Side Dishes

Enjoy Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit with a Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Salad Recipe

July 4, 2016 by Kathryn 7 Comments

There are some foods that instantly remind me of summer and kiwifruit is one of my favourites. Its tangy yet sweet flavour is a great compliment to so many dishes and also makes a tasty and healthy snack all on its own!

Recently I had the chance to create a recipe with a type of kiwifruit I hadn’t heard of before: Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit. With distinctive bright yellow flesh speckled with black seeds, it has a sweeter flavour than the more commonly known Zespri Green Kiwifruit. I couldn’t wait to use it to create something delicious.

Since summer food is so full of colour, I love creating recipes that make the most of those colours. And of course, everyone knows that strawberry and kiwi always make an appealing flavour combination!

I decided to use the traditional pairing in a new way: Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Salad with Balsamic Kiwi Vinaigrette. This light and refreshing strawberry spinach salad is bursting with flavour and has become my new favourite summer side dish. [Read more…]

Fall Entertaining with Four Simple Recipes Using Jam

September 29, 2014 by Kathryn 50 Comments

As sad as it seems, summer has officially come to an end and while I know I’ll sure miss the warm and lazy days in the backyard, autumn does have its own appeal as well. And the hearty, comforting foods of the season are definitely a big part of autumn to me!

I love showing off the season’s delicious foods by inviting friends and family for a meal but, while I enjoy entertaining, I don’t want to spend all my time cooking either! Quick and easy recipes are a stand-by for me and so I recently set out to create some tasty fall recipes using jam that cook in less than 15 minutes and contain five ingredients or fewer.

Blueberry Brie Tarts

These simple appetizers have a gourmet taste and a rich flavour that guests will love. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place one package of 18 frozen tart shells on a cookie sheet. Fill each tart shell with three ½-inch cubes of Brie cheese. Bake for ten minutes, until cheese is melted. Top each tart with ½ teaspoon of Blueberry Jam and bake 2-3 minutes more, until jam is bubbly. Serve immediately. [Read more…]

Easy Asian Salad Japanese Coleslaw Recipe

September 28, 2014 by Kathryn 8 Comments

asian-salad-pinterest-pin

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and for me, the highlight of the day is making a big, delicious meal for my family.

I tend to go a little bit overboard during the holidays and this year will be no exception! From tried and true favourites to new tasty fall dishes, there’s just nothing better than Thanksgiving dinner.

japanese-coleslaw [Read more…]

Let it Bloom – Dairy-Free Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe with Silk Almond Original

June 9, 2014 by Kathryn 80 Comments

Before I had kids, I loved using Silk Original Vanilla soy beverage in my coffee and cereal instead of milk. But since it was slightly sweetened, it wasn’t the best choice for cooking savoury dishes and keeping two different products in the refrigerator just didn’t make sense to me. Silk beverages have expanded their line a lot since then and so when I was given the opportunity to create some tasty recipes using Silk products and vegetables that flower, I couldn’t wait to see what I could whip up. The low calories, calcium and essential vitamins in Silk products are such a great addition to a healthy lifestyle and I was already beaming at the prospect of adding them to my diet again.

As a huge fan of the cruciferous vegetables, I decided that I wanted to create a recipe featuring broccoli. There’s nothing I love more than a delicious bowl of soup and cream soups are my absolute favourite. But they do tend to be heavy on fat and calories, and what if you’re vegan, lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy? This delicious Cream of Broccoli soup is the perfect solution! Using Silk Original Almond beverage and fresh vegetables, it has a rich, creamy flavour as well as calcium and Vitamin D for extra nutrition.

[Read more…]

Let it Bloom – Roasted Asparagus and Dijon Cream Sauce Recipe with Silk Organic

June 2, 2014 by Kathryn 77 Comments

I absolutely love vegetables that flower, from broccoli and cauliflower to zucchini and spinach. But of all the flowering vegetables, asparagus is easily one of my favourites. It’s such a seasonal treat with its fresh and versatile flavour and it’s absolutely loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. I’ve actually been known to eat asparagus raw by the stick, but I also love cooking it as a side dish and, with a great sauce as an accompaniment, asparagus quickly goes from everyday to gourmet.

I had a few different varieties of Silk beverage to choose from and I decided to use Silk Organic Unsweetened soy beverage to create a Dijon cream sauce for my asparagus. To really bring out the flavour of the vegetable, roasting it seemed like the best option. The result was a side-dish that was ready in less than 15 minutes, contained even more added nutrients thanks to the addition of the Silk Organic, and tasted absolutely amazing.

[Read more…]