Cloudy With A Chance of Delicious.
You ever had one of those days?
Maybe you put your underwear on inside out. Maybe you just couldn't wait for the dryer to be done and you had to rush out of the house wearing a half damp sweater. Maybe it rained all day and the humidity made your hair interminably frizzy. Maybe you stepped in a puddle and ruined your new suede shoes. Maybe you thought your favourite show was on at 9 but really it was on at 8 and you missed it. Then maybe at the end of it all, when you just want to curl up in bed and sleep away the bad, you realize you left the sheets in the washer.
There there. Tomorrow will be different.
Maybe tomorrow you'll make these deliciously easy, fantastically tasty Sugar and Spice Toasted Pumpkin Seeds. Maybe the world will suddenly be a different place. Maybe the house will smell like pie. Maybe the rain will clear and your shoes will dry. Maybe you'll catch a repeat of that episode you missed. Maybe you'll have something to idly munch on between your clean sheets and your favourite book. Life is good again.
I say maybe because I'm not going to presume to tell you what you should or shouldn't do. It's your life. It's up to you of course. If you want frizzy hair, damp clothes and puddle shoes then far be it from me to tell you otherwise. On the other hand, if you like rainbows, pie smells and snacks in bed, then yes, yes you should make these. And quickly. Before it's too late!
Sweet Of The Milk.
I'm going to have to make this quick because I literally have a bajillion things too too today. Have you ever had one of those weeks where you're so busy you can't even find the time to go to the bathroom? Yeah that's me right now and the week just started!
I have so much to do before our trip to Ontario it's not even funny. Not to mention a certain birthday party for a certain 12 year old.
Maybe you've tried Dulce de Leche. Maybe you haven't. Maybe you eat it by the spoonful like me. Did you know it was so easy to make? All you need is some milk, sugar, vanilla and a little free time. If I found the time to make it so can you!
PS: Watch out for a delicious way to use this Dulce de Leche in the next couple of days...
As Nature Intended.
Have you ever caught yourself marveling at the absolute perfection of nature? Fluffy clouds inexplicably shaped like familiar everyday objects. Beautifully red and romantically heart-shaped strawberries. Honeycombs, flawless hexagons built by determined bees and filled with the sweetest honey. Shimmering lustrous pearls hidden inside unassuming oysters settled on the ocean floor. Bits of simple twigs and grass interwoven into a crib for eager baby birds all the while perched precariously in a tree braving wind and rain. The impeccable arc of a rainbow reflected off the tiniest raindrops brightening even the dreariest days.
Maybe I have too much time of my hands. It's an excellent possibility.
Today, while snapping photos of our budding crab apple tree in my pajamas, socks and sandals, I was visited by a little ladybug. She lazily buzzed down to the branch I was focused on and landed lightly on this sweet little flower bud. She was all too ready for her close up, sitting patiently and politely while I maxed out the space on my camera on her sweet little self.
Sometimes if you sit still long enough you notice these things. The consummate beauty of the world lays itself before you in the form of a shining beetle, ripples in a pond or a puffy bunny-shaped cloud.
The key is not to mess with nature. Take it as it is and appreciate it in its entirety. In the spirit of that lesson I've made Almond Butter. Simply almonds, toasted and pureed with a splash of oil and a hint of sea salt.
The Picnic: Inside Out.
I'd like to thank everyone who helped me get this far in Project Food Blog. I appreciate all your support in all its forms! Thank you!
“For this challenge, you're tasked with creating a delicious meal that will travel well and still look great. From picnics and school lunches to bento boxes, or any other meal on the go, you need to whip up an entree, side, drink, and dessert to enjoy after hitting the road. Be sure that your meal fits inside the Project Food Blog Road Trip Cooler.”
Have you ever wistfully watched a sunset stained with roses and violets while sipping a glass of wine? Have you ever savoured a simple chocolate bar on the waterfront, salty breeze in your hair and sand beneath your feet? Have you ever bitten into an apple and let the juices run down your chin on a lazy afternoon absentmindedly swaying on a creaking porch swing?
Twitterpated birds are the best dinner companions. Fresh air is the sweetest spice to add to any meal. A park bench is the perfect table setting. The fading glow of the sun rivals any candlelit dinner. Food is best enjoyed in the presence of nature, humbling and beautiful.
The picnic is the traditional way to bring the inside out and eat at nature's table. There's nothing traditional about this picnic. I've expanded on simple picnic food to elevate your experience. The plain sandwich has been spiced up and transformed into the Curried Egg Salad Sandwich. Chips and dip have been revamped into sweet and spicy Peach Salsa with baked Pita Chips. The simple glass of juice has been stirred into a bubbly frenzy and become Sparkling White Grape Peach Juice. The average Rice Krispies square has been reinvented into a nutty and flavourful Brown Butter Maple Pecan Crispy Treat.
Nature is in a constant state of flux and I've pulled my inspiration for this meal from that fact. Nature's ever changing landscape offers a unique and beautiful tablescape. Go outside and enjoy the fresh air. I think you'll find your food tastes a little bit sweeter, a little more satisfying.
Last But Not Least.
These Apple Chips are possibly the easiest thing I've ever baked. Four ingredients. That's all you need to make your own chips. It would be interesting to play around with the seasoning to create savoury or sweet combinations. I may keep that in mind for the future. This may not be the last time you see these crispy things.
And they're baked, not fried, so you don't have to feel guilty about stuffing your face. Which is good because they're insanely addictive. As long as you have cinnamon, sugar and a little time to waste you'll be rewarded with the most delicious snack.
If you're lazy, as I am sometimes, you could always buy Apple Chips but, be warned, they're pretty pricy for a tiny little bag. Plus if you buy them you won't be able to perfume your house with the amazing scent of apple and cinnamon. Possibly the greatest smell in the world.
Last, but certainly not least, here is the appetizer recipe from my Autumn Dinner Party. These Apple Chips are perhaps the most anticipated item on the menu so I hope I didn't leave you in suspense for too long.
Delicious on a Dime.
I love slapping people in the face with my mad design on a dime skills.
They admire my kitchen utensils and I'll be so proud to announce, "Aren't they nice? I got them from this little store called Dollarama. Maybe you've heard of it."
Or someone will compliment my skirt and I'll be all too pleased to play the guess-how-much-it-cost game. I always win at that game.
Or I'll get asked where I bought my necklace or the framed print on the wall and I'll answer proudly, "I made it myself."
I'm not cheap. I'm thrifty. There's a huge difference. When I go shopping and I see something that I like but it's a little pricey I'll more often than not think, “That's nice but I could totally make that myself for half the cost.” So I do and I love it. I love seeing a beautifully decorated vignette in a magazine then pull it off in my own living room with Ikea furniture and thrift store accessories. I love seeing a trendy new style from a fashion show then whipping it up myself with clothes and accessories diligently sought out and bought at a fraction of the designer cost.
The same goes with food. No where does it say that to make delicious and equally fabulous gourmet food you have to shop at ridiculously overpriced grocery stores or markets. I shop at Superstore and I often buy discounted No Name, no frills brands. I am no food snob, that's for sure. I also find it strangely exciting to plan recipes as inexpensively as possible without sacrificing quality.
This Caramel Corn is perfect for that. It's made with ingredients that most people already have stocked in their cupboards. It's pretty surprising what you can make with a little sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Then you add some popcorn, nature's Ramen noodles, and that's an amazing snack.
I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream.
Have you ever been personally judged by your ice cream choice? You probably have. You know how it is. Vanilla is safe, innocent, naive, uncomplicated and unimaginative. Chocolate is daring, adventurous, mysterious, spontaneous and creative. You might have had someone look at you funny when you order a vanilla milkshake or give you a wink when you get a chocolate sundae.
Just as the variety of ice cream flavours has broadened since, oh I don't know, the 1940's, we are realizing that there aren't a finite number of personalities. People aren't either a vanilla or a chocolate. They can be rocky road, neopolitan, chocolate chip cookie dough, raspberry sorbet, or even chunky monkey if they please. My favourite ice cream is Cherry Garcia. Does that mean I'm a combination of innocent and adventurous? I'm both daring and safe? Unimaginative and creative? What does the cherry part mean then? Sounds fun to me, whatever it is.
The lesson here is that you can't judge a person by their ice cream choices. There are millions of ice cream flavours and varieties just like there are millions of different personalities and preferences. Just because my favourite is Cherry Garcia doesn't mean that that's what I eat day and night, although I kind of wish I did. I also like lemon gelato, mint chocolate, rainbow sherbet, triple chocolate and countless others. Flavours change. Moods change. People change.
Why am I talking so much about ice cream, you ask? Because these delicious vanilla and chocolate Meringue Candies remind me of that freeze dried ice cream like the stuff astronauts chow down on in space. Have you ever had that? They sell it mostly in science center or museum gift stores so it's hard to come by. It tastes exactly like real ice cream except without the wetness or the cold. Sounds weird but, trust me, it's super good. It melts in your mouth literally like these things do and tastes much the same. If, like most of us, you are intrigued by this space ice cream idea and you lack the means to dehydrate your own ice cream, but you have three eggs and a bit of sugar, this is the treat for you.
Because in space no one can hear you (ice) scream.
Food for Thought.
I take things personally. I try not to, but I can't help it.
If I discover that a person dislikes me I'll wrack my brain for the answer to their derision. I'm not the type of person to hate anyone so it's hard for me to understand why someone would point their hatred at me. This is especially annoying when I've done everything I can to be pleasant to someone. Some people just can't be pleased I guess.
I cry when I burn dinner.
I feel like a failure if I forgot to get something at the grocery store.
I mope around disconsolate and detached when Tastespotting declines my photos.
This might have something to do with being a perfectionist. It makes me my own worst enemy. If I expect perfection in all things then I'm just asking for disappointment. No one and nothing is ever perfect. It's hard to love the flaws. It's hard to turn failure into success.
But I'll try.
For now, here's some pretty darn close to perfect Apple Berry Crisp.
Yay for Yorkshire Pudding!
There is no other recipe that is so simple and yet so personally challenging than Yorkshire Pudding. Three ingredients. Sounds easy? Wrong!
I've never had this much trouble with such a small recipe. I guess it's the tiny ones you have to watch out for though right? The smaller the recipe the bigger the chance that you'll mess it up.
Well, Yorkshire Pudding, I have bested you. What do you think about that? Huh? You eggy dream of puffiness. You're not short and defiant anymore now are you? You rose and grew just like I told you to. You kept your little hole in your middle and made such an adorable little spot to fill up with tasty beef gravy laced with onions and garlic. I tamed your wild ways and made a delicious dinner out of you.
It's a love/hate relationship.
There was this one time that I was craving the delicate, soft eggy beauty that is the Yorkshire Pudding and caved in to purchase the instant version from the spice isle in my supermarket. My mother was horrified to hear of this culinary misadventure and made me promise never to repeat it.
My mother has mastered this recipe. She has learned the ways of the Yorkshire Pudding and passed it's secrets on to me in the form of a three part recipe card. I will now pass that mysterious knowledge on to you.
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