Roasted Root Vegetables for the Week

Roasted Root Vegetables | www.purplehousecafe.com

Sunday is cooking day in my house.  Especially through the winter, when I don’t seem to have much energy and whimsy when we all finally stumble through the door after daycare and work, I love knowing that there is a selection of ready-made foods in the fridge awaiting assembly into something delicious.

Remember that week I talked about meal planning?  Well, I’m still a big fan, although nowadays with just me and Ada to feed, it’s a little looser in structure (because both of us love a good dinner of scrambled eggs with spinach, feta, and zataar just as much as anything!).  

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Pear, Brie and Pumpkin Seed Bran Muffins

Pear, Brie and Pumpkin Seed Muffins | www.purplehousecafe.com

If you had asked me three years ago, I would have told you that becoming a mother wouldn’t – couldn’t – stop me from fulfilling every single one of my life’s ambitions.

Those who know me know that those ambitions happen to look a little more like “spend a month on a research vessel in the Antarctic ocean scuba diving with leopard seals and icebergs” rather than “contribute $200 a month to my retirement savings plan.”  But I digress.

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Healthy “Ferrero Rocher” Powerballs

Healthy Ferrero Rocher | www.purplehousecafe.com

I realized, the other day, that my philosophy for life and parenting can be likened to a game of Jenga.

You know, when you’re playing Jenga, how you run your index finger up the side of the tower of blocks, gently touching the ends of each one until you find one that gives a little?  You know, then, when you feel that slackening of resistance, that that’s the block you’ll carefully, oh so gently, slide out of its place in the tower and place on top.  As the tower builds, you might even find that some of the blocks that wouldn’t budge earlier on in the game suddenly give way, allowing you to continue building.

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Superbowl Recipe Roundup

Hi compadres.  If you’re ramping up for Superbowl 2014 like we are in our household, then this recipe list is for you.  Whether you’re having a huge bash with all your rowdy friends or a quiet night on the couch with some munchies (and hopefully a libation or two), you’ll find a great party treat in this roundup.  

Happy Superbowl! 

Superbowl Salsa

This salsa is best made in a huge batch and eaten in heaping spoonfuls on nachos, quesadillas, tacos, or anything else you can get your hands on.  You’ll never buy salsa again.

Superbowl Salsa | www.purplehousecafe.com

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn

Not sure I have to say anything about this recipe:  I’ll just let the name do the talking.  If it helps, it’s easy to make, so there should be nothing stopping you from whipping up a batch of this on Sunday.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn | www.purplehousecafe.com

Turkey Fennel Sausage Nachos with Caramelized Onions and Cherry Chutney

I have a bit of a thing for funky nachos, and these were a great little experiment with salty and savoury flavours combined in one of my favourite football-watching snacks.  These, by the way, are just meant to be eaten between swigs of root beer.

Sausage Nachos with Cherry Chutney | www.purplehousecafe.com

Mango Chicken Curry Wonton Cups

These are a timeless classic in my repertoire of recipes.  Everyone loves them; everyone wants the recipe.  And, as I learned at a party this Christmas that seemed to feature an enormous complement of Purple House Cafe recipes (what an honour!), you can make this recipe even easier by forgetting about the wonton cups and making this as a dip for tortilla chips.

Mango Curry Chicken Wonton Cups | www.purplehousecafe.com

Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is synonymous with football, right?  Thought so.  I make this recipe at least once a month during the winter at our house, and it makes everyone happy.  It’s good eaten straight out of the slow cooker with a fork, piled on a sandwich, or under a fried egg for brunch.

Pulled Pork | www.purplehousecafe.com

Pulled Pork Nachos with Goat Cheddar and Apple Salsa

Why not take some of that pulled pork you just made and turn it into nachos.  These are deadly-good, and can and should be eaten as breakfast.  

Pulled Pork Nachos with Goat Cheese and Apple Salsa | www.purplehousecafe.com

Nutella Stuffed Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookies

For the sweet-toothed football fan:  these cookies.  Another one where the title says it all.  You’ll need a full jar of Nutella for this recipe, so make sure you buy two so you can eat the other jar with a spoon while the cookies are baking.

Nutella-stuffed Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookies | www.purplehousecafe.com

Peanut Butter Fudge

This recipe is too easy not to make.  It’s a microwave recipe and can be whipped up in mere minutes.  

 Easy Peanut Butter Fudge | www.purplehousecafe.com

Happy Superbowl everyone!  

Superbowl Recipe: Mom’s Grape Jelly Meatballs

Football is very important in our household.  

It is, in fact, one of the two reasons my hubby and I first met.  The first being that I was completely captivated by his startling blue eyes looking back at me – because I was totally checking him out – through his scuba mask when I taught him how to dive.  The second being that I *somehow* got a hold of his email address and invited him to watch me play football (a well-loved but now bygone hobby of mine), which, little did I know, was music to his ears on so many levels that now our daughter has his beautiful blue eyes too.

steelers

A little je ne sais quoi from the good old days

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