Recipes – Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca Beginner or expert we have something to unleash your creative side Fri, 03 Nov 2017 19:02:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.16 Tropical Green Juice https://creativesides.ca/tropical-green-juice/ https://creativesides.ca/tropical-green-juice/#respond Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:44:18 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=1763 This green juice has personality. It’s light and zippy and the sweetness from the pineapple is nicely balanced by the tart apple and lime. Ingredients 1 handful parsley 1 handful mint 3 – 4 kale leaves 1 lime, zest removed but leave as much pith (the white stuff in between the skin and the fruit)...

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This green juice has personality. It’s light and zippy and the sweetness from the pineapple is nicely balanced by the tart apple and lime.

Ingredients

1 handful parsley
1 handful mint
3 – 4 kale leaves
1 lime, zest removed but leave as much pith (the white stuff in between the skin and the fruit) as possible
1/2 pineapple, peeled
1 green apple, cored

Green Juice Ingredients

Directions

Feed fruits and vegetables through your juicer. I have an Omega J8006 which is a masticating juicer so I do my herbs first, followed by leafy greens and citrus, and I leave my hardest fruits and veg for the end to sort of “clean” as much out of the machine as possible.

Serve over ice. Makes two juices (quantity varies because of natural products).

Green Juice

Tropical Green Juice
Serves 2
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Ingredients
  1. 1 handful parsley
  2. 1 handful mint
  3. 3 - 4 kale leaves
  4. 1 lime, zest removed but leave as much pith (the white stuff in between the skin and the fruit) as possible
  5. 1/2 pineapple, peeled
  6. 1 green apple, cored
Instructions
  1. Feed fruits and vegetables through your juicer, herbs first, followed by leafy greens and citrus. Leave hardest fruits and veg for the end to sort of "clean" as much out of the machine as possible.
  2. Serve over ice.
Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca/
This post originally appeared on Hillary with 2Ls.

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Cheers To The Holidays  https://creativesides.ca/cheers-to-the-holidays/ https://creativesides.ca/cheers-to-the-holidays/#respond Fri, 23 Dec 2016 01:10:21 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2524 There’s nothing more enjoyable than a holiday party, spending time with friends and family and savouring the season. When the table is set and the food is prepared, a signature beverage can really set your festivities apart. Celebrating good company is thirsty work and it’s best to keep the drinks flowing for a memorable evening....

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There’s nothing more enjoyable than a holiday party, spending time with friends and family and savouring the season. When the table is set and the food is prepared, a signature beverage can really set your festivities apart. Celebrating good company is thirsty work and it’s best to keep the drinks flowing for a memorable evening. The tinkling glasses and twinkling lights set a joyous scene and help make the season brighter.

These are some ideas of some magical drinks for your holiday party: 

Raspberry Sangria - WM

Raspberry Sangria:

The nice thing about the sangria is you can make it a couple days ahead. The liqueur we love most for this drink is made with 100% BC raspberries and there are no colourings, chemicals or preservatives used in its production. Pure flavour from pure ingredients make pure fun.

Spiced Cherry Cider - WM

Spiced Cherry Cider:

Spice up your holiday season with a spicy seasonal beverage. This warm, luxurious drink pairs nicely with the most blustery of winter days. The cherry and apple flavourings go together like mistletoe and kisses and unite to bring out the very best of the season.

raspberry mimosas - WM

Raspberry Mango Mimosas: 

The raspberry liqueur tastes just like fresh picked raspberries (but with a punch) because it’s made from 100% locally grown fruits from British Columbia. You might not be home for the holidays, but your drink will taste like you are right where you belong.

Cranberry Rosemary Simple Syrup

Rosemary Cranberry Simple Syrup Recipe:

Keep it simple this holiday season with this simple syrup for your cocktails that adds remarkable dimension. Suitable for use in alcoholic or non-alcoholic creations, this syrup is easy to make but tastes great.

Drink in the best of the season with these delicious drink recipes. Hosting a memorable event is easy with these fruity treats that are sure to impress your guests. Pop into your local Metro to get everything you need to be ready for your event yet. Tis the season to stock up for entertaining, and Metro has you set in that department so you can sit back, relax and enjoy. Cheers to a happy holiday party! 

Disclaimer: Although this post has been sponsored, the opinions and language are my own. If I would not serve it for my family, I would never suggest you serve it to yours.

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Focus And Clarity In A Mug https://creativesides.ca/focus-and-clarity-in-a-mug-bulletproof-coffee/ https://creativesides.ca/focus-and-clarity-in-a-mug-bulletproof-coffee/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2016 19:24:27 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2504 I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. Recently, the Wet Coast traded dreary rain for powdery snow. At the same time, I traded my brain fog for Brain Octane Oil, a key component of Bulletproof Coffee. That sounds dramatic, but I can tell you the long term forecast is a lot brighter now...

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I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. Recently, the Wet Coast traded dreary rain for powdery snow. At the same time, I traded my brain fog for Brain Octane Oil, a key component of Bulletproof Coffee. That sounds dramatic, but I can tell you the long term forecast is a lot brighter now that I have a secret ingredient to my success.

As someone who deals with chronic pain, cares for two small kids, and is growing a business where I work from home, my brain is taxed to the limit. It takes laser focus to get through all that stuff with a smile on my face and the kids by my side. So many days I have just wished that things would come easy, just this once. I am thankful to be so busy, but I need a little kick in the morning to get through everything on my to-do list. Or even to make a teeny-tiny dent.

Bulletproof Coffee in my cup gives many, many kicks to get me moving. I’m moving on my business goals, I’m moving on my mommy goals and I’m even moving on my blogging goals. I even got my husband to switch over from the “dark side” (coffee with a gallon of milk and sugar.)

bulletproof-coffee-working

At the best of times I need an extra boost. This past few weeks have been even more full than usual, between planning my daughter’s winter birthday party  and the Christmas tree needing a makeover. Beyond that, there’s the shopping and all of the events that come along with being a blogger at Christmas time. Events are like tinsel, bright and shiny but so tightly scheduled they get stuck together. This is prime time, baby.

How ever was I going to get it all done? I’m tired, I’m sore, I’m cranky and to be honest it all felt a bit much. Enter Bulletproof Coffee to save the day. Santa’s sleigh is pulled by 8 tiny reindeer, and my holiday season is pulled by the contents of my coffee mug. What the heck is this stuff, you ask?

bulletproof coffee products

Bulletproof Coffee is Upgraded Coffee blended with grass-fed unsalted butter & Brain Octane Oil. It’s also low toxin, high performance & full of healthy fats to fuel me. It’s a way better energy source than sugar because you don’t crash. But what about the low-toxin part? Well, low-quality beans can actually contain mould. Gross. Upgraded Coffee beans are certified clean so you don’t have to worry about that. Thank goodness. I’ve got enough to worry about!

All that energy did me well. I decorated the Christmas tree with my family and I blogged all the blogs and wrote all the plans and wrangled all the kids and planned the most exciting birthday party ever. I had my best week yet! I was proud of everything I had accomplished and I didn’t feel like I was treading water at a polar bear swim anymore. I really needed this confidence boost Bulletproof Coffee delivers.

bulletproof coffee christmas

I thought I was a bit old to still believe in magic, but this season Bulletproof Coffee helped me believe in the magic of the season and in myself. That gift, my friend, is priceless. It turns out I really needed to give myself a break – a coffee break.

I’m so glad the rain (and brain fog) is gone and I can see clearly now. I’ve got Bulletproof Coffee in my mug and I can take on the world (even tinsel.)

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West Coast Tuna Sliders and Salmon Cucumber Rolls https://creativesides.ca/west-coast-tuna-sliders-and-salmon-cucumber-rolls/ https://creativesides.ca/west-coast-tuna-sliders-and-salmon-cucumber-rolls/#respond Wed, 09 Nov 2016 18:23:21 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2367 As most of you know, I love last minute get togethers which means I need to have a few lightning fast and easy-to-prepare appetizers that taste great. Something I always have on hand is canned tuna and salmon. A pantry staple usually set aside for pasta, sandwiches or quiche, the gourmet style canned Tuna and Salmon...

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As most of you know, I love last minute get togethers which means I need to have a few lightning fast and easy-to-prepare appetizers that taste great. Something I always have on hand is canned tuna and salmon. A pantry staple usually set aside for pasta, sandwiches or quiche, the gourmet style canned Tuna and Salmon from Raincoast Trading are the star ingredients for these tasty appetizers. 

Tuna Sliders

tuna slider

West Coast Tuna Sliders
Serves 8
A quick to prepare tuna slider as an appetizer or made larger for a lunch or dinner. Note: I was worried the heat of the chili would be too spicy for my kids... until my three year old declared "That's delicious mama, can I please have another?" He said please - it's that tasty.
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
30 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  2. 1 clove garlic, minced
  3. 1 red chili, minced
  4. 1 rib celery, finely diced
  5. ¼ tsp celery seeds
  6. ¼ tsp sea salt
  7. ¼ tsp pepper
  8. 1 egg, beaten
  9. 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  10. ¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
  11. 1 tbsp heavy cream
  12. 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  13. 2 cans Raincoast Wild Solid White Albacore Tuna
  14. ⅓ cup dry breadcrumbs
  15. 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  16. Canola oil
  17. 8 buns/dinner rolls
  18. Niko's Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce (found at St. Jean's Cannery and Smokehouse)
  19. Broccoli Kale Coleslaw
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the olive oil, garlic, red chili, celery, celery seeds and salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. In another bowl, mix together egg, green onions, parsley, cream, dijon mustard, two cans of tuna, and breadcrumbs. Add in the chili, garlic, celery mixture and combine well.
  3. Shape mixture into small patties and dredge in flour.
  4. Place the patties in the freezer for 10-12 minutes.
  5. Heat the canola oil in a large frying pan. Fry the patties for 5-7 minutes, until crispy and heated through.
  6. Toast the buns and brush with Niko's Sweet Chili BBQ & Dipping Sauce
  7. Top the buns with the tuna patty and coleslaw and serve with a side of dipping sauce.
Notes
  1. You may also substitute Raincoast Trading Wild Solid White Albacore Tuna - No Salt for a lower sodium option.
Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca/
As a proud islander growing up in Nanaimo, BC, it’s just known (like the sky is blue) that if you had a great day fishing on the Salish Sea or in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Vancouver Island,  you take your prize to be canned and or smoked at St. Jean’s Cannery and Smokehouse. St. Jean’s Cannery and Smokehouse is a family business located in Nanaimo, B.C. that has been providing high-quality smoking, hand packing, and canning on the West Coast for 50 years.

St. Jean’s has been an important part of my family’s table for many years. They still process all the fish my dad catches and each time we travel to see my husband’s family in France, we stock up on cans of salmon and frozen filets and bring them as gifts. Canned Salmon as gifts, you say? Not Nanaimo Bars? Yes, it is a huge hit every year. Next year we’ll be bringing the dips and marinades.

After finding out St. Jean’s Cannery acquired Raincoast Trading in 2013 I was happy that the standards of sustainable catching (hook and line caught – no nets, yay dolphins!) and processing (these guys know their stuff) will continue to be top notch.  All of their fish is sustainably sourced in the Pacific Northwest off the coast of BC. All wild – not farmed.

Raincoast Trading Tuna and Salmon is only cooked once during the canning process and there are no preservatives. It is not packed in water – just the fish and all of its natural oils and nutrients.  This means the tuna provides as much as 8 times the Omega 3 Fatty Acids compared to other commercial brands. As for quality, open a can of salmon or tuna from a competitor brand and a can from Raincoast Trading and do a side by side comparison to see the difference – it’s striking. 

Raincoast Trading products are available at most major grocery retailers in Canada as well as online at Amazon.ca

Salmon Cucumber Rolls

cucumber salmon rolls - raincoast

cucumber-salmon-rolls

Salmon Cucumber Rolls
Serves 20
These Salmon Cucumber Rolls are lightning fast to prepare and elegant for a crowd. Delicious too!
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Total Time
10 min
Total Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 can Raincoast Trading Wild Sockeye Salmon - No Salt
  2. 1/2 cup cream cheese
  3. 1/4 cup firm goat cheese
  4. 1 tbsp lemon juice
  5. 1 tbsp fresh dill, minced
  6. 1/2 tsp sea salt
  7. 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
  8. 1 english cucumber, very thinly sliced lengthwise using a mandolin
  9. 2 tbsp capers
  10. Sprigs of fresh dill for garnish
Instructions
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine salmon, cream cheese, goat cheese, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
  2. Place 1 tbsp of mixture at the end of each cucumber slice and add a few capers on top. Roll up the cucumber tightly using a toothpick to secure if needed.
  3. Garnish with remaining fresh dill
Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca/

BC Buy Local Program
This project is supported by the BC Government’s Buy Local Program; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC with funding from the BC Ministry of Agriculture. #BCBuyLocal 

Disclaimer: Although this post has been generously sponsored and compensated by Raincoast Trading, the opinions and language are my own. If I would not serve it to my family, I would never suggest you serve it to yours.

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Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup https://creativesides.ca/black-bean-sweet-potato-soup/ https://creativesides.ca/black-bean-sweet-potato-soup/#respond Sat, 01 Oct 2016 23:21:30 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=1971 The leaves are turning, the temperature is dropping and rain is coming more frequently. We’re all getting ready to hibernate – pulling on warm layers, and making big batches of our favourite comfort foods to sustain us through the cold, dreary months ahead. Soup is one of my favourite comfort foods – it warms you...

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The leaves are turning, the temperature is dropping and rain is coming more frequently. We’re all getting ready to hibernate – pulling on warm layers, and making big batches of our favourite comfort foods to sustain us through the cold, dreary months ahead. Soup is one of my favourite comfort foods – it warms you up quickly, you can make it once in a big batch to last you through a week or two, and there are endless variations so it’s never boring! 

This Black Bean Sweet Potato soup is quick and easy to throw together, full of vitamins and minerals, and is comprised wholly of ingredients I always have in my pantry (a major win in my books). It can be jazzed up with shredded cheese and sour cream or left plain and simple. The recipe makes a lot but it freezes well.

Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup
Serves 8
A hearty and healthy soup, perfect for brisk fall days
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  2. 1 onion, finely diced
  3. 4 carrots, sliced (approximately 1 cup)
  4. 1 sweet potato, finely diced (approximately 3 cups)
  5. 3 cloves garlic, minced
  6. 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  7. 1 x 796mL can diced tomatoes, with juice
  8. 2 x 540mL can black beans, drained and rinsed well
  9. 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  10. salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in large soup pot over medium high heat. Add onions, carrots, and sweet potatoes and cook until softened, 7 - 10 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and cumin and cook, stirring constantly, for another minute or two.
  3. Add tomatoes with their juice, beans, and broth. Bring to a boil and cook until vegetables are completely tender, anywhere from 5 - 15 minutes depending on how big you sliced your veg.
  4. You can leave this soup as-is or you can blend all (or part) of it for a smoother consistency. I like to use my immersion blender and blend in quick bursts to end up with a sort of half-smooth-half-chunky consistency.
  5. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced green onions, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, hot sauce, etc. The sky's the limit.
Adapted from Hillary With 2 L's
Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca/

Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup

A version of this post originally appeared on Hillary with 2 Ls

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Salmon with Avocado Dill Yogurt Sauce https://creativesides.ca/salmon-avocado-dill-yogurt-sauce/ https://creativesides.ca/salmon-avocado-dill-yogurt-sauce/#respond Tue, 06 Sep 2016 17:04:43 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2174 Here on the West Coast of Canada, there are a few things we know to be true: We live in the tropics of Canada – yes it rains, but not nearly as much as we say it does because then everyone would want to move here. We can BBQ all year round without having to...

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Salmon with Avocado Yogurt Sauce

Here on the West Coast of Canada, there are a few things we know to be true:

  1. We live in the tropics of Canada – yes it rains, but not nearly as much as we say it does because then everyone would want to move here.
  2. We can BBQ all year round without having to shovel snow to reach our BBQ – you don’t have to shovel rain… see #1.
  3. We are lucky to have an abundance of fresh local ingredients available within 100 miles.
  4. West Coast Spirit… easily observed in a gathering of great people, relaxed, welcoming, and – more often than not – planned on the spur of the moment.

Some of our best and most memorable gatherings are planned at the last minute. Friends coming over? Put some ice in a bucket with your beverage of choice, throw a salmon on the BBQ and whip up this tasty sauce. This sauce is quicker to prepare than the salmon and is a crowd pleaser. It adds a lot of flavour and interest to a simple meal and it lets you spend more time with your friends than in the kitchen.

What’s the secret to this easy sauce? Olympic Natural Yogurt. I’ve raved about it before in my Coconut Lime Banana Bread recipe. I love it because it’s so versatile and can be used at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Does this make me a Yogurt Aficionado?
 

Cedar Planked Salmon with Avocado Dill Yogurt Sauce

 Cedar Plank Salmon Ingredients

Ingredients

1 avocado
½ cup Olympic Natural Plain yogurt
3 tbsp dill (chopped)
1 clove garlic (pressed)
2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt
Pepper
4 salmon fillets
1 tbsp olive oil
Cedar Plank or parchment lined baking tray

Yogurt Sauce

Instructions

Avocado Dill Yogurt Sauce

  1. In a food processor, combine avocado, Olympic Natural yogurt, dill, pressed garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper until smooth and creamy.
  2. For garlic lovers you can blend the cloves of garlic whole but you may end up with small chunks in the sauce. If you prefer a smoother sauce, press the garlic first.

Cedar Plank Salmon (Baked)

  1. Submerge your cedar plank in water for 2-6 hours prior to cooking. Weigh down the plank with a heavy object.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  3. Place salmon skin side down on cedar plank.
  4. Brush olive oil on salmon then season with salt and pepper.
  5. Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes depending on thickness of your fillets. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes of baking time for each 1” of thickness.
  6. Serve topped with Avocado Dill Yogurt Sauce

Oiling Salmon
Cedar Plank Salmon (BBQ)

  1. Complete Steps 1-4 as above
  2. Place the plank on a preheated hot grill. Turn down to low and close the lid.
  3. Keep the lid closed as much as possible. Plank should smoulder not flame. If the plank starts to flame, spritz the plank with a spray bottle of water.
  4. Serve topped with Avocado Dill Yogurt Sauce

Salmon with yogurt sauce

 
As mentioned in my previous post, Olympic products are made right here on the west coast in Delta, B.C. with 100% natural ingredients and fresh milk from cows who live close to their dairies. The milk has a shorter commute than my husband does to go to work. It’s that fresh!

Olympic’s packaging has a great new look and easily spotted in the grocery isle (as well as my fridge – my husband and I both went to the store and picked up yogurt last Tuesday without telling the other. I’ll be referencing these recipes over the next few weeks as I have approximately 3kg of yogurt in my fridge. Thank goodness it’s Back to School time!) 

Disclaimer: Although this post has been generously sponsored by Olympic, the opinions and language are my own. If I would not serve it to my family, I would never suggest you serve it to yours.

 

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Finding Dory Cupcake Tutorial *VIDEO* https://creativesides.ca/finding-dory-cupcake-tutorial/ https://creativesides.ca/finding-dory-cupcake-tutorial/#respond Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:04:00 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2132 Finding Dory is set to be the animated movie of the summer, and I predict Dory parties will be the hot theme for kids birthdays (check out some amazing Finding Dory party ideas here). After getting to see a sneak peek of the movie with my girls, I couldn’t wait to experiment with some blue cupcakes...

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Finding Dory is set to be the animated movie of the summer, and I predict Dory parties will be the hot theme for kids birthdays (check out some amazing Finding Dory party ideas here). After getting to see a sneak peek of the movie with my girls, I couldn’t wait to experiment with some blue cupcakes and royal icing to create my own Finding Dory Cupcake. Now you can use this tutorial to create your own!

Finding Dory Cupcake Tutorial 

Cupcakes and Icing

Finding Dory blue cupcakes
Step 1: Make a batch of your favourite vanilla cupcakes, adding a small amount of Wilton’s Gel Icing Color in Royal Blue into the batter before pouring into the cupcake liners and baking. (I found both Finding Dory themed and plain blue cupcake liners at Michael’s that worked perfectly).

Step 2: While the cupcakes are baking, mix up your buttercream icing (this is my favourite recipe), again adding a small amount of Wilton’s Gel Icing Color in Royal Blue to the mix to match the cupcakes. Spoon the icing into an icing bag fitted with a 1M decorating tip. 

Finding Dory Buttercream Icing

Step 3: When the cupcakes are cooled, ice the tops with a simple swirl of the buttercream icing.

Finding Dory Royal Icing Topper

Step 4: Print a colour Dory outline to use as your guide. This one worked well for me.

Step 5: Whip up a batch of Royal Icing, and separate into 4 parts. 

Step 6: Using Wilton’s Color Right Performance System, color your separated portions of Royal Icing Blue (20 drops of blue, 1 drop of black), Yellow (20 drops of yellow)and Black (20 drops of black), leaving a very small portion white. 

Step 7: Place the printed Dory outline on a large cutting board or cookie sheet and cover with waxed or parchment paper. Secure waxed paper, leaving the dory outline free to reposition as needed. 

Step 8: Pour royal icing into individual icing bags fitted with a #2 decorating tip. Use a decorating bag holder or tall glass to hold the bags, ensuring each bag stays upright with the tip flush against the bottom so no icing leaks while not in use. 

Step 9: Begin tracing the outline in blue, and follow in black. Let it rest for 10 minutes or until partially set. 

Finding Dory cupcake - royal icing topper

Step 10: Fill in the yellow parts of the fins and the white of the eye. Use a toothpick to place a dot of black in the centre of each eye. *note* in the images and video I started with a pink iris, however it was much too finicky and in the future I’ll omit the pink and stick with simple white and black eyes. 

Step 11: Fill in the black are of the mouth and back, using a toothpick to spread and settle the icing in the large areas

Step 12: Fill in the blue of the body, using a toothpick to spread and settle the icing. 

Step 13: Let finished toppers set for 4 hours, or overnight before placing on cupcakes.

Finding Dory Cupcake Tutorial

Step 14: Serve and enjoy! 

Watch the above steps in our handy-dandy Finding Dory Cupcake Topper Tutorial video.

If you’re looking for more Finding Dory Party Ideas, this is the place to find them! 

Finding Dory Cupcake Pinterest

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Cold Brew Coffee https://creativesides.ca/cold-brew-coffee/ https://creativesides.ca/cold-brew-coffee/#respond Tue, 05 Jul 2016 20:41:24 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=1996   The weather is warming up which means it’s the season of flip-flops, late evening sunsets, and my favourite summer staple: cold brew coffee. Don’t confuse cold brew with iced coffee; this isn’t your traditionally brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold brew takes time and a little love but it’s worth the wait. Removing heat from...

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ColdBrewCoffeeMain

The weather is warming up which means it’s the season of flip-flops, late evening sunsets, and my favourite summer staple: cold brew coffee. Don’t confuse cold brew with iced coffee; this isn’t your traditionally brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold brew takes time and a little love but it’s worth the wait. Removing heat from the brewing process removes coffee’s acidity so you end up with a coffee concentrate that’s subtly sweet. It’s also ridiculously cheap to make so wave goodbye to your overpriced lattes and embrace the magic that is making a week’s worth of coffee for just a couple of bucks. 

Ingredients

1 cup coarsely ground coffee
4 cups cold-to-room-temperature water

Directions

Pour 4 cups of (not hot) water into a container that gives you a bit of stirring room at the top once you add your coffee. Sprinkle coffee over the top and give your mixture a gentle stir to incorporate your grounds and make sure they aren’t dry. Cover container with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for 12 – 24 hours.

Strain mixture through cheesecloth or a very fine sieve. Cover tightly and store in the fridge. 

This makes approximately 3-3/4 cups of coffee concentrate. Serve over ice with water or milk, depending on how you like your brew. I’m a fan of a 1:1 coffee concentrate to water ratio with a healthy splash of cream and a dash of maple syrup but half the fun is playing around with ratios and additions to find your perfect cup o’ (cold) joe. 

ColdBrewCoffeeMethod

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Apricot Glazed Pork Kebabs https://creativesides.ca/apricot-glazed-pork-kebabs/ https://creativesides.ca/apricot-glazed-pork-kebabs/#respond Tue, 21 Jun 2016 04:53:26 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2101 Kebabs just scream summer don’t they? They’re a big family pleaser around our house too. I love that all the cooking heat stays outside, and my kids love anything served on a stick. Win-Win! This Apricot Glazed Pork Kebab recipe is a mainstay in our kebab rotation. It’s a little sweet with a little kick,...

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Kebabs just scream summer don’t they? They’re a big family pleaser around our house too. I love that all the cooking heat stays outside, and my kids love anything served on a stick. Win-Win! This Apricot Glazed Pork Kebab recipe is a mainstay in our kebab rotation. It’s a little sweet with a little kick, and best of all, it can be prepped ahead and frozen for a quick and tasty meal!

Glad Freezer Meal

Freeze-Ahead Apricot Glazed Pork Kebabs

If you are planning to make this meal to freeze, follow the recipe below but mix the pork AND the peppers in with the marinade. Then, once you have threaded the skewers, my secret tip is to seal them individually with GLAD® Press’n Seal. I lay out a sheet (textured side up) that is twice as long as the skewers plus an extra inch. Then I lay 3-4 skewers side by side, leaving an inch between each skewer, plus an inch on either end. I fold the sheet length wise overtop of the pork kebabs and run my finger along each edge to seal. Then I run a finger in between each kebab to seal them off individually and voilà! No more fighting with kebabs that are stuck together! You can place each packet into a GLAD® Freezer Bag and you’re good to go.

Apricot glazed pork kebabs

One thing to note: some people prefer their kebabs with extra crisp vegetables. If this is you, I would recommend freezing meat-only kebabs, and making separate vegetable kebabs the same day you’ll be eating them. If you’re not so picky about the texture of the vegetables, or like them a bit softer, you’re good to freeze.

To cook, thaw the pork kebabs overnight in the refrigerator, or for a few hours on the counter. Then grill away!

Apricot Glazed Pork Kebabs
Serves 6
A sweet and spicy BBQ
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
7 min
Total Time
57 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
7 min
Total Time
57 min
Ingredients
  1. 8 oz jar of apricot jam
  2. 2 tbsp soy sauce
  3. 1 tbsp lemon juice
  4. 4 garlic cloves, minced
  5. 1 tbsp chipotle child powder
  6. salt & pepper
  7. 2 lbs pork tenderloin, cubed
  8. 1 green pepper
  9. 1 sweet pepper
Instructions
  1. Warm apricot jam in the microwave for 1 minute
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine jam, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic and chill powder, stirring well
  3. Cube pork tenderloin and place into a large zipper plastic bag
  4. Pour 3/4 of the mixture into the bag with the pork and let it marinade for at least 30 minutes
  5. Chop green and sweet peppers
  6. Preheat BBQ to medium heat
  7. Alternate threading pork and pepper cubes onto bamboo or metal skewers
  8. Dust with salt and pepper, and additional chili powder to taste
  9. Place skewers on the BBQ and baste with remaining apricot mixture
  10. Cook for 3 minutes and turn
  11. Baste other half and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until done.
Notes
  1. If you don't have a BBQ, the kebabs can be cooked in the oven at 375°F for 25-30 minutes
Adapted from MyRecipes.com
Adapted from MyRecipes.com
Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca/
 
I’m a big fan of weekly meal planning and prepping. You can find more prepare-ahead recipe ideas here, plus be sure to check out my meal planning tips too! Happy cooking!

All on the table disclaimer: Although this post has been generously sponsored by GLAD®, the opinions and language are my own. If I would not use it with my family, I would never suggest you use it with yours. Read our full disclosure statement here.

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Toasted Coconut Lime Banana Bread #OlympicDairyGood https://creativesides.ca/toasted-coconut-lime-banana-bread/ https://creativesides.ca/toasted-coconut-lime-banana-bread/#respond Fri, 06 May 2016 16:42:14 +0000 https://creativesides.ca/?p=2026 Being married to a Frenchman, yogurt is a must have in our house. Walking the grocery aisle in France, it’s quite impressive to see the selection of yogurt available. In Canada, the entire aisle devoted to the many options of chips and pop/soda available has the same square footage devoted to the different kinds of...

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Coconut Banana Bread Main

Being married to a Frenchman, yogurt is a must have in our house. Walking the grocery aisle in France, it’s quite impressive to see the selection of yogurt available. In Canada, the entire aisle devoted to the many options of chips and pop/soda available has the same square footage devoted to the different kinds of yogurt. I’ll take a picture on my trip this summer and post it for you; it’s quite something to see!

Here at home in British Columbia, we are surrounded by an abundance of farms, so we try to eat fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. A few great farm to table recipes can be found here

I was happy to hear that Olympic Dairy products are made close to home in Delta, BC and made from 100% natural ingredients. We regularly stock our fridge with Olympic Krema Greek Style Thick & Rich Yogurt and the larger tubs of Olympic Organic Probiotic Yogurt. They are handy for lunches, and my little ones can help themselves from the fridge in the morning (especially on Saturdays when morning cartoons are on – thank you Olympic for those precious extra minutes to sleep in!)

Coconut Banana Bread Taste Test

One of our favourite family recipes is Toasted Coconut Lime Banana Bread. I must warn you though… be prepared to have the entire loaf disappear as if by magic. I have never had a loaf last more than 3 hours in our house. It’s that good!

Toasted Coconut Lime Banana Bread

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3/4-1 cup sugar
1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
1/4 cup Olympic Organic Probiotic Vanilla Yogurt
1 to 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (approx 3 bananas)
3 tbsp applesauce or apple juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1-2 tbsp coconut to sprinkle on top of bread

Glaze:
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice (approx 1 lime; you may substitute store-bought lime or lemon juice if needed)

Coconut Banana Bread Ingredients

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare your loaf pan by cutting out a piece of parchment paper to fit in the bottom of the pan.

Step 2: In a shallow baking/cookie pan spread the coconut. Place in preheating oven for a few minutes often checking to make sure it does not burn. The coconut is ready once it is pale to golden brown.

Step 3: Mix flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 4: Beat together eggs, butter, and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute. If your butter isn’t softened stick in the microwave for 5 seconds at a time. Don’t let the butter melt!

Step 5: Add Olympic Organic Probiotic Vanilla Yogurt, bananas, applesauce, vanilla, ½ cup toasted coconut and mix until well blended.

Step 6: Add in the dry ingredients and mix until just blended.

Step 7: Pour mixture into your prepared loaf pan and top with 1-2 tbsp of coconut.

Step 8: Place in preheated 350° oven for approximately 1 hour.

Step 9: Prepare the glaze while your loaf is baking. Whisk together lime juice with ½ cup of icing sugar. You want a slightly runny consistency. Add more icing sugar or lime juice as needed.

Step 10: When your loaf is done, place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Do not let it cool completely! Remove the loaf from the pan and place on a cooling rack with a plate or pan underneath. Drizzle the glaze over the top and let it drip over the sides.

Step 11: Slice and enjoy!

You could also substitute with Olympic’s refreshingly smooth NEW Vanilla Kefir. Kefir is a probiotic, fermented milk that contains 2 billion probiotics (per 250 ml) and is great for a healthy digestive flora. Olympic Kefir is organic, contains 10 different bacterial cultures and is low fat with only 1% M.F. The Olympic Organic Kefir also can be found in plain or strawberry flavour.

Coconut Banana Bread Olympic Dairy

Disclaimer: Although this post has been generously sponsored by Ultima Foods, the opinions and language are my own. If I would not serve it to my family, I would never suggest you serve it to yours.

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