Summer Squash Soup

So it's official. This is the time for soup. 

Not just weather wise, but baby wise. 

I've quickly realized that soup is the perfect meal for me to cook while taking care of the babe while my husband's at work. I start it late in the morning while the babe is napping, eat some for lunch then serve the rest for dinner, or just save it for another days lunch. If the babe wakes up and I have to leave my cooking, it's so easy to just take it off the heat or turn it down while putting it together, and of course once its done its perfect to just leave on the low heat ready for whenever I can sit down and eat some.

I wish I had found this recipe earlier. It's the perfect way to use up oodles of zucchini or other summer squash that we all end up having a little too much of now and then. With a hint of coconut milk and green curry, this simple soup was another great way to celebrate the transition into fall. I think I'll definitely be making this again this winter with some of the zucchini I've tucked away into my freezer.

Peach Icebox Cake

It's probably no surprise that I've been seeking out ways to keep cool lately. Despite still baking a fresh loaf of bread every other day, I'm really trying to keep the oven turned off during this heat.

I made a variation of this cake about a week ago that was so lackluster it's a wonder I tried again. I built it in a small but high sided dish (thinking it would be easier) and ending up using WAY too much whip cream. I used both peaches and plums and yet the cake was so bland and boring I couldn't quite believe it. 

This cake on the other hand is far from boring, far from bland and really quite delightful. I made it for dessert last night and am kicking myself for not having leftovers to snack on right now. 

Somehow despite all the cream this ends up tasting so light, and fresh while the coconut and almonds really round out the flavour. Pair that with a soft and pillowy texture, and in my books you've got a winner!

Strawberry Coconut Tart

Please tell me you have a favourite cook book that you keep coming back to again and again only to be further impressed and inspired by. Because then maybe I won't feel so crazy for gushing over my long time favourite book "Super Natural Everyday" for the millionth time.
I just love how Swanson manages to make such wholesome foods that taste so damn good. If you still haven't looked for this book in your local library I will try to forgive you if you insist you'll go do it now.

Last night I decided to give this coconut tart a whirl, seeing as I just can't seem to get enough strawberries but needed a new form in which to devour them. This lil gem was just perfect! Not too sweet or too heavy.
I think I'm definitely going to make this all summer long with a variety of fresh fruit like peaches, raspberries, and plums.

Sautéed Spinach with Coconut

There's nothing quite like feeling re-energized in the kitchen, eh? I don't know why but I've been on a rice kick lately. I cook up a big pot of rice and then use it in meals over a few days. This is a perfect example of how I've managed to sneak rice into my brunch; top it with sauteed spiced spinach, toasted coconut and a poached egg. It's heavenly!

Go to 101 Cookbooks for the spinach recipe and thank me later.

Coconut Cake

Today our little family business is celebrating its 2nd anniversary! These last two years have been amazing, like nothing we could have EVER imagined. We are blessed with the most dedicated staff and customers who all seem to embrace our business as if it's their own.
Right now my husband and our staff are working as fast as humanly possible serving discounted drinks as a birthday gift to our loyal and loving customers. So it only seems fair that I should whip them up some healthy snacks (like this kale salad and this beet & apple slaw) and some birthday cake to fuel them throughout this busy day.

Truthfully I don't make cakes very often, although I don't really know why that is. I do enjoy eating cake and now that I have a fancy schmancy stand mixer it certainly isn't anymore difficult or time consuming than any other dessert I make.
I've had my eye on this cake for a really long time but since my better half doesn't care much for coconut (and I apparently don't make cake) you can probably imagine why it has yet to come to fruition. Well today's task of making a birthday cake for our cafe seemed like the perfect time to try this recipe (and guess who had a bite and loved it? My coconut hating husband!).

Crisp and Clumpy Granola

Granola is a tried and true breakfast staple for me. Topped with yogurt and hopefully some fresh fruit, it's how I start my day almost every day of the week.
I've been making my own granola using this recipe that I shared with you last fall, making small adjustments here and there but never straying too far from the original recipe. It's served me well but the time has come for me step outside of my granola bubble and try something new.

I'll admit, I was nervous. But I shook myself free of my "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude and marched on over to the one blog I knew could help me find my way in the world of granola (and breakfast in general), Everybody likes Sandwiches.

Curry Coconut Truffle

Oh boy. I have officially entered the world of spiced savoury chocolates, doomed for all eternity.
My newest member of the Greenvale Chocolate family is one that is filled with a layer of white chocolate ganache littered with coconut, next to a dark chocolate ganache flavoured with my own curry spice blend.
It is heavenly. Trust me.

Thai Cucumber Salad

As I made this salad, I thought of how I recently complained to you all about the woes of seasonal eating, and how I was craving light salads before winter had even really begun. Well clearly I gave in to temptation.

Granola

After ordering oodles of dried goods from Speerville Flour Mill, I've been just itching to make granola, but have been putting it off as I finish up the box of store-bought granola I had in my pantry. 


For the last week or so, each morning that I ate the boxed granola I just couldn't help but dream about my own granola and how much more delicious it would be. You can probably imagine that my willpower failed and this morning (with a 1/4 full box of granola still in the pantry) I just couldn't wait any longer. 

Tomato Coconut Soup

When my husband and I lived in Calgary years ago, we were very fortunate to discover the Coup restaurant so quickly upon moving there. It instantly became a favourite, and when I recently heard the owners produced a cookbook I knew I just had to get my hands on it.

The bad news was it's only sold in their restaurant, but the good news was we had a quick vacation to Calgary already planned. We went there Sunday night and aside from the addition of Meet (the lounge now attached to the Coup) everything was just as we'd remembered. We ordered the dragon bowls with peanut satay, and pseudo sushi. We felt like we had never left.

Later that night after my husband dozed off in our lush hotel bed, I read the cookbook cover to cover, occasionally nudging him excitedly.

"Oooh pear, fennel and squash soup!"

"Beatnuts!"

"Look, here's the dragonbowl!"

"Ooh cashew yam burger!"

As you can imagine, he was not quite as excited as I was.