"Best Loved Food of the '50's"

I stumbled across this cookbook years ago in the bargain section of the book store. I was captivated by the look of that chicken on the cover, and snatched it up for $5! The book itself is cute to say the least in it's style, the pages are full of retro styling, and the recipes are authentic to the time with it's inclusions of "Spam" and "Jello", to name a few of the '50's kitchen staples used in the recipes.

Admittedly I haven't been through all of the recipes in the book yet - but this past weekend, with it's blazing sunshine made me crave some summer BBQ food, so I reached for this book for some inspiration. Immediately the "Hawaiian Burgers" and "Carmen Miranda Cake" called my name - so I gave them a whirl - they were great! Here are the recipes:

Hawaiian Burgers

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup pineapple preserves (I bet an Asian style pineapple dipping sauce would work too)
1/3 cup BBQ sauce
6 Pineapple slices
6 hamburger buns split and toasted

1) Combine beef, onions, Worcestershire and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into six 1/2-inch-thick patties.

2) Combine preserves and BBQ sauce in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

3) Grill, covered 8-10 minutes (or uncovered 13-15 minutes) until cooked through (160*F), turning and brushing often with sauce. Grill pineapple 1 minute or until browned, turning once.

4) Serve burgers with pineapple on toasted buns.

Broiling Directions: arrange patties on a rack in broiler pan. Broil 4 inches from the heat until cooked through (160*F), turning and brushing often with sauce. Broil pineapple 1 minute, turning once.

*I also added blue cheese to this, mmmmm, And I think next time I will also add bacon as well.

Carmen Miranda Cake

1 1/3 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup (6 ounces) frozen tropical fruit punch concentrate
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon dark rum
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 cups fruit chunks (pineapple, peach, star fruit, kiwi, watermelon, berries, grapes)

1) Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease and flour 8x4 loaf pan. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl (tip: if you hold your sifter higher above the bowl you will get more air in your flour mixture - makes for a better batter in my experience)

2) Beat butter and sugar iin a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in yogurt and vanilla. Gradually add your flour mixture and beat until blended. scrape down side of bowl as necessary. Spread batter in prepared pan.

3) Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centre come out clean; cool 20 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

4) Meanwhile, prepare glaze. Combine fruit punch concentrate and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve honey. Boil 5 minutes. Mix rum and cornstarch together in a small bowl; stir into hot fruit mixture and cook 1 minute or until thickened. Let glaze cool to room temperature.

5) Set cake on wire rack over baking sheet. Brush thick coat of glaze over cake top, allowing some to flow down sides. Arrange fruit chunks on top. Pour remaining glaze over fruit and cake top. Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour before serving.

What a fitting name for a cake - it actually is reminiscent of the stunning Carmen Miranda! Love it! The cake itself is delicious and refreshing with all of the fresh fruit! Perfect for a summer BBQ. Enjoy!

Simple Summer Spaghetti

This month's issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine lays out a variety of summer recipes that are sure to satisfy the palette and impress your BBQ guests.

Tonight for dinner Hubby and I tested out their "Simple Summer Spaghetti". The article suggests you ask your BBQ guests to bring over their fav farmer's market veggies to grill, and then add them to this super simple pasta. Alas we don't have a grill, but never fear, the recipe is straight forward and adaptable, and it's instructions are for your conventional stove - yay!

Simple Summer Spaghetti

-12 oz. packaged dry spaghetti (we used Tinkyada's organic brown rice spaghetti - love the stuff - gluten free, and doesn't go mushy at all)
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped (we smashed it first as well to bring out the oils)
- Pinch crushed red pepper, or more to taste
- 2 cups cut-up grilled zucchini and/or summer squash (we just used raw zucchini, but I can see how grilled would taste better)
- 2 cups red and/or yellow cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley

1. Cook pasta according to package directions
2. Meanwhile, combine olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper (we added chicken to the recipe - so I cooked the chicken first in the oil, then added the garlic and pepper). Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, until garlic begins to soften. Do not let the garlic brown. Stir in Zucchini, tomatoes, and torn basil. Season well with salt and pepper.
3. Reduce heat to low and add pasta to skillet with some of the pasta's cooking water. Heat through, and toss with cheese. Garnish with fresh basil.

I served this pasta with a crusty multi-grain baguette  - it was awesome! It took about 15 min to throw it together too, which is great when you're looking for a quick healthy dinner. YUM!

More Than Just A Yardage Sale

Torontonians, be sure to mark this on your calendars - Toronto Textiles Museum's annual "More Than Just A Yardage Sale" Coming up Saturday May 25th 11am - 6pm; Sunday May 26th 10am - 1pm

You are sure to find amazing fabric remnants here for dirt cheap (I'm talking $1.00 stuff)! Better by far than any fabric store around, and the quality is high end! I LOVE this sale and have picked up some stellar pieces to use for throw pillows, clothing, art projects... and the list goes on.

You don't want to miss this one!

Admission: FREE!

When:  Saturday May 25th 11am - 6pm; Sunday May 26th 10am - 1pm

Where: Toronto Textiles Museum
             55 Centre Avenue
             Toronto, Ontario

(416) 599-5321

* Take the University Subway to Dundas Station

The Wonderful World of Vinegar

First off, I am dedicating this post to my cousin Heather - while she didn't introduce me to the wonderfulness of vinegar, she did discover it herself, and reminded me how awesome it is, and insisted I do a post about it - so I'm tipping my spray bottle to you Heather ;)

My Mom always used a spray bottle of vinegar and water to clean the windows and shine the surfaces at the coffee shop she used to manage when I was a kid. That paired with a coffee filter instead of paper towel for wiping, gave way to the kind of clean glass that birds and people alike mistook for open air.
While she used this formula at work as a means of cutting costs, we still used the chemical versions at home - probably because we fell victim to the marketing myth that harsher chemicals did a better job of cleaning?

Up until about a week ago, admittedly I too was using "Green Works" or other store bought cleaning products to clean my surfaces. When Heather learned of the seemingly magical qualities of vinegar and water, she quickly mentioned it to me, knowing my appreciation for natural alternatives (and magic of course). That was months ago, and in my head I thought "yes, yes, I know" and vowed to give it a try once my other cleaners had run out. It wasn't until the other day when I was trying to clean the mirror in my bathroom that I made the switch. We had a photographer coming in to take pictures of our house, since we're getting ready to sell (baby on the way = need more room) I had thought for months that the streaks I was experiencing on all of my glass was due to the quality of my paper towels - so for this particular cleaning job I switched to coffee filters - no luck, then newspaper - same fate. When both mediums failed to rid me of these taunting streaks - I knew it had to be the cleaner! So I threw some vinegar and water in a spray bottle - and VOILA! Just like true magic, a picture ready, perfect shine, was achieved instantly!  Now I am hooked!

A huge jug of vinegar only costs $0.99 or less in most supermarkets, and won't irritate anything! Safe for humans and animals alike, and shines up those surfaces like nobodies business. Any trace of vinegar smell is gone as soon as it evaporates leaving the smell of, get this... nothing! Not an eye watering potpourri of chemicals masking the left over crap that the cleaner didn't actually clean.

Here are some other great uses for Vinegar:

1) As a toilet cleaner - pour in a cup or so at full strength and let it sit over night to kill germs.
2) As a Calcium/Lime remover - remove calcium/lime buildup from hard water on your shower head, or around your taps. Soak the area at full strength (or add some baking soda) for a half hour or so, and rinse clean.
3) As a laundry booster; stain remover on clothing and carpets - poor into your wash cycle to give it a boost. Also use a spray bottle with 1 part water, 1 part vinegar to spray spots on clothing before washing (just like Shout etc.) can also be used on carpet stains in the same way - just spray on and blot up.
4) As an air purifier - I put a bowl of straight vinegar out on the kitchen counter to take away bad cooking smells that linger after cooking - like frying smells that just won't quit - works like a charm every-time!
5) As a floor cleaner - works wonders on your ceramic tile, laminate floors, linoleum, you name it! 1 part vinegar to 3 parts hot water in a bucket will give your floors a steak-free shine that will make your neighbours gossip :)
6) Of course we also use it for fries, and in our poached eggs, pickling and many other cooking applications. We also use Apple Cider Vinegar both for cooking, and if we have acid reflux - a tsp of the stuff down the hatch cures it instantly!

Needless to say I'll be using vinegar for as many applications as I can going forward. No more wasting money on any store bought cleansers. 
I'd love to learn of more uses for vinegar, or some other natural cleaning remedies that you might have... what are some ways that you use vinegar?

What on Earth is "Oil Pulling"?

While perusing one of my new favourite Mama Blogs - I came across a video about "Oil Pulling". Well at first I was sort of grossed out, but mainly I was super curious! So I began googling, and apparently people have been experiencing some seriously awesome reactions to this little ritual, that I couldn't ignore.

What is it? Well, first thing in the morning (or on an empty stomach) you pop a spoonful of veg. oil into your mouth and swish it around for 15-20 min. It supposed to activate natural enzymes, and pull toxins out of your body through your mouth. Sounds a little hoaky, but people are reporting amazing health results! First and foremost, stellar oral health. Whiter teeth; healthier gums - not to mention story after story of people's accounts of healed gum disease, tooth infections etc. the list goes on. the next most common result was softer, clearer, glowing skin all over the body, specifically on the face, elbows and heals.
There are also reports of cured asthma, headaches, bronchitis, thrombosis, chronic blood disorders, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, eczema, stomach ulcers, chronic intestinal diseases, heart and Nierenbe complaints, gynecological illnesses, neurological diseases and liver diseases! *

SO, I thought, why not try it out myself?  There's no harm in trying, since it's just oil.. and the worst that could happen is that it makes me gag the first time, and the best that could happen is that I have improved health.

Day 1 - today :) I grabbed a spoonful of organic coconut oil and had a very hard time popping it into my mouth. Coconut oil is great b/c the taste is mild, and it smells great, but it's solid at room temperature, so it was really weird to have in my mouth at first. (most resources suggest sesame oil, so I think I'll be switching to that soon, as I think the texture will be easier on the palette :} ) I had to keep it between my teeth and cheek until it dissolved into my saliva. But, after that, it was easy peasy! 15 minutes of swishing, then I spit it out into the garbage. You wouldn't want to spit into a sink b/c it might clog the drain. I then rinsed with salt water (everything I've read has suggested this b/c there are loads of toxins and bacteria left over in your mouth that you really should rinse out). Then I brushed my teeth like usual. So I'll continue to do this every morning, and take photos every week to track any visual progress (whiter teeth, pinker gums?)  

*Here is the link to oilpulling.com, for more in depth information on this technique.

I'd love to hear if anyone has ever tried this, and their experience with it :)

Good Ol' Fashioned Dog Treats!

This is Watson, our lovable not-so-little Bernese Mountain Dog. We love her to bits.. and we try our best to provide her with the best we know how, physically, emotionally and nutritionally :)

It wasn't that long ago that kibble was introduced to pet owners as an economical and easy food option for pets, sort of like a TV dinner for pets - it was all about simplifying our daily lives. In fact it was only 60 years ago or so that kibble was introduced. Before then, pets ate table scraps and raw food. So we choose to live by this philosophy with Watson for a number of reasons, and we feed our pupster raw meat and veggies, as well as appropriate table scraps. We still buy "natural" manufactured dog treats for the most part, such as dehydrated beef liver, but today I am going to make our girl some homemade cookies :) They are dead easy, and Watson LOVES them. It's a good thing these recipes make so many, because they won't last very long.

I found these recipes (and adapted them a touch) in a little doggy cookbook called "The Doggy Bone Cookbook"; not only are they super easy, and make a lot as I mentioned, but they are really inexpensive to make.. and if you are a dog owner, you know how much natural dog treats can set you back.. even the crappy ones can cost an arm and a leg :) These cookies also make great gifts for doggy friends!

Peamutt Butter
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tbsp veggie oil
1 cup water
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl combine peanut butter, oil, and water. Gradually add flour, then oatmeal. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with your favourite cookie cutter. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 35 min. Makes 5 dozen.

Garlick & Cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp garlic powder (or) 3 cloves of minced fresh garlic
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together cheese, garlic and butter. Add Milk and flour. Mold mixture into ball and roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough with your favourite cookie cutter and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 min. or until edges start to brown. Makes 3 dozen.

***A note about garlic. Some professionals say that since garlic is a member of the onion family that it could be bad for dogs; while other professionals recommend it for natural pest repellent such as heart-worm prevention and repelling mosquitoes - studies also show that it is great for a dog's cardiovascular system.  We've been giving Watson raw garlic in her food for years now, and she's thriving. However, please use your own discretion as a pet owner.

An Interesting Read... Some More Food For Thought

For those readers who asked me on and off this blog about the Home Birth issue... here is a fantastic blog post I read today in support of home births. It raises a point that I will surely be discussing with my midwife about what happens to baby right after delivery in the hospital.

Mama Birth: The Real Reason I Birth at Home

The link to the video the author refers to is highlighted in blue in her post. I almost missed it :)
Admittedly I watched the YouTube video before reading the post.. and for the first few minutes I didn't know why we were being directed to it.. but as I started to avert my eyes, it quickly became apparent.

It's not necessarily overly graphic, or a "scare" tactic brought to us by granolas lol.. just something I hadn't thought about before.. and most women do not even realize what happens to their babies in the moments after delivery. I never thought to even ask what to expect..

It's food for thought.. go check it out! :)

Also, I encourage you to read the comments after the blog.. Interesting stuff!