Maple Mania

Pure Maple Butter



This spread is a truly decadent treat. Slather it on a piece of toast or an apple as a snack or substitute it for icing on a cake. It makes everything taste better!

Maple Candied Bacon



Initially, this might seem like an unusual pairing but once you try one of these crunchy candied goodies, you’ll regret how long you've gone in your life without ever making them.

Maple Scones



Perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea, these scones have just the right amount of sweetness and are best eaten with just a smidgen of butter.

Maple Sausage Patties



These sinfully delicious sausage patties give bacon a run for its money. Serve them with eggs and hashbrowns for your perfect brunch.

Kitchen Essentials: The Rice Cooker

We’re sort of in love with the rice cooker. Besides allowing you to consistently achieve rice perfect in texture and fluffiness, it can also be used to cook other things.A nifty gadget, you can set it and move on to other kitchen duties while it does its job.

Since the cooker works at a lower temperature setting, we prefer not to use it for meat but instead, make wonderful dishes of pasta, tofu and vegetables, quinoa, oatmeal, and much more. Here are our favorites:

Black Bean Chili

Satisfy your tex-mex cravings with some chili. Let’s face it, fewer things are better than warming up with this hearty and flavorful bowl of goodness. We recommend adding crushed corn tortilla chips or dipping them in for an added crunch.

Super Cheesy Polenta

Creamy and ultra cheesy, this delicious recipe makes a perfect side dish to accompany an herb-roasted chicken. A typically high-maintenance and slow-cooking dish, the rice cooker method achieves great results in only 20 minutes. You can also substitute the types of cheeses used to suit your own taste.

Poached Pomegranate Spiced Pears In A Rice Cooker Recipe

Bold in flavors and presentation, this recipe is bound to impress! What’s more, these poached pears are sweetened solely with fruit juices, making this dessert a sensible treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. Top with Greek yogurt or crème fraiche for a tangy touch.

Rice Cooker Steamed Tofu & Asparagus

A winning combination, the chewy tofu and steamed vegetables cooked in an Asian sauce is simple and savory. To take it up a notch, add in more vegetables like mushrooms, red peppers, or bok choy, and throw in some fresh ginger.

Uncommon Ingredients: Turnips

Detox Smoothies

Many of us don’t consistently meet our daily requirements of fruits and vegetables. It can be quite challenging to monitor your intake, especially with a busy schedule. Here’s where smoothies come in: one a day is a simple way to incorporate more nutrients in your diet. They can even be made in bulk and kept frozen for ultimate convenience. All you need is a blender and your selection of nourishing ingredients. Check out our guide for the perfect smoothie every time:

Pick a base: Start off by adding  1 cup of the following to the blender: almond milk, fresh juice, coconut milk or water, iced coffee, or water.

Add the fruit: Measure 2-3 cups of your favorite fruits. We especially enjoy bananas, mangos, blueberries, strawberries, apples, and acai berries. 

Lean and green: Add 1 cup of spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, or avocado. If you’re worried this won’t mix well with the rest of your smoothie, don’t worry too much, we promise you won’t really taste it! 

Sweet kick: For some added sweetness, make a wise choice with raw honey, pure maple syrup, figs, dates, or vanilla extract.

Meal on the go: For a heartier meal replacement smoothie, add 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds, ground flax seeds, all natural nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower, etc.), coconut oil, or organic oats. 

Power boost: Throw a pinch of cinnamon, protein powder, cacao powder, maca powder, or bee pollen for optimized energy.

Kitchen Cleaning 101

Inspired by springtime renewal, we’ve been thinking of efficient ways to clean a kitchen space. This way, you’re sure to start the season off on the right foot.  

Which cleaning solutions to use? Check under your sink to take an inventory of what you’ll need. Here are some homemade mixes you can use to fill up empty bottles. We love these because they are non-toxic, budget-friendly, and very effective. Be sure to label everything. 

First things first, if you have a self-cleaning oven, set and start it before you begin anything else so that it can work its magic as you work yours.

Before you reorganize and deep clean, make sure any maintenance cleaning is already done. This means washing and putting away all dishes previously used and ridding all spaces of unnecessary clutter. Gather all the items that are in your kitchen but do not belong and temporarily place them in a box or basket and set items accordingly at a later time. 

1. To begin, clean out your cupboards and pantry one by one and place like items together on the counter. For nonperishable items that won’t be consumed, place them aside in a box to donate. For all items in half open bags, like pasta or rice, place them in storage containers for neater storage and prolonged freshness. Clean each shelf from top to bottom. Once all surfaces are dried, put the items back in place.  

2. Next, clean out your drawers and follow the same process. Once drawers are reorganized and cleaned, wipe down doors and outer surfaces. Pay close attention to handles and outside edges too.

3. Now move on to all appliances. First, tackle your refrigerator and freezer. Empty both by throwing away any items that are old or expired. Fill your sink with hot soapy water to throw in empty containers and the drawers from your fridge so they can soak. Working from top to bottom, clean all shelves. Once surfaces are dried, place items back in the refrigerator and freezer. Don’t forget the top of the refrigerator! 

Wipe the outside of your dishwasher. Wipe the outside of your stove and clean the inside manually if your oven is not self-cleaning. Wipe the outside of your microwave as the inside cleans by microwaving this natural solution on high: fill a medium-sized bowl with water, one sliced lemon, and a splash of white vinegar.

4. For all the items that have been soaking in your sink in the meantime, place them in the dishwasher or wash by hand. Drain the sink and rinse with hot water. Clean the basin and rinse with hot water again.

5. Empty the trash bin and give the can a wipe down before taking the trash out. Replace the can with new bag.

6. Sweep and mop the floor. Don’t forget to move appliances to get every nook and cranny. Dump the dirty mop water outside or in the toilet to not contaminate the already clean sink.

Homemade Power Snacks

This homemade recipe of bite-size energy bars will never have you go back to the store-bought variation. The convenient bite size is not only perfect for on the go but makes an ideal pre or post-workout treat and afternoon snack when you need a sweet fix. No baking is necessary, making this fuss-free preparation simple. Use the instructions below as a template for individual adaptations with any kind of nut or dried fruit of your preference.

What you’ll need:

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
2 table spoons dark chocolate chips
½ cup all natural unsweetened peanut butter
¼ cup Honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
1 cup old fashioned oats
2 tablespoons Ground flax seed
Pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon goji berries
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions: 

In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients (except the coconut) until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. 

Once the mixture has cooled, use your hands to press it firmly into whatever shape you please. We prefer 1-inch balls. You can equally press them into bars. Then, roll the bites in coconut until evenly covered. 

Store in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Makes about 20 bites. 

Prep time: 10 minutes.

Fruit Infused Iced Teas

Fruity and crip, iced tea is a classic refreshment on a sunny day. Now that the weather is kinder, it’s time to quench your thirst and try one of these recipes including different infusions and flavors.  If you’re accompanied by guests, pour and serve your beverage in a glass server and let the colorful tea party begin!   

• For the perfect infused tea, choose any herbal or leaf tea as your base. We prefer black, green, or white. Start off by brewing your tea in an automatic tea maker to make about 4 to 6 cups.  

• Next, pour your brewed tea in a glass server and add 1-2 cups of ice. Additionally, you can throw in your infusion ingredients like frozen or fresh fruit, citruses, or herbs. Try these below for the tastiest combinations:

Hibiscus and Strawberry: 3 Hibiscus tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose - brewed, 1 cup fresh sliced strawberries, 4 stalks of rhubarb, 1 tablespoon raw honey

Citrus Rosemary: 3 green tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose - brewed, 1 sliced orange, 2 springs of rosemary, 1 lime juiced, 1 tablespoon raw honey

Watermelon Mint: 3 bags of white tea or 2 tablespoons lose, 4 cups blended watermelon, 4 sprigs of mint

• Finally, you may choose to sweeten your tea with honey, maple or agave syrup. Take note that adding a sweetener to the entire pitcher is best if the whole beverage is to be consumed right away. If you prefer to leave your tea to infuse over the course of a few days, simply sweeten per serving.  

10 Ways to Waste Less Food

Embracing your inner chef is not just about knowing the right techniques and masterfully executing them but having a responsible relationship with food. Wasting as little as possible and knowing how to get the most from your food using innovative recipe variations is what makes a great chef. Canadians typically waste up to $27 billion worth of food each year, which is also a waste of time, energy, and resources, all of which negatively impact the environment. Fortunately, there are little efforts each of us can make to waste less food. Here are our tips: 

1. Freeze leftover sauces by pouring them in ice cube trays and simply reheating when needed.
2. To keep a salad fresh and crisp, drape a paper towel over the top of a bowl filled with lettuce and cover with plastic wrap to absorb moisture.
3. Freeze herbs by placing in ice cube trays with oil poured inside. This prevents browning as well as freezer burn and you can simply reheat in a pan when cooking. 
4. Do not mix fruits and vegetables since they spoil each other. 
5. Cook with every part of the food. You can make vegetable stock with leftover veggie scraps and meat broth with leftover cuts of chicken, beef, or porc. You can even add cheese rinds to soups and sauces. 
6. Donate nonperishable food that you no longer want or use. 
7. Plan meals and use grocery lists to shop wisely.
8. Too much fruits or vegetables? Can them or pickle them. 
9. Store smartly by knowing where to put your produce and using air tight containers when necessary.
10. Embrace leftovers! You can get really creative with recipes. 

For more inspiration on reducing food waste, follow our Pinterest Board “Consciously Kitchen” for creative recipes and tips. 

Holiday Project: DIY Easter Egg Fruits

Egg dying and decoration is a quintessential Easter tradition, practiced by many different cultures across the globe.  The egg is a symbol of new life and what better time to celebrate than in spring, the season of renewal and rebirth? This year, we decided to stray from traditional methods and search for innovative and fun ways to decorate eggs.

• blown eggs
• paint in various colors
• green cardstock
• green tissue paper
• black sharpie
• paint brush
• hot glue gun
• scissors

Apple: Paint the egg red, draw the leaf, cut and glue. Simple!

How to Make the Perfect Omelet

An Irish Breakfast