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breakfast at disney’s aulani (honolulu)

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This past February, I finally made it to Hawaii! I didn’t need a gift
for my birthday in March, just a trip with my family. We went to
Honolulu with both sets of parents and had a wonderful time. Although we
didn’t spend our ten days at Aulani, Disney’s resort in Hawaii, we did
manage to go there for breakfast.

After
taking a Disney cruise, we have become fans of  all things Disney so we
were very excited for our morning at the Character Breakfast.

The
Disney Character Breakfast takes place at Makahiki, the restaurant
located on the first floor. Our first stop was a picture with the top
mouse himself, Mickey. He took the time to shake hands with the kids and
give out hugs. We were also given enough time to take pictures with him
as a large group as well as smaller groups. The line wasn’t huge and
this one-on-one was a pleasant surprise.

Makahiki
is all about buffet dining and there was so much variety for breakfast.
They had a little kids station which was stocked with Mickey waffles
(!), scrambled eggs and tater tots.  Breakfast also included an omelet
station, smoked salmon, various meats and cheeses, loads of fruit, eggs,
pastries and dessert. There is definitely something for everyone!

We
had visits from Goofy and Minnie who took the time to come by and take
pictures. Aunty entertained with her ukelele and got the kids to
participate in a little performance around the restaurant.  It was such a
memorable day!

If
you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, be sure to let them know
when making a reservation. In true Disney style, they really do make
you feel special.

how to make the perfect cup of chai

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Without a doubt, my mom makes the best chai. Sure, you may think I’m biased, but I’m not the only one who thinks so. In fact, when we go to other people’s houses, she is in charge of making the tea.

Everyone has their own way of making chai. Some stick to the basics – water, tea bags and you’re done. Others use spices ranging from fennel, cinnamon, cardamom and even ginger. My mom keeps it simple.  To make tea her way, you need tea bags, cardamom and evaporated milk.

To make two cups of chai, take 2 cups of water along with 1 tea bag and place in a pot. Take 1 cardamom pod and open up the shell a little bit. Bring these ingredients to a boil. Once boiling, add 1/3 cup of evaporated milk and let the tea simmer for a little while. I think this simmering is key to making a fantastic cup of chai. My mom doesn’t add sugar to the pot, rather customizing it for each person since the amount is such a personal thing. If you prefer to add sugar to the whole pot, you can add it when you add the milk. Mom always strains the tea, whether using loose leaf or bag, ensuring the perfect creamy cuppa.

Ever since she discovered Tea India, my mom won’t use any other brand. She says its a nice strong tea and the flavour is one that can’t compare to others. They have a variety of flavours from Orange Pekoe, Masala, Cardamom and Ginger. They offer their teas in both loose leaf form as well as tea bags.

Want to try Tea India for yourself? You can win a Tea India mug with a couple samples of their loose leaf tea. Let me know how you like your tea – black, milky, iced, in latte form. Leave a comment below, or connect with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Contest closes Saturday, June 18th, 2016.

key lime tarts

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Key lime pies are the perfect summer time desserts. Sweet and tart, one bite and I’m reminded of the Florida Keys.

What’s even better than key lime pies? Key lime tarts! Who doesn’t love having their own little dessert? These silky, citrusy bites are made even better topped with whipped cream.

These are great to whip up when you have company coming since they literally take 5 minutes to prepare.

Key Lime Tarts

8-10 frozen tart shells
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
2 small egg yolks or 1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup key lime juice

Combine the condensed milk, egg yolks and key lime juice and mix until well combined. Pour into the prepared crust and bake at 300 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Once cool, refrigerate. Serve with whipping cream. Garnish with key lime zest.

in and around calgary

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There’s been a lot going on the last couple months in Calgary. From restaurant openings, new menus and celebrations, it’s been busy! Here’s what’s been happening!

PZA Parlour
This new restaurant is located in the SW, taking over the space that was once home to Red Robin. The decor is great and the restaurant features a planter wall and even a Vespa.

I came for a bloggers dinner and we were treated to an amazing meal!

From crispy calamari to cheesy pizza to the best doughnuts topped with Nutella!

Thomsons Restaurant Summer Menu
I was invited to check out Thomsons new summer menu. We tried their Apple & Brie Grilled Cheese as well as their signature dishes like their Steak Bites made with Alberta Beef. I also loved their nachos, especially with their lime sour cream.

They have quite a list of cocktails to enjoy as well. Perfect for enjoying on their patio.

Second Cup Reimagined
Second Cup Coffee Co. unveiled its first-ever cafe of the future in Calgary. With a completely new look, you would never guess that this was a Second Cup!

Some of the items that stood out were:
The Slow Bar which features the Steampunk – a coffee brewing system that is uses technology to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

A Wireless Charging Station

Community Wall Mural

The new concept store in Calgary is located in the Braeside Shopping Centre.


Veg-In YYC

Veg-In YYC is a new vegetarian cafe open in Downtown Calgary. From sandwiches to burgers, these meals are made using the freshest ingredients. These vegan and vegetarian dishes have an east indian influence. Don’t forget to get your chai or lassi!

Good Earth Coffee House

Good Earth Coffee House opened its first location on 11th Street in Calgary 25 years ago! Since then, its grown to over 45 locations nationwide.  Congrats on your anniversary!

cheesecake stuffed strawberries

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There’s not many people that I know who don’t like cheesecake. These Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries are perfect when you feel like cheesecake but don’t feel like all the work. They are great for entertaining because they take minutes to make, leaving you with lots of time to focus on other things. The sweetened cream cheese mixture is piped into the centre of a strawberry and topped with graham cracker crumbs. All the components of a cheesecake in one bite!

I prefer the idea of turning the strawberry upside down and just make a couple cuts to fill the luscious cheese mixture in. You could make a hole and scoop out the inside but why waste the delicious fruit?

I’m excited to participate in the Canadian Food Creatives Strawberry Collaboration. Thanks so much to Amanda for hosting! Check out all the fabulous recipes and see this recipe below.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries by Food Mamma
Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Covered Strawberries by 365 Days of Easy Recipes
Dark Chocolate Strawberry Oatmeal Pancakes by She Bakes Here
Rituals + Strawberry, Rhubarb, Ginger Shrub by Eating Niagara
Simple Macerated Strawberries by She Loves Biscotti
Strawberry Cheesecake Popsicles by Homemade & Yummy
Strawberry Ice Cream with Drunken Rhubarb by Sugarlovespices
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble with Toasted Almonds by Crumb Kitchen
Strawberry-Rhubarb Streusel Buns by Crumb: A Food Blog
Strawberry Rolls with Basil Cream by The Cinnamon Scrolls
Strawberry Shortcake with Lavender Lemon Cream by My Kitchen Love
Strawberry Streusel Shortbread Bars by The Bluenose Baker
Strawberry Vanilla Cream Tart by Tiny Sweet Tooth
Yogurt Cake with Roasted Strawberries and Rhubarb by Making Healthy Choices

 

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

15-20 strawberries
1 block cream cheese
1/4 cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 TB graham cracker crumbs

Cream the cheese, icing sugar and vanilla until combined.  Put the mixture into an icing bag.

Wash and dry the strawberries. From the bottom of the strawberry, make two cuts but not all the way down. Pipe the cheese mixture into the cut, letting it fill to the top. Sprinkle the filled strawberries with the graham cracker crumbs.

grilled stone fruit salad

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It’s looking like its going to be another fantastic week. Days that are hot, the kitchen is the last place I want to be. We happily throw things on the bbq, while hanging around on the deck. We tend to eat a little lighter when it’s hot and salads become main meals, using whatever is in season.

Grilling stone fruits like nectarines and plums and then adding them to greens makes a delicious salad, definitely not boring. The fruit takes minutes to cook and really brings out the flavour of the fruit.  Olive oil and balsamic are all that’s needed to dress the salad. We also can’t forget the cheese, the perfect finishing touch.

Grill the fruit by cutting it in half, rubbing it with a little oil and placing it on the bbq. After a couple of minutes, remove from the heat and place on top of your favourite greens, like arugula. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, add salt and pepper and top with a sprinkling of feta. This is great as-is or made heartier with some chicken or beef.

world partnership walk 2016

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There’s less than ten days until the World Partnership Walk, taking place in Calgary on Sunday, June 5th.  This walk is Canada’s largest event in support of global development, taking place in ten Canadian cities. 
I’ve been participating in this walk since I was little and it’s so
great to be able to do the walk with my kids.

It’s a fun day walking
around Prince’s Island Park, enjoying the entertainment and, let’s not
forget about the food!  Samosas and Chicken Tikka from A Fine Balance, Butter Chicken and Bhel from Africana and Ribs and Kebabs from Royal Quality Catering. These great vendors are donating a portion of their sales to the World Partnership Walk.

Subway and The Burger Shack will also be there and will be donating 100% of the proceeds to the walk. So basically, you’re making a difference by eating – perfect!

Q is raising funds and if you would like to donate, you can do so here. Thank you! Hope to see you at the walk. Step forward and help end global poverty.

cheesy puff pastry sticks

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Puff pastry is one of those versatile things that are great to have in the freezer.  It’s perfect for desserts or main courses and great for making a range of appetizers.

I had people coming over and needed something to add to the charcuterie board. I was hoping for bread sticks but didn’t have any. I did have puff pastry though so cheese sticks sounded perfect. I had recently found Nigella seeds which added a burst of flavour with every bite. These taste great, and even more so when they are warm.

Cheesy Puff Pastry Sticks

1 sheet puff pastry
1 cup shredded cheddar / marble cheese
2 tsp nigella seeds

Roll out the puff pastry. Sprinkle the cheese on the pastry and fold it in half. Roll it out again so that the cheese gets incorporated into the dough. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the pastry and run the rolling pin over it so that the seeds get embedded into the dough. Cut strips and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, giving them a little twist. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

spiced garlic bread burgers

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It was a typical May long weekend – cloudy, rain and even snow! This past weekend was a far cry from the 30 degree weather we experienced the week before. You gotta love Calgary weather.

Last week’s hot temperatures made us want to bbq. We really felt like having some burgers and not having any buns was not going to stop us. I had a couple loaves of garlic bread in the freezer and it made the perfect enclosure for some juicy, spiced burgers. Adding cumin and coriander definitely added the pop of flavour that I was hoping for. Combined with the buttery garlic from the toasted bread, it was a satisfying summer time meal.

Spiced Garlic Bread Burgers

1 lb ground beef
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground corainder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
salt
pepper
garlic bread

Combine the beef with the spices, mixing just enough to get everything mixed together. Make patties and bbq. Grill the garlic bread and any veggies you want to top your burger. Enjoy!