gourmet

Take a Hot Dog to New Heights with Stonewall Kitchen Condiments from Gourmet Trading Co.

January 24, 2018 by Kathryn 4 Comments

When it comes to cooking, I love to put a new twist on some of the more classic dishes that we all love. And as a family that’s obsessed by barbeque, I tend to dress up our hot dogs fairly often! I’ve done Mexican-style hot dogs with salsa, sour cream and cheese. I’ve done loaded dogs with all the classic burger vegetables.

And when Gourmet Trading Co. gave me the chance to review some of the scrumptious Stonewall Kitchen products, I decided to choose ones that would let me create a gourmet hot dog that would combine some of the fanciest flavours with the ballpark favourite.

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Best Ever Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Two Cheeses and Roasted Garlic Artisan Bread

December 5, 2016 by Kathryn 50 Comments

Like most kids, I loved grilled cheese sandwiches when I was young. The sandwich of my youth was the classic processed cheese slice on white bread flattened down as much as possible and cooked to a golden brown. I still love the idea of grilled cheese, but my tastes have matured since those days. So I decided it was time to make my grilled cheese sandwich gourmet!

With two cheeses, artisan bread and a creamy tomato and roasted red pepper soup served on the side, this sandwich was everything I had hoped it would be. If you’ve been looking for a top-shelf grilled cheese, look no further!

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Gourmet Tomato Bruschetta and Chocolate Mousse Ready in Minutes with the Braun PureMix Blender

October 19, 2016 by Kathryn 28 Comments

For the last few days, I’ve had a blast testing out the Braun PureMix blender. From smoothies and milkshakes to soups and sauces, there’s so much I can do with this versatile machine. I especially love using it to crush ice; the special pulsing setting for crushed ice gives perfect results every time!

But as much as I loved using the blender for basic recipes, I really wanted to get a little more gourmet with my Braun PureMix recipe creations. So I decided to create a gourmet appetizer and dessert with the blender: Tomato Bruschetta and Chocolate Mousse!

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Try Coffee That Will Start Your Engine with Freshly Roasted Driven Coffee-Giveaway

February 22, 2016 by Kathryn 173 Comments

Even though I’ve loved a good cup of coffee ever since I was a teenager, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I realized just how much of a difference there could be between a basic store brand and a freshly roasted quality brand of coffee beans. Once I tasted the difference, I soon became a full-on coffee snob. While I do have my favourite blends and brands, I always love discovering new varieties to add to my coffee lineup. So when I had the chance to test out Driven Coffee, I couldn’t wait to see how I liked it.

I chose three different varieties to review: Papua New Guinea, Fair Trade Organic Mexico Sierra Azul and Impact Espresso Blend. I tend to favour dark roasts, but wanted to try a medium blend as well to get a better feel for the company’s variety. The coffee is available either as whole beans or pre-ground and since I believe the best flavour comes from freshly ground coffee, I chose the whole bean coffee to test. I loved learning that it was roasted in small batches just before being shipped out to maximize freshness!

When the coffee arrived, the smell had me drooling before I’d even opened the box. I popped two of the bags in the freezer to ensure the beans stayed fresh and opened the Papua New Guinea coffee for my first taste-test. It had a nice medium strength and body with a very smooth flavour. I liked the way the coffee was distinctive at the first sip, yet didn’t overpower. It was a perfect breakfast blend to kick start my day!
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Host a Gourmet Holiday Lunch with Open-Faced Apple and Gruyere Sandwiches and Happy Planet Soup

December 10, 2015 by Kathryn 19 Comments

Holiday entertaining often means evening parties with plates of appetizers, huge turkey dinners with all the fixings and a large variety of sweets and treats. But what if you want to do something a little more low key for your holiday event, yet still just as classy? A gourmet luncheon may be just the holiday event you’ve been looking for!

I decided to throw a little lunch party recently for a few friends, and I knew just where to start when it came to planning the menu. Happy Planet Fresh Soups are the perfect gourmet addition to any meal, and I decided that a simple menu of the new West African Squash and Cashew Soup with Open-Faced Apple and Gruyere Sandwiches would be the perfect way to impress guests without too much effort!

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