Fave thingamajigs

Photo: Contributed My favourite thingamajigs and doohickeys Every hobby has its tools. Sports all have equipment of some sort, musicians have instruments, gardeners have trowels, and so on. There are also all the gizmos and gadgets that you can add to your repertoire. Some are just

Know thy food

Photo: Contributed You might think I am espousing the idea of introducing yourself to the vegetables in the supermarket (“How do you do, Mr. Potato Head, my name is Kristin”). I'm not crazy. I will introduce you to someone who is doing the same thing, mostly for kids. A

A bite of nostalgia

I Photo: Contributed Isn't it funny how the taste of something can transport you back in time to a particular place, a definite memory? Just like a song can make you remember a time In your life, a taste can pinpoint an experience, too. Once in a while, it's not a good

An appetite for life

Photo: Contributed My best friend has an insatiable appetite; she loves to eat. She is never afraid of not looking good or not fitting into her clothes. She exercises regularly and most of what she eats is healthy, organic food.  I am inspired by her every day. Her gusto f

A rainbow of vegetables

Photo: Contributed I was in the garden this week when a thought sprouted and grew. I was searching for cucumbers and zucchinis, when it occurred to me: we have seen square watermelons and squashes with faces, but when is someone going to come up with vegetables that are practical?

I scream, you scream....

Photo: Contributed What does your ice cream say about you? Have you ever been asked that all-important question? You know, the one that divides us into two camps? Everyone has a clear position in this debate: Are you a chocolate or a vanilla person? We defend our choice with a co

From dirt to dinner

Photo: Contributed With agri-tourism, the opportunity to enjoy fresh food has expanded from the dinner table to the farm. The line of cars at the end of our road gets longer every year with people stopping to pick fruit off the trees. And it’s not enough to have a picnic, nu

A taste of America

Photo: Contributed Last weekend was our change of scenery and pace; we drove down to Washington State. We had no real agenda aside from the fact that we wanted to attend a sock-hop dance in Wauconda, population a hand full, and then on to Winthrop for some blues music, population a few

Sock-hop memories

Photo: Contributed We're off on our yearly trip to a sock hop and vintage car show in Washington. It's a taste of years gone by, back to even before what it was like when I was a kid. Martin and I are now recognized at the sock hop. The locals at first ju

Forbidden pleasure

Photo: Contributed Have you ever had too much of a good thing? You know, when you overindulged or expected too much and someone inevitably tells you that’s what you’ve had, like an I-told-you-so comment? Well, this week, I was prepared to test that theory when our c

National Jam Buster Day?

Photo: Contributed I was thinking about Canada Day coming up, and celebrating our culture, and it occurred to me that there are lots of food days for celebrating too. (Did you know that there is a Tapioca Day, Bologna Day and even Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbour’s Porch N

Make List. Do. Repeat

  Photo: Contributed So many things to do, all summer to do them Life is busy. We all complain about not having enough time to do the things we want. How do we fix that? It’s like the Nike folks said, “Just do it.” This week, I am urging you, make time to e

Cooking for dad

Photo: Contributed Father's Day is fast approaching, and they say that the fastest way to a man's heart is through his tummy, so cooking seems like a good idea, don't you think? What does your dad like to eat? Does he like to cook? Taking mom for brunch or for dinner on Mot

A recipe for friendship

Photo: Contributed I am off to Vancouver this week to see a friend who lives across the world. We've been friends since I was 19 years old. I am a godmother to her daughter; she and her daughter were in my bridal party.  Martin cooked some of the food for her 25th wedding anni

Gizmos, gadgets for foodies

Photo: Contributed It never ceases to amaze me how many things can be invented that claim to make our lives easier. The plethora of gadgets you can own is only limited by the space you have. You might never have made smoothies before, but that doesn't mean you don't need a

Rainy day eats and treats

Photo: Kristin Peturson-Laprise What is it about the Victoria Day long weekend?! Every year we all get excited, planning a day in the garden or out on the boat, a big camping trip or a family BBQ... and what happens? The clouds roll in, the wind blows and the rain starts. What a bummer,

Planting & eating a rainbow

Photo: Contributed If you are like me, this time of year you have an uncontrollable urge to have things growing at your house. We have all kinds of garden space and a little greenhouse so I could be called a bit obsessive about my green hobby, but even if you only plant a few boxes or con

Drink it. Bake it.

Photo: Jo Slade There’s NO chocolate back here. Trust me. Our guest writer today is Heather Slade, who, when not working her butt off managing dental offices, or boy-child parenting, or complaining about the state of the world, or getting lost in science fiction novels, can be fo

Running hot and cold

Photo: A Bedov Mmmmmm, coffee Perhaps it is my need to stay energetic in this busy early spring, but I have been thinking a lot lately about coffee. With my ever-curious brain and its search for more trivia, it led me to thinking about the psychology that goes with our coffee culture,

Dew on angel's nipples

Photo: PictureQuotes Whisky is the drink that lets you walk up to strangers who have more money than you do.  "Hello, soon-to-be friends," you say, completely sober. "I am holding a whisky.” "You must be interesting!" they greet you in reply. &quo