Friday, it's Friday!

Here we are again, with the weekend just around the corner!  The weather promises to cooperate, and we plan to hit the local farmer's market tomorrow morning.

The big kids are finished classes for the summer, and they have been exploring some local trails.  Yes, my son is piggybacking the dog.  Yes, my daughter is in a tree.

I tried a new recipe this week. Ham and Cheese Tortellini from Kevin & Amanda.  It was really good, and I'll definitely make it again.  I doubled the recipe, and next time I may have to triple it.

One of the boys is participating in a dodgeball tournament at school today, which required the making of tie dyed shirts last night.  Good thing the boy has a crafty sister.

As always, there were many treasures to be discovered around the web this week.

This frittata, which I plan to try this weekend.

These lawn games look great for some backyard summertime fun.

Forcing my kids to share when they were small always felt counter-intuitive, but I could never quite put my finger on why.  Now someone smarter than me has articulated my thinking.  Why You Shouldn't Teach Your Kids to Share.

DIY Restoration Hardware Vintage Map Art.  I have lusted over this map, and maybe now I can attempt my own version for a fraction of the price.

Parmesan Zucchini Crisps, instead of chips.  Yum.

California Chicken Flatbread with Chipotle Ranch Sauce.  Double yum.

After reading this, Rob Lowe left me with tears in my eyes, feeling all of the kids growing up feelings.  Who knew this guy could write?

And that George Costanza is a pretty smart guy.

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Photo a Day - Gone Fishing

The fishing rods are out... it must mean summer is getting closer.

Three fish were caught, and one kid fell in.

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Friday, it's Friday!

Another week gone by.  Before you know it, June will be here.  Sweet summertime! 

I picked up a slew of books from the library, which I can't wait to dive into, but first I have to finish reading And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini.

We've had a great week of weather which meant plenty of outdoor time... and, hooray, the CAST is OFF!

I found this great reading list to keep the kids reading over the summer.

If I ever get to plant a vegetable garden, I plan to grow garlic just so I can use garlic scapes.

It was interesting to read about the nine times the Canada Food Guide changed its mind.

I've added Istanbul to my travel wish list.  One day I will have the time and the means.

And I was busy in the kitchen this past week.   I made meat loaf for the first time in about a decade.  I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe for Italian Meatloaf, and it was so good that I should have doubled the recipe.  

Muffins loaded with apple chunks, and mango salsa that made fish lovers out of all of us.

   

Sweet potato hash with spinach and fried eggs.  This may be my new favourite way to enjoy eggs on the weekend.

And Broccoli Salad.  With cranberries, cheddar, and chia seeds.  Crazy good, crazy easy.

Broccoli Salad

2 bunches broccoli, chopped, approx 8 cups

1/2 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

1/4 cup sugar

1 small red onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 cup shredded cheddar

1/8 cup chia seeds

Combine broccoli, salad dressing, sugar, onion, and dried cranberries.  Add cheddar and chia seeds, stir to combine.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

** Sunflower seeds!  I forgot to add them this time, but often put them in... a 1/4 cup or so!**

Happy weekend!

Thank you for featuring me!

 

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Photo a Day - Long Weekend

I had strict instructions.  Do not bring your camera.  The boy wanted to hike the creek to the lake, and there was to be no picture nonsense.

So I stuck my phone in my back pocket, and we were off.

I had to be sneaky.

We found a beaver dam.

Trilliums.

And fungus.

It took an hour and a half.  It was hot and humid.  But we made it to the lake.

Just to do it all over again,  head back home, and continue with more long weekend shenanigans.

And more sneaky phone shots.

And ice cream.

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Fish Tacos with Mango Chipotle Salsa

Two recipes in two days.  Not at all typical around here, I know, but I have to share.  Sometimes weeks go by without anything inspirational happening in the kitchen.  And sometimes amazing things happen more than once over the course of one weekend.  Like these Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa.  Wow.  Just wow.

It all started with some gorgeous mangoes that we brought home from Costco, and the need to make anything but chicken for dinner, because..."ugh, all we ever eat is chicken".

I was imagining mango salsa, and wondering how I could make fish appealing.  We eat a lot of chicken because it's easy, and everyone likes it.  Unlike fish, which is popular with less than half of this household.

Well, it would seem that I've just been preparing fish wrong, because these fish tacos were a hit.  The combination of a mild white fish, sriracha mayonnaise, avocados, and mango salsa is unbelievable.  

The star of the show is the mango salsa.  It would work with any kind of seafood, and it could easily become a new favourite dip for tortilla chips.

It's good enough to convert even the most die-hard fish hater.

Fish Tacos with Mango Chipotle Salsa

1 small lime, zested and juiced

1 large mango, diced (click here to see the best way to peel and dice a mango)

1/3 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup diced red pepper

1 tablespoon minced chipotle pepper

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.  Let sit for 30 minutes so flavours can blend.  

To make fish tacos, bake or pan fry a mild white fish.  I used basa loins and seasoned them with lemon pepper.

Assemble the fish tacos by rolling up fish, sriracha mayonnaise, mango salsa, and diced avocado in a tortilla shell.  I used flour tortillas because that's what I had, but it would be good in a corn tortilla shell too.

Sriracha mayonnaise can be store bought, or easily made by whisking together 3 parts mayonnaise with one part sriracha sauce.

Enjoy!

Thank you for featuring me!

  

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