Nana's Button Jar

Edmonton Eats: Care-It Deli

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

For those who know me, you are aware that I like to eat. Thankfully, my husband also shares this "interest" and Hannah is great at trying new things. We've been told that we go out a fair amount, and that we find places that locals haven't ever been to before, so I thought I'd share some of our adventures with all of you.

First up is a local hangout of ours, Care-It Deli. This place is special to us, since we signed the papers for our new house while having lunch there!! We opt for the Hamptons location since it is right around the corner, but they also have a location in Crestwood.

Feeding folks since 2008, Care-It is the perfect balance of old favorites with local ingredients. Not only can you pop in for a soup and sandwich, but they also offer meals to go, and various deli selections. When Hannah and I go together, we like to get a soup and sandwich combo with two drinks. We have found that 1/2 of a Ham and Cheddar sandwich is just enough for Hannah, and the other half, plus a cup of soup is just enough to fill my belly!!

I have often told my husband that I love to try new things if I know that the restaurant I'm at will "do it right." Thanks to Care-It, I have found a love for various soups, including Cream of Tomato and Squash and Ham, all because they know how to "do it right." In all honesty, I now crave their soups on cold days, and have been inspired to try my hand at soup making at home.

Though we haven't explored their deli selections too much, we have purchased their bacon (yum!) and we recently gave their Butter Chicken and Turkey Meatball Carbonara & Fettucinne take out meals a try. All were beyond delicious!!

If you're in the neighborhood and looking for a place that will offer you generous portions, great prices and local specials, give Care-It a try. You won't regret it!

Happy Eating!
Sharon

All Around Town: Ice Palace Figure Skating Club

2012-01-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

I thought I'd catch up with a few "All Around Town" posts. We've been settling in more and more lately, so I figured it was time to share what we've been up to.

Three Saturdays ago, Hannah started a new activity, ice skating lessons. We had looked into a few programs, and finally decided on the CanSkate program, offered through the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club. Hannah loves watching the children skate at the West Edmonton Mall, so the idea of being able to skate there herself was a deal sealer in what program we would pursue.

In just three short sessions, Hannah has learned how to fall properly, how to get back up on her own, and how to maneuver around on the ice. I am amazed at how quickly they pick up on the skills!! One of the things I like the best about this program is that they have several coaches on the ice at a time. As the children learn new skills, they are separated from the rest of the group. It is nice for those who learn quickly (or who have experience) so they aren't held back, but also nice for those who need a bit more one-on-one time with the instructors.

Some of the unique teaching methods used by the instructors include, writing on the ice with bingo markers, so the children can see what path they need to take. Hannah loves it when they write her name on the ice!! They also play games to encourage everyone to get moving. For example, at today's lesson, they had two identical wooden puzzles at opposite ends of their skating area. The skaters had to pick up a piece from one puzzle, then skate over and place the piece into the other puzzle. They did this several times, and by the end, most of the class was moving right along. They also took stuffed animals and each child would throw their toy, and they had to skate over to it to pick it up. The big rule was that they couldn't sit on the ice to get the toy, they had to bend down and use their balance to stay on their skates.

I should probably mention that skating is not cheap. This particular program requires that skaters wear skates with laces. In Hannah's class, there is a mix of hockey skates and figure skates. Hannah wears hockey skates, mainly because we were able to find a pair in her size, and they offered better support for her at this age. I will say that they were quite costly since her feet are so small, and our options were limited. If your child has larger feet, then the prices drop significantly for skates, and you can buy them most anywhere. We already had a helmet for Hannah that fit again this year, so our only purchase in that department was a face cage. With some recent accidents on NHL teams with players getting cut by teammates, we weren't going to take any chances. The children also tend to skate very close together, so we were worried about the domino effect and the possibility of falling on another child's skate. As for clothes, the only requirement is that they are warm and the children can move in them. Thankfully the mall rink is quite warm, so most weeks Hannah can wear most anything (she prefers fleece pants or yoga pants with a liner underneath), though a few lessons are held at the (much colder) Callingwood rinks, and we learned the hard way today that she needs to bundle up more for those lessons.

Despite getting frustrated a few times, Hannah loves this program, and as a parent, I do too!! If your child is interested in skating, I highly encourage that you check out one of the CanSkate programs offered here in Edmonton. It is well worth the money and time to have your child learn how to skate properly.

Happy Skating!!
Sharon

A Few Oldies to Share

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

I wanted to show you a few of the projects I did before Christmas...enjoy!!

CooKoo for Cowls:

This project was a super quick knit!! It took exactly 2 skeins of WoolEase Thick and Quick, and many, it is THICK!!! We had temps around -40C with the windchill this week, so it was the perfect time to wear it!!

The pattern is GAP-tastic Cowl and it is really popular on Ravelry right now!
Go grab yourself a copy of the pattern since it is free, and while you're at it, check out my Ravelry notes...

Next up...The Christmas Surprise Blanket

I made this uber thick blanket for my new nephew. It is doubled up Vanna's Choice yarn that I grabbed during a huge sale at Michaels. It moves right along and the pattern is so easy!! I like that if you double up the yarn it can be a floor blanket, and if you use a single strand, it is more of a car blanket. I loved the pattern and I cannot wait to make another one!! The pattern is Chevron Baby Blanket by Purl Soho, and here are my Ravelry notes.

Hannah's Build-a-Bear needed a new sweater, so I whipped one up using the Toy Pullover or Vest pattern. I made a few mods, so check out my notes. Doesn't Dolly bear look cute?? Once I can start knitting again, I have promised Stuffie the Bunny and Canada Bear their own new sweaters!!

Just before we left on Christmas holidays, we went over to the UofA Butterdome for their big craft sale. I was bound and determined to find some yarn amongst all the candles, metal art, home remedies and wall hangings. Sure enough, I found a stand for MelonHead Knitwear out of BC. I loved all of the beautiful handspun she offered, and I bought some BFL and a pattern for a slouchy hat.

Then, one night at my in-law's house, I whipped up this pink beauty. (yes, I know the photo is not flattering at all...I look like I have a lazy eye!!) The pattern is very well written, the yarn was a dream to knit with, and I love the final result!!

You can find the pattern here, and my notes here.

Finally, I finished up a sweater for Hannah that I don't think I ever posted about. We bought her a pair of (fake)Uggs and she wanted a sweater to go with them. So, I went with a simple cardigan in a practical, yet girly grey.

We named the sweater, "Even Princesses Wear Grey," since Hannah was reluctant to wear either the boots or the sweater at first. She was convinced they were too boyish, and it took me showing her a photo of Princess Kate (God Bless Google) wearing grey Uggs to make her think twice. Now she loves both items, despite their color.

The pattern I used was Audrey's First Day, by Elizabeth Smith. I had made another one of this designer's sweaters before and loved it, so I was anxious to make something for Hannah. I did make a bunch of mods on the sweater so it would fit my little princess just right, though I forgot to add them to Ravelry. I'll have to dig up my pattern and see what I wrote down. So, with that said, stay tuned to my notes page in case I find them and post them.

So, other than two WCOBBS blankets that I will post about later, I think that should catch you all up on my knitting. If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to post.

Cheers!!
Sharon

A Little Winter Gardening

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

Some recent warm days have given me quite the case of spring fever. I needed to shake it, and the only way I could think of was to plant something...anything. I had recently on Pinterest where someone grew green onions in a glass of water. Hmmm...I had some onions that were getting old in the fridge, so why not?

I trimmed up several onions, added them to a short glass of water, and placed them in a sunny window.

Just a few days, later, this is what they looked like...

You'll notice that there are fewer ends in the glass than when I started. Several never sprouted (likely because they were pretty old in the fridge), and I tossed them before they funked the water too much. I also change the water every few days, and give the roots a rinse.

According the the site I saw this idea on, you can simply cut off what you need for cooking, and the roots will continue to grow. I bought a fresh bunch at the store today to add to what I have, and hopefully I won't have to buy any more green onions for a long time!

Cheers!
Sharon

P.S. This project didn't cure my fever 100%, but it helped!!

Cuz Everybody Needs a Pillow...Case

2012-01-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone!!

Well, I think I'm about belly deep in the sewing pool. Tonight I made Hannah a pillow case for her body pillow. It isn't anything fancy, but she loves it!!! I bought two meters of Tiana fabric for 70% off at FabricLand yesterday (it ended up being $4ish per meter), and I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it. Hannah has had a body pillow on her bed for a while now, but we were having an awful time finding a case for it. Some stores sell pillow cases, but they are blah colors or you have to buy a bedding set to get a fun print one. I had been hesitant to let her use the pillow too much until I had an easy way to wash it, so a cover was a must!

To make the case, it was pretty simple. I measured the pillow at 20x48-inches. Thankfully when my fabric was folded in half, it was 22-inches, so I only had to cut the length. I cut the fabric at 55-inches to make sure that I had plenty for seams, etc.

Next, I picked which end would be the open end, and I folded it over an inch or so, and then over again, about an inch or so. This not only squared up the end, but it would also hide the raw edge after I sewed it.

Once the folds were done (you could iron it if you wanted to), I sewed a fancy seam to seal in the edge and finish it off nicely. Yes, I know the thread doesn't match the fabric the way it should, but Hannah liked that it matched Tiana's hair, and since the black was already loaded in my machine, who was I to argue??

Next, I matched up the long edge of the fabric and sewed it using a simple straight stitch. I gave it about a 1/2-inch allowance (actually, I used the printed edge as a guide). Finally, I matched up the bottom edges and sewed them closed. I found that the fabric had been cut very crooked at the store, so I had to make sure that I made the stitches far enough in to square off the finished product.

As you can see, Hannah is a very happy customer!! I have a bit of fabric left, so I might mix it with some other stuff I have an make Hannah a regular pillowcase to match. We shall see...

Happy Sewing!

Cheers!
Sharon

The Sweet Smell of Citrus

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

I recently made Indian food for dinner, and though it tasted unbelievable, it left the house smelling pretty strong of ginger and onions. That was fine the night we ate it, but waking up to that smell the next morning was less than ideal.

All of the candles I had handy were a bit too Christmasy, so I decided to try something new. I thinly sliced up an orange and added it to a pot of water. To it, I added cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a splash of vanilla. I wanted to add some cranberries, but all I had were Craisins...not to worry, they plumped right up.

I brought the pot to a boil and then let it simmer for a while. Oh my goodness, it made the house smell heavenly!!!

Tonight I'm making some Asian soup, so I plan on keeping my "citrus brew" and simmering it again after tonight's meal.

Next time I might try some apple slices and this summer, lemon, and maybe some mint leaves, will be perfect!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Getting My Feet Wet

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

Well, I managed to dig out my sewing machine this week. It's funny, sewing both excites me and scares the crap out of me! I don't know why, but I get so nervous to begin any sewing project. I tried to jump right in and make some gift bags for the ornaments Hannah picked out for her teachers.

I must say, I wasn't very "technical" when I made these bags. I measured by eye, didn't iron the fabric and I can't even say that my lines were straight. Despite this, Hannah's teachers told her that they were impressed...woohoo!!!

So, here they are...three bags for three amazing teachers!!

Next time, I will double my edges over to prevent fraying, and I will likely add a drawstring. I was running short on time, so I simply made bags and tied them with ribbon.

I hope to make more of these in the future. They are just as quick as going to the basement for a paper gift bag, and if made correctly, they can be reused over and over again. Plus, it shows that the gift giver took a few extra minutes to make something special for the recipient.

So, now that I have my sewing feet wet, what should I tackle next?

Stay tuned to see what I have up my sleeve...or should I say, pant leg?

Cheers!
Sharon

A 2012 Update

2012-01-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hello All!!

Well, we're finally back to Canada after spending a few weeks in the States for the holidays, and I'm slowly getting back to my crafting and blogging routine. I'm in the middle of collecting some photos, etc for a few posts, so stay tuned for some new stuff.

I did come to a realization while we were back East regarding what crafts I should be doing this year, or at least in the short term. While in a more humid climate, my hands started to heal. For those of you who know me in real life, you may have noticed that come winter, my hands are all cracked and bleeding from the Alberta dryness (as well as way too much Christmas knitting). Thankfully, I came home with soft healed hands, and I am really enjoying it!! So, with that said, I think I will be taking a bit of a knitting hiatus. I have numerous sewing projects pinned on Pinterest and I cannot wait to get going on them. I also have a bunch of recipes that are screaming my name to try, so they'll be taking over soon too. Not to mention that I have already started getting the gardening itch!!

So, with all of that said, stay tuned and see what 2012 brings to Nana's Button Jar!

Happy New Year!!

Cheers!
Sharon

DIY Fun Foam Ornaments

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

Last night when we were putting up our family Christmas tree, I came across some ornaments that I thought I would share with all of you.

When Hannah was little, we were concerned that her curiosity would result in some broken ornaments at Christmas. So, I decided to make some 100% unbreakable ones.

These are made out of fun foam, and take no time at all to make. When I made these, sticky backed foam wasn't as available as it is now. So, I used super glue and hot glue. Now, you can get most any color or shape with a sticky back, making this project even easier!

First, you need to decide what shapes you will be making. I used some cookie cutters as inspiration, but several of my ornaments were made free-hand. I also based several ornaments on their breakable counterparts.

Once you know what shapes you are doing, simply trace or draw out your shapes on the foam and cut them out. Keep in mind the possibility that your shapes may end up reversed if you have any markings left from drawing them. Also, be careful when you cut them out. I was able to make two candy canes out of one cutting. I simply made one in the reversed colors of the other. Some other tools that can be helpful are hole punchers for berries and printable images on the computer.

Finally, once all of your pieces are cut out, assemble them either with their sticky backs or glue. When I use hot glue or super glue, I place all of my shapes on parchment paper. It saves me from making a mess if the glue spills out the sides.
To hang your ornaments, you can use wire, ribbon, pipe cleaners, you name it. I decided to use wire for mine. I took a small piece of wire, doubled it over and twisted the ends together. I then took a small scrap of coordinating foam and hot glued the pieces together, with the wire sandwiched in the middle. On some of the ornaments, such as the blue ball with snow, I sandwiched the wire between the white and blue foam. Be sure if you do this that none of the wire is peeking out from under the foam. It wouldn't take much to scratch a little one, which defeats the purpose of making kid friendly ornaments!!

The possibilities are endless with this craft! You could even pre-cut the pieces and have an ornament party with your kids and their friends. These make great keepsakes, and you could even add a photo to a wreath shaped ornament for a great gift for family members. I'd love to hear your ideas!!

Happy Crafting!!

Sharon

DIY Recycled Bird Feeders

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

I was going through some photos left on my camera and I came across a project that I had been wanting to post and forgot. About a month or so ago (before the snow), Hannah and I decided to do something nice for both the birds and the environment. We made toilet paper tube bird feeders!! This was a mildly messy project, but easy to clean and lots of fun! Even though many of you may have snow, this can easily be adapted to being an indoor project...just be sure to cover the surface you're working on well to avoid a big mess.

First, we collected a few toilet paper tubes from our craft bag. I had been saving them for a bit with no project in mind, so this was a perfect use for them!!

Next, you'll want to gather all of your supplies. I suggest getting everything out first, since things can get a bit messy once the peanut butter comes out!

For this project you'll need:
- Toilet paper tubes
- Bowl for peanut butter
- A child safe knife (or an adult can do the spreading)
- Birdseed
- A tray to catch extra birdseed

Once everything is ready, you'll want to put a fair amount of peanut butter in your bowl. It doesn't take much to cover the tube, but little ones may have some trouble spreading it because of the stickiness, so you'll want to give them some extra.

Then, spread the peanut butter all over the tube. I found it best to put my fingers inside the tube to hold it and keep it's shape better while spreading. The oils from the peanut butter tend to make the cardboard a touch soggy and it will crush much easier. you might even want to hold the tube for your child while they cover it with peanut butter.

Next, roll the tube in birdseed. I found that putting a bunch of seed into an old pie plate worked well. It also made clean-up easier.

Once your tube is fully covered, find a tree branch to slide your tube over. Be sure that you can easily see the branch from a window in your home, since snow may prevent you from getting outside to view.

Finally, admire your work and wait for a few new friends to stop by!

The best thing about this project is that we had all of the materials in the house already, so it cost nothing. It is also easy enough to make year round, so your feathered friends won't go hungry!!

Have fun making your toilet paper bird feeders!!

Happy Crafting!
Sharon

DIY Christmas trees

2011-12-05T10:23:00.001-07:00

Hello All-

I wanted to share a Christmas project with all of you that got a bit of attention on my Facebook page last week. With a new house and new spaces to decorate, I have been spending a fair amount of time at various stores scouring through their decorations for "the perfect ones." I noticed that one type of decoration that kept popping up in my search was small decorated Christmas trees. Not decorated with ornaments and lights, but instead, feathers, paper sheet music, beads, you name it. A quick search on Pinterest and you'll see countless variations.

I decided to give this new trend the old "DIY try". So far I have made two trees for our mantle, and if time allows, I will add a third to the set.

(I apologize that I don't have step-by-step photos, but they are quite easy to make. I didn't expect to be blogging about them until numerous people started sending me messages with questions about them)

The first one I made was the button tree. I have quite a large button collection, but I wanted some variety and I picked up a few bags of mixed buttons at Michaels. I will warn you, these can get costly, so this would be the perfect time to get your hands on one of their 50% off coupons!! Not only do you need lots of buttons, but you'll also want to pick up a Styrofoam tree and lots of push pins. I decided to go with red and green tipped pins for a bit more color, but any large headed pin will do. I suppose you could also glue your buttons, but I wanted the ability to change mine around and potentially use some of them in knitting projects.

You'll want to start pinning your larger, more basic buttons, around the tree. I found that on the larger ones, using two pins was more helpful in keeping them still. From there, you keep building up the layers and adding more of the smaller and more unique buttons. Keep going until you feel that enough of the tree has been covered (you don't want a lot of holes and Styrofoam peeking through). For buttons with shanks and not holes, simply bend your pin into an "L" shape and poke it through that way. Also, when you get toward the top, be careful! My pins started poking through the point of the tree and I had to take a break to let the bleeding stop!!

The next tree I made was a ribbon tree. To make this one, you again need a Styrofoam tree, and pins, though flat headed ones work best on this project. You will also need ribbon. I went with four different patterns and one roll of each. Depending on how full or colorful you want your tree, you may have to adjust how much ribbon you use. I used every last scrap I had, and I probably could have used another roll for good measure.

To make the tree, you simply cut your ribbon into 3-inch lengths. From there, you fold the ribbon pieces in half and secure them to the tree using pins. Once you finish your row, you start the next one, slightly overlapping the ribbons to cover the pins from the row below. Keep going in whatever color pattern you choose, again being careful not to poke yourself as you near the top of the tree.

See, pretty simple!! I have one more tree that is taller than the other two, and I think I will be covering it in yarn. A friend suggested pompoms, and if I can get them to stick, that may be an option too. Hmmm...so many ideas!!

Well, I'm off to ready the little one for school. Tonight we are decorating our tree, so stay tuned for some photos of that!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Salt Dough Ornaments

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!

I have been getting some questions lately from friends looking for ornament ideas that would be good for their little ones to make. I did this post last year for "Kids in Cowtown" and I thought I would re-run it here.

Enjoy!!

I recently received my December issue of Canadian Living in the mail, and I couldn’t wait to try out one of the craft ideas, Salt Dough Snowflakes. I used salt dough for school projects as a child, so I was excited to use it again after all these years.
This project is great for doing with little ones. I had my 3 ½ year old help with every step, and she did a great job! I must also say that I had originally thought I was in for a big mess, but it wasn’t bad after all.

First, you need the following ingredients (Tip: I cut the ingredients in half for my first try and it worked fine):
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 cup warm water
Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Add the water a bit at a time until your mix starts to look like cookie dough. Turn out onto your work surface, knead it a few times and roll it out to approx ¼ inch thickness.

After that, use cookie cutters to make your shapes, and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Before you put them in the oven, poke a hole in the top of each one with a drinking straw (this hole is for a hanging ribbon). Bake at 300-degrees for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Once they cool completely, you can paint and decorate them any way you like!

Here are some tips I figured out along the way:
* You don’t have to use just snowflake cookie cutters…we used some that I already had in the house, and my daughter came up with the idea to use her Play Doh cutters. They worked great and made for some really fun shapes!

* I don’t have a lot of “kid-friendly” paints in my home, so we used washable markers. I found that they created less mess and Hannah was able to use more colors on each ornament. We also used glitter pens from one of her coloring sets to add some sparkle to each ornament.

* We split this project into two days…one to make and bake the ornaments and another to color them. I found that not only did it give me two days of crafty fun, but my daughter’s attention span wasn’t stretched too far this way.

We had so much fun making these! While creating them, I thought of a few other uses for the ornaments…wouldn’t they make great place cards at a holiday meal? Guests could keep them as favours and remember a wonderful time at your home. (Be sure to add the year on the back of them with a permanent marker) Also, I can picture these as cool gift tags. With cookie cutters coming in so many different shapes, you could really personalize them to the gift recipient. Finally, do you have a lot of children that visit your home during the holidays? You could make the ornaments ahead of time, then make goodie bags with an ornament, a few markers, a glitter pen, and a piece of ribbon. Place everything into a clear bag with a gift tag, and you have a quick, easy gift that costs only a few dollars. The possibilities are endless!!!

Have fun making your salty new works of art, and I would love to hear other uses that you can think of!

Cheers!
Sharon

Hello...anybody still here??

2011-11-28T13:43:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone!!

So, I am back to being a bad blogger. It seems like between settling into the new house, the holidays, and the Diva's school schedule/activities, I never get a chance to sit and blog. Argh! I have so much to share with all of you, and so little time to type it all out. I am in the process of trying to work a bit of "me time" into my week, so fingers crossed that I will be able to post more soon.

Cheers!
Sharon

All Around Town: Telus World of Science

2011-10-21T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hello All-

If you live in the Edmonton area and you've never been to Telus World of Science, you are missing out! This place is hands down, my favorite spot in the city. My family enjoyed it so much that we bought memberships during our first visit.

Hannah is a budding scientist, so around every corner was something for her to explore. Even as an adult, I found the exhibits very interesting and I learned a lot as well. During our visit, there was a Sesame Street special exhibit all about the body. We had a blast learning with all of our favorite characters. They were also showing One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre. Both were highlights of the trip.

Along with the Sesame Street offerings, we also had fun in the Health Gallery, Space Gallery, DiscoveryLand, and Forensics Gallery. We didn't make it to the Environment Gallery or Robotics Lab during this trip, but we look forward to them the next time. All offered hands-on exhibits for all ages and there wasn't a dull moment the entire time.

One of the upcoming exhibits to visit the museum is Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. We saw this exhibit when it visited the Telus museum in Calgary and it is quite good. They are also currently showing Born to Be Wild in the IMAX^® Theatre. Hannah and I saw this movie in 3D in Calgary at the Chinook Mall and it is fantastic! If you haven't seen it, you should add it to your To Do List!!

What's your favorite part of the museum? With goodies in every nook and cranny, I'm sure we missed some stuff and I'd love to hear your favorites!!

Happy Exploring!
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Thanksgiving!

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I'm in the process of writing some new food posts (since I have been cooking/baking up a storm lately). In the meantime, I thought I would share the menu we used at Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend. All in all, I think the food was quite successful. Since many of my readers will be celebrating US Thanksgiving next month, I thought I'd throw out some food ideas. Stay tuned in the next week or so for more elaborate posts regarding some of the items we made.

The guests we had for Thanksgiving stayed with us two nights, so on top of dinner, I also had to think of breakfasts. We went out for lunch both days, so that helped.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Appetizers

Wild Mushroom Pate on Pita Chip Crackers

Baked Crab Rangoons

Manila Clams steamed in beer

Homemade Cheese Crackers

Dinner

Lobsters (for the boys and Hannah)

Steaks (for the ladies)

Grilled Asparagus

Corn

Crispy Baked Onions

Homemade Bread

Dessert

Baked Apples and Vanilla Ice Cream

Sunday

Breakfast

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Lunch

Dim Sum at Cha for Tea Palace

Dinner

Lobster Rolls (for the boys)

Steak Subs with leftover steak, onions, and garlic mayo (for the girls)

Dessert

S'mores Croissant Rolls

Monday

Breakfast

Cinnamon Buns

Lunch

Famoso Pizza

So there you have it. A bit unusual for a holiday weekend menu, but since none of us are big fans of turkey, we decided to go with something different. The biggest hits of the weekend were probably the blueberry cake, the onions, and of course those who had the seafood were quite please with it too.

Have a great rest of the week!!!

Happy Cooking!!

Sharon

All Around Town: Reynolds-Alberta Museum

2011-10-14T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hello All-

This week we venture out of the Edmonton city limits and head to Wetaskiwin and the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. If you enjoy transportation and history, this is the place for you! We visited back in early September when my in-laws were visiting town. Both my hubby and father-in-law love old cars, so this was the perfect spot to visit.

The day we went, we not only got to see the museum and the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, but we were also treated to the Harvest Festival, including the threshing competition. Now I know that might not sound like fun to some of you, but it was actually quite interesting. I just need to remember to bring my allergy medication for next year!!

For those of you with children, this could be hit or miss (unless you know they like transportation "stuff"). Hannah enjoyed herself, but I found myself walking around with her quite a bit looking for the various interactive displays, while the rest of our group stopped to read plaques, etc. Though, with that said, there were quite a few things for kids to check out and stay occupied, so she never seemed to get bored.

The museum is very well laid out and moves right along. The day we went they had a quilting exhibit, bread making demos and a spot where you could shake your own butter. I really liked the period costumes and the fact that they went above and beyond the typical car museum. I felt like we were learning as much about history as we were about how people moved. Hannah also loved the simulated drive in theater and the tractors that you can climb on and explore.

A short walk brought us over to the aviation building, home to the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. The spiderweb of planes and other aircraft was very well designed and showcased each piece nicely. A highlight was being able to get up inside a helicopter and look around.

My only complaint about the museum was the food service. Though they listed a variety of snack bar type items on their menu board, they only had a few offered that day. I don't know if they were having trouble keeping up with the large crowd, or if this is a regular issue. It also took nearly a half hour to get the grilled cheese and burger that we ordered. I would be curious to see how smoothly things run on a non-event day.

Though I am not a huge car enthusiast, I do look forward to going back again. I think this will be on the list of attractions that we bring company to. It is a nice drive and a fun place...a 10 in my book!!

Happy Exploring,
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Cream of Tomato Soup

2011-10-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

With the changing of the leaves and a chill in the air, it is officially soup making time!! I wanted to make something that would go nicely with the 5-Minute bread I made, so I started searching online. I had recently had Cream of Tomato soup at our local sandwich shop, and it was heavenly, so that's the direction I decided to head in.

I stumbled across this recipe and it looked too easy not to try. I used 2 pounds of on-the-vine tomatoes for my soup. I used 7 or so small/medium ones, and that did the trick. I probably could have gotten away with fewer beefsteak or another large tomato, but I wanted the sweetness of the smaller ones. I also didn't want so much meaty-ness from the larger tomatoes. Other than that, I stuck to the recipe.

I think the next time I will put the tomatoes through a sieve to remove the seeds (or cut them out before cooking). Aside from some little pops from the seeds, it was super smooth, and so tasty with our Havarti and homemade bread grilled cheese sandwiches. All in all, the perfect fall dinner!!

Happy Cooking!
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: 5-Minute Bread

2011-10-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

This week has been misty and cold here in Edmonton, so what better to make than a loaf of bread? Normally, I would have busted out my bread machine to make some perfectly shaped, perfectly baked loaf, but this time I wanted to try something new. Despite all of my baking, I had never jumped into the world of making bread from scratch...and now was the time to do it!

Of course I put aside my numerous cookbooks and turned to my trusty buddy, Pinterest, to help me find the perfect recipe to try. I wanted something relatively simple with not a lot of ingredients. Much to my surprise, I found a recipe that fit both criteria!!

The recipe for this magical bread can be found on the Heart, Hands, Home blog. One of the best things about this dough is that it only uses four ingredients, flour, salt, yeast and water!!!! I had everything on hand already, and when I saw how much flour it used, I ran over to Save-On Foods to grab some more (they had their unbleached flour on special this week...score!!!) Another wonderful thing about the dough is that it keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge! I was able to make a small loaf the other night as a trial run, and save the rest of the dough for Thanksgiving!!

Once you get the dough all mixed, there is a separate post on the blog for the actual baking. (Click here) I was so excited that despite all of the unpacked boxes in the basement, I was able to find my pizza stone. After making this bread, I can assure you that it won't end up on a basement shelf like it did at the old house. It has been promoted to the baking cabinet!! I need it handy for when I start craving bread!

The final product came out awesome!! It was great straight out of the oven with some butter, and later in the week, we also used some of it to make grilled cheese sandwiches. I can see using this same recipe for small dinner rolls, bread bowls, baguettes, you name it!! I have a feeling that there will be a batch of dough waiting in the fridge from now on!!

Happy Baking!!
Sharon

All Around Town: Muttart Conservatory

2011-10-07T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hello All-
Looking for a way to bring some color to your day? The Muttart Conservatory has got your covered!! This (not so hidden) gem is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and forget about any dreary weather that may be lurking outside. Beneath three of the four glass pyramids are displays showcasing arid, tropical and temperate plants. The fourth pyramid is called the Feature Pyramid and during our visit it was decorated for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Though the Conservatory offers guided tours, we opted to roam around on our own. After looking at their tour schedule, I am looking forward to their orchid and Christmas tours.

One of the best features of this Edmonton attraction is that you can either pop in for a quick visit or linger for hours. We moved right along (at a pace that kept Hannah interested) and it took us about an hour to go in and out of the four pyramids. If the weather is nice, be sure to add a bit of extra time to roam the grounds and the beautiful outdoor gardens that surround the facility.

I also loved the gift shop and the attached cafe smelled heavenly!! I may have to schedule in some coffee time to my next visit as well!!

So, if you've got a case of the winter blues, the Muttart Conservatory has got your cure!!

Happy Exploring!
Sharon

An update: We went back to Muttart this weekend and the orchid display is AMAZING!!! Be sure to check it out!!!

Fresh from the Oven: Pink Lemonade Confetti Cupcakes

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

The Diva and I have been baking again!! This time we decided to make Pink Lemonade Confetti Cupcakes!! Hannah and I were in the mood to bake, and after scouring Pinterest for something that looked yummy, she pointed out these pink treats. How could I say no?

This recipe is super easy and I love that I can keep all of the ingredients in the pantry. Hannah loved mixing the lemonade crystals and the water, as well as adding a layer of sprinkles to the top of each cupcake before they baked. I loved that the recipe called for unsweetened applesauce and there was no super sugary frosting on top!!

These cupcakes lived up to their tangy description. It really tastes like you're having a tall glass of lemonade when you bite into one. I wasn't sure if Hannah would be upset that they were frosting free, but with the layer of sprinkles on top, she was satisfied.

I can definitely see us making these again in the future. I think they would be a great addition to a birthday party or princess tea party as well. I mean, what little princesses don't like eating pink food?? Mine was a fan!!

Happy Baking!
Sharon

All Around Town: Edmonton Valley Zoo

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

It is time for another installment of All Around Town. This week we visit the Edmonton Valley Zoo. I must say that of all the attractions we've been to so far, this one was the most disappointing. I had been warned that it wasn't anything like the Calgary Zoo, but that was a big understatement. Though, after growing up in a city that didn't have any zoo, I guess something is better than nothing.

First off, the website boasts a collection of more than 350 animals, and though I didn't count each one we saw, I feel like this was a bit overestimated. To the zoo's defense, they are renovating and perhaps that contributed to the numerous empty exhibits.

Now, I have never been one to fight against zoos, as long as the animals are being cared for properly and are providing an educational resource, though I have found myself being a bit uneasy regarding the small confines that many of the animals are housed in. Mind you, I have been spoiled by visiting Zoo Miami (formally called the Miami Metro Zoo) several times over the years, and it is a cage less zoo. That's right, no cages. A series of moats separates you from the animals, and after seeing both options, I do feel that it is a more humane way to show off these creatures. There's just something about two Emus pacing back and forth in a cage all day that concerns me.

Animal rights issues aside, I must say that Hannah had a great time and wants to go back. I hope to enroll her in a few of the educational programs the zoo offers with hopes that she can learn more about the animals and their habitats. We also plan to bring a picnic lunch and try to take a ride on the train. Apparently there are pony rides and paddle boats in the high season too.

Please check out the Edmonton Valley Zoo and let me know your thoughts. I have high hopes that after a few more visits and after the renovations are completed I will become a believer.

Happy Exploring!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Homemade Cheese Crackers

2011-09-28T08:00:00.001-06:00

This post was supposed to have run back in September and for some reason it bounced back as a draft and isn't on my blog anymore...I'm reposting for those who didn't see it the first time.

Hello All-
I've finally gotten settled in enough at the new house to start baking again. First up, a recipe that I spotted on Pinterest. It is for homemade cheese crackers, similar to Cheeze-its.

These little crackers are super easy to make and so delicious!! I did make a few changes to the original recipe, one on purpose and one accidentally. The intentional change was that I backed off on the red pepper flakes that the recipe calls for. I halved the amount, but in all honesty, I think I'll skip them all together next time. If I were making these crackers for an adult party or as twists, I would keep the flakes in, but for snacking, I prefer them plain. The mistake that I made on the recipe was so silly. I had my butter softening and I forgot to put it in! I wondered why my dough wasn't forming a ball, so I added a touch more milk. That's when it hit me that my butter was sitting on the counter...d'oh! I added the butter and sure enough, a dough ball formed. The extra milk made the dough a bit sticky, but nothing that a few sprinkles of flour couldn't fix.

I do encourage you to use parchment paper when you make these crackers. I was still frazzled by my butter mistake, so I forgot. They didn't stick, but started to brown up a bit sooner than I would have liked.

I must say, these crackers are addicting! All three of us were munching on them last night, and I have already had a few handfuls this morning. I am waiting for the weather to cool down a touch so I can make some homemade soup and throw a few handfuls of crackers in! I think they'll be super yummy served that way. Hubby couldn't believe how similar they tasted in comparison to the store-brand crackers.

All in all, this was a wonderful recipe and a hit in our house! I think there will be many more batches being whipped up in the future!

Happy Baking!
Sharon

All Around Town: Jurassic Forest

2011-09-27T09:45:00.003-06:00

Hello All-
I wanted to keep my travel posts for Fridays, but we went to a new place this weekend that I had to share as soon as possible. Tucked away about 15 minutes away from the northern edge of Edmonton is a town called Gibbons. Located in Gibbons is one of the coolest attractions I have been to in a while, Jurassic Forest.

Hubby heard about this place from a co-worker and we knew that we needed to check it out. Hannah has been telling us for quite some time that she wants to be a paleontologist when she grows up, so this was a perfect fit. Jurassic Forest is a collection of moving, roaring dinosaurs housed within a nature facility. You walk along beautiful boardwalks to view the dinosaurs, while also learning about various bugs, animals, and plants.

For children who scare easily, I wouldn't suggest visiting. The dinosaurs are quite realistic. Even Hannah had to warm up to them a bit, and she saw similar robotic dinos at the Calgary Zoo a few years back. However, if your child likes dinosaurs and wants to feel like they've stepped back in time, it is worth the trip out!

Once your walk is done, they also have a giant sandbox that has buried bones that kids can dig for and they can climb over the various skeletons. We found their gift shop to be small, but very reasonably priced. We made the most of some end of the season markdowns and we stocked up on lots of dino goodies!

I can't say that I would buy a membership to this facility, as it is a hike from our house, and I don't know how many times we'd visit in a year, but I know we'll be back next season for sure!

(Note: The park is scheduled to close on October 23, 2011 for the season, so be sure to check them out before then!!)

Happy Exploring!
Sharon

All Around Town: Fort Edmonton Park

2011-09-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

I figured that since we are in the process of exploring our new city of Edmonton, I would share some of our discoveries with you. Recently my in-laws came to town to visit, so we were able to check out a lot of attractions right off the bat.

First up is one of my new favorite places, Fort Edmonton Park. We stumbled across the park during an afternoon of driving around the city. We knew that it was similar to Calgary's Heritage Park, another favorite place of ours, so we thought we'd give it a chance.

Going at the end of the season, we knew that some of the features of the park might not be operating, though we were pleasantly surprised that most everything was up and running the day we went. (The website now says that many of the features are indeed closed for the season).

We first hopped onto a streetcar that took us around the park. We then walked around 1885 Street, 1905 Street and 1920 Street. The time got away from us, and in an attempt to make it to the Midway before closing time, we decided to save the 1846 Fort for another day.

While at the park, we also had lunch in Johnson's Cafe. Though the menu isn't huge, they serve delicious sandwiches and soups at reasonable prices.

Finally, we ended our visit with a few rides and games on the midway. The Ferris wheel wasn't working that day, but we still had lots of fun. Hannah was a big fan of the manually operated merry-go-rounds (that were free to ride!!) and the three of us had a blast riding the beautiful full-sized merry-go-round. I also enjoyed watching the artisans carve new animals in the building just behind the ride.

All in all, we had so much fun at Fort Edmonton Park and we cannot wait until next season to visit again. For those who are looking to go before they close down for the winter, they are having a Free Admission Day this weekend, and they host several events throughout the off-season as well.

Cheers and Happy Exploring!!
Sharon

Potty (seat) Talk

2011-09-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-
It always amazes me what unusual things get my hubby all excited. When we moved into the new house, what was one of his first questions? Do we have round or oval toilet seats?

Much to his excitement, this house has round seats (our old house had oval...grrr!). Why is this tidbit of info so important?? Because of these...

And just what is this blog-worthy item? It is a child/adult toilet seat and 100% pure genius!! Let me demonstrate...

A child seat is built into the adult seat...cool, huh?? It is held up with magnets when not being used, and is easy enough for my four-year-old to pull it down. No more nasty potty seats that don't fit properly on the seat. No more awkward moments with company not knowing what to do with the germ-ridden potty seat when they need to use the bathroom. I simply wipe both seats down daily with a Lysol wipe and we are good to go. We have even found that Hannah doesn't need her stool anymore, since her seat doesn't shift when she scootches up on it.

Now why didn't we have these awesome seats on our toilets sooner? Simple. They only make them for round toilets. Needless to say, these were one of the first purchases made for the new house. We got ours at Home Depot and they cost around $30. Well worth it in my book!!

What fun products get you or your significant other all excited?? Please share!!

Cheers!

Sharon

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far...

2011-09-19T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hello All-

For Hannah's birthday, my parents bought her a kit to make accessories with a loom and nylon loops. I knew Hannah had showed interest in crafting before, but I wasn't sure if she had the patience to sit and do a longer project.

So, this summer, with my husband in Edmonton and Hannah and I in Calgary, we decided to do a project together. After looking through the options in the instruction book, Hannah decided to make a purse with her looped squares.

In all honesty, I didn't have to help her as much as I anticipated. She did much of the work and wanted to learn every step, even if I needed to help her. She was so excited with her finished product, and so was I!!

We'll see what her next project is going to be. I'm thinking she might enjoy some sticky mosaics or something like that.

Happy Crafting!
Sharon

Baby Knitting and a Big Announcement!!

2011-09-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

So early yesterday morning, my big brother and my wonderful sister-in-law had a baby!!! I am so happy for them and our Christmas trip home to New England cannot come fast enough!!!

In several posts, I mentioned that I was knitting some goodies that I couldn't share just yet. Well, now that the little guy has arrived, I can share what I made for them.

First up is this little number I made to honor my brother's obsession with the Red Sox. I call is "Little Slugger", and I used the Presto Chango pattern and did a stockinette panel. Then I used a chart and duplicate stitched the "B". I tried doing colorwork, but it ended up pulling too tightly and looked awful.

I also made a second panel in moss stitch for the off-season.

To match the set, I made a plain baby hat with the same moss stitch edge. I think it all came out quite well.

Next, I made this pullover that I call, Shades of Blue. The yarn I used was Berroco Ultra Alpaca Tonal, and it knit like a dream!!! I plan to use this same yarn for another project soon!!!

I thought this one was the cutest thing when I knit it up. I have to see if I took any photos of it with the wooden buttons I put on it. I have had the Cascade Yarns Lana D'oro Tweed in my stash for ages now and it has always screamed "Grandpa Sweater" to me. So, that's what I made!!

These next two sweaters I made a while back and sent them to my brother when they first announced that they were expecting.

I don't know why I love making mini versions of old man sweaters, but to me they are the cutest thing on baby boys!!

Finally, here's the project I am the most proud of. Years ago I was given my Memere's prized sewing machine. In an attempt to learn how to use it, I pieced together the top to a quilt, perfect for a baby boy. I even had denim cut to size for the back. The problem? Once I got it pieced, I had no idea how to quilt it. Fast forward to this summer. My Mom visited us in Calgary, and I thought she might be able to show me how to finish the quilt so I could send it to my brother.

We worked at it for a few days and sure enough, with my Mom's help, I learned how to tie and bind a quilt!! This project means so much since there are three generations involved. My brother and my Memere were always quite close, so I know that he appreciates the connection to her.

So there you have it. A whole bunch of projects that were all made for Baby Tyler. Welcome to the family little guy!!!

Happy Crafting!

Sharon

I've Solved the Mystery...

2011-09-17T23:01:00.000-06:00

...of where all of the socks disappear to in the laundry!! They were eaten by my washing machine!!!

Okay, you're probably asking what in the world I am talking about. Here's a bit of back-story...

Recently one of my friends asked on Facebook what kind of washing machines everyone has, as she is looking to buy a new one. I told her that I loved my old top-load washer and now I have a front-load washer at the new house and I hate it. Several other friends chimed in that they too don't like their front loaders and one of the main reasons was the mold potential.

When we moved into our new house last week, we noticed that there was a definite smell lurking in the laundry room. I figured it was because the previous owners had moved out and shut the machine before they left, causing it to get a musty funk. I bought some of the new Tide Washing Machine Cleaner and it helped quite a bit, but there was still a smell. Thankfully the dryer managed to get the smell off our clothes, so I wasn't too worried about it.

Then tonight I was in the laundry room getting a few loads done and I decided to investigate the stink. Sure enough there was some mold starting to form on the door...no biggie, I took a scrubbie sponge and off it came. Case closed? Not so much. I went one step further and decided to check the seal on the inside of the washer...and what did I discover?? The answer to a timeless question...where do missing socks go??

Upon looking inside the seal, I found them...five nasty soaking wet socks, left by the previous owner. I know they have been there for a while since the wife moved out months ago with the children and the husband was lingering until the house sold. So, these nasty, stinky socks had been stuck inside the washer for Goodness knows how long! (They clearly belonged to the wife and boys)

I'm not sure if this will get rid of the linger smell, but so far it already smells better. Next week I plan to use another dose of cleaner to see if that helps. Until then, I now know to keep the door open and check often for missing clothing. Who knows what I'll find if I go snooping around the dryer!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Lots to catch up on...

2011-09-17T21:27:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I just wanted to let you know that I have been going through photos from this summer and I have LOTS to post about!!! So, starting tomorrow, you'll be seeing quite a few new posts showing up on here. Please leave lots of comments to keep me in the blogging mood. I am hoping now that the Diva is in pre-k four days a week, I can put aside some scheduled blogging time!!

Enjoy!!
Sharon

We're on the Move

2011-09-13T08:47:00.002-06:00

Hello All-

Sorry for the lack of posts. This summer has been INSANE!!! We recently moved to Edmonton and we are slowly getting settled in. I promise lots of new posts in the coming weeks...

Cheers!
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Carrot Cake Jam

2011-08-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hey Everyone!
Continuing with my canning, I came across this recipe from the Aska Lodge in Georgia, and I had to try it. I mean, I love carrot cake, especially when it has pineapple in it, so I was drooling over the idea of a jam with similar flavors.

One of the best parts of this recipe is that the ingredients are so inexpensive, and it makes a decent amount. To get the required 2 cups of carrots, I shredded 3 large carrots. For the apples, I chopped 2 good sized Golden Delicious and had plenty. I was extra careful when I cored and chopped my apples that no pieces of the hard core were left. I would have prefered to cut up another apple than to bit into nasty core in my jam.

The whole process was quite quick. The recipe calls for a small saucepan, and I did use my medium sized one. I was afraid that my "small" was too small. Good decision on my part, as I almost had to go up to the large one to fit everything in.

Most of the time is spent simmering the apples, carrots and pineapple. That gave me a chance to clean up the mess I made from all of the shredding and chopping.

Once you add the sugar, spices and pectin, it smells heavenly!!! It took a lot out of me to not start lapping the bowl right then and there!!

The recipe made 4 1/2- oz freezer jars worth of jam. It says it doesn't set 100%, so this is more of a spread than a jam. I put all of my jars in the fridge for now and I am going to freeze, and give away, the full jars.

Hannah and I sampled a bit of the warm jam and it was so yummy!! I think next time I'll use actual pumpkin pie spice instead of the individual spices. I found the cloves to be a bit strong for my taste and I'm hoping they'll be a bit more mellow in the pre-mixed version.

All in all, a keeper!!!

Happy Canning!!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Evans Cherry Jam

2011-08-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

It is that time of year...canning season!!! I haven't canned much in the past few years, with my big halt taking place when I was pregnant with Hannah. When we lived in Maine, I was "in charge" of making my Memere's Piccalilli each year for my family. (Someday I'll share the story of the recipe and how I ended up being the only one with it) The only problem is that it requires hours of simmering green tomatoes and vinegar in what then was my uber-tiny kitchen. If you know me in real life, you know that I am not a big fan of vinegar, and having morning sickness and having to smell it in my home was not a good combination. So, I packed up my pot and jars for another time. Then we moved to Canada and though I missed it, I hadn't busted out my supplies. I think the altitude difference worried me and I didn't want anyone getting sick from my creations.

Fast forward to this summer. We planted an Evans Cherry tree a few years ago and we had quite a bit of fruit this year. I didn't want to waste it, so Hannah and I picked the good ones and left a few for the birds.

I was pretty happy, our 4 year old tree produced about a pound and a half of quality cherries. Not bad in my book!

I scoured the Internet for a jam recipe and was having a really hard time. Finally, I came across this one on the blog, Food on the Food. It was for a small batch, which was perfect for what I had.

My only complaint was that I busted out all of my canning supplies, optimistically thinking that I would have more jam than I could eat before we move. Instead, I only got two jars out of the batch. It is my own fault...I can't expect a small amount of cherries to transform into gallons of jam. Had I been more realistic, I would have simply put the jam into freezer jars and called it a day. Oh well. Live and learn.

Hannah and I tried the jam today and it is quite tart. I think it will be yummy on a sweeter bread. Though I only got a small amount of jam, I am so happy that I was able to preserve something form our yard!

Happy Canning!!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Sopapilla Cheesecake

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone!!

Man, I have been awful about blogging this summer!! Between selling the house, having hubby 3 hours away and therefor being on "Mommy Duty" 24/7, I have been pretty drained!! I'd love to say that free time is opening up in my schedule, but now that the house is sold, we are flooded with moving "stuff" and house hunting. I can't wait until we are all settled in one city, as a family, in a new home.

Anyways, now that the house is officially sold, I can start trashing my kitchen again!!! No more quick clean up projects in case of last minute showings.

The first creation Hannah and I made to celebrate being able to fully use the kitchen was Sopapilla Cheesecake. I saw a photo of this on Pinterest, big surprise, and I had to try it. I had never heard of it, though in the last week a friend of mine in Texas was making the same thing. Man, have I been missing out!!

The recipe is quite simple, Pillsbury crescent rolls, cream cheese, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. That's it!! And I must say, this dessert is not only addicting, I put it in the dangerous category!!! I ate so much one night that I actually felt ill!! (Good ill, as in, I ate more the next day!!)

After making it, I do have a few tips...

First, keep your crescent dough cold right up until you are ready to use it. Once it starts heating up, it gets gummy and hard to work with.

Next. you could cut back a bit on the cream cheese. I used 2 full bricks, but it would be just as good with a touch less. Just be sure that you scale back on the sugar.

I used my food processor to mix the cream cheese vanilla and sugar. It did a great job whipping it all up so it was super easy to spread.

I used a 9x12 pan. It worked nicely...I would use this one again for sure!!

The amount of butter that it calls for is way too much!! You could easily cut the amount in half and still have plenty.

I baked mine for 20 minutes even and it came out perfect!!

A reader of the blog I saw this recipe posted on suggested making a banana/rum mixture for the top. As I was eating it, I thought that some apples would go really well with it. Maybe next time...

This is great hot or cold!! I put it in the fridge after we ~~ate half~~ sampled it out of the oven. Hannah liked it warm, so 10 seconds in the microwave did the trick.

Be sure to invite lots of friends over to help you eat this!! Hannah and I ended up eating all of it and my waistline will never forgive me!!

I plan on making this many more times. It was easy and so delicious!!! A perfect combination in my mind!

Happy Baking!!
Sharon

Before there was knitting...

2011-07-29T12:31:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I recently cleaned out some files from our old PC and I came across some photos of my earlier craft projects. Before I was pregnant with Hannah, I used to make mosaic art. I was by no means a pro, but I am still quite proud of the work that I did.

My interest in mosaics started with a stepping stone I made for my Mother-in-Law when my Brother-in-Law went to Iraq. I wanted to do something with a yellow ribbon, and they were in the process of completing their backyard garden. I thought a stepping stone that they could look at would be a great reminder of their son while he was away.

From that point on, I was hooked!! Many of my family members garden, so I started making more stones.

This one I made for my Sister-in-Law. The variations in the white glass look great in the sun, and they reflect the colors of the actual flowers around the stone. The middle was done with seaglass, so it has a bit of texture.

My Mom has an amazing garden, so I knew I wanted to make something special for her. I decided to do a 4 stone series with a bug theme. Here are two of the four stones...

Sorry for the glare on the photos...I took these before I had my fancy camera. The spots on the ladybug are glass beads, so they pop up above the rest of the stone.

On the bee, I used textured glass for the wings, so it looks like the texture of real bee wings. I was so psyched when I found that glass...I knew exactly what I was going to use it for!!

The other two stones were a dragonfly and butterfly...though I can't seem to find photos of them.

After I had my fill of stones, I branched out into crosses. Here are a few I made...again, please pardon the glare on the photos.

I really miss mosaics, and I cannot wait to get back into making them. I stopped because of the number the grout and adhesives were doing on my hands. Plus, it is hard to stop mid-project, so when I had Hannah, I had to pack up my glass for a bit. Now that she's older, I am anxious to get back into it. Perhaps once we get settled into the new house, I'll be able to start up again.

So there you have it, a peek into my previous life as a mosaic crafter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Cheers!

Sharon

Making Homemade Crayons

2011-07-28T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hello All-

As many of you know, I was writing for a site called Kids in Cowtown. For various reasons, the site closed down, but I wanted to repost some of my crafts, etc on here. I would hate to lose some great ideas before I was able to share them.

Cheers!
Sharon

Posted on June 9, 2011

Lately I have been seeing a lot of posts in the blogging world about making your own crayons, so Hannah and I thought it was time we gave it a try. I figured that with all of the bits and pieces we had accumulated in Hannah’s crayon box that it was time to put them to good use. A simple web search will give you lots of sites with detailed directions, but here are the basics of what we did.

First, we dug through the crayon box and found all of the broken pieces. I also sacrificed the random crayons that came with coloring books and restaurant placemats. Once they have been separated out, start peeling the labels. This was honestly the longest part of the project! We quickly found that one of the major crayon makers has started gluing their labels to the crayons. Once you get the label off, a simple rub from your finger will get off any remaining residue. I found that the next step, breaking the crayons into smaller pieces, was the perfect stress reliever after peeling all of those silly labels!

Now it is time to fill your molds. I had three that we wanted to try using: hearts, arrows and Sesame Street faces. I assumed that they were all oven-proof…not quite. They all held up, but the heart mold started to melt and the crayons were really hard to pop out of it. The other two molds were perfect for this project. (A side note, all three are ice cube trays…the arrows were bought at IKEA, the hearts were a wedding gift years ago and the Sesame Street faces were bought at our local dollar store) Simply fill each mold to the very top, either mixing colors or doing them solid. Be creative!

I melted my crayons in a preheated oven set at 250-degrees F. I had read that it should only take 5-10 minutes, but I found that they took closer to 15 minutes. I suggest placing a foil lined tray on the oven shelf below in case any of them spill over.

Once they are melted, let the molds cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes or so. I then placed mine in the freezer to speed things up a bit. After another 15 minutes in the freezer, we simply popped them out onto parchment paper. You may need to run warm water over the bottom of the mold to help the crayons pop out. Once you are sure they are cooled completely, they are ready to use.

Hannah and I had a blast doing this project. I can see us making more crayons to use as party favours or holiday gifts. I did find that there was some crayon residue left in each mold, so you will want to only use them for crayon making. This project only took an hour or so to do, and if you buy new molds will cost you less than $5.00 to make.

Happy Coloring!

Fresh from the Oven: Lemon Burst Cake Mix Cookies

2011-07-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

So, I was bumming around on Pinterest again (big surprise!!) and I found another recipe that I want to share with all of you. It is for Lemon Burst Cake Mix Cookies. With the house still on the market and me needing to keep the kitchen tidy for last minute showings, I am really learning to love some of the "cheater" recipes that I have been finding online. This one only uses four ingredients and is super quick.

The four ingredients needed are: A box of lemon cake mix ($1.00 at SuperStore), 1 egg, 8-oz of Cool Whip (SuperStore had an in-store $1.00 off coupon this week) and a bit of powdered sugar to roll the cookies in. So easy!!!

Here's a link to the original recipe...click here. It suggests baking for 10 to 12 minutes. I found 11 and a half to be perfect. I also covered the cookies in too much sugar for the first batch, so for the others, I would roll the ball in the sugar and then tap off the excess in my mini hand strainer. It worked perfectly. For the ones that had too much sugar, a slotted spoon after they had baked worked to bang off some of the excess.

Friends of ours are huge lemon fans, and they loved these cookies!! I was thinking that if you wanted a bit more lemon flavor, you could sandwich some lemon curd between two cookies, or for a meringue taste, you could add some cream between two cookies. As for me, I like them as is.

These would be great cookies for a last minute party, school snack, or bake sale. They cost next to nothing to make, and they are fast. One box of cake mix made approx. 3 dozen cookies.

Happy Baking!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Father's Day Gift on a Budget

2011-07-26T08:00:00.003-06:00

Father’s Day Gift on a Budget

Posted on June 14, 2011

With Father’s Day approaching, I started scanning my friends to see what they were doing for their significant others and I was amazed at how many don’t do anything. Their number one reason? Money. So, I decided to find an inexpensive gift option that anyone can make, regardless of your “craftability”.

The idea that Hannah and I decided to make was a handprint work of art. It is so easy and there is a lot of room to customize both the look and cost to fit your décor and budget.
The first step is to find paper to trace your hands on. Originally we were going to buy individual sheets of scrapbook paper for $.99 apiece, and then I found a pack of 50 sheets of patterned 8×8 paper for $6.00 on clearance. Since we do a lot of crafts, that was a better option for us.

Once you have selected paper, you need to trace each family member’s hand. This is one of those times where you need to explain to your significant other that they need to do as they are told and no asking questions. My husband played along quite nicely and we were able to get his hand traced without giving away the surprise. One suggestion on this step…trace everyone’s left hand. In my family, both my husband and Hannah are lefties, so there is some significance to this, but once I had to trace my own hand, I was happy to have my right hand free.

Next, cut out the hands and layer them by size, using a glue stick to stick them all together. Then, glue the stack of hands onto a larger piece of paper in your choice of color. We used bright paper for our hands, so we decided to go with plain white for the background. We already had the white paper, but if you needed to buy it, I saw a 25 pack of white cardstock at Wal-Mart for $4.00.

Next, you need to decide if you want any writing on your creation. We opted for a simple, “Father’s Day 2011”, but you could add everyone’s names or your family name…anything you want. Finally, frame it! In order to fit our hands, we needed at least an 8×8 opening. We ended up buying a 15×12-inch frame with an 8×10-inch opening. The frame included a mat and only cost $13.97 at Wal-Mart. They had many frame options at all different price points. If you have several children, you may want to only use their hands and then you can get away with a much smaller frame.

All in all, this project cost me less than $20 and took less than an hour to make. Add in homemade card with some of the leftover paper and maybe some button embellishments and you have a wonderful gift that didn’t break the bank.
Happy Father’s Day and Happy Crafting!

Garden Update...The Front Yard

2011-07-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

With all of the posts last week regarding the back yard, I thought I'd do a quick one about the garden out front. So much of it is comprised of bulbs and perennials that I don't think much of it sometimes. It kind of takes care of itself. The other day I did clean it up a bit. We have a rose bush that was put in by the builder and it has spread all over. I clipped that back and trimmed the tulips that had passed, to make room for the lilies that are out in full force. I love seeing how many new flowers come up each year...to think, the patch I have started with just a handful of bulbs! The yellow ones are all opening, and the red ones are a few days behind.

I also weeded everything (the thistle this year is out of control!!!) and moved around a few of the smaller plants to fill in where the tulips had been.

While outside, I noticed that a friend from a few years ago was back to say hello...

I believe that it is a type of crab spider. Hannah thinks it is so cool that it can change it's color to match the flower it is on. It has mastered the color of our yellow lilies. We spent a while watching it, as it truly walks like a crab...so cool!!! I don't know if it is the same one that we have watched in years past, but it seems like each year we find of these guys living in the same spot.

Well, I guess I'll leave you with some photos of the other flowers in the garden. We had a nice sunny day, so I went out to snap some photos.

Enjoy!!

Happy Gardening!!!

Sharon

Garden Update...The Veggies

2011-07-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-
As promised, here are some photos of my veggie/herb garden, as well as my cherry tree. So far everything is doing quite well, with a few surprises.

Earlier this summer, the tomato plants I purchased looked awful. The flowers they had got black and fell off. Then all of a sudden, we noticed that they were blooming again and this week I noticed we had tomatoes growing!!! What a wonderful surprise!!! Hubby reminded me that they always perk up in July, but I wasn't too optimistic...little did I know!! We'll see if they grow into anything worth eating...if not, the composter will have a good feast!

A while back I had bought a "cheater" cucumber plant at Lowes. We must have gotten 10 or so good sized cucumbers from it, but it is now looking pretty bad. It still has a few flowers on it, so I haven't given up hope, but I'm not holding my breath for any more. I do have photos of the cucumbers we got, but they are on my phone...I'll have to post them another day...

Since I last posted, we have been eating lots of peas!!! We got a bunch of hail the other day, so the pods were all marked up, but they still tasted great!! I felt better about their appearance when we went to the Farmer's Market and saw that theirs were marked up too. Thankfully the new crop we've got growing look awesome and show no signs of hail damage.

While my Mom was in town, we also picked a few onions for some fresh salsa. Again, I have a photo of the one we picked, but I'll have to post it another day. The tops of the onions all got pretty messed up from the hail, but the onions were super tasty!! I still can't believe how potent fresh from the garden onions are. They gave quite a bite to the salsa we made! In this photo you can see some of the onion tops peaking out. We'll be picking more of these guys this weekend.

As for everything else, we planted more radishes and they just started sprouting. My lettuce is forming tight heads, so once we finish up the salad fixings we bought at the store, I'll be picking some fresh stuff. One of my broccoli plants flowered, so I've cut it back to encourage a second harvest. My Swiss chard looks great and I can't wait to toss it up with some pasta. My three different kinds of beans are off to a bit of a slow start, but they seem to grow in spurts.

Let's see, what else?? Oh, my zucchini and summer squash are doing well. I have a small summer squash forming and my zucchini is getting ready to flower. My spinach isn't growing as fast as I'd like, but I think we'll still get a decent harvest from it.

I think that's about it for the veggies. I did buy a "Salsa Planter" at Home Depot the other day on special. I missed having peppers in the garden, so the pepper/basil/tomato/cilantro/chive combo plant was just what I needed. For $10.99, I thought it was a good deal. It was a bit underwatered when I got it, but I expect that it will perk up soon.

As for my herbs, they are growing really well. We used a bunch of them this past week when we roasted a chicken, and hubby used some more when he made an herb paste for a rib roast. I don't know about you, but I think food tastes so much better when you know the ingredients were grown in your own backyard.

Right now we are keeping an eye on our cherry tree to see how it does. It is loaded with fruit and they seem to be growing, so fingers crossed that they have a fighting chance against the birds. I'd love nothing more than to can some of the fruit for us to eat after we move.

So, for edible "stuff" in the garden, I think that about covers it. I'll keep you posted on how the tomatoes do in the upcoming weeks. We are supposed to have a cold snap soon, so hopefully they weather the storm okay.

Happy Gardening!!

Sharon

Garden Update...An Overdue Update

2011-07-22T10:52:00.000-06:00

Hello All-
Sorry for the delay in posting. My Mom was visiting from the States for 12 days, and we were out and about every day!! Needless to say, I didn't get much free time to blog. So, it is catch up time!!

I wanted to start with a post about where the garden is at right now. I've actually had a few emails asking how things were looking, since our summer in Calgary hasn't been ideal for gardening. It has been rainy, then too dry, hot, then chilly, and don't even get me started on the hail!! (That's a post all on its own!)

So, without further ado, here's what the garden looked like as of yesterday afternoon...

My flowers are all in full bloom. I pulled the two sunflowers I had put in earlier...something happened, and the blooms never opened! They got black and droopy and I was sick of looking at them. So, Hannah and I hit a clearance sale at Home Depot yesterday and we bought the sunflower you see in the photo, as well as a blackberry bush. With the upcoming move, we won't see any fruit on the bush, but I thought it would be a nice surprise to whoever buys the house, come next summer.

My gooseberry bush is also full of fruit, but I am still waiting for the berries to get red. Hopefully the birds don't pick the fruit off before they get fully ripened. We did discover that the strawberry thief in the yard was one of the robins we had been watching. Oh well...Hannah loves watching the birds, so we were happy to share our bounty with them.

As you can see, from this photo, I had slacked quite a bit on my weeding. Yesterday I filled this bucket to the top in the backyard and again in the front. It feels so good to have it done now...things look so much better!!

While weeding, I not only pulled out the old sunflowers, but I also took out some salvia that never did well in the garden and a few petunias that had seen better days. It's funny, once you start thinning out the dead stuff, everything else looks so much more full and happy.

Of course, it wouldn't be an afternoon in the garden without my little helper! She decided that weeding was boring, but chasing butterflies and dressing up in her "suit of armor" were much more fun. Ahhh...to be 4 again! She did tell me that the gardens looked better post-weeding, so I guess that's all the affirmation I needed!!

Tomorrow I'll post about my veggies, cherry tree and herbs...next week I'll give you the full front yard update too!

Stay tuned!!

Happy Gardening!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Banana Ice Cream

2011-07-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I recently stumbled across a recipe that was begging me to try it...I mean, it has one ingredient, so how could I say no?? What is this magic recipe?? Banana Ice Cream!! I found the recipe online thanks to Pinterest, and it looked too good to be true!

In the summer, I find it hard to balance not having the oven on all the time, while also trying to find semi-nutritious desserts for the family. It is so easy to fall into the sugary black hole of refreshing summer treats. This recipe is the perfect response to the black hole. You have the benefit of ice cream flavor and texture, while being super healthy.

In a nutshell, here's how you make it...

First, you get 4 ripe bananas. The more ripe, the more banana flavor you'll get. Peel them and slice them into coins. Place the coins on a cookie sheet (I lined mine with parchment) and place them in the freezer for no less than 2 hours.

Once they are frozen, place the coins into your food processor.

Start blending the bananas and occasionally scrape down the edges. Before you get ice cream, you'll have banana "gravel". I'm tempted to stop at this point some time for a topping on regular ice cream...yummy!!!

Keep blending and scraping, and soon you will see the yummy fruit whipping itself into ice cream!!

For some extra flavor, we added a spoonful of peanut butter, though my hubby thought it would be better plain (he isn't much of a banana and PB fan). Other options would be cocoa powder, Nutella, chopped nuts, or hubby's suggested strawberry slices.

I added a dollop of homemade whipped cream and some sprinkles on the top, and my 4-year old couldn't tell the difference!!! She was so excited to be having ice cream and she loved the flavor!!

I put all of the leftovers in a resealable container and popped it back in the freezer. The banana flavor intensified after it had been frozen, but it was still easy enough to scoop. I found that 4 average sized bananas made about a pint of ice cream.

This recipe is great to use up ripe bananas, to have a healthy treat on hand, or for those who have dairy allergies. The banana base is quite versatile and I can't wait to try new flavor combinations.

Happy Summer and Happy Eating!
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Ice Cream Bread 2.0

2011-07-04T13:10:00.001-06:00

Hello All-
I hope you are all having a wonderful 4th of July! One benefit of being an American living in Canada is that we get to celebrate two major country holidays back to back. That also means double the yummy summer goodies!!! If you find yourself getting invited to a last minute holiday BBQ, I highly suggest making up a loaf of Ice Cream bread! I know I recently blogged about this awesome recipe, but we made a batch recently that was screaming for it's own blog post!!

As soon as I tasted the first batch of bread, I knew I wanted to try a chocolate version. So, off to the store we went to get some super chocolate ice cream. We settled on one called, Forbidden Chocolate Whirl.

It came out AWESOME!!! We used the bread as a base for a yummy Strawberry Shortcake with homemade whipped cream. Let me tell you, on a hot summer night, it doesn't get much better than this!!

Hannah was a big fan of the bread...much more so than the Maple Walnut version. She liked that the chocolate bread didn't have nuts.

So, if you need a dessert in a jiffy, give this one a try. I know I'll be making a lot more batches in the future.

Cheers!
Sharon

Garden Update...the Fruits of our Labor

2011-06-27T09:54:00.000-06:00

Hello All-
I just wanted to share a few photos of some of our early crops.

Not too shabby, eh??

Next week we should have more strawberries and I'm hoping that the gooseberries start to change color. They are looking full grown, I'm just anxiously awaiting their beautiful pink color to come out!!

Happy Gardening!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Breakfast Muffins

2011-06-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All!

I have mentioned my recent addiction to the site, Pinterest, so I thought I'd share another quick recipe I have found on there. A few weekends ago, I was looking for a quick breakfast idea, as we were gearing up for a “get the house ready for an Open House” scrub down. I came across these Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Muffins. They looked so easy and tasty that I knew I had to give them a try, and they seemed to be the perfect way to make sure that everyone ate a good breakfast on a hectic day.

I followed the recipe with a few exceptions. I used regular bacon and not the turkey or veggie alternatives. I also added a bit of chopped chives from the garden for a bit of flavor. The recipe says that they should be done in 10 to 12 minutes. I found that it took at least 20 minutes before the egg set to my liking. Perhaps the Calgary altitude was playing tricks with me again. Finally, be sure to put a baking sheet under your muffin pan. I had a super-fun time cleaning egg off the bottom of my oven!

All in all, these were as great as they looked. They are supposed to be served warm, but I actually liked them better after they had been in the refrigerator for a bit. The egg and biscuit almost had a quiche taste to it. I highly recommend trying this recipe and there is a lot of room to add your own spin to it too.

Happy Baking!!
Sharon

Plum Pudding

2011-06-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

Despite my lack of knitting posts, I have been clicking away a lot lately. The problem is that much of what I have been making is for my big brother and my sister in law's new arrival who is due in September. I am so happy with what I have been making, but I can't reveal any of it until after the gifts have been given.

However, I did whip up a little cardi for Hannah with some beautiful yarn I bought at our new LYS, The Loop. I went with a few of my knitting buddies back in May to the opening, and I picked up some goodies while I was there. Along with the purple yarn for Hannah, I also bought myself some Cascade Wool...I haven't decided what I'll be making with that just yet.

So here's what I made for Hannah. We named it Plum Pudding since we were watching Strawberry Shortcake when I was adding the buttons.

Here are the details:

Pattern: Neck Down Cardi
Yarn: Punta Yarns Merisoft Hand Painted Aran in HP64 colorway
Size made: I made a size 6 to compensate for my thinner yarn. It fits my size 4/5 diva perfectly!

The best part about this pattern is that is is so quick and simple. It took me 3 days of knitting. The only mod I made is that I didn't do the sleeves in the round. I knit them flat (there are only 4 rows) and then picked up the stitches to seam them up afterwards.

I was happy to find a basic looking pattern to showcase this busy yarn. Hannah loves it, and I can't wait for her to wear it this fall. It is so soft and squishy!!!

Happy Knitting!
Sharon

Garden Update...An Unwelcome Visitor

2011-06-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-
Living in the city, we don't get too many "pests" in the garden. We did have a bunny issue our first summer here (FYI, neighborhood bunnies and cauliflower and cabbage plants don't mix!), but our fence quickly fixed that problem.

I thought we were in the clear with pests until the other day. I was upstairs in the guest room, peeking out the window to see how the other back gardens in the neighborhood look, and that's when I spotted him...

Say hello to Mr. Prairie Dog!

(he hid under our neighbor's car when I went out to grab a photo)

I have never seen one of these guys in the 'hood before. Our neighbor on the other side moved in and when the snow melted, she found deep holes in the yard. She assumed it was from the previous owner's dog or the neighborhood bunnies, but now I'm starting to wonder. That worries me since I'm smack dab in the middle and I'm the one with a garden.

We did notice that the neighborhood cats have been hanging out in the back alley behind our house a lot more lately. There was a mound of grass surrounding the power box and we assumed that we might have some mice back there. Then some kids started using the grass as a hide and seek spot, so a few nights ago hubby cut it all back. Then the next morning I spotted Mr. Prairie Dog. Hmmm...I don't think there were mice back there afterall.

I am praying that this little guy doesn't cause too much trouble and that he doesn't find my veggies and fruits. Does anyone know how to repel prairie dogs?? Until we figure out what to do, Hannah and I are on burrow patrol. I hate to see the little guy suffer, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if the cats were after him. It would save me a lot of lost crops.

My cats are indoor cats, so they won't be on the prowl anytime soon. Plus, I think they have better things to do...

Happy Gardening!!

Sharon

Garden Update...Happy Summer!!

2011-06-22T14:54:00.000-06:00

Hello All-
So the sun has been out for 2 whole days now!! I was able to sneak out today and snap a few photos of the back gardens. Unfortunately the mosquitoes are so bad that I haven't been able to get out and weed yet, so don't mind any stray pieces of grass in the photos.

First up, I had started some cucumber seeds inside this winter and once I put them outside, they fried in the sun. So, after searching high and low for a replacement plant, I found a beautiful one at Lowe's. For $14.98 I was able to get a 16" pot that was caged and full of cucumbers!! Here are two of the ones we plan on eating next week.

Next, in my side flower garden I have a few edible items. Last year I planted a gooseberry bush, and it has taken off this year!! Growing up, my Memere and Pepere had a beautiful gooseberry bush, and during games of hide-and-seek, I could always be found snacking away. Pepere swears that gooseberries grow better next to currants, so once we move to Edmonton, I think I'll be getting one of each.

My strawberries and chives are doing great too!!! The strawberries are just now starting to turn red...I can taste them already!! We have been eating lots of chives, and we even sampled the flowers. Just a warning...chive flowers, though delicious, are really potent!! Use sparingly!!

My veggie garden has been doing really well, despite all of the rain. I was worried about my beans, as they weren't sprouting, but apparently they like wet soil since they took off once the rain came. The two back boxes in the photo below have wax beans and green beans. The box between the onions is full of purple beans. Hannah can't wait to try those!!

Our peas are getting big and we're anxiously awaiting flowers and pods. Hannah is a big fan of eating peas off the vine, so we're hoping for a crop before we move.

In the rest of the veggie garden I have 2 types of tomatoes growing, onions, Swiss chard, lettuce, radishes, summer squash, basil, spinach, zucchini, and broccoli. I also have some asparagus that I think needs 1 more year before we will get a crop.

Our lilacs are just starting to open, and we can smell them inside. Our cherry tree has already flowered, and I'm hoping that the fact that the rain knocked a bunch of the flowers off, that we don't have a lousy crop of cherries again this year. Thankfully I saw a glimmer of hope with a few cherries starting to grow.

So there you have it...despite the fact that we're preparing to move 3 hours north, my garden hasn't suffered too bad. Fingers crossed that the house sells quickly, but that we can also get a taste of our hard work before we are officially gone.

Cheers and Happy Summer!

Sharon

Garden Update...Rain, Rain Go Away!!!

2011-06-21T09:24:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

Happy First Day of Summer!!! I think Mr. Sun has finally decided to show his face, so I am hoping to get some garden photos this afternoon. It has been raining for 2 weeks straight, so needless to say, not much gardening has been done around here. Thankfully the seeds I planted didn't get the memo and they have been growing like crazy!!

Stay tuned for some photos!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Ice Cream Bread

2011-06-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

Here's another quicky recipe that will surely become a family favorite. I had been seeing a recipe for Ice Cream Bread all over the web and I had to give a try. Hmmm…softened ice cream and self-rising flour? That’s it? It was too good to be true. I didn’t have either item in the pantry at the time, so off to the store we went. After much deliberation, we decided on Maple Walnut ice cream. The "Hungry Housewife" who shared the recipe online used Butter Pecan and said it was delicious as well.

This is a great recipe to try when you go grocery shopping and get home to find that your ice cream has started to soften up. If yours needs a bit of help melting, simply let it sit on the counter for a bit…or do what I did, put it in a glass bowl and let it sit on the stove top while the oven preheated…perfectly softened ice cream in no time!

I must say that this bread is delicious and just as easy as it claims to be! In 45 minutes we had slightly sweetened bread with a hint of maple flavor. I wish that more of the maple had come through though. I am anxious to try a stronger flavored ice cream, such as mint chocolate chip, to see if that makes a difference. In the meantime, we are gobbling ours down with some of my homemade apple-cinnamon butter on top. The two work together perfectly! This bread is a great sweet breakfast treat or dessert. The simplicity of it makes it a great go-to recipe for last-minute get-togethers. No one will ever believe what it is made of!

Happy Baking!!
Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Homemade PopTarts

2011-06-14T12:36:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

Despite being in the middle of selling our house, I've still be cooking up a storm! I have to be creative, as I can't have all-day baking sessions, for fear that we'll have a last minute showing and I have to pack things up quickly. So, I have been going through Pinterest (my newest addiction) and finding quick recipes that don't make much of a mess.

Last weekend, I decided to have a go at making my own homemade PopTarts. As a kid, we always had these in the pantry. I used to eat them more as a snack than anything...and once the S'mores flavor came out, I became quite a fan and ate countless pastries during college. Ironically, hubby had never eaten a PopTart...can you believe it??

I found a few recipes online and it seemed like the fastest one involved using pre-made pie crusts. In a pinch I will use these again, though I plan on making my own crusts for most future batches.

First, roll the dough out a touch and cut it into strips.

Next, decide what fillings you want to use. Hannah picked strawberry jam, hubby selected wildberry jam, and I opted for an old favorite, brown sugar and cinnamon. You can use most any kind of jam/preserve, or even some chocolate chips or Nutella. The options are endless!! Once you decide on your fillings, spoon them into the lower portion of your strips. One recipe suggested using no more than 2 Tablespoons...I went a bit overboard and you'll see in the "after" photos that my wildberry one blew up in the oven.

If you do brown sugar and cinnamon, be sure to add a few pats of butter too!!

Once your filling is in, fold over the top of the strip and press the edges down with a fork. Place all pastries onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes and voila! You have your own PopTarts!

As you can see by my exploding pastry, parchment is KEY!!!

Make sure you let them cool completely before serving. Jam tends to get blazing hot and cools slowly for some reason. Also, if you really want a treat, you could whip up a glaze of powdered sugar and milk...yummy!!

As you can see, they were a hit! As for things I would change, I would use much less filling and make my own crusts. I think that combo would make for much lighter pastries, though the Diva didn't seem to mind all of the extra filling!!

Happy Baking!
Sharon

Where have I been hiding??

2011-05-25T11:33:00.000-06:00

Good Question!!
I haven't been blogging lately since I have been so busy cleaning my house! Yup...cleaning...not traveling the world or going on some amazing adventure...just cleaning. And why have I been cleaning so much? Because hubby got transferred to Edmonton and our house went on the market today. Boo! Hiss!

I'm not happy about leaving Calgary, but the idea of a new home and new adventures is appealing. The folks in Edmonton are so nice, and I am sure that we'll settle in nicely. In the meantime, my world is filled with chasing after Hannah with the vacuum, jumping when the phone rings, and house hunting online.

So, if I am a bit sparse around here, bear with me...I'll be back!!

Oh, and if you are looking for a house in SE Calgary...let me know!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Garden Update...It's Beautiful Inside and Out!

2011-05-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I wanted to give you all an update on some of my indoor plants. I have actually been having some trouble with a few of them...too much sun!! I have always had a hard time getting my seedlings enough sunlight, while also trying not to let them bake in the south sun. I have had a few shriveled casualties, but I think I have caught most of them before I've lost them for good.

I'll wait a bit longer before planting my violas and daisies outside, but they are coming along nicely. My tea garden isn't growing very fast, but it is still growing none the less. I think I might transplant the three survivors into a larger pot so they don't dry out so quickly. We'll see.

My summer squash and cucumbers are growing really well!! It won't be long before I can pop them into my outdoor garden. I did lose my broccoli seedlings, but I planted more seeds that seemed to grow in record time! I actually put them outside the other day, along with my lettuce seedlings, but I forgot to snap a photo. If they don't drown with the rain we have headed our way, I'll snap a photo when the sun comes out. Thankfully both the broccoli and lettuce can be planted outside as seeds right now too, so if I lose the seedlings, I can start over and not lose too much time.

The other day I picked up a tomato plant. I know, I know, it is too early for tomatoes, but at 50 cents, I couldn't resist. I picked up a large pot for this little beauty and I am going to try to get tomatoes inside this year. I just have to remember to play bee with a Q-tip once the flowers bloom. If it doesn't look like I'll be successful, I'll just plant it outside.

This pot of herbs has a story behind it. Yes, I still have the smaller pot that I created a few weeks back...those herbs are doing great. We went to our friends' house for Easter dinner, and hubby and I decided to bring them a pot of herbs as a Hostess gift. We found this lush pot at Canadian Tire for $25. It has oregano, basil, chives, rosemary, thyme, and sage. We bought it the day before Easter and leave it to me, I forgot it on our kitchen table when we left to go to Easter dinner on Sunday. By the time I thought of it, we were too far to turn back. So, back to Canadian Tire we went to buy pot #2! So, I ended up keeping the first one, and I have already used a bunch of the herbs. They don't go to waste in this house, that's for sure. Hubby thinks I forgot pot #1 on purpose so I could keep it, but once we started using some of the herbs, he realized that it was a convenient mistake on my part.

Last weekend we roasted two chickens and used some of the thyme and rosemary inside the cavity of each bird. Now that I know how to make my own chicken stock, I couldn't let him throw away the bones from the chickens, so I made lots of stock this week. I used more thyme and rosemary in it, and it was delicious!! I already had another chicken carcass in the freezer for the next time I made stock, so I threw that in too. I also used carrots, onions, leeks, peppercorns, bay leaves, and lots of water. In the end, I had 20.5 cups, as well as one ice cube tray, of stock! (Hubby loves it when I freeze some stock into ice cubes...he used a bunch of them in some Queso he made the day we had the chickens, and the cubes were so handy!!

I don't know about you, but I think my freezer is going to be very happy with all of this yumminess filling it up!!! I am going to make some homemade noodles and make up some soup this week too...I can't wait!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Have No Fear...the Needles are Clicking Away Too...

2011-05-04T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

So, with all of my garden posts, you probably think that I have retired my knitting needles for the season...nope!! They have busier than ever!! The only problem is that I have been knitting a lot of gifts, so I can't post photos of the finished items. If you are on Ravelry, feel free to friend me (heffalump23), and you can see all of the fibery goodies I have been creating.

I can show you a few things I have made lately. The first is my Lavender Lady. Our good friends had a baby last night (woohoo!!!!) and though we gave them bin after bin of hand-me-downs, I wanted to make something as well. Call it knitters guilt, I don't know...I just didn't feel right not knitting them something.

So, I dug out my trusty 5-hour baby sweater pattern, and started knitting. Even though they had a girl, I like the look of the "boy" version better, so I went with that. I am quite happy with the result, and you can't beat the fact that it takes no time at all to make!! I even had some buttons that matched perfectly!! I can't wait to see it on Baby Leah!!!

I haven't posted a lot about my charity knitting, mainly because I haven't worked on a WCOBBS blanket in ages!!! I did jump on the Super Hero blanket, and I just finished up my 6-inch stripe. I did the black, gold and purple stripe, and it is meant to represent The Wonder Twins. I love how bright this blanket is coming out!! A friend saw it and said it reminded her of a box of Legos...I agree!!

My friend Cara is getting the blanket next and she is going to add a stripe to represent the Green Lantern...I can't wait to see how it looks when she is done!

I did finish another baby sweater, but since the recipients might read this blog, I don't dare post a photo...I can say that it is one of my favorite baby items to date. Here is a sneak peak of the yarn I used...

It is a beautiful variegated Berroco Ultra Alpaca Tonal. I love the softness of it, and I named the sweater Shades of Blue, as it has various shades of blue and grey in it. I LOVE it!!! I am so happy that it only took one skein so I have another one left to make something else with.

Last weekend I got together with some of my knitting buddies and we went to check out a new knitting shop here in Calgary. It is called The Loop, and is located in Kensington. I went, knowing that I needed some US size 9 dpns to finish Shades of Blue, and that was it. I walked out with my needles, as well as this beautiful Punta yarn...I am going to make a sleeveless vest for Hannah with it...I think. It was too pretty to pass up, so I'm sure I'll find the perfect pattern for it.

I also bought some Cascade Eco wool for myself. I bought it thinking that I would make a shrug for myself, but after seeing the huge yardage on it, I might aim higher and make a sweater. I have to drive near the shop this week, so maybe I'll stop in and grab another skein before they sell out of the dye lot. It is a beautiful chocolate brown, and I cannot wait to make something with it!!

Finally, my friend Michelle and I decided that out cotton dishcloths are in need of replacement. So, I dug out some white cotton I've had for a while now and started making cloths for us. I made one yesterday and I plan to cast on another one today at Hannah's music class. They won't take me too long to make. I'm aiming for 4-5 for each of us...so at this rate, I'll have them done next week!!

So, have no fear, the needles are still on fire!!! I mean, despite the REM song, Gardening at Night, my knees need a break sometime, and knitting gives me some relief!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Spring Has Sprung in Cowtown!!

2011-05-03T09:27:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately. I have been so busy!! Between dance classes, music classes, playing outside, Easter, and a slew of other things, I have been right out straight.

Yesterday Hannah and I spent most of the day outside. It seems as though Spring may have finally sprung here. My gardens are all full of new life, and even the grass is greening up nicely.

I started weeding yesterday and found lots of green "non grass" popping up. My gooseberry bush apparently survived its first Alberta winter, as you can see. There is a bunch of new growth coming up in the middle, and all of the branches are budding. My family has always had gooseberry bushes on their property, and they all swear that you have to grow them alongside a red currant bush. My Great-Grandmother used to mix the berries for jam and it makes for a nice balance of sweet and tart. I saw a few currant bushes at Walmart the other day, so maybe my little gooseberry bush will be getting a roommate before too long.

At the end of the season, I transplanted my strawberries from my veggie garden into my flower garden. I wasn't sure they would survive after a move and then the winter, but I was wrong. They are growing nicely, and, in my mind, I can already taste the first berry of the season...yum!

The chives have really taken off!! This is year number three with them, so the plant is quite established by now. I can't believe how thick the chives are getting though! They remind me of the ones my Memere and Pepere used to grow that we would use as straws because they were so big!! (Don't mind the grass in the photo too...I was mid-weeding when I took this photo)

My edible crops aren't the only things that are popping up. I have several bulbs coming up, including this cute little hyacinth. I cannot wait until they all come up and add lots of color to my flower bed. The only problem is that I cannot remember exactly what I planted for bulbs, or where, so I'll be as surprised as everyone else once they start blooming!!

Out front things are popping up nicely as well. I haven't taken any photos yet since I have a lot of weeding and cleaning out to do. Our home is directly north-south, with the backyard in the south sun, so the front of the house gets sun so much later. Up until a few days ago there was still a fair amount of snow in the front garden. Thankfully it has all melted and the ground is softening up, but it is still a bit behind the back. I did see some tulip bulbs sneaking up, and the day lilies are greening up, so next week I should have some progress photos from out there.

So far the weather has been quite agreeable. It has been warm the past few days, and the rain that we are expecting today should help things along. I just hope that it is more gentle than driving, since I planted some seedlings yesterday and I don't want them floating down the alley!!

More updates to come, including some photos of my indoor plants!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Garden Update...Green Green Everywhere!!

2011-04-21T11:54:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

Despite the recent snow we've had, my seedlings are doing great in their warm, sunny, south-facing windows. I did lose my second batch of parsley seeds...I have no idea why they won't grow for me. Oh well, I can get established plants easy enough at the garden center. I'm starting to wonder if it is the seeds that are the problem, but I'm sick of planting and failing, so I'll just buy them instead.

First up, my broccoli, violas and Canterbury bells. They are all doing quite well. I had one broccoli not sprout, but the other one is doing great. I am still on the fence if I should plant a few more seeds to see what happens. As for the flowers, they are doing just fine, and I cannot wait to get them in the ground and in pots!!

My tea garden is sprouting quite nicely. The middle row of green is chamomile, and the back row is lemon balm. You can't see the sprouts in this photo, but I do have some spearmint that is starting to pop up too. I am so anxious to make my own tea! I had to get a jump start and buy an established plant to keep my momentum going. So, I purchased a peppermint plant. It is doing great and soon I'll be crushing leaves into my teacup!!

When I purchased the peppermint, I also decided to get some herbs for my kitchen. I have always had herbs in my outdoor garden, but I tend to forget about them and they either get leggy or die off. To combat against this, I decided to keep my herbs indoors. I plan to have some outside as well, but I think this pretty pink pot will be a kitchen fixture.

In the mix I have basil, sweet marjoram, thyme, oregano, and chives. This past weekend hubby roasted a chicken and used some of the thyme and oregano. It felt so great to know that the herbs in the meal were from our garden!! I have already found myself looking for recipes that call for fresh herbs.

I planted a few seeds before our trip to Edmonton, and they are also sprouting quite well. In the front, there are lettuce seedlings, the middle are jalapenos and in the back green pot is a sunflower plant. All seem to be quite happy in their pots and are growing nicely.

Yesterday I also planted some cucumbers, summer squash and bell pepper seeds. I didn't take photos of them since right now all you will see is dirt, but hopefully in my next update I'll have some green to show off!!

Finally, I wanted to show off my little bonsai tree. I mentioned it a few posts back, as I "saved" it from the Lowe's Clearance rack. At that point, it was very thirsty and needed a bit of TLC. Since then, all of the leaves have returned and it is growing quite quickly.

I don't know if you can see them in this photo (they were hard to focus in on), but we recently got buds and little white flowers on the tree!!! I wish I knew what kind of tree it is so I could care for it even better, but I think the flowers are a clear sign that it is happy living with us.

So, that's where my garden stands at the moment. As soon as my raised bed thaws out a bit more, I am going to plant my peas and other cold weather seeds. I told hubby that I was going to pour boiling water over the garden to thaw it out...either that or I'll bring out a blanket to keep it warm. If the sun can't thaw it soon, I may cover it in black plastic to see if that speeds things up a bit.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!!

Happy Planting!!

Sharon

Garden Update...Mother Nature is a B*%#h!!

2011-04-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-
I wrote this post a week or so ago, but it didn't publish. I thought I'd post it now since we got even more snow after I took the photos below. Thankfully my garden is thawing out now...fingers crossed for NO MORE SNOW!!!

Remember this photo from two days ago?

Ummmm...yeah...

This is what it looks like now...

Mother Nature: 1 Sharon's Garden: 0

Here in Calgary we all hoped and prayed that the reports of 20+ cms of snow was a silly April Fool's Joke. But no, it was for real. Thankfully the sun is out today and this white stuff is all melting away. Here are a few more photos of Mother Nature's Not So Funny Joke...

And finally, a bit of promise...there was a spot just big enough on the deck for my slipper covered feet this morning. I guess Mother Nature was also trying to tell me that there is an end in sight.

Don't worry...we aren't letting a bit of white stuff stop the planting and garden planning inside. More updates this week on what we've been up to and also some sneak peeks of party planning for Hannah's birthday!!

Have a Great Week!!

Sharon

2011-04-19T15:47:00.001-06:00

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Another Sweater for the Diva- The Purple Preschooler

2011-04-18T17:35:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I wanted to share another knitting project that I just finished last night. I made Hannah another t-shirt style sweater. This one is a bit bigger than the last one I made, as I was hoping that it would be big enough to last through the fall. After seeing Hannah wear it today, I'm not so sure that she will make it to the summer in it!! Thankfully this pattern only takes me a few days to whip up, so I'm not too worried.

First, a bit of background with this sweater...Hannah loved her Garnet colored one, but she begged me for one in purple. Okay, I can handle that. I got sidetracked and knowing that I planned on her wearing it this fall, I did a few other projects before casting on for this one.

Then fast forward to last week...Hannah had a heart procedure and we had to go to Edmonton for the week. In our family, we have a few traditions when Hannah has hospital stays...hubby goes and gives blood and I sit and knit something for Hannah. So, out came my purple yarn and needles.

This sweater was made using the Maxi Top / Dress pattern on Ravelry. I made it according to the Size 4-5T directions. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca in the 6221 colorway. It is a beautiful grape color. It took me a skein and a half or so to make, and 5 days. Finally, my only mods are that I skipped the increases in the body, as I wanted this to be shirt style, and I knit 6 inches past the second stripe before doing my bottom trim. Other than that, I followed the pattern.

Hannah wanted to model it for a bit, so here are some of my favorite shots...

Have a great week and stay tuned for posts about gardening, cooking, and a few other knitting projects!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Party Beverages

2011-04-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

I wanted to do a quick post about the beverages we served at Hannah's party since they were so popular with our guests. First of all, I needed to decide how many drinks we were going to offer. Once we got into the 20+ range, I knew that there was no way to purchase everyone's favorite drinks. I had to go generic and hope that everyone found something that they liked. I also knew that I didn't want alcohol served...after all, this was a party for a four-year old.

So, we decided to go with picnic beverages that had lots of color and flavor. Being from the States, fresh brewed iced tea is a staple for us. We always laugh when friends come over and don't know what to make of their first swig of non-sweetened tea. We have family send us giant tea bags that my husband's employer sells back home in Maine, since we can't get them here. However, my Mom always made tea with about 20 tea bags. Unfolding all of them was always my job as a kid! Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a touch of sweetener if you like and you have yourself a delicious summer drink.

I bought a giant bag of lemons at Costco and knew I needed to make lots of lemonade with them, so I decided on two different types...regular and strawberry! Both were great, but many thought the strawberry one was a touch too sweet...even with my sweet tooth, I had to agree. The recipe calls for crushed ice, and now I know why!!

I got my lemonade recipes from Better Homes and Gardens (basic lemonade here and strawberry lemonade here). I have a feeling I'll be making their key lime and peach tea lemonades this summer too!!

All in all, the drinks were a huge success and I don't think anyone went thirsty. We actually had soda on the back porch and no one asked for it...so our pantry is now stocked for our next get together. I think what we served complimented the spring garden theme quite well and would also go along nicely with any summer BBQ or picnic!!

Happy Creating!!
Sharon

Party Food

2011-04-15T12:07:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

As promised, I wanted to give you all some DIY tips on party food. I wish I had better photos, but I was too busy chatting with guests...sorry!!

My first suggestion is to decide right up front what your goal is regarding food. Full meal? Munchies? Hot or cold? Sweets only? For us, we decided that we didn't want to do a full meal since we had 20+ people attending Hannah's party. We planned a 1 PM party time so that people had a chance to have lunch first. We did want more than just Hannah's requested cupcakes, so we went with appetizers, and included one hot dish.

Our first appetizer was hummus on sliced English cucumbers. I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a try. Though I had all of the ingredients to make my own hummus, I went with store bought to save some time. We had garlic and chive hummus on the cucumber (about 3/4-inch slices) and it was AWESOME!!! I peeled part of the cucumber skins off, creating dark green stripes, and the crunch from the remaining skin was a nice addition. I will surely do this again, as it took next to no time to make and was very tasty.

Next, we did mini-caprese salads on skewers. Essentially, this is made up of three components, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves and mini bocconcini cheese balls. These were another hit, though I think the next time I make them, I will use smaller basic leaves. The ones I bought were quite strong in flavor. For an adult party, you could drizzle olive oil or balsamic vinegar over them, but since I knew there would be some kids, I left them plain.

Next was our one hot dish. I made Crab Rangoons and they were super yummy!! Click here for the recipe. I will be making these for my family many more times!! They tasted great and didn't make me a slave to the kitchen! My guests were begging for the recipe!! Personally, I thought they were a bit strong on the crab flavor, but that could easily be fixed with a touch more cream cheese. I also learned (after going to several grocery stores and walking in circles) that wonton wrappers can be found in the cooler next to the tofu and fresh pasta...who knew??

The big centerpiece was the fruit/cheese/veggie flower that Hannah and I made. It was so simple and looked fantastic!! I used a cheese block cut into triangles and layered them in a circle. I added a celery stem, grapes for the flower center and some cherry tomatoes for some extra color. It looked so pretty and was a unique way to do a traditional platter. Everyone loved it, and once they got over the idea of eating our "art", there weren't too many leftovers!!

Along with all of these ideas, we also stood celery and beans upright in glass dishes, as well as colorful peppers. We used rice as a base for the peppers so they stood up higher in the glass I had.

Tomorrow I'll give some recipes for the beverages we had...they were delicious!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Garden Birthday Party...DIY Style

2011-04-11T12:37:00.000-06:00

Hello All!

This past weekend we had my daughter's 4th birthday party. Since the entire thing was DIY, I thought I'd share some photos and ideas with you all.

We did an afternoon party, so I told everyone that we would have appetizers and cupcakes. The cupcakes were Hannah's decision...she wanted everyone to have the flavor they liked best.

One fun thing we did was a cupcake tasting! The shop we bought ours at has mini versions of all of their cupcakes...so we bought a bunch to see what flavors we liked best. It was a great activity for the three of us, and Hannah loved being such a big part of the planning.

For the appetizers, I picked just one hot item, as I didn't want to be stuck in the kitchen the whole time. So, the hot dish I picked was a baked crab rangoon. They were super yummy!!

We also had hummus on English cucumber slices, caprese salad on a stick, and our standby chips and salsa.

I saw online some fun ways to do a veggie platter, so Hannah and I made this fruit/veggie/cheese flower. It fit the theme perfectly and was a great centerpiece for the food table.

For drinks we went with some summer favorites...fresh brewed iced tea, strawberry lemonade, regular lemonade, and iced coffee. All made from scratch...well, except for the coffee!!

I'll be doing another post about the favors we made, but here is a photo of some of the adult ones. We gave out flower pots with bags of dirt, seeds, and pretty markers.

For the kids, we did larger baskets with crowns and fun foam shapes to decorate them, seeds, color your own flower pots, silly bands, and a bunch of other goodies.

With a bit of creativity, it is actually quite simple to create a beautiful party. I was able to use a lot of things I already had, and for the things I had to buy, IKEA and the Dollar Store had everything I needed.

Stay tuned this week and next for details about some of the things we did to make this party personalized.

(BTW...I will be away for a few days while my daughter has a procedure done on her heart...I'll be back to posting as quickly as I can!!)

Have a great week!!!
Sharon

New Knitting...Sarah's Sweater

2011-04-06T16:42:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

I wanted to share this super quick knit with you all. It is a basic raglan style sweater, designed for a newborn. Since I don't have any newborns in my life right now, it became a sweater for Hannah's Cabbage Patch Doll, Sarah.

The pattern is called Sweet and Lo, and it was recently added to Ravelry. I used up some leftover Full O'Sheep yarn from Hannah's Cabled Dress. It literally took one night of tv watching to make it.

I made a few mods to the pattern, based on previous experience. First, I changed the suggested garter edging to moss stitch. I have been burned too many times with garter edges rolling. Next, I didn't have the required dpns to do the sleeves, so I knit them flat and seamed them afterwards. Considering that it is a short sleeved sweater, it only took a few stitches to close things up.

Finally, I picked up many more stitches than suggested around the neck. I don't think this alters the look at all...I just didn't want any stretching between stitches. I think part of the reason why I had so many stitches to pick up is because my yarn wasn't quite as bulky as needed. I also made my sweater a touch longer than the pattern suggested.

All in all, this is a super cute sweater that I look forward to making again. I also think it is a great lesson in raglan sweater design for those who haven't done one before.

Happy Knitting!

Sharon

Hannah's Birthday Bolero

2011-04-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

For Hannah's 2nd Birthday, I knit her a sweater (well, she got it that fall since sweater #1 didn't fit over her head)...then another one for her 3rd Birthday...and I had to keep in step by making her one for her 4th Birthday as well.

Since I had already made her a dress and t-shirt recently, I didn't want to go too crazy. After she picked out her party dress at H&M, I knew exactly what I needed to make...a shrug!!

I used the pattern, Ribbed Lace Bolero. What I liked the best about the pattern is that you can customize it based on your own measurements. It is originally an adult sized pattern, but with a few mods, I was able to make it work for an almost 4 year old!!

It took me about half a skein of Cotton-Ease in the Almond colorway. I wanted a nice neutral color so Hannah could wear it all summer with other dresses and tops.

I'll be honest, I had to frog this once during the lace part. I misread the pattern and was adding in a yarn over to each purl row. After I reread the directions (since my version looked nothing like the photo), I couldn't believe what I had done...duh!!

For my version, I cast on 70 stitches and did about 2-inches of ribbing on each side (approx 12 rows). The total length is about 9-inches and when I seamed the sleeves, I went in about 3-inches. Hannah wears between a 3 and 4, and it fits perfectly!

I don't know about you, but I think she is pleased with the end result...and so am I!!!

Happy Knitting!
Sharon

It's Not Easy Being Green

2011-04-02T08:00:00.001-06:00

Actually, it really is easy being green...at least my seedlings seem to think so!! Hannah and I have been planting seeds for the last 2 weeks, and they are taking off quite nicely. From what I can see online, we are in Zone 3b, and May 10th is the expected last frost date (though we do get snow year round), so I have been planting all of my "Start Early" seeds.

Last week we got some of our early flowers started. Rain Daises, Canterbury Bells, Violas and Wave Petunias all got planted. So far the Daisy seeds, Canterbury Bells and Violas are popping up...some as quick as a day later! The Petunias aren't showing signs of life right now, but no worries...they are found at nearly every garden center, so I know I can find some established plants later on.

(Don't mind the clover plant in the photo...I had to move it away from the windows since my cat Ella has decided that it makes for a tasty treat!)

Yesterday we started working on the seeds that need to get started 6-8 weeks before the last frost. First up were broccoli and jalapeno peppers. I know, I know, peppers aren't supposed to be early starters, but this breed is. Supposedly it makes for an early crop, which I think is awesome! I mean, once summer is officially here, who wants to wait for several weeks before having a batch of homemade salsa?? We grew jalapenos from an established plant last year and they were fantastic! I'm hoping for good results from my own seeds.

As for the broccoli, we've never grown it before, but we eat a fair amount of it, so I thought I'd give it a try. If the directions on the packet prove to be true, then we may actually get a few crowns off each plant. We shall see.

Parsley is a plant that I love to have around. Last year I had an awesome plant in the garden and I ended up making yummy pesto with the crop. We planted parsley seeds a week ago, but they dried out too fast, so we planted a second batch. Hopefully these little guys fair better than the last ones.

This is the start of my tea garden. I have always loved herbal tea and the idea of making my own "brew" would be a dream come true! So, I took the plunge and planted some chamomile, spearmint and lemon balm. I am planning on these being in pots on the deck, so the mint and lemon balm won't go crazy and take the garden over. Of all of my seeds, these are the ones that I am really hoping work out!!

Finally, here is my attempt at growing sunflowers. I have grown some in years past from seed and I've had so-so luck. Then last year the birds "planted" some of the seeds from their feeder and we had monster sized flowers!! Remember this post about Hannah and I roasting the seeds??

I'm going to attempt to start a few plants indoors this year from the bird seed. If they don't take off, I'll just plant some seeds directly in the ground in a few weeks.

I have to remind myself not to get too excited about all of the green popping up indoors, considering the condition of my actual gardens outside. Though much of the white stuff is melting, we still have a ways to go before I'll be knee deep in the dirt.

As you can see, my side garden is thawing nicely. I think I'll go out and cut back the cat mint this weekend. After seeing the neighborhood cats jumping my fence to get to it last year, I think I will start looking for something not quite so cat friendly for this year. It's too bad, the flowers are quite pretty...I just can't stand the fact that it, and the cats took over the garden as a result. I can probably get several smaller plants into the same spot this year and be much happier!!

As for my veggie garden...well, see for yourself. The snow is melting, but it is still a chore to get to it. Once I can clear a path, I think I'm going to put some clear plastic over it so the sun can get in and warm the soil. I have a feeling that much of the dirt is probably already thawed, as it sits on the south side of the house and gets most of the available sun. We'll see and that will be an update for another day.

In the meantime, I'm off to see what other seeds I can start early. I need to pick up some more seed trays. Thankfully Hannah's birthday party next weekend is garden themed, so I don't have to move all of my seedlings before the guests arrive...they're just going to be part of the decorations!!

Happy Planting!

Sharon

Bringing new meaning to “Tie one on”

2011-04-01T08:00:00.004-06:00

Call me old fashioned…go ahead, I’m used to it. I mean, I do garden, knit, bake, and preserve food and…I do much of it while wearing an apron! Growing up, I don’t have very many memories of my Nana not wearing an apron. Those pretty pieces of fabric provided a place for us to wipe our hands when making cookies, a pocket to hold random things we’d find in the backyard, and my favourite, a laugh every time we tied the stings into a knot!

As I got older and started spending more time in the kitchen, I realized just how handy having an apron would be. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to change my clothes before company arrives because I had flour all over my pants…yes I own kitchen towels…no I don’t use them very often!

During a shopping trip at one of my favourite stores in Portland, Maine, Maxwell’s Pottery, I stumbled across this rose patterned beauty. She was perfect! Much more detailed than Nana’s aprons, with the heart shaped pockets, but perfect for me. I had to have her!

Recently, Nana was cleaning out some of her belongings and she came across this orange delight. I love the cross stitch details on the bottom. Though I don’t remember her wearing this one specifically, it is much more like those that she used to wear than my rose one. I was so excited when she gave it to me, and I will treasure it.

I have tried to pass my apron love down to Hannah. She has three of her own now, and has pointed out several others at various stores that she would like to have. The orange striped apron is one that I made her when she was quite young. The blue striped one was a hand-me-down from her cousins in Maine, and the princess one was added to the collection this past weekend from the dollar store.

Though I think I would wear my aprons proudly despite their new found popularity, it is nice that there are so many fellow lovers out there. A quick search online will grant you quite a few sites dedicated to aprons, both full and half sized. There are some amazing patterns floating around for making your own, and I cannot wait to try some of them out while adding to my collection!

Cheers!

Sharon

TLC in the garden...it pays off!

2011-03-31T10:00:00.002-06:00

Hello All-

I am getting some MAJOR spring fever here in snowy Calgary, so I thought I'd do a garden post to help quench my plant withdrawals!

I want to introduce you to the newest member of my dining room garden collection...a small bonsai tree. I bought this little guy from Lowes on the Clearance rack. I think I paid a whopping $3.00 for it! When I first purchased it, it was bare and without many leaves...I wish I had a photo. I showed it to the hubby, and he just shook his head. He's used to me bringing home nearly dead plants. In my mind, the pot it came in was worth more than the $3.00 it cost, and I was happy to have avoided the original price of $19.99 they were asking for the healthy ones.

Now look at it! A bit of water and some south-facing sun, and it looks good as new! I am so excited that this gamble paid off.

If you ever find yourself in the garden center looking through some discounted plants, there are a few things you need to ask yourself before buying any of them:

Why are they marked down? In some cases, the plant is fine but the pot is cracked. That's an easy fix. We also bought some awesome outdoor plants for 50 cents each last year when a frost hit Home Depot and they didn't know if the plants would make it...they were beautiful in our garden!
If the flowers have passed and they marked the plant down, is it one that will come back again next year? If so, take a chance! Plant it now for color next year! If it won't come back or you're not sure...pass on it. If you're looking for green stuff to clutter your garden without providing any color...I've got some weeds I can sell you!
Is the plant simply looking for some sun and water? Feel the branches...do they bend or snap. Pass on any snapping branches. They are too far gone. If they still have some bend to them, they can likely be saved. Bring them home, give them a good soaking and some TLC and they should bounce back.
And finally, is the discounted price worth taking a chance? When I buy on clearance, it has to be a "too good to be true" deal. As I said, my bonsai was supposed to cost $19.99...I paid $3.00. If they marked it down to $10.00, I would have passed...simply because I wouldn't have paid that for the salvageable pot. Outdoor filler plants for 50 cents...sold! Any more than that, and you're better off buying the full priced ones that you know will grow.

I hope that helps to give some insight when purchasing less than stellar garden plants. With spring here, but the snow still falling, now is the time to check out your local chain stores for deals. In many cases, their corporate buyers have already sent the spring flowers to the stores, but they can't put them outside yet. You can score some fantastic deals!! Also, if it warms up and then we get another flurry...run to your local garden center. They'll be slashing prices on their droopy plants.

Finally, with Easter right around the corner, start stalking your grocery stores for lilies. The day after Easter, they will all get marked down. Buy all that you can, enjoy them inside for a bit, and when the flowers die off, let the bulbs dry out and store them. You won't have lilies this year in your garden, but you can plant them in the fall for beautiful color next year and a fraction of the price!

Happy Planting and Happy Spring!

Cheers!
Sharon

Crayons Crayons Everywhere!!

2011-03-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

Do you have crayon pieces taking over your house? If so, check out my post from yesterday's Kids in Cowtown blog...

Here's a preview...

While you're over at Kids in Cowtown, check out some of the other great posts! Though they are written by folks in Calgary, many of the ideas can be applied in your own neck of the woods!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Pint-Sized Paradise Shawl

2011-03-29T10:37:00.001-06:00

Hello All-

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had started a shawl while on vacation in Florida. Well, it is done...and it is short..too short. I used the suggested yarn, the suggested needle, and the suggested number of skeins, but it came out half-sized.

Not to worry, the Diva took one look at it and fell in love. So, my paradise shawl that I had such high hopes for is now a pint-sized one.

I suppose I could have bought more yarn and kept going on it, but in all honesty, I have a to-do list that was creeping up behind it and I needed to finish.

The pattern is The Shoreline Lace Shawl by Lion Brand. I used 2 full skeins of Cotton-Ease yarn in their Azalea colorway. I must say, the lace pattern is beautiful and quite easy. I may add this one back to my Ravelry queue and make one for myself!

Cheers!

Sharon

It's Done!!!

2011-03-16T10:00:00.001-06:00

Well, it has been done...I just forgot to tell you all about it. What am I talking about?? My Top-Down Raglan Sweater!!

I finished it before we went on vacation, but I completely forgot to do a post about it. It came out great!!! The only thing I wish I had done differently was the sleeves. I thought they were long enough, but they aren't. They are quite cropped, but I am getting more used to the length.

So far I have worn it with a shirt underneath poking out of the sleeves and once with no sleeves peeking out. I honestly think it looks nice either way, and hubby seemed to like the look of the sleeves poking out this weekend.

The pattern I used was Susan B. Anderson's Easy Top-Down Raglan Knitalong and I love how you can customize the sweater as you go. I kept mine pretty basic...no waist shaping, and garter edging on the sleeves, body and collar. I'd love to make this sweater again and mix it up a bit. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and I love the fuzziness of it!!!

If you want to make yourself a sweater with lots of possibilities for customization, this is the pattern you need to try!!

Cheers!
Sharon

What You Missed...

2011-03-15T10:40:00.000-06:00

Hello All-

So, I have been out of this world busy lately!! First, I got a bunch of knitting done, then we went on vacation to Florida, then I did ore knitting on vacation, then I ate a bunch of great food on vacation, then I came home and tried making ravioli and it was a flop, then...man, I need to take a breather!!

First things first, a knitting update. I wanted a fun project for the plane, and I decided on this market tote. It was super easy and a great airplane project!! The first bit is a bit tricky on dpns, but once you switch over to circulars, it is smooth sailing. I did skip the crochet start and simply cast on, but other than that, it is to the pattern.

I highly recommend this project if you have a bunch of cotton kicking around and you want to use it up without making a bunch of dishcloths. Though I wanted to use this bag to collect yummy fruit in Florida, it served a better use to bring various do-dads with us in the car.

The pattern is Grrlfriend Market Bag. And I used some Bernat Handicrafter Cotton to make it.

Before we went on vacation, I ordered some KnitPicks "stuff" to have sent to my in-law's house. I knew I wanted to knit while I was down there, so I figured I would have some goodies waiting for me. Along with some new cords for my interchangeables, I also bought a sampler set of needles. I have Harmony wooden needles that hubby bought me for Christmas, but I was curious to see how the nickle plated and Zephyr needles felt. So, the Try It Needle Set was perfect!

Next I just had to find a pattern to out one type of needles. I decided to go with the acrylic tips and start a new shawl. I selected the Shoreline Lace Shawl by Lion Brand and I bought 2 balls of Cotton-Ease in the Azalea colorway for it. I love this pattern!!! It looks intimidating, but once you get going, it is quite easy. I did find that it was good poolside knitting, but not the best project to be working on while paying attention to tv. I need to watch each row pretty carefully so I don't miss a yarn over.

I am currently into the second ball of yarn, and I am anxious to get this project finished up. I think the color will look great against my mostly black wardrobe this summer!!

So, there you have it. I also bought some pretty Berroco Alpaca for a gift project, but it will be a while before I can talk about that on here.

So, stay tuned for some more updates. I am already planning posts about the food we ate, places we visited, and some other knitting projects I have been working on...oh, and then there's the great ravioli disaster of 2011!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Stay Tuned...

2011-03-10T09:59:00.001-07:00

Hello All!!

Sorry for the delay in posts. We've been out of the country for the last 2 weeks. We are back and working on getting back into the swing of things. I promise I'll be posting shortly with photos of sunny Florida, a post about painting pottery with the Diva, posts about what we ate on vacation, new knitting projects, and a review of my new ravioli maker!!

So stay tuned folks...there's lots of fun headed your way!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Fresh From the Oven: Homemade Pasta

2011-02-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

As I have said in other posts, my KitchenAid mixer is my best friend in the kitchen. Despite the amount of use that it gets, I still didn't feel that I was using it at its full potential. You see, we have some attachments for the mixer and I had never even taken them out of the box!! One is a sausage stuffer, and since meats fall into hubby territory, he's responsible for dusting that off this summer.

Another attachment we had was the food grinder/pasta maker. I put aside the grinder attachment for now (that's going to get lots of use come St. Patrick's Day...I love me some hash!!) and I decided to take the plunge into pasta making. The attachment that we have allows you to make noodles of various sizes and macaroni. I decided to try egg noodles, since I had planned to make beef stroganoff for dinner tonight.

I used the recipe that came with the attachments. Pretty simple...eggs, flour and water. It called for very little water, and I don't know if the altitude messed with tings or what, but I had to add quite a bit more water than it called for. Honestly, I wish I had added more.

Once I got it balled up and resting, I tackled putting the extruder on the mixer. It was quite straightforward and not hard at all. So far so good.

I had read on several websites that pasta making takes lots of practice and I now believe it. My first few tries were rippled and short. Oh well...those became the testers...aka lunch! After a few tries, I got the hang of things. The problem I ran into was finding room to lay out all of the pasta. I guess I could have lined the kitchen table with towels, but I didn't know how long it would take to dry. So, I used a method I read about online where you stretch a broom across two chairs and dangle the pasta over it (on towels of course). This worked, but I found that when I removed the pasta, much of it cracked at the bend point. I guess this isn't a big deal if you are cooking it right away.

For pasta that is going to be stored, I found that simply lying the noodles on a lightly floured cookie sheet worked well. The noodles stayed flat and would be easier to store.

In the end, I am quite happy with the results. Hannah and I tried some of the "testers" for lunch and they were yummy!!! I cannot wait to cook up the rest tonight.

My next adventure is going to be with ravioli making. Hubby and I went out last night to find some supplies and we couldn't find any!! All we found was some pasta flour and a fluted edge roller. I did some digging online and found that Sur La Table has a huge selection of pasta making supplies...and though they aren't located in Canada, they are in Florida near my in-law's house, so I know where I'll be shopping on our upcoming vacation!!

Stay tuned...

Cheers!
Sharon

A Dress Fit for a Princess

2011-02-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

With some warmer temps here in the city, my hands have been allowing me to get some knitting done. Hannah noticed a cabled dress pattern in the Holiday 2010 issue of Knit Simple. She mentioned it a few times to me, so I decided to take the plunge and try not only my first dress, but a large amount of cabling.

Hannah selected the yarn, Full o' Sheep, which is part of the Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller line of Red Heart yarns. She decided that she needed this bright Aquamarine color so she could look like Cinderella. As you can see from the photo below, the color isn`t too far off.

The dress came out great!!! It took just over 2 skeins to make, and 5 days to finish. It is a bit long on her now, but I`m fine with that. This style will be cute as a dress now and a tunic later in the Fall. With Hannah heading off to pre-school in September, we`re going to need to stock up on school clothes.

I must say that Hannah has got a good eye for patterns and colors. She has been selecting her own patterns lately, and has been doing a great job!! My next project for her is another maxi-top in a grape color. After wearing the Garnet colored one a few times, she asked me to make one in purple...I have to agree, I think it will look great on her!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Apple Galette

2011-02-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

Hello All-

As you may have read in my previous post, hubby and I recently went to see Chef Eric Ripert at the EPCOR Centre here in Calgary. In preparation for the show, we purchased Chef Ripert`s cookbook, Avec Eric. In it are stories, photos, and of course, 100+ recipes.

Letting the caramel cool on the silicone sheet

One that caught my eye was the Apple Galette (page 256). I am by no means a pastry chef, but I do feel much more comfortable baking puff pastry than grilling meat. Thankfully, hubby loves to cook, so he is always on meat duty.

The sugar/cinnamon/vanilla powder pre-baking

I had been waiting for the perfect time to try out this recipe, and when we decided to invite some friends over for dinner, I jumped at the chance to make it. Little did I know that it would involve being in the kitchen all day long!!

Post baking

The recipe is actually quite simple: make caramel, use caramel to make sugar coating, slice apples, bake apples with sugar coating, and bake again in a puff pastry. The trouble with this recipe is the length of time that it takes to make it. Each step much be cooked/baked and then cooled, before you can move on. Had I read more carefully, I would have made this a day ahead and done the final baking on the day of the dinner party.

Final product- yummy!!

All in all, it was delicious. The puff pastry didn`t come out exactly as planned, since I forgot to thaw it to unroll it and then refreeze it. I think next time I`ll look to see if I can find flat sheets, rather than rolled ones. I think that would make life much easier. I also plan to use a different type of apple next time. The recipe calls for Granny Smiths, and I found that they were a bit too tart for the recipe. That could be the fault of the season, but I think I`ll go with something sweeter next time. This was easily remedied with a dollop of vanilla ice cream...homemade whipped cream would likely do the trick as well.

I highly recommend this recipe to anyone who is looking to wow their guests. with a bit of tweaking to one`s tastes, it can easily be a show-stopper!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

A Night Out: Avec Chef Eric Ripert

2011-02-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

With a `Preschool Princess` at home, hubby and I don`t get out too much on date nights. However, there are some events that are too good to be true and well worth getting a sitter. Recently we had such a date night...and we went to see Chef Eric Ripert at the EPCOR Centre. Last winter we were able to see the lecture the EPCOR hosted with Chef Anthony Bourdain, and we had a wonderful time. This year, we brought along some fellow foodie friends of ours as well.

Chef gave a wonderful lecture, talking about his beginnings in food, as well as his current restaurant, Le Bernardin. It was great to hear his stories about food being thrown around the kitchen, the grand meals his mother would make, and how he ended up coming to the US.

After the show, we were able to go upstairs at the facility and meet Chef, as well as get his autograph. We were also able to do this at the Bourdain show, and it was a great treat, and well worth the extra money. We also tasted some wonderful wines, and some delicious appetizers...I was really digging the wild boar they served...yum!!

Chef`s style is classic, but simple. After thumbing through his cookbook, Avec Eric, I can`t wait to try a few of the dishes. Stay tuned to see how they go!!

Throw on a drink afterwards at the James Joyce with our friends, and it was a wonderful evening.

Off to cook!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Happy CHD Awareness Week

2011-02-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hello All-

Yesterday marked the first day of CHD Awareness Week. For those of you who have followed either of my blogs, you know that my three-year old daughter, Hannah, aka the Diva, was born with a heart defect. She has now had three open heart surgeries and will undergo a final procedure this spring. Rather than go into detail about Hannah’s condition, her heart story, and a bunch of medical jargon, I thought I’d give everyone a little peek into what having a “heart kid” means to me. (For those who are interested, feel free to Google Double-Outlet, Right-Ventricle for more info on what Hannah has)

To me, being the Mom of a child with a CHD means seeing a beautiful smile every morning. It is taking my little girl to her first music class, preparing for preschool, and getting ready for her first dance recital. It is playing Barbies and practicing the hula hoop, riding bikes and going to hockey games.

Occasionally it is shedding tears and looking for answers. It is finding the perfect band-aid after blood work, enjoying treats in the hospital coffee shop and learning just how creative you can be when it comes to giving daily meds.

It is renewing faith in God, saying lots of prayers, and learning the true meaning of the words, “Thank You.” It is putting trust in strangers and creating life-long bonds. It is having a family that you share a bond, not blood, with.

It is teaching…and learning. It is discovering boundaries and breaking them. It is striving and believing. It is living life one day at a time, and making sure that each one is as full as possible.

It is being thankful and not taking things for granted. Most of all, it is loving and living life…one heartbeat at a time.

Happy CHD Awareness Week!!

God Bless,

Sharon

Say it Ain't So...

2011-01-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

I was able to get some knitting done!!! Thanks to a warm Chinook, my hands are feeling a bit better, so I made the most of it and had a date with my needles.

First up, I had some really pretty purple bulky yarn that I got at our Secret Santa Party. I knew right away that I wanted to make some sort of cowl with it, and sure enough, that's what I did. I used the Holland Cowl pattern, and I really like it. It has a nice cabley lace effect, and the cast on edge has a pretty scallop to it.

I used about half a skein of Filtes King Van Dyck for it, and it took me less than 2 hours to make. Though I don't do car knitting, this would be a perfect project for a road trip.

Next, I splurged and bought some yarn while we were on vacation in the mountains this past weekend. It wasn't much of a splurge since I bought some pretty common yarn (Cascade 220), but considering that it wasn't yarn from a box store, it was a big purchase for me. I also need to say that I was a good girl and I didn't buy any yarn at the Jacques Cartier store in Lake Louise like I wanted...so there!!

I purchased two skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers in the garnet colorway. I wasn't sure what to make with them, I just liked the color and knew that the yarn was pretty common, so there had to be some patterns out there that I could do. After searching and searching, I decided to make a top for Hannah. I wanted something that could be layered, but not necessarily add a lot of bulk.

I found the Maxi Top / Dress pattern on Ravelry and I knew it had potential...I just needed to tweak it a bit. I made the 3-4 size, and followed the directions up until the increases. Instead, I went up a needle size and left the stitch count consistent. It made for a nice shape without flaring too much. Also, I didn't want the ruffle or garter bottom, so I went back to the same 1x1 rib that was used in the mock turtleneck portion. Finally, I decided to go with one color instead of two.

All in all, I LOVE it!!! So does Hannah!!! For the first time, she was really excited about one of the garments I made her. I really like the fact that it took me about two days and only one skein to make. I think this is one of my favorite projects to date, and I plan on making more of these (in different lengths) in the future!!! By the looks of Hannah in the photo, I think she's okay with that plan too!!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Fresh from the Oven: Must Have Baking Tools

2011-01-23T10:47:00.002-07:00

Hello All!!!

With all of my recent food posts, I thought I would share some of my favorite tools in the kitchen. First up, the baking tools. I went through my cabinets and found a few items that I cannot function without. I'm sure there are more things that should be listed, but these are the first ones that came to mind. (I am providing links the Amazon pages that I could find for these items...though many of them can be bought at any kitchen supply store)

First up, my Silicone Zone mat. I have never liked silicone baking pans, but this mat is a must! My Sister-in-law bought it for me years ago, and I use it on a weekly basis. I use mine mostly for rolling out dough, and not for actual baking in the oven. I also use my Memere's old Tupperware mat (you know, the one with the pie crust sizes on it), but the downside to that mat is that it rolls for storage and tends to curl when I am using it. This silicone mat grips my counter top perfectly and is just the right size for the projects I do.

If there is one item sold on television commercials that is worth trying, it is the Ove Glove!! Our Aunt bought these for us a few years ago for Christmas, and as you can see from the photo, they are well worn!! I find regular potholders to be clumsy and difficult to work with. These gloves are awesome! Occasionally we feel heat come through the gloves, but it is usually when we are dealing with hot meat pans, and there's no doubt in my mind that a pot holder would have failed much sooner. As someone who has put these through the ringer, I suggest you get yourself a pair...they typically come one to a package, but are well worth buying two!

Oh Parchment Paper...how do I love thee?! I'll be honest, I never used to use parchment paper. To me, it was one more expense on the grocery bill that I didn't see a need for. Instead, I wasted a lot of money on burnt cookies, and dish soap used to scrub baked on food off of my baking sheets. Finally, after a batch of ~~hockey pucks~~ burnt Whoopie Pies, I gave in and bought myself a roll. Now, it is truly my best friend in the kitchen. I always line my baking pans with it, whether I am baking cookies, heating up chicken nuggets, or making some dish that involves oozing cheese. I also find myself grabbing it when I do small craft projects with Hannah. All in all, this is a winner in my book!!

If you watch Good Eats with Alton Brown, you've likely seen a Metric Wonder Cup (or something just like it) before. I say that because that's where we first became introduced to this kitchen life-saver! When my husband bought one at a local kitchen supply store, I thought it was a waste of money...WRONG!!! This little guy has saved me so many times in the kitchen. What is so amazing about it? Have you ever tried to get molasses out of a measuring cup, or honey, or syrup? Not fun, right? How about when you measure mayo or shortening, only to find that there was an air bubble in the cup and you don't know how much you really measured out? This little gadget solves all of those problems. You pull the two pieces apart until they line up at the amount you need. Then you add your ingredients to the top, and push the yellow part like a plunger to add your ingredients to your mixing bowl. The top of the yellow portion is flat, so you can scrape it off with a spatula and you haven't missed any of the ingredient you're working with. It is genius!! The pieces then come apart, so you can wash them easily. So handy!!

If you have a Kitchen-Aid mixer, then you can stop reading here. You don't need to hear me go on and on about how wonderful this item is...you already know it!! For those who have never felt the power of a Kitchen-Aid...oh man, are you missing out!! As a child, my Mom had a Sunbeam mixer that she used daily. It had a bowl that spun, and the smell...how do I describe it? Burnt motor perhaps? My Mom used her mixer so much that I think it could rival Jillian Michaels in a workout! Then she discovered Kitchen-Aid, and has turned all of us into converts along the way.

My Mom bought me my mixer as a wedding present, and I am so thankful!! These bad boys aren't cheap, but once you use one, you'll know that they are worth every penny!! Mine is a Professional model, though they come in all sorts of price points, sizes, colors, and styles. Personally, I like the drop bowl, rather than the tilting head, so that narrows down the model options. With all of the available attachments, there isn't much this mixer can't do. Stay tuned to the blog this summer, when we put ours to the test and make sausage...then we're going to smoke it in hubby's smoker...mmmm...I'm salivating at the thought!!!

Finally, the gadget that I cannot bake without is my telephone. Oh, and the speed-dial preset that calls my Mom. She is the reason why I bake, and she has bailed me out of so many culinary blunders over the years! I love going home for the holidays and baking with her. I always learn so much and we have so much fun!! Many of my best recipes come from her, and I am so grateful!!!

So, there you have it, my Must-Have list of baking tools. Feel free to comment with any of your favorites, as I am always looking for new gadgets to try out!!

Cheers and Happy Baking!
Sharon

Creamed Corn that doesn't come from a can? Say it aint so!

2011-01-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

Hello All!

As I mentioned in a previous post, we recently purchased Chef Thomas Keller's cookbook, "ad hoc at home." The recipes are classic dishes that don't have a lot of fuss and muss...just my style! From what I have read through so far, he really goes the extra step to not only present a great recipe, but also to teach the reader how to make it. There are a lot of photos and tutorials included, which I love!!! I'll be honest, this isn't an inexpensive book, but I know it will prove it's value with how much use we get out of it.

The first recipe that we tried was the Creamed Summer Corn. I had never eaten creamed corn that wasn't from a can, so this was an interesting concept for me.

Hubby ended up making this by himself since I had to step away from the kitchen for a bit. I didn't hear any cursing, and he mentioned how he would make it again, so I'd have to say that it was likely pretty straightforward to make. All I can say is, "WOW"! The corn was great!!! It has some cayenne in it, so you'll have to adjust that to your liking. I actually liked the bit of heat it created. We paired it with some pretty simple stuff, since I was out all day with Hannah and knew I wouldn't have much time to cook. So, we had it with boneless pork chops (Hannah picked them out...she insisted that we have Shake and bake for dinner!), jasmine rice, and my Mother-in-Law's Peach Sauce. Delicious all around!!

Sorry for the messy plate...I wasn't originally planning on taking a photo of it!

I ended up buying shrink wrapped corn at Walmart for this recipe, and it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Hubby and I decided that this would be an awesome way to use up some leftover corn in the summer. We always cook way more than we can eat and we end up feeding most of it to the composter. I think I'll be cutting all of the leftover corn off the cobs and saving it throughout the week to make this dish on the weekends. I am also looking into ways to freeze our summer corn so we can have creamed corn in the winter months too.

Stay tuned for many more recipe reviews from this cookbook. We have our eyes on the Chicken Pot Pie, Cod, Scallops...oh, the list goes on and on!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Let's see who was paying attention

2011-01-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

Hello All!!

So, I made a little change to my blog today...did you notice?? Probably not, as it wasn't anything major. Under the title of my blog, it used to say, "Making my way through Michaels...one aisle at a time." It now says, "A collection of all things crafty, culinary and a bit of crazy." I'm not sure that I love the new description, but it does explain this blog a bit better. In all honesty, I do go through most of the aisles at Michaels, but only because the yarn section is in the back and I have to pass everything else to get to it!!

If anyone has a better idea for the tag line, please let me know. I just felt that I needed to incorporate my recent posts about food somehow, since they have gotten quite a bit of attention.

Speaking of food, hubby and I bought the cookbook, "ad hoc at home," by Thomas Keller this week, and we are anxious to start trying some of his awesome recipes. So, expect that you'll be seeing some reviews in the next few weeks. Also, we're counting down to our night out with Eric Ripert, where we are going to hear him speak and then attend a wine tasting after party with him, so be sure to check back the first week of February for that post. After we saw Anthony Bourdain last year, we really modified our thoughts on cooking good food at home. I cannot wait to hear Chef Ripert's thoughts and see what good ideas we take home with us!!

Cheers!
Sharon