Crunchy Meat

going places

2008-08-05T15:30:00.001-04:00

i've decided to move. i'm not really going anywhere far, but i have decided that my blog needs a little refreshing. a makeover, shall we say? I am staying with blogger, but from now on you can find me here, by the lakeside. i hope you'll come visit and join in the housewarming party.

salted caramel love

2008-07-09T08:37:00.004-04:00

Some people adore chocolate, but I prefer caramel. Throw a little saltiness in there, and I am completely smitten. I found Tartelette's recipe for salted caramel sauce ages ago, and every so often keep a jar of it in the fridge for summer sundaes.

While the kids weren't looking, we ate one of these for lunch, figuring the peanuts were protein, and the bananas a source of fresh fruit. Let me warn you in advance though, that making this caramel sauce should be limited as you will find yourself eating spoonfuls of it with or without ice cream.

snacktime

2008-07-03T09:05:00.006-04:00

The Barenaked Ladies have a new cd out. I spotted it on another blog awhile back, and pretty much ran to the store to find it. It is one of the best cd's. Ever! And not just because they grew up in my hood. Take a peak here.
I think they were meant to make children's songs. Although we've been listening to it in the car even when the kids are not there.

sunday night cake, on a saturday

2008-06-15T22:33:00.003-04:00

Oh, what a week. I keep meaning to capture more moments with my camera, and finish a million fun projects, but life is just not letting me at the moment. Some changes are ahead for me at work, and although they are good for me, they were a surprise. And anything unexpected throws me into a loop these days. Especially because my sweet little guy started his first 'real' daycare last week.

Amidst all of the changes, I found myself day dreaming about this alternative life, where we pick up the kids and move to the country. Where I spend my mornings baking bread and hanging clean laundry on a clothes line. The kids are perfectly well behaved (yes, this is a dream) and we find adventures in the country every day...fishing in ponds, climbing trees, exploring the woods. All the while, my small, yet charming country home is ultra chic, and I look fresh and stylish while sipping lemonade on the wrap around porch. Sounds nice, no?

Instead of putting a for sale sign on our front lawn, I decided to tackle some things at home that could not wait any longer. Laundry. Ironing. Bathroom scrubbing. Dusting, vacuuming. Pretty much everything I've been avoiding for weeks. And with all of this domestic success behind me, I felt some cake baking was required too. I turned to my absolute favorite book on baking: Richard Sax's Classic Home Desserts. I made my second attempt at Edna Lewis' Sunday Night Cake, but this time with a candy thermometer. It was a complete success! It's a plain white cake, with a burnt sugar topping that reminds me of fudge, or tablet. Exactly the type of old fashioned cake one would eat in my dreamland.Glen and I literally licked the bowl clean of that icing. We didn't even let the kids see it. I'd strongly recommend using a candy thermometer if you try it. Otherwise you may have a hard, brick like layer of burnt sugar that I had on my first attempt.

So with some successful baking behind me, and a somewhat tidy house, I think I can tackle this week with confidence. If not, at least I have the rest of that pan of cake.

june

2008-06-06T08:49:00.009-04:00

Things I am loving this June......

hanging baskets of flowers are everywhere, I just can't decide which ones should make it home with me.

finally, a completed knitting project. Or half of one? Does one slipper sock count as 50% complete?

this favorite cookbook making it's way back in rotation.

and the sheer excitement brought on by slides and outdoor fun.

making my house a home

2008-05-24T14:51:00.001-04:00

We moved into our new home over 3 years ago, and although it is nice, it hasn't felt quite right to me. I felt like we had pulled it all together at a time where I wasn't too focused on my home. I was a first time mom starting a brand new job, and had a big move to plan. So, instead of selling everything we own and starting fresh, as I had enthusiastically suggested, we spent the last week sprucing things up at home.

It started with my dream of a french country kitchen. I said good-bye to the pinkish kitchen cabinets and builder fixtures. The cabinets are being painted white (Benjamin Moore's Cloud White, to be exact). We had a white subway tile backsplash put in, schoolhouse lighting hung up, and a new faucet installed. It feels fresher and happier already.

We recently purchased a new kitchen table, but the chairs we had were not feeling quite right either. Glen's addiction to Craigslist has been around for months and has produced quite a few cool and cheap finds. But this time, I really give him points for finding us the perfect reclaimed antique pine chairs with rush seats for about $8 a piece. Not only do they match my table, but there are 3 pairs of slightly different designed chairs which is exactly what I wanted. All co-ordinating, but not all matching.

This one is my favorite one.A few things are left to finish it up completely. We are waiting for the cabinet doors to come back and be returned to their rightful home. And I'm trying to find the perfect fabric for a relaxed roman blind in my kitchen window (one with little ties at the bottom). Of course, when I have a specific project like this, I can't seem to find any fabric I like at all.

And I am knitting some dishcloths after seeing this. Because my kitchen really needs them, don't you think?

Next up, the garden!

being a mom

2008-04-30T14:48:00.008-04:00

I've often wondered how life has become so complicated. Of course, there are the obvious reasons that separate the innocence and ease of childhood from the world of responsibility as a parent. But I frequently wonder why my life as a mother is so very different than my own mother's life seemed to be. Or my friend's mothers, as I remember them. It's not that I wasn't a keen observer of the adult's around me. I was always the last kid awake and sitting quietly amongst the adults, listening, watching, taking it all in. I remember hoping no one would notice me and send me to bed.

I wonder what has changed so much then. No one ever seemed as stressed with the day to day as I often do, or actually spoke about it (unless there was a recession or job loss). But there seems to be a constant state of rushing and stressing now, that I don't remember. Our houses seem bigger (more to clean), wants seem more extravagant (more to buy), and careers so competitive (more stress). I don't think I like it much. The rushing around, that is.

In the last few months, I've been very drawn to simplifying my life. Remembering the things that I loved as a little girl, and making them a part of my life again. With children, I am able to relive some of that childhood innocence. And I don't see why we, the adults, can't have more of that too. The foods I am making, the way I am decorating the house, what I am planting in the garden this year. All of it circles back to what I loved as a child.

I read the most amazing words about mothering here. And I keep rereading the last paragraph because it makes it so clear that being a mother is such an important role. It reminds me that nurturing my family, loving my husband, and creating a sanctuary for us all that is both peaceful and pretty is an important role. And that, to me, is simple.

Happy Mother's Day!

my favorite pasta

2008-04-28T13:24:00.007-04:00

This may look like nothing special, but it is one of those dishes that I love so much, I just have to share the recipe. It is so easy to make, with very few ingredients, and I could shovel bowlful after bowlful down my throat (Nigella style) without feeling any guilt.

The inspiration came from a little lunchspot in downtown Toronto which I used to frequent when I was working in the garment district. It was a pasta and salad bar that gave great portions for a very decent price. A girlfriend and I used to go for lunch there at least once a week and would nearly swoon if this fusilli with veal was on that day.

Here's my rendition of it:

Gemelli with Veal

500g of fusilli or gemelli shaped pasta

1/2 to 3/4 pound ground veal

2-3 cloves of crushed garlic

olive oil

crushed red pepper

salt, pepper, parsley

generous amounts of grated parmigiano reggiano cheese for serving

Cook pasta in salted boiling water. In the meantime, heat a skillet and brown the veal. Drain any fat (mine is usually quite lean and doesn't usually require this).

When the meat is almost cooked through, add the crushed garlic, crushed red pepper, spices and a small glug of olive oil.

When the pasta is done, drain and add to the skillet. If it's a little bit dry, you can add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, or another drizzle of oil.

Generously grate cheese on top and try to stop yourself from eating that second bowl.

Jamie had 3 bowls himself. I think every family has their share of stand by dishes, especially pasta ones. This one has become mine. It takes zero brainpower to pull together and I love its simplicity. It has taken it's place at the top of my list of favorite pasta dishes.

olive

2008-04-23T08:52:00.005-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to someone. This here, is Olive.
The second I spotted her over at Wee Wonderful's, I knew I had to make her (and Archie too). If you haven't seen Hilary's Make Along Story, you really have to. It's brilliant. Oh, what I would have done for this doll when I was a little girl! I would have traded my bike, my entire sticker collection, and my snacks at school for a year!

I ordered the pattern months ago and decided to make this adorable duo for my niece's birthday. Olive was pretty easy to put together, but she remained faceless on a shelf for quite some time. I have never embroidered anything before, never mind the everlasting facial characteristics of a doll that may end up a member of a loved one's family. You know how that can happen, right?

So, I procrastinated with that little face for ages. Camden would grab her faceless body off of the shelf and ask me to finish her about every other day. But with Jenny Hart's Stitch it Kit handbook, and a little urging from an impending birthday party date, I did it.

I think she ended up pretty cute. Interesting eyebrows, yes, but cute just the same.

I decided to throw in a little doll quilt as well. When else could I make use of some of this pretty pink fabric? My boys are not too interested in pink, it's about the only colour thread I didn't have in my collection. (I feel a purchase coming up for this spaceboy ).

I didn't end up completing Archie though. I started and wasn't happy with the fabric I chose for him. They unravelled and kept causing me a lot of grief. I'll have to find some more masculin prints and now make 3 Archie's. One to be reunited with my niece's Olive, and one each for my boys.
Funny how with the completion of one project, I just gave myself 3 more.

self evaluation

2008-04-21T12:39:00.003-04:00

Why do I find it so difficult to say positive things about myself? If it was about someone else, my compliments would be easily forthcoming. But when the subject is me, it becomes really difficult to list positive traits. Maybe it's a Canadian thing, but I wish some of my European blood would show itself and I could be a little more self loving.

I was tagged by Lisa to describe myself in 6 words. So, with blushing cheeks I proceed......

1. Optimistic

2. Loving

3. Day Dreamer

4. Creative

5. Shy

6. Indecisive (which is why it took me so long to come up with this list)

I tag Kate, Eva, Paola, Kelly-Jane, Claudia and Leslie.

faster than fast, quicker than quick

2008-04-11T15:47:00.004-04:00

Oh my gosh, is it really almost the middle of April already? I am not sure where March went, but I am quite happy it's over and we finally have signs of Spring here.

March was full of craziness. I barely made a thing, and I've only just got my cooking groove back. We had a little mishap where we bought a fabulous new kitchen table and chairs from Craigs list, sold our existing set, only for the fabulous one to fall through. Ya, I wasn't happy. But after a weekend of frantic furniture shopping, and more searching on Craigs list, we came out good. Excellent, in fact. My new table is even better than the original fabulous find, and we scored some cool chairs for next to nothing too. Of course, this has sent me on a new decorating frenzy where I absolutely need new fabrics to decorate my table. Placemats, tablecloths, a new runner, maybe even napkins? And since my kitchen is open to the family room, my couch is just begging for new pillows too.
So hopefully my winter hibernation (and fatigue) is over. The new ideas will come into fruition. And I should be back to blogging more regularly.

Happy Spring!

James is 2

2008-03-18T08:36:00.004-04:00

When my little James turned 2 last month, we had many celebrations. Family & friends gathered, lots of food was enjoyed, and we happily watched him in the centre of it all. I didn't get a chance to post anything about it until now (our house has had a revolving door containing the flu, bronchitus, teething, etc.) But through it all, James' robust and happy self has kept us laughing. He is truly the sweetest little guy with a mischievous spark behind those eyes. He is his big brother's shadow, but he is still so individual. He smiles the second he wakes up and barely stops all day long. He has such a happy soul.

Glen & I sit up at night and picture our boys as teenagers. We can already see the broken curfews and adventures he will pursue, probably with Camden by his side to lecture him and bail him out of trouble. But time is already passing so quickly, I need to slow things down and savour every moment while he is still this small. It won't last long enough.

Happy Birthday Jamie!!!

Lemony Sunshine

2008-03-09T10:35:00.003-04:00

We've been hit with more snow. A lot more snow. And as pretty as it is, I am sort of over it. It is March Break afterall. And instead of being able to set out on some of our planned adventures, we are homebound making forts out of the sofa pillows and baking.

I did make one of my favorite desserts. I feel like I say that a lot though, so I came up with my Top 5 Favorite Desserts List this weekend. (Yes, this is what occupies my mind on a Saturday night!). Here they are, in no particular order, because that would be impossible to do!

1. Outrageous Brownies Barefoot Contessa

2. Shortbread Meltaways (with Toffee Bits) -possible the best cookie ever!

3. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Tessa Kiros - Falling Cloudberries

4. Salted caramel Sauce to be poured on anything....ice cream, cheesecake, etc.

5. Sticky Lemon Pudding Jill Dupleix (from Delicious magazine)

Of course, there are many runners up and honourable mentions. World's Best Lemon Tart (Richard Sax), any kind of Pavlova, Salted Caramel & Milk Chocolate Mousse (from Lisa), Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars (Barefoot Contessa), Laurie Colwin's gingerbread, and so on, and so on. With choices like these, it's hard to make a decision of what to make! But I did, and in the midst of this winter wonderland, I needed a little sunshine so we had the Sticky Lemon Pudding.

It is heavenly, really. And I am always amazed at those recipes that provide a silky, creamy pudding type curd beneath a fluffy bit of sponge cake. This one is SO lemony good and dusted with icing sugar at the end.

I found the recipe in an older issue of Delicious magazine (the Australian one). It's from Jill Dupleix. Here it is:

Sticky Lemon Pudding

serves 4

70g unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish

180g sugar

2 tsp finely grated lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)

3 eggs, seperated

60g plain flour, sifted

1 cup of milk

100ml lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)

icing sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350.

With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest until pale.

Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time.

Add the flour and milk, alternatively until you have a smooth batter, beating well. Lastly, beat in the lemon juice.

In another bowl, beat the egg whites until firm but not stiff, then fold into the batter. Pour into a buttered, 1-litre ovenproof dish and place in a large baking pan. Half-fill the pan with hot water, and bake for 50 minutes or until it is lightly browned and set on top, with a soft base of gooey lemon curd. Remove the dish from the water carefully, dust with icing sugar and serve immediately.

I hope it becomes a favorite of yours too!

carrying on

2008-03-05T20:37:00.000-05:00

It's been a slow process, and it's not completely finished just yet. But I don't feel that any room in our entire house is ever completely finished. There is always room for some small item on a shelf or a unique piece to hang up on the wall. But my sewing room is making progress. Little by little.

I ordered this poster and hung it up over the weekend. I first spotted it here and knew instantly I had to have it. I ordered it from here and framed it with a Ribba frame from Ikea. Aaaaahhhh, I feel calmer already.

Glen found me this great blue table second hand too. I can't believe it was only $20. It's in my favorite corner of the room with shelves that my Dad handmade when I was a kid. I repainted them a few years ago, and now they are home to some of my favorite things.

At the end of a long day, I sit in this corner and try to sew or plan new projects. Some nights, when I am too tired to accomplish anything, I just sit there and enjoy my little corner. It's my very own little nook, full of my favorite things.

a martha moment- with chocolate babkas

2008-02-24T21:47:00.007-05:00

I really wanted to bake bread this weekend. The only bread I've ever made is the no knead recipe (NY Times) and my timing for that just didn't work out. But I couldn't find anything else that I really wanted to try. Until I opened my Martha Stewart Baking Handbook, that is. It was the one and only page I had tagged from years ago- Chocolate Babkas. It was a little ambitious for a mama with time constraints. But I persisted with afternoon coffee & babka break visions in my head.

I started prepping and gathering more chocolate and butter than I thought possible. And it took hours between the dough rising, the chopping of chocolate, making a streusel topping, baking for 1 and a half hours, and so on.

The smell from the oven was incredible. The loaves looked perfect (although they didn't rise quite as much as I would have liked). And late on Sunday evening, after the boys were sound asleep, we sat at the table with a slice that called for milk by it's side.

I pulled out my handy menu planning notepad from the very sweet Norm, and thought about the week of food ahead in our house. There wasn't space on the notepad, but it's a given that the babka will be around each and every afternoon this week.

spring has landed on my couch...

2008-02-20T22:35:00.007-05:00

By way of this pillow:

I finally made a pillow to liven up our dark leather couch in the family room. I'll finish the second one tomorrow night. I used some of the gorgeous fabric I recently bought from Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut line. And I used an excellent tutorial from house on hill road's blog to guide me through the lapped zipper. It's been awhile and this was a new technique for me.

I think I am really on a green kick lately.

Oh, I also got another package in the mail today. This time with some fat quarters of Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market fancy fabrics.

I really want to make a picnic blanket for the summer with these ones. I have so many ideas. So much inspiration. I just need more time!!!

so long, february blahs

2008-02-18T20:23:00.006-05:00

After a horrid few days of feeling sick, and then passing it on to little James, I finally felt better and had a date! Yes, a long overdue date. We went for a long, delicious brunch and feasted on a californian omelette (me) and prime rib hash with poached eggs (Glen's).

We wandered around a few of our favorite stores, grabbed coffees (the latest copy of InStyle) and then headed home to tackle a few small tasks without the little ones hanging onto our legs. Before picking up the boys, we set out to Ikea and got a few small things to add to my studio/sewing room. It's coming along so nicely and I will share pics of that soon.

It's been a particularly dark February, and my sister Julie has been taking such good care of our little James that I wanted to give her a special thank you. I felt so good about my green neckwarmer, I thought she would like one too. I made her a blue one and sent it over to her today. After that project, I made my second attempt at sewing James a little toy for his 2nd birthday. It's an adorable pattern by Hillary Lang from the Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts book called peanut, the wee elephant. I tried completing one about a week or so ago, but the fabric I chose kept splitting at the seams and needed some adjusting. In the end, I wasn't able to stuff him quite as much as I wanted to (hence, the floppy little legs), but overall he's pretty cute. I have a lot of practicing to do on that blanket stitch on the eyes though. Whew!!! All of the apparel sewing I did in University didn't prepare me for the little hand details on a lot of these new projects I want to try.

Here's my version of peanut, droopy legged, creepy eyed, but still kinda cute.

keeping cozy

2008-02-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

I have finally completed a knitting project that is making me smile! It was easy and oh, so cozy for these blistering cold winter days. I started out with another one, which didn't end up in a happy place. It caused me a little grief from the start, yet I persisted and ended up with something much too large to ever wear. I summed it up to good practice and let go of my neckwarmer desires for this year. Until I spotted this lovely grey version, and then this one in a yellow yarn on a much larger needle!

I used Lion Brand's 'Thick & Quick' yarn, just as the yellow version does, and completed it in one Sunday afternoon and evening. I am no expert, but using a size 13 (9mm) round needle made it feel effortless. And I loved the yarn so much, that I also bought a skein in blue and am now contemplating going back for another one in cream. A girl needs options, doesn't she?

the good, the bad and the ugly

2008-02-03T20:47:00.000-05:00

I am loving my new green belt. It's just so cute, and it makes me feel like I am somewhat pulled together when that's hardly the case.
And speaking of good things, have you seen the latest issue of Blueprint? It's a good one. But the bad part is that it is the last one. Ever. So disappointing. I really will miss this magazine.

I would have liked to post a picture of my latest completed knitted project, but unfortunately it is just too ugly at the moment. I finished my super soft neck warmer/ tube thingie, but it is just way too huge to fit any human being. I am trying to come up with some resolution, but for now am just chalking it up to good practice.

i love snowstorms, i love ina

2008-02-01T15:37:00.000-05:00

We woke up today to a beautiful snowstorm and decided to avoid the roads and all stay home. Glen & I set into motion early choosing the divide and conquer strategy. He ventured into the dark recesses of the basement to sort through the hideous number of unused toys while I stayed upstairs to address the dirty laundry situation. By noon, we had made some good progress so I decided to make a special lunch.

I had some fresh tilapia in the fridge and tried out a recipe from Nigella Express that has been on my mind for awhile. The fish is cut into strips and dipped into corn flour first, an egg mixture second, and lastly panko crumbs. They were fried until golden and set aside while I made a salad (to offset the whole fried food thing). It was a simple mixture of baby spinach, diced tomato and sliced avocados. Dressed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and maldon salt....yum!

Shortly after lunch, we indulged in Ina's Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars. The recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa at Home and is possibly one of the best desserts ever. Surely, it is the most fabulous bar I have ever made. I'm talking tooth aching, melt in your mouth deliciousness.
I don't think Ina has one recipe that hasn't turned out well for me. But this one is a real winner. Glen asked me to bring some to my sister down the street, just so that he wouldn't eat the whole tray. They are just that good.

a little colour for dull days

2008-01-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

For me, the downside of January is that the days feel so dark and short. By the time I get to work, the sun is barely shining, and when I leave it's already setting. With no window anywhere near my desk, this makes for a pretty dreary day. I've been looking for a little colour to liven things up and thought these might help...

They are sitting atop the prettiest fabric ever, which I just received today along with 2 others. I've been eyeing these fabrics by Joel Dewberry and Amy Butler for some time and can hardly wait to make something with them. The pale pink is going to be a simple summer top using this Simplicity pattern by Built by Wendy. I'm not too sure what I'm doing with the other two just yet, but something will come up, I am sure.

I also got one of the best presents ever the other day from my sweetie. I have never tried hand embroidery, but this stitch it kit by Jenny Hart is awesome. It includes everything I need to start embroidery and the price is insanely reasonable. I may be getting a little ahead of myself here, but I feel like Spring is just around the corner.

Knitting love

2008-01-09T21:47:00.000-05:00

I think some people are naturally born with the talent to knit. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people, but I so want to be a knitter. I dream about picking up needles and yarn and effortlessly whipping up beautiful sweaters for my little guys. Oh, to be able to sit and knit without even thinking while watching a movie sounds like the epitome of multitasking to me.

I have had a basket of knitting 'stuff' for over a decade now, yet so few projects have seen completion. I've been taught the basics by my Mom and filled in the blanks with how-to books. I also took a knitting course before having my first baby, when the urge to knit hit me full force. I managed to finish one adorable little cap in time for his arrival, but other than that my knitting dreams lie in bundles in a colourful basket tote tucked in a closet. Every so often when I pull it out, I have to refer to my instructional books to remind me how to cast on, increase or decrease stitches. These things just don't stick with me naturally. Yet, I persist because it really is my idea of the perfect hobby.

Knitting is calming. There is something almost meditative about it. It is totally portable and can go anywhere with you. You can pick it up and put it down in between playing with the kids and making dinner. As you can see below, even a few minutes waiting for Glen at the train station is put to good use. And best of all, you end up with something handmade for yourself or a loved one.

Instead of picking up one of my old projects, I've found new inspiration and am rereading my how -to's. It really has been a slow start (which included a start, rip apart, and restart twice), but I'm hoping this time some hidden inner talent will finally shine through and my newest project will be ready before the weather changes too much. Not much need for a neck warmer / cowl in summer.

Betsy-Tacy and Tib

2008-01-06T20:40:00.000-05:00

I've already spent a good part of the year decluttering and organizing. Most of the work has been on the abundance of toys in our home which is really scary. I thought we bought very little for the kids this year, but I still feel like there is just too much. While practically buried in the basement sorting out toys to keep, donate to charity, or just toss in the bin, I found some of my childhood books. Among them was one of my old favorites Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace.

This book was always close by my bedside as a little girl. The yellow cover and illustrations alone made me smile. I could not remember all of the story details, it had been so long since I read it. So I started reading it again and was instantly filled with comfort. It's about Betsy, Tacy & Tib, 3 young girls who live on or near Hill Street and spend their days telling stories, playing games and occasionally getting into trouble (if you call ripping up their dresses, unravelling their hair and getting dirty trouble, that is). It's a simple, sweet and heart warming story about best friends enjoying childhood.

It just seemed fitting that I stumbled upon this old book that focuses on innocent adventures in a simpler time. I often wonder why balancing 2 young children with a full time career and life in general can get so complicated. It's been done since the beginning of time, and women used to have a lot more than 2 children. I think it's all in my approach and my own expectations, really. It's about realizing what is important, what is realistic, what is worth stressing over. At the end of the day, the boys just want love and attention. They don't care much if the laundry is piling up, or if the crumbs under the kitchen table could feed an army of mice. Their needs are simple, and that feels nice.
My goal for the new year is to keep things simple and enjoy the sweet moments with my family. This book reminded me of that.

Starting the New Year Right

2008-01-01T21:23:00.000-05:00

Every January 1st, we all gather at my parent's house for New Year's Day Dinner. The little ones run wild and barely eat because they are so excited to play. But the adults completely enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by Mama Lucy.

We feasted on a lasagna, roast loin of pork, ribs, mashed potatoes and various vegetables. For dessert, Mama Lucy's fun side came out with these adorable cupcakes from a recent What's Cooking magazine (from Kraft Kitchens). Jello is poured over the cupcakes, then they are topped with cool whip and sprinkles.
Some of us so-called grown ups seemed more interested than the kids. We also had no-bake cheesecake which is one of my absolute favorite desserts ever!

My sister brought over a traditional sweet bread from her Greek mother in law that was prepared especially for our family. The lower half of the large loaf has 2008 on it, while the upper half has a strip of dough signifying each one of my parents, my siblings and myself, our husbands, and all of our children. Inside is a coin and whoever receives the coin is pegged to have a year of good fortune. I was hoping to get the coin myself this year, but my husband got it instead, and I hope the good fortune will trickle over to me as well. The bread is so good, slightly sweet with sesame seeds and flaked almonds on the top.

At the end of the meal, we were helping to clean up in the kitchen when the roasted potatoes and carrots were discovered, or more accurately forgotten, in the oven! Lucy was not happy, but she sent quite a generous portion home with each of us.

We spent our first dinner of the year enjoying great food & family. We're off to a fantastic start.

Out with the old and in with the new

2007-12-31T10:33:00.000-05:00

I love the feeling a New Year can bring. It's like a spring cleaning in a broader sense. I've made quite a few promises to myself, which mostly involve slowing things down and stopping to enjoy the little moments in life. They can pass so quickly if you're too distracted with the laundry piles or the dust under the couch. I'd rather leave the mess behind and enjoy what I have.

I count my blessings, they are abundant. I look around and can't believe these 2 little ones are ours. The end of a year causes me to reflect a little. And even through some of the challenges, I feel so lucky. This is a year of possibilites, endless adventures and a new beginning.

Happy New Year!

The Season of Sugar

2007-12-28T22:59:00.000-05:00

Christmas has passed, but there are remnants of the holidays still floating around. I managed to bake a few goodies myself, but look at this assortment that was given to me by a little baking elf...

All baked and decorated by my little sister, Julie. We've been nibbling on them for days now and they taste as delicious as they are pretty. Thank you, Julie.

We actually managed to paint and semi-setup my new sewing room just in time to do some Christmas crafts. My niece Madeleine spent Christmas Eve morning with us and we decorated these dolls. I got the idea from here, and printed off the design from Kiddley's site.

They were so much fun, I even had Glen into it.

After that we made some tree ornaments. I had cut out dozens of felt Christmas trees, Snowmen and Gingerbread men but the kids were only interested in making one each. I am still not used to the attention spans of children under the age of 5. I think they turned out adorable and hopefully we've started a new tradition of making one each year.At the last minute, I decided to make Madeleine this little doll quilt. It was so much fun to finally make something pink and girlie. I'm working on another girlie project for my other little niece next. Stay tuned!

I hope everyone's holiday's were filled with family, friends, good food and sweet memories.

Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to feel a lot like....

2007-12-16T17:09:00.000-05:00

Winter! The snow has been coming down all day and I'm not really sure how we'll even make it out to work and school tomorrow. But it is so beautiful. It feels like winter should, although we're technically still in Fall, aren't we?

Christmas is only one week away. There are so many things to do and time is moving faster than fast, quicker than quick. No matter how chaotic things are though, the snow seems to slow us down. We spent the entire day indoors. We watched cartoons, baked a pumpkin cake, played games and lounged. I can hardly wait to do that for a whole week surrounding Christmas.

Amongst some of the Christmas stuff we've pulled out this year, I found these placemats I made a long time ago. I made them as a gift for Glen's Nana when I was still in University. I knew that out of anyone I knew, she would most appreciate placemats in the shape of ornaments. How right I was. She adored them and displayed them each and every year after that. She left us quite a while ago, and they made their way back to me when her apartment was cleared. This is the first year I've actually used them.

There are matching coasters as well, but for the time being they remain tucked away in a box.

Getting Inspired

2007-12-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

So far, all of my posts have been related to food or family. But as I mentioned a little earlier, I'm venturing into some old but new creative territory. It seems only natural that it will find its way onto this blog, although my blog name does seem a little odd now. But onwards I go....

I have been gathering ideas and finding inspiration all over the place. I've added some amazing blogs to my sidebar which I visit regularly. I've also been flipping through old and new books that are really motivating me to start new projects.

We've decided to convert a spare bedroom into a studio of sorts. A creative den where I can lay out all of my stuff and be able to pick up and drop projects in between bathtime and stories or at any given moment. I am so excited! My sewing machine is coming out to see the light of day again. I suspect she might need a tune up. The room has been painted a fresh coat of paint and it already looks great. I'm trying to find the right desk, lighting and storage ideas for my threads, fabrics and books. It's exciting but I will have to be patient as Camden's birthday parties and all things Christmas have been consuming every spare second I have. With Christmas a week away, it's time to buckle down on wrapping gifts and baking too.

Hopefully by the new year, my room will be in working order and I will show you something exciting.

Turning Four

2007-12-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

When else can you eat pizza on silly plastic plates with a side order of salt & vinegar chips? On your birthday, of course. Camden turned 4 this week and that's what we did. Just the 4 of us. We ate until we all felt a little sick, and then ate cake too.

James was happy to help Camden with the candles.

I can't believe 4 years have passed already. He has turned into such a charming, sensitive and funny little man. I thought I'd name off some random things that make him so special:

1. He is a deep thinker and makes interesting observations at the oddest times. You can really have a great conversation with him.

2. He is the farthest thing from shy and loves to have in-depth conversations with people in the park, stores or on the street.

3. When he smiles, his entire face lights up and you can't help but smile too.

4. He is always concerned about the well being and happiness of his loved ones.

5. He is generous with his hugs and compliments.

6. He loves to play with my hair, and asks for my permission each and every time.

7. Not only does he love to dress up as Peter Pan, but he also bears a striking resemblance, don't you think?
We are so proud of the little man he has become.

Reacquainted with an old friend

2007-11-23T11:08:00.000-05:00

When I had my first baby 4 years ago, my attention and full devotion was understandably focused on him. His first year of life included moving twice, the start of a new job for me, and so many other significant milestones for our family. When we moved into our current home, many of my personal things were packed away and more or less forgotten. Years of accumulated stuff from fashion school, knitting and quilting classes and a lifelong interest in fabrics, sewing and art supplies were boxed up and stored in the dark corners of our basement. Another pregnancy arrived, and my stuff recessed even deeper into those dark corners.

Life with our little boys has been a gift. They are wonderful little creatures who have enriched our lives in so many ways. But it has also been a challenge finding balance and harmony between the lives we knew before they arrived and after. They are less than 2 years apart, and it was an adjustment to say the least. Establishing routines has finally started to produce some positive results, and the fact that our little one goes to sleep early and independently, has made a difference of immeasurable proportions. Now that our baby is approaching the age of two, we are finding ourselves with more time to breathe again. More time to think. More time to catch up on things.

Most of the catching up has been just getting organized around the house. It feels so nice to do that for a change and leaves us with some nights now to watch a movie together or read a book. Some nights we just catch up on conversation- adult conversation! During this period of new found freedom (limited doses of it, of course), I have rediscovered much.

Not only did I rediscover my trusty sewing machine, but also my love of creative and beautiful things which don’t directly involve me as a mom, wife or career person. I uncovered more than just my ‘stuff’ in the basement. I uncovered my old interests and I discovered me again.

Although I would never have the confidence to call myself an artist, I love being creative and always have. I love the endless possibilities that I feel when I stare at a blank piece of paper, or a small scrap of fabric. I love shapes & colours. I love fabrics and yarns. I can spend hours flipping through a magazine or art book reveling at what creative minds can achieve. Music and art are where my heart has always been. That outlet has been missing in my life for quite awhile now, but I’m happy to say rediscovered. I am not exactly sure where it will take me yet. But for right now, the possibilities are endless and lifting.

Giving Thanks, again.

2007-11-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

We are usually very lucky at holiday time to have a meal with my parents and a meal with my in laws. In fact, I've never hosted a dinner myself because of this. That means I am never left with any of the delicious leftovers one hopes for after Thanksgiving or Christmas. My Mom usually sends over a care package, but my mother in law is a little more conservative with the offering. She is a very generous woman, but she hesitates to offer food that is left over in fear of offending us. It's hardly offensive to be given leftovers in my opinion, but it's been hard to get that message across as I am quite a polite dinner guest and not one to ask for much.

This year, I overcame my usual politeness and expressed my appreciation for leftovers. Especially after tasting her phenomenal ham. As I puttered around the kitchen after dinner, trying to help tidy things up, I finally came right out and asked her what she was planning on doing with them all. I felt slightly rude, but I did it in the most delicate way (and all the while knowing she is not a fan of leftovers and they usually get tossed in the bin-gasp!)
Of course she was thrilled to pack up over 2 pounds of her thinly sliced ham and a small package of turkey meat.

Where Glen's family is not quite fond of leftovers or the reincarnation of foods, my family is. I remember my mother making scalloped potatoes with ham, turkey turnovers, hot turkey sandwiches and more. I actually liked those dishes more than the turkey dinners themselves. In our house, nothing was ever tossed away. It usually just morphed into something even better.

I meant to make some dinners with the leftovers the week following our Thanksgiving dinner, but it was a hectic time so I just froze my goodie bag. Until this weekend, that is.
I turned to Nigella Lawson's Feast with the vague memory of Pasta with ham and peas. I found it in the Kids' Feast chapter and got busy.

It was possibly the easiest pasta dish ever. It was creamy and delicious and the smoky ham was perfect in it. The recipe is here.

I made a huge bowl of salad to go with the pasta. It was kind of like an antipasto platter thrown in a bowl with red leaf lettuce. I picked up some Genoa Salami from the Italian deli and had it cut in one thick slice, about half an inch thick. I cut it into cubes and added it to the bowl with some cubed caciocavallo cheese, white kidney beans, chopped tomatoes and made a red wine vinaigrette. Yum.

I still have turkey in the freezer and this Thanksgiving may just keep giving and giving.

Express Mornings

2007-11-19T21:19:00.000-05:00

Through the last few years, my cookbook collection has grown at a fast paced rate. It all started with Nigella Bites just after I got married (7 years ago). Since then, many others have stood their ground on my kitchen counter, but Nigella has always remained a favorite.

When I got Nigella Express a month or so ago, it was like being re-aquainted with an old friend.

The chapter headings were cutely named, the recipes enticing and her writing made it hard to put down.

I was immediately drawn to the breakfast section and made a batch of the Homemade Instant Pancakes. It seemed like such a little thing, but premixing the dry ingredients really speeds things up for me and we've had homemade pancakes every weekend since. Although we usually have them with sliced bananas and maple syrup, this last batch was made along with Nigella's blueberries simmered in maple syrup. You can find the recipes here.Since we were going all out anyways, we added bacon and a refreshing drink I recently enjoyed at a brunch in Yorkville called a Morning Glory. We had a small bottle of Asti and combined it with some Orange Juice. It felt a little indulgent, but we thought we'd celebrate the fact that it was the weekend.As simpler and less decadent day I made the Green Eggs and Ham. It was a crepe batter mixed with pesto and then folded with some sliced ham. I made roll ups for the boys with them and they picked them up with their hands and gobbled them up.

Now, this one is probably best suited as a dessert later in the day, but we decided to have the Donut French Toast for brunch one weekend too. The recipe is here and I urge you to try this one at any time of the day.

As you can see, we've been starting our days off right on the weekends. Weekdays are a whole other story that involve a lot of running and eating on the go or at my desk at work.

I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad

2007-11-19T14:42:00.000-05:00

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

Ever since Mara posted about her favorite things, this song has been swirling around in my head. I love the movie The Sound of Music, and Julie Andrew's sure knows how to see the bright side of life jumping from the nunnery to the Von Trap residence.

As I puttered around the kitchen early on Sunday morning, I started to look around and take notice of all of my favorite things too. Here are some of them:

My cookbook holder. This was a gift from my mother in law, and I love it mostly because of the page holders.

Not only do I love mugs, tea cups & saucers, and espresso cups (see below), but I love birds, feathers and eggs. I also love lidded mugs and these ones happen to have eggs on top.

Cookie Cutters! These are just a few of my favorite ones including the newest baby (top left corner) all the way from Finland, thanks to Annika.

This is my favorite dish towel and Cranberry colored gratin dish. It is the perfect size to make dips, which are always welcome in my house, as well as a croissant bread pudding for two.

Part of my everyday china are these tiny espresso cups. They are Denby stonewear, so I can also bake tiny little chocolate cakes in them. Alongside is my favorite stovetop espresso maker.

This is my favorite flower pot. It looks old and worn and I love the blue pattern. It usually sits on my window sill above my sink.

These colorful little dessert plates were a find at Home Sense. I love that they are all different, and meant to be slightly bumpy and irregular.

I didn't have to look too far or deep into cabinets to find my favorite things. It seems I keep them mostly where I can see them which makes perfect sense.

The Good and Bad of Pureeing

2007-11-15T08:56:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to get more vegetables into my kids, I have joined the brigade of pureeing parents. I was seduced by Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious even before she appeared on Oprah. On my lunch hour, I went to the bookstore for a mental break and saw a pile of the pretty pink retro style books and loved the drawings and ideas. I went back to my desk, checked out her website and noticed she was about to embark on a publicity tour to promote the new book. I caught her on Oprah and was convinced I needed this book.I was intrigued, inspired and determined to get more vegetables into my kids. James (not quite 2) still eats just about anything thrown on his plate, but Camden (almost 4) is another story. He used to eat any and everything. And if you ask him what his favorite food is, he will honestly tell you 'Porridge', which is great. He likes to eat healthy foods but has developed some kind of inexplicable aversion to vegetables. He can spot a green pea in the sauciest of stews or soups from a mile away. It is infuriating.

I dived into the book and read it cover to cover. I loved the format, even though the principles have been done probably since the beginning of time. All parents at one time or another try to hide vegetables during phases when their little ones boycot them. But the presentation was great. Pretty drawings, helpful strategies and tips, and great ideas I never thought of. I set out on a mission and started to puree.I began with sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cauliflower. It didn't really take that long and it made sense to do a few at one time while I had all the equipment out. I made the mozzarella sticks (with cauliflower), and they were devoured so quickly by everyone that I didn't get a photo. I then moved on to a banana bread (also with cauliflower) which wasn't as successful. In fact, as soon as I took it out of the oven, the cauliflower smell overpowered the usual sweet and pleasant banana smell. I anticipated a small problem.

Camden occasionally has breakfast with his older cousin Madeleine at my sister's house and on one particular day I sent some over for them. It all came back in a tupperware, barely touched. Hmmm. I then sent a huge piece over to my other sister's house for James and his little cousin, Mia. My sister called and said they both spit it out. Now, this was surprising considering these two adore their vegetables. I went home and attempted to try it myself. I opened up the container and the smell had actually become so overpowering at this point, I couldn't even manage one bite. I actually felt guilty for trying to make the kids injest this one.

On a more positive note, I also made the Frozen yogurt popsicles. I pureed some mixed berries with plain yogurt and some powdered sugar, popped them in the deep freeze for a few hours and unmolded them for an after dinner treat. These were much more warmly received than the banana bread. They were delicious and I will try them again with some different fruits.

There are a few more recipes I have tagged to try soon. I plan on using the butternut squash and sweet potato for the chicken nuggets and turkey burgers soon. I have concluded though that banana bread is good enough on its' own and the addition of cauliflower is just not right. I think the kids will be happy with that.

Cold Comforts

2007-11-09T08:43:00.000-05:00

The weather has turned colder and the leaves have started to fall. Coming home at the end of a long work day and commute is a great feeling. Although there isn't much time for hearty soups, stews or braised meats most night's, I did manage to make chili after work.
Normally I wouldn't have time for that either- all the chopping of carrots, celery, peppers and onions, that is. But I turned to Nigella Express and tried her recipe for Quick Chili. I was not expecting much to be perfectly honest. With a bottle of tomato pasta sauce, some Heintz sweet chili sauce and some spices, what could I expect? I was pleasantly surprised. It wouldn't replace my regular chili recipe on a weekend, but it makes a great midweek supper if you're in a rush. Here it is over some rice and with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese.

The night before, I had some extra time and was inspired to finally try Laurie Colwin's recipe for Gingerbread from the book Home Cooking. Gingerbread is a sacred entity in our house, and I've been happy with my mother in laws version for years. Norma's gingerbread is a loaf, and quite a dense one too. But it is spicy and moist and layered with a thick blanket of icing and a single glace cherry. You can pick it up and eat it with your hands. It's pretty good. But Laurie Colwin is quite convincing and her version beckoned me to try it.

The recipe is from Laurie Colwin's Home Cooking. Here is the recipe:

Gingerbread

1 Stick of Butter

1/2 Cup of Light OR Dark Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Molasses

2 Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 generous TBSP Ground Ginger

1 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ground allspice

2 tsp Lemon Brandy OR Vanilla Extract

1/2 Cup Buttermilk

1. Cream 1 stick of butter with brown sugar. Beat until fluffy and add molasses.

2. Beat in eggs.

3. Add Flour, baking soda and ginger. Add cinnamon, cloves and allspice.

4. Add lemon brandy or vanilla. Then add buttermilk and turn batter into a buttered 9" tin.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for between 20 and 30 minutes. Test with a toothpick and cool on a rack.

For the icing, she suggests Chocolate or Lemon.

Chocolate Icing

1. Cream 1/2 stick of butter. When fluffy add 4 TBSP of unsweetened cocoa.

2. If you have some, add 1 tsp of vanilla brandy or vanilla extract. Then add about a cup of powdered sugar, a little at a time, until you get the consistency you want.

If you prefer the lemon icing, substitute for the cocoa the zest of one big lemon, one tsp of lemon brandy 9 (or extract) and 1 TBSP of lemon juice, and proceed as in chocolate icing.

Above is a nice thick slice which is really different than Norma's version. It was more cakey and light, but still had all the spiciness we love. I topped it with her lemon icing and had a slice almost every night this week. It's so good that I might even be brave enough to serve it to my Scottish gingerbread loving in laws. Imagine that!

Yayia, OPA!

2007-11-06T23:32:00.000-05:00

When I first started working full time, it was on the Danforth in the heart of Greektown. I think I stayed in that job as long as I did because of the food, mainly. I love Greek food. I don't know what's not to love about it. The dips and appetizers alone are enough to satisfy me.

Now that my sister Julie is watching our little guy, he is getting to taste some of the the real authentic stuff. Julie makes a few Greek dishes and Harry's Mom Effie is always bringing good stuff over for the kids. Spanakopita, bean dishes, stuffed peppers and tomatoes and so much more. Here is my very well fed James with his Greek goddess Mia.

When I got Tessa Kiros's book Falling Cloudberries, I was immediately struck by the chapters on Cyprus & Greece. Finally, I had some of the recipes for dishes I had only sampled on Effie's buffet table. Those melt in your mouth butter beans with tomatoes, I found the recipe in this book. Bougatsa, also in this book. Stuffed vegetables, spinach pies, keftedes, loukoumades, all in this book. I haven't made them all yet, but I've started.

This weekend I made a delicious one I know I will repeat over and over. Leg of Lamb with Oregano and Lemon.

So simple, but perfect. With it, we had a Greek Salad, Tzatziki and some roasted carrots.

Afterwards, we slurped on Yogurt Popsicles with pureed berries inspired by Deceptively Delicious.

It is kind of cold weather for popsicles, but after that mediteranean feast, it worked.

And luckily, I had some leftovers to send over for Mia and James the next day.

Order Amidst Chaos

2007-10-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

In an attempt to regain control over my frequently chaotic household, I have made great efforts to be more organized and preplan as much as possible. Being someone who loves the unexpected, this is a struggle. Gone are the days when I can take luxury and enjoyment in the spontaneous question "What do you feel like for dinner tonight?" just when hunger strikes.

No, things are different now. Children get cranky (husbands too). Bath & bedtimes are serious business. You don't want to mess with me on that one!

That leaves little room for new recipes and artful experimentation mid week.

I had the sudden urge to take more control a few days ago, around the same time that my new copy of Nigella Express arrived. I couldn't read it fast enough. Between paragraphs, I would swat Glen and say "You see? You see? This is me!" I know, I am such a loser.

What remains in my mind most, is how she says that it's not the cooking itself that is stressful. On the contrary, cooking is something she (and I) adore. It's calming to me, in fact. It is the planning, shopping and prepping that cause the greatest stress when life's day to day stuff becomes overwhelming and draining.

I read the book cover to cover, made a list of things to pick up, and started planning my week. And it all went well. No stress! I started out with her Instant Pancake Mix on Sunday. It was excellent. Then I made the Quick Minestrone and Scallops with Chorizo. Delicious!

The following night, I blew the dust off my rice cooker (thanks for the reminder, Anna) and while it steamed away, I made my favorite Sechuan Bean dish from Cook's Illustrated magazine.

I made enough rice for the next night and made Nigella's Mirin Glazed Salmon to go with. Another winner. And extremely fast and stress free!
The following night, we decided to order take out so I could have a break. And because I was so chuffed with myself for my previous 3 nights work of perfectly planned meals, I felt no guilt about that. And, it left me a tidy kitchen and time to make a new cake. And what a delicious cake too! The Brown Sugar and Chocolate Chip Pound Cake with Maple-Espresso Glaze from the October issue of Bon Appetit. I didn't get a chance to add the glaze, but will try to add it tonight. Although, it doesn't even need it. It was just right with my cup of coffee this morning.

To end my week of order and organization, I purchased a really cute new lunch bag to tote all of my delicious leftovers to work. Now, if I can only plan this well next week too!

Friendship Through Flowers.

2007-10-15T09:51:00.000-04:00

I am such a novice gardener, but I have big dreams. I love the idea of flowers that will come back year after year, growing stronger and more beautiful with time. There are so many perennials that I love, and figuring out the names of them so that I can buy the right bulbs has become a small challenge.

In the short time that we've been in our new home, I've had people share some of their foliage and flowers with me. My Mom split her Hens & Chicks, which look like artichokes, and they are thriving along the pathway to our front door. My mother in law has taken Bleeding Hearts and Hostas out of her gorgeous garden so that we could add them to ours. My sister in law Paula gave us some yellow day lilies from her backyard, and our neighbors have shared so much with us too.

This weekend, I was visiting my girlfriend Renee who is originally from Saskatchewan. Her parents came to visit her last week from their farm and brought the biggest Lily bulbs I have ever seen. She graciously shared some with me and I've already planted them. I have my fingers crossed that the beautiful white and yellow lilies will enjoy a long life in my garden.

I feel like sharing things from your garden is so special. As I see different things this Spring pop through the ground, I will be able to point out which ones are from who, and hopefully one day share them with someone else too.

Giving Thanks X 2

2007-10-11T09:22:00.000-04:00

Fall is a time of new beginnings for me, even more so than the New Year. The change in seasons, the start of school and the start of my favorite holidays likeThanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas. This year, Thanksgiving felt early, but it was a celebration of food that just kept giving and giving! We are lucky to each have our extended families nearby and they celebrate on different days. That means 2 Thanksgiving meals and lots of leftovers.

The first dinner was with my in-laws. We had a delicious turkey, smoked ham, ribs, mashed and roasted potatoes, veggies, gravy and cranberry sauce. We ate everything so quickly, I didn't even get a chance to take a picture, but I did get the important stuff. This was the table that got swarmed by all the kids and me of course.

There were cupcakes......

There was a white chocolate cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries......

There was also a carrot cake and a pumpkin pie. My mother in law is a fantastic baker and it was difficult to choose.

The second dinner was the following day at my parents house. We also had a traditional turkey dinner with 2 types of stuffing, cauliflower with cheese sauce, brussel sprouts, other veg, potatoes and some kind of veggie couscous 'thing' for my vegan sister. Dessert was pumpkin pie, Vanilla Cream Pie and a Funfetti cake with orange frosting which the kids decorated with sprinkles.

I have turkey and ham in my freezer which will be pulled out as soon as I decide what reincarnation they will take in my kitchen....turkey turnovers, Vietnemese Cold Noodle Salad with turkey, Ham and Peas with Bow ties. The possibilites are endless.

Coo-Coo for Coco

2007-10-10T09:31:00.001-04:00

This is one of the easiest cakes I've ever made....Coco the Wonder Cake. I got the recipe from Mannix's The Love Bite which you really should check out. So many wonderful ideas and recipes. This cake uses Golden Syrup and sour cream.........so delicious.

Dinner a la Mama Lucy

2007-10-03T09:54:00.000-04:00

There's a family tradition my Mom still upholds which is when it is your birthday, you get to pick anything you want for dinner and she will make it. I am in my thirties now, but thankfully this tradition lives on!

There have been some years I requested gnocchi, some years meatball soup and other years seafood feasts and other elaborate dishes. But this year, I craved something she hasn't made in years and I was itching for it......Smelts! Odd, I know, but I remember these little fish that were breaded and fried and when you opened them you had to take the tiny little bones out. For some odd reason, I loved doing this as a child and maybe in some sort of mid life nostalgic phase needed to have these again! Glen thought it was so odd. My sisters heard about it and thought I was nuts. They said "Why would you pick smelts of all things?" They were not invited, so I didn't really care.

The week preceeding my dinner, I spoke about them all the time. I would call my Mom and ask her "Did you find them?" Or I'd occasionally yell out 'Smelts!' in the car with Glen. Finally, the night came and I could hardly contain my excitement. We sat down to one of the best, most comforting and delicious dinners I've had in ages.

Mama Lucy totally outdid herself and mixed up her traditional cooking with a little Ina! We started with Ina's Penne with 5 Cheeses which is baked and creamy and hard to stop eating. Here is the recipe and photo.

Next came the Smelts. A platter of them along with a platter of what else? Crunchy Meat made with Veal and Chicken fillets, of course.

The Smelts were delicious. They were exactly how I remembered them and apparently very easy to make. You can buy them fresh or frozen, and as long as you buy them cleaned they are very easy to prepare. Heads and tails should be removed. Basically here's what you do:

Dust smelts in white flour (dip in a bowl, or toss in a bag to lightly coat them).

Dip them in beaten eggs.

Dip them in a bowl of breadcrumbs seasoned with oregano, parsley, salt and pepper.

Fry in vegetable oil until lightly browned and cooked through. Drain on some paper towels and pile them on platter.

It's basically the same way you cook Crunchy Meat.

Mama Lucy served it with fresh Italian Bread, Broccoli in Oil & Vinegar and her usual Green Salad. Fresh slices of cantaloupe followed, and then for dessert.........

Ina's Pear Clafouti from the Barefoot in Paris book. You can find the recipe here if you like.

I ate so much and happily watched Camden ripping the little bones out of the fish. We left with a huge bag of leftovers and a new recipe and tradition that I plan on starting in my house.

They are Edible!

2007-09-30T22:31:00.000-04:00

Squash are very interesting vegetables to me. They are abundant in Ontario right now, but this is the first time I actually bought them in hopes to try cooking with them. This is with thanks to Norm(Kate), Jody and Michelle who inspired me.
I had eaten turnips (or rutabagas) growing up, but never Acorn, Pepper or Spaghetti squash. I picked up these pretty varieties, of which the names escape me right now.......Not only do these decorate the house, they are edible too! I'll try roasting them this week.
I had a butternut squash and tried a wonderful recipe courtesy of Norm. I roasted a chopped up butternut squash with tomatoes, onions, garlic and rosemary. Then I pureed it all with stock, simmered in a saucepan and added a splash of cream and salt and pepper. I made some parmesan toasts to top it off and enjoyed this big bowl of comforting autumn soup. The roasted tomatoes really made this soup for me....thanks Kate! I will make it again and again.

Good-bye September!

2007-09-30T21:45:00.000-04:00

September is without a doubt my favorite month of the year. I love the subtle change in weather, the sudden desire for comfort food, and the fact that my birthday and anniversary fall in it doesn't hurt.

I was happy to be the recipient of a little family celebration with my boys. The birthday hats did morphe into something a little odd, but I assume living with boys I will have to get used to superheros, villains, monsters and whatever this was supposed to be:

The hats were money well spent. There were flowers, there was cake, there was a lot of fun. Then my sister and her daughter dropped by on their evening walk with this:

The cake was tiny, beautiful and delicious.

Camden also started his first school year. It was so much fun to watch, and I couldn't help wondering where the time has gone and his baby book isn't even filled in yet! Here's Camden and his much more mature senior kindergarten cousin walking to the schoolbus together:
It's so nice we live on the same street as them. My sister and I have been taking turns following the schoolbus just making sure they get off the bus at the right stop.
It's been a hectic month, but amazing too. We've been so busy and had so much fun that I feel a little like hibernating for awhile now. Time to start thinking about roasting peppers and Thanksgiving!

Comfort Food, Mama Lucy Style

2007-09-18T09:56:00.001-04:00

I've been really busy lately, which has kept me from cooking and blogging much. I've started to miss Mama Lucy's food again and needed to get back in the kitchen.

A dish that she used to prepare when I was a kid crept into my mind and I wanted to try making it myself. This weekend it was her Stuffed Eggplant.

I called her the night before I made it and requested some direction. This was what I jotted down......
I've never soaked eggplant in water with lemon for any other recipe, but this time I followed instructions well! I cut the small eggplants in half, scooped out a lot of the centre and set aside for another recipe. I soaked the eggplant for about 6 hours. Then drained, dried , salted and peppered the whole lot.

I proceeded to make Mama Lucy's meatball mixture which I used for the filling in the eggplant. I also use it for meatballs in tomato sauce, stuffed artichokes, breaded veal burgers (aka Crunchy Burgers) and in her Italian Wedding Soup which I will post another day. Here it is:

1 Pound of Ground Veal

1 Egg

2 Cloves Crushed Garlic

1-2 Generous Handfuls of Grated Parmesan

2 -3 TBSP each of Dried Parsley & Dried Oregano

Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix all of the above together.

Preheat the oven to 360 degrees.

Stuff the eggplant halves with the meat mixture and line up in a large casserole. Top each stuffed eggplant with 1 tablespoon of crushed tomatoes (from a tin is fine) and drizzle with olive oil. Pour some water on the bottom of the pan being careful to not let it rise above the eggplant. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 - 30 minutes until the eggplant seems tender and the veal is cooked.

Other than the eggplant prep, it was a really easy recipe. Next time I will attempt the artichokes with it and serve with a Saffron Risotto like Mama Lucy always seemed to.

The Little Chef's

2007-09-13T09:44:00.000-04:00

My sister and I took our little chef's to a kid's cooking class a few weeks ago. They made candy sushi with fruit roll-ups (they were stuffed with licorice and rice crispies with melted marshmallows). Not my idea of a healthy mid-morning snack, but they were pleased!

Pasta- just for me!

2007-08-26T12:50:00.000-04:00

Although I love cooking for friends and family, I know I could never cook for a living or cater events due to my lack of confidence to please the masses. So the odd time I can prepare a dinner just for me, I really take pleasure in it. Glen has been working a lot of extra hours this week, and most of those nights I admit to being quite lazy with cooking, but one night I came up with a pasta dish just for me. Some of my favorite pasta dishes have evolved this way, and here is my new favorite: Fettuccini with Mushrooms & Black Olives.

I picked up some fresh cremini and oyster mushrooms at the market but went home a little unsure of what to add to them to make the perfect pasta. I picked up one of my favorite books, Claudia Roden's Food of Italy and got inspired by her Tagliatelle with Olive & Mushroom Sauce (from Umbria). If you love olives and mushrooms, you have to try this!

I sauteed my mushrooms in some olive oil until they were slightly browned and soft. I added a splash of white wine and let that cook for a minute or so. Then I took a few spoons of a really flavourful black olive tapenade I had in the fridge and added that to the pan. I let it coat the mushroom mixture and then added fettuccini, parsley and loads of grated parmesan cheese.

The night before, I mixed up the dough to the famous No Knead Bread from the NY Times. It was baked just in time to have with my pasta. It really is the best bread ever...here's the link for the recipe.

Nantucket Season!

2007-08-06T23:22:00.001-04:00

Although I didn`t actually visit Nantucket, I was in Cape Cod this past June. It was everything I had imagined it would be.....calm, peaceful, full of seafood shacks and wood shingled homes and cottages. Blue skies, salt air and ocean, friendly people and mystery novel worthy lighthouses. I had read somewhere that Cape Cod is a vacation spot opposite of the Hampton`s.......meaning not a Hummer or designer bag in sight. I did spot a designer bag or two, but it really did lack any pretentiousness that I like to avoid especially while on holiday.
I waited until this trip to finally pick up Sarah Leah Chase`s Nantucket Open House Cookbook. I had heard about it and read great reviews and thought it would be a great souvenir (I like to pick up cookbooks when I travel). I haven`t had time to really look long and hard at it until recently inspired by Lisa and Michelle. I`ve spent the entire long weekend going through it cover to cover and it is excellent. I love it and would recommend it to anyone who loves to cook or eat.
The Orange Shortbread recipe is in the Christmas section of her book, but I couldn`t wait until December to try it. It was delicious and made such a large quantity of cookies which I think is great (I feel like it`s time well spent to have so many left for the week). They are buttery, soft and light with a lingering orange flavour. I`m adding them to my Christmas baking assortment without a doubt. I think they might be nice half dipped in chocolate for a little over the top decoration or presentation too.

The recipe was a cinch, I have it in memory already which is saying a lot for me.

Orange Shortbread from Nantucket Open House Cookbook
2 cups Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
1.5 cups of Brown Sugar
4 cups All Purpose Flour
pinch of salt
Zest of 2 Oranges
2 eggs, whisked
2 TBSP water

Cream the butter and sugar. Add in the flour and salt, bit by bit, until completely incorporated )it should be a fairly stiff dough). Mix in the orange zest. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a half an inch thickness and cut out shapes with a cookie cutter. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with the egg and water wash. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks and try not to eat a dozen like I did.
They are oh, so good!

James and the Giant Peach

2007-08-06T22:44:00.000-04:00

Well, maybe not giant, but James and the peach it was for dinner. We had my favorite recipe for Pork Tenderloin and grilled peaches alongside. The pork has a dry rub that's a little bit spicy courtesy of some cayenne pepper. It's cooked on the barbeque (off to one side with no fire underneath, and the temperature high on the opposite side). I first tasted this at a friend's house last summer and have been making it ever since. It's hard to stop shoving it in your mouth, and is just as good on a bun in sandwich form the next day. It's a recipe from Rob Rainford (Licence to Grill) that I've adapted slightly to suit the little people in our house. Here's the recipe:
Cajun Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
30ml coarse salt (kosher or sea)
3 tbsp sweet paprika
2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
2 tbsp dried thyme
2 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp dried sage leaves
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all together and rub all over 2 pork tenderloins, silver skin removed, and let them rest in the rub a few hours if possible. Preheat one side of your grill to high and leave the other side off. Put the pork on the side with no heat and leave for about 40-45 minutes turning over once or twice. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing on the diagonal.
On the side I made rice, broccoli and grilled peaches. The Broccoli with balsamic butter sauce and was my first recipe attempt from a fairly new book....Nantucket Open House Cookbook by Sarah Leah Chase. It was a success as I think many of her recipes will prove to be. I've spent this entire long weekend flipping through the book over and over and am so excited to make more more more! I've shoved sticky notes in about half of the book and am debating what to try next. I think Ms. Chase is gonna keep me busy in the kitchen for awhile. More on that coming soon....

The Weekly Pizza Tradition

2007-08-01T21:54:00.000-04:00

My Mom used to make pizzas every week. They were always rectangular and had different sections with various toppings to please everyone in the house. She'd pair the pizzas with a large tray of Italian sausages roasted in the oven & served with peppers and buns. That way there would be enough leftover pizza for lunch the next day too.
I've been making versions of her pizza since I got married. It was probably the first thing I learned to make. I've kept it pretty similar to Mama Lucy's version, using the same base ingredients and seasonings but have made a couple of changes along the way. I prefer using stonewear which I think browns the crust really well (and never sticks if there is a little tomato leakage). I also started making my own pizza dough which is super easy in the food processor. I also make 2 large ones so that if anyone pops in, there's more than enough to go around and we're guaranteed a lunch the next day.

While I was baking the pizza, I decided to make a quick dessert. Crepes with Strawberries and Star Anise Syrup. I found the recipe/idea in a cookbook I got from a Pampered Chef party and thought it sounded quick enough for a weeknight.
First I made a crepe batter and refrigerated it. Then I threw some freshly squeezed orange juice into a saucepan with some sugar and 4 star anise. Brought it to a boil, turned off the heat, removed the star anise and added the zest of the whole orange too.
I cut up some strawberries and made some whipped cream with vanilla and assembled everything together. The star anise syrup was delicious drizzled over the top. I would serve this any day and will try it with the originally suggested blueberries next time.

I'm keeping the weekly pizza tradition alive!

Snakes & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

2007-07-22T22:25:00.000-04:00

Growing up in a house of mostly girls, I was pretty girlie. I loved makeup, Barbies, clothing and jewelry. I imagined myself one day having daughters that would share these interests with me. I thought they would cook with me, share beauty secrets and spend time chatting with me over manicures. Fast forward to now, and I'm happily surrounded by boys!

Aside from a little stomach bug, and the nastiest diapers I have ever had to change in my life, this weekend was perfect! For the first time in 17 years with Glen, he actually baked something for me. I slept in a little bit while he hung out with James in the kitchen and when I finally made my appearance, voila!

Cinnamon Buns! Yes, they were the Pillsbury variety, and they were delicious! Now, I have been with Glen since I was 15 years old, and never would I have ever believed such a thing could happen. It was a momentous occasion. He even snapped a picture for me before I inhaled one with his freshly brewed coffee. He scored major points this weekend!!!

Later on in the day, and countless vile diapers later, the boys went outside to enjoy the weather while I got dinner started. They got dirty, splashed around in the sprinkler and came back soaking wet and happy. The spiderman towels were a big hit with them!

I decided to make a pot roast dinner for the first time. I found an interesting recipe in Laurie Colwin's Home Cooking book which included a pureed red pepper 'gravy'. It was not like any gravy I've had before and it was so good! Easy too.

I wasn't sure what to make to end the meal, so I recruited Camden for some help. He's always been a big fan of Nigella and Ina (Barefoot Contessa) after watching countless episodes of their shows with me on the food network. But imagine my surprise when he reached straight for their books on my shelf! There were many to choose from, but he went straight for his 2 faves!

He really is a fan of Ina though and kept spotting her pictures and saying 'Look Mama, Ina is here and there and everywhere...and with cake too!' I am not surprised though. When he was just around 2 years old and I carried him through Williams & Sonoma, he spotted one of her books on the shelf and yelled 'INAAAAA!!!' And whenever he hears the theme song to her show, he stops dead in his tracks to see what's she's cooking next for Jeffery and all of their fabulous friends.
I eventually chose Nigella's Madeira cake from How to be a Domestic Goddess, but most definitely appreciated Camden's input on the matter.

While things were settling down in the kitchen, James quietly decided that crayons were his new thing. I spent a lot of time showing him that the coffee table, hard wood floors, kitchen chairs and other assorted places were not the right canvas for his new found art. He seemed to grasp this until I noticed him stashing crayons between the couch pillows for a later day I assume???

At the end of the day, everyone was full, tired and content. I am sitting here thinking about how much fun boys are and how I couldn't imagine our house any other way. They are fearless and fun and more than I ever imagined.

Summertime Fun!

2007-07-11T11:46:00.001-04:00

Eggplant & Empire's

2007-07-08T09:09:00.000-04:00

Eggplant, (aka Aubergines or Melanzane) are one of my absolute favorite vegetables. I love them grilled, marinated, pickled, stuffed, parmigiano style, or used as the base of a simple tomato sauce. This eggplant sauce, referred to as Melanzane a fungetiello, was never made in my parents house but I picked up the idea from a girlfriend whose family originated in Calabria where eggplants are more commonly used than my father's region (Abruzzo). It is such a simple and flavorful sauce and a great substitution for meat.

Some people soak their eggplant in water before using. I have never bothered and all of my eggplant recipes work out fine. Here's how I made the sauce. I start with some olive oil in a large pot. I add one chopped shallot (an onion would be fine too), one or two large cloves of crushed garlic, and one medium sized eggplant, cubed. Saute for around 5-10 minutes until everything is very lightly browned and softened. Then I add one large tin of diced tomatoes and 1/2 tin of crushed tomatoes. Add sea salt, black pepper, freshly chopped parsley and basil (I used about 2 TBSP each of the fresh herbs).

Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for approximately 30 minutes. In the meantime, boil your preferred pasta (we like penne rigate), drain and serve with the sauce. I topped it with freshly chopped mint and a generous grating or parmigiano cheese. The mint really adds a freshness to the eggplant in the dish.

I love lemonade in the summertime and finally made the one in Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros. It was really good and I will definitely use this recipe over and over. She suggests using fizzy water which I may do next time. I kept this one basic and used regular water with a bit of added mint leaves.

I've been particularly reminiscent when it comes to food lately. I started this blog with my Mom in mind (she's French Canadian and married my very Italian father). But I also have a wonderful mother in law with very different roots. She was born and raised in Scotland and is also a great cook and baker. If it wasn't for Norma, I might never have experienced the great Empire Biscuit! It is a melt in your mouth shortbread type cookie, sandwiched with raspberry jam and covered with an icing sugar topping. Mmmmm. I think I like them more than Glen, but thought he would appreciate having them around to nibble on. So, in my 'Ina pleasing Jeffery mode', I dug up the recipe from my archives and here it is:

Norma's Empire Biscuits

1 3/4 Cups Self Raising Flour

4 TBSP Cornflour

4 TBSP Icing Sugar

8 oz Butter at room temperature

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix butter and icing sugar until combined (using stand or hand mixer).

Add the cornflour and mix.

Add the flour and mix until incorporated.

Roll out to approximately 1/4" thickness or slightly less if possible. I find this dough a little difficult to work with...I think the less handling you do, the better. You need a well floured surface and rolling pin.

Cut cookies with a round cutter.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until barely golden. They should not brown too much.

Let cool on rack completely. Sandwich with your favorite raspberry jam. Ice the tops and add a glace cherry half to be totally traditional. I didn't have them but did find some silver balls from a previous cupcake project that I used. The icing is just confectioner's sugar with a touch of water. I think I used about 1 cup of confectioner's sugar with 1-2 TBSP of warm water and mixed until think and creamy.

They are a little fussy to make, but definitely worth it. They remind me of holidays, but are just as good with a coffee on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

More and more strawberries!

2007-07-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

After strawberry picking, I have more berries than I know what to do with. We were invited to my mother in laws for dinner, so I gladly offered to make the dessert.

I have been making Nigella's Chocolate Pavlova from Forever Summer for years but thought I'd try this one instead. This one is also Nigella's recipe found in a back issue of Delicious (Australian version). It's called Pavlova with Balsamic Strawberries and was taken from a summer meal which included meatballs with tomato sauce and pine nuts.
The pav base puffed up to perfection and remained chewy on the inside (much more so than the chocolate version does for me). The whipped cream and balsamic soaked berries were the best compliment. It is such an easy dessert to pull together but makes such an impression. If you are looking for tips on pav's, check out this link. If you need a good pav recipe, this one is the same as the version I used.
The topping was 500g of strawberries with 1 TBSP of sugar, 1 generous TBSP of balsamic vinegar, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Mix and let the berries macerate for 15 minutes or up to 2 hours before placing on top of the whipped cream topped pavlova and enjoy!

Happy Canada Day!

2007-07-01T22:15:00.000-04:00

Today was the perfect Sunday. At long last the house is finally clean, the kitchen is gleaming, laundry sorted and started and I found an awesome recipe to use some of the strawberries I picked up at a local farm this weekend.

It was a pretty casual day for us. We had leftovers for dinner which made it much easier to find the time and energy to try a new dessert recipe- Strawberry Loaf. It came from a new cookbook I recently picked up called The Best Bake Sale Ever Cookbook by Barbara Grunes.
I added fresh whipped cream and a few strawberries to top off a slice and was surprised at how appropriate it was for Canada Day (the whole white and red thing!) . If I realized earlier, I might have tried to fashion it like the Canadian flag (yes, I would do something cheesy like that).

Very simple, but so good! Here is the recipe if you'd like to give it a try:

Strawberry Bread

2 Cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Stick of butter, cut into pieces at room temperature

1 Cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon almond extract (I substituted with vanilla due to a treenut allergy in my son)

2 eggs

1 Cup crushed fresh strawberries or 1 10oz package of frozen strawberries drained

1/3 Cup sliced almonds (optional- I omitted)

Preheat oven to 325degrees and grease a 9 X 5" loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whick together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a seperate bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla or almond extract until light. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the flour mixture alternatively with the vrushed strawberries. Fill loaf pan with the batter and sprinkle almonds on the top if using them. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out on a rack and let cool completely.

I love making loaves and muffins. They come in handy when you are looking for a breakfast on the go or an afternoon snack for the boys. I've never come across a strawberry one before and will definitely make this again. It was moist with the perfect berry flavour. The last minute addition of whipped cream was very much appreciated by James as you can see here....

With the house clean, the kids sound asleep, and the sound of fireworks coming from my open window, I think I've found a few minutes of peace. And if I don't feel like making breakfast in the morning, we can always have some strawberry bread (with or without the whipped cream).

Happy Birthday Canada!

(Almost) Just like Mom's

2007-06-25T09:43:00.000-04:00

So, after all this talk about Crunchy Meat and how it was my most memorable meal, I decided to recreate the whole thing this weekend for the boys. We were all in need of some serious comfort food, and this seemed perfect. It is also surprisingly simple to pull together!

I bought some milk fed veal cutlets and started the most labour intensive, and horribly messy part- the dipping and dunking. I set up 3 bowls. First one was plain white flour with a touch of salt & pepper, second one was a couple of eggs beaten, and the third one was dry bread crumbs with salt, pepper, dried oregano and parsley. I lightly coated each piece of veal with the flour, then dipped in the egg and coated with breadcrumbs. I heated a large frying pan with a bit of vegetable oil (not olive oil, just cause that's how Mama Lucy does it and I wanted to conform to her standards). Cooking in batches, make sure not to overcrowd the meat and cook each side until golden. I suggest making a lot extra so you can have veal sandwiches or veal parmigiano the following day!

I drained them on paper towels for a few minutes, then arranged on a platter and added the final flourish of grated parmigiano reggiano. Ta da.......

Alongside this traditional family meal, I made roasted potatoes and a salad dressed in a simple olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. I cut the potatoes into wedges and drizzled some olive oil, salt, pepper and dried oregano and parsley flakes (I sometimes also add a couple crushed garlic cloves, but omitted them this time). I placed them on my large stone bake sheet and roasted at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes. The amazing thing about the stonewear is I didn't even have to flip them over, they brown evenly on both sides. Perfect for a forgetful person like me.

I was hoping to add some fabulous, home baked treat to complete the meal. I didn't get around to that part, but maybe next time as I'm sure this meal will pop up in my house over and over. It was really good comfort food. The only thing different was that I was serving it to the boys instead of my Mom serving it to me. I think I like it this way too!

Mmmm-muffins!

2007-06-19T23:46:00.000-04:00

When I go on holiday, I like to buy a cookbook or two or three. I love to collect them and I always remember where they came from. On my trip last week to Cape Cod, one of the books I picked up was The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion. I've been interested in this book for quite awhile and especially after Ilana has raved about it time and time again. So I picked up not only the book, but also a big bag of the All Purpose Flour and dived into itlast night.

I started with one of my favorite things....muffins! I love muffins, but what's not to love about them? They are easy to make, they can be breakfast, a snack or even dessert, and can house any flavourings your heart desires. They can be sweet or savoury and they can be slathered with butter or jam. I love them as long as they are moist- there is nothing worse than a dry, crumbly muffin.

I began with King Arthur's recipe for Spiced Peach Muffins. I had ripe peaches in the fruit basket and the combination of them with nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon sounded very appealing. They turned out really well. I think jam on these would be particularly nice. You can find the recipe here.

After that, I thought I'd try the cinnamon puffs. They were so simple to make and taste delicious too. Here is the recipe:

King Arthur Cinnamon Puffs

Muffins

3 Cups Unbleached All Purpose Flour

1 Cup Sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

3/4 tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups milk

5 1/2 TBSP butter melted (2/3 stick)

Topping

1/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 TBSP butter melted (1/2 stick)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

For the muffins, whisk together all dry ingredients (not including the toppings). Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients.

In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then add the milk & melted butter. Add the wet mixture to the well in the flour mixture. Stir until evenly moistened (batter may be lumpy). Lightly grease muffin cups. Fill them 3/4 full and bake for 20-25 minutes.

While the muffins are baking, combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. When the muffins are done baking, let them cool just enough so that you can handle them. Dip the tops in the melted butter, then into the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Makes 12 large muffins.

So far I am very happy with the book. Can't wait to try more!

Cape Cod- Part 2/ The Lobster Pot

2007-06-18T11:25:00.000-04:00

Last week while in Cape Cod, we had not one, but 2 dinners at 'The Lobster Pot'. It was so good, we went back the very next night for seconds! It is located on Commercial Street in Provincetown and you can watch the boats and the seashore from your seat. It was the ultimate seafood experience!

The kids were happy, especially Camden as he had a HUGE lobster tank to stare at prior to our meal. Glen & I were happy, especially when our meals arrived. For appetizers, I ordered a soft shelled crab that was lightly battered and fried and served on top of a crostini and covered in a tomato red pepper mixture and a light cream sauce. The flavours were incredible! Glen ordered a Lobster avocado cocktail that was unbelievably delicious! Then we were treated to family style large bowl of salad and a condiment tray of 4 house made dressings. I loved the toasted sesame dressing but the citrus dijon one was also pretty good. The selections of breads served alongside had white rolls and also a spicy and sweet pumpkin bread that the kids really loved with a little smear of butter!

Then came entrees! Glen ordered the traditional lobster dinner with a bowl of clam chowder, red potatoes and a corn on the cob (yes, he briefly wore the bib!). I had the same one night, but the second night chose to try the 'Lazy Man's Lobster' option. 5 oz of lobster meat, all shells removed, and baked in a sherry cream sauce and sprinkled with fresh chives.

Everything was delicious. The atmosphere was very casual and perfect for the kids. Service was good, food was heavenly. I wonder how many meals like this I would have to have before getting tired of seafood. Hard to imagine that ever happening.

The Story Behind Crunchy Meat.

2007-06-18T00:42:00.000-04:00

Okay, I admit that I have a very difficult time making decisions. Choosing a name for this blog is a perfect example of this. I had trouble finding a name originally, and chose 5 minutes of peace...in the kitchen, but it never felt just right. After sitting on the beach last week, and thinking about my family, my family throughout childhood and now my very own family, I realized some things. I realized that the reason I love cooking so much and making delicious things for the people I love is all because of my Mom. She always managed to keep the house in perfect order with 3 kids and have amazing, comforting meals ready and waiting. There were recurring dishes that she still makes today, but there were also new things she would try. I don't remember anything she served up that didn't taste great.

When I think of my most memorable and comforting meal it includes what my sisters and I call 'Crunchy Meat'. I think if I were to order it in a restaurant, it would be called Veal Milanese, or maybe even a Shnitzel of some kind. Whatever you call it, I like the term crunchy meat to this day. It is a veal cutlet seasoned & breaded then fried in a pan and always served with Mama Lucy's roasted potato wedges and a leafy green salad dressed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I wish I had a picture to insert here, but at the moment I don't. Maybe I will recreate the meal myself and post pictures at a later date.
When my life becomes hectic and I am in need of serious comfort, this is the meal I want most. I have many other favorites, but this one reminds me so much of my Mom. Now I want to recreate those same food traditions and comforts for my boys that my Mom did for us. For me, cooking is my favorite way to do this. I hope Camden, James and Glen will think of home when they smell or taste something familiar from my kitchen.
To sum up the name change of this blog, it's in small part for my own indecision, but for the most part an ode to Mama Lucy and all the memories I have of her in our kitchen.

Cape Cod- Part 1

2007-06-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

We have just arrived home after our one week family vacation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It was as beautiful and peaceful as I imagined, and I am already dreaming about spending every summer there with the boys!

It was an 11 hour drive from Toronto to where we stayed, but it really didn't seem that long at all. The boys were great for the drive (we rented a van that had a dvd player which was a lifesaver!)

We stayed in Truro, which was only a few minutes from Provincetown. The picture above was taken at the docks in Provincetown where we boarded a boat and experienced whale watching. It was amazing! We were so fortunate on our excursion to have seen as many whale sightings as we did (apparently some are not so lucky). They jumped out of the water, flapped their fins and made appearance after appearance! I couldn't help wondering if anyone ever fell off the boat during one of those rides. Needless to say, I held on to the kids for dear life the entire time!

We ate some delicious meals, did some shopping, and explored the beach. I have a lot more to add, but I have mountains of laundry to get through before I get back to work on Monday morning. The Cape Cod story will continue.........

The Pig Party

2007-06-04T08:56:00.001-04:00

The porchetta made its appearance at many of our family celebrations when I was growing up. It took a hiatus from gatherings for awhile, but made a welcome comeback this year. My father recently held a party to bring together old traditions with family that gets together all too little these days. It was, for lack of a better term, coined the Pig Party!

Glen and I wanted Camden to be prepared for it, so for weeks we spoke about it and told him we were going to eat pig. It seemed to have worked because he was so excited to see it. He stood patiently beside my father while he meticulously carved away. As time went on, his gaze was more and more intense (as you can see in the picture), while my niece was avoiding even looking at the pig. Finally he blurted out loudly to everyone 'I want the meat off the pig's back!' It was such a proud moment for me!

There is a great chapter in Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italy that covers the topic of exposure of food in different cultures (particularly meat and animal carcasses which are pictured in a kiddie pool). It is very interesting and made me think about what I was exposed to as a child. I doubt we will have porchetta in our own family very often, but I hope that it will appear from time to time and that Camden will come to remember it as a small part of his childhood, like I do mine.

One Happy Customer

2007-05-30T09:20:00.000-04:00

This is James. James likes to eat. That makes me very happy at the end of a long day. Last night was the 1st time we sat James at the kitchen table with us (instead of in his highchair). I set his place setting just like his older brother Camden's and he was thrilled! He used his fork, spoon and often his hands when when the cutlery just wouldn't shovel the food fast enough.

We had a quickly thrown together Chicken Pasta Bake. I cooked 2 cups of pasta (penne to be exact) until just tender, then sauteed some onion and garlic in a pan with a little olive oil (I might even add some sliced mushrooms or cubed eggplant next time around at this stage). I used about a cup or so of cooked, diced chicken and threw all of the above into a casserole with 1 cup shredded swiss cheese and 1 cup shredded parmesan. Stir in 1 large can of diced tomatoes (28oz), some dried parsley and oregano flakes and salt & pepper to taste. Top with a mixture of breadcrumbs and parmesan to cover the top. Bake in an oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees and that's it.

James was very happy, and so was his brother Camden, and my husband Glen. Everyone cleaned their plates and Camden actually said 'you make a good pasta bake mama!'

Music to my ears!

A Public Diary?

2007-05-29T22:56:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to explain to myself....Why a blog? What could I have to write about of any interest or importance? I am a wife, mother of 2 boys under the age of 4, and I work full time in the apparel industry (I deliberately chose not to say fashion industry). My life is very hectic with very little time for myself to do the things I love. Those things are mainly enjoying cookbooks, trying new recipes for my friends and family to enjoy, gardening, watching movies, flipping through fashion magazines, drawing, playing the piano, travelling, and so much more (most of which I can't remember the last time I had time to do)!

I am making a huge effort to start doing the things I love again. Motherhood has to allow for it, doesn't it? Regardless of the real answer to that, I am going to try. Starting this blog in some ways is helping me do that. It will be my little diary where I can document some of the craziness going on in a house of endless laundry, potty training, teething, daycare issues and of course....food!

As for the name of this blog, my husband suggested it because I am often asking (more like begging) him to somehow find me 5 minutes peace from all the day to day chaos! I happen to find peaceful, calming moments alone in the kitchen, so '5 minutes peace....in the kitchen' it is!