Homemade Frozen Treats

Mmmmm...Nothing quite like a frozen treat to cool you down on a hot summer day - especially when it is totally made by you, and nothing but healthy goodness!


I have been tinkering about in my kitchen lately with the help of a very willing taste tester, and came up with a few yummy recipes for frozen goodies.

These recipes generally fill 6 popsicle molds. Enjoy!
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Peach, Mango, Orange
2 canned peach halves (packed in fruit juice)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup OJ
1 small red mango (skinned & chopped)
2 Tbsp honey

Blend & pour in molds.
***
Avocado & Banana
1 ripened Avocado, chopped
1 medium sized Banana
1/2 cup Plain yogurt
3 Tbsp Honey
1 tsp lemon juice

Blend & pour in molds
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Berries & Cream


1 cup Mixed Frozen Berries
1 cup Plain Yogurt
1 small ripened avocado, chopped
3 Tbsp Maple Syrup

Blend & pour in molds
***
Banana Pops
1 Banana
1/2 c plain yogurt
2 canned peach halves (packed in juice)
2 Tbsp honey

Blend & pour in molds
***
Mango Twist


1 cup Orange juice
2 canned peach halves (packed in juice)
1 ripened mango (chopped, peeled & pit removed) - about 3/4 cup

Blend & pour in molds
***


The molds I use are the star shaped molds by Cuisipro. Obviously any molds will do, but I do especially love these ones because they are nice and tidy. Being push pops, your little one only ever has as much popsicle as they can handle.

Back To The Patio

Talk about Tasty. Too bad it doesn't seem to be available in my neck of the woods. :( It'll have to be my Alberta treat. If you see this, definitely give it a try!

Enjoy patio season!!

Blueberry-Apple Crisp

I've had some major sweet cravings lately, but too tired to make anything complicated. This recipe is super easy, and I was able to sit down while I made most of it - a definite plus!

I didn't get around to photographing it until I was just about ready for a bite! :)



Blueberry-Apple Crisp
4 cups sliced, pared apple
1.5 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
3 Tbsp Flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp lemon juice

-Combine flour & sugar. Mix together with fruit and arrange in 8x8x2 square baking dish. Drizzle lemon juice over top.

Topping:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats

-Mix all together and sprinkle evenly over top

BAKE 375 degrees F for 30 minutes
*Serve with Vanilla Ice Cream. Yummy!

Snow Day Food Fest

What better way to spend a blizzardy day then warm and toasty in your kitchen!
Today started with dinner - backwards you say?? But, it is clearly the perfect day for a crock pot supper!
So, stew it is.



This recipe is a favourite of mine, and I have made it often.
It is from the Company's Coming Slow Cooker Recipes book.

Chick Pea Stew
Dried Chick Peas 2 1/2 cups
Chopped Onion 1 1/2 cups
Medium Carrots, cut julienne 2
Dried Sweet Basil 1/2 tsp
Pepper 1/4 tsp
Water 5 1/2 cups

Beef (or pork) stew meat, 1 lb.
cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Cooking oil 1 1/2 tsp

Canned tomatoes, drained, 14 oz
juice reserved
Beef Bouillon powder 1 Tbsp
Salt 1 tsp

Reserved Tomato Juice
All-purpose flour 3 Tbsp

Combine first 6 ingredients in 3 1/2 quart slow cooker.

Brown beef quickly in hot cooking oil in frying pan. Add to slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours or on high 4 to 5 hours.

Add tomato, bouillon powder, and salt.

Slowly whisk tomato juice into flour in small bowl. Stir into slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low for 2 hours or on high for 1 hour. Stir before serving. Makes 9 1/2 cups.

*I added 2 stalks of celery, diced

Once the stew was finally on the go, and the little guy was sufficiently starving, I started on brekky which of course could only be pancakes on a day like today. I utilized his help in the stirring department to keep him from being angry about his breakfast delay which seemed to work. Little ones just love to get involved. It seems to be the answer to a lot of things.



After the syrup bath was cleaned up off the high chair and floor, pancake mess all sorted, a few stories read and a nap underway, I was able to get down to a little bread baking. Stew and fresh bread - could there be a better snow day dinner?
I have contemplated so many times about getting a bread maker, but I REALLY love the feel of that dough. Though the task looms occasionally, once I start it really is meditative, and I'm pretty sure I would miss it.





I am thoroughly looking forward to this evening. Just over an hour to go!
Keep warm!
xo

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon buns have been an unsatisfied craving for, no joke, weeks! I finally bought one Friday morning at Starbucks while hanging at the book shop with my little guy, and was even more disappointed than never having had one and so I finally took the plunge and made some that night.
That's a lot of pressure for one little cinnamon roll to have. I stared those things down while they rose, and rose again, and then yet again as they baked. There was a lot riding on these, and I gotta say though I was MORE satisfied, I sure wished I hadn't baked them so long. Every recipe said 25-30 minutes. When it comes to baking my oven always seems best closer to the higher temperature in a possible range, but I put them at the minimum of 25 anyway just to be safe and still they seemed a little overdone.

I checked a whole bunch of different recipes and took bits from several. One older recipe called for 1/2 a yeast cake - the book is an antique so that may explain it. When I looked it up all I could find were recipes for cakes with yeast?? Anyway, no recipe felt just right so I adapted. I really love how much my kitchen courage has improved in the last year. I feel more adventurous, familiar, and accepting of a possible failure when it comes to making it up as I go.

The whole creating of the cinnamon buns was to coincide with the delivery of our first paper on Saturday morning. Not the first newspaper ever of our lives mind, but the first we have had delivered to us in many years. We just subscribed for weekend delivery and were WAY excited for it. Is that a little bit sad?... What is sadder is that it never showed!! :(

Anyway, what could be more fitting than a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll while you read the paper - pipe dreams I know when you have a little one. I'm actually having a wee out loud laugh right now as I just realized our entire Saturday morning vision of coffee and a nice reading of the paper is truly hilarious!! Oh well, it can always be lovely in it's own crazy way.
The beauty of babies? There can be no true plan.

One thing I did learn, is that cinnamon buns only get better and better the next couple mornings. Passed 3 mornings I couldn't say. I imagine if the decline were to begin on any day it would be on the 4th - just a guess! :)
I feel like I will take this next weekends pending paper delivery as another opportunity to perfect the cinnamon bun!
xo

Candy Cane Courage

I won't lie to you, the Candy Cane cookie is a mega time consumer. These cookies are no walk in the park. Every Christmas my mom would say, "I don't think we'll make the candy cane cookies this year". But every year we did indeed throw out the effort for these awesome cookies. They ARE worth the effort, and I believe it's the almond flavouring that makes them so.

As I baked today, a strong memory came back to me regarding this little not so simple sweet... That feeling of the immovable dough, and the eternal cookie rolling. When a point is almost reached where you decide that's enough, and the temptation to discard the rest of the dough or simply throw it down in blobs becomes victorious. Though the feeling began to creep up, I didn't give in. If you give these a whirl and you get that same inclination just snack on one from your first batch and you'll have a new lease on baking. Yummy! Also, it may help to have a little candy cane rolling assistance. Someone to chat with or even just to entertain you while twisting the dough would make all the difference.

The recipe comes from the Betty Crocker library (circa 1971) - one of those plastic box sets from the seventies where you sign up, and they regularly send you recipes to fill up the container. I especially adore those 70's food pics.



A little off course, but I gotta say though it may be just me, there seems to be a serious overabundance of hot dogs in recipes from the 1970's. Of course it makes sense though... For an era that thought "noodle loaf" was a good idea (you know, the bologna with noodles and cheese embedded in it) hot dogs were practically "gourmet".

And so, without further ado (or discouragement) the recipe:

CANDY CANE COOKIES
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup icing sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp red food colouring

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, icing sugar, egg, and flavourings. Blend in flour and salt. Divide dough in half; blend food colour into one half.
Shape 1 teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope. For smooth, even ropes, roll them back and forth on a lightly floured surface. I find the flour just makes the dough more crumbly and difficult to roll, so I twisted them up directly on the counter without any flour.



Place ropes side by side; press together lightly and twist.



Complete cookies one at a time. Place on ungreased baking sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane.
Bake about 9 minutes or until set and very light brown. If you wish, mix 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Immediately sprinkle cookies with candy mixture; remove from baking sheet. About 4 dozen cookies.

We have never done the candy sprinkle on top, but do sprinkle a small amount of granulated sugar. I think the peppermint candy would take away from the flavour of the cookie.



So glad the "work" is done and the eating can take place!

I also made macaroons today. What a nice contrast! About 15 minutes and I had a full container of them (and possibly a tummy ache from eating way too much as I scooped it out on the tray).



Happy Baking!
xo

Pumpkins Aren't Just For Pie

I prepared a small pumpkin the other day to use for a couple of recipes. It was something on my list last year for things to try, and it was not only easy but super tasty.
I read somewhere that it works well to boil the entire pumpkin and then cut it up. The pumpkin holds it's flavour better as well as it's nutritional value as it isn't being boiled out. This was what I did on my last pumpkin cooking venture, and it was successful.
This time, though, I opted for the simple roasting method which I found here.

I used it first, for a batch of pumpkin pancakes, this recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart. I really love these pancakes. Just enough flavour. I left out the cloves the second time and preferred it, but that would be up to your taste-buds to decide.




The rest of the cooked pumpkin went in a batch of my own recipe of curried pumpkin soup. I love a bowl of hot soup on a cool, fall day. Really I love soup on all days, but especially once the temperature drops.



*1 onion
*2-3 cloves garlic
*salt & pepper
*heaping tsp of curry powder
*3 cups vegetable broth (turkey or chicken broth would be fine too)
*5-6 sm/med carrots
*1 sm pumpkin (prepared)
*1 small macintosh apples (I used 2 today and it was nice as well, though the soup was thinner)
*tsp of lemon juice
*cilantro

Add onion, salt, pepper, curry powder, and garlic to 2 Tablespoons of heated olive oil in stock pot.
Add 3cups of broth, and carrots. Boil until carrots are softened.
Add apple and pumpkin. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
Use a hand blender to liquefy.
Stir in Lemon juice.
Top with cilantro and homemade croutons.

When it comes to cilantro people either absolutely love it, or despise it. I love it fresh as a garnish on this soup.

Soup is made to mess with which is what I love about making it. It's very useful for using up whatever random produce you have laying about.

Of course, we can't forget the seeds which after patting dry with a clean towel, I laid them out to dry on a cookie sheet where they waited patiently to be spiced and roasted (my husband's specialty).
He just adds whatever he is feeling at that moment and roasts them for about an hour at 250 degrees.

mmmmm... I do love pumpkin

Making Room For Autumn

There are a great many things that have been keeping me from this space.





First and most importantly there is this little boy who is all out of sorts.
Ah, the mysteries of babyhood... Could it be teeth? A need for changes in naptime? Hunger? Overtired? Just plain tired? Sore tummy? AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! These are the trials of his and our week. So far no solutions. Even a visit to the doctor proved futile. I just hate to see him upset. And I also struggle to carry him around as much as he currently desires it. Poor little fella. I think today, I will bust out one of my slings and just carry him as much as his little heart desires it :). Though I don't love him feeling down of course, for a little boy who seems to be growing out of his need for cuddles all too quickly I sure do love all the hugs lately! ;)

All the other little bits and bobs that are taking up my time all come down to this beautiful and busy time of year. Oh Autumn! I believe it's my favourite (though I feel like I may say that at the on-set of every season...).



Maybe because it was ingrained in me for so many years throughout school, but as soon as September hits so does the desire for routine and organisation. I have been doing a mass de-cluttering, and cleaning of all sorts. You know, the sort of cleaning that seems to get missed on an all too regular basis when you have a young one taking up most of your time.

My sewing space is piling up with projects, and the more projects, the less motivated I am to start on any one of them. Time to get the silliness out of the way so I can work on the good stuff. So I have been mending and creating the little bits that we "Need".

First on the list was yet another RagBag. Garage rags are a whole other kettle of fish, and therefore they need their own space. I suppose I could have saved myself the trouble and used an old plastic bag holder, but instead I made one out of the leg of an old pair of jeans. Denim is a good sturdy fabric that just seems to speak "work" - perfect for work rags right?



We don't use paper towels in our house, but found a need for something to soak up excess grease from frying bacon or other greasy kitchen jobs. Flour sack towels are a bit too big for this duty, so I cut one (the mankiest one I had) in half, ironed it, rolled and hemmed the cut edge and added a coloured tag so we could spot them easily. And there you have the "Grease rags".



We bought a braided rag rug for the equivalent of a couple dollars at the market in Tongatapu, Tonga in 2008. It has been falling apart, not to mention taking up space in my craft room as a 'need to repair'. Instead of stitched together, it had been woven in a few spots and these pieces were coming out, and the gaps were becoming increasingly larger between each row. I had put it amidst some things to go to Goodwill, but just couldn't commit, and kept taking it back out to throw on my pile of things to do. A couple evenings on the couch (hand sewing is very relaxing), and I had it sewn up tight. Tonga holds a lot of memories for us, so I'm glad I decided to keep this little mat.
Stitching this baby together inspired me to make my own braided rag rug from beginning to end. I WILL find rubber thimbles for my thumb, pointer and second finger before venturing out on this though, because two days later and they are still crazy sore!

Before


After


I did a bit of baking the other night. Impulsive urge or need (it's a fine line) to bake chocolate chip cookies at 9:30pm?? It's hard to say, but it could be the pregnancy...
I don't know what I would have done had they not been insanely delicious. By the time they were out of the oven, I was near desperate!



This recipe? Yummy. While making them I came up about a 1/4 cup short on chips, and they were beyond chocolately so not to worry should you stumble upon the same problem. Also, I only had bittersweet chocolate as opposed to semi-sweet - still amazing!

Other than these things, and all the cleaning, we have been house shopping and car shopping. The house shopping may be the reason I am so intent on paring down - if only I could stay away from the thrift shops for a little while...
We would really love to find a little starter/training farm. I'm talking 1/2 to 1 acre. Just enough to explore our skills and learn a little.
Car-wise - don't judge me - but we are in the market for a van of the "mini" kind. We figure it's bound to eventually happen. Why fight it? All those that make fun the most and resist that same purchase themselves, will quite possibly be the ones calling us up to borrow. Anywho, in our defense we want a pop-up tent trailer and need something that tows and holds a good bit of gear. We are not SUV people at all, which leaves us with... A mini-van! WOW.

My little guy and I start a parent-child group at the Waldorf school next Monday. I am REALLY looking forward to this, and will let you know in detail how it goes. It is always so fun, and anxiety inducing watching your little one play with other little ones. You have to really be on your game to watch for those sudden movements - I'm talking about the ones that aren't looking to be hugs, love, and sharing. You know the kind that are more of the reaction exploring type?



So, now to get myself in top gear. I can feel the sniffles coming on, and I am not a fan. Must get healthy and find peace and order in this house. That's a fairly tall order, no?
I hope your Autumn is starting up just as busy or as chill as you want it to be!
xo

Strawberry Pie

Last night, this was what remained of our spoils from our vsit to Springridge Farm earlier in the week.



The last of Springridge's strawberries of the season were available and I was unable to resist their smell, or their look. I came home armed with a big basket and after eating plenty I needed something to make with them before spoilage set in. Strawberry pie it was! Next time I should probably save the pie for when people are coming over. The hubby and I worked on eating it for the last 3 nights or so (with a tiny bit of help from the little guy).







Always love a farm visit!

Millions of peaches, peaches for me!

...Just daydreaming about that thought...
(that is one of those songs that even if you hardly know it, it's in your head for a lifetime)

Tis the season for peaches, and we have been enjoying it to it's fullest, particularly this past week.

We're leaving today for the weekend and this morning I was looking at some lovely peaches that threatened to spoil, so here it hit me! I have aspired to try my hand (both actually) at canning for quite some time and there is no better time than the present.
It seemed like a good load of fruit I had, so off I went chopping and crushing, cleaning and boiling my jars & lids, and of course having a little taste here and there.
I admit, having a little one, I abandoned my post regularly, was highly disorganised, and just generally took a pretty long time to do a job that actually seems like it should be reasonably quick and easy.

I remember my mom making peach jam and having it on fresh tea biscuits with a bit of whipped cream. MMmmmmmm...Think I'll be doing that in the next week, or rather hope so!

The Materials:



A Piece Of The Process:



By the way, after ALL that chopping, and crushing, cleaning and boiling here is my less than full lone 500ml jar of peach jam.
My FIRST EVER jar of ANYTHING! YAY!!!



So, needless to say, I didn't really get in to the full canning process for my first experience. Due to my small yield there was no need for processing the JAR. I didn't expect loads - I only sterilized 3 x 500ml jars, but I had hoped for at least a couple full ones. Oh well! At least I'll get to enjoy eating it.

I did learn something that may be a useful tip for others (since I prepared 3 jars and used one): heated, yet unused, snap lids can be used again. Good thing or I would have felt bad about wasting those other 2 (I know they are cheap but still).

I definitely feel like next time I'll be able to confidently go the full distance, though with small amounts, I think I'll try freezer jam...

We're Off!

Yesterday was a mix of frenzied packing, dealing with home builder warranty issues (yuck), an injury my little one could have done without and I KNOW I could have done without, and the Roasting of my very first chicken! After thinking about tackling what seemed like a big feat for so long, I finally did it and it was too easy!
I used this recipe from Jamie Oliver's website and it tasted really amazing. Don't be afraid of the lemon, the flavour was nowhere near too strong. Really delicious.

I feel like I'm saying "We're off" a lot! Admittedly, I have been very spoiled in getting to go back to Alberta to visit family for my now 5th time since getting back from our long trip in 2008. My son just turned one and this is his 4th time if you aren't counting the time he was in my belly! He should have some sort of West Jet Frequent Flyer card or something.

The time difference is only 2 hours but it does make a difference. The last time I was wakened every day at 5am (not by choice, mind). I wonder what this trip will bring? Italy was a 6 hour difference and he did very well, so he should be a pro at this by now right??

A visit to Alberta is generally a busy one. There are so many in our family (immediate and extended), and they are so spread out you spend a great deal of time in transit. I am so happy to be here! ...Ah, but then I miss my man back at the ranch. I wish he could have joined me on this little excursion. :(

It is an amazing feeling when you visit your parent's house that no matter if they have moved, changed things around, or bought new furniture, it always feels like home - to me, anyway. I always feel an immediate sense of calm, and happiness just walking through the door. It's Good To Be Home!

A Good Dose of the Mondays

Mondays aren't so bad. They just push for getting things done. Laundry gets washed, rooms get tidied, and sometimes even a couple of fun things are accomplished. I love a good Monday.

I started a pair of pants for the munchkin out of an old thrifted sheet. Still need hemmed & a waistband. Won't take long though. I use this awesome tutorial regularly. It is so simple to do.



I squeezed in a little sewing time for myself, and whipped together this wristband that has been on my mind for a bit.



And finally, I made the Oat Bran Applesauce Muffins for the little guy from The Hospital For Sick Children: Better Baby Food cookbook.
They are pretty tasty. Very low sweetness level, and great fluffy texture. Perfect for a one year old.

Here is the recipe:
Oat Bran Applesauce Muffins
Age 12-18 months
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Grease, or paper-line a 12-cup muffin tin

1 1/3 C Whole wheat flour
1/2 C Oat bran
1/2 C Loosely packed brown sugar
2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground nutmeg
1/4 C Vegetable oil
1 C Applesauce
1 Egg, beaten
1/4 C Finely chopped raisins (optional)

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, oat bran, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and spices.

2. In another bowl, stir together oil, applesauce, and egg. Stir in raisins. Add applesauce mixture to dry
ingredients; stir just until moistened.

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes, or until muffins are firm to the
touch. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack to cool completely.

Per muffin: 133kcal, 2.8g Protein, 22.0g Carb, 4.7g Fat, 1.19mg Iron



Let's hope I get a good dose of the Tuesday's too, because I have a lot to accomplish since I used so much of my time yesterday for the fun stuff. I leave tomorrow to visit my family in Alberta for a week. Time to get organised!
xo

Pizza Time!

Just had to show my 2 commemorative pizzas (before oven), and of course (let's not pretend) the mess that ensues when one takes on a kitchen project such as this.

Last week I was where??

I can't believe that one week ago today, we were sitting in Trastevere, Rome enjoying an amazing Margherita pizza, which I learned is made to honour the Italian flag with it's red tomatoes, green basil, and white mozzarella cheese.




We'll need to have homemade pizza tonight to commemorate the day. Just looking at that pizza is making my mouth water.

Pancakes

Pancakes are one of my most favourite things, for any time of day. Here is the recipe I use most often from my trusty, old, food-coated, Betty Crocker cookbook:

1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour or Whole wheat flour
3/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp veg. oil
1 Tbsp granulated sugar (with all-purpose flour) or 1 Tbsp brown sugar (if using Whole wheat flour)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt - I leave the salt out and they are just as tasty.
Beat egg until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients until smooth. For thinner pancakes, stir in additional milk (according to the texture you like).
Use 1/4 cup measure to scoop out batter and pour onto hot griddle. Cook until puffed and dry around edges (I flip them as soon as bubbles appear and pop in the center). Turn and cook other side until golden brown.
Smother in maple syrup!



This little guy approves, especially with a touch of applesauce on top.

xo