Cottage Fun 2010

Wren Lake - Dorset, Ontario

We were fortunate enough to be treated to a cottage for a week in Dorset, Ontario. (thanks in-laws!) The weather wasn't kind to us but we still managed to have some good quality family fun. It was the first time taking Jackson to the cottage. He loved splashing in the lake even with his molars coming in. What a good sport!

Being it our first time taking Jackson on a week long trip I think I did well packing the essentials, emergency gear and lots of nutritious food. What I am most happy with is the mini cooler I packed full of snacks for the nearly three hour long drive (which Jackson stayed awake for).

Here's what I packed in the mini cooler:
and lots of books, toys and a fully equipped diaper bag. Although, next time I am also packing a portable DVD player and a Baby Einstein DVD.

After our long car ride in our new car, Volvo V40,  we made it to the cottage....


and the beautiful Wren Lake.


 

The first night my in-laws made us mouth watering steaks they bought from a local (where they live - Cobourg, Ontario) Mennonite farmer. We enjoyed these buttery steaks with roasted potatoes (from my mother-in-laws garden), Ontario green beans and a green salad (again from my mother-in laws garden). I regret not taking a picture of this meal. It was divine!

On the second night we barbecued this Rosemary Balsamic Flat-Chicken I picked up from Butcher by Nature (my cousin Frank and his wife, Mirella's butcher shoppe). As per Frank's instructions we heated up the gas barbecue. Once pre-heated, turned off the pilot on one side. Placed the chicken directly on the side of the grill which was now off. Closed the lid. Let it cook for 1hr and 15 minutes (didn't even flip the chicken). 

The result. A moist, flavorful, Certified Organic Chicken that the everyone devoured.



After two days of meat eating. Lunch (Turkey Sausage from Butcher by Nature) and both dinners (even though all meals were naturally raised or Certified Organic meat) I needed a break! So I whipped up some quinoa salad.


My Quinoa Salad - beige and red quinoa, diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, raw almonds, goat cheese, lemon juice, lime juice, olive oil, s&p.

On our last night both Chris and I were feeling under the weather (Mother Nature rubbed off on us) and were too lazy to cook dinner for the two of us (in-laws were gone at this point). Of course, it doesn't matter how tired or sick I feel I always make Jackson a nutritious meal (I take after my mother). I made a quick, easy,  fresh - tomato, zucchini and spinach pasta sauce (ingredients from my garden) with Eden Organic Spelt Spaghetti. Jackson gobbled up his dinner and Chris and I were left to figure out what we would have for dinner.

For a week Chris had a craving for Fish and Chips. With Fish and Chips on our mind we hopped in the Volvo drove into town (10 minutes) to find the local Fish and Chips place to be closed. It was 6:30pm. Oh, small towns! So I said to Chris, "How about we try the pub? They must have Fish and Chips." After we were seated and were ready to order is when the waitress informed us  they ran out of Fish and Chips

It's obvious we weren't meant to have Fish and Chips so instead we drove back towards the cottage and stopped here.



Wood fired pizza! Fish and Chips, who?




I am 100% comfortable saying that this is the best pizza I have ever eaten, besides my mother's pizza.


The Big Winner - Tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, fresh basil and oregano.

It was a lovely week (besides the rain and annoying cough) spent with the family. Jackson had a great time and I managed to get some sleep and a tan.


He sat in the lake for hours!

Summer is going too fast and I feel I only started enjoying it this past week. With that said, I have booked something fun for us to do every week. Ontario PlaceCenterville, The Toronto Zoo, The ROM, Riverdale Farm. Okay, so maybe I am going a little overboard....or not.


Me - pre-tan
I guess that means I am back to work on Monday. Luckily I love my work and Monday doesn't look grim. I'll sure miss that lake though.

Have you spent time with the family this summer? Do share!


Review and Giveaway: Two Girls Cooking

Two Girls Cooking is a Toronto-based company run by two girls...um, cooking. Annaliisa and Tammy are fellow Holistic Nutritionists who are committed to producing raw, organic, gluten-free, Vegan, nutritious snacks. I first was introduced to Two Girls Cooking a few months ago while shopping at The Wholesome Market. I was waiting in line when a nice young woman asked if I would like to sample some vegetable crisps. I did, of course. Who turns down free food? She gave me a Mr. Rutabaga Smith crisp. It was delicious. Sweet and bursting with flavour. "Who makes these?", I asked the woman. "Two Girls Cooking. Two local Nutritionists," she happily answered. I thought to myself, "Delicious, nutritious, local and made by two fellow Nutritionists... Sold!" So I bought a pack and it was done by the next day.


You could imagine how ecstatic I was when Annaliisa personally dropped off some products to review. She brought Sweetie's Zesty Carrot crisps, Better Than Cheddar Kale Chips and a new product, Katch-up! Kale Chips. I couldn't wait to dig in!

Sweetie's Zesty Carrot

Jackson and I just walked in from grocery shopping when Annaliisa dropped by. It was perfect timing. We were both in need of a snack. Annaliisa suggested I spread some almond butter on the Sweetie's Zesty Carrot crisps for Jackson. "Kids love it", she gushed.Of course I took her advice and spread some raw almond butter on the crisps and added some sliced banana for appeal.


Jackson literally ripped the crisp out of my hand. He's 18 months-old, manners do not exist. I'm sure by looking at the picture you will see my son loved the crisps.


I'm always giving Jackson brown rice cakes or Ezekiel wraps and bread for snacks and lunch. This is a great alternative. A must for all mommies of toddlers!


While Jackson was chomping on his crisps my blood sugar was dropping and I needed something to eat FAST! I grabbed the tub of ready-made hummus I just bought; spread it on some crisps and Voila! my snack was ready.


The sweetness of the carrot and the garlic from the hummus was a match made in heaven. I can see myself eating these little crisps everyday. Quick, easy, nutritious snacks. What every busy mommy needs.

Better Than Cheddar Kale Chips

I've tried many different brands of kale chips. With many of them I find they taste stale. What is different about Two Girls Cooking kale chips is when you open the bag you can smell fresh vegetables. 


Better Than Cheddar Kale Chips are delicious crispy kale chips bursting with the sweet taste of red bell peppers and a presence of cheddar cheese. Weird because there is no cheese listed on the ingredients. I'm not sure how the girls did it but they somehow made a chip that tastes cheesy and still kept it vegan. Well done!

Katch-up! Kale Chips are one of the newest kale chips created by Annaliisa and Tammy. I really like the taste of these ones. Sundried tomatoes are one of my favourites foods and they give these chips that ketchup flavour. Similar to a fresh bag of ketchup chips from when I was little, but better for you.



Two Girls Cooking would like to award 1 lucky My Wholesome Home reader a bag each of Sweetie's Zesty Carrot, Better Than Cheddar Kale Chips and Katch-up! Kale Chips.


To Enter
Become a My Wholesome Home blog follower and visit Two Girls Cooking website and leave a comment below about your favorite product, something you learned about their product and/or company or tell me what your favourite Two Girls Cooking product is.  (1 entry – you must do this first step or other entries will be in valid)
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You will have until Saturday July 31 at 11:59pm EST to enter.
The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. I'll also post the winners on my blog here. If I don't hear back from the winner within 72 hours, I'll pick another.

Cheers to a Wholesome Home!
Melissa