Well, even if this snow storm wasn’t worthy of calling in the army to dig Toronto out, we still felt like we needed a little warm-me-up from having been outside trudging through the snow. And it doesn’t even have to be cold out to give in to Homemade cappuccino or Homemade hot chocolate cravings, right? You’ll find these warm drink recipes listed in the Valentine’s Day-worthy menu suggestions at the back of the cookbook.

Switch up a picnic classic by adding a new dressing or an unexpected accent to the usual potato salad combo

Who couldn’t resist making a side dish with only two ingredients (three, if you count the oil)? We were having a weekend lunch comprised of various leftovers and I was looking for a side vegetable dish to complement our meal. This recipe caught my eye: Baby zucchini with blue cheese. I just happened to have some adult zucchinis and blue cheese on hand and neither item had been chosen for any particular recipe. They were just sitting there in the fridge, waiting to be introduced to each other. Two ingredients and just two simple steps to make it? Sold! Plus, we were having friends pop by for a mid-afternoon impromptu toddler date (after a weekend of experiencing cabin fever from avoiding heading out into the cold) and I thought it would look fancy to offer them a little appetizer when they arrived.

My 19-year-old sister-in-law chose the Chunky Sweet Potato Fries with Herbed Yogurt Dip and paired it with her favourite Chatelaine recipe to date, the Hearty Middle Eastern Supper Salad. She had invited a classmate over to join us for a weeknight dinner before they headed out for the evening. I approved of her choices. Who doesn’t love sweet potato fries? And with freshly-made herbed yogurt dip? Yummy.