The Dinner Table

Simple, delicious recipe reviews, family favourites, and my random food musings. Design ideas for cool kitchens and entertaining spaces :)

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

For those days that you just don't feel like cooking, it's okay. Go out and enjoy a meal at one of your favourite restaurants, or one that you haven't tried before!

Check out this video of the Beacher Cafe, one of my favourite restaurants in the Beaches of Toronto, and also, where I work!

The food at the Beacher is delicious. We have an amazing team of cooks in the kitchen, all who have worked there for over twenty years. Our hollandaise sauce is one of the best in Toronto, famous since 1986. Our brunch menu has EVERYTHING you could want. And if it doesn't have it, just ask! Our servers are all willing to help and the kitchen will create just about anything (as long as we have it). You are sure to get something you like here. We also have kids portions of our all day breakfast, pancakes, waffles, and french toast. 

We have a great little patio out front that sits on Queen Street, less than 2 minutes from the beach. The scenery and shops at the Beaches are some of the best in Toronto, and the people in the area are very friendly and welcoming. 

I strongly suggest you try out the Beacher! The line up for brunch can seem intimidating but remember - it's a good sign! We're busy because we're GOOD! The line doesn't take too long either. We have guests seated within 10 minutes of arrival and we have fast service. Come on a Saturday or Sunday brunch and you'll find me there, along with some amazing food and a great environment.

See you soon!!

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

Eleven Steps to Cooking Without Your Momma

For me, moving away from home at 17 was daunting. I was now responsible for my own shopping, laundry, cleaning, and cooking. Cooking was especially frightening. I had always hated it, no matter how often my Momma tried to teach me. When I left for University, it was all up to me. Lucky for me, I had my Momma's guidance and had seemed to inherit her natural ability in the kitchen.

Let's face it - we're not all so lucky! So for all of the young independents out there who need some cooking guidance, I've put together the Eleven Steps to Cooking Without Your Momma, in the hopes that a few of you might learn some great tips my Momma taught me. 

Eleven Steps to Cooking Without Your Momma

Know Where to Shop. Compare your local grocers for quality and price. I tend to avoid 24/7 grocers. Their prices are often a little higher due to the added convenience. My personal favourite is FRESHco.

Make A Grocery List. Trust me, this is important. Too many times I have gone to the store for groceries and came back with a few microwave dinners or some chips. Go for versatile foods that can be mixed and matched. 

Shop Smart. Look for ways to save yourself some money. Flip through grocery store flyers and look for sales. Try to work your shopping trip around a few stores to take advantage of the most deals. Avoid brand names. They cost more than no name brands and you probably wont taste the difference anyways.

Build Your Pantry. Start collecting! Spices can be expensive so I suggest grabbing one new spice each shopping trip. Stock up on non-perishable food like tuna, soup, cereal, pasta, and rice. This stuff will go a long way when you've run out of everything else.

Learn the Basics. If nothing else, check out some basic cooking guides to teach you some of the fundamental techniques. Try this Technique Guide from Reluctant Gourmet. If you run across something you're not sure of in a recipe, you can always trust a "How To" search. Learning how to cook food properly will help you enjoy the experience and most importantly, the food!

Make Time to Eat. It's not always easy to set time aside to cook and eat a meal, but it's important. Setting regular eating times will help get you into a routine and is also healthier than skipping some meals and feasting on others.

Hunt for Recipes. I'm sure you already have a sense of what you like to eat, so do some searches for recipes that include your favourite foods. Start building a collection of recipes you'd like to try.

Try Your Recipes! I was an awful cook when I first started. Don't get discouraged, just keep trying. Not everyone loves to cook but I believe everyone CAN cook. So as Momma says, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!" 

Get Creative. Don't be afraid to change up recipes and try new things. You may just have a creative flair for cooking that has been hiding out all these years. 

Share Your Food. I find I get the most reward out of cooking when I see others enjoying my meals. So invite your roommates to join you, cook together with friends, and even cook for your Momma! There's nothing better than enjoying a great meal in great company. So get over your stage fright!

HAVE FUN! Enjoy yourself in the kitchen. My Momma always said she sprinkled a "dash of love" into every meal. As silly as it seems, I think I could taste the love in her meals. So be happy, and have fun as you cook. Start developing your own habits and traditions in the kitchen. In my family, cake fights are a right of passage on birthdays, and turkey dinners are a collaborative effort. Find out what you enjoy and run with it. 

Good Luck!

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

Momma Meals - Spaghetti

When my Momma moved out of my Grandma's for the first time, my Grandma made her a cookbook, filled with family favourite recipes and cooking tips. My Momma passed this tradition on to me a few years ago when I moved out on my own. She made me a cookbook in a similar fashion, sharing tips and secrets she learned along the way. 

"Momma Meals", as I like to call them, are in their own category of awesome-ness. They satisfy in a way that only a meal made with "Momma Love" can do. In this edition of "Momma Meals", I'm happy to share my childhood favourite, Momma C's Spaghetti Sauce. Bon Appetit!

Momma C's Spaghetti Sauce

What You'll Need...

Large cooking pot

3 tbsp cooking oil

1 lb ground meat

1 crushed garlic clove

2 medium onions (chopped)

1/2 cup celery (chopped)

2-5 1/2 oz cans tomato paste

2 beef cubes OR 3 tsp beef liquid

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1-2 tsp salt (to taste!)

1/2 tsp oregano

1 tsp sweet basil

dash cayenne pepper

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

Cook onion, celery and garlic in oil in cooking pot until transparent.

Add meat and cook until brown, drain.

Stir in tomato paste.

Boil 1 1/2 cups water

Dissolve beef cubes in boiling water, stir into mixture.

Add spices and 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese.

Stir, cover, and simmer for about 1/2 hour.

Serve over spaghetti!

Ashley's Dinner Table Tips

Take your own spin! This recipe is a great basic recipe filled with flavour, and will mix well with your own additions. Make this your family's favourite by adding meatballs, chunky tomato slices, or italian sausage for some extra spice.

Ashley's Seafood Spaghetti 

For all the seafood lovers out there, here's a great addition to Momma C's Spaghetti.

Melt 1/2 cup of butter over low heat in large saucepan

Add 1/4-1/2 cup of dry red wine (be sure to pick one that you like!)

Add a little bit of chopped garlic or garlic seasoning

Add 1 lb of fresh, medium-sliced mushrooms, saute on low heat until very light brown

Stir in 1 1/2-2 lbs of medium sized, raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails remove

Stir constantly, cook on low heat until shrimp are light pink

Add mixture to spaghetti sauce before adding tomato paste. 

Note - If you're not feeling too saucy, I suggest slightly reducing the tomato paste quantity. The red wine shrimp will bring some extra sauce into the mix, so I'd suggest only adding about 2-3 cans of tomato paste.

Momma C's Tip

"This recipe is loved by all my children, but Ashley especially. I think the secret to this amazing sauce is grating the cheese freshly into the sauce when you cook it. Shhh... It's a secret! Enjoy!! XOXO" - Momma C.

[vintageluxe]

designer: celerie kemble via: eddie ross

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

I would LOVE to have a nice lunch out here. Absolutely beautiful!!

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

Accessorize

Just like you accessorize your outfit with cute shoes or some unique jewelry, you can accessorize your kitchen and dining room too. Accessories are a great way to make your space unique and your experience exciting. They also make a great gift for family and friends.

Unique accessories bring a pop of excitement and also act as a great conversation piece. No matter the tone of your evening or the design theme of your kitchen, there are little things you can do to spice things up without going overboard. Take this "Ro-bottle opener" for example.  

This bottle opener is so unique and a great conversation starter at any party. Set this up with a few bottles of wine and let people open them up. This is a simple way to get people talking and will set a great tone for your evening.

Another way to spice up your kitchen is a cute set of salt and pepper shakers, like these "Peas Pass the Salt Shakers". Shakers can be a great table decoration and getting a unique set surely looks better than your plain old S&P containers. Find some that fit your kitchen and your personality, and they'll definitely kick start some conversation. 

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

Feast your eyes on Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries! These are so good and so easy to make! Fruit is one of my favourite things to snack on and I love recipes that add a little something extra to a simple snack.  These unique, yummy treats take only a few minutes to prepare. This recipe is from Nutmeg Nanny.

What You'll Need... Mixing bowl Electric beater Piping / icing bag Serving tray  1 lb large strawberries 8 oz cream cheese (softened) 3-4 tbsp powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract Graham cracker crumbs 

Instructions Prepare strawberries and cut top off. Remove stem with paring knife.  Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in mixing bowl until creamy.  Add mixture to piping bag (either cut a small hole in the corner or use a small icing tip) and fill the inside of the strawberries with cream cheese filling. Dip the tops of the strawberries in graham cracker crumbs. Cover and refrigerate if you're not serving these right away. 

[theaestate]

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

I can't get enough of this kitchen. Let's face it, cooking is the most fun when you can chat with people and have some fun. I love where the table is here because you can be in the kitchen cooking and still talk to everyone sitting around the table. I also LOVE the double stove here with the shelf right on top. Having all of your spices right on top of the stove is so convenient.  Another thing I love about this space is the combination of sleek, modern design with traditional, comfortable looks. The different chairs the designer used here vary in style and contrast the chrome appliances. The table and chairs look like antiques that have been restored which give the space a really great sense of cozy-ness. The last thing that is really great about this space is that it looks designed and put together, but it's also so functional. Everything is right where you need it to be and you can easily pull the chairs away and use the table as extra counter space when cooking. This space would be so fun to cook in! 

[ashleysdinnertable-blog]

I love food! I can't say it more eloquently or descriptively... I just love it! This blog is dedicated to all of the delicious food out there, and the wonderful chef's cooking all around the world.. whether in a restaurant, on the television, or in the comfort of your kitchen at home. The Dinner Table is home to simple, delicious recipes I've tried and loved, with reviews and suggestions. I'll post some family favourites, design ideas for kitchens and entertaining spaces, and my musings on food and cooking.