danawyyc

Salad #26 – Kale Salad with a Bacon Vinaigrette

August 15, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

I was looking for some ideas for out of the ordinary dressings and my friend Heather (who writes a funny parenting and design blog over at Home to Heather) suggested a warm bacon dressing. This sounded like it would be perfect for my kale, one of the few things that I actually managed to grow in my garden this year. I’m not sure whether this is what she had in mind, but it was delicious nonetheless. I ate this entire salad almost all by myself. It was even really good the next day.

Kale Salad with a Bacon Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

(adapted from Just a Taste’s Raw Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Dressing)

Salad #26 - Kale Salad with a Bacon Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 bunch kale
⅓ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
6 slices bacon (3 TBSP bacon fat reserved)
2 garlic scapes (or 1 clove garlic)
½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon grainy mustard
salt and pepper

Instructions

Chop bacon into small pieces and cook in a frying pan. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan and dispose of any remainder. Add a little olive oil if you are short on bacon fat. Let the bacon dry and cool.
Saute the garlic in the bacon fat for 1 minute over medium heat. Whisk in the vinegar, mustard and brown sugar and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Toast pumpkin seeds in a dry pan until fragrant and just starting to brown. Stir constantly.
Wash, dry and stem kale. Then slice thinly.
Toss the kale with the dressing and add the seeds and bacon to the salad.

Did They Eat It?

Deb – lovely. one of the nicest ones I’ve had.

Nicky (17 months) – Loved munching on the kale leaves from the salad

Gordie (4.5 years) – Thought the bacon from the salad was okay but would be better without the dressing.

Dana – I thought this salad was great. I’m wasn’t sure if it would hold up the next day when I had pre-dressed it but it was still great though less crunchy.

Angel’s – Bowness – #yycisopen

August 10, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

Location: Bowness – 603-47 Avenue NW Calgary (Near Bowness Park) – http://www.angelsdrivein.com/

We stopped in at Angel’s Drive In after spending some time at nearby Baker Park. Angel’s Drive In was undamaged in the flood and only had to close for one day but I imagine they are still finding business to be down. They are perfectly located for picking up lunch for a picnic lunch or grabbing dinner on the way home for a day out at Bowness Park. Unfortunately, Bowness Park is still completely closed.

Angel’s Drive In is a Calgary Institution. It’s located in a small blue building that I was surprised to find out also has a small restaurant area inside. We ran through the drive through and ate at the small picnic area beside the parking lot.

I had the Bowness Burger because – it was the Bowness Burger! It has a mayo based sauce, onions, pickles cheese and lettuce.

Bowness Burger

My mom got the Deluxe Burger – ketchup based sauce, cheese, bacon, lettuce, onions and tomato – because being at the Drive In was making her feel nostalgic.

Deluxe Burger

The burgers were huge. I tried my best to capture that in a photograph but you are just going to have to trust me. They are good sized burgers. They are also really good. This shouldn’t be surprising as Angel’s has been around for a long time but I wasn’t really expecting too much.

Kids Burger and Kids Hot Dog

This was our first time to Angel’s Drive In but it definitely won’t be our last.

Have you been to Angel’s Drive In? What did you think?

Fat City Franks – #yycisopen

August 8, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

Location: Mission – #3 2015 4 Street SW, Calgary, AB http://www.fatcityfranks.com/

Fat City Franks is one of our favorite restaurants in Calgary. It’s also one of the few restaurants that my special needs brother likes going to. So we end up going to Fat City Franks fairly frequently. One of the things we love is that it is owner operated. Jane and Bob really take pride in what they’ve built and always seem happy to be there. Fat City Franks did not receive flood damage, but had to close for days due to power outages in Mission. This was costly both in terms of food that had to be thrown out, and lost revenue. They are finding that business is still down as people are still moving back into the neighborhood.

The restaurant is small, casual, bright and clean. I love coming here with our kids because it’s quick too. Over the last few years, I’ve tried every hot dog on their menu and many of their monthly specials. They are all good, but my favorites are the Chicago Dog and the San Antonio Black Bean Chili Dog. I also really like switching the hot dog for a farmer’s sausage.

Our favorite seat

Pic of Gordie from 2 years ago

Although they have great menu options, they will also prepare a custom hotdog for you. Gordie’s favorite used to be ketchup, then ketchup with tomatoes and mustard. And now plain.

Coney Island Dog

Chicago Dog

If you like hotdogs, I would highly suggest giving Fat City Franks a try. Their malted milkshakes, potato salad and coleslaw are great too. (They’ve been profiled on “You Gotta Eat Here!” too)

Super short Clip of Fat City Franks including the Chicago Dog with a Farmer’s Sausage and a Ukranian Dog:

Have you been to Fat City Franks? What did you think?

Taking Two – Finding Happiness at the Playground with Nemo

July 30, 2013 by danawyyc 4 Comments

When I am trying to solve of a parenting problem I’m having with Nicky, I often find myself thinking back to how I dealt with the problem with Gordie. But sometimes I realize that I never had to deal with that parenting problem with Gordie. With your first child, they set the pace. With your second, well your first still seems to be setting the pace.

I’ve found this to be particularly true while we are out exploring playgrounds. Weather is one consideration – too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, not enough shade. I don’t even think Gordie had rain boots until he was 2.

One of the things I’ve found helpful is bringing along a toy or two for Nicky to play with. Disney Baby’s Nemo Rollin’ Round Ramp is the perfect take along park toy. (Although it would be fun anywhere). The carry handle makes it easy to take from place to place and it’s nice an light too. The other thing I love about it as a mom is that there aren’t a lot of pieces – you may have to spend a couple minutes finding nemo but other than that you are good to go.

Nicky’s loved this toy since it arrived in the mail and comes back to it again and again whether it’s at home, at the park or at someone else’s house. She’s always been fond of fish (fish was one of her first words!) and she loves putting opening and closing the cavern door to put Nemo in and out and sliding him down the slide. She also loves dancing to the little tune the starfish makes which I have become very familiar with.

Hey? Where’s Nemo?

There he is!

With a little planning and a little Disney Magic, it was easy to find happiness at the playground for both my kids.

Here’s a short video of Nicky playing with Nemo:

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Disney. I received this toy and financial compensation in exchange for sharing it with you.

About the Nemo Rollin’ Round Ramp: The Nemo Rollin’ Round Ramp is a fun play set for baby that features characters from Disney’s Finding Nemo, plus adorable tunes and SFX. The play set includes a brightly coloured Nemo character, complete with a fun roller-ball on his belly. The lively tunes & SFX are activated as Nemo slides down the ramp or as baby pushes the starfish button. The tote features an open/close door for put-and-take play, a roller-ball Bloat to bat at, and a seahorse slider. The richly detailed handle makes this play set perfect for play at home or on the go!

Salad #25 – Chopped Garden Salad with Herb Dressing

July 20, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

This year we’re getting a Summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) from Eagle Creek Farms. In a CSA local producers sell shares of their produce with their community at the beginning of the season. This makes it easier for small farmers to continue to farm because the risk of bad crops is shared. Alberta can be a difficult climate to grow crops in so it’s particularly helpful where we live. In our first delivery, we received spinach, pea shoots, arugula, garlic scapes, radishes and a potted herb.

I’m also trying my hand at my own vegetable garden again this year. My results so far are a bit mixed but the herbs are growing really well so I decided to use them in a dressing. You could also put some of the herbs straight into the salad itself if you wanted to.

Chopped Garden Salad with Herb Dressing

(adapted from Katie’s Cucina’s Lemon Herb Dressing)

Salad #25 - Chopped Garden Salad with Herb Dressing

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients
6 cups fresh greens (I used pea shoots and spinach)
2-3 radishes
Herb Dressing Ingredients
Juice of 1 lemon (if you put it in the microwave for a few seconds it will release more juice)
lemon zest from 1 lemon
2 tsp honey
squirt of hot sauce like sriracha
⅓ cup olive oil
6 TBSP chopped fresh herbs (I used parsley, basil, oregano and thyme)
1-2 garlic scapes chopped (or 1 garlic clove or 1-2 green onions)
salt and pepper

Instructions

Wash and dry your greens and radishes. Chop all the greens and the radishes into small pieces. Mix together well.
Blend the dressing ingredients together in a food processor or blender. Alternatively you can chop everything finely and shake or whisk until blended.
Drizzle dressing over the vegetables and mix well. The dressing is bold so you probably won't need a ton - add a little at a time.

Did They Eat It?

Gordie (4 years old): Refused to try it.

Stephen: It was good.

Anne: Strong taste but in a good way. The salad really had bite.

Deb: Tastes like spring.

Bronwen: Liked it.

Dana: This would make a great side for dinner but I really enjoyed it as a snack.

Salad #24 – Fresh and Easy Pasta Salad

July 18, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

Typical store bought pasta salads are loaded with mayonnaise or some other kind of creamy dressing and not much else. This one, on the other hand, is loaded with vegetables. Perfect for for a pot luck salad or as a main dish, you’ll feel great feeding this to your family.

My cousin made a salad similar to this one when I was at her house one day and I’ve been making it with a few variations ever since. Salsa is a perfect dressing for pasta salad and it couldn’t be easier. If you want it more gourmet, you can always make your own salsa but I prefer the ease of using pre-made salsa.

Fresh and Easy Pasta Salad

Salad #24 - Fresh and Easy Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1 box whole wheat pasta (macaroni, corkscrew or penne all work well)
1 cup frozen peas
1 red pepper chopped
1 orange pepper chopped
1 yellow pepper chopped
½ cucumber chopped
1 jar prepared salsa (I like Tostitos Medium)
package of Canadian bacon, chopped

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Run under cold water to cool.
Transfer pasta to a large bowl and add chopped veggies (peas can go in frozen) and the Canadian bacon.
Pour salsa over the pasta mixture and mix well.
I find leftovers benefit from some extra salsa before serving.

Variations

swap out the vegetables for whatever you have on hand
swap out the Canadian bacon for another kind of protein – ham, imitation crab, chicken feta cheese or monterey jack cheese are all good options

Did They Eat It?

Gordie (4 years old): Loved everything about it. (this is one of the only salads Gordie has liked)

Nicky (15 months): Devoured the pasta and peas but left the peppers.

Stephen: Good.

Dana: This is one of my favorite easy supper meals. It makes quite a lot and so we usually even have leftovers for the next day.

Salad #23 – Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Prosciutto and Almonds

July 16, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

Since I started the 52 salad challenge. I have tried a number of vegetables prepared in ways I’m not used to – primarily raw vegetables that I have always had cooked before. This list includes beets, kale, and Brussels sprouts. So far, not one has been a disappointment. This salad is another example of that. Recommended by my friend Misty from Life Where We Are – this salad features raw zucchini.

Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Prosciutto and Almonds

(adapted from Williams Sonoma’s Shaved Zucchini Salad with Almonds & Asiago)

Salad #23 - Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Prosciutto and Almonds

Ingredients

Ingredients
1-2 small zucchinis
3 cups spinach
2-4 slices of prosciutto chopped or sliced
handful of almonds, chopped
few sprigs of parsley chopped
Dressing Ingredients
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
1 clove garlic minced
salt and pepper

Instructions

Whisk salad ingredients together in a medium sized bowl until well combined.
Peel the zucchini with a vegetable peeler. Start on one side an then switch to the other. You can discard the middle portion if it becomes to difficult to peel.
Add zucchini and parsley to the dressing and mix well.
Put spinach on salad plates and layer with zucchini mixture. Top with almonds and prosciutto.

Did They Eat It?

Gordie (4 years old): Refused to try it.

Nicky (15 months): Liked the zucchini.

Stephen: It was good.

Dana: I really liked this salad. It was nice and fresh. It would be a good light lunch or a dinner starter.

Spolumbo’s Fine Foods and Deli Review #yycisopen

July 13, 2013 by danawyyc 1 Comment

Location: Inglewood – 1308 – 9th Avenue SE. Calgary, Alberta http://www.spolumbos.com/ItalianDeli/

We stopped in at Spolumbo’s for lunch after playing at the nearby Nellie Breen Playground. I had heard that they had just reopened after repairing the damage from the Calgary flood this year.

I love buying Spolumbo’s sausages at the grocery store but don’t often get a chance to go and eat at their deli. My mom and I both ordered the hot sausage on a bun. I’ve had it before but it never disappoints. The spiciness is not overpowering and the marinara sauce complements it perfectly. I found it to be just the right amount of food for me, but if you’re a big eater, you may want to get a side or one of the biggest sandwiches.

I wasn’t sure at first what I was going to get for the kids. The sandwiches are pretty big (although you can get mini-versions). In the end I bought the fruit salad and a plain sun-dried tomato chicken sausage for the kids to share.

It was perfect! The fruit salad was huge (especially for $6) with lots of variety and the kids thought the sausage was pretty darn good too.

I also picked up a Spolumbo’s Special to take home for my husband. It was big enough for him to use half for lunch and the other half for dinner.

I found Spolumbo’s to be pretty kid friendly too. The atmosphere is pretty casual and they have a couple booster seats and high chairs. There are no kids menu’s but they have salads, mini-subs and sandwiches, and mild sausages.

Have you been to Spolumbo’s what did you think?

Summertime Alberta Barbecue Beef on a Bun – The Canadian Food Experience Project

July 13, 2013 by danawyyc 6 Comments

It’s Stampede in Calgary this week so for this month’s The Canadian Food Experience Project challenge I decided to do BBQ Beef on a Bun. The Canadian Food Experience Project started last month on June 7, 2013, it aims to gain global clarity to what Canadian food really is through the participants‘ collective stories and experiences.

This month, the challenge was a regional Canadian food. In Alberta, beef is a natural choice – if there is one thing Alberta is known for, it’s beef. Barbecue beef on a bun is a Stampede staple – you can get all kinds of wild food at the Stampede from deep fried butter to deep fried oreos to deep fried… Well, basically if there is anything you have ever thought about deep frying, you can probably find it at the Stampede and a few more you hadn’t even considered. There are a lot non-deep fried options too but none of them feel like Alberta for me more than beef on a bun. (My friend Merry has also written up her take on Stampede food with her baked mini-donut muffins)

Despite the devastating flood in Calgary this year, only two weeks before, the Stampede went on as planned with a lot of hard work and a few modifications. This is especially remarkable because the Stampede grounds had been covered in water during the flood. I took this kids down one morning and there were only a few places where you could see evidence that there had been a flood at all. There is still a lot of work to be done to rebuild Calgary and the Saddledome is not currently operational, but it was great to see how well the City had pulled together.

Heading home after a fun morning at the Calgary Stampede

We didn’t have beef on a bun while we were there, (we might have had a corn dog), but I picked up a roast when we got home and started cooking. Cooking a roast might seem insufferable in the summer, but you can actually cook a roast on most barbecues even if you don’t have a rotisserie or smoker (although those are great too!)

Summertime Barbecue Beef on a Bun

(adapted from Best BBQ Beef Oven Roast in the I Love Alberta Beef Cookbook)

Summertime Alberta Barbecue Beef on a Bun - The Canadian Food Experience Project

Ingredients

Ingredients
4-13 lb oven or rotisserie style roast (inside round, eye of round or sirloin tip) The max size will depend on your barbecue size - you'll want it to easily fit on one side of your grill).
1-2 cups of salad vinaigrette - you can use bottled or home made. I used a home made sun-dried tomato dressing.
Buns
Barbecue sauce
Sun-dried tomato vinaigrette
¼ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove chopped
2 sprigs oregano
1 tsp honey
⅓ cup canola oil
½ cup water
salt and pepper

Instructions

Add vinaigrette ingredients to a blender or food processor until well mixed.
Pierce the roast all over with a fork. Stick in a large zip lock bag and cover with dressing. If your roast is too big for a large zip lock bag, you can use any kind of dish, but you'll need more dressing and may want to turn the roast a few times as it marinates. Let it sit in the fridge for around 12-24 hours.
Take out your roast and discard the marinade.
Place a drip pan underneath one side of the barbecue and turn the heat on the other side of the barbecue.
When the grill is hot, place the roast over the drip tray and close the lid.
Cook at 400 F or about medium high heat until a meat thermometer reaches 135-145F. Rotate roast occasionally for more even cooking.
Allow about 20 minutes per pound - check with a meat thermometer.
Remove roast to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
Slice roast thinly.
Add roast slices to cut buns and top with barbecue sauce (we used Bull's-Eye which is the official BBQ sauce of the Calgary Stampede).

Salus Fitness Personal Training Review

June 21, 2013 by danawyyc 3 Comments

Sarah of Salus Fitness recently offered to let me try out her personal training services. I was initially intimidated, and wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it. I didn’t have any experience with having a personal trainer and I wasn’t sure if I could handle the dynamic of 1 on 1 attention while I worked out. I generally shy away from the spot light and am not the most coordinated. It came at a good time for me though so I said yes despite my reservations. My daughter is now over a year old and I really needed a kick start to get back into exercising. I’ve lost most of the weight I gained while pregnant but am far from fit.

Sarah is passionate about helping women not just lose weight but be strong. She is a mom and has two young kids too. She knows what it’s like to need to lose weight or be out of shape and the challenges that mothers face to find time to exercise. She organizes her workouts to be short (generally 45 minutes) but vigorous. They contain strength training, interval training and some stretching too.

At Salus Fitness, Sarah provides a number of different training options, including individual training at her home or your own home and year-round bootcamps in SW Calgary.

We decided to do a few sessions of training in my home. I had my brother come over to watch the kids which wasn’t a huge ask because it was only for a total of about an hour. When Sarah arrived for her first session she immediately put me at ease. Her supportive and encouraging manner helped me push myself way harder than I ever would on my own. She made sure that I wasn’t pushing myself so far that I was going to hurt myself and if something was just too difficult for me (like push-ups) or too easy (this wasn’t actually an issue but she gave me ideas for the future) she was able to modify my workout to better suit my needs.

At the end of our sessions Sarah gave me a personalized workout that I could do from home. I’m still working on being able to do a proper push-up, (okay a proper modified push-up) but I have a great start to getting myself back in shape. I would absolutely recommend her to my friends and family and will seek her out if (or more likely when) I need another fitness boost in the future.

You can find out more about Salus Fitness and what bootcamps Sarah is currently running at http://salusfitness.ca/

Disclaimer: The training sessions I took part in by Salus Fitness were complementary, but as always, impressions and opinions are my own.

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danawyyc

Kale Salad with a Bacon Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

Did They Eat It?

Chopped Garden Salad with Herb Dressing

Did They Eat It?

Fresh and Easy Pasta Salad

Variations

Did They Eat It?

Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Prosciutto and Almonds

Did They Eat It?

Summertime Barbecue Beef on a Bun

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