Marie Cookpad

  With the sunny weather and really warm temperatures we have been enjoying lately we have started to crave things like salads and grilled meats.  Simple meals.  Light meals. Summer Comfort Food.   Yes, there is such a thing as Summer Comfort Food. Wikepedia defines Comfort food as the following: "Comfort food is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone, and may be characterized by its high caloric nature, high carbohydrate level, or simple preparation. The nostalgia may be specific to an individual, or it may apply to a specific culture."   I would tend to largely agree with that.  Comfort food indeed is not only delicious, but at once nostalgic, evoking memories of our childhoods, special family moments and memories, individual cultures.  This would greatly vary according your family and where you are from.   People tend to associate Comfort Food eating with the colder winter months, when we want to eat stews, bakes and ...

    Queen Cakes Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes several years ago, I have been on the constant search since then for ways to enjoy the baked goods and treats that I have enjoyed throughout my lifetime. Especially during the holidays and on special occasions. Its no fun being the only person in the room that can't enjoy a special piece of cake or a delicious cookie.   Raspberry Celebration Cake  I have always felt in my heart that a house without a cake or some other treat to munch on is a home that is sadly lacking in one of life's great pleasures.  Today I am happy to share this fabulous Infographic from Quill filled with information on baking swaps you can make to create healthier homemade treats.  I've already learnt a lot from it Baking swaps for healthier homemade treats Infographic by Quill  Spiced Pear Pinch Muffins  Just last week I baked these delicious Spiced Pear Pinch Muffins where I was able to put some of these fabulous suggestions in...

  I've had a pretty busy day today.  I went to the grocery store this morning and picked up a bunch of things to make my granola and a few other bits.  It amazing how much a few bits can add up to these days, especially if you are trying to eat healthier.      It shouldn't be that way really.  They should make junk food more expensive and healthy food cheaper, but that makes sense, and most things the shops do hardly ever make sense.  I think my main beef about fresh fruit and vegetables is that it only lasts a couple of days once you get it home, depending on where you buy it.    I find if you shop in the more expensive shops it tends to be of a better quality and fresher, but my days of shopping in expensive shops are long gone now I am not working full-time.  So I tend to have to pick up less and go more frequently, rather than do a weekly shop, only getting in what we can eat within a couple of days so that nothing gets wasted. ...

  I come from a long line of soup lovers. My mom made the best soups in the world, and I like to think that I can make a pretty great pot of soup myself.   All I know about making soup, I learnt at my mother's knee, which is a pretty good place to learn something if you ask me!    This soup I am sharing today is a fairly simple soup, using simple ingredients. I like recipes like that.  Simple ingredients put together in a very delicious way. You can't beat it!    It makes use of root vegetables, although you would certainly be welcome to add other vegetables to it as you wish. Myself, I like the simplistic presentation of root vegetables, done in discernible pieces and not mashed together into a puree.   Don't get me wrong, I love pureed vegetable soups quite a bit also.  Sometimes though I like the interest and texture of lovely bits and pieces, in a well flavoured broth.  Today I used chicken stock, but you could certainly use veg...