Autumn themed treats for any occasion - not just Thanksgiving By Cassie (cynefin) Thanksgiving, though not worldwide, is a holiday that is known for gathering with those important people in your life, sharing a meal, talking about what you're thankful for, and reflecting on history. The Canadian Thanksgiving has already been celebrated, but the American Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away. Below are some crafty snack ideas that could also serve as little center pieces on the table....

Festive sweet and savory snacks to celebrate Halloween By Cassie (cynefin) Halloween is an exciting time of year for many, whether you're a child or an adult. It is the time of year that encourages creativity and even imperfection. Here are some simple, sweet and savory foods for you to make to show what Halloween's all about. Make these on your own as a form of self-care, with family and friends, or use these as crafts with the children in your life. Sweet foods and snacks source]

7 different foods to pair with pesto By Cassie (cynefin) Pesto is a sauce that originated in Italy and is typically made with basil leaves, pine nuts, cheese, garlic, and olive oil. Pesto is usually green in color due to its ingredients, but sun dried tomato pesto, a red sauce, is also available. Pesto is commonly used as an alternative to tomato sauce in pasta, but there are many additional tasty foods you can add it to. Try a homemade pizza with pesto in place of tomato sauce....

How to make chocolate covered pretzel rods By Cassie (cynefin) Source] Chocolate covered pretzel rods are a relatively simple, yet fun treat to make for all ages. Pretzel rods can be easily dipped in any color chocolate and decorated with a variety of sprinkles and other baking decor. This article will give a step by step tutorial on how to make your chocolate covered pretzel rods into festive looking desserts. You will need

The basics of going gluten free By Nicole (eumoirous) The Celiac Disease Foundation notes that only about 1% of people have celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is consumed. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Because of this, people with celiac disease abstain from consuming gluten in order to stay healthy. The Celiac Disease Foundation also notes that roughly 18 million Americans have some form of a gluten...

Irish potato candy By Cassie (Cassado) Irish potato candy began as a way to help people remember and honor the Irish potato famine (1845-1852). It is estimated that one million people lost their lives during the famine due to starvation or other diseases. There is no documented history on Irish potato candy, but it is said that any information has been spread through word of mouth for generations. It is thought that Irish immigrants on the east coast of the United States began making them...

The basics of going vegan By Nicole (eumoirous) One Green Planet and PETA exclaim that roughly 2.5% of Americans are vegan, and 5% of them are vegetarian. This may seem like a very low statistic, however the amount of vegan Americans has doubled since 2009, which was just six years ago! Veganism isn't just becoming more popular in America however, worldwide it is gaining its popularity. With veganism becoming more popular every year, grocery stores are beginning to carry more vegan...

Bake for Family Fun month By Amy (Amy.) Bake for Family Fun month began in February 2002 by the Home baking Association to encourage families members to spend more quality time with one another. Not only does baking create enjoyment for the family, but also teaches essential skills and knowledge to those of all ages. This includes motor skills (used when pouring, mixing and measuring), mathematics and nutritional insight. Hopefully, everyone this month can take some time to bake something...

Rainbow pancakes By Cheye (Tigerlily.) You may be wondering how to make a regular stack of pancakes more exciting and colourful. A great way to do so is by making them 'rainbow pancakes'. For this you would need at least six colours to complete the rainbow. If you plan on cooking just for yourself and can't eat a whole batch of pancakes, try making mini pancakes. They are approximately three inches in diameter (7.5-8 cm), meaning it doesn't take much batter, and they cook in less than...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 11 (May 2010). Doughnut Madness By Cheyenne (Desert) With Doughnut Week coming up in May, you may be wondering where this delicious, sweet food came from. The exact origins of the doughnut are shadowy, but there are many different theories and stories as to where it might have come from. In prehistoric Native American settlements, archaeologists have unearthed bits of what look like donuts!. Donuts first arrived in Manhattan, then known...