Woman in Real Life

I bought a simple, inexpensive dehydrator machine at my local grocery store (a Real Canadian Superstore) last Christmas as a gift to myself. You can also find dehydrators online, of course, as well as at Canadian Tire. I often scan the Canadian Tire flyers for sales on small kitchen appliances. As I've said before, I have a bit of an addiction. Often when I get a new kitchen appliance (I'm looking at you spiralizer) I don't use it right away. At first glance it looks like I'm jam-packing our kitchen with machines for no reason (ahem). But I always end up using these appliances in the long run.

The dehydrator is no different. I needed an opportunity to get comfortable with it and it turns out that the abundance of Bartlett Pears from California available this summer inspired me to plug in the dehydrator, finally. California Barletts are available several weeks before the Canadian ones, for just a few weeks in July and August. Read more about the benefits of pears in my last post, which also includes a recipe for Kale Salad With Avocado Dressing and Fresh Pears.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

Summertime eating is all about fresh, vibrant, colourful fruits and vegetables. It's the perfect time of year to take advantage of nature's bounty of nourishing whole foods. California Bartlett Pears are available for just a short time in July and August - in other words, you gotta get 'em now! Not only are they a delicious, portable snack, but Bartletts from California contain antioxidants, Vitamin C, potassium and folic acid. Bartlett pears are also a good source of fibre, with 6 grams of fibre in one medium pear (a mix of soluble and insoluble fibre). And, if you're counting calories, a medium pear has only about 100 calories!

Fresh sliced pears are a lovely topping for this healthy kale salad with avocado dressing and roasted chickpeas. The crisp pear slices make a nice, crunchy contrast to the base of kale leaves and smooth, creamy avocado dressing. Read on to see just how easy it is to make this delicious kale salad recipe.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.

California Pears are in season right now and I took advantage of their abundance to make this "Easy As Pie" Caramelized Pear and Chocolate Pie. I have always been confused by the expression "easy as pie" because pie (particularly the crust) isn't all that easy to make. According to Wikipedia though, easy as pie refers to the act of eating pie. And I think we all agree that's easy to do. (Maybe a little too easy?) I decided to name my new (vegan and gluten-free) pie creation Easy As Pie Caramelized Pear and Chocolate Pie because this sweet, pretty little pie is just about as easy to make as it is to eat. Here's how it's done...

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.

One of the many beautiful things about summer is that we tend to crave healthy, natural foods. Nothing is more satisfying on a hot summer day than a piece of ripe, refreshing fruit. I like to take advantage of these warm weather cravings while they last by incorporating fruit into as many meals and snacks as I can. That's why I created this recipe for vegan Pear Ginger Muffins. Not only are these muffins moist and delicious, they also harness the health benefits of fresh California Bartlett Pears.