A Mother's Blessing

You've met Jenny Babe before. She's wonderful, big smile, big laugh, big heart.

Last month, a lovely lady friend (Vee) and I planned a party for this dear friend of ours. And now that it's getting closer and closer to welcoming a little life to this world, I felt I better finally share with you.

This particular type of party was completely new to me; not just the idea of it but also the message and power behind it. I had never heard of a Mother's Blessing before and it seemed that some of our friends we invited hadn't heard of it either. "So...it's like a baby shower?" was the most common response to the invitation. Truth be told, it's not. The focus is the mother-to-be, not the baby-to-be-born. It's about the combined support, strength, and encouragement of the woman. So all of us girls got together to show our love for Jenny Babe. Our invitation read:

"A mother's blessing is about empowering the mother to be for her upcoming birth. You are invited to participate in this rite of passage..."

We had a very natural and earthy theme filled with spirituality. So we pulled from my aboriginal heritage and Babe's love of the culture. Dreamcatchers, feathers, flowers, moss, and soothing water set the tone. Calming music certainly put everyone into relaxation mode.

Food is always an important part of hosting a party, big or small, so we went the route of a potluck. Each guest brought one (or five!) favourite dishes. We had such a great variety and so much food left over that everyone took a couple of plates home. I totally stuffed my face!

While we all chowed down, we had a few activities planned. Unfortunately we ran out of time and were unable to do some. Hopefully we will be able to partake in them in the future. The first activity was one where we could all introduce ourselves, how we met Babe, and a little taste of our relationship. Many tears were shed and I couldn't even finish I was sobbing so hard. Such a suck. Everyone raced for tissues when Babe and her Mom shared their special soul link. It was so touching and so meaningful, I love those two gals even more! We incorporated a candle lighting ceremony with the introductions. Each guest lit a candle after they spoke, then they took it home at the end of the party. I hope that everyone will light their candle at home once Babe is in labour as a symbol of our connection and support, even though we aren't with her in that time. We used simple votive candles and wrapped them with blue and red embroidery floss to symbolize the umbilical cord. To top it off, the votives surrounded an earthy and delicious scented candle for Babe to keep. Babe was also treated to a rosewater and petal infused foot bath. Talk about spoiled! :) 

Each guest was asked to bring two beads, one bead was to be placed on a bohemian style necklace that Babe will have with her when until she's in labour so she has a small and portable momento from us girls to remind her that we are still with her and sending her positive energy. The second bead was used for a special little side project which is still a secret to everyone.

We also had a henna artist come to treat everyone. Here's a few of the great designs:

Finally, we had a final project: a bunting flag banner for the little one's room. Different flag shapes were provided in a variety of colours and patterns so each guest could find something that they fancied and would convey their personality. Metallic and colourful pens were available for everyone to share a thought or message for Babe, her man, and their little one. I think it turned out great! So fun and unique, and certainly filled with love and encouragement.

I adore these silver tree place card holders!
Guaranteed I will use these many times at home.

Hopefully you can use some of our party as inspiration for yours! Jenny Babe, I am so thrilled for you and the Mister! You two will be amazing and fun parents. I'm thrilled to meet the little one soon and know that Q and I are here for you three anytime for anything. We love you tons!!

Vee, I had so much fun planning this Blessing with you. You are so thoughtful, kind, and loving, I'm so grateful that you are in my life. I look forward to many years of growth in our friendship and I am also super pumped to plan another party with you for these three kats in the near future.

To our guests that came to the Blessing: thank you so much for your input and energy! I'm so glad you were there and that we each got the opportunity to make new connections and friends, to share stories and advice, strength and many laughs (and tears). We are all so grateful for each of you. For the guests that were unable to attend: Wishing you were with us but don't fret, there will be another party in the near future that I hope you will be able to attend.

I hope you feel inspired!

xoxo

breathe.

Banana Bread

Q loves banana bread and for a while there he'd say that he wanted some. Real bad. One night while he was out at class I made sure to bake him a loaf. I found a recipe and here it is for you too:

Banana Bread

2 c.               all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp.      baking powder
1/2 tsp.         baking soda
1/2 tsp.         ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp.         salt
1/8 tsp.         ground ginger
1/4 tsp.         ground nutmeg
2                   eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 c.        mashed bananas (4-5 medium sized bananas)
1 c.              sugar
1/2 c.           oil or melted butter
1/4 c.          walnuts

- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of 9x5x3 loaf pan; set aside.
- In a large bowl combine: flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and ginger.
- Make a well in centre of flour mixture; set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine: eggs, bananas, sugar, and oil (or butter).
- Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir until moistened; batter should be lumpy.
- Fold in walnuts. Spoon batter into pan.
- Bake for 55 - 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil for last 15 minutes to prevent over browning).
- Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Removed from pan and cool completely on rack.
- Wrap and store overnight before slicing. *once it cooled, Q dove right in :)

I didn't use the foil and I think it came out great. The crust was really good, not too soft and not too crunchy/rock hard. Plus it looked like the San Andreas Fault.

Once I tidied the kitchen, I went to put my new recipe in the recipe box and discovered I already had a banana bread recipe from my Momma (totally forgot to check the recipe box first). Sorry Momma! Next time, it's going to be your recipe.

xoxo

Light & Sweet Sponge Cake

This is a bit of a cheater recipe because I haven't found a good recipe for sponge cake, so I got lazy and bought little sponge cakes from the grocery store. What I did make was the whip cream and the lovely assembly was aaaall me. :)

Here's my own recipe for whip cream:



Bradley's Subtly Sweet Whip Cream

1 c.     whipping cream
1          packet of vanilla sugar (8g)

- with handheld electric mixer, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form.
- sprinkle in vanilla sugar and continue mixing until glossy stiff peaks form.
- spoon directly onto mini sponge cakes or use a piping bag
- add toppings and enjoy!

*I use a 1:1 for the whipping cream and sugar. I find that 1 cup of whipping cream fills 6 mini sponge cakes. Double or triple accordingly for your particular party needs.

Here I used strawberries, farm fresh peaches, and organic concord grapes,
topped with grated bittersweet chocolate.

This is my favourite though: blackberries, green grapes,
and chocolate chips. Yummy!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Corn & Black Bean Salsa

I love this salsa. A friend of mine made it and I was hooked. Best part is that it's the easiest thing to put together. Here's what you need:


Corn & Black Bean Salsa

1            can of kernel corn
1            can of black beans
1            green bell pepper, chopped {any bell pepper is delicious, I'm particularly fond of red and orange}
1            green onion, chopped
Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
tortilla chips

- open the can of corn and can of beans, rinse and mix together in large bowl
- toss in green pepper and green onion
- use about 1/3 of the bottle of salad dressing
- mix well and serve!

This is perfect for a summer snack, it's healthy and ultra refreshing. And delicious, can't forget delicious!

neon!

I hope you enjoy it this summer!

xoxo

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Alright, here it is:

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies (courtesy of Martha Stewart)

2 1/4 c.               all-purpose flour
1/2 c.                  unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp.                  cream of tartar
1 tsp.                  baking soda
1/2 tsp.               coarse salt
1 c. (2 stix)         unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 c.               sugar
2                         large eggs
1 1/2 tsp.            cinnamon  *recipe calls for 2 tsp. I found this to be just a smidge better
1/2 tsp.               chile powder

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down side of bowl. Add eggs and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined.
2. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and chile powder (if using). Using heaping tablespoons, form balls of dough and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place, about 3 inches apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are set in center and begin to crack, about 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely. (Store in an airtight container, up to 1 week.)
   
   

Holiday Baking

I made some cookies for a goodies swap at work. This was the first time I've made this recipe. And I'm pleased to report two things:

One - I made a tiny adjustment to the recipe. I never do that because it's a recipe (and the end result wouldn't be what it's supposed to be if the recipe could be changed willy nilly) and I'm less than adventurous. But I'm glad I did it.

Two - the cookies are so tasty! I like them, Q likes them, and other folks who have grabbed some like them. Huzzah! Grand success!

I'll post the recipe with my lil spin on it later once I'm home and using a real computer. This post is via me mobile. Interesting. I hope it looks ok hahaha!

xoxo

I've Mastered This One

It's the truth, and I'm definitely going to brag about this. It's so delicious, especially if you love chocolate. And yes, I'm going to have a single post for each recipe. What of it?


Classic Chocolate Mousse


4 oz.         bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, grated or finely chopped
4               large egg whites
2 tbsp.      sugar
1/4 tsp.     salt
1 c.           heavy cream (whipping cream if you are in Canada)

*Note: I found that while both chocolates are delightful for this recipe, the bittersweet was better. Semi-sweet was almost too sweet.

- In a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring constantly until melted smooth; immediately remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, beat egg whites with handheld mixer until soft peaks form. Sprinkle in sugar and salt and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Fold egg whites into chocolate until blended.
- In a deep bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture until blended. Final mixture will be very soft.
- Divide mousse into small serving dishes or keep in large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap (or tin foil, anything really) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days) before serving.

This particular time I used silicon cupcake cups as serving dishes. So cute!
I also topped with shredded sweetened coconut and shaved bittersweet chocolate.
Another time I topped with shaved green candy melts (by Wilton).
Next time I'm going to use whipped cream with vanilla sugar and coconut. Mmm!

It's the first dessert that I made successful from scratch the first time I tried. Bragging rights: earned.

xoxo

Many Yummies In My Tummy

I barely remembered my login info. That's bad. Bad blogger is me. Anyways, to make up for it, I'm going to share some recipes of a few things I've made this summer (some more than once or twice). I know you'll love these. I do. So do my guests. :)



Stuffed Cucumber Cups


1             3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp.    mayonnaise
1/2 c.      feta cheese crumbles
2 tbsp.    minced red onions
1 tbsp.    chopped fresh green onions
1 tbsp.    chopped fresh dill
1/2 tsp.   grated lemon zest
2 tsp.      lemon juice
1 tsp.      minced garlic
2             English cucumbers, peeled (I didn't) and sliced into 1 in. slices (I did)
1             red bell pepper

*Note: I did not use mayonnaise or the fresh dill as I had a dill and ranch salad dressing on hand which worked great. I also excluded the red onions. Just a personal preference. This makes a small appetizer but it packs a big garlic-y punch. Cutting out the red onions does not affect the potential need for a breath mint afterwards.

- In the bowl of a food processor (or KitchenAid mixer) pulse cream cheese and mayonnaise (or ranch and dill dressing) until smooth.
- Add feta, red onion (if you use it), green onions, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and garlic; pulse until smooth.
- Place mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip.
- Using a melon baller, remove a small portion of the centre of the cucumber slice (careful to not go through the bottom!)
- Pipe in mixture to each cucumber cup.
- Slice red bell pepper into small 1 in. pieces. Garnish each cucumber cup with a little bell pepper.
- Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

xoxo

Holy Toledo!

My oh my it has been a busy month! Moving, new dog, new niece, party, and relaxing nights with good souls. Finally I have a few moments to show you what's been happening around these parts. First, lets start with a wee tour of our new happy home. We love it, it's just the right size, shape, style, and more than we could've asked for. It's (dare I say) perfect! Look for yourself!

My new fave and super cute summer outfit. It was ultra comfortable,
great choice for hosting a housewarming party.

Ok ok, I know I know, not the greatest selection of photos, but would you believe that these were the best ones? Shocking, isn't it? Well, I swear that once this house has been lived in a bit more and we get so settled that I can start all the projects and whatnot I have in mind, you will then get new (and hopefully better) photos.

We were glad to have so many friends and family come to our housewarming party. I got to make some delicious cupcakes, stuffed cucumbers, and a refreshing corn salsa.

I heart this photo. Welcome!

 We also have a firepit in the yard. It makes delicious smokies and even tastier roasted marshmallows. Mmmm.....

I think it goes without saying that the hot tub is here to stay. We were planning on selling it and building a deck, but after seeing how much fun everyone had with it, we decided to keep it and build the deck around it. Huzzah! Be prepared for polar hot tub parties!

I think I forgot to mention that a gaggle of us good folk went to see this little film on opening night. IT. WAS. EPIC. Can't wait to go see it again.

Pretty sure I have a little crush on Bane.....and Marion Cotilliard. Just sayin.

Stay tuned friends, there's more to come!

xoxo

A Request Delivered!

For my gorgeous friend Erinn at Fancy Napkin, the recipe for the coconut cheesecake I made for Seestor on her birthday.

Coconut Cheesecake

1-1/4 c.                         oreo cookie crumbs

1 c.                               shredded coconut

1/4 c.                            butter, melted

3 pkg. (250 g each)         philadelphia brick cream cheese, softened

3/4 c.                            sugar

1 tsp.                            vanilla

1 tsp.                            coconut extract

3                                  eggs

- heat oven to 350F

- mix crumbs, coconut, and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. *I don't have one, so I used a 9-inch cake pan and lined it with parchment paper.

- beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and coconut extract with mixer until well blended.

- add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended.

- pour over crust.

- bake for 40 - 50 minutes or until centre is almost set.

- run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim and refrigerate for four hours.

Enjoy!

xoxo

My Journal

.....is a little leather number that is a beautiful shade of green. It was a gift from my uncle and I have the perfect purpose for it. It will now serve as my "pre-blog" journal. I don't always have instant access to a computer so I can blog there until I can share it here with you.

Britt Britt and I went on a lunch date at a restaurant that I've wanted to dine at for a very long time. This restaurant was the Continental Treat on Whyte Avenue. Hahaha it was far more romantic than ever intended but it was a delightful afternoon with some really really good food. I had schnitzel for the first time and it was so tasty! Britt Britt had the Polish cutlets which she said were also very good.

We both indulged in the pickle soup. Holy. Smokers. It was the best soup I've ever had. It was filled with carrots and pickles and chunks of potato. The food wasn't heavy, it was light and hearty and very very filling.

Delicious meal and a warm atmosphere. The decor of the restaurant made me feel like I was in old Europe. Soul-soothing classical music filled our ears while we ate. A very calming place to dine. The bar area was filled to the brim with liquor and the countertop was completely covered with a multitude of wine. All different kinds but the one that caught my eye was "Ghost Pines". Unfortunately we didn't have any wine, but that's one I would try based purely on the label. It's haunting and very pretty.

Above the landscape of vino, hovered constellations of delicate necked glasses. Throughout the restaurant were vintage lampshades hanging from the ceiling; a great accent to the masculine fireplace who's mantle was home to a family of these (except they were draped with white wax from the proud standing taper candles):

I love these!
One day, my kitchen will be littered with them.

A great time catching up with my long time BFF. Thanks for lunch and the sweater and sweets!

xoxo

What Did You Do For New Year's?

This is what we did:

We kept it low key and stayed home for the festivities. We had a lovely and surprisingly filling dinner: fondue and raclette. After we all stuffed our faces, we each relaxed in our respective areas of the house until it was time for champagne (which I mistakenly froze). Champagne slushy? Yes please! It was so good and super delicious!! Music and snuggles topped off the evening until bedtime. Here's a peek:

Note: Jags is ready for dinner. Silly kitty. He thinks he's people.      :)

I love these little white dishes. The beef just looks so pretty. 

Pretty nails, good times, family, and champagne slushies. An excellent night!

So tell me, what did you do for New Year's??

Cheers to you and yours in 2012!

xoxo

Time To Catch Up!

Alrighty, here it is, the big post with the holiday photos to catch up. I have also decided that there won't be a tour of the new place because a) it's been busy and too messy to photograph, and b) I'm a little lazy and I forget about it every now and again. Sooooo.....sorry! But here's some other stuff for you to feast your eyes on:

Seestor's birthday cake: a coconut cheesecake with an oreo cookie crumb and coconut crust. Homemade by yours truly.

It was tasty (thank goodness!).

I decorated various trees this year.

The tree in the House of F (pre-baubled).

Seestor's crazy.

The Bee tree. This is what I imagine an acid trip to be like.

Some casualties along the way (and many afterwards due to curious kitties).

Momma's 2011 ornament.

Q (Jack) and myself (Sally). Our 2011 ornaments.

Seestor's 2011 ornament.

Christmas Eve: A Frost Carnival.

You were given 2 tickets to start with when you arrived. Two tickets and
whatever you thirsted for. In order to eat from the fantastic menu, you had
to play carnival games to win more tickets. I managed to eat half of the menu.
It was the best carnival food I've ever eaten.

One of me BFFs and the host of this fun Christmas party.
I heart you Petros!

Q won some tickets on this one. I won more. Just sayin'.

The largest of the pups in the Carnival house: Jewel. A beautiful and friendly briard.
I fixed her ponytail so she could see the party. Isn't she pretty?!

Q's sweet steal in the tacky gift exchange.

Mine and Q's tree etc.

Next post: Christmas Day!