Mint Iced Tea with Pansies

When Meinhilde and I were nine and ten years old respectively, we moved to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, our new home in the middle of the desert, had two temperatures: hot and hotter. As a couple of Canadian kids, we weren’t accustomed to hydrating ourselves very often. In Saudi we learned to drink a ton of water. […]

Spice Up Your Oatmeal

Donatello and I have oatmeal for breakfast on weekdays. We try to at least start our days off healthy. The basic recipe is easy – just instant oats and hot water. Since mornings are always a rush to get out the door, I try to do as much preparation the night before. I also like to keep […]

Hanami and a Baby Reindeer

One of our new favourite traditions in Toronto is going for hanami. For the second year, we’ve trekked to the packed but beautiful High Park for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. This year was much hotter and the crowds seemed bigger but hanami has definitely become a symbol that spring in the city is really […]

The Flowers of Spring

My favourite flowers are the early spring blossoms. Daffodils, hyacinths, tulips – they all mark the end of another long winter and promise a hot sunny summer to come. I’m not talented in the garden and unfortunately have killed more than a couple of my plants. The flowers that survive in our apartment are the heartiest ones that […]

Tomato and Boursin Tart for Mother’s Day

This tomato tart looks fancy and tastes divine, but the best part about the recipe is that it doesn’t take much effort at all. I love the idea of tarts because they are so versatile and the fewer the toppings, the more elegant they appear. The possible adaptations are endless- you really only need a good […]