(ARA) – The fall brings beautiful new scents and sounds with crisp air, vibrant colors of leaves gently falling to the ground, crackling wood popping on campfires and the sweet smell of apples hovering in the kitchen. To get the most enjoyment out of the fall months this year, venture out with your family and [...]

If you haven’t seen Pieces of April I suggest you do so this Thanksgiving season.  The sweet and touching movie is about a girl who has not always meshed well with her family but is trying to turn over a new leaf – even if some of them are resistant.  Here is a short trailer [...]

Every year I have lots of children in my home for Thanksgiving. I do not have children myself, well ones without four legs that is, so I’m constantly looking for ways to entertain them.  I typically pull out several board games such as: Pictionary, Monopoly or perhaps Scrabble.  This year I thought it would be [...]

(ARA) – As the cool temperatures of fall and winter arrive, many people find themselves gravitating toward warming, rich foods. Many of those dishes are fondly remembered childhood favorites or even part of a longstanding family tradition. While those cozy comfort foods warm you, body and soul, it’s no secret that many of them aren’t [...]

(ARA) – Gathering with friends and family for special meals is a beloved part of the fall and winter holidays. Spending time preparing dishes that everyone looks forward to somehow feels less like a chore and more like a tradition during this time of year. And, of course, you don’t want anyone to go away [...]

(ARA) – The holidays can be difficult for people watching their diet. For those with health issues such as diabetes, the dietary minefield of holiday temptations can be especially troublesome. In the United States, 8.3 percent of the population (nearly 26 million adults and children) has diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. For these [...]

Before the beautiful Thanksgiving day dinner my family likes to serve a variety of appetizers.  Some are simple, and some are over the top!  Here is a list of a few of my favorite Thanksgiving appetizers. Brie En Croute – puffed pastry does magic making this dish into a Thanksgiving home-run appetizer.  I like to [...]

Every Thanksgiving I have to watch Planes, Trains & Automobiles.  It’s too cute and a Thanksgiving must for me.  It reminds me of my childhood because my parents loved it too.  It’s one of those movies that transcends generation after generation. To be honest I love John Hughes movies in general, but Planes, Trains & [...]

(NC)—Easy to make with pre-cut vegetables and prepared in the microwave, this hearty fall bisque combines the rich mellow flavour of mushrooms with any of the varieties of squash, in season. Evaporated milk adds creaminess but keeps it low in fat. Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter 1 [...]

(NC)—Take your appetizers from the usual to the unexpected with these individual tartlets that feature sweet Ontario pears as the star. With a few simple pantry items, frozen mini tartlet shells, cheese and fresh delicious pears, these elegant bite-sized morsels can be prepared in a flash. 18 prepared frozen mini-tartlet shells, par-baked as per package [...]