout the batter. I think that the coconut disguised the whole wheat flour and no one noticed the textured flour at all. The lemon glaze that covered the dessert might have helped a little too, but I think the coconut was the clincher for success!

These Coconut Lemon Cupcakes were such a success that I think I might even use whole wheat flour next time I bake them, even if I have a large stock of all purpose flour! 

Cold and Fresh

Summer is here and to me this means it's time to entertain friends. I love to entertain and I always want to serve something memorable, but it's hard to find the time to make memorable things. 

Today's recipe is a drink that's perfect for summer entertaining because it has only a few ingredients and it's cold and fresh! Plus, it isn't too much work because you make all the drinks in one big batch and you can do it all ahead of time!

Well, I guess it's more work than chilling and opening a bottle of wine, but who's going to remember that?

Being Corny

I think it's important to laugh at yourself. And this is one I am very successful at -- laughing at myself all the time. I am a little bit corny and being silly makes me happy. 

So I am going to warn you, this post is seriously corny. And it's going to start off with a corny joke. 

Question: Why is it not wise to tell secrets in a corn field? 

Answer: Because there are too many ears! 

I can hear all you groaning from here, but hopefully I made you smile! Let's keep the corn going and cook with it. Today's simple recipe is a cheesy and corny dish that's easy to make on the BBQ or in a steamer. I promise it'll make you smile more than my corny joke did.