suzette roberts

// Mandarin Mint Ice Cream

One night in late September as our chillier fall weather began making herself be known, I dreamed I was strolling through a huge mandarin orchard. It was such a magnificent sight. The trees were full of ripe mandarins for the picking and enjoying, surrounded by lush green leaves and grass. It's something you'd imagine in a glossy fairytale storybook, but here I was, and in awe of this calm, quiet, and magical place. That's when I started thinking about mandarins, a lot. And the memory stayed with me into the workdays as I plugged in my a.m. peppermint diffuser, and on and on and on. I think we have dreams like these for mental re-balance when there's a constant receiving end inundation of high anxieties, chaos, and human perplexities. I'd never done anything with mandarins before although they intrigued me in an odd sort of way...

// Kale and Pecan Pasta Salad

Warm, nutty, and full of fresh flavours with a bit of an edge, this simple pasta salad has become a new favourite that will continue way beyond our fall season. The toasted pecans are a fun and playful add so I'd say >insert your favourite nut here< too. 'Giving our carnivorous life a little rest while celebrating more loved greens. More after the jump and have a delicious weekend. ~xx

// Honey Herb Pork Chops

And the beat goes on... We're still home-cooking focused (although this week has been about so. much. cheese. and. chilled-applesauce. and. tally-watching!— no cooking required and ready-to-go as is). Soon enough though, our more serious home-cooking investment takes us onto new avenues. When it comes to using fresh herbs with heavier cuts of meat, grounding thyme is always my safe, "Yes, that's what I'll add." But sometimes, as all journeys go, we come to a fork in the road and such was the case early last month (and once again). A new warm-flavoured herb entered my thoughts while having a moment by the fresh herb section, and I took a leap of good faith with incorporating some fresh savoury into our Sunday chops. Truly delicious, earthy and flavourful, and served with baked bite-sized sweet potatoes for a cozy time-out... ~xo

// Freckled Caramel Ice Cream

It's about time... All summer, it was Chocolate and more Chocolate, and Salted Chocolate, and then Deep Dark Chocolate and Mint Chocolate and even a fun Sorbet au chocolat, and— you get the picture... Chocolate here I come. There was not much new going on as we took a little summer step-back here and there to enjoy some sunshine and safe water splashes, as we could have it. Then September was soon on my heels and I thought about the many warm and warmer things of fall and maybe, perhaps, even a frozen treat for Halloween? Yes, why not. It's going to be an indoor household as is celebration only but we're definitely going to enjoy ourselves and indulge. This year's first fall frozen flavour: Freckled Caramel, freckled with finely grated dark chocolate to balance the sweetness of the caramel and for a touch of the spooks. Already kiddie-approved so... have a safe and fun Halloween everyone.  ~xx

// Roasted Broccolette and Parmesan

'So so good I will have à la carte for dinner with my Pepsi Zero mini when solo-ing and catching up with recorded series and movies while in my own quiet world with everything else on mute. And the Parm add is well-known to get our little ones hooked in to what otherwise could be a dismal dinner do with bewildered stares. We've been there... Roasted with fresh garlic and a little kick of fiery spice, this Roasted Broccolette and Parmesan is a delicious and healthy way to indulge in some greens. Enjoy with a good quality Parm and savour every sweet and delicious bite, garlic included. Fall's a-roasting... 'Curious about this new series. Have a safe and peaceful weekend. ~xx