Salted Dry Caramel

It was back in 2011, during my first year of blogging, that I first attempted to make a caramel sauce. Back then I didn’t know the difference between wet and dry caramel. After attempting a few different recipes and failing hard (have you ever seized sugar before? It’s not pretty), I found success in an unlikely place – a recipe that ended up being a mash up of Martha Stewart’s favourite caramel recipe… and Jimmy Fallon’s. This recipe has served me well - I’ve used it as a topping for lattes, ice cream Sundays, cupcakes, and even popcorn on one occasion. Though my trusted Frankenstein of recipes calls for the candy thermometer I can never find, and burns quicker than the window to use a ripe avocado, it has been my go to recipe for all things caramel for the past 7 years. That was until I discovered the beauty of dry caramel this summer. What is the difference between wet and dry caramel? I’m glad you asked.

Charcuterie Featuring Martin's Apple Chips

This post was sponsored by Martin's Apple Chips.  I received monetary compensation and product in exchange for this post. As always, all thoughts and options are my 100% my own, and I only work with brands that I use in my own kitchen.

This past week social media accounts far and wide were flooded with the traditional first day back to school photos. I really enjoy scrolling through my friend's posts, seeing how much their family's have grown since I last saw them, and feeling nostalgic when their kids are entering a grade I vividly remember.  

Bubble & Squeak

Bubble & Squeak is a British dish that came about in the early 1800’s, and often makes an appearance in a traditional full English breakfast. The idea is to make it from the leftover vegetables from a Sunday roast beef dinner. It can be as simple as the combination of mashed roasted potatoes and cabbage, however any other leftover vegetables such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, turnips, peas, etc. can be added in as well. The ingredients are all fried together, and often accompanied by bacon.  The name bubble & squeak comes from the sound that the cabbage makes while boiling.

Alberta Open Farm Days: U-Pick It

This post was sponsored by a partnership between Alberta Open Farm Days, Yellowhead County, and Community Futures West Yellowhead.  I received monetary compensation in exchange for this post. As always, all thoughts and options are my 100% my own.  

 U-Pick It is the kind of U-Pick I've always dreamed of visiting, and have been on the lookout for awhile.  I've been able to find smaller U-Picks in the area that generally specialize in one or two items.   U-Pick It is unqiue in that it specializes in many different varieties of fruits and vegetables, making it your one stop shop for local, in season garden goodness. U-Pick It is located 2.5 km north of Evansburg at 53520 Range road 75.

Alberta Open Farm Days: Stonepost Farms

This post was sponsored by a partnership between Alberta Open Farm Days, Yellowhead County, and Community Futures West Yellowhead.  I received monetary compensation in exchange for this post. As always, all thoughts and options are my 100% my own. 

    Stonepost Farms is a great example of a young Alberta family ran farm.  The farm hosts a variety of poultry, livestock, fruit, vegetables, and even bees.   

Alberta Open Farm Days: Ophus Guest Ranch

Horseback riding at Ophus Guest Ranch - Photo by Deanne Fabrick


This post was sponsored by a partnership between Alberta Open Farm Days, Yellowhead County, and Community Futures West Yellowhead.  I received monetary compensation in exchange for this post. As always, all thoughts and options are my 100% my own.

Ophus Guest Ranch is a true rural Alberta gem, where horses are a way of life.  Situated on 100 acres of land, and ran by Tom Ophus, the ranch is a small slice of paradise. Tom's nephew Jade Liggat, who helped Tom facilitate our tour, enjoys taking a pause from his busy pace working in the city to enjoy the farm life every summer, and help out at the Ranch.

Alberta Open Farm Days: Parkland County

Grove Berry Patch - Photo Credit Lara Felsing

This post was sponsored by Parkland County.  I received monetary compensation in exchange for this post. As always, all thoughts and options are my 100% my own.  

 Summertime in Alberta is a beautiful thing. The sun is (usually) shining, fresh fruit and vegetables are aplenty, and best of all, summer is road trip prime time.   

When I set out to visit farms in Parkland County this week, my 2016 Rav 4 clocked in at 100,000km - that's a lot of road trips in a short amount of time!  Considering this, along with the fact that I've lived in Alberta my entire life, I'm still constantly in awe of how many new and exciting things there are to discover in my backyard. Alberta Open Farm Days helps shine a spotlight on the rural adventures that await, and I'm always excited to participate every year.