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There are so many reasons why I like to make crumbles. They’re delicious, easy to make, fuss-free and there are so many fruit options and combination of fruit you can choose from. But what I look forward to the most in a crumble is the topping that covers the fruit. There are many possibilities, while some prefer to make the topping using only flour, butter and sugar, others will add oats. My preference is to include oats, as it makes the dessert heartier and adds more texture to the topping. Served warm, crumbles are an excellent choice for a comforting dessert in cooler weather.

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My parents just gave me a bunch of ripe juicy pears from their tree and after enjoying some fresh, I knew I wanted to bake with some of them. So I made this quick bread with pears, dates and walnuts and spiced it with cinnamon and nutmeg. The loaf came out tender and moist, perfectly sweetened and with a nice crunch from the toasted walnuts….

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I love how portable and easy energy bites are to grab, they’re one of my favourite ways to get a quick energy boost when I need one. There’s nothing more satisfying than a snack that tastes like an indulgent treat but one that you know is actually good for you. These No Bake Brownie Energy Bites taste like a fudgy dark chocolate brownie but are made by using superfoods, ingredients that are nutritious and are naturally beneficial to your health….

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These sweet potato wedges are seasoned with a combination of spices and herbs and then baked until perfectly tender and nicely browned.  Topped with softened feta cheese they make an addictive dish!

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My favourite way to consume blueberries is when they’re baked in a dessert where they become all jammy such as in pies, galettes or in cobblers such as this one. Galettes and pies are perfect for keeping the focus on the fruit itself and are great for using up the abundance of berries we have in the summer. I usually lean towards making galettes, I find them much simpler to make than pies. With galettes, there’s no need to fuss with the dough to get a perfectly crimped edge because galettes are actually meant to look rustic. As long as you roll out the dough into a circular looking shape, you’re on your way to a beautiful looking galette….

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I’m really happy to be sharing this recipe for Baked Rainbow Trout Fillets with Roasted Broccoli with you today. The most popular recipe on this blog is this baked rainbow trout recipe I published last year. And I’m not at all surprised about it, the recipe is quick and easy to make, has simple ingredients, healthy and delicious! When people see the pictures of that recipe on social media they often comment that the pictured fish is salmon, the pink flesh of rainbow trout can easily be mistaken for salmon, and though trout and salmon do belong to the same fish family, rainbow trout can vary in colour from ivory to pink. I find rainbow trout to be milder in flavour than salmon, but if you prefer salmon you can easily use it in place of rainbow trout in most recipes. Rainbow trout is high in protein and low in calories which makes it an ideal fish when looking for a quick and healthy meal. I like the convenience of rainbow trout fillets, purchasing them already filleted and depined (deboned) saves me time and makes it easier and safer when serving fish to children.  …

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Have you noticed the abundance of matcha tea flavoured desserts and drinks on Pinterest?  There are so many options of matcha confections one could choose from. The beautiful bright green colour of matcha seems so well suited for spring and summer desserts. So with summer fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to finally try baking with matcha.

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Are you or someone in your family a big hockey fan? If so, you’ve probably been watching the playoffs cheering your favourite team on. Those who know me well, know that I’m not the biggest sports fan but I am a fan of food, and game time snacks are the best!  I can always get excited about watching a game if there is some good food involved! And hockey playoff season is a great excuse for making your favourite game time appetizers! Chicken wings are my favourite and judging by their popularity, there’s a good chance they’re one of your favourites as well. Chicken wings are a classic game snacking food and with all the flavour possibilities out there you could have a different flavour for every game. My favourite version so far has to be these Baked Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce….

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I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to post a lemon flavoured dessert on my blog. I love them so much. But truthfully, I haven’t made one that I was excited enough about to put on my blog. There was always something that just wasn’t perfect.  But finally, I nailed it and I made one that I’m really really happy with. This Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting hits all the musts for me, its moist, tender, perfectly lemony, sweet but not overly so. …

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I love quick and easy meals, and a meal that doesn’t need to be thought of ahead of time or requires a stop at the grocery store on your way home is even better. Frittatas are super versatile and are great for using bits of leftover ingredients (steamed veggies for instance are perfect in frittatas) and cleaning out your refrigerator. Frittata is the Italian name of an egg dish that is made up of eggs, vegetables, cheese and can also contain meat. A frittata is started on the stovetop and then transferred to the oven to finish cooking. …

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Rich in omega 3 fatty acids and protein, salmon is a healthy option for quick and easy weeknight meals. This Thai Baked Salmon with Cilantro-Chili Sauce is one of the tastiest fish recipes you can make in under 30 minutes. I’ve been making this recipe for many years, it’s from Simply Thai Cooking, one of my first cookbooks and a favourite of mine as it’s full of great recipes.

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These lightly sweetened Homemade Coconut and Seed Bars are a chewy, wholesome and filling snack. Not only are they incredibly delicious, but they are made with ingredients loaded with nutrients that are good for you.

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I’ve discovered I could make the most delightful lattes and hot drinks in my Vitamix. It all started when I was making some hot chocolate for my children, I filled a pot with milk, cocoa and sugar, warmed it on the stove top making sure to whisk all the lumps of cocoa away, and just as I was almost done, I turned around to attend to my daughter (for a what seemed like a couple of seconds), only to have my hot chocolate boil over and create a giant mess!

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Coconut, almonds, light flaky wafers, sweetened condensed milk, and white and dark chocolate. These ingredients taste so good together it’s no wonder there are so many delectable creations incorporating them. Luckily, these ingredients are easy to come by and these Double Chocolate Coconut Almond Truffles couldn’t be easier to make.

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Did you know Mayans and Aztecs commonly added chile peppers to their chocolate drinks? And throughout history, many cultures used chile peppers as an aphrodisiac. So it seems perfectly fitting that for Valentine’s Day you would share some spiced chocolate concoction with your sweetheart! …

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I’ve been hearing so much about the benefits of turmeric lately. Turmeric contains the active ingredient curcumin which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. What I find especially appealing about curcumin is its ability to enhance the function of the liver to detoxify our bodies.  Though I’ve  been using turmeric for it’s beneficial health properties in savoury food for years, I’ve only started to use it in baked goods….

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Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealers. I received the FoodSaver® Wedge with Roll Storage and Fresh Handheld Sealer but opinions are 100% my own.

A couple of months ago, I was offered the chance to try out the FoodSaver® Wedge (FFS005) Vacuum System. Since I’ve always been curious about the FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealing System and I like to buy certain food items in bulk, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see how well it worked. Buying in bulk for my small family helps me save money, however, the problem I have with buying in large quantities is that things can go bad before we have a chance to consume it all. And I hate to throw food out.  
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This recipe for Pistachio Crusted Salmon is one of those simple recipes that produces a beautiful and flavourful dish that is sure to impress your guests. Salmon is a healthy dinner option and this recipe is so easy and quick to prepare. With some basic pantry ingredients you can have this flavourful and moist fish on the table in less than 30 minutes. …

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This fresh, gorgeous and festive salad, full of ruby red pomegranate seeds, juicy ripe pears, crunchy grapes, and lightly sweetened and spiced pecans is sure to impress your guests. I have been making and serving this salad for several years now and it is always a hit! …

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The combination of smoked salmon, cream cheese, fresh dill and green onions gives this Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Dip amazing flavour. It’s a real crowd-pleaser and so delicious that your guests will happily nibble away on this dip all evening long. …

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Did you know that you can make delicious fragrant sugar cookies by adding matcha powder to your recipe? It’s also a perfect way to add green colour to your Christmas baked goods without using any artificial colours. And adding matcha powder to sugar cookies is a great way of adding anti-oxidants to a recipe that would otherwise be devoid of any! …

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This recipe for Chocolate Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake is one from my childhood. My mom often used to bake this cake when we would have company. I can remember looking forward to having my slice of this moist and cinnamon-y cake with the crunchy topping. For some reason, my mom stopped baking this cake and recently I found myself craving it. I think all the cinnamon flavour in this cake must remind me of Christmas and so I’ve decided that this is the perfect time of the year to be sharing this flavourful bundt recipe with you.

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With so many variations possible for biscotti, it can be difficult to decide which ingredients to choose to flavour my biscotti. It’s become somewhat of a tradition, every year around the holidays I take my favourite Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti recipe and alter the fruit and nut to create a new biscotti.  This year, I opted for hazelnut, dark chocolate and some dried cherries. I kept the orange flavouring because it goes so well with chocolate, especially during the holiday season….

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Today I’m sharing one of my favourite soul warming soup recipes. I’m a big fan of soups, I think they’re perfect for lunch and I love making them for dinner as well. I find that as long as I have some good quality boxed broths and a few staple ingredients, I can quickly get a delicious and healthy meal on the table….

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Today I’m sharing another recipe that’s perfect for serving at social gatherings and one that would make a wonderful gift. These almonds are absolutely addictive, they make a great snack and are an excellent accompaniment to drinks and cocktails….

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I’m going to get straight to the point and tell you all about this good-looking Chocolate Swirled Brown Sugar Pumpkin Loaf. When I saw the recipe for this loaf in a recent edition of Canadian Living, I knew I was going to have to make it….

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I should start off by telling you that these maple spiced walnuts are addictive. I’m snacking on them as I’m writing this post, and though I was only going to have a few, I can’t seem to stop eating them! Anyways, these maple spiced walnuts are absolutely delectable! The nuts are crunchy and slightly sweet with a spicy aftertaste. They definitely make a great snack food, would make an excellent salad topping, are perfect for serving at cocktail evenings and would also make excellent holiday host or hostess gifts….

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There’s nothing more comforting than a hot bowl of soup on a cold fall day. Leek and potato soup is a classic and there are many variations, but however you like yours, this soup is delicious and so easy to make. Since I received my new Vitamix I’ve been using it daily, I’ve made so many delicious things in it. Last week, I posted a recipe for Butternut Squash and White Bean Dip, I’ve also made a marbled butternut squash and chocolate loaf, that one disappeared before I even got to take pictures, so I’ll be making that again soon so I can share it with you. On warmer days, I even made some healthy fruity frozen treats. But this post is about this Creamy Leek and Potato Soup with Garlic Parmesan Crostini….

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I love this time of the year, there’s a refreshing crispness to the air, the trees begin to get all beautifully coloured and the markets are bursting with fresh and local produce that I get to transform into delicious meals. I also love it, because my favourite holidays are quickly approaching and this means that I have plenty of occasions to prepare some fabulous food to share with family and friends. Canadian Thanksgiving is less than a month away, and this year I’m doing something very special. I’m having a Friendsgiving celebration! Have you heard of Friendsgiving yet?  If you haven’t, it’s the celebration of Thanksgiving with your friends! …

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It’s already the end of August, and in only a few weeks it will be the end of summer.  But before I say goodbye to summer recipes and start baking fall desserts, I had to share this seriously delicious fresh peach and blueberry cake. The recipe is an adaptation of Ina Garten’s peach cake. Her version has pecans in it, but since I needed to keep this cake nut free I used blueberries instead.  I can’t recall the last time I tried one Ina Garten’s recipes, but if all of her recipes are half as good as this cake, I need to remember to try more of them. …

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I turned my family’s favourite banana chocolate chip muffins recipe into whole wheat double chocolate banana muffins and they turned out fabulous!  These muffins are so chocolatey, that I’m sure they’ll satisfy even the most serious of chocolate cravings.  In fact, the muffins taste like decadent chocolate cake but are so much healthier for you. Best of all, these muffins are quick and easy to make with simple everyday ingredients that you probably already have on hand. …

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I don’t know about you, but the weather in my part of the world has been pretty hot this summer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I love the summer season. And because summers are so short, I like to fill them up with as many outdoor activities as I can. This means there isn’t much time for cooking, so I really appreciate meal ideas that will make my days easier. That’s why I love recipes like this pan fried rainbow trout with pineapple salsa.  Not only is this recipe simple and quick to make, it makes a flavourful, light and refreshing dish….

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This dish doesn’t only make a great meal because it’s quick to prepare but also because it’s nutritious and super versatile.  You can choose to use the recipe as a guide and substitute the spinach with zucchini, mushrooms or peas, or even a combination. You can also add some protein. With so many options available you can make this dish and change up the protein and veggies to keep from getting tired of it. Anyway you decide to make it, this pasta dish makes a fantastic mid-week meal.

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Trust me when I say you’ll want to make a batch of these cookies, they’re incredibly delicious and are sure to satisfy your cravings for a deep dark chocolate treat. They’re also super easy to make and there is no need to break out the mixer since these cookies can be mixed by hand. In fact, my 6 and 7-year-old made these cookies with only a little assistance from their mama. With the summer holidays and lots of time on our hands, we’ve been keeping quite busy with all sorts of fun activities. My kids love to bake and got really involved in making these cookies, not only did they help me make them but my eldest had some fun styling and photographing them as well. …

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Tabbouleh, also commonly spelled tabouli, is a classic Lebanese dish often served as a salad or as part of mezze (small dishes served as appetizers). Differences in spices used in Tabbouleh are found depending on which region in Lebanon you are from.  For instance, my family doesn’t add cinnamon, or a seven spice blend to Tabbouleh, we use salt, pepper and occasionally a pinch of cayenne. Though Tabbouleh is now available ready made in most grocery stores and delis, making Tabbouleh at home is easy and worth every minute of labour. If you choose the freshest of ingredients and follow the steps below you will be rewarded with much fresher and better tasting Tabbouleh than you can ever buy at a store.

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One bite into these heavenly blueberry muffins will convince you that you don’t need any fussy crumb topping to have delicious muffins. These simple whole wheat blueberry lemon muffins are delicious just as is and bake up beautifully every time….

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Sometimes it seems like I have a new favourite salad every week. This week it’s definitely this Southwestern Grilled Shrimp Salad.  I just love the ingredients, spices and herbs used in Southwestern cuisine and if you do too then this salad will surely become one of your favourites as well. …

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Baking with zucchini is a wonderful way to make use of all the zucchini growing in your garden. Zucchini adds plenty of moisture to baked goods and helps produce a tender and moist loaf. If you’ve never tried zucchini bread before you may be thinking that zucchini is an odd ingredient to put into a sweet tasting loaf. Well let me tell you that this lemon zucchini walnut loaf is delicious, flavourful, tender, and super moist. The lemon zest and juice gives this bread a wonderful light and summery taste. …

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I love eating salads in the summer, and this Greek salad with Grilled Chicken is a favourite of mine. The simple marinade used for the chicken adds tons of flavour and the result is tender and moist grilled chicken. With the addition of fresh vegetables, feta cheese and olives, all of the ingredients combine to make a delicious, refreshing and healthy meal….

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I’m giving a favourite breakfast treat a healthy makeover with these whole wheat quinoa flour pancakes. Topped with your favourite berries and pure maple syrup they make a delicious and nutritious breakfast.

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Pancakes are one of my family’s favourite weekend breakfast treats. But to make sure they’re getting a wholesome breakfast I like to make my pancakes with whole wheat and quinoa flour.  Quinoa flour is high in protein and fiber and makes a nutritious alternative to white flour. …

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Though I love cooking and baking and would be happy to spend all day in the kitchen, the reality is life is so busy and full that I need healthy meals options that I can prepare in just about 30 minutes. Seafood is actually a great option for getting nutritious meals ready in a hurry.

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I didn’t think I would be posting a recipe for soup this week, after all it is the end of April and hot soup isn’t usually on my mind at this time of the year. But though we’ve had beautiful sunny days,  there is still a chill in the air. So in my home, soup is still definitely on the menu….

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I can’t tell you how long I have wanted to make cinnamon rolls at home. Unfortunately, I let my apprehension of using yeast get the best of me and always told myself I would try it later. Well, I’m here to say that I have finally put this silly yeast fear out of my head and have successfully made two gorgeous batches of cinnamon rolls!  In just a few simple steps you can have gorgeous, delicious and fluffy sweet tahini and pistachio cinnamon rolls freshly baked at home.  Don’t let the yeasty dough intimidate you these are easy to make even for beginners!…

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If you spend any time on Pinterest looking at all of the food images then you may have noticed that avocado toast, in all its variations, is all the rage at the moment.  So when I recently found a perfectly ripe avocado on my counter, I proceeded to make myself my first fried egg on avocado toast. One bite and I understood what the fuss was all about….

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I’ve made this muffin recipe so many times now and the muffins always bake up beautifully. So I’m going to get straight to the point today and tell you about these whole wheat and quinoa banana chocolate chip muffins. The muffins are light, moist, fluffy, filling and have just the right amount of sweetness….

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This easy spaghetti meat sauce is loaded with fresh vegetables, ground beef, tomato sauce and spices. But so are almost all of the meat sauce recipes out there, so you might be wondering what’s so special about this recipe? Well I believe it’s a couple of the spices that I include when seasoning the sauce….

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With a Middle-Eastern twist, these Dukkah-crusted lamb chops served on a bed of cauliflower and potato purée make a flavourful and elegant meal that is perfect for this time of year.  You’ll be pleased to know that this wonderful meal is so quick and easy that it can be made on a weeknight!
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If you’re looking for a special dessert to celebrate St-Patrick’s Day, and want something with some serious dark chocolate flavour then this is the cake for you! This Chocolate Stout Bundt Cake is as chocolatey as they come. You might think beer is an odd ingredient in a cake, but in fact the toasty chocolate and coffee undertones of stout (such as Guinness) make it an excellent choice for incorporating into chocolate flavoured baked goods….

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I made this creamy chicken noodle and vegetable soup on a cold snowy day, it was just what I needed to forget about the storm happening outside. This delicious and hearty soup is full of all the savoury vegetables, chicken and noodles that you find in a regular chicken noodle soup but is also incredibly creamy….

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I was feeling a bit sneaky when I made these chickpea chocolate chip cookies this past weekend.  I usually like to involve my girls when I bake cookies, but this time I was planning on baking with beans and since I wanted my kids to try the cookies before telling me they didn’t like them, I had to bake them while they were away. Though I’ve seen many recipes that use beans in baked goods, this was my first time giving it a try. I have to say I had my reservations about the way they would turn out, but I was really pleased with the results. And best of all my kids really liked them.  …

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I was browsing Tieghan’s recipes on Half Baked Harvest when I saw this recipe for Superfood Chocolate Quinoa Bark and loved the idea of combining some super healthy ingredients with some dark chocolate to make a delicious and yet still healthy treat. Tieghan has some very creative recipes on her site and if you haven’t seen her blog yet you should definitely check it out.  I changed up her recipe somewhat, deciding to use mainly seeds in mine and made some Mini Chocolate Quinoa Crunch Cups. …

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I first tasted green juice when my cousin wanted me to try a kale and pineapple juice she had discovered. I was a bit hesitant at first, the colour wasn’t exactly appealing, but I tasted it anyways and found the drink very enjoyable. Since drinking that glass, I developed a bit of a craving for this green juice, so one day I decided to take my juicer out of the deep dark corner of my cupboard and try my hand at making my own tasty green juice….

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Quinoa has become one of my favourite ingredients to incorporate into my family’s diet. It’s full of complete proteins and provides us with a good amount of fibre as well as a plethora of minerals and vitamins (read here for more on the health benefits of quinoa). What I love most about quinoa is how versatile it is and how well it goes with so many different ingredients. …

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This Healthy Pumpkin Seed Granola is full of good for you pumpkin seeds. It comes together quickly and can be had for breakfast or as a healthy snack.

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Happy New Year! I hope everyone had happy holidays, I know mine were filled with family, friends, good food and lots of great times. I’m slowly getting back into the groove of things and prepping for my return back to work and to school for the kids. This means I need quick and healthy breakfasts and snacks. I’m starting off by preparing this easy Healthy Pumpkin Seed Granola.

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If you are a chocolate lover and are still looking for cookie recipes for the holidays, I highly recommend these Holiday Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. They are delicious, easy to make, look pretty, and you probably have all the ingredients already on hand….

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I know what I’m about to say is bad (especially at this time of the year), but I have to say that I’m loving this non wintry weather we are currently enjoying in Canada’s national capital.  Today is December 5th, there is no snow on the ground, the sun is shining and we are expecting a high of 8 degrees Celsius!  Of course this cannot last long, so I’m thinking that I really must get out there and enjoy this beautiful day. But before I do that, I have tell you about this classic gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting that I recently made. …

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The holiday season is upon us and I just can’t believe that it’s that time of year again, how is it possible for a full year to pass by so quickly? It seems like it was just a short while ago that I was taking the Christmas tree down. And now here I am getting all of the Christmas decorations out again. Anyways, I do love it and the kids are always so excited and happy to help decorate the tree. But my favourite part of the holidays is all the baking I get to do, I love to plan all the cookies and bars that I’m going to make for my annual dessert tray….

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This is one of my favourite pasta dishes, it combines lemony shrimp with creamy goat cheese, some baby spinach and leeks. Toasted pine nuts are thrown in for some added texture and a bit of crunch to the dish. All of the ingredients come together to create a pasta dish full of delicious flavours….

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The marinade is really the star of this dish, it only has a few ingredients, but is super flavorful. The hoisin-soy-honey combination gives this chicken a beautiful glossy colour and a sweet and salty tasting glaze which makes the drumsticks sticky, a bit messy but finger licking good!…

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Though I just posted a recipe for pumpkin muffins last week, I couldn’t resist making some pumpkin scones and since they were so delicious I had to share the recipe with you. …

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Fall is in full swing here, the trees are beautiful with golden and crimson leaves. I will never get tired of seeing summer transition into fall, it’s quite a spectacular scene, especially when you are lucky enough to live in an area where an emphasis is placed on preserving as much of nature as possible.

Fall also means an abundance of squash in the markets, pumpkin being the most popular especially as we approach Thanksgiving and Halloween. It also means that bakeries and coffee shops are filled with baked pumpkin goods and pumpkin spiced lattes.  And that’s fine by me as I always look forward to having my first pumpkin latte of the season and love to bake with pumpkin….

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The smell coming out of my kitchen while this chicken was in the oven was so good and so comforting. I’m not sure why, but there is something about the smell of roast chicken that makes me feel so content. Luckily there is nothing simpler than roasting chicken 😉 ….

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Did you know that you could make the healthiest and best tasting granola right in your own kitchen? This recipe for homemade maple pecan granola with dates is so much better than most granola that comes out of a box. If you haven’t already made your own granola then let me tell you that it’s incredibly easy and takes very little time or effort. It’s also the best way for you to control how much sugar and fat you are consuming with your granola. If you have made granola at home then you already know that it’s a delicious treat. …

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A few months ago I posted a recipe for Sweet Potato, Parmesan and Rosemary Biscuits. In that post, I talk about my daughter’s interest in helping me with the food styling and photography for my blog and her desire to help me style a post for lemonade. We never did get around to making a blog post for lemonade, but we did make this Cara Cara Orange and Citrus Drink and my daughter had a great time styling the pictures here.

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These 5 Ingredient Date Energy Balls are made with healthy ingredients and without any refined sugar. They are naturally sweetened by dates. Dates are filled with beneficial minerals, dietary fibre that fill you up and natural sugars that satisfy your sweet tooth and give you energy without the negative effects of refined sugars….

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I used to think that making homemade jam was too complicated and took too much work, but then last year I decided to look into the process of making jam. I quickly realized that if I made small batches of jam that could be consumed within a few weeks, I wouldn’t have to worry about the sterilization process to make the jars shelf stable. All I would have to do is refrigerate the jam jars and since that’s easy enough, I proceeded to make my first jam: Blueberry! I couldn’t believe how delicious it was, and all that I needed to make it was three ingredients: blueberries, sugar and lemon juice. Best of all, it only took me 25 minutes to have homemade jam that didn’t contain a ton of sugar!   Since then I’ve made other jams, but my favourite remains this Low-Sugar Blueberry Jam from Ricardo (you can check out many more Ricardo Recipes on his website).  I love spreading this jam on fresh bread with a piece of brie or other cheese, the jam is also excellent stirred into yogurt or on top of vanilla ice cream. …

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A few summers ago, I tried my first watermelon and feta cheese salad and ever since I’ve been hooked. It may seem like an unusual combination of ingredients, but in fact, it’s makes for an incredibly delicious and refreshing salad. The combination of sweet watermelon, with the salty feta and tanginess from the lime dressing all in one dish makes this summer salad entirely addictive. …

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Delicious and easy to make, this Blueberry Cobbler is great for weeknight desserts or casual gatherings.  This recipe was inspired by my friend’s blog post of a Rhubarb and Raspberry Cobbler. But since I had no rhubarb or raspberries available at home, I decided to make it using fresh blueberries.  …

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Hello and welcome to the newly re-designed Sweet and Savoury Pursuits. I’m afraid this process took much longer than I wanted. I thought I would have the new version of my site up much quicker but it turns out life doesn’t always work the way you want it to. Regardless, it’s up and running now and though I’m sure I’ll still be tinkering around with the layout, for the most part this is my new Sweet and Savoury Pursuits!…

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This post is more about photography than it is about a recipe. Not because this incredibly simple recipe for Roasted Grape Tomatoes isn’t delicious, because it really is. It’s because as I was shooting the pictures for this post, I thought it would be fun for me to experiment shooting at a higher ISO than I usually do.  Ever since I started taking pictures of food, I’ve essentially shot at the lowest ISO possible. This time, maybe because this was such a simple recipe, I thought it would be a good time to play around a bit.
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These beautiful and easy to make Sweet Potato, Parmesan and Rosemary Biscuits are tender, moist and just loaded with delicious flavour.

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These past couple of weeks have been crazy busy with work and life. I spent the past two Saturdays in class, a food photography class! It was amazing! The class was composed of a wonderful group of people and the instructor, Adrien Duey, a well-known food photographer, is not only incredibly talented but is a great teacher as well.  It’s an amazing feeling to be learning about something from someone who is so passionate about what they do. I only wish I had more time to practice and experiment with all that I’m learning. What’s great is that as I practice my photography at home, I’m seeing my eldest (6 years old) take an interest in food styling and photography.  She will often come and peek at what I’m doing and ask if she could help me. In fact, she styled the photo above. And as I write this post she is planning our next food photography project: Lemonade, her favourite beverage.  So do keep an eye out for that post!
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St-Patrick’s Day is in a couple of days and though I don’t really celebrate it, I thought it would be fun to try a new Irish recipe. I thought about making a traditional Irish lamb stew, but since my true passion is baking I gravitated towards making an Irish Soda Bread. My version includes dill, and I know it’s not the traditional way of making it, but I wanted to try it anyways….

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The combination of marzipan, almond flour, slivered almonds and a touch of almond extract included in this recipe ensure the flavour of almonds really shines through in these delicious and tender marzipan bars.
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I’m so happy to be posting this Easy Spanakopita recipe today.  Not only is it beautiful to look at but it’s also delicious and so easy to prepare.

Spanakopita is a classic Greek dish made with phyllo dough, spinach, onions, dill, eggs and feta cheese. I’ve made this recipe several times though I’ve always shaped them into small triangles. Perfect for serving as an appetizer but time consuming. This time I decided to make it into one large pie, and I’m very happy I did.  Much quicker to put together and it turned out amazing….

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Moist, tender and chocolatey, these Whole Wheat Double Chocolate Zucchini Chai Muffins are a delicious way to start your day.

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A couple of weeks ago, I read the about the difficulties a mother was going through when it came to feeding her picky seven year old son. She wrote about how hard it was on her and how frustrating it was to have him reject the meals she worked hard to prepare.  But then one day, her son wrote her a letter. In it, he wrote which foods he did like and that he didn’t like the foods that his mother was making for him. The mother was heartbroken but then spoke to her son who explained that he didn’t like being picky and didn’t like that he couldn’t eat all the things that his siblings enjoyed. She came to the realization that as hard as it was on her, it was even more difficult for her son (you can read the article here).

That article really resonated with me. My eldest is also a picky eater, she barely eats any veggies unless it’s cucumbers or they are puréed and unrecognizable to her.  But she does like many fruits, meats, pasta, rice, cheese, and some grains. So after reading this article, I too decided that I wouldn’t stress myself out about it anymore.  I’ll keep cooking the meals that she enjoys and will continue to invite her to try new things. But if she doesn’t want to or does try it and doesn’t like it, then that’s fine….

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Try slices of this delicious Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Loaf plain, toasted with butter and honey, jelly or for a more decadent treat, Nutella.

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I’ve been looking for some delicious new ways to incorporate peanut butter into my baked goods. After doing some research on the internet, I found this recipe for bread that uses a whole cup of peanut butter. Finally, I thought, there should be some real peanut butter flavour in this. The recipe I found was on the blog She Wears Many Hats. What I found interesting about her recipe is that she mixes her ingredients in the blender. Though the idea intrigued me, I’m afraid my blender quit on me and I haven’t gotten around to replacing it. So I decided that I would make this bread using my mixer….

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I hope everyone has had a good week. I’m afraid mine was challenging and frustrating blog wise, first I spent last weekend making two recipes that didn’t turn out well, one was a real disappointment, the other after having spent considerable time making it was just so-so. Then after having successfully made something delicious and when I was just about finished with writing this post, I somehow managed to erase everything but the pictures and had to start the writing all over again. I’m thinking I may need a real nice holiday in a warm place (enough of the -30C already, yesterday it was -40C with the windchill!). I need some sunshine and warmth! Anyways, enough with my cold weather rant, let’s talk about this amazing salad. …

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Have you tried quinoa for breakfast yet? If you’re looking for a delicious, filling and healthy breakfast to start your mornings off right, consider making these incredibly tasty and healthy Pear, Pomegranate and Pecan Quinoa Breakfast Bowls.

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Did you know that quinoa is rather well suited for breakfast? Its naturally nutty and slightly sweet taste makes it a great alternative to the same old bowl of oatmeal, cereal, or granola in the morning….

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These scrumptious Nutella and Hazelnut Brownies are gooey, chewy, fudgy, and loaded with delicious toasted hazelnut pieces.

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If you’re looking for an insanely delicious and easy homemade brownie recipe that can be put together quickly, then look no further because this is the one for you! …

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This Smoked Salmon and Boursin Crostini has few ingredients, can be assembled in minutes and is sure to impress your guests.

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Today I have a very special dinner party to attend, one I was hoping I would be ready for in time, but as luck would have it I have had a very busy week at work and at home.  This left me scrambling trying to figure out something special, delicious and yet quick to prepare.

Appetizers made with smoked salmon have always been a favourite with my family and friends and so tonight I take this amazingly delicious yet so simple and quick to make Smoked Salmon and Boursin Crostini.  This appetizer is made with 5 ingredients, well, ok 6 if you consider olive oil on the crostini an ingredient!…

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Happy New Year everyone! I thought I would start off 2015 by posting something healthy on my blog. Since it’s so cold outside, I wanted something hot that would warm me up, so I decided on making this Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Soup. I just love the bright colour of this soup and how smooth and creamy it is.
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The holidays are fast approaching and one of my favourite recipes for this time of the year is this Espresso Gingerbread Bundt Cake. Made with fragrant spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg, it’s the cake that I keep craving every year during the holiday season. …

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If you are planning on preparing a cookie tray for this holiday season, then you’ll want to include these Powdered Sugar Almond Cookies.  Cookies covered in powdered (icing) sugar are a holiday classic and are guaranteed to make your cookie tray look festive!

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This Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti recipe is a holiday family favourite, not only is it beautifully speckled with green and red but it taste absolutely delicious. The biscotti is full of crunch but not too hard and the center remains slightly tender. …

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Yesterday was my one year blog anniversary, so to celebrate I made my favourite Pumpkin Walnut Loaf.  I’ve made this recipe several times and it always comes out delicious. So today I’m sharing it with you. This Pumpkin Walnut Loaf is incredibly moist, scrumptious and so easy to make. Best of all, baking it will fill your home with the comforting aromas of fall spices….

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Built on the classic combination of fruit, cheese and nuts, this Pear and Brie Crostini is a delicious, elegant and simple to make appetizer.

Have you ever been to a dinner party where all they served were appetizers? Well I love such parties. I think it’s so much fun to be able to sample so many different nibbles and experience all the various flavours and textures….

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I love the fall, to celebrate its arrival my family and I went apple picking at a beautiful orchard not far from our home. Apple picking is a really great activity to do with the kids, my daughters and I had so much fun. Some of our favourite desserts to bake and eat are those made with apples, pumpkins and pears. Such treats are abundant this time of the year, and that makes us quite happy. …

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A delicious, quick and easy recipe for chewy Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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My eldest daughter loves chocolate chip cookies, and I love baking them for her so whenever I have a bit of extra time I like to make these Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies for her.

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This Triple Chocolate Brownie recipe is for all of the chocolate addicts out there.  If you are looking for something to satisfy your chocolate craving then I recommend a batch of these! These brownies are a cross between a chewy and a cakey brownie with an intense chocolate flavour….

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Raspberries are in season! They are my daughter’s absolute favourite berry and she loves to help me pick them and eat them while still warm from the sun. I couldn’t be happier that she loves them so much since raspberries are a great source of dietary fibre, antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.

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My favourite fruit is the cherry. I just can’t resist sweet fresh cherries and when I’m at the market I always end up buying way too much. After enjoying many au naturel, I thought it would be nice to bake something with the remaining cherries. I knew that I wanted something almond flavoured since almonds and cherries complement each other so well.

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There is something about blueberries and lemon, they just go so well together, so when I came upon this recipe from the Pastry Affair blog, I just had to try it. This past month has been crazy busy, and I’ve really missed my mixer and oven. I’m so happy to have had a small break today so that I could make these incredibly delicious Blueberry and Lemon Scones….

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It’s getting warmer out there, so lately I’ve been wanting lighter meals with lots of crispy and refreshing vegetables.  Being short on time, I thought I would make use of some leftover roast chicken to make these delicious Chicken and Vegetable Lettuce Bundles….

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Last night after dinner I noticed I had a small sweet potato sitting on my counter looking rather sad.  Since I did not have any plans or specific use for it, I thought it would be a good time to try out a sweet potato muffin recipe that I had seen on NancyCreative….

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We’re having yet another cloudy and rainy day here, and I’m really in need of some serious sunshine.  I decided the best way to get it would be to create it in a drink.  So after looking in the freezer and finding some pineapple and mango chunks, I decided to make a Pineapple, Mango and Orange Juice Smoothie. So delicious! Now if I only had some sand and water maybe I could feel like I was on a tropical island……

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This Asian style salad with peanut butter dressing is so delicious and addictive, I’m sure you’ll want to have this salad over and over again!  …

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If there’s one thing I love about smoothies is how quick and easy they are. To be honest, smoothies are not my favourite way to get my breakfast but there are days when all I have time for is a smoothie. And if I can incorporate my coffee into a smoothie then I’m a happy woman.   …

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This is my favourite recipe for Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting. It is by far the most delicious carrot cake I’ve ever tasted.  The cake is moist and dense and the cream cheese frosting has a nice tang to it which makes this cake taste so absolutely amazing!

This recipe deviates very little from the original recipe entitled Canada’s Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing from Canadian Living.  I have made the carrot cake from Canadian Living several times just the way it is and always get so many compliments for it. I think sometimes a recipe is so good that there really is no need to change it.

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Cheesecakes are definitely one of my favourite desserts. I have tried many varieties and as of yet I don’t think I have a favourite, but this Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake is definitely a strong contender. The thing about cheesecakes is you don’t make them unless you have a large group of people you can share it with so it’s really a perfect dessert for a party!

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Growing up, one of my favourite cakes was a vanilla cake with a coffee flavoured icing that my mother would make for special occasions such as birthdays. This Mascarpone Espresso Cream and Amaretti Parfaits dessert reminds me of that cake. Though these parfaits are more like cheesecake in texture, they are delicious and an easy solution to my cravings for that cake. …

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This Sundried Tomato Pesto Pasta is a delicious simple dish with only a few ingredients and is perfect when you need something in a hurry. It makes a great weeknight dinner that can be ready in less than 30 minutes. If you have picky eaters in your household then you know how important it is to have good recipes that are easily adaptable, this recipe is perfect for that….

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My favourite way to make use of overripe bananas is to make banana muffins with them. I think muffins are great because they stay fresh for a few days and can easily be frozen for consumption later on. My favourite way to eat a muffin is when it’s still warm from the oven with a dab of butter on it….

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My weekday mornings are usually so rushed that I rarely have time for a sit down breakfast.  I usually pack one to go, usually boiled eggs, fruit or granola and yogurt. Problem is that by the time I’ve dropped the kids off at school and get to the office I’m super hungry. Not so easy eating granola and yogurt while driving! No worries, I’ve never actually attempted it, I know my limits!  So I like to grab something I can eat on the go, but really dislike eating dry granola bars filled with sugar and not so good for you ingredients. So this weekend, I decided to make a version of granola bars that would be made with wholesome ingredients….

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I just love this Spinach and Clementine Salad.  In fact, I have become somewhat addicted to it and have had it at least 4 times in the last 10 days! What’s really great about it is that it is made up of complementing flavours and contrasting textures. The baby spinach with the soft goat cheese and the crunchy almonds, the clementines bursting with sweet juice and the sharp flavour of the red onions all come together to make a simple yet yummy spinach salad….

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This old fashion Date and Walnut Coffee Cake reminds me of something that would be served in the Middle East. It’s filled with dates and walnuts and perfumed with cinnamon. It’s a simple cake, yet sophisticated at the same time and is a perfect treat for tea time.
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These Whole Wheat Apricot and Almond Bars are great for breakfast on the go.  Made with whole wheat pastry flour, oats, apricots, almonds and coconut, they are healthy and delicious.  The chopped apricots make them chewy and sweet and the pieces of almonds gives them a nice crunch.  The flavours and textures come together nicely to create an excellent bar that is quick and easy to make, perfect on its own and even better with a good cup of coffee.

A couple of notes about this recipe: The author in the original recipe calls for a 9×9 baking pan, but when I came to make this I could not find my 9×9 pan, so I ended up using my 8×8.  The bars still came out great but a bit to thick in my opinion, so a 9×9 baking pan is ideal for this recipe.  In an 8×8, the bars took 25 minutes to bake up nicely, I think that in a 9×9, 20 to 22 minutes would be enough time for them.  I also recommend cutting the bars while they are still slightly warm. I found them to be a little crumbly and more difficult to slice after they cooled.

Enjoy!

Print

Whole Wheat Apricot and Almond Bars

Made with whole grains, nuts and dried fruit, these Whole Wheat Apricot and Almond Bars are great for breakfast on the go.

Course Dessert/ snack

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes

Total Time 37 minutes

Servings 16

Calories 169 kcal

Author Adapted from Woman’s Day Kitchen

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter room temperature
• 2/3 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the centre of your oven and preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Line a 9×9-in baking pan with parchment paper and lightly butter the paper.
3. In the bowl of your mixer, combine butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add egg, almond extract and orange zest. Beat until well mixed.
4. Add in flour, oats, salt and baking soda. Beat until combined.
5. Add apricots, almonds and coconut. Beat until thoroughly mixed.

6. Spread the dough into the pan and bake for approximately 22 minutes, until top is light golden brown.

7. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, and then using the ends of the paper liner, lift out of the pan and transfer on a wire rack to cool a bit more.

8. While still slightly warm cut bars into desired size and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

Whole Wheat Apricot and Almond Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 169 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 8g 12%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 22mg 7%

Sodium 87mg 4%

Potassium 185mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 22g 7%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 13g

Protein 3g 6%

Vitamin A 10.2%

Vitamin C 0.6%

Calcium 4.1%

Iron 9.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Are you looking for something to serve as an appetizer for an upcoming party?  If you like goat cheese then you will love these Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Phyllo Tartelettes! They are filled with sweet caramelized onions and then topped with a savoury goat cheese filling. But that’s not all, the shell that holds this delicious filling is made out of phyllo dough which gives these tartelettes a nice crunch and a contrasting texture. And as a bonus the phyllo dough makes these a beautiful appetizer….

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Originally my plans for today involved me getting out to run some errands.  But then I opened the door, and quickly changed my mind.  You see where I live it felt like -35°C (with the wind chill) this morning.  Nothing I have to do is that pressing, so I decided to stay indoors and try this recipe for Cocoa Quinoa Puffs and Peanut Butter Squares that I’ve been thinking about making….

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Happy New Year everyone! My family and I are starting this year off with some cheesecake.  It’s a family favourite and often gets requested when we have a gathering for a special occasion.  For this New Year’s day family celebration I decided to try a Nutella cheesecake recipe from Fine Cooking magazine….

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I love citrus desserts, and on most days, given the choice I will most readily choose a citrus dessert over a chocolate one. I also love adding nuts to sweets, and pecans, because of their inherent subtle sweetness, are an excellent choice for adding some crunchiness to baked goods….

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