The smell of books and new dishes

Tonight made new dish as published in Sobey's recipe magazine - sweet potato rice pilaf, pretty fall colours and delicious spices - happy that I can have a tiny bit more for a lunch treat tomorrow... Also happy with book I picked up at my library - author Neil Pasricha talks about little things to be grateful for such as bakery air, and the smell of books - Awesome!

New Life!

What is it about tiny fresh flowers and tiny baby fingers that can grab at your heart strings? The flowers just came up in my back garden patch - and I sure wish I could smell those precious fingers of my beautiful new niece Sabrina who was born last Friday on the other side of the country...

New foods to try out!

As we have a tiny chokeberry bush growing in front of our 'workshop', I wanted to see if you can eat the black berries - turns out, you can. They are full of anti-oxidants, however, they also contain oxalic acid. You can wash and eat the berries raw, in fruit salads or baked goods. The couscous salad was another new recipe we tried out on the weekend - nice to have a different grain. (not sure if the guys loved the tofu, however!)

Harvest Time!

Came across this quote and wanted to share:

"I did then what I knew how to do.
Now that I know better, I do better."
- Maya Angelou

How sweet is your Marshmallow?

I am quite happy with the colours of my first wild rose shrub and marshmallow plants. Yes, you heard right - Marshmallow or Althea officinalis - not the white puffy candy stuff used to roast at your campfire! You can use the leaves and roots for medicinal purposes, especially good for digestive/stomach issues.

Yummy flowers

I was fortunate enough to spend the whole day in the garden yesterday weeding, (if you can call working in 30+degrees celcius with humidity lucky) and saw plenty of beauty with butterflies enjoying the milkweed, goldenrod opening up their golden colour, and my first rosebush giving a hint of ballerina pink. My absolute favourite flower at the moment has to be the hollyhocks with colours ranging from black/maroon to salmon and pink. I don't think they will last much longer, however, as their huge stalks are starting to fall over...

Books and bugs

Inside, I'm reviewing library book titled 'Ginger and Ganesh' by Nani Power - "she takes the reader into a culture, a cuisine, and the female psyche, with recipes and stories from each chapter revealing the struggle of modern women, both American and of Indian descent". Isn't the cover photograph gorgeous? Outside, I'm noticing bug and butterfly visitors on my marshmallow, valerian, and St. John's wort plants. Now if we can only get rid of the mosquito's!

Feeling blue....

Feeling blue about this 'spring' we are experiencing - nothing but rain and mosquitos! Luckily, mom and I came across these gorgous blue lilacs in a farmer's field and we helped ourselves to a couple of arrangements. The fragrant blooms remind us that after a long cold winter, warm and bright days should arrive ...

Happy Mother's Day!

We have another mom in our workshop preparing her nest in time for Mother's Day... Wanted to share this quotation with you by Elizabeth Stone:

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

Happy Easter!

Good thing mom is keeping super busy with all her colourful knitting yarns - outside the world is still presented in grey and beige shades... Sandi, I hope you love mom's latest creation pictured above, as it is especially created for your little precious bundle on the way!

Dreaming of fresh Catnip

Looking back over my last few blog entries, it seems I have posted quite a few cat pictures - well, I could not resist our big fella dreaming of fresh Catnip... We are all patiently waiting for the snow to disappear, and as a matter of fact, some new Calendula babies have come up in my newly 'renovated' growing rack parked in the workshop we have been working on - amazing anything came up at all considering the cold temperatures.

Chef at Home

Has anyone ever watched the Chef at Home cooking show on Food Network channel? I just love the pantry set-up with all kinds of spices and herbs in mason jars...makes you want to cook or bake something special. Speaking of baking, just made a batch of Coconut Macaroons from Michael Smith's book 'Chef at Home'- they turned out a bit dark, but my tummy did not mind...Other recipes that sound interesting include Sherry Maple Vinaigrette, Grilled Vegetable Skewers with Red Wine Herb Vinaigrette, and Fruit Crisp with crispy buttery topping.

Got your compass ready?

Instead of sailing on the 'big' boats, our youngest teen has been spending time on his other passion - model ship building - so far this is what his Chesapeake Skipjack looks like... Mike is looking forward to teaching again through the Ottawa Carleton District School Board with a new program called "Wilderness Navigation with Compass & GPS" starting next week!

Inspired by artist Frida Kahlo

In addition to reviewing beautiful art books, Mom and I watched a PBS home video together about the legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The story was very moving and it inspires you to try out a new craft from garden design, and beading, to drawing. How do you like the flamboyant colours in mom's new knitting project?

Happy New Year!

Oops, I guess it has been a while since I updated my blog - busy with moving my momma in and her precious cat (that is her in the photo with her catnip gift), baking with my new dishes and oven mitts (gifts from my guys), and getting organized for another great year - wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year!

Those good 'oldies'

I had to laugh when I grabbed my Canadian Living Cookbook (1978 edition) off the shelf - it is split in half and I don't know where the cover disappeared to ... but I know exactly where to find the oatmeal cookie recipe all my guys have enjoyed over the last few years (page 244) - liked with raisins, and loved with chocolate chips.

I'm a Domestic Goddess!

Over the last week have made a batch of Pineapple Chutney - fermented, so good for the belly - and coconut macaroons - also good for the belly! I just love the juicy color of the pineapple; recipe from author of Nourishing Traditions, and the macaroons are from author Nigella Lawson in her book 'How to be a domestic goddess'.

Beauty and Kindness

I came upon this quotation that I wanted to share today -

"How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!"
- George Elliston

Real Food

Reading both these books about food - one is by the author Bill Phillips (of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Body for Life) with a book titled 'Eating for Life'. I can not believe the foods he recommends in this book, from sugar free jello puddings and soy protein powders to sugar substitutes such as Splenda. He focuses mostly on fat-free foods and products that substitute for sugar.

On the other hand, author Nina Planck of the book 'Real Food' highly recommends you eat your foods the way your grandmother prepared them - with the skin, cream, butter. She focuses on traditional foods and how they are healthy for you. I just started reviewing this book and got so hungry for a 'real' egg, that I picked up a few dozen free-range eggs from my local farmer - can hardly wait until we have our own girls in the back!

Crispy Fall air and Crunchy apples

With the leaves changing colour and the temperature dropping, I get the urge to cook and bake up something new - lucky me, found this cookbook at the library by Rose Murray 'A Year in My Kitchen'. The book is divided by seasons so new Fall recipes I will try this week include Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables and Apple Crisp!.