Kraft Peanut Butter Truck is Making the Rounds

(Photo supplied by Kraft Canada)

I've already mentioned that Kraft Peanut Butter is turning 51!  Which is cool all on its own, but then a package arrived from the people at Kraft Canada who are always looking for great ways to provide nourishing products.... one of our favorites being peanut butter...and celebrating PB's birthday by sending the Kraft Peanut Butter Truck  across Canada

I was lucky enough to receive a lovely gift....some jars of peanut butter (whipped, creamy and crunchy) and some very tasty treats

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #274

I purposefully keep Presto Pasta Night theme free.  That way everyone can just be creative and share whatever pops into their head.  But somehow, it seems that most of the dishes take old classics, those traditional dishes our moms made, and took them to a whole new level.  Check it out

Presto Pasta Night Deadline

I've been babysitting my grandsons for the last few days and I can't believe it's Thursday already and that I'm hosting this week's Presto Pasta Night once again.   I did actually make a fantastic last minute throw together pasta dish with cavatappi (left over from my Maple Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad, ) some left over delicious spicy guacamole - who'd have thought guacamole with pasta but it's awesome.  Add to the mix a handful of gravalox or lox, as we call it and a little cream to make it extra silky and you have a perfect dish for a harried throw together meal... especially when little boys have waaaaay more energy than a grandma!  

In fact,  there was no time for a photo, no time to figure out quantities... this is an "eyeball" measurement dish.   And this is a post just to remind you all that there's still a little time to send in your pasta delights before tomorrow's roundup.  Just email the link with all the info  ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com .

Perfect Day - Tall Ships, Chuck Hughes, Lamb Chops & Corn

Who could ask for a better Saturday - Sunny, but not broilingly hot;  The Tall Ships Festival in town; Taste of Nova Scotia's Food Fare By the Sea and a culinary demo & chat  by Chef Chuck Hughes (one of my very favorite TV Chefs); and an outing with the family.

A Quick Market Post - Imagine Cherries, Blueberries & Corn in July!

If you live further south and further inland to Nova Scotia, finding blueberries, currants and corn in July may be quite ordinary,  but here...

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #273

I can't believe it's Friday and I'm hosting this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup #273.   It's summer and it's hot (maybe too hot to prepare pasta), so this week's roundup is a little light on entries but not on flavour.  In spite of that, it is a wonderful trip around the globe.  Thanks everyone for sharing your awesome pastas.

First in Hilda, of FilipinoFoodStore, is a first time PPNer - and I hope this is just the first of many entries.  She takes us on a wonderful travelogue to the historic city of Vigan in the Philippines  and shares this awesome looking Vigan Longanisa Bolognese.

Next, Janet of The Taste Space is back , and takes us to Mexico with her Mexican Zucchini Lasagna that looks very tempting.

Then Pam of Sidewalk Shoes, who finds herself thinking Italian when she says "pasta" and opened a whole world when she chose "noodles"... like this Stir-fry Noodles with Chicken, Mushrooms and Green Beans... and so takes us to Asia.

Following that deliciousness is Stash of Simple Kitchen Seasons from NYC - one of my very favorite cities to visit - with a wonderful dish Spaghetti con Grachio e Pomodoro - which certainly sounds very Italian and scrumptious.

I almost forgot about my own dish this week of Broken Spaghetti Risotto with Shrimp & Kale that I made on Monday, it seems like forever ago.

Thanks everyone for my pasta trip around the world.


Next week, I'll be hosting again ... it seems everyone is on vacation.   That said,  I'd love to see what you plan on making.  Just write about it, mention Presto Pasta Nights and send me an email - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.  

If you'd like to host a PPN Roundup. Just drop me a line to pick a date. August 3rd as well as August 24th and beyond are available.  It's never to early to sign up and join the fun! 

Salmon - another Super Food

I'm still recovering from Wednesday night's Surf & Turf extravaganza, so last night's dinner was a much simpler affair...

Surf & Turf - Local Nova Scotia Style

Last night's dinner was truly local and I'm still drooling whenever I think about it...

Grilled Peanut Butter Sandwiches

I knew my grandson didn't invent the concept of grilled peanut butter sandwiches when I gave him two choices - grilled cheese OR a peanut butter sandwich for lunch (both his favorite options).  The little scientist ... very into experimenting as you can see from the photo below...

Avocados - The Perfect Ingredient

I love avocados - in salad, in sandwiches and obviously guacomole.  I love them because they taste so darn good!  So isn't it awesome that they are also good FOR you? Here are some reasons to love them:

A Lovely Broken Spaghetti Risotto for Presto Pasta Nights

Some recipes just fly off the page... or screen... and stay in your head for days before putting it together.   Some need to be recreated exactly as seen.  Others, like this one are great as a stand alone (the original recipe is on Allrecipes.com), but equally wonderful all dressed up.

Traditional risottos are made with Arborio rice, perfect for absorbing flavorful liquids, but thin spaghetti broken into 1 inch pieces, makes a wonderful base....kind of reminds me of  ... cue music...Rice O Roni...that San Francisco treat.

My addition of fresh purple kale, Barilla whole wheat pasta,  and a couple of pinches of Zaatar (mine from Epices de Cru) makes it a wonderfully heathy and flavorful option.

Broken Spaghetti Risotto with Shrimp &Kale

Since I'm hosting  Presto Pasta Night this week, I thought I'd spark your pasta creativity... What's your favorite additions to some basic pasta?  Or do you like to find a new recipe, and stick to it?  Or... do you have a wonderful favorite you make over and over?    Whatever your choice, I hope you share it with us this week.  Just write about it, mention Presto Pasta Nights and send me an email - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.  

If you'd like to host a PPN Roundup. Just drop me a line to pick a date. July 27 which is next week! as well as August 24 and beyond are available.  It's never to early to sign up and join the fun! 

What Makes a Green Salad Great?

We all have differing views on what makes a great green salad.  Some, like my Honey favor crunchy lettuce, like romaine hearts, and consider other salad greens ... well...

Pasta Inspiration Creates a Whole New Dish

Did you ever see a recipe that seems so amazing you want to try it right away, and then life gets crazy and ... you think about it every day?  You even buy the key ingredients... and they stare at you every time you open the pantry and fridge....for days!

A Chat with Norbert Kungl & Minga Mintz -Foodie Farmers Extraordinaire

We all know ... and often take for granted... the best places to eat ... and for me that includes shops and markets that sell the produce, meat, fish and artisan breads, jellies, etc... produced locally.  They're the places with lots of customers.  I rarely thank them for producing such awesome goods.  In fact, I take them for granted, forgetting just how much work and creativity go into the process.

Presto Pasta Night #271

Now that I've totally confused everyone by inadvertently posting a roundup from June 2011!!! let's get real with the true Presto Pasta Night 271 roundup... which is awesome.  Thanks everyone for great contributions.   Please let me know if I somehow missed your entry so I can add it here.

First in... actually, she missed last week's somehow but there's no way I could keep HoneyB of The Life & Loves of Grumpy's HoneyBunch a secret.   I was licking my screen when I saw her Velvety Shrimp Pasta.

Our next early bird.. Sunday Morning...is Graziana of Erbe in Cucina came up with this delicious Baked Tuna, Zucchini Pasta.  It's too hot to heat up our ovens this week, but I'm definitely saving this for the first cold spell... and some fresh zucchini from my daughter's garden.

On to Tigerfish of Teczcape - a frequent PPNer and one of my favorite, shares a perfect dish whether you're  suffering from the heat (serve it cold) or the cold (serve it hot)... Leaf Mustard Greens Noodle Salad.

Another awesome PPN regular is Joanne who always Eats Well With Others.  This time she shared a glorious Pasta with Garlic Scapes, Sugar Snap Peas and Ricotta.  A lovely dish for me, especially since my daughter's garden has lots of garlic scapes and peas.

Val of More Than Burnt Toast has been MIA from Presto Pasta Nights for a while, but her return is spectacular - lovely read (I'm jealous of her upcoming trip to Italy, her recent participation in a food writing workshop), gorgeous photo and an easy to follow recipe for Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi with Basil Butter.

Susan, The Well Seasoned Cook shared a great dish - and a new bean for me to try... Tri-colored Rotini with Lupin Beans and Vegetables. Doesn't it look wonderful!

Finally, one of my own - Scallops & Asparagus Orzo Risotto - very tasty indeed.

Thanks everyone for all the delicious dishes.  Don't forget that next week Riddhima of Culinary Vibes will be hosting for the first time.  Please send her your pastas by next Thursday - email riddhimac (at) gmail (dot) com and cc ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.  

If you'd like to host a PPN Roundup. Just drop me a line to pick a date. July 20 & 27 as well as August 24 and beyond are available.  It's never to early to sign up!

Scallop & Asparagus Orzo Risotto - in Spite of the Heat

Another hot day, ending with some rain meant no barbecuing and no wish to heat up the kitchen. So what did I make for dinner....

Too Hot to Boil Water

Perhaps it will cool down later, but the last couple of days have been too hot to cook.   When I say to hot to boil water... I DO mean on the stove!   So last night's dinner, which was supposed to be pasta...after all, I am this week's Presto Pasta Night host... consisted of a simple salad to accompany another great grilled flank steak.   True, I already have lots of my own variations and a bazillion more bookmarked or pinned, but I was in too much of a hurry Monday morning  to actually look them up.

Good thing the awesome ingredients sort of made the meal themselves.  

Weekends in Nova Scotia

It was Canada Day this past Sunday, but any lovely weekend in Nova Scotia is worthy of a driving adventure.  I thought I'd share our day trip up the Eastern Passage on our hunt for beaches.....