FOOD + LOVE BLOG #1

On our first “official” date, my (now) husband — then boyfriend — and I went to a potluck dinner. I brought a container of pasta sauce, made using my mother’s family’s “secret” recipe. It takes hours to make — almost an entire day of meticulous pre-preparation and sequencing of ingredients, loving stirring and carefully-supervised simmering!

My darling placed the container on the roof of his car when we got out. He then proceeded to slam the door (after graciously helping me out to the curb). The container rolled off, bounced along the back of the trunk, made a spectacular (dare I say “Olympic-worthy”?) flip and landed in the slush on the ground. He was paralyzed in horror. I laughed with mild hysteria.

Luckily, the container had landed on its lid, with most of the contents still safely inside.  He liked it so much upon tasting it that he married me. (For that is the only way to get a secret family recipe…)

Story written and shared by Corinne McDonald.
Corinne is a devoted wife, mother and friend.
She is also  a future doctor.
Corinne’s wide-open heart is a gift to all who know her.

**** FOOD + LOVE Blog #2 ****
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When I was a little girl I could hardly wait to help my mom make chocolate chip cookies in the summertime! My family lived in Regina, Saskatchewan.The summers were hot and long as prairie summers often are. After an evening swim to cool off, I would run upstairs to get changed into my nightgown so that I could zip back downstairs to help my mom make the cookies.

 I always sat on top of the kitchen counter with my legs in lotus as I prepared to be most thankful for the offering I was about to receive! I listened very intently to my mother’s instruction, the assembly of chocolate chip cookies is after all very important. My favorite part was adding the chocolate chips. It seemed like we were adding magic to the batter, and I would always say as the chips were pouring in to the bowl one by one Prinkle, Prinkle. We would then place them on to the baking sheets, sliding them in to the hot oven to become golden brown. The smell of the cookies was intoxicating. The feeling of them baking and being with my mom in the kitchen was cozy; it was home. The taste in the air was sweet as my adolescent body anticipated just how many cookies I was actually going to be allowed to eat. Touching the bowl with that little bit of remaining batter felt exciting, as I would swoop my finger down just to have a little taste because I could not wait! Baking cookies with my mom on hot summer nights is a memory that I will always cherish.

 Growing up I went through many phases with cooking/baking. I have at this point fallen in love with it. I find it soothing and meditative. I like recipes, but what I love most is improvisation! When it comes to breaking rules, this is the best way to do it! Here is my favorite cookie recipe. Guaranteed these cookies will melt in your mouth, not to mention, that you won’t be able to stop at one. I recommend letting yourself off the hook now. Throw those boundaries away – at least for today, and Prinkle, Prinkle away!

Power Cookie Recipe

Written by:
Jessica Hinkson
From Yoga to High Heels
Jessica Hinkson is a yoga teacher, actress and writer in Toronto.
Her blog is about life, peace and yoga.