Nutmeg has a very dear friend Sassafras.  They have been friends for several decades and even though they live quite far apart, they usually manage, to get in a ski or bike or hike weekend here and there.  So a bit about Sassafras (besides the great name). She is so smart she has two university degrees because engineering was not hard enough.  She loves the open water, craves mountain vistas, has a great laugh and generally embraces live.  Sassafras also loves to cook and has decided that she will help Nutmeg out and provide a few of her favorite recipes for all of you to try.  So as Nutmeg is digging out her puffy down jacket, the rest of the country is still experiencing summer, so Sassafras’s first recipe is a cool summer soup:  North African Spiced Tomato Soup.

 
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Recipes & Travel:
North African Cooking, Quick and Easy Soup, Recipes for Tomatoes, Vegan friendly, Vegeterian Recipes

As the kids head back to school and everyone gets back into the post summer routines, including work or work-outs you may need something for an extra energy boost. Do you workout in the morning?  Do you have a mid-morning crash after dropping off the kids, doing groceries and cramming in a workout?  Do you need a snooze after lunch?  If any of these scenarios sound familiar you may need a healthy pick me up snack.  Of course you should balance these little treats with adequate fruits, vegetables and fluids.  These Nutty Energy Bars are delicious, easy to make, do not melt in a lunch box and last for a couple weeks in a sealed container (if you can restrain yourself).
Nutmeg has adapted this recipe slightly, you can play with the ingredients to use your favorites – so far almond, dried cherry is the winner.  Check out the recipe for Nutty Energy Bars and enjoy.  No more energy lows.
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Recipes & Travel:
healthy snack bar recipes

Nutmeg is a “greeniac” (just ask Ginger)… she turns out lights before she leaves a room, recycles everything, uses the rain barrel to water her plant pots,  faithfully composts greens and browns, buys eco-friendly cleaning products – but she does NOT believe in global warming!  On August 29th, Ginger and Nutmeg awoke to slightly above freezing temperatures and a very clear view of snow a third of the way down the nearby mountain peaks.  Yes it is true, the rest of the country, and possibly the world is suffering with heat stroke, water restrictions and cool blended drinks.  Al Gore be damned according to Nutmeg, there is no global warming in Southern Alberta, it is soup time! So out comes the Corn and Crab Chowder (check out the recipe below).
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Recipes & Travel:
Corn and Crab Soup, Food Nutritional Facts, Seafood Recipes, Soup Recipes

Not too long ago Nutmeg was on a business trip to Charlotte, North Carolina.  It was one of those trips where you could have been pretty much anywhere as the agenda was something like this:

taxi to hotel
check in
out for dinner
8am start in a meeting room with no windows
working dinner
hotel
sleep
do it all over…

The second morning of the trip, Nutmeg decided to go for a run at 06:00am and was stunned by the intense activity on the main drag.  It turns out that day was the start of Charlotte’s BBQ and Blues and this is serious stuff. The vendor stands were set-up and the smoking had started big time at 6am!!  These folks are not worried about half-caf-skim-milk-no-foam lattes…. they are preparing rubs, injections and getting the temperature on their smokers “just right” for  Smokin’ Hot BBQ.   This whole scene was quite overwhelming for Nutmeg who likes berries, yogurt and granola along with her fancy latte at that hour in the…

Recipes & Travel:
BBQ, Blues, Charlotte

There is a new game and a new name in coffee in Calgary, the Chiasso Coffee Company.  They have a brand new location at 17th Avenue and 8th Street SW, it is just barely two weeks old.  The name is Italian and translated apparently means chaos, commotion, racket.  However, chaos is the furthest thing from your mind when you step into this oasis just off that busy intersection.  They have done a great job on the finishes, including hardwood floors, granite counter tops and a mix of comfortable seating options.  The place is spotless and refreshing after some of the other coffee house options in the area. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Calgary Restaurants, Chaisso Coffee Company, Coffee Shops in Calgary, Restaurant Reviews

Ginger used to think Alberta Taber corn was pretty good, then he moved out east to work in the “big smoke” aka Toronto and realized he was mistaken.  He would often borrow Nutmeg’s car and drive to Buttonville airport for flying lessons.  On his way back home, he would stop at a farmer’s road side stand and load up with the freshest seasonal corn and tomatoes.  The corn (peaches and cream variety) was literally fresh picked that day and the tomatoes were to die for.  So dinner was easy…peel the corn cobs, boil until just right and serve with sliced tomatoes.  Yum! (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Corn, Corn and Black Bean Salad, Healthy Salads, Mexican Recipes

This is a RE-POST.  Technology as you know can be a benefit or a curse…  So in case you missed this the first time.  🙂
Nutmeg is not directionally challenged (that she will admit) although it is possible that she may not always consider the directions exactly.  She was pretty sure that she knew exactly where to find this market.  Well not quite – after battling rush-hour traffic and circling the whole of Market Mall she realized that the Google Map instructions would have been helpful… In any case she arrived and it was fun despite the cold weather. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Alberta Farmers Markets, Alberta Organic Produce, Northland Village Market Calgary, Travel Alberta

Poor Ginger he is a good Albertan boy and essentially refuses to try anything that resembles a purely vegetarian focused restaurant.  Only once, in the last decade, has he acquiesced and tried dinner at The Coup on 17th Avenue in Calgary – he complained the whole time about being too hot and did not like the organic wine…..  Needless to say Nutmeg has decided that he is not worth the effort, so she only goes to this restaurant with her girlfriends.  Yes! The food is good enough to forget (or remember) that is is pure vegetarian and really healthy. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Calgary Restaurants, Restaurant Reviews, The Coup Restaurant in Calgary, Vegetarian Restaurants

It has been about 7-8 years since Ginger and Nutmeg had been in Whistler and had a chance to partake in the Sunday Farmer’s Market.

Wow!  What a transformation, the market has grown about 10-fold.  (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Farmers Markets, Things to do in Whistler, Travel British Columbia

It has been years since Ginger and Nutmeg had last been to the Rimrock Cafe in Whistler. So all it took, was for some Vancouver friends to suggest that it was their favourite restaurant in the valley, for Nutmeg to make a reservation.  The restaurant has been around since 1987, it specializes in fish and game.  The inside is very cosy with two operational fireplaces in the winter months.  Outside they have two patios, a garden patio in the back and a deck out front.  Ginger and Nutmeg lucked out with a sunny evening, so chose to sit on the front deck.
The wine selection is broad and includes a very good base of BC wines (which you should try).  The restaurant has been featured in the Wine Spectator for their selection. Many wines are offered by the glass and they even have a decent selection of half bottles.  Ginger chose a lovely 2007 Laughing Stock blend called ‘Portfolio’ from…

Recipes & Travel:
Restaurant Reviews, Rim Rock Cafe, Things to do in Whistler, Travel British Columbia