the things we do for luck

Even though I have no particular personal connection the Southern United States, I've somehow adopted the tradition of making a variation of Hoppin' John each New Year's Day. According to lore, eating this black-eyed pea dish on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck.   I've made it as a hot bean and rice dish and cooled down as hearty salad.  A few weeks ago my friend Jilanna sent me the link to the new magazine By Hand which featured their take on Hoppin' John - this time baked in an acorn squash.  Yum!

Since I didn't have dried black eyed peas and had to resort to canned, I tweaked the amount of stock a bit (I also think I'd add some rice if I do the recipe again.)   It's a hearty, savoury dish and for a household of one offers up a whole lot of left-overs for the first week of work lunches in 2013.

As a nice side bonus, I had a small amount of squash seeds to toss in salt and oil and roast for a tasty snack.

Apparently to be truly lucky, Hoppin' John should be eaten with collard greens and cornbread which I skipped but hopefully a little luck will still come my way in 2013!

december

Milk glass and apothecary jars, vintage ornament from my grandmother and letters from my dad's old anagrams set.  These are a few of my favourite things.

And just like that December is upon us.  We've had more drizzle than snow so far but that hasn't dampened my holiday spirit.

I've hauled out my advent calendar and started to trim the house a bit for the season. 

In recent years I've decorated in a style best described as "vintage tinsel explosion."  I've loved it but this season I'm finding I'm craving simplicity from the music I play to the gifts I'm choosing.  So I've enjoyed creating a cozy oasis of found items from around the house and the backyard.  When I bought this house five years ago, I loved the stand of cedars at the very back of the yard and was excited to use them in Christmas decorating.  I finally got around to it.

I'd rather wander in my backyard than a big box store.  (The mercury glass inspired ornaments are from last year's #bringitdowntown trip to Savour Decor)

No need to pack away this cozy corner after the 25th!

Our local markets are in full swing for the holidays.  I wish there was some way to capture the fragrance of the Christmas tree and wreath stalls.  I splurged on a wreath of boxwood, juniper, cedar, pine and fir.  It was a touch pricier than a standard fir or spruce but the mixed greenery means it doesn't require any extra decoration. 

On Saturday afternoon, I picked up my Uncle John to help him out with come Christmas shopping downtown.  We live in the same city but don't get to see one another very often so  in the past few years this has become a nice bit of uncle-niece bonding.  Of course, I had to stop at Urban Almanac - Ben whipped up a Choclatea for me.  It might be my new favourite drink.  

Sunday brought more markets and more wreaths as Denis and I hit the Boyce Sunday market and then the Northside Market.  (I finally tried the Ethopian food - it didn't disappoint.  Can't wait to introduce it to my dad!)

D. at the Boyce.  (and modelling his birthday hat - one of my favourite recent knitting projects)

How was your first weekend of December?  Have you started decorating?

christmas ideas close to home

On Sunday afternoon Alicia Tracy (of The Hot Lollies) opened her charming Lansdowne Street home to showcase local art, craft, food and home decor.  A cozy home, great refreshments, Bing Crosby singing and inspiring talent? Who needs the mall?   If you're looking to love local this Christmas (or anytime) be sure to check out these folks.

The Hot Lollies - Renna and Alicia's gourmet cheesecake lollipops have been the rage since they started in 2007.  The Lil Lollies packs are perfect for sharing! 

Love on the Bum - Bright fluffy tutus, whimsical accessories - if you have a little one who loves to play dress-up, check out Amie Palmer's cute creations.

Tangled Love Decor - Chavah Haddon's creative and colourful refinished, re-purposed and upcycled furniture and accessories will brighten up even the darkest winter day.  One of her pieces might have come home with me...

LS Knits - Crocheted hats, cozy felted mittens and cuddly soft toys - you can check off lots of your Christmas list here.

G.L.C. Jewels – Who doesn't need a little sparkle this time of year?  I love the disco ball studs and at $13 a pair you can stock up on a few different colours.

Kris LeBlanc Art Kris's vivid paintings and prints offer up a colourful take on nature and some of Fredericton's favourite landmarks.

Moco Catering & Kitchen Parties - 'Tis the season for entertaining and if you can't face the thought of spending a holiday party in the kitchen, why not give Chef Brian Foster a call? 

And if you're looking to pamper someone (or maybe even yourself) keep an eye out for Sanctuary Botanicals and B Polished Esthetics!

The littlest entrepreneur.  Sophia was adorable.  You know I didn't get out of there without one of these ornaments!

 

salvaged sunday

I woke up at 7:20 Sunday morning to the sound of half a dozen men in hard hats loudly setting up pylons to block part of my street.  It quickly became apparent that sleep was out of the question.  And then they started sawing... the... pavement. I decided that since a rare lazy morning was off the agenda I should be productive.  By 9:30 I had finished a batch of blackberry jelly.  By 9:35 the jack-hammering had started.

Relief came in the form of my friend Hetty who had been following my plight on Twitter (I normally don't like to use social media to air my grievances but sometimes a well-placed rant pays off!) So I gathered my knitting and my dog and headed to the peace and quiet of her house at the edge of Odell Park.  We sat in the sunshine overlooking a little stream, drinking tea and eating freshly baked Speerville trail mix cookies (thanks to her husband!) and enjoyed a few hours of knitting and good company.  

And when I got home the work crews were gone and life was tranquil once more.

chocolat

Truffles are one of those delightful treats that never fail to impress but are actually quite simple to make. You can get pretty much covered in ganache while rolling them but if you can melt chocolate, you can make these.    I found this recipe in Bon Appetit a few years ago and I love the blend of dark chocolate, Earl Grey tea and brandy for a nice grown-up kick.

Skip the heart-shaped box of supermarket chocolates and whip up a batch of these for your sweetie!

Earl Grey Truffles

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon sugar
3 Earl Grey tea bags - (try Stash's Double Bergamot Earl Grey for  a wonderful citrus note)
8 ounces of dark chocolate chopped
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tablespoons of brandy
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

Bring cream and sugar just to boil in heavy small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar.  Remove from heat.  Empty tea from bags into cream.  Cover and steep 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, stir chocolate and butter in small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. I like to use a double-boiler to ensure the chocolate doesn't burn.  Transfer to medium bowl.

Strain cream mixture through fine mesh strainer into chocolate mixtures, stir to blend.  Stir in brandy and salt.  Let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.  Cover and chill until firm, about 4 hours.

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.  Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of chocolate mixture between palms to form balls.  Place on prepared sheet.  Chill until firm about 1 hour.  Roll truffles between palms again.  Place cocoa powder in small bowl.  Roll truffles in cocoa.   Cover and chill.

bloom where you're planted

Winter finally head in full force this past week:  snow, freezing rain, ice and frigid wind chill. It's sure to send you dreaming about warmer climates (and if my Facebook feed is any indication it's sending a lot of you to travel agents and airline seat sales.)   A mid-winter trip south is not in the cards for me this year but I did escape the cold at our local nursery on Saturday morning.  Outside the sun was out, the city was blanketed in snow and the temperature had dropped well below freezing.  But inside the greenhouse it was warm and bright and humid and full of tropical plants and flowers.  It's probably the warmest I'll be until June!

More than just a pleasure to look at, houseplant can improve the air quality in your home which is especially valuable when you're cooped up indoors in the winter months. I once had a friend describe my decorating style as "funky grandma" so it shouldn't be surprising that I left the nursery on Saturday with a few 'old-fashioned' plants in hand.  It's not quite a trip south but they do brighten up the winter months!

pasta a la Nigella

A few years ago I watched Nigella Lawson, that Brit cooking goddess, pile this meal in a big dish which she claimed she'd eat while sitting in bed watching telly.  With minimal ingredients this unbelievably simple and satisfying dish is perfect for a hurried weeknight or lazy Sunday supper.

 Since there isn't a sauce, per se, I think it's the perfect way to give the spotlight to a pound of delicious handmade pasta; in this case the sun-dried tomato and basil liguine from Nashwaak Noodles (You could easily use half a pound of dry pasta from the pantry if that's what you have on hand.)

 
Start off by heating the oven to 460F.  In an oven-proof pan (I used my favourite enamel cast-iron pot) combine about 150g of pancetta (available diced in the deli section) and a couple of tablespoons of garlic-infused olive oil.

 Why buy? 

Make your own garlic olive oil by gently heating three garlic cloves (halved)

in 8 tablespoons of olive oil for an hour until the garlic is soft.

Keep the extra for other dishes, dressings, etc.

To go with this pasta, I chopped up some sun-dried tomatoes left over from the root vegetable tagine.  For a vegetarian option leave out the pancetta and increase the tomatoes.  Depending on how strong the garlic flavour in the oil is, you may want to chop up a clove of garlic to toss in the pot.

Make sure everything is good and coated with oil and pop in the oven for about 10 minutes, long enough to render the fat in the pancetta and slightly brown the meat. In the meantime cook the pasta.  Before draining set aside a cup or so of the pasta water.

Remove the pot from the oven, add the cooked pasta and toss until the pasta is coated in oil.  If you need to loosen up the pasta a little, add the reserved water drop by drop.  This is a good trick for most pasta dishes.  Adding a touch of pasta water helps make any pasta and sauce slick and silky and ensures an even coating.

 

To finish off the dish, Nigella makes a point of saying she doesn't bother with Parmesan but pasta without a little freshly shaved Parm just isn't my thing.  A little roughly chopped or scissored parsley adds a burst of bright freshness to the dish.

Now go curl up and enjoy!

holiday album

Wow. That went fast.  Hard to believe Christmas vacation has come and gone for another year and I head back to the routine tomorrow.  As quickly as it sped by, I had a wonderful time with family and friends and lots of delicious eating.  Hope you had a great holiday and made lots of memories!
 

Clockwise from top left:
Christmas lights at St. Mary's; Christmas dinner on new dishes from my grandparents; gorgeous white Christmas; Christmas Eve visiting with Luke; Mom's lobster stew - butter, cream, lobster - yum!; spontaneous shopping trip with Jennifer at Made You Blush; Christmas Eve panna cotta with raspberry coulis; gifts with Denis; Finn's first Christmas with mama Lori and papa Leon; champagne and sparkles on New Year's Eve; Boxing Day breakfast in Rothesay with my brother, sister-in-law and our families; ringing in the New Year with Pretty in Pink at the Boyce Farmer's Market.

winterberry

 

Comes a point in early November where I feel the need to purge the house of pumpkins but it's still much too early to deck the halls.  Between the gourds and the glitz, November provides a little breather where branches and berries can show off their simple and natural beauty.

I loved these winterberry branches from Fredericton Boyce Farmers' Market so much I made them my new blog header...  Great way to bring a festive wintery feel to your home - and inexpensive at $10 for two bunches!

how i spent my summer vacation: 11 shots from summer '11

Grand Manan Adventure

beaches

Grand Manan Art Gallery

cousins

movies under the stars

berries!

rosehips

picking blackcurrants

chasing chickens

summer's end folk festival

real simple

A bottle of simple syrup is a must-have for cold summer beverages.  Because it's liquid, sweetening iced teas, cordials or cocktails is easier with this syrup than granulated sugar that may not dissolve or distribute easily.   It takes less than five minutes to make and can be kept in the refrigerator indefinitely. 

In a small saucepan, combine equal parts sugar and water over medium high heat.  I use a wooden spoon to gently stir the mixture just until the sugar is dissolved and then just swirl it occasionally (stirring can release sugar crystals on the sides of the pan into the liquid).  Bring mixture to a boil and simmer for about 2 minutes.  Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.  Once the syrup is cooled, transfer to a bottle and store in the refrigerator for your next gimlet or glass of home made iced tea.

How simple is that?

soap opera

Inspired by an article in Martha Stewart Living, I decided to whip up a quick batch of soap this morning.  Martha's basil soap used an herb puree but I decided whole sprigs from my basil bonsai from Sweet Valley Herbs would look lovely suspended in soap.  And because this was going in the kitchen, I also added some lemon zest. 

Melt.  Start with a plain unscented glycerine soap base which is available at craft stores.  (I actually think I will experiment with some other soap bases as well - how great would strawberry swirled in goat's milk be?) chop the glycerine and melt it over a double boiler. You can also use the microwave but when melting anything I always feel like I have more control using the boiler. Be sure to stir occasionally using a rubber spatula.

Prep.  While the soap base is melting, prepare your herbs and zest your lemon.  If you're making a berry soup, puree them a blender or food processor.  The suggested ratio is one teaspoon of herbs or puree to every cup of glycerine but you may want to experiment based on the colour or texture you want.

Mix.  Once the glycerine is completely melted, remove it from the double boiler and add the herbs or puree.  The glycerine cools quickly so you'll want to get it into the mold as soon as you can. 

Mold. Pour the mixture into a mold that's been sprayed with cooking oil.  You can buy soap molds but really there are lots of great options around the house - plastic containers, even rinsed, empty milk cartons - depending on the size and shape of the soaps you want.  The main thing is to choose a mold that's got some give or can be cut away for unmolding

One of the advantages of the purees is that they distribute evenly through the base.  With zest and whole herbs, you may have to accept that they will settle how they will.  In the case of this soap the basil settled at the surface and the zest at the bottom which actually kind of works as each side of the soap is different.  I'd resist the urge to try to stir the herbs and zest through the base too much.  If you stir after the base has started to firm up you can end up introducing imperfections and cloudiness.






Once you've poured the soap into the mold spray the surface with rubbing alcohol to get rid of bubbles.  Let the soap set for about half and hour on the counter and then move it to the freezer for an hour or two.

Release.  Once the soap has hardened, release it from the mold.  You can trim the edges with a paring knife and then cut the bars into the desired size.  I go four smallish bars from this soap.

Enjoy. Pretty and practical - this lightly-scented soap looks lovely by the kitchen sink.

 

Store. With one bar by the sink, I wrapped the remaining three in parchment paper.  The soaps should be good to use for three to four months.  And why keep it to yourself?  These would be great as part of a hostess gift or tossed into a house-warming basket. 

This project is so simple, I can't believe I never tried it before! Thinking of what else is in my herb garden - lemon balm, lavender, apple mint -has me in quite a lather!

make some dough

As you may know I love my basil bonsai from Sweet Valley Herbs.  The one thing about the plant is that you have to keep using it in order to maintain it's lovely globe shape.  So last week I threw some of the basil leaves  - along with some Sweet Valley rosemary - into a batch of bread for my friend who had just moved into a new home.  We ate this soft, flavourful bread with thick hummus under a canopy of grape leaves on a sunny night - simple and lovely. So I knew I had to make some for myself this week!

Regular basil is notoriously easy to bruise in chopping so one thing I love about the basil bonsai is that there's minimal handling of the the leaves.  Just run your fingers down the stalk and you get a wonderfully fragrant pile of tiny leaves which look great scattered through the bread.    You can turn pretty much any dough into an herb bread by adding roughly a teaspoon of herbs per cup of flour.  I used a recipe for baguette which is a little saltier than your standard white to bring out the flavour of the herbs.  And if you don't want to make the time commitment to bread baking in June, herbs are also great in biscuits and scones.

Fresh from the oven yesterday, this basil-rosemary bread was the perfect foundation to a delicious Sunday supper:  topped with avocado, smoked salmon and chives and paired with ricotta-scrambled eggs.  Yum.

progress!

The combination of hot hot heat and drenching rains this week have been great for my first vegetable garden.  (I say "first" but I did begin one last year but a combination of bad placement and leaving for Australia for two weeks in June kind of undid my plans).  In any case this year, I have a lovely sun-drenched spot and a much better sense of garden maintenance.
Everything in the garden except the cucumbers was started from seeds back when the snow was still on the ground.  So amazing to watch them grow! 

Cool beans!

Cucumber

onions

Peas

Zucchini

tomatoes

I've also got some carrots and beets started - in need of thinning! - as well as lettuce and a pumpkin patch...  so much fun!