Bits of Life, Scrapbooking and Cooking

Family Reunion

2009-07-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

Well I would have had this post up sooner but for some reason I can only load one photo at a time?

This past Saturday we hosted a family reunion at our house. It almost had to be inside as morning thunderstorms rolled through but luckily, the rain and clouds cleared up and we spent a great afternoon/evening outside in the sunshine.

The kids decided to play a bit of football in the green space behind our house.

But first you have to plan the strategy!

Then execute that strategy!

While they were doing that, some of us lounged on the patio. Here's Amanda, Carolyn, my Mom and Brittany.

Then my Grandma, Chris, Steve and Brianne.

Its me with Blake and Russell in the background.

And what would a reunion be without awesome food!

Look at all the yumminess

We had some great desserts too but I didn't get pics of them. I will share a dessert I made in a later post though.

Thanks to everyone who came, it was a fun afternoon and so wonderful to see you all!

Paper Bliss Blog Candy

2009-07-14T21:59:00.002-04:00

I don't often do this but Michelle at Paper Bliss is offering such an awesome Cuttlebug Blog Candy you just have to check it out! Click here to check it out.

Chatterbox Cards

2009-07-13T20:36:00.003-04:00

I decided to continue on my roll of using up my Chatterbox paper and created two cards based on the sketches at Card Patterns.

This first one is based on Kris Swain's bonus sketch. The inside says 'miss you'.

The second is based on Eva Dobila's sketch.

Loved both of these sketches, great sketches to create from!

Be Inspired #39

2009-07-12T21:59:00.004-04:00

The challenge this week at CBC is to create something with a 'woodsy' theme.

I wasn't too sure what I'd create until I remembered that I had this chipboard tree by Riff Raff Designs.

I layered it on white and coordinating brown cardstock. The last layer of white I embossed and chalked to appear grass-like. I then cut out and popped some mushrooms from some Sassafras paper for a little bit more colour.

A closer view.

I'm not sure what sentiment to use and would appreciate your suggestions!

PS: Oops, I just noticed that I missed the suggested colour theme, sorry about that!

Another Altered Composition Book

2009-07-12T21:46:00.004-04:00

In my quest to use up my supplies, I adapted this week's Use It challenge and CPS Sketch 124 to covering a composition book.

For the Use It challenge:
1/my favourite paper is by Chatterbox, their Happy line along with a bit of yellow Doodlebug paper;
2/I've added texture with the ric rac;
3/for the 2 punches I used a fiskars punch border punch and a Martha butterfly punch;
4/Finally I added small pearls to the butterflies.

The detail is more easily seen if you click on the photo to enlarge it.

A Couple of Sneak Peaks

2009-07-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

Heather gave me some of Making Memories I Do line of papers to create with this month.

I have to say I love this paper!

And since I was recently at a wedding I was able to use some current pictures!

Show and Tell Fridays

2009-07-10T06:00:00.002-04:00

This week I thought I'd share our front garden beside our driveway. I didn't take a before picture but the lilac/lavender garden I originally envisioned some years ago had gotten out of control and weedy. Plus a small lilac tree we had planted had died, so it was time for an overall.

So we dug up( well mostly Steve) all the existing lavender, and moved some to other garden areas. We planted a new weeping cherry tree that Steve picked out then replanted just a few lavender plants.

We left the grasses and sedum where they were. Finally we added some mulch. It looks much neater now!

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes with Orange Maple Butter

2009-07-09T06:00:00.002-04:00

Yes, its another recipe! Apparently when I have a few day off I like to cook!

Anyway I read about these pancakes on Bakerella who got it from Martha Stewart. They sounded so yummy I just had to make them. And they are as good as they look(check Bakerella's photos), our whole family loved them! I will be making them again!

Orange Maple Butter
1 stick softened butter
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
I also added some orange zest

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl with a rubber spatula.
Spoon the mixture on a piece of wax paper.
Roll and re-shape back into a stick of butter.
Twist the ends to secure the wax paper and refrigerate.

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar, plus two tsp for blueberries
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup milk
3 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled
1 egg lightly beaten
2 cups blueberries
Extra butter for coating griddle
Maple Syrup
(Makes about 16)

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and soda in a large bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together buttermilk, milk, butter and egg in medium bowl.
Add milk mixture to dry ingredients and whisk together just until combined.
Toss blueberries in a small bowl with 2 tsp sugar.
Heat a griddle over medium heat. Take extra butter and run over surface of griddle. Repeat as necessary throughout process.
Pour batter on griddle 1/4 cup at a time.
Add some of the sugared blueberries to each pancake.
Cook for about 3-4 minutes.
Flip and cook the other side for about 2 minutes

Martha also offers a good tip. As you are making the pancakes. Keep the finished ones on a cookie sheet in the oven at 200 degrees F to keep them warm.

Serve with Orange Maple Butter and Maple Syrup, so yummy!

A Couple of Quick Recipes

2009-07-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

I tried a couple of quick recipes recently that I wanted to share.

The first is for Blueberry-Banana Bread from Betty Crocker. Brittany helped me make this one and it works up super fast partly because it uses Bisquick! I'm not overly fond of banana bread but the blueberries offset the banana flavour quite nicely.

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup mashed very ripe banana (2 medium)
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blueberries

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom of loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.
Stir Bisquick, oats, sugar, bananas, milk and eggs in large bowl until moistened. Beat vigorously 30 seconds. Gently stir in blueberries. Pour into pan.
Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen loaf from sides of pan; remove from pan and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

The second is for Skillet Goulash, a tasty one pan dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights. I found this recipe on Divine Domesticity and made it even faster by cooking the pasta in the same pan. I also added a dash of Worcestershire Sauce.

Here's my adapted recipe:

Makes 6 Servings (1 1/2 cups each)

8 oz. uncooked elbow macaroni
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 cup chopped celery
1 chopped medium onion
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cans condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp worcestershire sauce

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, cook ground beef, celery and onions over medium-high heat, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.

Stir in uncooked pasta, and all remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; simmer covered until pasta is cooked, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid if you notice pasta is just about cooked but goulash still needs to thicken a bit.

More Basic Grey Wisteria

2009-07-07T20:01:00.003-04:00

Since I had the Wisteria paper out I decided to create another card following CPS sketch #123. I layered some paper on, sewed around the edges and added some bling, a flower and button.

More Strawberries!

2009-07-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

Because we needed to use up the berries, we decided to make a strawberries only crisp(Brittany chose it over muffins). It was yummy!
Here's the recipe:

Strawberry Crisp

1 cup uncooked oatmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
5 cups sliced fresh/frozen strawberries

Mix together oatmeal, flour and brown sugar. Add nuts. Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly. In another bowl, mix strawberries and white sugar together.

Grease an 8-in. square pan. Cover with strawberries. Spread remaining crumb mixture over top. Bake in 350ºF. oven for 45 minutes.

Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or topping.

Basic Grey Wisteria Card

2009-07-06T21:01:00.006-04:00

This is my card(click on it for a better view) for the Use It challenge 17 by Joke and Card Patterns sketch 22.

I just found Card Patterns(thanks to Regan!) and this week's sketch by Carla is so adaptable and easy to design with.

At Use It, Joke challenged us to:
1- Use your newest papers - I used Basic Grey's Wisteria papers.
2- There has to be a name on the card - Kelly is the name of one of our nieces.
3- Use at least one button - I used a button with bling too!
4- Use your sewing machine, if you have,or try to stitch, a tiny piece, by hand - I did use my sewing machine and did some handstitching too!

And I popped up the bee on the flower, Ican't create a card without using some foam dots!

Strawberry Picking

2009-07-06T06:00:00.004-04:00

On Canada Day Brittany and I went strawberry picking completing one of the items on her summer list.

We picked 6 litres of strawberries.

A closer view of the yummy strawberries.

While the strawberries were small they were tasty and we decided to make a crisp. Brittany selected a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe from mymarket.ca.

Strawberries and rhubarb ready for the crisp topping.

This recipe puts all the focus on the flavour from the strawberries and rhubarb. It tasted sweet and tangy, the right mix of each fruit.

And here's the recipe.

Serves 8
4 cups (1 L) Ontario Strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
4 cups (1 L) Ontario Rhubarb, washed and sliced into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) cinnamon
Topping:
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, melted
1 cup (250 mL) each all-purpose flour and large-flake rolled oats (traditional style)
1 cup (250 mL) lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp (2 mL) cinnamon

In mixing bowl, combine strawberries and rhubarb. Stir in sugar, flour and cinnamon. Spoon into greased 13 x 9-inch (3.5 L) baking dish.

Topping: Combine butter, flour, oats, sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over top. Bake, uncovered in 375 F (190 C) oven 40 to 45 minutes or until fruit is tender.

20 Things Brittany Wants To Do This Summer

2009-07-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

Since summer vacation has officially started I had Brittany make a list of things she wants to do this summer(within reason of course).

Here's her list:

[ ] Have lunch out with Mom.
[x] Go to Starbucks for a frappucino.Done!
[ ] Go camping with Dad.
[ ] Go to Grand Bend.
[ ] Go shopping in Buffalo.
[ ] Go to Toronto.
[ ] Go to the movies.
[ ] Go fishing.
[ ] Make homemade pizza.
[x] Go to Chapters. Done! Brittany bought herself 4 great books to read.
[ ] Make applesauce.
[ ] Go to Wonderland.
[ ] Play board games.
[ ] Go to a baseball game.
[x] Make rhubarb/strawberry dessert . Done, we made a crisp!
[ ] Visit Gramma.
[ ] Go to the zoo.
[x] Pick strawberries. Done, on Canada day!
[ ] Go shopping.
[ ] Go to a play in Stratford.

We'll have to continue to track how we do on this list throughout the summer!

Garden Blooms

2009-07-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

Blooming in our garden right now.

Lilies

More Lilies

Roses

Lilies

Roses

Grasses

Grasses

More Roses

Lilies

Peonies

Roses

Daisies

Nasturiams

More roses

Hmmm, think I like roses and lilies?

Show and Tell Friday

2009-07-03T06:00:00.009-04:00

I've been meaning to participate in Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli for a little while now.

I finally had a chance to hang some plates my Mom gave me and I love them. Thanks so much Mom

They are bone china by Royal Albert and called Shakespeare's Flowers. Each has a different name with a Shakespearian quote on the back.

This one is called Meadows with Delight. "This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,may prove a beauteous flower when we next meet." Romeo and Juliet

Next is Primose Beds. "To his music plants and flowers, Ever sprung: as sun and showers.They had made a lasting spring." Henry VIII

Here's Glorious Morning. " Full many a glorious morning I have seen. Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye. Kissing with golden face the meadows green. Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." Sonnet

And finally, here is Russet Mantle. " Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turned. In process of the season I have seen." Sonnet

I hope you enjoyed this little trip in Shakespeare's garden!

Red, White and Blue

2009-07-02T19:56:00.003-04:00

Yea!!! Cuttlebug Be Inspired is back! This week the challenge is to use red, white and blue as well as buttons and the swiss dot embossing folder.

And while these colours may inspire many of us to create something around the American flag and July 4th, I decided to use my favourite colour of blue, when combined with red, turquoise.

I layered white embossed cardstock on white then added turquoise and red cardstock that I also embossed and to which I used a border punch. I kicked it up a notch by using my new favourite technique of handstitching. Then finished it up with ribbon, flowers and a button!

I do have to say that I'm pretty impressed with how this one turned out! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that it was inspired by Hanneke, one of the designers on CC.

Brittany's Trip to Quebec City

2009-07-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago Brittany travelled to Quebec City with her grade 8 class.
Here's a few photos from this trip that Brittany selected to share. The description of each photo is based on Brittany's perspective.

These are spires of Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a catholic church. Brittany says it scares her, the bells sound like a death knell to her.

This is the shoreline across from Quebec City and is the city of Levis.

There is ferry service between both cities across the St.Lawrence.

A guard at the excavation site of Samuel De Champlain's manor.

Brittany doesn't remember what this is but thinks it looks cool!

Finally a view of Quebec City from the ferry near Levis.

Brittany truly enjoyed this trip and the freedom in doing something like this on her own!

Thinking of You

2009-07-01T19:57:00.004-04:00

I decided to create a card based on Laura's Sketch 29 over at 2 Sketches 4 You. Its been awhile since I've made a card based on Laura or Kazan's sketches but as usual the sketches are so easy to adapt and their designers are so inspiring.

Here's my card:

I used scraps of Shabby Princess by Bo Bunny then added some bling and ribbon. The sentiment is of course popped up on foam dots. And I still have a few scraps of this paper left so more cards may be on the way!

Yes, I Still Scrapbook Layouts

2009-07-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

I created this layout last Friday night. I think it is the last of my Costa Rica pics from our trip last year.

I used My Mind's Eye Bloom and Grow paper line along with Prima letters and flowers. Then I dug into my stitching templates and stitched the flourishes. I really do need to stitch on my layouts and cards more, love the effect!

Peonies!

2009-06-30T06:00:00.002-04:00

Our peonies are on the east side of the house and in the shade so they bloom later than usual.

Last week, because of the heat they all bloomed! So I cut a bunch for the house, love them!

Hello!

2009-06-29T21:26:00.004-04:00

Since I still had scraps of paper from My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow line left I decided to create another card based on CPS Sketch 122.

I used one of my Cuttlebug embossing flower borders then blinged it up. Hello was created with Prima stickers and is popped up over the ribbon. Couldn't resist adding a Prima flower to the ribbon too!

Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

2009-06-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

For dinner before her graduation, Brittany requested Fettucine Alfredo. Later she said she was kidding but I took her seriously and went browsing the internet until I found a recipe I liked. I first looked for light recipes, but while I'm sure they were good, the ones I found didn't really result in a true Alfredo sauce. So I decided if you're going to make Alfredo it would have to contain the butter and cream!

I found the recipe I made at MealsMatter.org. The recipe says it tastes the same as what you can get at Olive Garden........I'm not sure not having had it there, but this version is very good.

In place of the heavy cream, I used 5% cream which I think still provided the creaminess needed for Alfredo sauce. Then I added a bit of nutmeg too. I served the fettucine with caesar salad, another of Brittany's favourites, and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.

Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

1/2 c. Butter

1-2 cloves Garlic, minced

1 pint Heavy cream

Pinch ground black pepper

3/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1 box Fettuccine pasta

1/2 lb Chicken, cooked, chunked

1. Melt butter in lg skillet over medium-low heat.

2. Add the garlic, cream, and pepper and bring mixture to a simmer. Turn heat down if it reaches a rapid boil. Add cheese and continue to simmer for 8 minutes or until thick and cheese melted, stirring constantly.

3. While sauce cooks, cook fettuccine per package instructions.

4. Cook chicken chunks marinated in your favorite spices/sauces on a grill or in skillet.

5. Pour alfredo sauce onto noodles to absorb sauce. Top with chicken and fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Use It Challenge # 16

2009-06-28T19:47:00.004-04:00

I started my card for this Use It challenge on Friday night and finally finished it today.

This week the challenge was set by Kay as follows:

1. Use something inspired by nature.
(flowers, trees, animals, etc.)

2. Use polka dots.

3. Use your favorite embellishment.

4. Mail your creation to someone special.

And here's my card:

The Prima flowers and flowered paper by My Mind's Eye, their Bloom & Grow line, are my bow to nature. I added a strip of dotted(and striped paper) from the same paper line. One of my favourite embellishments, bling, along with the swirls embossing completed the card.

Now who shall I mail it too?

Prom!

2009-06-28T09:43:00.005-04:00

The evening after graduation, Brianne went to her prom with her boyfriend Jesse.

Here's a few pics:

A couple of close-ups to show off her hair.

Brianne and Jesse.