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sumac roasted cauliflower

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We had leftover kebabs for dinner the other night and I needed a vegetable side to go along with it. I had this idea of combining sumac with the cauliflower and thought it would be a great accompaniment to our dinner.

Sumac is a middle eastern spice which I really should use more often. It has a bit of a tart lemony flavour, perfect for livening up vegetables or even meat. I combined the sumac with some complementary flavours of coriander and garlic and tossed it with the cauliflower florets. These were then roasted until the cauliflower was carmelized – yum!

My only regret when I made this was I only did half the cauliflower. I didn’t realize how big of a hit this was going to be. Hubby loved it, but even more surprising, Q loved it. He couldn’t get enough and requested I make the other half right away!

Sumac Roasted Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 TB olive oil
2 TB sumac
1 TB garlic powder
1 TB coriander powder
salt
pepper

Combine the oil and the spices and toss with the cauliflower florets. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until cauliflower is soft.

al’s grill at amato gelato (chestermere)

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As great as it was to escape to paradise, it was nice to come home on the weekend. Sure we came back to a little cold and snow but there’s no place like home.

Since we hardly slept on the way home, we were exhausted and all of us had a nice long nap. We were starving when we woke up but had no desire to cook. Amato Gelato to the rescue!

Amato Gelato in Chestermere has opened a side business in their gelato shop, Al’s Grill. Al’s Grill features East African specialties like fried cassava, pili pili fries and chicken poussin.

We ordered the mishkaki chicken combo which came with 3 skewers of marinated chicken, salad, fries and naan. It was delicious! The chicken was flavourful and moist and I loved the skinny fries that it came with. The best part was that Z, who had refused to eat anything for a few meals, loved the chicken and devoured a couple of sticks of chicken. Made this mamma very happy!

We also had the fried cassava which was cooked to perfection. It was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and perfect with the tamarind chutney that it came with.

We can’t wait to go back and enjoy some more of their delicious food. Next time, we will have to leave room for dessert! We are definitely lucky to have this gem in Chestermere. With great service and friendly owners, it’s definitely a business that deserves support.

Amato Gelato Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

moderne sushi and bbq

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Since moving to Chestermere over nine years ago, we have seen the city grow. We saw the food scene grow with the addition of a few pizza places, family restaurants, fast food joints and coffee shops. One thing that was missing though was sushi. Until now.

Moderne Sushi and BBQ opened last month, making all the sushi lovers ecstatic. I checked out the new restaurant a couple weeks ago with the kids and was so happy that I did.

Moderne is quite large taking up the whole space left behind by the Bargain Shop. It has been renovated into a very beautiful restaurant with great light fixtures and lots of seating.

For me, two things make a restaurant worth going back to – the service and the food. The service was incredible! The staff were super friendly and very accommodating, making sure that both kids were happy and comfortable.

The food was great! We tried the salmon and the scallops, both of which were fresh and delicious.

We tried a number of rolls and they were all good! The ingredients were fresh and the cooked items were perfect. Both kids ate very well.

Overall, I was very impressed with the restaurant. We didn’t try the Korean bbq that they offered but it gives us a good excuse to go back. This place is definitely worth checking out.

Moderne Sushi & BBQ Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

#onmypath giveaway

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It’s February, a time when many people may have broken their New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes it’s hard to stick with it, no matter how great your intentions are. We tried something easy this year, incorporating smoothies as part of our daily routine and getting more fruits and veggies into us.

Nature’s Path wants to help you stay on a healthy path by two amazing giveaways!

The first way is a chance to win granola for a year. They want to know what’s on your path for 2016 by posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using both hashtags: #OnMyPath and #GranolaForAYear. The prize includes everything you need to get back on a healthy path including: Nature’s Path granola and organic breakfast foods for a year, DIY Vegan, by Nicole Axworthy & Lisa Pitman – recipe book including more than 100 ways to create an awesome plant-based pantry and Un-Junk Your Diet by Desiree Nielsen, R.D. – how to shop, cook and eat to feel better forever. This contest closes on February 28, 2016.

The second way is right on this blog. There are a few ways to win (see below). The Nature’s Path #OnMyWay giveaway includes:

An assortment of Nature’s Path delicious organic & non-GMO granolas including Nature’s Path Coconut Chia Granola made with wholesome clusters whole-grain rolled oats, omega-rich chia seeds, and coconut flakes. Plus each serving is naturally packed with 6 grams of plant protein and 5 grams of fibre!
Free product vouchers
A printed copy of the new Nature’s Path 7 Days of Healthy Recipes & Lifestyle Tips Ebook

I received a box of these goodies and they are delicious. Especially good on top of my smoothies – they provide the perfect crunch!

Contest closes February 24th. Contest is open to Canadian and US residents only. US or Canadian shipping address must be provided. An email will be sent to the winner. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

All prizes will be shipping after March 1, 2016. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

pineapple shrimp

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I have been wanting to go to Hawaii for years. With a big birthday coming up next month, I decided that this was the year we were going, no matter how much hubby was resisting. I can’t wait!

I made this pineapple shrimp dish to get us into the tropical spirit. It’s a perfect balance of sweet and heat and super tasty. This dish comes together super quick and goes great with rice or all on it’s own. Make it even more festive by serving it in a pineapple bowl!

Pineapple Shrimp

1/4 cup pineapple, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1 green onion, chopped,
1 pound shrimp
2 TB hoisin sauce
2 TB soya sauce
1 tsp sriracha, or as needed
cilantro
vegetable oil
sesame oil

Add some vegetable and sesame oil to a hot pan. Add the garlic, onions and shrimp. After a minute, add the pineapple and sauces and cook until shrimp are opaque. Sprinkle with cilantro and enjoy.

nutella pot de creme

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Valentine’s Day is this weekend, and as fun as it is to go out, sometimes it’s nice to have a quiet meal at home…or, a loud and crazy if you have the kids at home with you.

Nutella Pot De Creme is the perfect dessert to celebrate the day of love. It takes minutes to prepare, so you can spend the day with your loved one, and is super easy. The fancy sounding chocolate pudding is mousse-like in texture and is creamy and chocolatey. The fact that it has Nutella makes me love it even more.

These luscious desserts take a couple hours to set so they can easily be made in advance.You can make this in large bowl or make individual desserts by placing them in glasses. Makes it look a little more fancy. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream and you’ve got yourself something to spoil your Valentine.

I’m excited to be participating in a Valentine’s Day Blog Hop with some of my favourite foodies. Check out posts by: Merry About Town, Bakerbeans, Dish N The Kitchen and Edible Life in YYC.

Nutella Pot de Creme

1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup Nutella
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 cup whipping cream

1 cup whipping cream
1 TB icing sugar

In a blender, combine the chocolate chips, Nutella and egg yolks and blend together. Meanwhile, heat up the whipping cream until bubbles start to form but not boiling. Add the whipping cream slowly through the lid of the blender while blending on low. Once combined, pour into some bowls or glasses and place in the fridge to set, approximately 2-3 hours.

Blend the cream and the sugar until whipped. Place a dollop on top of each pot de creme.

nutella ricotta braided pastry

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It’s World Nutella Day so I felt I needed to make you something with Nutella. Okay, fine, I made it for me, but I’m happy to share. This dessert is super simple, takes a couple minutes to put together and bakes for around 15 minutes.

I love the versatility of puff pastry so it’s something I usually have around. I took the pastry and made cuts on two sides so that it could be braided.  I spread about 2TB of Nutella in the middle and topped with about 4 TB of ricotta on top. Braid the pastry, brush with egg whites and top with nuts. Easy peasy. Just put the prepared pastry in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Voila – you have something delicious to celebrate Nutella!