Feed Me: Dr G's {AMAZING!} Best-Ever Tuna Salad

I know many design lovers out there read Canadian House & Home magazine, but sometimes I think we breeze through things like the food features. Well, I do. Normally. HOWEVER, when I saw a page featuring Dr G's Best-Ever Tuna Salad recipe in the July 2011 issue I stopped dead in my tracks. 

It meant something to me because this restaurant happens to be a few blocks from my house and this salad is so tasty I really can't rave enough! I was so excited that H&H managed to get the secret balsamic dressing recipe from Dr G and so lovingly shared with us readers. I've now made this throughout the summer and think you should try it if you a) eat tuna and b) like cobb or chopped-type salads....and the dressing is the best part, so c) you like balsamic dressing.

{mmm}

Here's the recipe from H&H:

{A healthy lunch from Toronto's Dr. Generosity. Serve a scoop of this tuna salad on a large plate with shredded aged cheddar, grated raw beets and carrots, grape tomatoes, a hard-boiled egg, alfalfa sprouts, bacon, and a side of this famous balsamic dressing.}

Ingredients:

Tuna Salad
2 cans solid white albacore tuna (water-packed), drained thoroughly
2 Granny Smith apples, finely diced and soaked in cold water and a little lemon juice (lemon juice adds flavour and keeps apples from turning brown)
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts 
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp honey 
1/2 tsp white pepper

Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1-1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/2 cups canola oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup cold water
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp white pepper

Yield: 4 servings

* You will notice that the measurements for the dressing ingredients are large. I always make a half batch and have and plenty to drizzle on greens, and just about anything I can find, for days. 

* I usually substitute real garlic for garlic powder

* I also tend to use a bit less water, but you can adjust to your preference

Our BAH-stan

We are back from Boston, and I have a new love.

We in arrived in Boston on friday night and ended up taking a loooooong walk after a good, not great, dinner at 75 Chestnut in Beacon Hill. It was rated the best restaurant by Best of Boston magazine so we expected more but overall it was fine. Our walk was really nice, the weather cooperated and the city was buzzing with people out enjoying summer. I think my love affair started early...

In the morning we planned to start the day with coffee at the hotel's restaurant Clink. We had a bit of a complaint for the hotel (which I will tell you more about in my review of it over the weekend) so they thoughtfully gave us vouchers for breakfast at our chosen location. Score! 

After nibbling on our breakfast we took the subway out to Fenway park. This was purely for the enjoyment of my husband. I'm not a big sports fan, and walking around a baseball stadium for kicks was not my thing. Nonetheless, we went. And it was crazy with fans gearing up HOURS early for the game versus the Yankees.

We ended up doing a ton of walking and found a great used bookstore and also stumbled on the Boston Public Library's book sale where I bought an old encyclopedia britannica from 1892 for $2. Didn't realize until later that it was the edition that contains old info and maps for California and Canada - a great memento from the trip and perfect for us Canadians/Ex-Californians!

We walked back towards the hotel and ate at Figs in Beacon Hill and our pizza was so delicious, I really can't rave enough. Their must-have choice was the fig & prosciutto and it was so good I am going to try and replicate it - rosemary crust with fig & balsamic jam, prosciutto, gorgonzola and green onion...mmm mmm! On our way out of the city we grabbed some cannoli at Mike's in the North End and rushed off to the Bon Iver concert...

...which was AMAZING!

From a tourist's perspective, Boston is very lovable - 

amazing old architecture (which I didn't take photos of due to impatient travel companion)

lots of green space

easily walkable

yummy food

It was a great weekend! 

ps. Check back to hear about our stay at the Liberty Hotel. 

Easy, Fast & Tasty Cauliflower Soup

I arrived home to find California dark and rainy on Monday - but I can't really complain because spring has officially arrived in SoCal and it is now too toasty outside! On Monday, however, this was not the case, and so a homey soup was the perfect choice for dinner. I have been loving one pot soup wonders ever since reading about this tomato soup on Southern Exposure, and while it remains a staple in our dinner rotation, I ventured out to find an amazing cauliflower version.

If you have 30 minutes, give this soup a go! DELISH!

Silky Cauliflower Soup w/ Parmesan

1 head cauliflower

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 quart low-sodium chicken stock

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Remove the leaves and thick core from the cauliflower, coarselychop, and reserve. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook until softened, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the cauliflower and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the cauliflower is very soft and falling apart, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and, using a hand held immersion blender, puree the soup, or puree in small batches in a blender and return it to the pot. Add the Parmesan and stir until smooth. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Keep warm until ready to serve.

{recipe via}

So, what's for dinner tonight in your home?

I'm planning to make this (but with chicken - soooooo yummy!) & this.

Feed Me: Sweet & Tangy Yogurt

If you, like me, are always on the hunt for tasty and satisfying snacks, which are healthy and minimally processed, try this one the next time your stomach starts to growl...

{slightly heavy-handed with the syrup, whoops! ;) }

Organic PLAIN non-fat yogurt and an artful drizzle of REAL maple syrup - it's seriously tangy with delectable pockets of sweet! One of my favourite go-to snacks. 

PS. Did you know that maple syrup is considered a superfood by some?! I read a really great article about this and can't find it, but you'll get the jist here and here.