Vegetables such as eggplant can be grilled, roasted, fried, steamed and sautéed.

I’m keeping my day job

I learned there’s a lot to being a chef, and it’s mostly in the details

“Zucchini are easier to slice if you cut them from top to bottom,” the student chef said to me. I cut the zucchini as described. I was enjoying a culinary workshop on Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired foods one afternoon at a conference out of state. “You were supposed to cut the zucchini on the bias,” the

Pulse foods are healthy, economical and readily available from local producers.

Do you include pulse foods on your menu?

You should, these foods are high in both protein and fibre

Mom, I made lentil soup and it’s pretty good,” read the text message from my son. I smiled as I read the message from my formerly finicky 23-year-old son. “I made a ton by accident, though,” he added. I chuckled as I visualized my tall son stirring a giant pot of soup with a huge


Any food consumed is part of a ‘diet.’ Choosing the right foods can, over time, ensure a healthy diet.

What is a healthful diet?

Try to meet the recommendations for fruits and vegetables, the food groups most often lacking in the diets of adults and children

Do you know anyone on a diet? Have you ever been on a diet? The answer to both of those questions for everyone is “yes.” Technically, we all are “on a diet.” According to the first definition in most dictionaries, a “diet” consists of the “kinds of food that a person, animal or community eats.”

Tomatoes are rich in nutrients and low in calories.

Tomato time

Enjoy your bountiful harvest — tomatoes are both tasty and nutritious

What does Jake have in his mouth?” my husband asked. I looked out the window to see the latest thing our dog had found. He was shaking something bright red. Oh, no! I hope he doesn’t have Carl the Cardinal, I thought to myself. A vividly coloured bird and his mate have been singing songs

Malabar spinach is an edible plant and the leaves can be cooked or used raw.

Growing Malabar spinach

Quite different from the regular spinach variety but packed with nutrition

One of the joys of gardening is to try growing and using new plants. Sometimes we stumble upon a new plant quite by accident, as my wife and I did this past June. We were camping near Sydney, Manitoba and took a drive through nearby Austin where we came upon a greenhouse operation. It was


One popular hike is out on the peninsula to view the lighthouses.

Hiking Hecla’s shoreline

This historical area has lots to offer and is well worth a visit

Most Manitoba parks offer a variety of hikes, often through forested areas, but for a different experience try a trip to Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park. Since 1971, Hecla has been joined to the mainland by a causeway, but technically visitors are on an island in Lake Winnipeg, so most of these walks begin and end at,

A family picnic is a great way to build and sustain familial bonds.

Create family meal memories with picnics

Prairie Fare: Eating together as a family has many physical, mental and emotional health benefits

I always looked forward to picnics when I was a child. We would visit friends who lived on lakes or, sometimes, we went to a park. Getting ready for our picnic was quite a production because we had salads, fruit, meat, fresh buns, potatoes and dessert. Homemade lemonade was in a gallon-sized thermos container. We

A slow cooker isn’t just for the colder months. It can save time 
and keep the house cool in summer too.

Enjoy fajitas using your slow cooker

Prairie Fare: A slow cooker shouldn’t be ignored in the summer months

Mom, that’s a female yellow pepper because it has four bumps,” my 14-year-old daughter said as she pointed at the peppers on a cutting board. “It’s sweeter.” She was grinning sweetly and looking at me. I mean my daughter, not the yellow pepper. “That red pepper is a male pepper because it has three bumps,”


Planning ahead is one of the keys for preparing nutritious meals for the busy seasons on the farm.

Food for farmers in the field

Prairie Fare: Chickpea Salad Sandwich or Wrap or how about Crunchy Oats & Honey Bars

Feeding farmers on the field and feeding them well is no easy task. You want to provide nourishing, tasty food that’s quick and easy to prepare, transport and eat. You also want to offer variety and make sure hot food stays hot and cold food stays cold. That’s a tall order, especially when you’re likely

Fresh fruit and vegetables are healthy, but take precautions to avoid foodborne illness.

Staying safe with food

Food safety scares underline 
the need for proper food 
handling for fresh produce

A recent scare around romaine lettuce here in the U.S. (Canadian readers can rest assured they were unaffected, though the CFIA says it’s monitoring the situation) has many wondering just how safe those leafy greens really are. “Can I eat the romaine lettuce in my refrigerator?” one recent caller asked me. “No, we need to