Christmas Eve Dinner from Ukrainian Village

It's our family tradition to have Christmas Eve dinner (Noche Buena), and my younger sister usually picks a country where we should try the food.

In the past years, we've had the following:

• 2021 - Korean Food from H-Mart
• 2020 - Chinese Food from Lin Chinese Cuisine and Tea House
• 2019 - French food cooked by my sister
• 2018 - Spanish Food
• 2017 - Japanese Food
• 2016 and 2015 - Domino's Pizza and my mom's Filipino-style spaghetti

This year she chose Ukrainian food to support a Ukrainian business in Vancouver. It's our family's first time trying Ukrainian / Eastern European food. There are only a few Ukrainian restaurants in Vancouver, and we ordered from Ukrainian Village on Denman Street.

Our menu tonight includes the following:

Borsch Cabbage Roll Ukrainian Sausage Meatloaf

Kiev Cutlet Lamb Shanks Roasted Duck Beef Stroganoff

Schnitzel Chicken Schnitzel Pork Potato & Cheddar Cheese Perogies Potato & Fried Onion Perogies

Christmas Eve dinner from Ukrainian Village

The food was delicious. I love the kiev cutlet, beef stroganoff, both schnitzels, and cabbage rolls. I overate and was severely food coma during game night. 😅 It's nice to spend time with the family and sleep over at my parents' place.

Tim Hortons Strawberry Fill Powdered Sugar Donut

There was a day a couple of months ago when I did an online search and inventory of Tim Hortons donuts in Canada and internationally. My research led me to believe that the Strawberry Fill donut from Tims has been discontinued. My source is this Reddit thread, so I was pleasantly surprised when it was available in the Tims near us for delivery.

Strawberry Fill Powdered Sugar Donut from Tim Hortons

It was filled halfway and has a good strawberry flavour. The donut itself is dry, which is typical of Tim's donut.

Strawberry Fill Powdered Sugar Donut from Tim Hortons

Chicken Wrap for lunch from Tim Hortons | Day Before Christmas

Happy rainy Saturday, Vancouver! We planned to visit the Vancouver Christmas Market today but with the pouring rain and remaining snow on the ground, staying cozy at home before going to my parent's place seems to be what we need.

I ordered Slow Cooked Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wrap and Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap from Tim Hortons delivery for lunch.

Slow-Cooked Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wrap

The Slow Cooked Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wrap from Tims was not spicy, but a bit tangy; the shredded slow-cooked chicken was surprisingly juicy and soft.

Slow-Cooked Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wrap from Tim Hortons

Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap

The Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap was good. The crispy chicken was a bit stale and dry but smothered in sauce, which helped. There are a couple strips of bacon, and the texture reminds me of bacon cooked in a microwave. The lettuce and tomato were the best part of this wrap.

Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap from Tim Hortons

Candy Cane Iced Capp from Tim Hortons

We're back to our average start of winter weather of 7°C and raining cat and dogs in Vancouver. However, since it feels warmer (compared to the past couple of days), I ordered the Candy Cane Iced Capp from Tim Hortons delivery.

Crushed candy cane on top of Candy Cane Iced Capp from Tim Hortons

I generally dislike Candy Cane and Peppermint flavours, but the flavour from the Candy Cane Iced Capp is not too pronounced. It's a subtle aftertaste which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Candy Cane Iced Capp from Tim Hortons

The Candy Cane Iced Capp is part of the "There's Snowplace like Tims" holiday menu of Tim Hortons. Other seasonal items include:

• Chocolate Fudge Dream Donut
• Chocolate Hazelnut Muffin
• Filled Sugar Cookie
• Gingerbread Chocolate Dream Donut

Pasta Day: Chorizo Arrabiata from HelloFresh Canada

Happy Wednesday! It's pasta day in our household. First, we had a quesadilla and hot chocolate for breakfast (I know it's not pasta, but that's one of our usual breakfasts). Then, we enjoyed the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pepitas and Tomatoes for lunch.

We cooked the Chorizo Arrabiata with Fresh Penne and Parsley from our HelloFresh box for dinner.

Chorizo Arrabiata with Fresh Penne and Parsley and Crave-Worthy Garlic Bread

SPICY! I added all the chilli flakes, and it made the dish spicy. The parsley did add some freshness to the plate, and the parmesan cheese made it slightly creamy. I wished the tomatoes weren't sliced in half to provide fresh acidity when you take a bite.

Chorizo Arrabiata with Fresh Penne and Parsley

Overall, a delicious dinner served with HelloFresh Crave-Worthy Garlic Bread.

Below is the HelloFresh description for this meal.

Chorizo Arrabiata with Fresh Penne and Parsley

HelloFresh Description:

Arrabiata can be known to give you a good kick in the pants with its fiery heat, but our version lets you control how spicy you want it! Quick-cooking fresh penne will help get this dish on the dinner table faster than you can say 'buon appetito'!

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 770 calories per serving

Do you need an oven to prepare this meal? No

Do you want a discounted box? Then, click my referral link and get a HelloFresh box.

Seafood Day: Gochujang Glazed Shrimp from HelloFresh Canada

Happy snowing Tuesday! We don't get snow often in Vancouver, and I woke up to a big pile when I took a peek out our window.

It's seafood day at our household!

• Breakfast: Air Fried Boneless Skinless Tilapia and Potato Patties (Hash Browns)
• Lunch: Cal Smart Spicy Honey Shrimp with Ginger Rice, Peppers, Carrots and Bok Choy from HelloFresh Canada
• Dinner: Gochujang Glazed Shrimp with Sesame Rice from HelloFresh Canada

For dinner tonight, hubby and I cooked Gochujang Glazed Shrimp with Sesame Rice from our HelloFresh box.

Gochujang Glazed Shrimp with Sesame Rice from HelloFresh Canada

SPICY! It was spicy because I added all the sriracha. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, but I wish there were more vegetables. Otherwise, it was a delicious healthy meal.

Below is the HelloFresh description for this meal.

Gochujang Glazed Shrimp with Sesame Rice

HelloFresh Description:

Sticky, sweet and succulent shrimp are the stars of this lip-smacking stir-fry. We've paired them with crisp, sesame veggies to make this delicious dish one to remember!

Gochujang Glazed Shrimp with Sesame Rice from HelloFresh Canada

Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 650 calories per serving

Do you need an oven to prepare this meal? No

Do you want a discounted box? Then, click my referral link and get a HelloFresh box.

Meatless Monday: Butternut Squash Ravioli from HelloFresh Canada

Happy Monday!

We successfully did #MeatlessMonday today by having oatmeal for breakfast and the North African-Inspired Falafel and Green Couscous with Blistered Veggies and Creamy Harissa Sauce for lunch. Lastly, for dinner, we cooked the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pepitas and Tomatoes from our HelloFresh box.

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pepitas and Tomatoes from HelloFresh Canada

The pepitas provided an additional depth of flavour to the dish. I love the fresh tomatoes, onions, and spinach as it balances the creamy pesto sauce. This is a winning dish!

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pepitas and Tomatoes

Below is the HelloFresh description for this meal.

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pepitas and Tomatoes

HelloFresh Description:

Summer may be over but we are bringing out bright flavours to keep those warm weather vibes going: creamy Parmesan, sweet tomatoes and basil pesto!

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pepitas and Tomatoes

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 900 calories per serving

Do you need an oven to prepare this meal? No

Do you want a discounted box? Then, click my referral link and get a HelloFresh box.