roasted squash soup with apple+toasted almonds

When I woke up this morning, there was something oddly familiar about the day. It was sunny and warm but there was a crispness to the air that screamed fall. Yes, the weather today was exactly as it had been that bitter day many years earlier. The smell of autumn in the air, the crisp leaves ruffling in the wind. At moments the sun felt scorching hot and other moments, cool and fresh.

I was about to embark on a new experience as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and it was the perfect day for such an adventure. Today marked 15 years since my fathers’ passing and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate his life than to give back to my community-the way he had given back as a dedicated and adorned teacher for so many years. As I sat there, learning to install windows, learning to use power tools, learning to… build a home, I thought about all the students that graced his classroom and how much they learned from him. I thought about how he inspired and influenced them-the way he had done for his very own children. I thought about how much he would have loved to have been by my side today, doing the things he loved; giving back, teaching, learning.

Years ago, my brother volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Portugal. He helped build a home for a lovely family and he still speaks about that experience with such fondness. He says it was one of the most memorable times in his life and now, I can see why. 

When I came home, with blisters on my hands and calluses on my feet, with an aching back and sawdust in my hair, I hugged my children the way my father hugged me. Tightly. With sheer delight. With pure, unequivocal love. 

We had soup for dinner- a favorite main meal of my dad’s. Coincidental and fitting at the same time. I hadn’t thought of it when I planned the meal, or woke up to the same sort of cool yet warm day, or said yes to an incredible volunteer experience, but everything about today seemed appropriate. Every single thing. 

ricotta stuffed tomatoes with chives + parmesan

 I live in a beautiful place. With firm conviction I maintain: this province offers the scenic splendor and picturesque landscape comparable to few. I am so fortunate to live in Nova Scotia, surrounded by natural beauty as well as family and friends. And as much as I complain about the weather, there is no place I’d rather be. It truly leaves me breathless and I find myself wondering why we don’t explore  our natural surroundings more often. When I was younger, I imagined I would live in a big city, and I did for a while. I loved the hustle and bustle of urban living and the natural rush that came along with it. But my yearning for big city life has vanished. Almost entirely. I still love visiting big cities and every time I return, I feel a tinge of lust for that lifestyle, but Nova Scotia is it for me. It’s the place I want to be. 

My parents always took us on day trips across the province and I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve always loved it so much. We had the opportunity to really get to know every corner of this gorgeous region and there is something so wholesome and amazing and quaint about it. I love that I can drive in almost any direction, knowing the ocean is always nearby. The smell of the salt air is nostalgic, calming and incredible, and it makes me happy. 

This summer brought so many wonderful adventures, and among them was a dazzling overnight trip were we had the most delightful culinary experience. Fleur de Sel is tucked away in the charming town of Lunenburg and as my husband and I dashed away for the night, we had the opportunity to savor the delicious tasting menu (complete with wine pairings) and explore the quaint locale. I can’t rave enough about the service, the food and the ambiance and we’re already planning on going back this fall with friends. It might be one of my favorite newfound treasures and it was definitely the perfect way to say good-bye to summer.

The recipe below was inspired by our dinner and it’s easy to prepare and very flavorful. Vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh garden herbs- it makes you hang on to summer just a little bit longer.

pizza-making at morris east

For those that know me well, my periodic outbursts of “ how about pizza?!” come as no surprise. When we’re considering take out, or when we're in the mood for something homemade and hearty, it’s at the top of my list. It’s been my favorite food ever since I was a child and over the years, my love for it has intensified. People are often shocked when I tell them this however and I’m not sure why. Pizza encompasses all of the things I adore and since the combinations are endless, it can be enjoyed time after time without becoming boring or conventional. Smokey, cured meats, roasted vegetables, grilled fruit, toasted nuts, spiced olives, zesty tomato sauce and the wide variety of cheese make this choice more than appealing to me. Add to that an amazing crust and really, it should come as no surprise to anyone that it’s my favorite thing on earth.

When our friend, the lovely Jennie Dobbs from Morris East welcomed Kara and I and our children for an afternoon of pizza-making and fun, we couldn’t pass it up. Like me, the children are becoming pizza-loving maniacs- but who can blame them really? Lauren and Chris showed them around the kitchen and introduced them to all of the fresh ingredients they could choose from. The oven is imported from Naples and was fragrant with burning apple wood. The children watched in anticipation as their pizza was whisked away and placed in the oven. As it baked and bubbled and oozed with aromatic ingredients, they waited patiently for their culinary masterpieces. I looked at their creations all lined up in a row,  and I couldn’t help but smile. My little 4 year old son had topped his pizza with peaches, bacon, pineapple and zucchini and it was phenomenal. Smoky and sweet. Subtle and tantalizing. I love that he is willing to try almost anything and is adventurous when it comes to food. The children used the crusts to sop up the last bit of housemade chili oil they so desperately wanted to try. Even the ones that prefer their pizza ‘crustless’ couldn’t resist the flaky, thin dough.

Morris East is a glorious little gem near the downtown core. When I first dined there, many moons ago, I was mesmerized by the incredible ambiance and attention to detail. It reminded me of a chic NYC neighborhood café, trendy yet classic, clean and simple, warm and inviting. The muted colors with vibrant red accents and exposed brick create a sensuous vibe and I love that she collaborates with local artists to showcase the very best in local art and design. On numerous occasions she’s displayed work by one of my favorite artists, Michelle St. Onge and I was happy to see more work from her most recent collection during our last visit. The menu changes in order to pay homage to seasonal ingredients. The local movement- the idea behind supporting regional farmers is so appealing to me and I love that Morris East supports that philosophy.

One of my fondest memories of Morris East is when I dined there a couple of years ago with my husband, our daughter, my brother and his fiancée. They had just started dating and I remember my daughter leaning over and whispering in my ear that she thought her uncle was a perfect match for the beautiful girl sitting next to him- a girl she had known for many years. A girl she adored. It’s such a lovely memory for her and she continues to tell people that Morris East is the place where it ‘all happened.” Her eyes twinkle when she talks about that day and her integral involvement in their love story and she still believes she was the mastermind that brought them together. For now, I'll let her continue basking in the glory as I don't have the heart to tell her otherwise.

Two days later we returned to Morris East with a wonderful group of friends, including the lovely Colleen from Curtains are Open. We laughed, enjoyed spectacular wine and savored the delicious pizza. As always, Jennie was a gracious host. She's promised to share some recipes with me and I absolutely can not wait to recreate her dishes. Until then, I'll leave you with a recipe for a very simple salad that we serve when making pizza at home. It's easy and tasty.

Jennie Dobbs of Morris east

original art by Michelle St.Onge

 

arugula salad

couscous with fresh herbs and tomatoes

I’m always amazed at the generosity of people. This intermittent discovery always seems to resurrect itself at a time when my faith in mankind is bleak and rather cynical and I’m thankful that I’m able to witness firsthand that human beings are indeed, good by nature. 

When my friend Erin reached out to me and some other girlfriends about getting involved in a wonderful and worthwhile fundraising project, it was too good to pass up. Spending time with good friends, collaborating and working towards a common goal for an important cause was a fabulous way to spend a Saturday morning. And the best part was- this was a mother/daughter activity which meant it was the perfect occasion to share an amazing experience with our children.

I am so thankful to my parents for teaching us that the world is much bigger than our living room. The reality is, people suffer every day from preventable causes and women in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to communicable diseases, violence and malnutrition. 

The Because I am a Girl campaign by Plan Canada is an incredible organization that promotes health and education for girls in developing nations. Their pink lemonAID fundraiser was the perfect way to introduce our young daughters to the concept of social responsibility by getting them personally involved. They poured lemonade, gave out pink cupcakes and thanked our generous patrons for their donations. They beamed with every contribution, just as happy to accept jingling coins as they were folding bills. “Every little bit helps!” I heard one of them say. How true.

After the fundraiser-which raised almost twice the money than originally anticipated, we gathered together for a BBQ. Unfortunately, I don’t have many pictures as it was a day packed with sunshine and fun but I managed a few photos that I think capture the essence of the day. Small actions really do drive big change.

my contribution to the BBQ potluck

tomato, basil + fresh mozzarella with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt + cracked pepper- made by Kara

cherry -chocolate ice cream soda

For as long as I can remember, ice cream has been my dessert of choice. My favorites have changed through the years but for the most part, I’ve been drawn to nutty, vanilla-based flavors. Recently, I discovered Sweet and Salty Caramel Crunch by Our Compliments and I’ve become obsessed with it. It’s rich and buttery and the perfect combination of all the flavors I love: bits of crunchy toffee, small pieces of almonds, sea salt and swirls of caramel. We’ve been enjoying it all summer, as it’s the perfect way to end a light summer meal. We keep reinventing ways to use it - most recently as a filling for homemade ice cream sandwiches and as a sweet addition to iced-coffee.

When I was little, summers meant long evening drives to local ice cream parlors. It was something my siblings and I looked forward to and to this day, evening ice cream runs still remain the perfect way to end a warm summer day. Our ice cream preferences changed throughout our childhood, but our father always ordered the same thing: an old-fashioned ice cream float. It always looked so refreshing and decadent and recently I’ve become re-acquainted with this indulgent summer treat. 

The recipe below is a twist on a classic ice cream float. I used vanilla ice cream, classic coca cola, chocolate sauce and sweet cherry syrup using fresh cherries. You can strain it and simply use the liquid, but I added the stewed cherries because I love scraping up the last bits with a long spoon. Feel free to experiment using different ice cream and soda flavors. In one version, I omitted the chocolate sauce and added grapefruit soda instead of coca-cola and used strawberry ice cream instead of vanilla. One thing is for certain though, no matter what combinations you choose, ice cream soda's are a simple and lovely way to enjoy the lazy days of summer.

iced-coffee with ice cream

chocolate-dipped ice cream sandwiches with homemade chocolate chip cookies and crushed peanuts