FoodPress

I know what you’re thinking, “What’s a cheese toasty?” Well, a few years back when I was in FFA, we had a national officer who called Grilled Cheese “cheese toasties.” Weird, right? It never made any sense to me until this weekend, when I made some Mexican Grilled Cheese in the toaster oven, and it was toasty, thus the Cheese Toasty.

Chilly winter days usually come to mind when soup is on the table.  Not so this one.  Leeks, carrots, pasta, spinach, and mini meatballs float in a sea of light, flavorful broth.  The savory broth was a delightful surprise.

In this installment of Cooking for your Health, the theme is brain food: Healthy high energy snack food that’s a perfect pick-me-up during the work or school day or following a workout, providing a nutritional boost of energy which improves concentration and stamina. A diet rich in iron, B vitamins, essential fatty acids and complex carbohydrates comprises a winning menu for your brain, increasing focus and memory.

One of my favourite things to do on the weekend is head to the local farmers market. I often take a stroll down there to gather some inspiration and hand pick ingredients for lunch. The farmers market near where I live is admittedly a little small, but they really do have some wonderful produce on offer as well as beautifully prepared hot food, which draws a number of people to the market to have lunch on the go and a nose around.

I was born into a military family and we moved around a lot. Every two to three years our living environment changed significantly. From one army base to the next, we lugged everything from furniture to family pets. My concept of home was unstable, exciting and always in flux. This was not a bad thing at all. In fact, I think it encouraged a lot of curiosity and an adventurous spirit both in the kitchen and in life.