How To Get Your Fat Loss Back on Track

4 Simple Steps to Kick Start Your Weight Loss Plan When it comes to weight loss, it can seem like there is always something getting in the way and throwing you off track: birthdays, holidays, vacation days, not to mention the challenge of your average weekend. Things like a lack of routine, insufficient water and […]

4 Tips For Better Joint Health

Improve joint pain and learn healthy age-management A joint is the connection between two bones. Joints and their surrounding structures allow you to bend your elbows and knees, wiggle your hips and your back and turn your head. Smooth tissue called cartilage and synovial fluid cushion the joints so bones do not rub together. However, […]

Martha’s Vineyard: The Playground of the Rich & Famous

The playground of the rich & famous by Mary Luz Mejia. President Obama and his family vacation here, alongside the Clintons, actors Bill Murray and Meg Ryan, and scores of well-heeled authors, journalists, artists and dreamers. “The Vineyard” as the island of Martha’s Vineyard and neighbouring Chappaquiddick Island are called, offers picture-perfect sunny days, miles of […]

Summer Cocktails and Ontario’s Gin Craze!

Local craft distillers are making their mark with distinct spirits to be enjoyed year-round By Jeffery L. Peterson. Let’s talk about gin. Though many think of drinking gin in the summer months, there are many classic gin cocktails that can be enjoyed any time of year. Gin, a clear, distinctly flavoured spirit, has been loved […]

Belt Bags, Barely-There Sandals & Prints for Days

Fun is the name of the game this summer Canadian summer has arrived. After many months of colour starvation, stylish trendsetters will be strutting their stuff like birds of paradise—the brighter and louder the better! FASHIONABLE FEET Strappy mules and “barely-there” sandals take a step forward this season to lead the way. This dainty shoe […]

Summer Recipes to Try This Season

Vibrant flavours and thrilling spices come together in these three mouth-watering summer recipes from Carole Nelson Brown. These dishes play well together and also make the perfect accompaniment to summer favourites like grilled meats and salads. By Carole Nelson Brown Roasted Cauliflower with Turkish Chili Oil and Honey Serves 4-6 as a side dish Ingredients: […]

Stuff We Love For Your Home, Health & Happiness

Kiss Me This three-in-one plumping, moisturizing, and colour-boosting lip balm from Givenchy is encased in pretty pink leather and designed to give you the perfect pout this spring. Lips appear suppler, softer, and fuller upon application and their natural colour is subtly heightened. The genuine leather sheath makes it the perfect beauty accessory. Givenchy Le […]

Healthy Tips To a Plant-Based Approach & The Hormone Diet

Tips and modifications to make a plant-based diet work for you, by Dr. Natasha Turner. Have you ever heard someone describe their diet by saying they “don’t eat anything that has a face.” If not, I am sure you are familiar with “vegan” or “vegetarian” diets. The current trend is to refer to this style […]

You Are What You Eat: You Can’t Out Exercise a Bad Diet

Ever heard someone give himself or herself permission to indulge their sweet tooth just because they just had a great workout?  It’s a common excuse. Many people believe that because they exercise, they’re in the black as far as their calorie input/output.  But in reality, this sort of thinking is a sure road to failure. […]

Beautiful Glasgow; A Mother-Daughter Trip of A Lifetime

How travel feeds the soul and rejuvenates your spirit, by Jennifer Valentyne . Recently I took a lifelong dream vacation to Glasgow with my daughter, Georgia. I wanted to build memories that she will hopefully cherish for a lifetime. I’ve never seen her so excited about a trip and she definitely did her research before […]

Three Steps to Stopping Sugar Cravings

Why we crave the sweet stuff and how to avoid it, by Gina Livy. Out of control cravings can quickly sidetrack our best intentions when it comes to weight loss and health goals. Sugar is one of the biggest—and cutting it out is no small feat. Even JLo, who recently did the 10-day no-sugar no-carb […]

Spring Cleaning 2019 Beauty Tips

Declutter your beauty essentials. It’s spring cleaning season and that extends to what’s INSIDE your cupboards too. Your skincare and beauty products work hard to help you look and feel your best. This spring, take an afternoon to declutter, clean and organize these beauty essentials, and give them the care and attention they need to […]

Keto: Yes or No?

Dr. Natasha Turner’s take on the keto diet trend What is the keto diet? The keto diet that you’ve likely heard about is short for “ketogenic diet.” This eating plan is all about minimizing your carbs and upping your fats to get your body to use fat as a form of energy. That typically translates […]

The 4 Perfect Tequila Cocktail Recipes!

Blame Hollywood. For the fact that tequila is such a bar star, that is. Long before HBO’s Entourage plugged Avión (even giving the spirit its own storyline that persisted through a couple of seasons), tequila was on a pretty friendly basis with the heavy hitters of stage and screen. Bing Crosby fell in love with […]

A look at the science behind intermittent fasting

If you pay attention to health and weight loss trends, you’ve likely heard of intermittent fasting or IF. However you may feel about the “hanger” or potential stress of fasting, it’s hard to ignore the documented benefits of this dietary trend. In this article, you’ll discover the solid science that backs up those health claims. […]

10 Tips to Help You Host the Sunniest Outdoor Party This Summer

When planning an outdoor event, choose a theme and let it guide your decor, activity, food and 
beverage choices (and maybe even your attire!). Hot themes for summer 2018 include “Palm Springs in the 1960s” (croquet, Pucci-inspired colour palette, retro cocktails) and a “Great Gatsby” garden party! Welcome your guests with a signature cocktail. Fill […]

Walking through the rows with an award-winning winemaker

As a student, Thirty Bench winemaker Emma Garner travelled abroad, learning about Old and New World winemaking styles, before settling into her coveted position at Thirty Bench Winery in the Niagara region. Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany and British Columbia were all on the list, and Garner’s passion for food and wine grew with each […]

How to Drink 3x More Water

It’s summer, which means beating sun, hot temperatures, fun cocktails, and (hopefully) lots of time spent traveling and enjoying the outdoors. While all of these things are awesome, they’re a perfect recipe for straying from your normal routine and forgetting to stay hydrated. Here are some cool ways to make sure you’re drinking enough water […]

Where to Take a First Date in Toronto

First dates can be nerve-wracking, but the right setting can make or break the whole experience! It can be tough to pick a perfect place to impress a person you don’t know very well, especially with so many places to choose from in Toronto. We’ve narrowed it down to a few places that are hard […]

Hot cocktails to warm you on a cold winter day

Hot cocktails to warm you on a cold winter day

By Christine Sismondo Anyone can add a splash of Irish cream to a hot cup of coffee. But, delicious as that is, it’s hardly enough liquid fortitude to make it through the polar vortex months. Summer cocktails abound, but when it comes to winter warmers, we are too often creatively challenged and end up short-changing […]

Spicy Cheddar Shortbread

Spicy Cheddar Shortbread

Spicy Cheddar Shortbread is a hit at our holiday gatherings and so easy to prepare!  You can freeze the logs of uncooked dough for up to a couple of months and you can also keep a log in the fridge for about a week and just slice off as many cookies as you are going […]

Bomba White Bean Crostini

You can make the bean mixture ahead of time, as it keeps well in the fridge for a few days, and then just slice up as many baguette slices as you need for the evening. No need to use the entire recipe in one evening if you only have two guests, right? Recipe creation by:  Carole […]

Thanksgiving

Keep It Wild This Thanksgiving: Try Some Yummy Seafood

Yes, it’s Thanksgiving and this is a special occasion to enjoy some tasty seafood. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has teamed up with chef Charlotte Langley to inspire new traditions around the Thanksgiving table, all centered around eating more mindfully and keeping it wild with certified sustainable seafood. Historically focused on celebrating the fall harvest, […]

Top Ten Tips To Slow Down

Hey you – slow down! It’s never been easier to connect with someone on the other side of the world, yet it’s so easy to feel disconnected from the people closest to us. We have more tools than ever to simplify tasks and accomplish more things quickly, yet our to-do lists have never been longer. […]

Chili Lime Sweet Potatoes

Summer Delight: How To Make Chili Lime Sweet Potatoes

End of summer is nearing but there is still loads of time for family gatherings and BBQs with friends. Sick yet of the endless same old burger and hotdog routine? No problem, I have created a summer recipe that you can use this season to spice up your taste buds, leaving you both nourished and […]

Greek Pasta

How To Make A Greek Inspired Sweet Potato Zucchini Pasta

Love a pasta salad but want to get more veggies into your diet? If you haven’t tried your hand at a new tool called a spiralizer yet you are really missing out. This sweet gem turns veggies into spiralized noodle like portions. For this recipe my KitchenAid Mini Stand Mixer does double duty with a […]

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Coming to a Grocery Store Near You

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte will soon hit the shelves at local grocery stores. Yes, it’s great news indeed. Many of us are still sojourning through the dog days of summer but we’re close enough to Fall where we’re thinking about our first cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte, with hints of fall scents like cinnamon, nutmeg, […]

Hey Canadian Moms! Stream Time is the New “Me Time”.

It’s the summer and Moms across the country are feeling the pains of having the children at home around the clock. So in today’s day and age, how are moms de-stressing?  According to a recent Canadian study from Netflix,  “stream time” is the new “me time,” with 9 out of 10 Canadian mothers saying that watching great TV […]

BBQ Corn

BBQ Corn With Butter, Parmesan, Lemon & Tahini 

There are so many fun ways to dress up super sweet summer corn, but this is a favourite of mine. No need to pre-cook the corn; roasting on the BBQ for BBQ Corn does it perfectly. BBQ Corn Serves 4 Cooking time 15 minutes Ingredients 4 fresh corn with husk on (makes for a great handle) 2 tbsp unsalted butter ¼ cup […]

Chili Shrimp

Chili Shrimp With Beans & Edamame Recipe

“I don’t know if this Chili Shrimp with Beans and Edamame is Asian or Italian, but I do know it’ll make your mouth dance.”  Chili Shrimp with Beans and Edamame Ingredients 2 cups medium-sized shrimp, shelled and deveined 2 cups green beans, cut diagonally lengthwise 2 cups cherry tomatoes, larger ones chopped in half 2 […]

Strawberry Shortcake

Mile High Strawberry Shortcake

For Canada Day this year, I’ve created this super easy variation to the personalized Strawberry Shortcake that will allow you to prepare ahead, wow your guests and keep them coming back for more. I have to admit, I love June.  Why you ask?  Well it’s strawberry season.  It may be the only time you’ll see […]

Toronto Craft Brewer Launches Fake News Ale

A local startup brewery here in Toronto, ON, has just announced a charitable beer line to help reverse questionable policies and of course to help make beer great again. As Northern Maverick gears up for a summer launch, the Toronto craft brewer unveiled its first beer as part of a charitable line of beers that […]

Potato & Prawn Salad with Lemon Yogurt, Capers & Radish

Serves 2 comfortably, serves 4 as a starter. Takes 20 mins Bright and light, this salad is bursting with bold summer flavours. 400 grams baby white potatoes, cooked to fork tender in well salted water, and cooled 250 grams large shrimp, peeled, cooked in well salted water and cooled 2 radishes thinly sliced (a mandolin […]

Sun-dried Tomato & Feta Hummus

A luxuriously rich spin on a classic, this sun-dried tomato hummus is perfect on a crispy pita or as my girls do, dip n’ lick it off your fingers.  In a food processor combine until smooth: 3 cups of chickpeas (canned or cooked) ½ cup of sun-dried tomatoes 150-200 grams of feta juice of ½ […]

Lemon Cream Cheese Shortbread Snowstorms

I’m not a huge fan of the rigid recipe that’s typically required for baking—but this super easy, hard-to-mess-up, six-ingredient concoction hits the note for my daughters and I. And they taste like heaven.  Prep 45 mins/cook time 20 mins Cookie ingredients: 3/4 cup icing sugar 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 teaspoon salt […]

The World’s Richest Tomato Sauce

Sure, basic marinara sauce works OK, but this sauce takes it to the next level. Puree it for any dish that works with tomato sauce. I even use it as ketchup with my kids! Takes 20 mins – Serves 4-6 700/800g linguine or fettuccine 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced ½ white onion, finely chopped 1 […]

Hot Winter Cocktails

Anyone can add a splash of Irish cream to a hot cup of coffee. But, delicious as that is, it’s hardly enough liquid fortitude to make it through the polar vortex months. Summer cocktails abound, but when it comes to winter warmers, we are too often creatively challenged and end up short-changing ourselves at a […]

Smoked Nachos

The year was 1943, and a group of Americans straggled into the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Mexico, after closing time. The chef had left, but the maitre d’, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, topped some tostadas with jalapeños and cheese and melted it under the broiler. A classic was born. His legacy lives on, and I […]

Honey-Cured Ham Ribs

Combine the briny, smoky, umami flavours of country ham with the crusty, gnaw-off-the-bone pleasure of barbecued baby backs and you wind up with ham ribs. I wish I could say I thought of it, but I got the idea from a man utterly obsessed with pork, smoke, and fire: Chris Shepherd of Underbelly in Houston, […]

Red Hot Wings with Pac-Rim Seasonings

My take on the Buffalo wing involves—you guessed it—wood smoke. Crank your smoker up to 375°F. This is hotter than the usual 225°F low and slow, but the heat helps render the fat and crisp the chicken skin. To further pump up the wings, I call for Pac-Rim flavours like sesame oil and sriracha, and […]

Curry Pumpkin Soup

My grandmother would prepare a big batch of pumpkin soup for the adults to eat while the kids went out to get their treats for the night, and my mom took on this tradition when we were growing up. This is my rendition of the recipe she has been using for decades. SERVES 6 2 […]

Steamed Clam and Mild Italian Sausage with Tomato Broth

Sausage makes a flavourful addition to almost any seafood recipe. With this recipe, celebrity chef Mark McEwan has combined the savoury taste of steamed clams with the robust flavour of mild Italian sausage for an unbeatable combination. 40 min prep time 15 min cook time 4 servings WHAT YOU NEED 1/3 pkg. (17.64 ounces/ 500 […]

Crostini with Sausage Ragout and Ricotta Cheese

The recipe for a great party is some good conversation, good music and delicious food. So celebrity chef Mark McEwan has put together a special recipe for your next great get-together. Flavourful small bites, perfect for entertaining. PREP TIME 20 COOK TIME 40 SERVINGS 18 WHAT YOU NEED 1 pkg. (17.64 ounces/500 g) Johnsonville Italian […]

‘Tis the Season to Sparkle

It’s no bubble: Champagne’s stocks are on the rise. Where there were once only two options—the real deal or total plonk—we now have a host of excellent “middle-ground” alternatives, many of which are probably just as good as bona fide French Champagne. And a whole lot cheaper.  That’s happy news for those of us who […]