Monthly Archives: August 2011

I’d like to thank the academy…

31 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

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I’ve been having a bit of “a day”.  I take the kiddo to the babysitter for the first time this year tomorrow and this is our offical last day of summer.  However, a few minutes ago I got this!

Evie, you have totally made my “day” a great day.  Evie has a gorgeous blog that you should really check-out.  It has a generous spirit and fab ideas.

Now onto a toally fun part.

After accepting the Versatile Blogger Award I am supposed to:
1)  Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in your post. 

Happily Done!

2)  Share seven things about yourself

  • I met my husband while taking a French course-this is the only course that I’ve ever taken and learned very little but I’m still thrilled with the results.
  • I trained as a chef but decided to become a teacher after running garde manger classes at night.
  • I have one adorable little girl who is 19 months old and was a total surprise just before my 40th birthday.
  • I teach grade eight English and social studies in a really large (1800 kids) high school.
  • My favourite place in the world is in my backyard under my grapevines.
  • My house is 3/4 of the way finished and I have become obsessed with paint colours.

3)  Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

Everything done except for the primping

31 Wednesday Aug 2011

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I’ve got the big pieces, and some of the small ones into the babes’ big girl room and just have the primping left to do. 
Primping requires a relaxed mind that has lived in a space for a wee bit and we’re not quite there yet but I thought I would share what I’ve gotten done thus far.
This isn’t a big room but I want it to be a special place where she can grow and become her own little person.
So I’ve got a spot for her to hang her clothes (especially tutus) at the entrance with a photo of her great Grandmother’s christening and a clay handprint of hers at two months old.
Sorry for the shadow but I just can’t get rid of it-have to get some help from Michelle.  Here’s an overview of the whole room with it’s very bright Tiffany blue.

I’ve put in as large of play space as possible and warmed the space with a couple of fun rugs-I think these are temporary choices.  A french chandelier screams “Princess”.

A big bookcase holds; diapers, bins of toys, clothes and LOTS of books.  What can I say-she’s the child of an English teacher 🙂
A cozy quilt and Louise the doll are ready for lots of happy dreams.
Princess chairs and a felt tea set are ready for parties with Daddy. 
The table is actually a storage cube for yet more toys-apparentl they breed each evening.
A magnetic chalkboard wall already has the resident artist and visitors leaving messages.
The cute little dresser sits with its repaired mirror with hair accessories and jewelery in a pink watering can.
Today it is a; three hair tie, four neclace and two bracelet day.
And the first night sleeping in her big girl bed.
 

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

A Classic that seems difficult but isn’t: Homemade Mayonaise

31 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in homemade mayonaise

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I admit it. 
I’m a mayo girl. 
I love it. 
I love the creaminess and I especially like to dip french fries into it. 
I invariably think of John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction” talking about the eccentricities of the French. I tried to edit out all the swear words in my mind’s version but it is just a series of inarticulate bleeps. 
I think that I trace my obscene love of mayonaise to a very lazy afternoon indulging in a lot of girl talk with a friend in Paris eating the best steak I’ve ever had with perfect frites and a multitude of glasses of really cheap red wine.
How could you not love mayonaise after that?
My favourite though is homemade mayonaise and any sort of eggs.  I have a terrible hankering for devilled eggs.  I’ll show the eggs later this week (they have a fun spin to them) but I thought I would do a quickie post on how to make your own delicious, creamy, fatty goodness.
This basic recipe can be tarted-up with mashed garlic and is amazing on a roast beef sandwich.  I like to use a really good olive oil but you can have a more neutral taste by using canola or grapeseed oil instead.
Gathering the materials actually takes the longest amount of time.
Get your old food processor out (mine is likely almost as old as I am) OR limber up your whipping arm.  It is possible to do this by hand and you will have some scarily, nice pipes on you afterwards.  After all that exercise you should have some…mayonaise. 🙂
Take two, fat, very yellow eggs yolks and get the whirring in the processor.  Add 2 tsp. of dijon and the juice of 1/2 lemon (don’t like dijon-cut it down to one tsp. or use a tsp. of cider vinegar).

Slowly drizzle 3/4 cups of really good olive oil with the motor running and
30 seconds later you have MAYO!!! Season to taste with a bit of sea salt
Aren’t you clever?
Pop in later this week to see some fun and slightly different devilled eggs.
I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

Time for some comfort

30 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by in scalloped potatoes

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It’s getting cool at night and Labour day is this weekend.  Summer must truly be coming to an end.  We’re going to sneak in a few last things this week (back to school outfits for Mommy and the babes, bbq with friends, another trip to the splash pad…) but this is the last gasp indeed.  I also tend to feel a bit nervous this week.  It’s funny but even after all these years of teaching I still get first night jitters.
Also it freaks me out to think of leaving my little girl.  It’s like the end of maternity leave all over again.  My bestie and I saw “The Help”
last night (as awesome as the book by the way) and there was this little blond girl in it who was being rasied by the most caring “help”, Aibileen.  Her mother is absent in so many ways-mainly emotionally and the wee girl is told “She is smart, she is loved and she is important” by this woman who is treated so incredibly poorly by so many yet still shines as a human being and a Christian. 
Of course, I lost it in the theatre and have spent the rest of the time since worried that I’m not letting my little one know that she is the centre of the universe enough.
I don’t have any doubt that in my situation going to work makes me a better parent.  I love my job, I feel fulfilled and I have great holidays that allow me to spend large chunks of time with my cutie. 
It doesn’t mean that I don’t feel guilty-often, like everyday.
Time to turn to some comforting food and there is nothing more comforting than scalloped potatoes.  Potatoes cooked in butter and milk with cheese on the top.  That is the epitome of comfort.
To be honest my mom used to make scalloped potatoes and…I couldn’t stomache them.   I’ve figured out since that the trick to yummy ones are thin layers of potatoes and full-fat milk.  Really, everything gets better when the phrase full-fat is added to it.
Butter a generous casserole dish that has a lid (no lid-get the tin foil ready).

Thinly slice a layer of potatoes (yukon gold or nice red potatoes are ideal) and top with; dots of butter, salt and pepper, grated nutmeg, finely diced onions and a sprinkle of flour.

Repeat your layers (about an inch thick) four times, sprinkle with a little bit of chicken stock powder and add enough milk to bring you to the top of your potatoes.

Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees (covered for the first 30).  The last 10 minutes add a generous layer of cheese.  I like a nice sharp cheddar but you could put anything that you have kicking around.

Still celebrate summer with a bit of bbq steak and some farmer’s market brocolli to round things out.

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.