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easy meal ideas

Back to Routine: Eggcellent Kid-Friendly Meal Ideas

October 1, 2020 By Lena 7 Comments

Whether your kids have returned to the classroom or are distance learning from home, one thing hasn’t changed: the need for simple, delicious meal ideas that your littles will love.

This season, I’ve once again teamed up with Burnbrae Farms – a family favourite! – to showcase easy recipes you can make with the kids (or, if you have tweens like me, that they can make on their own!). Burnbrae Farms’ prepared egg products are made with the same delicious shell eggs you love, they just require less time and effort so you can easily incorporate them into your daily routine.

With the tasty egg innovation products available from Burnbrae Farms, there’s simply never been a better time to “Break Out of Your Shell”!

CHEESY BREAKFAST BARS
Cheese, ham and egg goodness in a handheld breakfast bar – yes please! My husband, our resident breakfast chef, adapted the Western Bars recipe featured on Burnbrae Farms’ website. Using two types of cheddar, diced ham, veggies, EGG Creations! Whole Eggs Original and a croissant base, he whipped up an easy and most delicious way to start the day! …

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Filed Under: Family, Food Tagged With: burnbrae farms, Canadian Eggs, easy meal ideas, EGG Bakes!, egg creations, kids meals

Quick & Easy Reunion Recipes featuring USA Rice!

July 28, 2020 By Lena 6 Comments

The best part of summer 2020? That’s an easy one: reuniting with loved ones.

As certain restrictions have lifted in many cities across Canada, families and friends are able to get together in a smart and safe way – limiting their numbers, staying within the same bubble, and most importantly, continuing to social distance from others. For me, it’s a chance to reunite with my extended family and closest friends, and do the one thing we love about summer: enjoying a meal, drink or coffee together in our backyard.

Of course, having a repertoire of quick and easy recipes is just part of my charm!

For those impromptu drop ins, late afternoon coffee chats and lazy summer nights where you’d rather spend time with your loved ones than cooking in the kitchen, read on for simple meal ideas, perfect to put together with a few favourite ingredients you may already have on hand. The star of the show? USA Rice!
USA Rice is a key pantry staple and can be used in so many delicious ways. This gluten-free, low allergen, original ancient grain is virtually fat free and serves up the complex carbohydrates your mind and muscles need to function. Rice has always been an integral part of my diet, and now it’s a staple ingredient in so many of the meals and snacks that my family loves, too. We tend to cook a big batch on the weekend and then refrigerate to use in soups, fried rice, side dishes and even desserts. One pot of cooked USA Rice can last us over five days and be used in five different ways! …

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: easy meal ideas, leftover rice, recipes, rice, Think Rice, USA Rice, USA Rice Canada

Perfect Party Appetizers and #BretonForEveryone

November 21, 2016 By Lena 37 Comments

Getting the girls together is no easy task.

There are schedules to juggle and babysitters to hire (Or, husbands to bribe). There are missed calls, apologetic texts and my personal favourite: “Was that THIS Friday?”

However, when the stars align and we can find some time to reconnect, I’m always left deeply fulfilled – both emotionally and literally, because we eat a lot of good food and drink a lot of great wine. Of course, the hostess is always tasked with putting together a spread that everyone will love… which may sound simple, but it’s not. Our little tribe is made up of vegetarians, calorie-counters and health-conscious girlfriends, so creating a quick menu that suits everyone’s needs is always top of mind.

Lately, I’ve been obsessing over these Greek Salad Bites, featuring Breton Sprouted Grains Sea Salt Crackers.
_dsc0557aThey couldn’t be simpler to make and are chock-full of wholesome ingredients you likely already have in your refrigerator and pantry. Plus, Breton Sprouted Grains crackers contain 5g of sprouted whole grains per serving (sprouted grains include whole wheat flour, cracked rye, cracked wheat, buckwheat and quinoa). The crackers have no artificial colours or flavours, and both the Sea Salt and Caramelized Onion varieties are only 80-90 calories per serving. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #bretonforeveryone, breton sprouted grains, easy meal ideas

Kids in the Kitchen? Oh Yes! Look What We Made (This Time!)

October 14, 2016 By Lena 27 Comments

Last week, I invited y’all into my home as I shared a very special cooking session with my favourite little 6-year old. Reid and I made a flavourful Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole that the whole family loved! And, the most important thing is that we made it together – from reading the recipe to preparing the ingredients, Reid was a fixture in the kitchen.

Teaching children to cook is an essential life skill, and if you’re looking for inspiration, Ben’s Beginners activities and recipes are a great place to get started. You’ll find interactive activities that teach basic cooking skills like peeling and stirring, as well as easy and delicious recipes for kids and parents to cook together.

This past weekend, look what we made! Turkey Meatballs & Rice!
_dsc0405
While Reid is an enthusiastic sous chef, his older brother, Ryder, is more reluctant to help out. He’s at that “awesome” age where things just aren’t cool enough for him. Plus, he has very specific, healthy preferences that aren’t a bad thing – not by any means – but we normally have to alter recipes to suit his tastes. Thankfully, the Ben’s Beginners recipes allow for simple customization, and in our case, we used ground turkey in place of ground beef, and opted for Uncle Ben’s 100% Natural Whole Grain Brown Rice. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #lookwhatwemade, easy meal ideas, uncle ben's

Look What We Made!

October 5, 2016 By Lena 195 Comments

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

When kids learn to cook, they build healthier eating habits for life.

There’s no doubt about this. Developing a respect and appreciation, for both the ingredients and process of seeing a meal through to completion, is paramount for making wise food choices. As a young girl, I loved being “invited” into my mom’s kitchen to learn about foods, discover cultural traditions and of course, sample the ingredients along the way. (Though “licking the bowl” is now considered taboo! Boo hoo!)

Today, I have a young, enthusiastic sous chef who shadows me in the kitchen. Together, we tackle meal planning, work together to prep the meal and often, he’ll help me serve. (He’s great at garnish.)
_dsc0307However, I know that this isn’t the norm; many parents aren’t teaching cooking skills because they lack the confidence to do so. In fact, less than half of Canadian parents feel highly skilled at creating a balanced meal, and even have trouble with the most common kitchen tasks, like seasoning, chopping and pan frying. At the same time, 98% of Canadian parents think it is important to cook with their children.

So, we’ve got a situation where we know it’s important to teach our kids these essential life skills, but we simply don’t have the confidence to carry out the instruction. Here’s where Ben’s Beginners comes in. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #lookwhatwemade, easy meal ideas, uncle ben's

Back to School with Pulses: “Anytime” Turkey and Bean Chili

September 5, 2016 By Lena 32 Comments

It’s time! It’s a go. The kids are officially returning to school! Wee!

(Do I sound a little too excited? I’ll tone it down. Maybe.)

Now, I’ve spent a fair amount of time talking about back to school fashion, tackling the morning rush and how to pack school lunches with ease. But I realized this weekend that I have one more hurdle to overcome: the weeknight dinner dilemma.

It’s pretty crazy at our house on weeknights. In addition to homework, we also have to juggle speech therapy and tutoring, plus swimming lessons and indoor soccer league for both boys. Therefore, I’m always looking for healthy, hearty and quick-and-easy meals that I can make ahead on weekends.

I think I’ve found the perfect solution to the weeknight dinner dilemma with my “Anytime” Turkey and Bean Chili.
DSC_1480bThis savoury chili is one of my go-to meals throughout the school year for the following reasons:

1. The chili can be made in the slow cooker with minimal prep. Seriously, the most arduous part of the entire recipe is browning ground turkey and diced shallots in a large pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Big deal, right? …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #FamiliesLovePulses, easy meal ideas, pulse canada

Here’s a “Tip”: Try this Recipe for Bourbon Street Chicken!

February 27, 2016 By Lena

Tell me. Tell me you’re guilty of spending too much time on Facebook watching 60-second “Buzzfeed Food”, “Tasty” and “Tip Hero” videos.

Tell me that your tummy rumbles as you witness the ooey gooey delicious snack foods, main courses and desserts be created with astonishing clarity before your very eyes. Tell me that you gaze at the calorie-laden, mostly-overloaded-with-cheese dishes and think, OMG that looks soo good.

Me too, friends… me too.

However, I wasn’t necessarily inspired to try to recreate one of the dishes until recently. It was Family Day, dinner was up in the air, and I really didn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. So, like a sign from heaven, I happened to scroll across Maple Leaf Prime’s Facebook post:

“At home with the family today? FYI there’s still time to make this Slow Cooker Bourbon Street Chicken from Tip Hero for dinner tonight. ‪#‎delish”

I couldn’t believe it. I actually had all the ingredients on hand! And since it was 2:00PM, I had just enough time to pop them into the slow cooker for four hours. I rushed downstairs, followed the ridiculously simple recipe, and that night, we had the most delicious Family Day meal!
DSC_0132a(Confession: I don’t know how to make this meal photograph well. But I promise, it was scrumptious. That was just one of three Bourbon Street Chicken sliders that I had. And I want another right now!)

This easy chicken recipe is sweet, saucy and packed with flavor. Plus – it’s a slow cooker dish! So, you can spend your precious minutes with your family, not slaving over the stove. Here’s how. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Bourbon Street Chicken, easy meal ideas, Maple Leaf Prime Naturally

Make Thanksgiving EASY with Butterball!

October 6, 2015 By Lena

Confessions of a suburban housewife: I’ve never cooked a turkey.

Don’t be so surprised. Frankly, I have an aversion to cooking anything that needs to be thawed, prepped, cooked, carved and packed for leftovers. And the dishes… oh, the dishes! Before marrying into my husband’s family, I was in turkey-less bliss.

Then, I met my future mother-in-law. And I tasted her Thanksgiving turkey… and I became a forever fan. Yep, I joined the gobble gang. More turkey please!

Juicy, moist and flavourful – with herbed stuffing and thick, rich gravy – just the thought of a Butterball turkey always makes me drool with anticipation. It’s been a holiday tradition for me for 10 years now, and for millions of Canadians, much, much longer than that.
DSC_1374So, what if I told you that the above turkey, stuffing and all, was cooked from frozen?

The Promise: pre-stuffed with delicious homestyle stuffing, this Butterball Stuffed Whole Turkey is tender and juicy every time. Simply remove the frozen turkey from the plastic bag, place it on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, brush the skin with vegetable oil and roast according to the time listed on the roasting chart. (Click here for full instructions.) …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Butterball, easy meal ideas, stuffed whole turkey, Thanksgiving

Pizza on the Barbecue? Now that’s FRESH.

June 30, 2015 By Lena

If there’s one thing Canadians need to collectively do, it’s seize the summer. Especially *this* summer.

Okay, so we’ve had a slow start. But before we know it (fingers crossed), we’ll be well into the hot weather, the patio parties, and of course, the barbecues! Ah, barbecue.

(Spoiler Alert: Why yes, this IS a photo of me with celebrity Chef Corbin in front of a barbecue. What are we up to? Read on to find out!)
IMG_2730So, what’s on your menu this summer? I’ve planned for the usual suspects – burgers, ‘dogs and kabobs – and I’ll be grabbing all my mains and fixin’s at Walmart Canada. Hand on heart, it’s my preferred destination for fresh meat and produce!

Everyone knows Walmart as the place to get everyday supplies. But I’d love for you to discover another side of Walmart: great fresh food. Walmart offers a terrific selection of fresh produce, baked goods and meats. In fact, Walmart feels so strongly about their fresh food that they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Yep, you read that correctly – if you don’t absolutely love their triple 100% Canadian Angus beef, or their high-quality, locally sourced Maple Leaf Chicken, Canadian pork and salmon, simply present your receipt at the store for a full refund.

But how can we spread the word about Walmart’s delicious, high-quality ingredients and help families find easier, healthier and budget-friendly ways to feed their children? Tailgate parties of course! Hello! …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #WalmartFRESH, #WalmartMomCA, easy meal ideas

We’re Ready for Fright Night with Cardinal Ready

June 19, 2015 By Lena

NOTE: The following sampling opportunity is open to residents of Ontario, Canada only.

Spoiler Alert: The recipe for my Hawaiian Pork Tacos follows. You may want to stick around.
DSC_0966aFright Night. Think I’m taking about that b-rated film? Think again. I’m talking about those weekday nights when my husband works late, the kids have sports or swimming, I’ve got a Twitter Party and there’s NOTHING TO EAT.

Apparently, there’s more than one Fright Night chez Lena.

Our family’s dynamic has changed through the years. Whereas we used to enjoy casual, unhurried dinners (actually eaten at the dinner table), today our demanding jobs and activities pull us in different directions. My husband is in sales, so he’s often on the road or working late. My job has no set hours; I could be working at 5:30AM or 11:00PM, depending on the day. And often, I’m on Twitter at night (I know you know what I’m up to then). Ryder has soccer on Mondays and Reid has soccer on Wednesdays and they both have swimming on Thursdays. And yet somehow, the expectation is that I’ll produce a delicious, healthy meal that the entire family will love.

*Checking to make sure I signed up for this. Sigh, apparently it’s indeed part of being a mom.*

I try my hardest to avoid the lure of the “dial-a-dinner”. Take-out is easy! One phone call, a few bucks for a tip, et voila! The whole family is fed. The trouble is, the only takeout the whole family can agree on is pizza, and families cannot live on pizza alone. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Cardinal Ready, easy meal ideas, quick meals, sampling opportunity

Walmart: Now That’s FRESH.

November 15, 2014 By Lena

I buy my handbags from Prada, my sunglasses from Gucci and my shoes from Michael Kors.

And, I buy my fresh meat from Walmart. Wait, what?

Really, I’m not fibbing. Because for me, it’s all about quality – whether it be the stitching on a classic hobo or the tint on tortoiseshell glasses. And, in the case of Walmart, the fresh, affordable, high grade meat options are right up my alley.
Walmart Your Fresh MarketStill not convinced? Yeah, it took me a while to come ’round too. You see, once all the Walmart stores in my neighbourhood starting converting to Walmart Supercentres, I happily accepted the addition of fresh grocery items. Heck, given the prices, I welcomed it. (Honey Crisp Apples for just $2.69/ pound? Yes please!) But buying meat? From Walmart? I don’t know… there was just this strange disconnect that prevented me from embracing the fresh meat options. Until, one day, I decided to just try it.

And now, I’m a believer. Because it’s good – really good.

Walmart offers all Canadians quality 100% FRESH meat, found in-store at “Your Fresh Market”. Here, you’ll find Angus beef, farm raised and air chilled poultry, farm raised pork, and Canadian salmon. I am duly impressed with the freshness, the quality, and most importantly, the prices – the perfect combination for every Canadian family. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #WalmartFRESH, easy meal ideas, recipe, Walmart Supercentre

Takeout? Pfft. It’s Taco Night!

October 15, 2014 By Lena

I get it, I really do.

Takeout is easy. It’s a quick and painless solution for a weeknight meal, when patience is low and hunger is high. And for the most part, dialing-a-dinner allows you to partake in a variety of cuisines – ones you may not normally have the know-how to cook at home.

Tick tock tick tock.

The thing is, dinnertime is inevitable. There’s just this informal social custom that you have to feed your family every night (rolls eyes). Also inevitable? Those nights when you know you *could* whip up something fantastic, but dammit, you just don’t want to. And the second your will starts to waver, you begin your path to the dark side… which often ends with, “Would you like fries with that?”

NOT TONIGHT.

Because with Old El Paso Restaurante, you can have fun, vibrant, restaurant-style tacos right in the comfort of your own home! This exciting new product is available in three delicious flavours –Baja Fish, Steak Carne Asada and Chicken Tinga (pictured below). Restaurante products are packed with authentic taste – the perfect way to fix your craving for Mexican cuisine.
Chicken TingaBut most importantly – the tacos are EASY to make! Honestly, in and out in under 30 minutes…. which is about as long as it takes for your delivery order to make it to your door. The Restaurante dinner kits, complete with soft tortillas, sauces and spices, take the guesswork out of dinner. All you need on hand is your desired protein and a few veggies… and OLÉ! A food fiesta like no other. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Chicken Tinga Tacos, easy meal ideas, Life Made Delicious, Old El Paso Restaurante

Old El Paso Goes Gourmet with Restaurante

October 10, 2014 By Lena

‘Round here, you could call me an enthusiastic #MexicanChef.

Tacos. Burritos. Enchiladas. Fajitas. Quesadillas. Nachos. Empanadas.

(Honestly, someone stop me. Step away from the thoughts of food! Because I could literally go on, and on, and on… and then I’ll fantasize about eating all this delicious food, and start to get hungry. Mmmm… taquitos.)

I’m no stranger to experimenting in the kitchen, and I do love dusting off the cookbooks and finding an exciting, authentic new recipe to try. However, on weekday nights, I don’t always have the luxury of making a dish from scratch… yet I don’t want to sacrifice quality or flavour.

The game-changer? Old El Paso Restaurante.

Old El Paso has brought fun, vibrant, modern Mexican food to Canadians with the launch of their new premium Restaurante product line. It allows Canadians to enjoy restaurant-style tacos right in the comfort of your own home! This new product has just hit store shelves across Canada in three delicious flavours that are sure to impress –Baja Fish, Steak Carne Asada and Chicken Tinga. Restaurante products are easy to make and are packed with taste – the perfect way to fix your craving for Mexican cuisine.

Last night was a Chicken Tinga kind of night. The verdict: TO DIE FOR. The flavours were authentic, complex and perfectly balanced… but most importantly, it was a cinch to make! I can see Old El Paso Restaurante becoming a weekly tradition.

Want to learn more? You simply must join our #MexicanChef Twitter Party!
Mexican Chef Twitter Party Graphic
We’ll be chatting up a storm about your favourite Mexican meals, providing tips and tricks for bringing authentic Mexican flavours to your dinner table, and introducing you to the new premium Restaurante product line. And you know we’ll have some AH-mazing prizes up for grabs – in addition to free Restaurante dinner kits, we’ll also be giving away hundreds in Visa Gift Cards!

(¡Ay, caramba!)

BUT WAIT – that’s not all – find a picture of your favourite Mexican inspired meal, and have it ready to tweet out during the party. The picture can be a photograph of a meal you’ve created or had in a restaurant, a recipe you want to try, or simply a drool-worthy photo that you’ve found on social media. Look for your favourite appetizer, main course, or dessert – or all three! Then, bring your pictures to the Twitter Party, and get ready for a visual Mexican feast like no other. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #MexicanChef, easy meal ideas, Old El Paso Restaurante, Twitter Party

Mangia Meatballs!

September 23, 2014 By Lena

Once in a while, I stumble upon a recipe so ridiculously good that I literally leave the table in the middle of dinner to go blog about it. (My family hates me right now.) I mean, how could I not share this Italian goodness with y’all? After going on and on about how difficult it was to find the perfect meatball recipe, POOF! It fell in my lap this afternoon.

MeatballsOkay, it didn’t really fall in my lap; my husband emailed me this recipe for Meatball Nirvana with the subject line “Woman. Kitchen. Cook.” He’s very persuasive.

Nevertheless, I tweaked the recipe slightly, and O-M-G it’s like I’m in Florence all over again. (Or for the first time, since I’ve never actually been.) I didn’t really have a chance to properly photograph the meal (the angry family was glaring at me as I snapped the picture above), but if you’re into tasty balls of beef, you’re in for a treat! …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: easy meal ideas, Italian meatballs, recipe

#FlavourStory: The Great Canadian Grille-Off!

July 31, 2014 By Lena

Some people vie for the best car. Others, the best lawn or garden. And for a long time, in a room full of strangers, I needed to have the most frivolous designer handbag. (It’s okay, you can roll your eyes at me.) And my husband? Well, it’s simple – he needs to be the best grill master ever. Honestly! He’s constantly comparing his barbecuing expertise with every person he meets. And – shhh – he judges people based on theirs. I know he does.

You could say that he’s the perfect candidate for a Grille-Off! Introducing the Club House La Grille Spice Challenge. Throughout the summer, eight celebrity chefs from across Canada will compete in four culinary duels to determine the BEST barbecue recipes using Club House products.

Grille-OffWhat’s in it for you? Well, besides the opportunity discover new and delicious recipes that you can steal for your own backyard barbecues, if you vote for your favourite Great Canadian Grille-Off recipes, you’ll have the chance to win a $500 pre-paid credit card! And, you’ll also be automatically entered to win the grand prize: a sizzling summer grilling party hosted by a celebrity chef for you and five lucky friends. PLUS, you’ll get a $2,000 pre-paid credit card to put towards the grill of your dreams!

This week, we’ve got two amazing Toronto chefs going head to head; Chef Joanna Tymkiw debuts her Crispy Thai Tacos using Roasted Garlic and Peppers Rub Marinade, while Chef Rocco Agostino presents his Montreal Rubbed Flank Steak Speducci featuring Montreal Steak Spice Rub Marinade. And great news! I just happen to have a copy of their recipes to share with you!

Chef Joanna: “Toronto has a colourful blend of ethnicities and cultures which is celebrated throughout my cuisine. The city offers the newest fusion food creations which you’ll find anywhere, from renowned restaurants to foodie favoured food trucks. I believe a recipe featuring warm weather fare like tacos with the refreshing yet satisfying elements of Thai cuisine is sure to be a hit with home cooks.” …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #FlavourStory, Club House La Grille Spice Challenge, easy meal ideas, Great Canadian Grille-Off

On the Go? We’re Serving Up #DinnerIn15!

July 19, 2014 By Lena

It’s 6:00pm, on any given night. Tick tock tick tock. Really, dinner should be on the table. Instead, you:

– sort through takeout menus for a dial-a-dinner
– rummage through the freezer for food packaged in a cardboard box
– climb a kitchen chair to peruse the (dusty) top shelf of the pantry
– jump in a car hell-bent for the nearest drive-thru

Sounds familiar? Yeah, it happens to me too. And the thing is, dinnertime is inevitable. There’s just this informal social custom that you have to feed your family every night (rolls eyes). Also inevitable? Those nights when you know you *could* whip up something fantastic, but dammit, you just don’t want to. And the second your will starts to waver, you begin your path to the dark side… which often ends with, “Would you like fries with that?”

But what if you could create a delicious, wholesome meal in just 15 minutes? Put that takeout menu away, sister! It’s time for #DinnerIn15!

From the gastronomic geniuses at Maple Leaf Foods, they’re created inspired ways to assemble a hearty meal in 15 minutes or less, starring their scrumptious ham products. Think Reuben Ham Skillet Dinner. Tropical Ham and Cheese Pizza. Hamexican Tostadas. YES, I said Hamexican!!!

Want to learn more? Join the @MapleLeafFoods #DinnerIn15 Twitter Party on Wednesday, July 30th at 8pm EST. We’ll be sharing our best recipes to get in you in (and out) of the kitchen in 15 minutes or less!

#DinnerIn15In addition to joining a fabulous conversation, we’re also serving up a chance to win a one-on-one online cooking class with Chef Bob Villeneuve, including a complete food hamper with all the goodies you’ll need to make a variety of 15-minute meals. Wowzers!

(We’ll also have tons of free product coupons up for grabs – this IS a Maple Leaf Foods Twitter Party, after all!)

Finally, we’ll announce the $1,000 winner of Appehtite’s Dinner in 15 Challenge LIVE at the Twitter Party. If you haven’t entered yet, what are you waiting for? Simply create a meal that can be made in 15 minutes or less using Maple Leaf or Schneiders ham, and submit your recipe to Appehtite.ca.

Sounds like we’ll have an awesome night! For your chance to win, RSVP below. Looking forward to partying with you! …

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #DinnerIn15, easy meal ideas, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

Perfect Whole Roasted Chicken

April 27, 2014 By Lena

I’m not going to take credit for this recipe. Heck, I can’t even take credit for making this dish, because my husband did everything from start to finish. And since he can follow a recipe, truss a bird and correctly use an oven, you could say I married well. (I will take credit for that.)

Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Whole Chicken

The secret to perfect whole roasted chicken really isn’t a secret at all. First, purchase a high quality whole chicken, such as Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Whole Chicken for a consistently tender and juicy taste.

Next, find a foolproof recipe. We faithfully use the same recipe over and over – Simple Whole Roasted Chicken from allrecipes.com. My compliments to Indriani, a home chef who shared the love. As its name suggests, it’s an easy recipe that, quite frankly, is hard to mess up. The combination of unique ingredients makes this dish delicious, and the aroma that permeates your home as the chicken roasts is enough to make you drool. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: chicken recipes, easy meal ideas, Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Whole Chicken, recipe

Simple Spring Ideas: Orange-Ginger Chicken Salad

March 31, 2014 By Lena

The sun is shining; the birds are singing – and the only thing on my mind is a light, tasty salad that is a tribute to the season… and maybe a remedy for the extra pounds I put on over the cold winter months. My Orange-Ginger Chicken Salad is bursting with citrus flavour and features tender, juicy Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.

The salad is actually a great way to #loveyourleftovers; I serve baked orange-ginger glazed chicken breasts with rice the night before, and always remember to reserve two for our favourite salad the next day. The orange segments brighten the flavour and are perfectly balanced against the acidic, aromatic dressing. Enjoy!

(Day 1)
4  Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1-1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
salt and coarsely cracked black pepper, to taste

(Day 2)
1 package baby romaine lettuce mix
1 orange, peeled and segmented

Day 1: Whisk juice concentrate, vinegar, oil, soy sauce and ginger in a small bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Set aside two tablespoons and refrigerate.

Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Generously brush chicken breasts with remaining dressing and marinate for 30 minutes. Bake in a shallow baking dish at 400°F for 30 minutes, or until juices run clear. Serve with with your favourite side dish, reserving two breasts for the next day’s salad.

Day 2: Toss baby romaine lettuce mix with 2 tablespoons dressing; divide into two portions. Slice chicken breasts and layer over salad greens, finishing with orange segments. Serves 2.

For more delicious simple spring ideas, visit Maple Leaf Prime on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. 

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: easy meal ideas, Maple Leaf Prime Naturally, recipes, spring salads

Warming Winter Meals: Italian Chicken Meatloaf

March 2, 2014 By Lena

As a young girl, and the daughter of immigrant parents, I didn’t grow up with the “traditional” Canadian comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, or – everyone’s favourite – meatloaf. Instead, I stared at my plate of curried chicken and rice with dismay, dreaming about the wonderful taste sensations that were advertised as electric orange pasta in a box.

Years later, as an adult, I learned how to buy chicken noodle soup in a can and make the said electric orange pasta. And then, I craved my mom’s spicy, homemade curried chicken with unmatched longing and nostalgia. Who knew – I grew up with comfort foods after all.

However, there’s one comfort food I missed out on – warm, dense, perfectly moist meatloaf. How I love meatloaf! One of the easiest made-from-scratch meals you can serve your family, it’s my favourite go-to dish when I want minimal fuss and maximum comfort factor. And for a meal my whole family gobbles up (especially the boys!) I always make my Italian Chicken Meatloaf, featuring Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Extra Lean Ground Chicken.

This recipe yields a moist, delicious meatloaf without all the fat and calories of a traditional ground beef loaf. I like to serve it with additional warmed tomato sauce, however, it’s great on its own or thinly sliced for sandwiches too. Best of all, it freezes beautifully.

INGREDIENTS

2 lb Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Extra Lean Ground Chicken
2 eggs
1/2 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp each salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup of your favorite tomato or pasta sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a loaf pan with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Place the combined mixture into your prepared loaf pan. Evenly spread pasta sauce on top of the loaf and bake in pre-heated oven for 45 minutes.

Remove meatloaf from oven and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Place back in the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serves 6-8.

For more delicious winter warming meals, visit Maple Leaf Prime on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. 

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: easy meal ideas, Maple Leaf Prime Naturally, recipes, Warming Winter Meals

Thai Chicken Pizza for Two

February 18, 2014 By Lena

This past weekend, I set out to discover if there was indeed a way to marry my two favourite comfort foods: Asian cuisine and pizza. Normally I’ll toy around with a recipe a few times before coming up with a winner, but in the case of my Thai Chicken Pizza for Two, I do believe I knocked it out of the park on the first try.

Now I call it a “pizza for two” mainly because naan-style flatbreads are limited to about 10-inch diameters; hence, it’s a stretch to feed a family of four. However, this is easily overcome by simply making two pizzas :)

I swapped traditional tomato sauce for a nutty concoction seasoned with ginger, garlic, soy sauce and vinegar – essentially, the making of any delicious peanut stir-fry sauce. It complements the tender morsels of chicken perfectly, and makes for a very satisfying lunch or dinner.

The husband suggested that mushrooms would be a great addition, but frankly, with the complex flavours and savoury twist, I’d almost rather add chopped florets of steamed broccoli – and will be doing so next time. Also, be generous with the basil; I only used about two torn leaves, but have upped that number to four in my recipe. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Asian cooking, easy meal ideas, recipes, Thai Chicken Pizza

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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