snow day activities

BOOOOO! Last week we had this:

Today, it looks like this:

And it's another snow day. Wouldn't be so bad, but tomorrow is a PD/Parent Teacher interview day, which means, no school for the kids. 2 days off before March Break next week. Timing folks. Timing.

Anyhow, things were slow this morning.

I've been hit by another massive head cold. Took the life right outta me it did.

Onwards...

Remember this finger knitting woven rug?

I finally cut the ties this morning.

 I tied the ends and then to the one next to it to create a little lip in edge.

I wasn't sure where to put it, but I think it will stay by the wood stove. 

These old knees find it hard to kneel on the floor to stoke the fire.

 Someone else found a good use for it too.

Just the right size. 

I'd like to make a few more of these, but from cut t-shirts.

On the table today...

Meccano

 Home made playdough. I've made this before, but I can't find it on my old blog. 

When I make it, I add the oil and food colouring to the hot water. 

It makes it a little easier to mix the colour in.

 And a batch of Banana Cookies

 I used the rest of the mix to make a bread.

Must muster up enough energy to run some errands. 

There's a trip to the Flying Fox Bake Shop as a reward to the kids for being dragged along.

have a good one,

Amanda

Quick Last Minute Valentine Dessert

SO... feeling like I've not kept up my Valentine-ish status for the kids this year.

I gave them "STORE BOUGHT" valentines to give out. 

I offerend my son, who's 10 and in grade 4 the option of home made or bought. He wanted homemade, but I was in the Valentine Aisle at Target and it was just so easy to pick it up.

So I did. 

His response... "I feel like I'm being cheap by giving store bought ones" He is trained well eh?

Anyhow, they had tattoos in them, so he got over it.

Anyhooo.. Here's a little last minute thing I've whipped up to go along with the store bought fried chicken I'm giving them for supper. Can't win them all kid.

Home made Ice cream. It was requested last week. Here ya go.

 "Strawlbellies" (as my young daughter called them) cut into heart shapes.

 Lined a clear bowl with them.

 Sprayed the bowl with water and put in the freezer to help keep them on the sides.

I don't know if this really worked, as I didn't really keep it in the freezer all that long.

I was just careful when I put the ice cream in. 

 As it just came from the Ice cream maker, it was not solid, so it was easy to put in the bowl.

Maybe it was a little too melty.

 Decorated the top. 

Was thinking after, that if I had turned my strawberries upside down, I could turn the bowl over and remove it from the bowl. Pour a bit of pepper and balsamic vinegar over it and call it done.

Kinda like this one!

But instead, I'm going to make home made hot fudge sauce.

Maybe this one.

Whatever you do...

hope there's chocolate!

Amanda

1st Snow Day of the school year.

Unbeknownst to this household and maybe many more in this area.. this happened overnight.

 They are predicting a big snow dump on Sunday. 

 So this, Day 3 of snow in a row, was a surprise.

 A no school day surprise.

A "Guess I won't be driving to the city today", surprise.

But the best part..

 Oh, and this...

Chicken in the crock pot with homemade BBQ sauce, and chicken in the soup pot for lunch. 

Going to try this lemony chicken recipe.

Have a good one.

Amanda

POPCORN!!! on the cob.

Popcorn is a pretty regular treat around here.

Popped on the stove kinda popcorn.

 My husband makes the best. 

You don't even need to put butter on it. It's that good. 

We decided to take a chance on this one. You know, in case he isn't around.

 I set the timer for 2 minutes, 40 seconds.

 mmm, I'm thinking I may have stopped it a little early.

  I didn't use the whole 40 seconds.

Isn't it so cool?

 4 hungry hands and mine were all over it.

 Butter and salt recommended.

I figure we can try popping the rest another time.

 It was a hit and hit the spot before these guys hit the road again.

 It was Pink Shirt Day here today. It was so cool to see so many pink shirts on the playground, coming off the bus, around the stores.

And how can I leave without another picture of this?

Have a good one.

Amanda

Profiteroles, cream puffs, really good, whatever you wanna call 'em

Last week, our Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club hosted a fundraiser for the  Sailing Academy. 

Our kids have been in the summer sailing lessons and Rafael has a keen interest in it. He LOVES it and talks about it constantly. Not so sure his crew is so excited, he dumps at least once a day.  But as his dad says, "if you don't dump, you're not trying hard enough" But I digress.... back to the post at hand....

The fundraiser was the annual lasagna dinner and cake auction. 

I've had this idea in my mind since last year's auction, but being new here, didn't have it together enough to make it. This year... I was ready.

(Just a little sample. As was noted by the auctioneer.. this year's theme was "Cake with a hole in it""

I have a cake pop maker and imagined a pyramid of cake pops... what kind? Couldn't decide. 

Instead, I made cream puffs. Have you made them before? It is sooooo easy!

 This recipe comes from an old Robin Hood Flour recipe book my late mother in law baked from.

1/4 c shortening and 1 c of water heated until shortening melts.

 mix 1/4 tsp salt in 1 c flour and dump into the wet mixture above. 

Stir until you get a paste.

 Remove from the pot and let cool slightly. 

Adding one egg at a time, mix after each egg for up to 4 eggs.

 You will get a bit of a runny consistency.

 On a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet, drop the dough onto the sheet.

I made 4 different sizes. I think these ones are from a 1.5 tsp. I made 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp and 1/4 tsp drops.
They temperature setting was 425 for 10 minutes, then 350 for 15, but it was too long.
After a few batches, I just did 375 for about 10-15 minutes.
My oven isn't the greatest. Play around on your own.

When they cooled, I sliced them half way and filled with whipped cream. It was warm out that day, so I put a little icing sugar in the cream before I mixed it. I also added some vanilla extract.

The chocolate glaze is a donut glaze from Alton Brown

So.. I dipped the bottom of the puff into the chocolate glaze and made a sorta pyramid shape. 

Once again, the auctioneer had his own names for things and this was lovingly named

Amanda's Volcano!

Not quite the effect I was going for, but killing it with powdered sugar can make anything look good! 

 It survived the heat and was bought up for $70! 

I was even complimented on how good they were. Phew!

As this is a fundraiser for our wonderful sailing program, people come prepared to spend.

This baby earned a cool $110!

All in good fun.

So friends, next time I'm invited to a pot luck.. expect these!

Now, what to make for next year.... hmmmm.

Ciao,

Amanda

In the Garden

For my record keeping for next year...

July 29, 2013

As you may have previously read here, our little garden had a haphazard start. 

Planting only what the deer wouldn't eat.

The two trees in the garden are pin cherries. More on those later when they grow.

 Turns out, that's only garlic! But since the fence, I've been adding things where ever there is space.

 As such, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

  Like the pumpkin and squash plants 

planted with the kale and fava beans

Potatoes are doing very well. Note to self: leave more space in between next year.

 Peas are finally starting to grow. Not a good start with the deer.

Next year will be so awesome.

 And the collards and cucumber will not be so close together.

 All in all, I'm very content with my first year of gardening. I love going out in the evenings after supper and weeding and watering before the mosquitoes get me.

 In a week or so, I'll be coming out this way for another reason. 

This space will become our chicken yard!

We'll extend the fence and build a chicken run.

We just got a coop this evening for free! Just a few adaptations and we're good to go.

 You're still here?

I harvested my first thing today.

Curly kale.

 To make Caldo Verde. A portuguese green soup!

Soak the leaves in water so the buggies come to the top. I had one little green worm. Proud of that.

Roll the leaves together, cut them very small. These are a little too thick, according to my husband. 

(He still ate it though.)

 Boil the potatoes until they are almost mushy. I helped these along with my masher.

 Add the kale for the last 7-8 minutes.

Add some salt and olive oil. It's also common to eat it with sliced chirizo in the soup. 

A very nutritious and delicious soup. 

have a good one,

Amanda