a baker's dozen ~ 3 ingredient tomato sauce + homemade pasta

Today was one of those days.

I spend hours wasting my time with clients who make up the "best" excuses on why they have not paid their bill.

Oh, you just made up your own payment plan? Fantastic.

You ignored the email I sent you back in June? Wonderful.

You think I'm getting meaner from my crazy hormones? Probably, but it would make it better if you paid your bill.

Collecting payments is the worst job on the planet. I hate it. Hate is a strong word, but I really hate it. 


Everyone has those days. Whether it be on the eve of a full moon or like me today, at the end of Ramadan.  When you have one of those days, it's called craposis. It's a scientific term.

orzo salad

With the long awaited arrival of spring in Vancouver, I finally get to cook all of my favourite summer things.

Now it's acceptable to bbq everyday, rain or shine, eat ungodly amounts of corn on the cob, look for pretty, ruby red stalks of rhubarb at the farmers market, drink lots of unsweetened ice tea and/or blush wine and make orzo salad.

pasta all'amatriciana

Do you ever get into those situations that before you know it you're elbow deep in chores and responsibilities?

All the time.

It started Friday night with a casual mention of possibility of having an impromptu Easter dinner with the family, by the husband. Next thing I knew, I was hosting a party for 14.

Wait, what?

baked tomato sauce

Sometimes the most simplest of ingredients will create a fantastic meal, a little bit of this, of that and a handful of fresh this. Most times, one I will think that the more complicated and the more ingredients listed in the recipe will make the better meal, and it seems like time after time, I'm proven wrong.

With a couple pints of fresh cherry tomatoes, which you can find all year round at the peak of summer freshness (thank you BC hot house growers!), fresh bread crumbs, a couple nubs of garlic, olive oil and a dusting of fresh basil leaves, you can have the freshest, easiest pasta you've ever made. And you can make it in 20 minutes. In the oven. Did I forget to tell you it's also covered in cheese?

mushroom & onion risotto

Over the weekend, the husband and I had one of our most treasured things, a night at home, just us two, with a great bottle of wine and a homemade meal.

I love going out, visiting, eating at new restaurants and going to friends houses' just as much as any other social butterfly. But since Christmas we've been non-stop, so it's kind of nice to have just a night at home where I don't have to do my hair, put on makeup or wear anything fancier than lululemon pants.

macaroni & cheese

It snowed today. Not full on snow, more slushy than fluffy, but it's still snow. I'm kind of a snow hater. I dread when it comes and thankfully where I live it's not very often.

I know it might seem scrooge like, but I am absolutely terrified to drive in it.  I'm the person on the highway driving 50 in a 100 zone because she is deathly afraid of skidding out of control. I also can't stop concentrating on the snow flakes falling towards me while I'm driving. Not the safest thing, I feel like a bird mesmerized by shiny things.  It just looks so pretty when it's falling I can't help looking at it.  Also, hate being cold.  And yes, I do know I live in Canada. ha ha.