As we look forward to 2016 we want to take a few minutes to take a look back at some of our favourite recipes and articles from 2015. Thanks so much for being with us and we wish you all the best in the coming year!
OUR 5 FAVOURITE RECIPES FROM 2015:
Tacos. Do they always need to be made with those pre-made hard corn shells (which we all know just crumble at the first bite?) We think not and we've created a recipe here to show you why. Fast, fresh and healthy, these spiced fish tacos are a cinch to make because we've replaced those messy corn shells with ultra-easy-to-use flour tortillas instead. All you need to do is warm them up in a microwave or oven, fill them with our heavenly spiced fish and your favourite toppings (we like shredded red cabbage, feta, avocado, cilantro, sour cream and lime) and sit back and enjoy a flavour-packed weeknight dinner. Your welcome.
2. POACHED EGGS IN SPICY MARINARA SAUCE
If you're a fan of poached eggs, but you haven't yet tried them poached in marinara sauce, we gotta tell you, you're really missing out. The sweet tomato sauce pairs perfectly with the soft and runny yolk of the egg and, heaped onto buttery toast or crusty baguette, this is one super easy but (super sensational) dish. For this recipe we've used our classic tomato basil marinara sauce, however in a pinch you can just pop open a jar of your favourite tomato sauce and get it piping hot in the skilet before you crack your eggs into it. We think it's the perfect breakfast, lunch or quick and easy weeknight dinner.
3. SEA SALT & CHOCOLATE SCONES
We love to start our weekends off right with a batch of fluffy homemade buttermilk scones. But some recipes are just too labour intensive to wrap our heads around early on a Saturday morning. Thankfully for you, we've come up with a recipe for the ultimate chocolate & sea salt scones that couldn't be easier to whip up (even if your drowsy and still blurry-eyed from a lack of sleep.) Intrigued? Read on for one of our favourite recipes yet. We promise, your weekend mornings just got a little sunnier.
4. RUSTIC SPAGHETTI WITH CHICKEN, MUSHROOMS & PEPPERS
Do you ever get bored of that same old, same old pasta with tomato sauce? So do we. Lucky for you we've created a recipe for a rustic spaghetti with chicken, mushrooms and peppers that is anything but bland, boring or heavy. Simple as can be and made using fresh, healthy and flavour-packed ingredients, it's set to become your new go-to pasta.
5. SPICED OATMEAL WITH BANANA, KIWI & COCAO NIBS
Are we really telling you to add chocolate to your morning routine? You bet we are. But let's be clear, what we are not suggesting is downing a hershey bar for breakfast before you sprint out the door. What we are suggesting is whipping up a batch of our spiced overnight oats and then topping them with your favourite freshly chopped fruit (we're currently loving sliced banana and kiwi,) along with a tbsp of cacao nibs. Never heard of them? Cacao nibs are bits of fermented, dried, roasted and crushed cacao bean. They are a rich source of magnesium, high in fiber, bursting with antioxidants and they've been known to help improve your mood. They also have a slightly sweet but intense chocolatey taste and they're ultra-versatile. So, what else can you do with them? We like to toss them into smoothies, add them to baked goods or sprinkle them over buttercream-frosted cupcakes. But we've even been known to sprinkle them over a hearty salad or grain bowl or onto a salami pizza.
OUR 5 FAVOURITE ARTICLES FROM 2015:
1. INFOGRAPHIC - THE ANATOMY OF A SUPERFOOD BOWL
They are splashed across Instagram, whipped up at your local health food joint and sworn on by every food blogger around. And for good reason. ‘Superfood’ bowls are an ultra-healthy and extremely-versatile meal-in-a-bowl. Made by combining your choice of base ingredient (think oats, quinoa or brown rice) with raw or roasted fruits or veggies, lean proteins, hearty legumes and omega-packed seeds, they are a nutrient and antioxidant-packed breakfast, lunch or dinner. Check out our handy infographic: The anatomy of a superfood bowl.
2. INSTAGRAM CRAZE - @MENANDCOFFEE
Move over @hotdudesreading. There's a new "steamy" Instagram account that's grabbing our attention. @MenandCoffee is devoted to, well, extremely hot men consuming, holding (and even making) hot coffee (and you know how much we love men, errr coffee.)
Did we grab your attention yet (or do you need another shot of espresso?) With over 138, 000 followers to date, we bet we know what you'll be waking up to tomorrow.
It’s easy to fill your fridge with the basic staples that you’re used to always having on hand, but sometimes that can encourage you to get stuck in a mealtime rut. And while we’ve been learning so much more about the benefits of eating fermented foods, there’s no better time than now get on the bandwagon and throw some kimchi into your rotation. Filled with both antioxidants and probiotics, this super condiment not only provides a nutritional punch, but also is deliciously addictive. So make sure to try these 5 ways to get kimchi onto your dinner plate tonight.
4. VIDEO - HOW TO MAKE SALTY & SWEET GIANT SOFT PRETZELS
We all love those giant soft pretzels that you get at the baseball stadium (you know, the one's that you slather in yellow mustard?) But, we bet you didn't know just how easy they are to make. Made from five basic ingredients – water, active yeast, salt, sugar and flour – making pretzel dough is much like making a basic bread dough. And, although you may be under the impression that it's a tricky and time-consuming process, we're here to show you that that's not actually the case. In fact, in our recipe, you don't even need to boil the pretzels prior to baking them (a step many believe is essential.) You simply make your dough, shape and twist your pretzels, brush them with egg wash and bake until puffed and golden. Intrigued? We've got all need to know to make your own homemade soft prertzels (including an ingredient list, essential equipment you will need and our 6 easy steps.) If you'd like to see us in action, check out our handy Quick Bites Video below.
5. TORONTO'S 5 BEST CAFE'S TO GRAB A LATTE
Everyone knows that Toronto is growing to be a hub for smaller coffee shops and chains. Now, smaller cafés are often found as frequently as Starbucks and Tim Hortons. While it may seem fun to hit up every café in town, we don’t have eight years (ok maybe I exaggerate). But everyone needs coffee, so we’ve found five of Toronto’s best cafés where you can enjoy anything from a latte and croissant to a beer and cheese board.
Thanks again for your loyalty and we look forward to bringing you many more amazing recipes and articles in 2016!