Soup Time! It's a busy Fall in the garden and kitchen and time for homemade soups from the abundance in the local fields. There is simply nothing more enjoyable than your own soup from scratch. It may take a little longer to cut or puree the vegetables ie pumpkin but your family will thank you....
Homemade Apple Pie for Thanksgiving
Who doesn't love apple pie? Every Fall I bake an apple pie or two and the past few years used our own chemical free apples from our garden. It is so simple - there is no reason not to bake your own apple pies one for now and one for the freezer as a winter...
Coconut - a Healthy Childhood Treat
Coconut: Is it a fruit, a nut or a seed? As a child growing up in Australia, fresh coconut (from Queensland) was a sweet treat instead of sugar candy and I have happy memories of breaking the outside shell on the concrete driveway of our home, trying not to lose any of the coconut milk....
Grow Your Favourite Vegetables at Home
Growing your favourite vegetables in your home garden seems simple enough, yet every year I always plant too many zucchini which ends up growing like crazy, taking up space and giving away the gourds. Over the past couple of years I have simplified my choices for ease of gardening, and planting only what we use...
The Low Carb Lifestyle - Links & Information
The Low Carb Lifestyle - what's it all about and what is the connection between diseases like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer and heart disease; processed foods and sugar; overall health and well-being? I have received many questions on this subject since posting a few articles on "sugar" this past year. Plus ... the response to...
Why I love Where I live - Beautiful BC
Beautiful BC! One of our all time favourite past times in our spectacular province is going out and exploring new places and areas we have not visited before. Of course we have a few special destinations we return to each year but there is always so much to see and enjoy. "Water & air the...
3 Super Simple Salads for Summer
Here are three super simple fresh salads great any time of year but delicious as an accompaniment for a summer BBQ on the porch, in the park or at the beach. Quick Greek Salad This is always a favourite and is great made ahead. Keep dressing and feta cheese separate to mix when served: Ingredients:...
Invasive Species Watercraft Inspection in BC
The Invasive Species Watercraft Inspection Program is a plan to prevent introduction of non-native species to BC. Recently when heading off for some spring lake fishing we were stopped at a checkpoint on #1 highway for a mandatory invasive species inspection of our boat. The conservation officer explained that there is a current concern for two...
6 Reasons to Change to a Low Carb Lifestyle
Information on the Low Carb (carbohydrate) food (or the LCHF - Low Carb High Fat) Lifestyle is trending and gathering momentum in social media, science and medical fields and increasing public awareness. Recently over lunch with friends we discussed people who have switched and are following this nutritious and remarkable Lifestyle. Prepare to be amazed, often within...
4 Reasons to Leave Kale to Winter-Over
Kale is a major vegetable grown in my home garden along with tomatoes and garlic. Last year 16 plants (4 varieties) were left to winter-over with great success. Here are my main reasons for leaving them in our home garden in the Fall. Continuous Greens Kale is usually the last summer / fall vegetable in...
Turkey Burgers ~ just the way you like them
Turkey burgers are simply the best! Only positive raves about this recipe from family food critics. This recipe falls into my personal cooking criteria of : Mince is easy to keep on hand or in small freezer for a quick meal Economical to buy A little turkey mince goes a long way in feeding family or...
What You Need to Know about Sugar
There is a sugar revolution taking place as many people are changing their lifestyles by cutting their added sugar intake to improve their health. This includes reducing ultra processed food from their diets as a high percentage of all processed food has added sugars. People are continuing to question what they can do to be proactive with...
Strawberries are Good for Your Health
We all love strawberries and now we know they are good for our health. Spring has arrived in the West Coast, BC and the strawberry plants are in full bloom, with picking time not far away. Here are a few ideas on how to grow, eat and enjoy one of our favourite, easiest and healthy fruits...
Creamy Cauliflower & Coconut Soup
Have you ever tried Cauliflower and Coconut Soup? I had not tried any kind of coconut soup until recently when we visited a local restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed a delightful Coconut and Yam soup. It was quite spicy and I decided to make my own at home but use plentiful and reasonably priced cauliflower instead...
How to Make Non-toxic Beeswax Candles
I started making and using non-toxic beeswax candles (made from Canadian beeswax sheets) many years ago. They are easy to roll using 100% pure beeswax and have many benefits over paraffin wax (a petroleum derivative) candles. Beeswax candles - a natural, healthy gift always enjoyed by everyone for their fragrance and safety. Easy to make so...
An Artist in the Family - George Williams 1910 - 1953
Guest article written by Peter D Gardner * In 2011, my sister inherited a still life of Roses in a bowl, painted by my father's first cousin George Williams. The particular painting was my mother's favourite and had been in her possession for 50 years. She in turn had inherited it from my grandmother Eva,...
If I Had My Life to Live Over
If I had My Life to Live Over: This poem was originally published on Caramel and Parsley in 2010 / 2011 and removed a few years later. During the recent holidays I was deleting articles and came across this poem again by Erma Bombeck and believe it should be included on my website. It is still an encouragement. ...
Changes After Cancer - Health & Laughter
Changes after cancer? Recently after my wonderful news of an "all clear" 5 year CT lung cancer scan I was asked what, if anything, did I do differently in those 5 to 10 years after two primary cancers. What a question! So I have devoted some time to thinking about this and what was important in...
Coconut Flour Pancakes ~ A Must Try Recipe
Pancakes are everyone's favourite! This recipe using Coconut flour has to be tried to be believed how good it is! It is great for brekkie or brunch with eggs & sausages or even an afternoon snack with goat cheese & kiwi. If you follow a diabetic, gluten-free or Low Carb diet this recipe is for...
Top Twitter Tweets of 2017
2017 Top tweets of the year. This year has been unusually busy for Caramel and Parsley especially in the second half of the year. It is interesting how trends and people's interests change over the years. Here are the top tweets for each month in 2017 : Top Tweets for 2017 in Review January The top...
How to Make a Simple Healthy Omelette
An egg omelette is a very healthy, quick and easy breakfast and is also great for brunch, lunch or dinner! This basic omelette does not take long, although made from scratch. Simply increase ingredient quantities for the family for a nutritious start to the day. Omelette Ingredients (for 2 - 4 people) 4 - 6 eggs...
A Winter's Day ...
New Years Day was definitely a Winter's Day in the Fraser Valley after a chilling and very icy few days. Living in the Fraser Valley and northern British Columbia for many years, I do not recall an extended cold weather experience like this with the freezing rain. The icy conditions have caused havoc on the...
2017 A Remarkable Year - What's in Store for 2018
2017 a remarkable year millions of us will remember for a vast number of reasons: many related to changing climate, both here and globally. It seemed like a new disaster occurred each day; the terrible hurricanes in the US; deadly floods overseas and widespread record-breaking wildfires in British Columbia and the USA, and finally devastating earthquakes in Mexico to name a...
A Special New Year Celebration Dinner
New Year is definitely a time to celebrate the passing of the old year and welcoming in the New! A special dinner is always a good way to celebrate a once-a-year occasion. Fresh seafood from our Pacific North West ocean is a marvellous way of using our own freshly caught (and quick frozen) Dungeness Crab....
The Hope of Christmas ...
A guest article to celebrate Christmas ... One Person's Story My heart ached for a hope that would last ... As a child from a broken family I eagerly waited for December, when my mother dragged the Christmas Box from our humid attic and unpacked the mysteries of the holiday. Colored lights. Glistening ornaments. Handmade...
More Real Healthy Food #2
More Real Healthy Food is a continuation of the recent article on Easy to Make Real Healthy Food Here are some of my personal healthy favourite foods. It really is not complicated to put together a quick lunch or dinner to please anyone! A few of my Favourite Healthy Foods Soups are a big favourite all...
Easy to Make Real Healthy Food
What is Real Healthy Food, or more to the point what is NOT. Recently there has been tremendous social media interest in articles on exercise, lifestyle, diet, added sugars and obesity as it pertains to our health. For those looking for a less processed (fast food) Christmas here are a few ideas to balance out...
Lung Cancer 5 Year CT Scan results - 2017
5 year CT scan results ~ this is an incredibly special day. Five and a half years ago I had a Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) nodule (invasive), and one other removed from my lung. More to the point my prognosis at that time was not for the long-term so, for me, it has been...
Roast Garlic & Potato Soup
Roast garlic & potato soup - satisfying comfort food on a windy Sunday afternoon! Definitely adding this nutritious, easy-to-make from scratch soup to our Favourite Soups list. The garlic used in the recipe was grown in our home garden, very tasty and chemical free. Garlic Soup Ingredients 5 - 6 garlic Bulbs (to roast) One...
Super Simple Oven Baked Frittata
Thanks to our daughter I am switching to Frittata as my quick and easy dinner choice. It is so simple your kids can make it - maybe with a little help from mum or dad! For dinner it was convenient as all the items were on hand except I picked some kale from the garden...
Exercise for Better Health
Exercise - the quote says it all : Lack of Physical Activity Lack of physical activity due to high amounts of TV, computer, video game or other screen usage has been associated with a high body mass index. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as being physically active and reducing screen time, can help you aim for...
3 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes to make
Here are three easy recipes for you to make ahead for the Thanksgiving holiday. All are simple to make and bake, store well or even freeze ... they are Citrus Cranberry Relish, Cranberry Jam Drop cookies and Cranberry Almond chocolate chunks. 1. Citrus Cranberry Relish Ingredients 3 cups Fresh Cranberries ½ Cup Brown sugar ½...
Fall Bounty of Organic Fruit & Vegetables
Tasty organic fruit & vegetables in mid-September from a small home garden! After a wonderful time away I was not expecting to return to much of a crop as we have eaten vegetables from our garden since spring. But thanks to a sprinkling of rain and continuing sunshine, the garden was a wonderful surprise with plenty...
How to Can Your Beets at Home
Canning beets at home is not quick and easy and, for me, this is truly a labour of love. Home canned beets, plain or pickled are simply The Best, providing of course you like beetroot. It is most satisfying when the jars are all sitting on the kitchen counter ready to be packed away. Frankly,...
5 More Reasons to Start a Vegetable Garden ...
My vegetable garden is a sanctuary, a joy, a pastime, a pleasure, my special place, and much more: A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world. He is producing something to eat ... ~ Wendell Berry It is the height of summertime picking, canning...
Raspberry Banana Bread ~ My Sister's Favourite Recipes
Raspberry Banana Bread is a variation of an old favourite. My sister in Australia is a fabulous cook and on a recent trip she made some of the best desserts ever so I brought home some recipes to try. This dessert cake is super easy to make and bake and is a sweet, moist cake to...
8 Reasons to buy a Greenhouse for the Vegetable Garden
A greenhouse is a great way to extend the growing season and perhaps save the heartbreak of losing a crop of vegetables to frost, hail or other weather variables. The last few years we have had fabulous long, warm summers thanks to climate change and this past winter (2016 / 2017) we have had record...
Wild Fruit Free for the Picking
During last summer I spent a few hours picking fresh wild fruit near where we live. It started as a wild blackberry pick but grew to include apples and plums. It was surprising the bounty for very little energy, time and no cost. In the summer of 2016 we had heavy spring and summer rains and I believe...
Images of West Coast B.C & Beyond to Celebrate Canada 150
Over the years West Coast beaches and other images of our Beautiful British Columbia have featured in CAP published articles including Beautiful British Columbia and British Columbia Part 2. Here are a few more photos to celebrate Canada's 150 years. How incredibly fortunate we are to live in such a diverse, dynamic and versatile country with...
Alaska - A Last Frontier by Motorcycle
Alaska - A motorcycle trip of a lifetime in the rain and sunshine enjoying massive glaciers in BC and friendly people who go out of their way to help. No Star Trek but definitely a "last frontier" on planet Earth. Sit back and enjoy a spectacular visual journey and travel north to Alaska from Vancouver,...