Breakfast for dinner

I have always loved pancakes for dinner! Now with the Velata Raclette, it's super easy!! Then at Safeway this week, I saw the latest Rachael Ray magazine...it's the BREAKFAST ISSUE!! You can be sure that I'll be checking out all the cool recipes and trying some of them out on my raclette!#ichoosevelata #breakfastfordinner #raclettewars

Raclette. Serving up Memories

(check out even more great raclette ideas at www.createthosememories.ca)

I love traditions. I love doing things that bring my family together. As Christmas comes I start to think about traditions that I have...
I loved fondue. I don't really remember when we would do it as a family, but I remember my mom pulling out the fondue set and we'd sit around and enjoy the food and fun and family. It could have been just once or twice that we did it, but I remember it and remember loving it. As a young adult my favourite group date was fondue! When we got married I loved it so much that we made it a yearly tradition for new year's eve. Some of the best times were when we shared the tradition with friends! The prep was fun, the clean up wasn't, but it was all worth it!
I do remember New Year's Eve as a kid, it would be one of the few occasions when the fine china came out and we got to have a "fancy" meal. The one thing I do remember eating was cream corn. I always thought it was such a special food that we only got it once a year. I later learned that my mom hates cream corn and my dad loves it, so she would let him have it once a year! :)
I remember visiting my Grossmutti and Grossvati (Grandma and Grandpa, Dad's parents). They came from Switzerland and my favourite meal was when the raclette came out (I didn't know that's what it was called at the time). We'd start with a vinegar/lettuce salad (I don't know the exact recipe, but I found something close below) then fry our potatoes on top and melt swiss cheese underneath. I loved being able to melt my own cheese and fry my own potatoes! As I started my own family, I searched for something that would recreate this experience. A few years ago I finally found one, it was cheap and didn't work perfectly. Then, Velata introduced their own Raclette this past October. I am in love!! I love being able to cook at the table and share this tradition with my children. As well as introduce many more traditions (we made french toast, turkey bacon and fried eggs last night for dinner on the Raclette)
This is why I am in love with VELATA! I love that it brings family together (even when I don't really want to share, as soon as my Velata warmer is going (with either cheese or chocolate) I am guaranteed to have someone wanting to share :)

www.nataliezuidhof.velata.ca

Lettuce Salad

1 head iceberg lettuce (I like it shredded)

1 cup vinegar

sugar (enough to make a thick syrup consistency)

wash and cut lettuce, set aside.

put the vinegar in a bowl, add sugar to desired consistency and mix well so sugar is dissolved.

spoon the syrup onto the lettuce and mix lightly.

Hawaiian Haystacks

I've been craving Hawaiian Haystacks for the past few days, but it just doesn't seem to be working out...first we were in Calgary when I first wanted them. Hard to make them in a hotel room! then, on the way home from Calgary I wasn't feeling good, at all! Strep throat is back! yuck. I haven't been able to eat since we've been home, therefore, no hawaiian haystacks. I guess I could make them for just my family, but then I'd still have to make them later for me too (seeing just doesn't fill the craving). Until I'm feeling better I'll keeping thinking of them. until then, what are your favorite toppings for hawaiian haystacks?? I love pineapple, coconut, crunchy noodles, and cheese!