I mentioned recently that I took a blogging hiatus in order to rethink where I was at with food and life. Even though I struggle to find the words to describe my new attitude, I am experiencing confirmation that my epiphany is on track.

One confirmation, (believe it or not) is the amazing minute and a half commercial recently aired by Loblaw’s/Superstore where the narrative is about dreaming 75 years of dreams and then finally dreaming “where you are now”-outdoors, around an enormous table, with multi-generations of family/friends. The final graphic suggesting: “Eat Together”. The truth is, I don’t even remember seeing food in the Superstore commercial. So I am concluding it is not about the food it is about “together”.

Now I will confess that there are times that I make one-bowl dinners so that D and I can catch up on a favourite Netflix series or catch the puck drop of a Jets game, but for the most part we eat together at our kitchen peninsula most evenings, sometimes with a candle lit to brighten the winter darkness.

Getting a nutritious hot meal on the table is just part of my daily routine so the need to scale back preparations to do so is not a big deal for me, but for two income couples, students living alone or young families with active kids, the task must be overwhelming. Enter the new approach that I have towards food (and life): from scratch, simple, uncomplicated… Claire Tansey the author of “Uncomplicated” shared recently that we all need to “lower our expectations” in order to make daily cooking a part of our routines.

Another confirmation are the cookbooks that Daughter #1 has gifted me with recently and the one that I added to my collection last evening: “Family”, “Simple”, “Uncomplicated”.

Claire Tansey is straightforward and without pretense. I was so sad to have missed her when she was in Winnipeg this past September at the Food Bloggers Canada event. Last night though we had a chance to chat, hear her interviewed and watch her in her element-mic’d, pony-tailed and posed at an enormous wooden cutting board ready to share her thoughts on everything from knife skills to salt. This was all delivered at Deluca’s Cooking Studio by my dear friends at Canola Connect.

I cannot wait to dive into Claire’s beautiful cookbook. I have only had a chance to flip through, but it is thoughtfully laid out with sumptuous photos and straight-forward recipes. Pick up “Uncomplicated” as soon as you are able. You will come to understand where the “Food Revolution”  started by many, is currently at.

With the crew from Deluca’s, Tainsey prepared our uncomplicated dinner from her new cookbook. The kitchen commenced with a yummy snack to hold us until the entree arrived (you can call amuse bouche if you’d like). Popcorn? Yes popcorn, you can’t get more uncomplicated than that, can you? But this was no ordinary popcorn-it was simply seasoned with both salt and sugar and a pinch of cayenne pepper to add what Claire referred to as “sexy sizzle”.

A little salad came next as Claire declared “salad is the essence of uncomplicated”. Greens, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper-that’s it.

Next up was a delectable rosemary pork tenderloin which had been roasted with broccoli and potato wedges. The pork was cooked to a perfect pink and full of its natural juices.

Surrounded by Canola family, I was content to put down my fork and call it an evening, then along came Claire’s chocolate cake. I enjoyed it immensely but with my last bite I had to run. My mantra and new attitude of making time for the most important people in life by making less fuss and muss in the kitchen also takes time management: I was home in time for a visit with D and the evening was perfect!

Kath’s quote: “Brown stuff tastes good.“-Claire Tansey

Love never fails.

 

 

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