I have so many funny stories to share with you since we opened the restaurant. Some funny in a comical way, some funny in a ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ kind of way. My story today is the latter. We … Continue reading
Nothing says back to school like a stack of homemade peanut butter cookies I’m sure there are more iconic reminders than PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES of the dreaded end of summer, but on this dreary torrential down pour of a day, … Continue reading
For most of the world Easter means springtime: tree buds bursting open, tiny flower heads pushing through soft earth, birdsong, kneesocks, marbles and skipping ropes. In eastern Canada, it means we can start hoping that winter’s over. These delicate, melt-in-your-mouth … Continue reading
Every December, I’m on the hunt for a new-to-our-family Christmas treat. Last year’s Jasmine Orange Meltaways were fantastic, but take more time than I have to bake this year. A big part of my search involved looking for ‘quick’ recipes. I, … Continue reading
Its six am Tuesday, two days before the launch of my menu for Billy’s Seafood Restaurant. Sleep is impossible. Detail after intricate detail forced me to get up, pour a cup of coffee and go over my lists…again. Billy Grant, the namesake … Continue reading
Date Squares are a humble sweet and perfect for our anniversary. Not my wedding anniversary but rather this site’s anniversary – you and me. April 4, 2015 marked my fourth year of cooking, writing, photographing and sharing my life with you. … Continue reading
I saw Kaitie on Sunday. She met us at the Toronto airport during our lay-over holding a homemade cardboard sign that said, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Hooton’, surrounded by hearts. For exactly 150 minutes, we secretly held hands under the table … Continue reading
I love lavender. The delicate scent and stunning color calms me. There’s a reason lavender essential oil is used in aromatherapy! I saw it growing as a hedge in Tuscany and have been thinking about this shortbread recipe ever since. My herb garden receives up … Continue reading
I met my daughter Sara when she two and a half years old. Ralph used to bring her to the aerobics class that I taught. She would happily sit with her blanket sucking her thumb, while Ralph took the class. … Continue reading
It is unbelievable how alive I feel when the sun comes out. The last few weeks have been dark, dreary and all around dismal! Yikes! I started working on this post yesterday when the sun was brilliant and the temperature … Continue reading
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