A delicious icing that will run (no pun intended) a little runnier or thicker depending on the cream cheese alternative you choose. I find the Tofutti brand is thicker where the Daiya brand results in a runnier icing. Either way, they are delicious. Try it on carrot cake or fruit cocktail cake (pictured). Ingredients 2/3…
Fruit Cocktail Cake
I don’t think my mother ever made this cake but I could tell it was a recipe from Grandma’s “no fat” phase. She went through a kick in her 50s where she wanted to lose some weight and it was around the time in the early 90s where all nutritional fat was considered “evil” and…
Stuffing
Stuffing was always a HUGE favourite in our family. It literally was not Thanksgiving or Christmas without it. Of course, when I was growing up we usually had it stuffed inside of a turkey, but because we loved it so much, we often had a stovetop or casserole version in addition – or, because we…
Stuffed Manicotti
This was such a hit in our house growing up and would probably hit my top five favourite meals my mother ever made. I’ve adapted it over the years and no matter how many times I make it, one thing remains true: I can never make this dish without breaking at least one manicotti shell…
Cranberry Sauce
I was sort of surprised that there wasn’t a recipe for cranberry sauce in Grandma Donna’s cookbook since we had it pretty much every Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I am wondering if we were just the “buy it in a can” kind of family? I adapted this recipe from a few I found on the…
Vegan Ricotta (substitute)
There are sometimes recipes that call for ricotta cheese and although crumbled, shredded, or pureed extra firm tofu will often do the trick in a pinch, sometimes it needs a little more oomph. Like in mom’s stuffed manicotti recipe. Ingredients 2 blocks of extra firm tofu 1/4 cup nutritional yeast Juice from 1-2 lemons 1-2…
Lemon Poppyseed Cake
This was my first time ever making a lemon poppyseed cake. I always thought the yellow of the loaf came from its namesake (lemons) but I learned that it actually comes more from the eggs! Grandma’s recipe didn’t even call for lemons in the cake itself – in fact, its lemon flavour comes from lemon…
Butter Tart Bars
My mother loved butter tarts. When I saw this recipe in the cookbook, I knew it was one I would bring back good memories today – the eighth anniversary of her death. Eight years gone. Feels so long ago and feels like yesterday at the same time. What I love about this recipe is it…
Smoky Split Pea Soup (Instant Pot)
This isn’t a recipe from the family cookbook – instead it’s one that I’ve adapted over time inspired from recipes on the internet. A Fall favourite in our house. It takes around 45 mins to an hour from start to finish so make sure you give yourself enough time. Stores well in the fridge and…
Chewy Peanutty Chip Cookies
When I saw this recipe in Mom’s collection I remember her having made them when I was a teenager. I instantly craved that hit back to that time, but peanut butter chips have been really hard to find (I think they’ve fallen out of fashion) and when I have been able to find them, they…
