There’s a familiar old saying about mushrooms making meals marvellous, but when it comes to the delectable shiitake, here’s a pick that goes way beyond the call of duty. Aside from being top choice for the pan, the healthful benefits of eating shiitake mushrooms make them even more to marvel over. Shiitake (Lentinus edodes belonging […]

(Originally written in 2017; updated in 2025) Grandma used to say that the next best thing to admiring flowers while  strolling through the yard or  summer woodlands was picking a handful to be used for "prettying up the plate". For her, dining on a delectable flower was one of life's simplest pleasures. My grandparents had […]

Spring is the time to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine and nothing is more fun than going on an old-fashioned wild food hunt. One of mother nature’s first and finest treats of the season are fiddlehead ferns. Ostrich ferns (matteuccia struthiopteris), more commonly known as fiddleheads because the unfurled frond of the fern resembles […]

Summer is the season for lighter fare and nothing says light and bright better than a colourful array of grilled fruits. They can be the crowning glory to any indoor or outdoor feast, and not only do grilled fruits make for a luscious dessert — they are perfect for serving as appetizers and side dishes, […]

It does my heart good to know that I’ve been serving my family Mediterranean-style meals long before I even heard of the Mediterranean Diet, which is praised as being one of the healthiest and most nutritious diets in the world. New research has shown that those who eat the traditional foods of Mediterranean countries are […]

When I was a kid my favorite cookies were grandma's homemade gingersnaps which grandpa and I couldn't resist dunking in our afternoon tea. Other than the delightfully crisp cookies ,or an occasional batch of non-alcoholic homemade ginger beer and a cup of curative brew, the world of ginger – to me – was a small […]

When I was a kid growing up in the rural woods of Muskoka, my grandma had a cure for almost every common ailment. Folks would come from miles around to seek her advice for treating their health complaints. As a girl, I took as much pride in grandma’s doctoring skills as she did, for I […]

If you’re wanting to trim or eliminate meat from your family’s diet, consider lentils as a perfect protein-rich substitute to stock up the pantry shelves with. Not only are they a super healthy choice for making delicious meatless meals but they are exceptionally versatile, easy on the budget, and do not need a whole lot […]

Call me a sourpuss, if you will, but I love vinegar and can’t imagine a day going by without calling upon one type or another for cooking, curing, or cleaning purposes. Vinegar gets its name from the Latin vinum acetum, or “wine turned sour”, and is one of the oldest condiments in the world. It is […]

When I was a kid growing up in rural Muskoka, we tried to be as self-sufficient as possible. This was not only because my grandparents enjoyed growing and gathering their own food, but also out of necessity. In those days, trips to the grocery store (and drugstore) in town were few and far between! Today, […]

When I was growing up in rural Muskoka, my grandparents fermented all kinds of foods. This tradition served to preserve foods over the long winter months when trips to the grocery store in town were few and far between. In autumn after the garden was harvested, jars and crocks would be loaded with beans, carrots, […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Refreshing Rice Paper Rolls'. Here’s something a little different! These rice paper rolls are delightfully pretty to serve as breakfast or brunch fare. Try them and see how wonderful your morning meal can be when you have a package of rice paper in the pantry.  These are delicious when served […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Refreshing Rice Paper Rolls'. So pretty and versatile, these rolls can also be made with other colourful cooked lentils or dried cooked split green or yellow peas. They go great with the Sweet Chilli Sauce recipe. Ingredients 4 sheets rice paper 1 cup uncooked red lentils 2 cloves minced garlic […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Refreshing Rice Paper Rolls'. These rolls carry a hint of “Tex-Mex” flavour. I like to use freshly cooked beans but you can use canned beans for convenience. This is one way to put leftover cooked beans to tasty use, which is why I often cook more beans in a batch […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Refreshing Rice Paper Rolls'. These are beautiful to look at and even better to eat! I like to serve these rolls with peanut dipping sauce. Ingredients 4 sheets rice paper 4 oz vermicelli (bean thread noodles made from green beans and peas) 1 large carrot, julienned 1 sweet red pepper, […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Refreshing Rice Paper Rolls'. These are as amazing to look at as they are to eat! They are light, tasty, and sure to be a big hit at your next party. Ingredients 4 sheets rice paper 1 cup red quinoa, cooked according to package directions 1/2 tsp low sodium soy […]