Category Archives: kitchen capers

February photo-a-day

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Day 8: Sun

What a great subject on a sunny February day :) We were running around, picking stuff up for our new puppy, waiting for the breeder to call us to say she was home. With nothing left to do but wait, and two sleepy bugs in my backseat, I pulled off the highway and sat in my car to read for a bit. The long afternoon sunshine was beautiful, out in the country, away from the noise of the city:

Day 9: Front door

We have 3 doors leading into our house: a glass door for the sunporch, a screen door, and our storm door. It’s a lot to bump and shove open when your hands are full and your keys are at the bottom of your purse!

Day 10: Self-portrait

A little puppy had a rough night, and I wanted a nap. I bribed my kids to sleep with a pyjama/movie night so that Gracie and I could do this:

Day 11: Makes you happy

I love to cook. I love to try new recipes and ideas. Some are great, some are disasters. And most of them, my kids won’t eat :(

So, when I find two recipes that turn out fabulously, AND my kids gobble them up? Well, that makes me happy indeed!

Day 11: Inside my closet

With Leith always on the road, there is always a significant absence of clothing in our house. When all the clothes are actually washed, folded and put away (!!) and I see these empty hangers, it makes me miss him even more…

Counting up

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86. Dinner with my parents

87. A full grocery cart

88. Carrying sleeping children from the car to their beds (…although I did smack Kit-kat’s head on the door frame – ouch!)

89. Slow-cooker suppers that make the house smell so delicious!

90. Listening to them recite movie lines while they’re playing

91. Strawberries, blueberries, bananas, almond butter

92. Surprise kisses and hugs

93. Painting our nails together

94. Crazy, grown-up, complex statements coming out of little mouths :)

95. Fuzzy, wiggly puppy kisses

96. Reiki zen self-care time

97. Heartfelt conversations with my husband, being on the same page as each other

98. Hours-long text conversations with my mom :) And goofy dog names

99. Having him home for a couple of nights in a row, in the middle of a two-week single parenting stretch

100. A new puppy to love and learn with!

101. Long rays of afternoon sunshine

102. Cuddling together on the couch

103. Watching them try hard to set a good example for the puppy

104. When they stop being upset long enough to breathe, use words, and try to explain

105. A first night home with no crate accidents :)

106. Watching the sun rise between the trees outside our window

107. Weeknight dinners with mom & dad, and tasty homemade soup

108. Falling asleep between my two girls, texting my husband, with a puppy sleeping on the floor beside us and the furnace humming :)

February photo-a-day: Catching up

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Day 4: A Stranger…in my Bathroom Cabinet?

I missed one day in the challenge: A Stranger. We didn’t go anywhere that we would see a stranger, other than to Bikram…and I felt awkward about snapping photos of my fellow yogis in the change room ;)

Instead, I swapped it out for a later photo in the challenge. We won’t be home for Day 24, so I snapped a photo for that one instead:

When we moved to The Acreage, I swore up and down that we would not have any concealed cupboards in our bathrooms. I was tired of my toiletry-hoarding. Instead, we have an open shelf in each bathroom, and an open shelf with baskets under each sink. All of them are full of stuff I hoard and never use…ah, well.

Day 5: 10am

This one happened  by complete fluke! I hadn’t looked at the day’s challenge, but happened to be taking photos when I was making these delicious banana flatbreads at 10am. Score!

Day 6: Dinner

There is too much yummy food in my life some days! Dinner didn’t even make it to presentation stage – it was so tasty, we just nom’d it right off the pans:

Coconut chicken and, baked zucchini fries with tangy onion dip! Yum, yum, yum!!

Day 7: Button

Because there is always an alternative option in life. Don’t sit there and lament your life when you are in control of it. Push the button; change.

Say Cheese!

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A couple of years ago, I read a book that changed my life:

One of my favourite authors and her family decided to spend a year living only on what was either grown in their neighbourhood, or grown themselves. In the book, they learn to make their own cheese, which I found fascinating! I immediately tried it myself, but then my rennet expired and it took me forever to find more without ordering it online.

I finally found some rennet at the Bosch Kitchen Centre in Edmonton, so today I decided to make the 30-minute mozzarella from the book. It is ridiculously easy, and oh-so-very tasty :)

From Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; also available from Ricki the Cheese Queen

First, assemble the ingredients:

  • 4L of whole milk (quickest if you have it already at room temperature…not cold out of the fridge)
  • 1-1/2 tsp citric acid powder, dissolved in 1/4cup cool water
  • 1/4tsp liquid rennet, diluted in 1/4cup cool water

Next, slowly heat the milk to 55 degrees F:

Add the citric acid solution, then continue to heat to 88 degrees. The milk will begin to form curds:

Add the diluted rennet solution, stirring in an up-and-down motion. Continue heating to 100 degrees F, then remove from heat.

If the whey is still creamy, continue to heat for a few more minutes…

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the curds to a microwave-safe bowl; sprees the curds with your hands to drain off any extra whey:

Microwave for 60 seconds; knead the curds with your hands (wear kitchen gloves – it’s hot!!) or with a spoon. Microwave two more times for 30-35 seconds each time, kneading in between:

Salt the cheese to taste – I find that 1tsp is plenty. Stretch and pull the warm cheese until it is soft like taffy. If it breaks into chunks, it’s not warm enough yet. ‘Nuke it some more ;)

Gnaw on the whole chunk of cheese while it’s warm, or decide to be classy and roll it into smaller balls to put in the fridge for later. It’s your cheese, your call!

My next cheese foray will be into the land of hard cheeses…before then, I need to find a cheese press. It should be interesting!!

If you are looking for rennet, rumour has it that you can find it in Edmonton at the following places, or online:

January: a month in review

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Detox 2012 already has one month in the bag! It’s been a good month, but it went by so quickly…I guess all my dreaming and wishing for Mexico has paid off ;)

  • I started running again – yay!
  • I registered for the Footstock 2012 half marathon in June
  • I went back to physio for some lovely IMS needles
  • I made it to 9 Bikram yoga classes!
  • I walked 15.5 hours –> that’s 54.25 miles!
  • I made it to 133lbs
  • I booked blood work to find out why I am so tired, instead of just ignoring it
  • I read Little Bee by Chris Cleave, How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway, and started My Life in France by Julia Child (!!)
  • Spent a LOT less time yelling and more time breathing
  • We went on several family “dates” all together, since Leith was home until January 29 :)
  • I took care of myself first, so that I could give my family the best of me
  • I cooked and baked a myriad of tasty meals and snacks from scratch, exploring and expanding my creativity
  • I spent a weekend with my oldest, dearest friends celebrating milestones
  • I played outside with my bugz in this beautiful weather
  • I celebrated my mother-in-law’s birthday with our family
  • I enjoyed new tea flavours in my mug – a chance to unwind and reflect
  • I started counting all the things in my life that I am grateful for
  • I spent at least one day a week with friends, letting our kids run wild

And most importantly? I spent most of January as a very, very happy person :)

A different snack

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Raw avocado pudding…

I’ve seen a lot of interesting things on Pinterest, but this one took the…ahem…pudding. Raw avocado, mashed with cacao powder and agave syrup to make a chocolate pudding.

I was so intrigued that I grabbed an overripe avocado from the fridge, carob powder (I didn’t have cacao…), and agave syrup and went for it.

(I know…I’m impressed that I had all three ingredients too!!)

The result??

Different. But good! Really nutty, thanks to the carob. Gently sweet from the agave. And pleasantly creamy, thanks to the avocado.

It needed to be blended more, instead of just mashed, but the overall effect was tasty!! Give it a shot:

  • One very ripe avocado
  • 2-4 tbsp carob (or cacao) powder
  • 1 tbsp agave syrup

Counting Up

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43. Grilled cheese with apples, and fresh blueberries
44. Another positive celiac test (this time for C-boo), which means that they will both be equally restricted in their diets, instead of C-boo being restricted for the benefit of her sister
45. Holding hands in the car
46. Calves burning against my first run in 4 months
47. His support for my goals – half marathon in June!!
48. Fresh snow crunching under the 4-wheel drive
49. A weekend with my oldest, dearest friends :)
50. Squeals and hugs and kisses when I pick my bugz up from Grammy and Poppa’s house
51. Strong legs, running
52. Health benefits to pay for physiotherapy!!
53. Safe travels on icy roads
54. Impromptu play dates :)
55. Shoulder rubs at the end of a long day
56. Fitting into free 29″ jeans :) :)
57. Watching them devour fresh fruits
58. Baking cupcakes together after a grumpy morning
59. Sunshine streaming through our kitchen window
60. Watching them learn and problem solve!
61. Dirty dishes to wash…because it means we’ve had food to eat
62. Watching them learn to use scissors (yikes!!)

63. Toasty toes on the furnace vent
64. Orange juice dripping down our chins, smiling together
65. Singing in the car together

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Counting up

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Another week gone by so quickly! While I try to pause for the little moments, I really am appreciating taking the time to actually write down the little things that make my life so full. Heather had a great quote on her blog this week, from Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts:
I discover that slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life. A lifetime of sermons on “thanks in all things” and the shelves sagging with books on these things and I testify: life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time.
It really made me think: it’s one thing to say you’re grateful, but it is another thing completely to be aware and focused on all the millions of tiny blessings that make up each day. There are so many that I miss while I am racing through my life that I am so grateful that I took the time to write down these special moments in my week:

24. How committed he is to putting his kids and family first, willingly, without complaint_uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

25. Weekly photo messages of Erin’s growing baby belly!!
26. Watching him taking care of his health, getting lots of exercise this winter, finally having time
27. Making a blanket tent in bed in the morning, and hearing their stories
28. A balanced cheque book, even between pay days
29. A roaring fire in the wood stove
30. When he gets home early, and I can make it to the last yoga class of the day
31. Sliding my wedding rings back on after class, and being so grateful for love
32. Letting them jump on the furniture!
33. Fresh orange zest
34. Hot baked oatmeal when the temperatures are frigid
35. Sun shining on a very, VERY cold day
36. That he knows the names of all their princesses :)
37. So much fresh water
38. How clean and white the road through our subdivision still is, even after the traffic has been through. No sand or dirt!
39. Finding them colouring quietly together
40. Seeing the seeds of their self-efficacy take root when their swimming teacher praises them
41. Peaceful drives home in the still darkness
42. Heated car seats on sore muscles

Chowder and biscuits

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This is the last recipe I’m posting for the next few days!! I’m going to take my kids to McDonald’s and Starbucks for the rest of the week… :p_uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

Fish Chowder:

This is my creation, aside from a quick look back to the potato corn chowder I love to make to figure out a milk-to-stock ratio. Other than deciding I also needed to make a roux (because my usual chowder is quite thin) and needing to google that how-to, this is all ME!

The Roux:
  • Melt 1/2c butter in a pan over low heat
  • Slowly whisk in 1/2c flour
  • Place in a container in the fridge to cool
The Fish:
  • Thaw, shell and drain a bag of regular prawns
  • Heat a frying pan over med-low heat and melt 1tbsp of coconut oil
  • Add the prawns and cook until just pink. Remove from heat
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
  • Place 6 tilapia fillets (or any white fish, really) on a baking sheet
  • Douse liberally with spices – I used lemon pepper
  • Bake ~15 minutes, or until flaky and white
  • LEAVE THE OVEN ON, but turn it up to 375 degrees F
The Broth:
  • Heat a skillet over low heat, melting 1/8c butter
  • Add one whole diced onion, and gently cook to somewhere between caramalized and sauteed. (This is a real measure of doneness, I swear…) Halfway through, add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic
  • While the onions and garlic cook, roughly chop 2 medium carrots, 2 stalks of celery, and 2-1/2c baby potatoes
  • Add 2c chicken broth to the onions and bring to a boil. Transfer to a large stock pot!!
  • Add the fish, shrimp, carrots, celery and potatoes, and continue to boil for about 5 minutes
  • Roughly chop ~2c kale and one whole red bell pepper. Add to the stock pot.
  • Add 4c skim milk and bring down to a simmer
  • Start your biscuits now!!
  • After about 10 minutes, add the cooled roux from the fridge, some cilantro, paprika, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Stir well, and then come back and stir it every once in a while ;)
  • Simmer until ready to serve
Makes 12 servings

Cheese Biscuits:
  • Combine 1-1/2c flour, 1-1/2tbsp baking powder, 1tbsp garlic powder and 1tbsp garlic salt
  • Use a pastry cutter to cut in 1/3c shortening (or margarine or butter…)
  • Slowly add 3/4c skim milk
  • Stir in 3/4c shredded cheddar cheese
  • Drop 12 servings onto a greased cookie sheet
  • Bake for ~15 minutes, until edges are crispy
**IF YOU WANT TO DIE HAPPY: brush the biscuits with melted butter before you put them in the oven, and a little bit more right when they come out. But I didn’t tell you this…


NOM.