Rustic Peach Pie With Ontario Peaches !!!!

Whether you call it rustic peach pie or peach galette, a free form pie is the fastest route to a wonderful autumn pie!!!  Just use your favourite pie dough recipe and top with fresh peaches mixed with a little flour, sugar and cinnamon for a quick family favourite! This recipe also works well with plums and apples and the best part is they are all in season now! Bake one for now and freeze another for later when these fresh fruits are no longer available!  Enjoy!!!

Armen's Cafe, Southampton...You Gotta Eat Here!!!!!

If you visit the Saugeen Shores (Port Elgin or Southampton) Armen's Cafe is the place to go for amazing food!!!  We had the grilled veggie melt on homemade focaccia bread with an iced expresso that was absolutely delicious.  Armen is the chef and everything on the blackboard menu was well thought out and reasonably priced.  They have a cute rooftop patio and the waitress was very friendly!  Rent a cottage in the Saugeen Shores and go to Armen's for lunch and be amazed!!!!!

Homemade Hummus.....A Delicious Heathy Snack

Homemade hummus is so easy, especially when you use a hand held immersion blender.  Just mix 1 can of drained chickpeas with garlic, olive oil and tahini ( you can delete tahini or substitute peanut butter) season to taste with salt & pepper and if you like add 1 tsp. cumin until smooth.  It is great served with raw veggies or pita bread at a fraction of the cost of store bought!!!!!!!!

Zoodles and Salmon (a healthy favourite)

Zoodles  ( zucchini noodles made with a spiralizer ) are a delicious alternative to pasta.  Using a spiralizer is just like using a pencil sharpener, making delicious noodles in a matter of seconds.  I like to sauté mine in garlic and olive oil for about 5 minutes and then top with a little parmesan and  a piece of salmon or chicken!!!!

Avocado and Shrimp ( A Favourite Summer Treat )

I love the flavours of avocado and shrimp with fresh lime juice!!!!  Such an easy appetizer or snack, especially when you have Vincenzo's downstairs to supply all the amazing fresh ingredients!!!!

The Amazing Georgia O'keeffe Exhibit At The AGO!!!!!!

I am so happy that I had a chance to visit the Georgia O'keeffe exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario before it left!  What an awesome artist and woman, decades ahead of her time. The pioneer of modernism, she applied nearly as much to self presentation.....the clothes she wore, the places she lived and the way she furnished and decorated them! She also controlled the way she was photographed, the photograph below was by Yousuf Karsh taken when she was in her seventies at her home in New Mexico. There were also photographs by Andsel Adams who was also a close friend of Georgia, mostly taken at her home and the beautiful landscape surrounding it.  I would love to visit her home as it has been turned into a museum depicting her art and the way she lived!!!!!

The Many Benefits of the Ancient Grain Farro!!!!!

Farro was a diet staple in ancient Rome, it was even used as currency!  Farro also packs 7 grams of fibre in a 1/4 cup (dry) serving...I love it in a salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, topped with lemon juice and olive oil!  I first had farro in Italy and brought back several bags home with me. Since then I have been able to find it at a specialty food store (Vincenzo's).  Be sure to purchase the semi pearled farro!  It is an excellent source of protein, magnesium and iron as well as fibre!!!!