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  . . . 

July is National Picnic Month, So It is Time for a Picnic!

 

July is National Picnic Month, so I thought I'd share this post with you today. When my grands were younger they enjoyed picnics - if the children you love enjoy them as well, consider making plans for a tasty time together before school begins. Gather the ones you love, decide on a menu, make a shopping list, prepare food together, and choose the location for your picnic - be sure to bring your camera!

So, since this post is about picnics, I thought it would be fun today to share some "picnic" info with you! Did you know . . . 

It is National Ice Cream Month, So Make Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream!

A week ago Saturday some family members went with my husband and I to visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park to enjoy the Park and the amazing Chihuly exhibit. While we were there, we treated the family to ice cream from the new Ice Cream Parlor in the Children's Garden. I had Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream - it was SO delicious, so I looked on-line and found a recipe to share with you today for this tasty treat . . . 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Loonies & Toonies

Growing up in Michigan, I have been a little familiar with Canadian money as occasionally I would end up with Canadian coins as they once-in-a-while mixed in with USA coins, but since I've learned I'm a "Lost Canadian" I thought it would be a beneficial thing to learn about Canadian money - and I have to say I've learned some surprising and impressive things!

Of Course Chocolate Ice Cream for National Ice Cream Month!

July is National Ice Cream Month and I've been sharing some recipes for making your own ice cream using the KitchenAid ice cream maker. Today I'm sharing a recipe for making chocolate ice cream - after all, it is National Ice Cream Month so chocolate ice cream should be part of this tasty month!

This rich 5-ingredient, no-cook chocolate ice cream uses real cocoa powder.