Sweet berries and buttery cake are perfectly combined in this very easy six-ingredient Berry Cake recipe.

Berry Cake

If you’ve fallen in love with the Cranberry Christmas Cake and then been sad to find that cranberries are out of season the next time you want to make it, this cake is the answer to your cake-loving dreams.

The biggest comment I get when cranberry season ends is – I can’t find cranberries. Can I use blueberries? Will raspberries work? Can I make this cake with other berries? Lucky for you the answer to all of those questions is a resounding “YES”.

But in all seriousness, make a note and pick up extra bags of cranberries to freeze after Christmas. Sometimes you’ll be lucky enough to find them marked down after a holiday, but either way, pick up as many as you think you’ll want and then grab a few more.

No special treatment or preparation is required when freezing cranberries. Just toss the bags into your freezer for safekeeping.

There is no other cake on this site that gets the rave reviews the Cranberry Christmas Cake does and I am giddy to tell you that this berry cake. It has already gotten some of the same raving reviews.

A friend who shall not be named 365 Days of Baking may have helped me consume a ridiculous amount of this cake when I made it again to photograph it a while back.

While I love making this to share with my family, friends, and neighbors. I can’t lie, sneaking a piece with some quiet time and a cup of coffee mid-morning is my absolute favorite thing.

The texture and crumb are just delightful The sugary crust is so buttery crisp. I could talk nonstop about this cake – it is that good!

One Pan Honey Turmeric Chicken with Asparagus and Zucchini

This One Pan honey turmeric chicken recipe is so simple, and it has saved me on those busy weeknights when I need to get something quickly on the table. And BONUS…it’s healthy too!

Awhile back I was in a total dinner rut. The stress of moving, not finding a house to buy, new city, new schools, not finding doctors, not knowing my way around etc. was taking its toll and I was feeling a bit tired. So I just simplified literally everything. Starting with meals. I needed more time sitting with my family and less time grocery shopping and cooking. This sheet pan recipe takes only 20 minutes!

I think we made this dinner once a week for over a month until I finally decided it should be on the blog. It’s totally adaptable with what veggies you use and could even be made into a Buddha bowl.

Ingredients for Honey Turmeric Chicken

You aren’t going to believe how simple this recipe is when it comes to the ingredients. This is why it has become a regular on our dinner rotation. I am all about quick and easy recipes these days! Here is what you will need:

For the Chicken

• Chicken Thighs: boneless, skinless, cut into bite size pieces
• Flour: just all purpose flour, helps form a crust on the chicken when you cook it
• Turmeric: adds all the flavor and bold, beautiful color
• Salt: adds flavor
• Pepper: adds a little heat and great flavor, chicken always needs salt and pepper!
• Asparagus: wash the asparagus and snap off the root end, then cut them into 1″ pieces
• Zucchini: gently wash the zucchini and then slice it into 1/4-1/2″ disks
• Lemon: this is totally optional but can be added if you wanted the added burst of flavor

For the Sauce

• Water: base for the sauce
• Honey: adds natural sweetness and pairs so perfectly with the turmeric
• Black Pepper: adds flavor to the sauce and little bit of heat
• Salt: adds flavor and enhances the sweetness
• Rice Vinegar: adds a perfect tang to the sauce and can be substituted with lemon juice if you prefer

The recipe card at the end of the post contains the measurements of all the ingredients as well as instructions for how to make this recipe.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a spice in the ginger family that originates in Southeast Asia and is one of the main ingredients in curry powder. It is a deep yellow-orange color that adds exotic flavor, nutrition and bold color to any meal. 

Where Do You Buy Turmeric?

Turmeric can be found at any grocery store on the spice aisle. They also have it at Costco. If you can’t find it by the spices for some reason, you can usually find it in the health supplement aisle.

What are the Health Benefits of Turmeric?

The main active ingredient in turmeric is a compound called curcumin which has proven benefits as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and as an antioxidant and it also supports brain hea

Nobody likes to be blamed for something they didn’t do. So why do some of us end up getting the short straw for other people’s faults, mistakes, or wrongdoings? Here’s everything you need to know about scapegoating, why it happens, and what you can do to stop being your family’s scapegoat

Not every family has one, but we’ve all heard of the ‘black sheep’ or ‘problem child’ trope when it comes to family dynamics. Whether it’s a sibling, distant aunt or uncle, or maybe even you, the family scapegoat is the one that ends up getting shamed, blamed, or criticised for just about everything that goes wrong – even if those things are outside of their control. But why does this happen in some families and not others? And how can we stop being blamed when things aren't our fault?

What is scapegoating?

Scapegoating is the act of blaming someone – or a group of people – for something bad that has happened, that they didn’t do. It’s usually done for one of several reasons: to protect the overall image or reputation of a family, or as the default to always favour one or more family members (commonly referred to as the ‘golden child’, who is seen as exceptional or able to do no wrong – often without a specific reason) by placing blame on one person (the ‘scapegoat’). While it usually happens to just one person in a family, it can happen to more, depending on the dynamics.  

Typically starting during childhood, scapegoating is a sign of unhealthy family dynamics. It’s important to remember that, if you think you or someone you care about is being used as a scapegoat, it isn’t their fault.

Family members may choose a scapegoat based on arbitrary factors that the individual themselves cannot influence, such as picking an oldest/youngest child, basing their preferences on gender, appearance, intelligence, skin colour, or even sexual orientation. The person or people who are unfairly targeting you may be projecting their own feelings of shame, rage, and blame onto you, instead of dealing with uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or behaviours. By finding someone to blame, they are finding a way to avoid taking responsibility.

Am I the family scapegoat?

How can you tell if you have been made into your family’s scapegoat? As one therapist on Counselling Directory explains, there are many different signs you can look out for to judge if you may have become the ‘black sheep’ in your family.

Ask yourself:

• Do my parents treat me differently than my siblings?
• Was I expected to take on extra caretaker responsibilities from a young age? (e.g. extra chores, responsibilities, looking after siblings, or other tasks that can fall under the parentification umbrella).
• Are mistakes I make punished appropriately? Or are they a bigger deal than seems reasonable?
• Do/did my parents notice or intervene when I was bullied?<

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m in Arizona today for a whirlwind weekend with family. As I write this, my mom is making waffles, the kids are playing and my sister and I are chatting. (I’m a solid multi-tasker, friends.) I’m looking forward to a day filled with laughter, games, and conversation.

ON THE BLOG this week: Salmon marinated with balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and fresh ginger creates one of the most flavorful salmon dishes I’ve ever tasted. For a number of years, this was the only seafood meal to consistently receive two thumbs up from my entire family.

Garlicky roasted potatoes are tossed with fresh herbs to create an unforgettable warm potato salad that can be served hot or at room temperature. When I say that this potato salad is a garlic lover’s dream come true, I’m not exaggerating.

Saucy bites of chicken are tossed with crispy tender bok choy and a diced jalapeno in this flavorful Chicken and Bok Choy Stir Fry. (If you’ve never tried bok choy before, this is a great place to start.)

Crunchy, cheesy, salty, Parm Crusted Brussels Sprouts make a great snack or side dish. Serve a batch with bang bang sauce and there likely won’t be a bite left.

The best stir fries are salty, savory, sweet, and a little bit spicy. This ground beef and broccoli stir fry nails all of those things. The fact this stir fry is made with ground beef instead of a more expensive cut of beef makes it a really great alternative to the pricier meats when you are craving Chinese food or an Asian-inspired meal.

I couldn’t hide my love for coconut desserts if I wanted to and when it comes to desserts with coconut, I can’t get enough of them. So, I’ve gathered up a whole collection of my favorite coconut desserts to share with you.

Fresh Blueberry Frosting is a light and creamy frosting, whipped into fluffy blueberry loveliness. A dollop of this frosting is sweet heaven on a cupcake. On a spoon, on a cracker, or on an actual cake this blueberry buttercream frosting is irresistible.

Filled with fresh juicy pears between layers of brown sugar crumble topping and crust, a pear crumble is a winter dessert for any occasion. Slightly chewy with that irresistible buttery, brown sugar, and oat crust and topping, these pear crumble bars are great both on their own or served warm topped with ice cream.

What I’m CRAVING: These Read more

Why can the idea of healthy eating feel so complicated? How do I know what foods are good for me? What should I be eating to keep myself healthy?

Eating healthily has so many benefits for the mind and body. Making the right food choices for you can not only support your immunity and longevity, but it can also improve your bone, skin, gut, and eye health. But being bombarded with the latest health crazes can feel both confusing and a bit intimidating at times. It’s so easy to get caught up in a bit of a daze with it all.

We’re pretty good at knowing why it’s important to eat healthily, but how to put it into action is a whole other thing. If you are finding it a struggle, there are some simple ideas to stick to that can teach you all you need to know about healthy eating.

No more fad diets

The promise of quick weight loss might seem appealing but fad diets are usually lacking in scientific evidence and can feel quite restrictive. Cutting out entire food groups can be unsustainable and may make you feel disheartened about trying to change your eating habits. The last thing you want is to feel like you’re back to square one with it all.

The dieting industry relies on people failing over and over again. In her article, 5-minute reads: Why diets don’t work, Kacie Shoulders (ANutr) explains why diets are to be avoided and why the best advice is to eat a balanced diet.

“I know you may be thinking that your diet includes a whole lot of food, or promises to. But as soon as you restrict in any way (and most diets are about low calories so will be restricting) your body thinks it’s got to battle for survival. Food is clearly scarce and it needs to adapt. That means increasing appetite hormones, decreasing satiety hormones, slowing down your metabolic rate, etc.”

Eat a balanced diet

Eating a balanced diet is a way of ensuring you eat the proper nutrients from a variety of foods, helping your body feel good.

Here are a few basic tips to help you get started:

• Try eating at least five to seven portions of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Keep well-hydrated (six to eight glasses is recommended per day)
• Carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, and potatoes should be about the size of your fist; this will vary depending on how active you are.
• Eat good quality protein with every meal such as meat, fish, eggs, whole grain beans and pulses.
• Try to reduce refined sugar found in sweet treats and fizzy drinks.
• Keep your saturated fat intake found in crisps, pies, processed meats, and baked goods to a minimum where possible.
• Make healthy choices based on the reference intakes guidelines found on the back of food packaging.

It’s also great to remember that being active, especially in nature, is a lovely way to support your body’s needs and complements all the great benefits of healthy eating. Looking after yourself in all these ways can help give you more energy, focus, and motivation.

Look after your attitude to food

Even though there may be certain foods y