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recipes

Roasted Strawberry Sheet Pan Cake

August 14, 2022 By Lena Leave a Comment

Since sheet pan cakes are having a moment and shopping local is *always* on trend, it’s the perfect time to try a Roasted Strawberry Sheet Pan Cake!
Made with fresh Ontario milk and sweet Ontario strawberries, every bite is a tribute to summer. I like to finish the cake with a light dusting of powdered sugar, but it’s even more delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! No matter how you choose to enjoy a slice, just remember to pair it with a glass of cold Ontario milk. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: ontario dairy, recipes, roasted strawberries, strawberry sheet pan cake

Grated Egg Avocado Toast

May 16, 2022 By Lena Leave a Comment

My favourite new way to enjoy Avo Toast! I tried the trending Grated Egg Avocado Toast that everyone’s talking about, and trust me – I understand the obsession!
Tip: Use Conestoga Farms Free Run Omega-3 Eggs; they’re enriched with Omega-3 polyunsaturates and are produced by hens fed an all-grain diet enriched with flax seed. Adding cooked, grated egg to avocado toast easily increases the nutrition profile with protein and omega-3 fatty acids. I’m in love with the silky, smooth texture of grated egg – I honestly could enjoy this meal every single day! Here’s what you’ll need per serving: …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: avocado toast, Conestoga Farms, egg recipes, grated egg avocado toast, recipes

Crispy Tofu Satay with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

April 18, 2022 By Lena Leave a Comment

Need a little Meatless Monday dinner inspo? Crispy Tofu Satay with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce is always in our rotation! The marinade and sauce are so simple to make, and the best part is, you can’t really mess up when it comes to putting this recipe together. No, really – it’s almost completely foolproof and absolutely delicious!
Here’s what you’ll need for the tofu satay:

1 block firm tofu
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp creamy peanut butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp dried basil …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: asian recipes, Crispy Tofu Satay with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce, meatless monday, recipes, tofu recipes

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

This Spring, Break Out of Your Shell! Kid-Friendly Meal Ideas

May 27, 2020 By Lena Leave a Comment

Spring 2020 is unlike any we’ve ever known. (Understatement, right?)

My son was recently assigned a writing task where he was asked to detail “positive effects” of staying safe at home. After spending time brainstorming, he presented a list to me – and at the top:

“I’m spending a lot of time cooking with my mom.”
Be still my heart! It’s no surprise that many Canadian families are rediscovering their love for home-cooked meals – and reveling in the bonding that comes with it  – while we stay home. Since my boys now eagerly join me during meal prep, I’ve made it a priority to try nutritious recipes that keep them entertained and egg-cited about cooking! …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: animal faces, breakfast bowl, burnbrae farms, egg whites, eggs2go, kid-friendly recipes, mexican breakfast bowl, recipes, simply egg whites

Good Vibes Only: That’s the Power of Protein

January 10, 2018 By Lena

“You’re superwoman!” my girlfriend says every time we catch up. “What’s your secret – tell me, how do you do it all?”
I laugh, shaking my head. I don’t do it all – not even close. I’ve got about nine unfinished blog posts, seven loads of laundry, four dusty dressers and two little boys who are used to mommy saying “come back in five minutes, I just need five more minutes” on an hourly basis. Sigh. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #PowerofProtein, dairy farmers of canada, milk protein, recipes, smoothie bowl

Reno-cation: Main Bathroom

May 20, 2011 By Lena

My Reno-cation wrap up continues with my main bathroom. This was perhaps one of the hardest rooms to makeover, specifically because:

a) It was orange before. Yes, orange. Like a bright, happy, Home Depot orange.
b) I liked it orange.
c) No one else liked it orange.

BEFORE

Now I’m not exactly sure what drove me to paint the main bathroom in such a vibrant shade, but it just screamed “Lena!”. For contrast, I used stripes and circles in blue, green and white.

(In case you’re wondering, that’s a storage case filled with beauty products to review. I don’t actually own that much makeup!)

Alas, there was no middle road for this bathroom – visitors either loved it or hated it (curiously, those who vehemently disliked it were generally born before 1960. Just sayin’.) So when it came time for a reno-cation, I grudgingly agreed that it would be best to grab a more bathroomy colour from PARA Paints. A soothing mint green, anyone?

AFTER

 

Paint:
PARA Paints Big Girls Don’t Cry, #P5031-24

NOTES

Here’s another shade that can look slightly off in different lights. As you can see, the candlelight in the first shot makes the room look more bluish than green, but the second picture depicts what I believe to be the true colour – mint, pistachio, seafoam… whatever tickles your fancy. I picked up black Umbra accessories from Kitchen Stuff Plus (use this coupon to save 25% off one item until May 31st) and hung a framed photo depicting the vineyards of Sonoma, California.

(Hubby was watching an episode of The Nate Berkus Show where he insisted that your home decor should incorporate your most vibrant memories – hence a picture of our honeymoon destination beside the toilet, where I spent three months throwing up thanks to the honeymoon baby.)

I’m also pretty excited about my new shower curtain. Purchased from Sears during their recent White Sale, it features a gorgeous black and sateen silver damask pattern. It pairs perfectly with the milkiness of the light green, and as I’d been lusting after it for ages, I just couldn’t resist. Word on the street is that there are coordinating bath mats too… perhaps I’ll let my Visa take a breather before I explore that option ;)

Only a few rooms to go!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: coupon, home decor, Kitchen Stuff Plus, PARA Paints, recipes, Reno-cation, Sears

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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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