Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canada's Many Wonderful Lakes!

As a "Lost Canadian" who has lived in the USA all my life (mostly Michigan, which is close to Canada), I feel like there are so many things for me to learn about my new country - Canada. So, I've been writing about things I'm learning - such as about the amazing National Parks in Canada, and lately I've been writing about some of the unique, even "quirky" things about Canada - such as their "Whisky War", their "Monopoly Money - Loonies & Toonies, interesting foods, and "The Great Maple Syrup Heist"! Today I'm very happy to let you know about some of the interesting - and even "quirky" things I learned online about Canada's lakes . . .

The Little Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boys Adventures!

    

Recently I shared how when my grands were young and at my house for a sleepover, we typically made up stories at bedtime. They almost always had monsters or dinosaurs in them. One night when my oldest grand was six, my middle grand was three, and my youngest grand was one, we were getting them into bed when my oldest grand said there was a monster under my middle grand's bed! This was not what my middle grand wanted to hear, so I said there could not be any monsters under the bed because the monsters were at their poppa's and grandma's house getting ready for bed on their sleepover. My grands found this idea very interesting, so of course, our bedtime story for the night had to have little, ginormous, humongous, hairy, one-eyed monsters getting ready for bed and being scared because they thought they saw, teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, not-so-hairy, two-eyed people under their beds! 

Today July 15th is Global Hug Your Kids Day!

 

Now this is a "day" this grandma is very willing to celebrate - although, for the most part, I hug grown kids and grandkids nearly every weekend when they are here - I'm sending virtual hugs to them today! So, to celebrate this wonderful day, let's look at some of the benefits of hugs - did you know . . .

just for fun - No-Bake Berry Pie!

 

Yesterday was my amazing husband's birthday. For many years I made him a no-bake cherry cream cheese pie or peanut butter pie for his birthday - this year I made coffee ice cream (you will find my recipe for this very tasty ice cream at this link.) Since it is very hot out, I thought it might be nice to share a no-bake pie recipe with you, so today I'm sharing the simple recipe I use for cherry cream cheese pie with you which you may top with any berry you like - cherry, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry - whatever you like. Yes, I know, the berry pie we typically think of is a baked, traditional pie, but in case you have a craving for a berry pie, but are looking for something just a bit less traditional, especially when it is so hot out -check this recipe . . . 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About "Quirky" Canadian Food

First of all please let me say, if I grew up in Canada, I would likely think Canadian food was "normal", "typical", "perhaps playful", but I grew up in Michigan, so when I learned about some of the food in Canada, I was somewhat surprised - even confused at times! 

BeaverTails Recipe!

Apparently there is a much-loved treat in Canada called "BeaverTails" - on line it says, "If you've ever walked the midway at the Calgary Stampede or visited a Canadian summer fair, you know nothing beats the smell of a fresh BeaverTail." I think they sound like they could be a tasty treat to surprise my grands and the rest of my family, but they are most often deep-fried and I avoid fried food. Happily, I found a recipe online for air fryer BeaverTails and am very happy to share it with you today.

National Ice Cream Month Recipe - Mint Chocolate Chip!

For a large portion of my life Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream was my favorite type of ice cream. Currently Coffee with Mini-Chips and Lavender Blueberry are my favorites, but since I've been sharing recipes for ice cream during National Ice Cream Month, I thought I'd share this one I found online, too. This rich, mint chocolate chip ice cream comes together easily. 

It is National Mac & Cheese Day!

Today is National Mac & Cheese Day and is a day certain to be celebrated by many people for sure! My grands enjoy mac & cheese - especially if I have bacon or smoked, pulled pork to go with it! I found some ideas of ways to celebrate this tasty day and am happy to share it with you today . . .

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About the "Whisky War"

Growing up the the USA once in awhile I have heard something in the news about the on-going "polite" war between Canada and Denmark. This "war" is known as the "Whisky War" and so since I'm a "Lost Canadian", I thought I'd learn the details . . .

Once Again, Please Stand Up & Speak Up

 

While I believe it is essential for us to have hope, there are many days when I feel like hope is far away with all the corruption and lack of justice going on in this country. I do believe it is essential for us to all stand up and speak up because if we do not, then we are being complicit with the evil happening here in the USA. 

As a mom and grandma I want the world in which those I love are living to be a place where they are safe. I want them to be able to live their lives without the shame of being part of a country which commits war crimes and murders innocent people here and in other countries. I want them to grow up treating others with love and acceptance. It is for these reasons I have to speak up once again today.

grandma's cookbook - Heart PB & J on No-Knead Artisan Bread

Sometimes when my grands were younger and I was thinking about what to fix for them, I forgot the one important thing to remember . . . keep it simple. Children usually do not care if something is elaborate or took a long time to prepare. They are often delighted with simple things . . . such as heart PB & J sandwiches!

So, as you think about something you could surprise your grandchildren with when they are at your house, consider keeping it simple and make heart PB & J sandwiches . . . or heart ham & cheese, or heart grilled cheese, or heart egg salad . . . just fix their favorite sandwich and use a heart cookie cutter - I like Wilton's Comfort Grip Heart Cutter - to turn a simple sandwich into a heart sandwich! Their faces are sure to light up when they see them!

It is National Ice Cream Month So Let's Make Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream!

As I've been writing, July is National Ice Cream Month and if your grands are anything like mine, they very much enjoy a bit of ice cream! So, I thought today would be a great day to share a recipe I found online (which I will definitely be trying for my grands and family to enjoy) for peanut butter cup ice cream! Whip up a rich, creamy peanut butter base in a blender and churn it with your KitchenAid attachment. Add chopped peanut butter cups at the very end, then freeze for two to four hours to get the perfect scoopable consistency. 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About "The Apology Act"

Since I discovered I am a "Lost Canadian" I have been learning many things about Canada. I was not surprised to learn Canadians are considered some of the most polite people in the world as they do seem to be quite polite for sure. But I have to say I was surprised to learn about "The Apology Act", so today I am happy to let you know what I learned online about it . . .

Sweet & Fun New Additions to the Children's Garden at Meijer Gardens!

Today I am writing about one of the most magical and fantastic places in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area which is designed especially for the children you love - although you will love this place as well . . . the Lena Meijer Children's Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Today I want to let you know about two new additions to this wonderful area at Meijer Gardens  . . .