Even people who don’t spend a lot of time visiting provincial parks in Ontario have probably been to or heard of the likes of Algonquin, Sandbanks and French River. But did you know we have more than 330 parks to explore across the province? I’m so excited to share this Ontario provincial parks map and…
Lake Ontario fishing with the Reel Mistress
According to Captain Steve, Lake Ontario fishing should be called Lake Awesome fishing. That’s how he and fellow sport fishers refer to the goldmine lurking in the deeper waters of Lake Ontario. And it’s all within easy reach of the Whitby marina, which the Captain’s boat — the Reel Mistress — calls home. Whether you’re…
Awesome day & road trips from Toronto
(This road trips from Toronto post was updated on July 19, 2021) When more than half of your content is in the travel category and a global pandemic hits, shutting down international and provincial borders and making even something as simple as a weekend hotel stay questionable, you have to pivot. And fast. Welcome to…
Sourdough discard recipe: sourdough English muffins
When I’m really in the bread-making zone, my routine includes feeding my sourdough starter (who we named Right Said Bread) on a 12-hour schedule, morning and evening. And that means we end up with quite a bit of discard each day, so I’m always looking for new ways to use it. My latest sourdough discard…
The easiest Dutch oven sourdough bread recipe ever
Dutch oven sourdough bread has become a staple in our house. You can poke fun and call me Laura Ingalls all you like (heck, I do it myself, alternating with Betty Crocker!), but if I’d known how easy it could be to make so many of our favourite bread products at home, well…let’s be honest…pre-pandemic,…
Easy evening snacks: crunchy granola bar recipe
Whether you or your kids knock these back for breakfast, eat them to prevent a mid-afternoon crash or indulge as easy evening snacks during an after-dinner walk or before bedtime, this crunchy granola bar recipe (that’s chewy on the inside) is a healthy, protein-packed snack. I don’t have kids with peanut allergies, so I can’t…
Making bread without yeast or a scale: sourdough Dutch oven bread
Everyone’s food decisions during what will someday be known as The Pandemic of 2020 are wildly different. While some are doing takeout and delivery, others are trying to make as much from scratch as possible. We fall into the latter camp. Partly because it’s cheaper and we’re currently a one-income family and partly because the…
How to feed sourdough starter (without a scale)
This how to feed sourdough starter post was updated on January 18, 2021. As I write this (on May 12, 2020), it’s been 60 days since we started sheltering in place, practising physical distancing and pivoting our entire life as a family to do our best to keep everyone sane, happy, educated and fed. Make…
Sourdough discard recipes: a dupe for “Morning Rounds”
When my Quarantine Cooking adventures began in mid-March, we wanted to try to make as much as possible from scratch. This was in part because things like bread were cleared from shelves in those early days when supply wasn’t meeting demand as well as it is now, but also because it meant fewer hands in…
Lemon buttermilk cake with lemon whipped cream
Here’s what I’m not going to do here: weave some magical story about how this lemon buttermilk cake is a piece of my soul and why its lemon whipped cream topping will transform your life, taking 17 swipes to get to the recipe. No. The only part of this recipe that has any personal significance…