I stayed at Hotel Le Germain a few months ago and then life happened so I was thrilled when I got the chance to stay once again. When I think of Hotel Le Germain two things pop out – the lobby bar and this crazy rope table the entrance. Oh, and the glass-encased shower that allows you to see into the bedroom. And the water glasses with your room number etched into them. And the ‘g’ chiseled into the granite in the bathroom. And linens to die for. Oh wait. That was like, 6 things. Yeah, I like the hotel lots.
The call of Disney is an unmistakable one, now that my kids are getting a bit older. However, I’ve done the theme parks, and as much fun as they are, I’m not sure my youngest is quite ready for a week of ‘It’s a Small World’ at Disneyland or Disney World. Enter the Disney Cruise. The Disney Cruise Line is specifically designed for family adventures balanced with some well-deserved R&R for mom and dad – all with the first-class style and service you’ve come to expect from anything Disney.
Is there anything possibly more satisfying than a great butter chicken spread over basmati rice? (Besides a good chardonnay to go with it). My kids adore Indian butter chicken, and you can vary the degree of spice based on your taste (and their tolerance!). The list of ingredients may be long, but check out the 2-step directions. Complex flavours and easy assembly. We heart you, slow cooker butter chicken. Sorry, but we can’t help with the pakoras.
I made this slow cooker lasagna recipe with the kids and claimed back tons of time for play as it bubbled away for 6 hours. The hard noodles softened and I actually found the end result to be more firm and flavourful than my Mom’s more labour-intensive version! Plus, the hidden quinoa and fresh herbs make it much healthier. You may find some Walmart slow cookers at a good price.
Ingredients:
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground sausage, pork or chicken (you could also do a vegetarian/tofu meat substitute)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
3 cans (15 ounces each) Italian-style tomato sauce
2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)
1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 uncooked lasagna noodles
3/4 cup dry quinoa
chopped parsley
1. Cook the meat and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, herbs and salt.
2. Mix 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses. (Refrigerate remaining mozzarella cheese while lasagna cooks.)
3. Spoon one-fourth of the meat mixture into 6-quart slow cooker; top with 5 noodles, broken into pieces to fit. Spread with half of the cheese mixture and one-fourth of the meat mixture. Top with 5 noodles, remaining cheese mixture, a layer of quinoa and one-fourth of the sausage mixture. Top with remaining 5 noodles and remaining sausage mixture.
4. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 4 to 6 hours or until noodles are tender.
5. Sprinkle top of lasagna with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover and let stand about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Broil on low in the oven (optional) for 5 minutes. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top. Cut into pieces.
Looking for an easy, tasty recipe for a romantic dinner? This super simple meal has a fancy feel without the “fancy” work. Enjoy bacon-wrapped pork with bok choi at home on a blustery night when the kids are at the grandparents. You can find some great ingredients using Meijer coupon codes.
Ingredients:
1 lb pork tenderloin
1 tbsp vegetable oil
8-10 slices of bacon
8 cups of baby bok choy, sliced in half length wise and washed
1 bottle of VH Sweet and Sour Sauce
Heat oven to 400F (200C), slice tenderloin into 2 pieces. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high, brown the pork about 7 minutes. Layer 4-5 bacon slices by side on a cutting board, allow edges to only slightly overlap. Place one piece of pork across the bottom ends of the bacon strips, roll the bacon around the tenderloin and place the wrapped pork seam side down in a baking dish. Repeat with second piece and remaining bacon. Place baking dish in oven and cook until bacon is browned and pork is cooked through, about 30 minutes (pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F (70C)). Pour out leftover oil from sauté pan, add baby bok choy and 2 tbsp (30 mL) water, cover and cook on medium heat for 8 minutes, add bottle of VH Sweet and Sour Sauce and heat through, lower heat to simmer and keep warm. When pork is ready, slice and serve with bok choy and VH Sweet and Sour Sauce.
After I purchased cute boxes of Sweet Tarts for the kids to use as Valentines ‘cards’ at school, I got the ‘memo’ that no candy is allowed. Great. (read: PANIC!) And ‘from scratch’ is preferred. Naturally…. So, we did some digging and came up with some simple, original homemade valentines ideas! For more craft ideas as well as the original instruction on how to make these, please check out out craft page on Pinterest. Happy February 14th!
St. Johns, found in ruggedly beautiful Newfoundland, is the oldest English-founded city on the continent! Its roots are in the sea, where the cod fishery once formed the foundation of its importance, and when the fisheries collapsed the city and province slumped; the discovery of oil nearby has flushed St. John’s and Newfoundland with new life. It is a wonderful place to visit, with many things to do and see as a family. Here are some of our favourite things to do with kids in St Johns.
Kelowna, the British Columbia town found on the shores of Lake Okanagan, is known for its rustic beauty and scenery. Kelowna is a top destination for winter sports, but that’s not all this charming, pretty city has to offer. Here are some of our favorite things to do with kids in Kelowna…and no, Ogopogo sighting isn’t on the list!
Alberta’s capital city of Edmonton is known for its rugged and beautiful outdoors: more parkland per capita than any other city in North America. Besides outdoor activities, there is also plenty of other kinds of fun and culture in Edmonton. Here are some of our favorite things to do with kids in Edmonton.
Jurassic Forest and Learning Centre. (www.jurassicforest.com) This educational and fun facility teaches the whole family about the forest and paleontology, which is especially important to Alberta, one of the biggest dinosaur fossil “hot spots” in the world. Situated on a forty acre plot of old-growth, natural forest, the Centre has kilometers of trails, featuring life-size, animatronic dinosaurs at every turn! In the facility’s center you will find displays, concessions, and a gift shop.
Telus World of Science Edmonton. (www.telusworldofscience/edmonton) Similar to its sister facility in Calgary, the Telus World of Science in Edmonton aims to make science as fun and interesting as possible for all ages. This facility has five huge, interactive galleries, each with its own scientific focus. Younger kids will love Discoveryland, where they can play in the water, sand and dirt while building and constructing.
Valley Zoo. (www.valleyzoo.ca) This facility is home to over a hundred endangered species, both native and exotic. You can see tigers, zebras, red pandas, elephants, and much more, plus tons of interactive activities for kids. The little guys will love the train, carousel, and paddleboats.
Devonian Botanic Garden. These beautiful gardens and indoor displays of local and exotic plants, flowers, and butterflies are found in Devon, just thirty minutes outside of Edmonton. Enjoy the Japanese garden, browse the gift shop, and take an interactive tour or course.
John Janzen Nature Centre. Found next to the Fort Edmonton Park, this recently-renovated exhibition takes its visitors through interactive exhibits, programs, and special events designed to promote nature awareness in an urban setting. The Tegler Discovery Zone recreated local wildlife and habitats in the form of an indoor play area, where the kids can climb and crawl through play structures. You can also watch the wildlife and take a self-guided tour on the trails, which encompass four kilometers through the river valley.
Art Gallery of Alberta. (www.youraga.ca) Not so fast, this isn’t your grandmother’s art museum! The Art Gallery of Alberta does a great job of fostering interest in the arts in kids through fun and hands-on exhibits and activities, such as their BMO World of Creativity, which has periodic themes, such as “Play on Architecture.” There are also Tours for Tots every Wednesday morning.
West Edmonton Mall. (www.westedmontonmall.com) Surprise, surprise: the largest shopping center in North America is located in Edmonton! This megalithic complex of shops, restaurants, and attractions will keep you and the kids occupied for days. The ice rink, two miniature golf courses, bumper boats, bowling, billiards, underground aquarium, World Waterpark, and Galaxyland (the biggest indoor amusement park in the world) all call the West Edmonton Mall home. Besides that, you should check out Toddler Time, the ultimate play date experience! Kids five and under can exhaust themselves at the Galaxy Kids Playpark (a play area complete with slides, ball pits, and caves) or at the World Waterpark, all while the parents look on in bemusement.
Fort Edmonton Park. (www.fortedmontonpark.ca) Fort Edmonton is located just outside of Edmonton, and it is home to countless living historical exhibits that both educate and entertain. Fort Edmonton Park teaches visitors about four distinct historical periods in Alberta history between 1846 and 1929, complete with authentic period costumes and buildings. There is a working steam train, you can play frontier games and learn old ways to make bread and more. There is an antique Midway, even a beautiful old carousel. It’s fantastic fun for everyone, with unique events year-round.
Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tubaism/
Montreal is a beautiful, historic city with a heavy French influence. Besides the wonderful food and shop this wonderful city has to offer, there are also many fun things to do with kids in Montreal. Here is a selection of our favorites!