Sophisticated Blondes

Believe it or not, I know people who do not like chocolate. A proud chocoholic myself (my recent purchase of a 10 kg bag of chocolate chips guaranteed my status in that club), I personally find it hard to believe people who make this claim. Be that as it may, for those of you who enjoy a sweet treat sans chocolate, Browned Butter Blondies are sure to be one of your favourites.

There are two

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Gluten-Free Multi-Grain Crackers

Company worthy gluten-free olive oil multi-grain crackers.

This is a light, pleasantly crisp cracker that is flaky and tender- and you won't believe it's gluten-free and vegan. The texture is so elegant. Yet. The flavor retains an earthy touch of rustic, with a hint of... Dude. Cue soft focus. Suddenly I feel as if I'm in a varietal wine commercial, tossing my hair back (if I had tossable tresses, that is and not a sensible cheek length bob that refuses to toss) and laughing just so- with a tableaux of my closest, dearest multicultural friends, of course- revealing a gleaming set of perfectly capped teeth as I raise a globe of pinot noir into the rosy glow of a Napa Valley sunset to convey The Good Life.

The life without chin hairs and medical bills and neighbors who don't recycle.

All kidding aside (I don't sport a tableaux of polo shirt wearing best friends and I've never been to Napa Valley or for that matter, capped my teeth or Botoxed my frown lines leaving the perfect hint of crow's feet to crinkle when I smile so that you don't notice my eyebrows are frozen back to 1985) I just might bake up a batch of these tasty crackers for Oscar night, whip up some Roasted Eggplant Tapenade and pop open a bottle of lovely Veuve Clicquot Brut.

Uh oh.

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Roasted Vegetable Chowder - Vegan + Gluten-Free

Craving a bowl of comfort? Have I got a soup recipe for you.

Frost was not on the pumpkin this morning. Not my pumpkin, anyway. Mine's long gone. Turned into a pie. Well, that and it was 80 degrees yesterday. Skateboarders careening by my apartment (at impressive speeds for a Fat Tuesday) wore nothing but Aloha shorts. Welcome to Santa Monica in February.

But what was on my pumpkin- if I still had one?

Pollen, dude. The trees are blooming, doing their sexy spring thang. Bursting. Co-mingling. Giving the bees something to buzz about. And I'm all about having a good time. I believe in love. And bees. But tree pollen, I have to ask you. Why so hostile?

Can't we all just get along?

I am thick and stupid from your assault. Not to mention, dripping from frontal orifices (not the most attractive trait sported by a woman of a certain age, I assure you- though how would you even know? You're a microgametophyte, for goddess sake).

So while your intrepid gluten-free goddess is suffering the slings and arrows from various coniferous and deciduous assaults, forgive me for posting a recipe reprise today. I am too itchy and spike-ridden to bake something new. I need comfort. I am making soup. Roasted vegetable chowder, to be exact. And besides. This one's a keeper from the archives you may have missed.

A rich and flavorful chowder made with roasted vegetables.

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Have a Sweet Valentine's Day!

Here's wishing you all a very Happy Valentine's Day. I'm going to be devouring these wonderful chocolate hearts, filled with a raspberry crème fraîche from Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut, and watching the Olympics of course...what treats are you and your sweetie enjoying?

Go Canada!Vas-Y Canada!

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Gifts from the Tropics & Ginger Cream Scones

On Sunday, my parents returned from their annual holiday in Hawaii. Every winter for more than 20 years now, they leave the cold, bleak winters of Alberta for a month of sun and sand in Oahu. I can only imagine how difficult it must be some years, to leave the ocean and warm breezes of Hawaii and return to bundling up in layers and shoveling snow until spring arrives. I would hope that the

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Foto Fun : iPhone Photography

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Coconut-Ginger Rice Pudding

A few months ago, I went to visit my sister in California. It was a great visit, but then it always is. We go shopping (naturally - we were practically raised in a mall!), we go get our nails done at the absolute best nail salon in Southern California, we hang out, do cool stuff and then we shop some more. Since her husband was out of town during my last visit, I got to be her date for my

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