Holiday Garlands
Easy Appetizers
3 ways to soupy beans
FamilyLife Say Cheers!
November 2020
November Contents
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39
57
ADVICE
ORGANIZE
FOOD
ON THE COVER
13 Party Plan Like a Pro!
28 Sweet Holidays
57 Simply Appetite
Photo by Erik Putz Food Styling by Dara Sutin Prop Styling by Madeline Johari
17 The Mind of Parenting Success
39 Country Strong
IN EVERY ISSUE
23 Is It Okay to Discipline Other People’s Kids?
FEATURES 48 The Magic of Beans
10 Editor's Letter 66 Last Look
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FamilyLife EDITOR IN-CHIEF Pamela Hayford EXECUTIVE EDITOR Suzanne Moutis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Paddon EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa TEST KITCHEN FOOD DIRECTOR Soo Kim SENIOR FOOD ASSOCIATE Stina Diös CONTRIBUTING FOOD SPECIALISTS Donna Borooah, Cara Tegler ART DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Lena Diaz ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Sarah Big Canoe CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Leanne Gilbert PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Genevieve Pizzale EDITORIAL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Megan Howard FEATURES EDITOR Mary Levitski COPY EDITORS Debbie Madsen Villamere, Stephanie Zolis EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Marianne Davidson, Sarah Dziedzic HOME & GARDEN HOME & STYLE DIRECTOR Ann Marie Favot DESIGN EDITOR Morgan Lindsay NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGERS, TORONTO David Lawrence, John McDowell, Nicole Rosen, Roberta Thomson NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER, MONTREAL Ingrid Barfod NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, VANCOUVER Renee Wong BRAND OPERATIONS MANAGER Terry Smith
VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE SALES & DIRECTOR, CLIENT SOLUTIONS Brandon Kirk DIRECTOR, MEDIA SALES Mike Lambe ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN & CEO Tony Gagliano VICE CHAIRMAN John Gagliano PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Ken Hunt VICE PRESDIENT, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Sean McCluskey EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Sarah Trimble DIRECTOR, LIFESTYLE CONTENT Sasha Emmons DIRECTOR, CONTENT OPERATIONS James Reid DIRECTOR, CIRCULATION Allan Yue MANAGER, CIRCULATION Lisa Rivers DIRECTOR, BRANDED CONTENT, AUDIENCE & EVENTS Nadine Silverthorne PROJECT MANAGER, BRANDED CONTENT Milena Boskovic EXECUTIVE EDITOR, BRANDED CONTENT Meaghan Yuen DESIGNER, BRANDED CONTENT Leo Tapel Family Life is published by St. Joseph Communications, 15 Benton Road, Toronto, M6M 3G2. Contents Copyright 2020 by St. Joseph Communications. may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged. While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0128-1839. Single copy price $5.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (6 issues), $15 + tax. In the U.S., 1 year $45 + tax; Other countries $75 + tax, Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada. Family Life, it's affiliate and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, distribute, store and archive such as unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensate of any sort.
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Editor's Letter
Surprise Gifts Birthdays don’t have to be elaborate parties that cost hundreds of dollars. Although those can be fun, too, don’t discount the simple things. As my kids get older, I’m learning that the moments that stand out in their minds aren’t what I thought would be the big memories. After all, who wouldn’t vividly recall in great detail Batman showing up at their birthday party? Big cakes with scenes of dinosaurs. Obstacle courses set up in the park. Water balloon fights. A weekend at Disney. Once, my husband even rented a very realistic Batman costume and made a “character appearance” at our son’s birthday party. The things we do for love of our children. I remember my husband nearly passing out from the heat. But he survived. And my now 17-year-old “kinda, sorta” remembers. We’re all facing difficult times in one way or another this year. When you’re having a dark day or feeling down, look to Maddie, look to Frederick, and take heart that the future might not go exactly as you plan, but it will be what you make of it.
Pamela Hayford Editor In-Chief
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Advice
Party Plan Like a Pro! By JESSICA SAMUEL
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Advice Planning any event can be a job, but birthday parties take the cake, literally. So how do rock star parents plan showstopping shindigs and make it look so easy? Naturally they read articles like this one. Just keep reading and when it’s all over, you’re sure to be a pro. Tip #1- Ask your kid what he wants. No one wants to come to a party he wasn’t personally invited to. So why create a party where the guest of honor isn’t included? Asking your kid what he wants in the party can really save you a lot of time, energy and money, as well as the headache. A combination of both open-ended and yes-or-no questions usually does the trick for me. For example, asking your kid his top three favorite cartoon characters may help you decide what life-size character costume to rent. Asking or even knowing your child’s favorite color can easily help you determine the color of decorations. Knowing what to have at a party can make all the difference. Most kids LOVE magic but HATE clowns. Not knowing the difference can really ruin a party and even traumatize not only your child but other children as well. Tip #2- Everyone loves a good theme. From slumber parties with fairy princesses and unicorns to festivities featuring Hot Wheels and dinosaurs, great themes are irresistible. Theme parties not only allow you to get creative, but they also help with food and gift options. The best themed party I’ve been to was for a 4-year-old. My brother’s best friend (who’s a mutual friend) decided to have a Toy Story themed party for his little girl. All the children dressed as their favorite toy and had mini adventures. From toy rescue to story telling to cleanup, the kids had a ball. I mean they really got into it! They built contraptions to pull toys out of the sandboxes and fainted in place when Dad yelled, “Quick, Mom’s coming!” Some of the parents had more fun than the kids. The best part—the plot twist—was that when the party was actually over, it wasn’t hard at all to get the kids involved in the cleanup. The parents made the chore fun, and it definitely felt like we were still playing the game. With all the fun going on at the party, be sure to have a safety kit nearby. Children are accident prone, and a bump on the head or a cut on the knee can really kill the party vibe, so make sure to have a kit ready just in case.
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Tip # 3 - Divide and conquer. Although we want to make sure we include everyone, division is not always a bad thing. Parents, when throwing any kind of party, have fun but establish boundaries. Establish where play areas are and where it’s best to have food and drinks. Not only will this help to avoid confusion, it will also help you stay organized. After all, we don’t want the basketball to accidentally end up in the cake. Food bars are a great way to break the unnecessary tension. Taco bars and dessert bars give your guests options and, in a weird way, force everyone to get comfortable. You’d be surprised what people share over food and drinks. Tip # 4 It’s so hard to say goodbye… Although parties can be fun, knowing when to call it quits is crucial to a happy ending. No one, and I do mean no one, wants to be the bearer of bad news. So my advice is to bring out party favors when you’re ready to wrap things up. Nothing says thanks for coming like a thank you card and a little somethingsomething. Kids love grab bags. So, mix it up with small trinkets like finger cuffs, chips or even bouncy balls. Tailor the gifts to the guests and the theme, and I promise that awkward goodbye won’t be awkward at all. Tip # 5 When in doubt, make a list. It may sound like homework, but it can really save you time later. Make that list! The best part about making a list is that having one doesn’t leave you guessing, “What did I miss? What’s next? Who’s picking up the cake?” These questions can drive you nuts when you’re already in overdrive. To-do lists are a must when it comes to event planning and mapping out things. Lists make it easy for you to delegate tasks as well—another important strategy for a successful party. Planning and executing a party your kid really wants shouldn’t become your next full-time job, but some strategic planning can make magic happen. Just take a deep breath, follow these tips and enjoy the experience. You and the birthday kid will shine!
Advice
The Mind of Parenting Success We all want to raise children to have a zeal for life, willing to take challenges and go after their dreams. As we watch our kids continue to grow, sometimes we recognize one is more timid, reserved, cautious and less likely to be bold. Although personality and temperament may play a part in your child’s behavior, you also play a huge role in helping to shape your child’s mind of success. By CHRISTIAN BARNES
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Advice
“Whether you think you can “I’ve missed more than or you think you can’t, you’re 9,000 shots in my career. right.” ~Henry Ford I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to Modern psychology has some new buzz words that have grown from the research of Stanford psychologist Carol take the game winning shot Dweck. and missed. I’ve failed over After many years of working with clients, she noticed the success and failure of these men and women seemed to depend mainly on their mindset. Some had what she called a and over and over again in “fixed” mindset. my life. And that is why I This means they believed that they had been given all of their gifts, talents and intelligence at birth. succeed.” ~Michael Jordan This outlook contrasts with the “growth” mindset, the belief that the gifts, talents and intelligence you were given at birth are just the starting point and each one of these areas can be grown and honed. So what does this mean to parents? It means that you can help shape the thinking patterns of your children to reach for the stars instead of settling for the dust. How do you do this? Teach your kids to embrace failure.
It’s important for children to understand that failing at something doesn’t make them a failure. Much as a parent makes the distinction during a time of discipline between disapproving of a child’s actions and still loving the child, effective parenting highlights that, when it comes to failure, no link exists between a child’s failed attempt and that child’s worth. Failure is actually a building block to success. Your child needs to understand that most people do not succeed the first time they try something. As parents, we really need to encourage the effort, not the result. When we give praise for their efforts, children are more likely to try something new or try something again, a growth mindset. If we only praise a successful result, children can become intimidated by trying something new. They begin to equate their worth to their success, so they only venture to do what they know they’ll succeed at. “This illustrates the key difference between the two mindsets,” Dweck says. “For those with a growth mindset, personal success is when you work your hardest to become your best, whereas for those with a fixed mindset, success is about establishing their superiority, pure and simple. Being that somebody who is worthier than the nobodies. For the latter, setbacks are a sentence and a label. For the former, they’re motivating, informative input — a wakeup call.” All children, and parents, need to remember that life is a process of learning new things, not just perfecting what you know. It’s okay to not have all the answers; success comes from continuing to figure them out.
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Advice
“There is a difference between not knowing and not knowing yet.” ~Sheila Tobias It’s such a simple word, but “yet” opens the door to possibility. It opens the door to hope. Notice the difference between “I can’t do this!” and “I can’t do this yet.” Yet not only gives kids permission to not know how to do something, but it encourages them to go on the journey of learning how to do it. It invites more failure—learning—without the despair of thinking they will never figure it out. We all want our children to be fearless in their approach to life. We want them to reach for success. As circumstances, both negative and positive, begin to impact our children, it’s important to remember we are not powerless in how that affects our kids. Failure is a step on the road to success. Success is a product of hard work, not a destination. Learning is the ultimate goal, no matter what age you are.
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Advice
Is It Okay to Discipline Other People’s Kids? By EMILY MORRISON
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Advice We each have different parenting styles, but the fact is, all kids need correction from time to time. Big sister may throw a toy out of anger and you might have to say, “Oh no, I know you’re mad, but let’s please be careful.” Maybe she takes a toy away from little brother and you chime in, “Listen, it’s Tommy’s turn right now. Can we give the toy back to him?” Maybe you use the time-out method during particularly bad meltdowns. These techniques may work well for your own kids, but what if you’re in a situation where someone else’s kiddo needs correction? Discipline can be a controversial and complex subject when it comes to your own kids, so it is even more complicated when it comes to other people’s kids. Is it okay to chime in? Should you keep your thoughts to yourself? Parents won’t always see eye to eye, but wanting to teach our kids right from wrong is universal. A quick social media poll reveals that a majority of parents agree (within reason) that it may be appropriate to step in and correct problematic behavior. Teachers are expected to, and parents feel it may be necessary at times. Ashli Gatton, mom of two, is comfortable speaking up when necessary but is not in favor of disciplining someone else’s child. “I am okay with saying something like, ‘That wasn’t very nice,’ to the child, and leave it at that,” she says. Kelsey Donohue, mom of two, says if a child pushes, hits or bites her child, she will absolutely provide correction. “It’s usually a ‘Hey, that’s not very nice to push your friend. Can you say sorry?’ I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, as long as it is providing calm correction to a behavior that directly affected your child,” she says. Donohue adds that she would expect the same from another parent if her child did something like this and she wasn’t around. “Parents should be in this together,” she says. Amanda Shaw, mom of three, believes in stepping in sometimes. “If I see a kid knock down another kid intentionally, I feel like it’s my job to say something. I make eye contact with the kid and make sure they know that behavior is not okay. I do this especially if I know the kid’s parents.”
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Lindsey Parks has been in several situations in which she said, “Nope. We do NOT do that,” to a child when she’s seen them be mean or aggressive. “Once was even when the parent was right there and didn’t do anything. My view is, if you wouldn’t want your kids to be treated a certain way, don’t let kids treat other kids that way, even if they’re not your own,” Parks says. Children often learn behavior from their parents, says Amanda Kephart, who agrees with intervening when possible. Her human development courses taught her it’s important to show right and wrong in order to help a child grow. “Even just the shock of, ‘Oh, a stranger is telling me that behavior is bad—wow, that’s new to me,’ is enough of an impact,” she says. “Advocating for your child and showing positive alternatives is the way to go. If someone else’s child is behaving in a way that socially is not acceptable, intervene and redirect if possible.” If you find yourself in a sticky situation or wonder what a general rule of thumb might be when it comes to discipline, Brooke Wilson, mom of two, offers some perspective. Wilson believes there are two general scenarios where it’s appropriate to discipline someone else’s child. 1. If you know the child personally and know their parents will be okay with you taking charge (a niece or nephew or a close friend’s kid, for example). I often scold or redirect my sisters’ kids without thinking, but it’s because I know them well enough to recognize when I need to step into that disciplinary role. 2. You’re in a setting where you are actively in charge of other people’s kids, even if you don’t know them well. When I volunteer in the church toddler room, I will mildly discipline someone who is out of line, if only enough to diffuse the situation. When parents leave their kids in a care setting, even an informal one on Sunday mornings, they usually understand that their kid might get a time-out or a talking to if they deserve it. But it’s always age-appropriate and a lot of passive, calm language: “Whoa, whoa, hey buddy, let’s not do that. Let’s take a break,” etc. If something is bad enough, time to step aside and get the parents involved.
Organize
Cheers to Holidays A Bright And Budget-Friendly Approach To Holiday Decor
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Sweet Holidays For design blogger Wendy Lau, decking the halls—and shelves and railings and mantle— comes naturally. “I wait all year to decorate for Christmas,” says Wendy Lau, design blogger and Instagram sensation. “But that doesn’t have to mean reinventing the wheel.” For Wendy, who shares her Thornhill, Ont., home with husband Kwan, getting holiday-ready involves foraging greenery for simple, twine-tied garlands and pulling out the same DIY orange-slice ornaments year after year. “I was addicted to drying oranges at one point,” jokes Wendy. “I like that they’re natural and sustainable, and eventually I can compost them.” (Want to make your own? Slice a few oranges, poke a hole in each slice and bake for two to three hours— flipping once—in a 250F oven. The slices will transform into stained-glass-like ornaments that last for years.) This winter, Wendy plans on reaching out of a secondfloor window to trim extra greenery from the top of her cedar hedge, as the bottom is a little sparse from Christmases past. The handmade vibe of the resulting garlands is charming—and the price tag can’t be beat. Frugality runs in the Lau family. “My parents immigrated from Hong Kong, where it’s hot all year and decorating for Christmas isn’t as big of a thing,” says Wendy. Instead of splurging on fancy baubles, she grew up thrifting for ornaments with her folks and waiting for Boxing Week sales—two traditions she carries on today. “The holiday spirit is infectious and you can’t help but want to take part, but I never want my Instagram followers to feel like creating a welcoming home has to cost a lot of money,” Wendy says. As a kid, she remembers waking up every few months to see her whole house had been redesigned, without costing a dime. “My mom would rearrange the furniture, pillows, art, you name it. It made me understand that decor is fluid, and you can move things around and make it feel like a different space without buying anything new.”
Seeing decor as an extension of her hospitality is something Wendy prides herself on. As any of her holiday visitors can attest—this year it will only be her tight-knit family, but other years it’s been upwards of 100 people throughout the month of December, culminating in a holiday dinner for 40—she knows how to make guests feel at ease. “Your home is to be enjoyed by the people you love,” says Wendy, who attributes that feel-good mentality to her late aunt Brenda. “I get excited and emotional talking about her. Since we were an immigrant family, my aunt knew we didn’t have a fresh-cut tree, so she’d put one up for us and we’d decorate gingerbread houses. Now Wendy and Kwan carry on Brenda’s legacy with their young cousins: The gingerbread house competition takes place in the basement and carols are sung in the string-light-lit sunroom (which is also home to many of the couple’s 75-plus houseplants). “I know there’s going to be a big cleanup at the end, but I want my cousins to have the same fond holiday memories that I do,” Wendy says. “I want it to be magical.”
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Wendy’s leather Sven sofa from Article gets a sap-free festive touch from a faux garland.
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A pair of rattan armchairs from Ikea sits among many of Wendy’s happy houseplants in her sunroom. At night, string lights turn the place into a starry sanctuary.
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The citrus-and-cedar theme carries over to gift wrapping, too.
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A wall of white subway tile is the perfect backdrop for Wendy’s seemingly endless supply of citrus and cedar.
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Mercury glass candles and a large glass jar—which Wendy turned into a snow globe using faux snow, twinkle lights and a bottlebrush tree—extend holiday cheer onto the kitchen island.
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Inexpensive bottlebrush trees are nestled throughout the kitchen.
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Wendy picked up her Fa La La garland for $2 at a postholiday sale, and the bough that cascades over her brick fireplace—which she whitewashed with mortar, a technique called German smear—was a freebie from a friend’s winter wedding.
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Seasonal greenery—a mix of faux branches and fresh cedar clippings— bring festive splendour to the entryway.
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Country Strong White oak accents, rounded archways and pops of colour give this off-the-grid passive design house a warm and cozy feel.
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On a late fall morning outside of Owen Sound, Ont., the wind chill is –4 degrees and the grass is covered in a shimmering layer of frost. Inside their home, Jennie and Luke Hoekstra are making breakfast—crepes and bacon—and feeling toasty, with the thermostat hovering near 24 degrees. Their three kids—Jude, Neve and Wilder—are running around in short sleeves, laughing, practising piano and playing with their dog, Penny, a wheaten-schnauzer cross. It’s not out of the ordinary for the temperature to dip into the minuses at this time of year near Georgian Bay. What is unusual is that the Hoekstras have no furnace running; in fact, they don’t own one. Their home is what’s called an offthe-grid passive house; its lights are powered by the solar panels installed on their property, and it’s warmed by in-floor radiant heating—in which hot water is pumped through a system of tubes under the floor— as well as the sun.
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“Even when it’s –18 in the middle of winter, we’re warm inside,” says Jennie. “We never even get to use our fireplace, otherwise it would get too hot in here.” The Hoekstras appreciate the coziness, especially compared to their previous home, a converted Victorian schoolhouse just down the road from their eco-friendly new build. The arched windows and ornamental plasterwork lent rustic charm to the space, but the thin brick walls were barely insulated. “We were always cold,” says Jennie. “We spent our winters wearing toques indoors. We wanted something much warmer.” When they first bought the four-acre lot where their new home now stands, their plan was to build a house that was efficient and well-insulated, but still connected to the conventional power grid. But when they priced out their options, they decided to go with an off-the-grid passive design. “Hooking up hydro wires on such a remote site would have cost us $100,000,” says Jennie. “We would have had to remove trees and widen a road. The solar power system we bought instead, which included solar panels and batteries, cost us $50,000.”
The Hoekstras also invested several thousand dollars in a set of plans from Passive Design Solutions, a Nova Scotia-based company that helps homeowners plan and build sustainable homes. The plans detailed how to orient the building to take advantage of the natural heat of the sun and how to assemble walls, roofs, floors and foundations to retain as much of that heat as possible. The family’s open-concept living, dining and kitchen area faces south and east with large windows to let morning and midday light pour in, while the infloor radiant heating provides any additional warmth that can’t be harnessed from the sun—especially in the dead-of-winter months.
“The floors are highly insulated,” says Natalie Leonard, owner of Passive Design Solutions, who has helped people build more than 110 similar homes since founding the company 10 years ago. “They have four times the insulation required by the building code.” The walls and roof have more than twice the amount of insulation than what’s required and are sealed tight. (“You could basically heat the house with the equivalent wattage of a blowdryer,” says Leonard. “It’s that efficient.”) And there are just a few windows on the north and west sides of the home. “Western afternoon light tends to be too hot,” she explains, whereas the north face of the home rarely gets any light at all.
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But enough about how it all works. One of the most refreshing aspects of the Hoekstras’ house is the fact that it looks absolutely gorgeous. Other than the solar panels outside, the only clues that it’s a green build are the lack of forced-air vents (a result of having no furnace) and the deep windowpanes (to accommodate the extra insulation). It helps that most of the finishes—quartz kitchen countertops, white subway tile, white oak ceilings— look sleek and contemporary. “A lot of the building materials came from Home Depot,” says Luke, an electrical engineer who did much of the construction himself. “We bought the windows, which are triplepane and filled with argon gas [an insulator], for $25,000 from a Canadian company called Kohltech. The insulation is a mix of Styrofoam panels and fibreglass.”
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At just 1,600 square feet and with no basement (digging into the bedrock of the surrounding Niagara Escarpment would have been too difficult), the home isn’t big—making it work was a challenge for a family of two adults, three kids and a dog. But the Hoekstras made everything fit by using every square inch (including a two-car garage) and carefully selecting mostly second-hand, small midcentury modern furniture sourced from online auction sites like eBay. Though Luke, who works from home a few days a week, was originally supposed to have his own office next to the open-concept living area, they ultimately decided against it. “Having a big room just for me was a waste,” he says. Instead, they tucked a small desk and chair into what would have been the office’s storage closet and filled the rest of the room with musical instruments.
The second storey of the house has a master bedroom, two kids’ rooms (the boys share), a master bathroom and a laundry room. Jennie, a web designer who works from home, created her own makeshift office by squeezing a small desk beside the washer and dryer in the laundry room. “It’s beside a window looking south,” she says. “It’s bright and peaceful. What more do I need?”
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Few are altogether deaf to the preaching of pine trees. Their sermons on the mountains go to our hearts. -John Muir
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The Magic of beans Sausage and bean stew
Sometimes just having the major building blocks for a meal is all you need to make dinner a cinch. Photography By ERIK PUTZ
Pasta fagioli
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Bean and cheese burritos
Sausage and bean stew 1 tbsp canola oil 4 sausages 4 cups chopped kale 4 cups Brothy Bean recipe , (thawed) extra-virgin olive oil shaved Parmesan 1. Heat canola oil in a large frying pan over high. Add sausages and cook about 4 minutes or until they are golden on the bottom. Flip the sausages, reduce the heat to low and add chopped kale. Cover and cook 5 to 8 minutes or until kale softens. 2. Add Brothy Beans (thawed) and simmer gently, covered, until bubbly, about 10 minutes. 3. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with shaved Parmesan.
Pasta fagioli 4 cups Brothy Bean recipe , (thawed) 156-mL can tomato paste 1 cup small pasta , (such as ditalini) extra-virgin olive oil grated Parmesan 1. Gently stir Brothy Beans (thawed) with a tomato paste in a medium pot. Heat over medium until simmering gently, crushing the carrots, celery and garlic that are in the beans. 2. In a separate pot, cook small pasta (such as ditalini) in boiling, salted water, until just tender. Drain, then add to the bean mixture and simmer for 1 minute. 3. Serve drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and grated Parmesan.
Bean and cheese burritos 2 cups Brothy Bean recipe , (thawed) 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 1 lime , juiced tortillas grated cheese salsa 1 avocado , sliced hot sauce , optional 1. Combine Brothy Beans (thawed) with smoked paprika in a small pot and bring to a simmer. 2. Purée with a potato masher or immersion blender and continue to cook until very thick. Stir in the juice of lime. 3. Layer in warm tortillas with grated cheese, salsa, sliced avocado and hot sauce.
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Big batch brothy beans
Big-batch basics like these beans front-load the weeknight dinner prep work, leaving you with the beginnings of not just one but three quick and delicious meals—and they’re all different, so your family will never get bored. PREP TIME:10 MINS
750 g dried beans , such as Great Northern or romano (about 4 cups) 2 1/2 tsp salt , divided1 large onion 3 stalks celery , coarsely chopped 2 carrots , chopped 2 sprigs fresh rosemary , or thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme) 1/4 tsp chili flakes , (optional) large Parmesan rind
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TOTAL TIME:7 HOURS
1. Place the beans in a very large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven and cover with cold water by at least 5 in. Stir in 1 tsp of the salt. Soak at room temperature for 6 to 24 hours. 2. Preheat the oven to 325F. Drain the beans, then put them back into the pot and cover with water again, this time by 2 in. Bring to a boil. Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, rosemary or thyme, chili flakes (if using), Parmesan rind and the remaining 1½ teaspoons of salt. Return to a boil, then cover and transfer the pot to the oven. Bake 25 minutes, then taste one bean for tenderness and add more water if needed (it should cover the beans by an inch at all times). Continue to cook, checking on the beans every 5 to 10 minutes, until they are tender without being mushy. 3. Cool completely, then package into 2- or 4-cup portions in freezer bags. Pat down the bags so they lie flat (this speeds up freezing and thawing) and freeze up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the fridge overnight, then gently reheat to a simmer.
Food
Easy Appies Gather your family and friends with your loved one, or all, of these delicious holiday appies. Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Dara Sutin. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.
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Bagel Crisps With Trout
Simply Appetite Keep your holiday snacks simple with easy to make (and eat) dishes. Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Dara Sutin. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.
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Mussels and Chips
Lobster Roll Bites 58
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Mincemeat Tarts With Shortbread Stars
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Gnocco Fritto
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Puff Pastry Straws with Pesto
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Spiced Edamame
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Advice
Bagel Crisps With Trout
Gnocco Fritto
Bulk Barn Bagel Crisps whipped cream cheese Scout Canning Ontario Trout with Dill fresh chopped dill , for garnish (optional)
store-bought pizza dough canola oil 300-g pkg Sobeys' Sensations Charcuterie Trio basil leaves , for garnish (optional)
1. Top bagel crisps with whipped cream cheese and trout. Sprinkle with fresh dill.
Mussels and Chips kettle chips Scout Canning Mussels in Tomato Sauce parsley , to garnish 1. Top kettle chips with mussels. Sprinkle with parsley.
Mincemeat Tarts With Shortbread Stars PREP TIME:5 MINS TOTAL TIME:35 MINS 18 Tenderflake frozen mini tart shells , (225-g pkg) President's Choice mincemeat President's Choice shortbread cookies , (shortbread stars with cranberry pieces) 1. Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 375F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange mini tart shells on prepared sheet to thaw for 10 min. 2. Fill each thawed tart shell with 1 scant tbsp mincemeat. 3. Bake until edges are golden, 18 to 20 min. Top tarts with shortbread stars. Let cool completely.
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November 2020 - Family Life
PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:25 MINS
1. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Weigh out 300 g of pizza dough, then roll out on a floured surface to 1/4 in. thick, about 12 × 8 in. Cut into 24 rectangles. 2. Pour enough canola oil into a wide pot to reach 1 in. up the sides. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to the side. Heat over medium until temperature reaches 350F. (Adjust heat as necessary to keep temperature at 350F during cooking.) 3. Fry dough, a few pieces at a time, until puffed and bottoms are golden, 30 sec to 1 min. Flip, then fry for 30 sec to 1 min more. Transfer fritto to prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. (Don’t crowd pan as it brings down the oil temperature and prevents dough from puffing up.) 4. Serve on a platter with charcuterie and basil leaves for garnish.
Spiced Edamame PREP TIME:5 MINS TOTAL TIME:5 MINS Frozen Farm Boy edamame , thawed (454-g pkg) 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp Farm Boy Shichimi Togarashi 1. Pat thawed edamame pods dry with tea towels, then toss with sesame oil, soy sauce and Shichimi Togarashi spice blend in a serving bowl.
Puff Pastry Straws with Pesto PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS 450 g pkg Sobey's Compliments Frozen Butter puff pastry 1/4 cup Sobey's Compliments pesto 1/4 cup finely grated pecorino-romano cheese freshly ground pepper , to season 1. Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 425F. Line two baking sheets with foil. Working with one pastry sheet at a time, unroll a thawed puff pastry sheet onto counter. Spread pesto evenly over sheet. Sprinkle over cheese. Season with pepper. Press gently. 2. Cut pastry into 1/2-in. strips. Twist the two ends of each strip in opposite directions a few times, then lay strips on prepared sheets, 1 in. apart. 3. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 13 min. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet, pesto and cheese.
Lobster Roll Bites PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:15 MINS 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp chopped chives Scout Canning Atlantic Canadian lobster 1. Toast brioche slices and cut each into 9 squares. Stir mayo with lemon juice and chives in a small bowl. Top each brioche square with lemonmayo and a piece of lobster.
Last Look
Movies
The Croods: A New Age November 25 The Croods, along with Guy (Ryan Reynolds) and their pets Chunky and Douglas, are still searching for a place to settle down, all the while Grug (Nicolas Cage) acts annoyed at Eep (Emma Stone) and Guy's blossoming romance. One night, Grug comes across a giant wall and leads the whole pack to it. The Bettermans welcome the Croods to their giant tree-home as house guests, where they meet their daughter and Guy's old friend Dawn who immediately befriends Eep.
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
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November 2020 - Family Life