Pulled Pork with Crispy Pork Crackling

Yes, I realize that it's been forever since I last posted. Thanks to everyone who has stayed with me:)

The reality is, with a new house (which is actually an old house), life has been full of projects from painting to insulation to excavation.  That doesn't mean that I don't eat. It just means that I find myself gravitating towards quick recipes that I know and trust.

That is, until the other day, when I went to the store and found myself buying a monstrous pork picnic roast (comes from the lower part of the pig's shoulder). I had no idea what I was going to do with it at the time, but it looked tempting, so I bought it.

The next day, I prepared to roast it for most of the day. I took it out of the fridge in the morning so that it could come up closer to room temperature. Then I seasoned it generously, poked holes in it and filled them with fresh, slightly crushed garlic cloves, and roasted it at 250 degrees for about 7 hours. I pulled it out of the oven, tented it with tin foil, and let it rest for about 30 minutes. After resting, I pulled the crispy skin off (eating some of the delicious crackling while working), and started to pull the pork apart with my fingers.  The pork was perfect to eat just like that, with pieces of crackling, or with any variety of sauces including barbeque and chimichurri (sauce of garlic, parsley, red wine vinegar--- the acid is great as it really cuts through the fattiness of the pork).

Of course, since there was TONS of pork, I made lots of other stuff in the days that followed.... that's the great thing about a roast like this. There is minimal effort as the oven does most of the work for you, and then you have food for days!

Breakfast Quesadillas

After about a month of hard work on our new house, we finally had a chance to sit and enjoy a moment on our deck.

The sun was shining and we wanted to take a break and grab a bite, and breakfast quesadillas came immediately to mind.

I am not sure what it is about breakfast, but it's a comforting, relaxing sort of meal. The exact first meal that I would want to enjoy at our new house.

The quesadilla contained all the things I love... eggs, bacon and cheese and was served with guacamole and salsa. Fantastic!

Cheers to our new home!

Summer Snapper (with Tomatoes, Onions, and Oregano)

When you are in the middle of a move or renovation, simple is best. But the simplest form of food (albeit not the healthiest) seems to be eating out or takeaway. Seems okay right? Well, after a week or more, home cooking and fresh tastes are what the palate craves. So, I went to the market, picked up a couple of ingredients, and made an amazing, easy snapper. Summery and fresh, it hit all the right notes.

Oh, and dinner on the deck? Priceless.

Cookies for a Cause! Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our company is riding for Juvenille Diabetes in September and is looking for support. To help the cause, we hosted a bake sale at work to raise money for our team. Help our cause by DONATING NOW.

For this occasion, I thought it was really important for me to create amazing cookies that people would just snatch up and that would also have some healthier, more substantial elements for those who would normally shy away from the regular cookie.

So, I made these Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. They were just sweet enough for those that like them that way, but didn't scare the health addicts away. They were a hit and sold out in record time!

For those of you that were not around to buy these Cookies for a Cause, your support is always appreciated. Please click HERE to donate as every dollar counts and even just a small amount can change lives.

Salmon with Easy Dill Sauce

My extended family is visiting from France at the moment. That combined with the moving and our house renovations has contributed to my sparse postings recently.

But I wanted to share this one because it is quick, easy and delicious.

First of all, what could be a better marriage than salmon and dill? Especially to showcase the beautiful wild sockeye salmon available in beautiful British Columbia.

Secondly, what could possibly be easier that this recipe? The ingredients are straight forward and the salmon is baked in the oven. You need a baking dish or sheet for the salmon and a bowl to mix the sauce. The result? Easy clean up and a fantastic meal!