If you need to make an impression but are completely intimidated by the idea of baking a real cheesecake, this recipe will stop the show. I've made it many times and love the silky smooth texture, the way it slices perfectly, the combination of vanilla and chocolate, the richness of the cream, and how versatile it is for decorating. Not to mention that it can be whipped up the day before and stays good for a really long time.
That is, if you haven't eaten already.
You'll need:Crust: 1 1/2 cups of crumbled Oreo cookies 3-4 Tablespoons melted butter Chocolate Layer: 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 2 Tablespoons cold water 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Vanilla Layer: 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 2 Tablespoons cold water 1 2/3 cups heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions:Crust: Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter together. Pat into a 9" spring form pan. Set aside. Chocolate Layer: In a small saucepan, bring cream to a simmer. In a separate small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Add to warm cream and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir chocolate chips into remaining warm cream until melted. Stir in gelatin mixture and remaining cream. Pour on top of crust. Cool in fridge for 45 minutes or until firm. Vanilla Layer: In a small saucepan, bring cream and sugar to a simmer. In another bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Stir into cream until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add vanilla. Carefully spoon over chocolate layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm. After removing the sides of the spring form, you can garnish this beautiful dessert any way you like. In the picture shown above, I simply rubbed some more Oreo cookie crumbs onto the sides. Using several thin strips of waxed paper, I created a lattice stencil on the top of the dessert, sprinkled on some more crumbs, and carefully removed the strips of paper. Then I added a "haystack" of chopped chocolate covered peppermint sticks. I've also served this with a fresh strawberry sauce made by pureeing strawberries and sugar in the blender for a fresher taste. Be creative-the possibilities are endless!
*GF Variation: Simply use Gluten-free cookie crumbs instead.
The hardest part about being gluten-free, according to my dear husband, is missing out on baked goods that taste good. Bread, cake, cookies, donuts, muffins... nothing quite tastes as wonderful as things made with white flour.
Then I discovered the Easy Peasy Cinnamon Muffins in Trim Healthy Mama. Brad said he hadn't had a muffin that good since he started eating gluten-free two years ago! I've made a couple of alterations to the original recipe and apparently we have a winner! Brad takes two in his lunch every day to work and never tires of them. The kids love them too.
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins (adapted from Trim Healthy Mama) Time: 15 minutes plus baking Servings: 24 small muffins or 12 large Ingredients:
3 eggs and 3 egg whites
3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp water
3 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups ground golden flax seed
1/2 cup finely shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
4 Tbsp. cinnamon (not a typo!)
12 tsp of Truvia (or 1 cup sugar)
1 cup raisins
Directions: Put eggs and whites, water, coconut oil, and vanilla into blender and blend well for 20 seconds. In a separate bowl, combine flax seed, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and sweetener. Stir together. Add to wet mixture in blender. Blend well. Stir in raisins. Let mixture set for 5 minutes to thicken. Pour evenly into paper-lined muffin tins (a quick-release ice cream scoop works great for this!). Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Several months ago a food-loving group was created on Facebook. Its name was the "Cathedral Village Needs a Cheap Breakfast Place", or something like that. It seems that the Village just hadn't been the same since the Quality Tea Room shut down several years back.
I quickly joined the group, as did several hundred other Regina folks (What did we ever do before Facebook groups became the new face of activism, by the way?). The Facebook fan page continued to grow, many of its members calling for a cheap plate of hash browns and bacon... like now.
Well, some wishes do come true.
The Mercury Cafe and Grill opened its doors in April. The place seemed to spring up overnight on the corner of 13th and Robinson streets in a spot that has housed numerous other restaurants.
The Mercury is a diner, no doubt about that. From the bright red vinyl booths to the formica and chrome tables, stepping into The Mercury is like stepping back 50 or 60 years in time. The Mercury is also under the same ownership as Regina's well-loved Novia Cafe, another all-out diner. This is a good thing -- who better to start a new diner than the folks who run one of the city's oldest and best?
I've been to The Mercury twice now, once for breakfast and once for supper. It's hard to find the right word to describe both experiences. It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't horrible either. Perhaps satisfactory is the right word.
Weekend breakfast bustles and hustles in The Mercury. If you're not there by 11 on a Sunday, you're going to wait in line for awhile. Granted, The Mercury could easily jam a few more tables into the dining room in order to shave some time off the waiting game.
Your choices for breakfast are classic standbys: bacon and eggs; hash browns; pancakes; an omelette. You get the picture. Now, is it cheap? That depends on your definition of cheap. Most items run around the $8-9 mark, plus the cost of coffee and/or juice. I've had cheaper, but I've also had more expensive.
Service can be a little disorganized, but hopefully the servers work that out amongst themselves as the restaurant irons out the operating wrinkles. We had to wait 30 minutes for any food to hit the table at breakfast, almost enough to push us to the breaking point, but not quite. Fortunately, our waitress took good care of us in the meantime.
Now let's talk about supper for a moment. Once again, there are few surprises on the evening menu. Nachos; chicken wings; chicken fingers; burgers; clubhouse sandwiches; and grilled cheese are a few of the choices.
We ordered up a plate of nachos to get things started. With a $10 price tag, we pictured a nice platter of cheesy chips and veggies. We couldn't have been more wrong. A dinner plate with a puny pile of nachos on it was what we got. Even worse: the scarce bits of cheese on the chips were overcooked and rubbery. Epic fail, my friends. Epic fail.
Next up: the burgers. Now this is where the action is at. Tender homemade beef patties are smooshed between fresh buns with all the fixins. I went for the Mushroom Swiss. Big Willie had The Mercury Burger (two patties with fried onions, mushrooms, shaved ham, Swiss and cheddar cheese). All burgers come with a side. We went for the french fries and they were done to perfection.
Big Poppa (my dad) went for the open-faced Hot Turkey Sandwich... which came with hot chicken, oddly enough. But he got past that.
All in all, The Mercury offers up decent food in a comfortable room. The motto seems to be: come as you are, eat what you will. Now if they'd only fine-tune the nachos and up the portion size for most of the breakfast menu, we might have a sure-fire winner on our hands.
These recipes are reprinted with permission from the authors.
Just Like Wheat Thins Crackers | Trim Healthy Mama, I had my doubts about this recipe. "Just Like Wheat Thins?!" Yeah, right. You need refined flour and sugar to achieve that kind of deliciousness, don't you? Apparently not. These crackers are amazing and taste like the real thing I can't seem to keep our house stocked though - they disappear quickly!
3/4 cup flax meal
3/4 cup almond flour
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp. parmeasan cheese
1/4 tsp sea salt
dash of black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
1/2 tsp baking soda
Combine ingredients well and work into a dough ball with your hands. Place ball on parchment lined cookie sheet. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of dough ball and roll out into a slab the thickness of a cracker. Take off top piece and score into small squares. Bakes at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Fooled Ya Pizza |Trim Healthy Mama, I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient!
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
3/4 cup egg whites
2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)
Lightly steam cauliflower and squeeze out all the excess water otherwise your crust won't get crispy (I skipped this step and used raw cauliflower with great results!). Put cauliflower in food processor and pulse a few times until you end up with rice sized pieces.
Add egg whites and pulse again. Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool. Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).
Peanut Squares | Trim Healthy Mama, These squares are so yummy! A combination of sweet and salty, we enjoy them as a snack and a dessert. They're gerat to give along with a meal to a new mom too.
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tsp Truvia
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
10 tsp Truvia
2/3 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup whipping cream
Mix almond flour, peanuts, melted butter, and 2 teaspoons of Truvia together in a bowl. Press into 8x8 baking dish and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
While crust is baking, beat cream cheese and second measurement of Truvia together until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and beat some more.
In a separate bowl, beat whipped cream. Fold into cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled crust.
Place in refrigerator to chill until set.
Cheeseburger Pie | Trim Healthy Mama, This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie.
2 lbs of ground beef
3 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. sea salt
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
pickles, tomatoes, red onion
2 eggs
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup heavy cream
sea salt
ground pepper
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
Brown ground beef and drain fat. Stir in onion powder, sea salt, and 6 oz. of grated cheese. Place beef mixture in casserole dish. Layer on any of your favorite burger toppings. Our family loves a combination of red onion, tomatoes, and pickles. In another bowl, beat eggs, mayo, cream, sea salt, and black pepper together. Pour on top of casserole and sprinkle on the remaining 6 oz. of cheese. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. We like it serve on a bed of chopped iceberg lettuce and drizzled with mustard and ketchup.
Chunky Cream Pops | Trim Healthy Mama, This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far.
1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
10 tsp. Truvia
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter
Make up a batch of Skinny Chocolate and put in the freezer to harden. Beat cream cheese, Truvia, and vanilla together. Cut up Skinny Chocolate into little bits and stir into cream cheese mixture along with peanut butter. Place wax paper on cookie sheet. Dump bite-sized spoonfuls of mixture onto paper. Insert a toothpick into center of cream pop and transfer to freezer. After an hour, pull pops off wax paper and transfer to a Ziploc bag for easy access. Here's a few more pictures of other Trim Healthy Mama recipes to satisfy the foodie in you:
Spicy Chicken Wings, pg. 323
Taco Salad, pg. 347
Special Agent Brownies, pg. 383
Trim Healthy Pancakes, pg. 223
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support.
This recipe is a low-fat, absolutely decadent-tasting, cheesecake-like dessert that keeps you full, healthy, and satisfies your sweet tooth! When I first discovered it in Trim Healthy Mama, I said, "Where have you been all my life?!"
I win The Best Mom In The World award when I serve this to the kids for breakfast. They think they're getting dessert!
This recipe comes from Trim Healthy Mama and is reposted with permission fro the authors. Cottage Berry Whip Time: 5 minutes Servings: 5-6 *For THMer's, this is an E, S, or FP.
Ingredients:
2 cups (1 container) low-fat cottage cheese
2 cups mixed berries
Truvia or NuNaturals to taste (when I make this for the kids, I use honey as the sweetener)
Directions: Put all ingredients into blender. Pulse until thoroughly blended. Serve and enjoy!
Hi ya peeps! Here I go again with another week of my Flea Market Finds. This week I found this interesting concrete garden bench featuring a rams head for $40. I thought it might make an interesting base piece for my peacock for use in different vignettes. Ummmm haven't quite gotten around to the vignette thing yet... but I'm working on it!
I also found this darling pair of 1920's petite wedding cake chandeliers for $90. They were sitting in the case at an antique store in pieces with an asking price of $125. Because the crystals had been mostly removed I couldn't tell how many (if any) crystals were missing? I made the offer and took the chance figuring they wouldn't be hard to replace. Turns out there were only 6 absent... so YAY me!! *winks* Wouldn't they look sweet in a bathroom or maybe over a kitchen island? I also found the faux topiary in the white pot for $5. I need to replace the pot with another more rustic one, but it'll do for now.
Close up
And the other
I also found this cute velvet jacket for $25. A little pricey for me but I loved all its ruffled details
Even the back has the ruffled detail. Isn't it cute?
And finally this large antique harvest basket for $15. I'm not quite sure what to do with it? But I loved its patina.
So here are all my finds for the week. Not as many as usual but I really like them all.
Thanks so much for dropping by! Please leave me a comment. I'd really love to hear from you! I'm joining these wonderful parties! Linda at A La Carte for"
Courtney at French Country Cottage for:
Cindy at My Romantic Home for:
And my sweet friend Laurie from Bargain Hunting And Chatting With Laurie for:
I've had some wonderful surprises this last week and I'd love to share them! Starting with the sisterhood award from my dear friend and cyber sister Ann from LIFEATANNSPLACE / A sweeter kinder more loving person I've yet to meet! So if you haven't visited her blog... You really should! Thank you so much Ann! This means the world coming from you!
Here are the rules for this award: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! 3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award. So my choices for this award go to: 1. Chari at Happy To Design 2.Mary Ellen at megardengal 3.Laura Lu at Hidden Promise 4. Gloria at Happy To Be 5.Linda at royaltouch 6.Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict 7. Michelle at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea 8. Kathysue who doesn't have a blog yet (but should! Lol !) and is another wonderful cyber sister! 9. Chrissy at The Apothacary Shop 10. Marty at A Stroll Thru Life And then... I came home 3 days ago and found a large parcel on my front porch. It was a very special package from my dear friend Mary Ellen at megardengal. Ya see I was visiting her blog as I often do, when I spied her new and fabulous header picture! HERE Well my heart skipped a beat while looking at her wonderful vignette featuring the neatest old wire cloche! And she shared with us that she had another if anyone would be interested? As well as a couple of crowns. Well I jumped on that cloche faster than you could say "SOLD!" But alas I was not quite fast enough to claim any of the wonderful crowns *sighs* So I did what any blogger in her WRONG mind would do... I cried "WAAAAHHHHH... I moped... I begged Mary Ellen to find me another one... We're talkin ' crowns here after all! And anyone who's read my blog for any length of time KNOWZES I LOVEZES THEMS!!! Must HAVEZ THEMS!!!... NEEDZES THEMS NOW!! Well Mary Ellen, God bless her heart, found a couple more and sent them to me along with the fabu wire cloche! So I'd already started to open the box when I realized... Hey!... This is the stuff that blogs are made of!! So I quickly grabbed my trusty camera and snapped away *winks* This was what greeted my eyes... And what could it be?? I mean, I know I asked for two crowns and a cloche... But this doesn't look like either of those... you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge em!
And look at how charmingly it's wrapped! In old music pages and gold angel thread!
It's the most darling little picture holder made from a piece of vintage silverplate ! And not just ANY silverplate, but a fork belonging to one of Marys dear friends Millicent. Mary made it herself! Mary I love it sooo much! Thank you!
Look at how perfectly it works for this small painting!
Digging back in the box I spied this... Now I know what this is!
It's my new (old) wire cloche!! So now I can create a vignette just like Marys! Yippee!! Hooray!! Ummmm how did she do that again? OK lets see... I need a little birds nest (with bird and eggs)... some old ribbon and lace... A charming 19th century drawing of some sort... Moss... A silver tray... Pedestal cake stand... Yikes! It never dawned on me when I saw her fabulous vignette that I didn't really HAVE any of that stuff!
Well I'll just put that on the back burner for now and move on to the crowns! Yeppers ! That's what I'll do! And maybe I'll find some inspiration... somewhere... Here is crown #1. I did happen to find a birds nest and even a 19th century french Jesus... But since I used em for the crown I still didn't have anything for the cloche...
Here's crown #2. Very regal dont'cha think? Reminds me of those old Imperial Margarine commercials lol ! Remember them? Da da da da !! And a crown pops on their head after taking a bite of YUMMY margarine!Lol!
So's I had to scramble for somethin '... anything! To place under the cloche. I finally gathered a few of my vantines incense burners, another moss ball and a little column stand from the Goodwill and VOILA!... OK it doesn't look remotely as cool as Marys *winks* But after all she's a vignette queen and this stuff just doesn't come easily for me! I'll just have to keep finding inspiration from y'all! After all imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Right?... Ummmm OK?... Come on naw ????!... Well I'm gonna COPY Y'ALL AND THAT'S THAT! Lol !!*winks*
So here's my composition all together! The cherub is a recent ebay find. I just love him!
Isn't he just the cutest little gipper ?!! Love those chubby little legs!*winks*
And not that you probably want to see another shot of my mess... But for those crazy friends of mine who do... Here's my vignette at a distance hehe !
I also received my very first blog prize!! Some sweet gift tags from even sweeter Crystal over at Olive Rue! If you haven't visited her blog, you MUST!! She's a photographer and takes the most beautiful dreamy romantic shots! Just enchanting! She also sells a variety of these tags if you are interested. Here are a few she selected for me. Aren't they cute?!! Well of course they are!! They have cherubs on em!! *winks*
Thank you so much Crystal! And thanks y'all for stopping by my attempt at vignetting! Lol !! (Yes I know it's not a word! But when has that ever stopped me?!!) *winks* And last but definitely not least, Mary gave me this small jar filled with her homemade candied lemon peel as a little treat. Yummy-O-Ramma !! I had the hardest time NOT eating all the candied peel before I took the shot! Needless to say, there had been twice as much when I received the little bugger... And now that my shoot is finished, it's GONE BABY GONE!! You can get Marys recipe HERE if you're interested in making some yourself... And please send some more to me!! *winks* Vanna
This week alone, I've received two requests for this delicious recipe, given to me by my former Young People's leader. Here are six great reasons why every one falls in love with it: 1. It's quick to prepare. Aside from baking time, this cake can be whipped together in 5 minutes flat, though everyone will think you're a highly experienced baker and spent a good part of your day making it. :) 2. It's stays moist and tender for a loooooong time. The orange juice and vanilla pudding help make this one of those melt-in-your-mouth cakes. Even at room temperature, it stays good and moist for a least a week. 3. It can be frozen. And, it even slices well when frozen. Within minutes from taking it out of the freezer, it's ready for consumption without the risk of getting an "ice cream headache." 4. It uses only 7 on-hand ingredients. No special trips into town. This cake can be made any time from your pantry staples. 5. It's economical. This cake costs $4.44 to make ($0.22 per serving)-that's when the ingredients aren't on sale. If you have your own cow, chickens, and orange tree, it's even cheaper. ;) 6. Everyone loves it! This is an excellent cake to give away, serve with a cup of coffee, or as a dessert. I've never met someone who didn't like it. Most people rave about it and the recipe gets requested often.
Batter: - 1 box of yellow or golden cake mix - 1 box of instant vanilla pudding (4 serving size) - 4 eggs - 3/4 cup of orange juice - 3/4 cup of melted butter Cinnamon Sugar mixture: -1/2 cup brown sugar -1 tsp cinnamon
In a large bowl, combine the batter ingredients with a mixer until smooth. In a smaller bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together.
Alternate layer in a greased bundt pan beginning and ending with a little of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Layer 1: Cinnamon sugar. Layer 2: Batter. Layer 3: Cinnamon sugar. Layer 4: Batter. Layer 5: Cinnamon mixture. I like to swirl in the cinnamon mixture by dragging a toothpick through the layers. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Cool.
Sometimes I add a glaze by mixing lemon juice and icing sugar together and drizzling it over the cake. I think it makes the cake look prettier and the lemon complements the orange juice really well too.
To me, there's something comforting about tucking into a restaurant below street level.
Those few stairs that lead down to the dining room make the noise of traffic outside seem even further away behind the glass windows. It's like discovering a secret getaway in the middle of the city.
Big Willie and I popped into J & A Restaurant across from The Bay on 11th Avenue last weekend. The place was fairly full for a Saturday so I figured we were in for a good time.
Friends told us that J & A, which specializes in Chinese cooking, does a mean dim sum. Being dim sum fans, we just had to check it out.
We settled into a table fairly quickly -- our waitress just had to wipe it clean before we could sit down. She wiped it, though I wouldn't say it was clean. But we got past that. We were hungry, after all.
We waited a few minutes for tea and then a few more minutes to order. With only two waitresses working the floor, the service wasn't exactly speedy.
Unlike most dim sum restaurants, J & A does not bring carts of hot food by your table. Instead, you are provided with a slip of paper on which to tick off your choices from the menu.
We went with a range of standbys, like dumplings and spring rolls, along with a few more unique items (like cassava cake).
As we waited for the food we started to take note of J & A's decor, which includes a strange mixture of fake flowers, pink chairs, and Walt Disney characters on the walls.
First to hit the table were the Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. These weren't exactly proper Chinese food, but they sounded good. And they tasted good. At first.
I was on my third wing when our whole experience started to go downhill. I bit into the wing and noticed that underneath the crispy skin was a whole lot of blood. How a chicken wing can be deep fried and crispy on the outside, but bloody on the inside, I'm still not sure. I stopped eating the wings and waited for the next item to arrive.
The Vietnamese Spring Rolls were up. Three puny spring rolls came on a small white plate. That's it. No sauce, and an odd number of rolls (there were two of us, as I said).
The rolls tasted about as good as they looked. In fact, they really reminded me of frozen appetizers from Costco. I'm just saying....
We asked the waitress if she had any type of sauce for the rolls. She brought us some plum sauce. In a package.
Next we got the Cassava Cake. This dense, yellow cake was hearty and very filling. Cassava, a root vegetable common in the tropics, is mixed into a sweet cake and then cut into squares. It tasted OK but I'm no cassava expert so I'll refrain from judgement here. Big Willie grew up eating the stuff and he thought J & A's version was on the sweet side.
Next up, another item and another disappointment: the Shrimp and Vegetable Dumplings.
Unlike any other dim sum restaurant I've ever visited, J & A serves dumplings in metal steam baskets instead of traditional bamboo steamers. That's a bit of a shame because the metal seems to dry the dumplings out while bamboo seems to retain more moisture. Plus the bamboo adds a touch of authenticity.
These dumplings were overcooked and the pastry pockets weren't even staying closed. And they had almost no flavour. Good Lord, it was time to take action.
We still had at least three more items to come, but me and Big Willie had more than enough by this point. We called the waitress over, pointed out the bloody chicken and asked her not to send any more items. Oh, and Big Willie mentioned that his teacup was dirty when it came to the table.
You might be thinking that we should have pointed out the chicken incident sooner. And we probably should have. But I like to be an easygoing diner and I was willing to let it slide at first, until everything else turned out to be a disappointment too.
We asked the waitress for our bill and she brought it quickly. Thankfully, she took the chicken and the items that never made it to our table off the bill.
We settled up, threw on our jackets and made a beeline for a real dim sum restaurant: The Four Seas on Rose Street.
To read my review of Four Seas, follow this link: http://www.reginafooddude.com/2009/10/four-seas-restaurant.html
As for J & A, your quaint basement location in a convenient spot downtown almost had me at hello. Unfortunately, you blew it. Big time. We won't be back. And please lose the Mickey Mouse decorations.
This is the easiest, yummiest, no-fail fudge recipe you will ever find! Use this base to create all sorts of mouth-watering flavors by replacing the vanilla extract with maple, peppermint, orange, or cherry. Or use white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips in place of semi-sweet. Ingredients:
3 cups high-quality, semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions: In a saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and milk on low. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a foil-lined pan and allow to cool and harden slightly before slicing.
For a loaf of fudge, use a 9-inch loaf pan. If you prefer fudge squares, pour into an 8-inch square pan or double the recipe and use a 9"x13" pan. Enjoy!
This fudge makes a great Christmas gift for all the chocolate-lovers on your list, from hostesses to your husband, and everyone in between! Wrap it up in parchment paper, tie with pretty string, and you've got a quick, pretty, practical, inexpensive, delicious gift to bless a friend with.
Wholesome Mixes and Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar$3.95 $2.00 ea. 'til January 17. Speaking of quick, pretty, practical, inexpensive, delicious gifts, now would be a great time to grab yourself a copy of Kristy Howard's eBooks Wholesome Mixes and Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar! I've been using Kristy's recipes for years and have several of them memorized. You can whip up these mixes in no time at all, package them in a cute jar, add a ribbon and you're a golden gift-giver. The recipes in Wholesome Mixes and Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar include:
Wholesome Mixes
Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
Cinnamon-Banana Muffin Mix
Spiced Pumpkin Mix
Fudge Brownie Mix
Snicker Doodle Cookie Mix
Easy Fruit Cobbler Crust Mix
Southern Biscuit Mix
Homemade Pizza Dough Mix
Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar
Chicken Noodle Soup
Calico Chili
Homemade Breakfast Cereal
Winter Morning Mocha
Candy Cane Cocoa Mix
Apple Pie in a Jar
Homemade Peanut Brittle (without Corn Syrup)
Can’t-Believe-it’s-Healthy-Fudge
Popcorn Balls (without Corn Syrup)
Spiced Pecans
Candied Peanuts
The only difference between her recipes and my fudge recipe, is that her's are actually quick, pretty, practical, inexpensive, delicious AND healthy. That's quite a feat, if you ask me. I'm working on the latter. ;-)
From now until January 17, you can get all of Kristy's eBooks for $2.00 a piece.
This post contains affiliate links for products we love! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed,, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family Time Warp Wife
Yesterday the hubby took me out to breakfast after church and as we were leaving the restaurant, I spied in one area of the parking lot, a store by the name of "Cake" Well as a girl who wants to have her cake and to eat it too, I just HAD to check it out! So in I went dragging resistant hubby behind me *winks* I sure wish I'd brought my camera with me because this store was dreamy! Anyhoo as I was busy perusing about in the corner of my eye I spotted a golden crown. Now I have been searching for a crown for quite some time. Even my friends were jumping in on the act trying to find one for me (probably to get me to hush up about wanting one every ten minutes!) And this one was just the ticket!! And I didn't even have to sell an arm and a leg to afford it! Just had to twist hubbys arm really HARD! But I'm pretty good at that, heh heh heh ! Oh yippee Ki yay it's MINE!! Here is my new crown displayed with one of my little spelter boys for Christmas. I stuck a moss ball in it and Wa -La!!
And here is a close up on my little spelter boy. Isn't he a cutie?
As we were driving back into our little town, I spied a sign for an estate sale. Those of you who already know me KNOW I can NOT pass by an estate sale without stopping! (also applies to all garage sales... tag sales... sales of pretty much any kind *winks* You get the picture) Who knows? I might miss a the treasure of a lifetime!! So once again hubby in tow leaving black shoe marks of resistance behind him, I dragged him from room to room of the estate sale. With less than one hour left, I spotted these vintage flower prints from 1943 at $15 each... Well because it was the last day of the sale everything was half price! So the two fab ole prints cost me $15! They're big ones too! I'm pondering where to put them... Perhaps in my shabby chic bedroom here? http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com/snc/ViewItem.aspx?pguid=6db6be3f-1720-4ba3-a081-999042c09b6b&itemguid =d47da 89b-0cbc -44bd -b660-ee 8a50b75154
As I wandered into the garage of the estate sale house I spotted this birdcage and stand. The birdcage was marked $15 and the stand was $38... Well that's wayyyy to rich for my blood! But the man handling the items for the estate sale told me I could have them both for $15! Well that's more like it!! But me being the cheapo... ahem... I mean "thrifty gal that I am I asked him if he would consider $12? He said sure! So now I have me a white stand and red birdcage! I'm going to use the stand as a display for a vintage chandy *winks* NO idea what to do with the cage but it sure is a cutie! Does anyone need one? (Ann my friend?) Let me know!
The birdcage is marked "crown"! It seemed to be my theme for the day! Lol ! Don't ya love the old mosque style top?
But here was my piece de resistance for the day!! I was chatting with the gals inside running the sale and spotted something sparkley warkley in a box... Unfortunately it was in the "SOLD" area. I asked if I could carefully take a look anyway (glutton for punishment that I am) The gal told me that if the lady that had placed it on hold didn't show up in 15 minutes she would let me have it if I wanted it... IF I WANTED IT??!!!! Well OF COURSE I WANTED IT!!! It's an antique empire chandelier and the price was only... are you ready?... $25!! OK it needs some work... LOTS of work!! Some of the crystals are cracked and many will need to be restrung. Some of the ribbon details are broken. There are a few missing crystals... But when I'm done with it, it will be glorious!! I just know it!! Well I'm pretty sure!!... OK fairly confident... (Hubby is snorting in the background because he knows HE will have to work on it *winks*) Fingers crossed that it won't be a total mess and waste of money... and sit with the other 6 chandeliers suspended out in the garage!Lol ! Please check back with me next week when I will post it in all it's restored glory... such as it is *winks*
It has some cherub faces that aren't very fine... But whatcha expect for $25? *winks*
And lest I forget, this little chandy Christmas ornament was also a Cake find. Isn't it darling? And 25% off! Well thanks for sharing my shopping outing. If y'all post any estate sale/flea market finds will you please give me a holla ? I just love seeing others finds and treasures!
Last week we had no water. Now the bathtub is full of murky green water that won't drain. The kitchen sink is unusable and the counters are piled high with dishes harboring caked-on food.
My patience is wearing thin. It's becoming a burden to wash dishes in the bathroom sink rather than the "fun adventure" I had convinced the kids it was at first. The rotting pieces of food floating in the adjacent tub laugh at me.
I should make our son a dentist appointment. Do I find a baby-sitter for the other kids or do I take them all with? That would mean bundling them all up, buckling them in their car seats, and keeping them all entertained and quiet while trying to convince our little patient in the dentist's chair that dentists aren't scary. I better just find a baby-sitter. But who's available in the middle of the day? What if it takes longer than I expect?
I can't decide.
Ouch! Lifting our 8-month-old out of her exersaucer reminds me that I need to book another chiropractor appointment. I'm a professional at throwing my back out.
A sore back makes me feel irritable all over. I snap at the kids and beg for peace and quiet. If it wasn't for my sore back and raging hormones, I would be a kinder mother. That's what I tell myself; it couldn't possibly be my fault that I'm grumpy!
My husband phones at lunchtime and I tell him I feel like throwing a temper but am holding it in for the sake of the kids. "I want to act like I'm a two-years-old for just five minutes!"
I tuck the kids in bed for their afternoon naps and sit down to check my email. I've planned my Facebook status. People ask me to be "more real" online? I'm going to give them "real!" I'm going let them know just how awful my day has been.
But first, I check my notifications.
I'm stunned by the message in my inbox sent by a friend:
"In one day we lost a job and a church home, and probably our home in general because of our bleak financial situation we will have to plan on moving soon. I am struggling with faith right now and I could really use some prayer."
Waves of shame and sorrow hit me at the same time. Suddenly my inconveniences seem so petty.
I complain about plumbing problems; she has four small children and is losing the roof over her head.
I complain about having to visit the chiropractor and dentist; she can't afford either if she needed them. She doesn't even know how they're going to pay for their next grocery bill.
I complain about people who get upset with me online; she doesn't even have a church family to support her.
It's easy to complain about no shoes until you see someone with no feet; about over-cooked food until you see a child with nothing to eat.
If I did get what I do deserve, I wouldn't just have no plumbing, no house, no chiropractor or dentist visits, no money, no friends on Facebook, and no church family.
I would have no hope, no Savior, no salvation, no life, no nothing.
Indeed, it is precisely when I don't get what I deserve that I have the most reason to be thankful.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 35, 37-39
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I wish this Japanese restaurant earned a higher score -- I really do. Not only is Hanabi close to a number of downtown offices and hotels, its bland storefront hides a warm and inviting dining room that puts you immediately at ease. The lanterns, curtains, sushi bar, and large number of semi-private booths could almost -- just for a second -- make you believe you were in Japan.
Hanabi's menu is full of Japanese favourites: Sushi, Tempura, Bento Boxes, Teriyaki and Edamame (whole soy beans) are all there. For the more adventurous, there's Soft Shell Crab, Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), and Seaweed Salad. There are also a a few Korean dishes on the menu.
When visiting for lunch last week, my friend (let's call her Ms. Thang) and I ordered a number of our favourites. It was her birthday and we have sushi on her birthday almost every year.
We asked for Miso Soup to start, followed by Gyoza (pork dumplings), Salmon Rolls, the Cream Cheese Roll (a house specialty), and two Inari (tofu pockets).
Things started reasonably well. The Gyoza arrived in about 10 minutes. They were OK, but I am almost certain they were store-bought -- a bit of a disappointment.
After another 10 minutes or so, we got the Inari, which usually come at the end of a meal, like a dessert item. At least they tasted good.
Then came the Cream Cheese Roll. Crisp seaweed wrapped itself around salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, avocado and a "Special Sauce" (our waitress told us it was warm apple sauce). This roll was a new one for both of us, and it was delicious.
Next up, and after another noticeable delay, we got one of the Salmon Rolls. The other was mysteriously absent. We split the eight tasty morsels of soft sushi rice and tender pink salmon. And then we waited.
Finally, the next Salmon Roll landed on the table. We devoured it quickly. Lunch hour was basically over at this point. It was at about that moment that Ms. Thang, who was getting testy, had a realization. "Umm, we never got our Miso," she said, usually the first item to arrive within minutes of ordering.
"No, we sure didn't," I said, and rolled my eyes. At that point we had no further time to waste.
I asked for the bill. It came two or three minutes later, so I put my money in the billfold and waited for the waitress to come get it. She didn't.
Ms. Thang and I gathered our things and headed to the till, by this point grumbling to each other about the service.
"How was everything?" asked the sweet and smiling hostess.
We diplomatically told her that the food was great, but holy jeepers, could it have come any slower? At lunch?
Perhaps the secret to success at Hanabi is to visit their website and pre-order items off the online menu. It couldn't hurt, anyway. Or, just go in at supper hour when you have a couple of hours to kill.
Is it possible to get too much pumpkin flavor this time of the year? I wouldn't know; I haven't reached that point yet! If there's still room in your tummy for more pumpkin, this is a good variation to try. I brought it to my family's Thanksgiving dinner and it was inhaled in seconds and the recipe was requested by several. Since it's a sheet cake, it's the perfect recipe for those with large families, anyone who enjoys squirreling away food in the freezer, or those who are expecting lots of company.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the sugar, pumpkin, oil and eggs. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
For frosting, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread over cake. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: 24+ servings.
Here is a deliciously simple crock-pot recipe for homemade apple butter that makes the whole house smell something wonderful! Enjoy it warm over ice cream, or on pancakes, waffles, or a slice of crusty French bread! All-Day Apple ButterTime: 15 minutes prep; 12 hours in the crock-pot. Yield: 4 pints Ingredients:
5 1/2 pounds tart cooking apples, peeled and finely chopped
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Directions: Place apples in large slow-cooker (6 quart). Combine spices and sugar and pour over apples. Mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hr. Reduce heat to LOW and cook, covered, for 9-11 hours until dark and thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Uncover and cook on low for 1 hour longer. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1 in. head space. Cover and refrigerate or freeze. Makes 4 pints.
First, pick some apples. Try not to eat them all before you get home.
Mildly tart varieties like Ginger Golds are an excellent choice.
Peel and chop 'em up.
Sprinkle with sugar and spice, and everything nice.
Cook all day in the crock-pot until thick and brown and delicious.
Seal, tie with a pretty bow, and give one to a friend.
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Food - 4.5 out of 5 Service - 4.5 out of 5 Decor - 4.5 out of 5 Total - 13.5 out of 15
2375 Sainte-Catherine est Montreal, Quebec 514-522-5105 restolegraindesel.ca ____________________________________________________________
If you're anything like me, TripAdvisor has become a trusted travel companion before, during, and after a trip takes you out on the road.
TripAdvisor offers more information about hotels, restaurants, and activities in almost any city than you could probably ever read. And more often than not, the information is reliable and straight-up honest.
Until recently, it had been more than seven years since the last time I visited Montreal. I was at a total loss as to where to eat, especially in a city with as many options as Montreal. So, I took the web's advice.
Do a search for restaurants in Montreal on TripAdvisor, and the number 1 result is a little bistro by the name of Le Grain de Sel (at least at the time of writing in September 2010).
Thank you yet again, TripAdvisor, for an amazing night out.
While no one visits Montreal without strolling down Sainte-Catherine Street at least once, Le Grain de Sel is on a stretch of the street that sees little traffic (about five blocks east of the Papineau subway stop).
The main dining room out front is cozy. White linens dress each table with darker colours on the bar and walls.
Staff were immediately welcoming and friendly, offering us a choice of available tables. The menu is completely in French, but our waiter took the time to explain almost every item, mostly without even being prompted.
I think Le Grain de Sel's total lack of pretension is one of its best qualities. The head chef even came out to our table to ask how the food was at one point in the meal. And he looked like he genuinely wanted to make sure we were having a good time.
We ordered the Escargots en Croute and a pair of fresh Quebec Scallops for appetizers. Both dishes were delicious. The escargots came served in a piping hot bowl covered by a thin crust of glazed phyllo dough. Beneath the doughy dome were our escargots, buttery and mixed with wild mushrooms. Mwa!
The scallops were seasoned perfectly with oil, salt, and pepper, and served with a side of corn and red pepper. Not your usual sides, but they were a perfect match for the scallops.
As for main courses, we ventured for the halibut and a duo of haddock and pork belly. The fish was truly delicious and makes me wish that I lived nearer to the ocean.
The pork, on the other hand, was extraordinarily fatty. So much so that once the fat was cut away, just a few morsels of meat were left. When our lovely waitress asked how I liked my meal, I had to confess that I wasn't nuts about the pork. But she made a good point: the fatty pork was intentionally paired with the ultra-lean haddock as a contrast. I still can't say that I enjoyed the pork, but at least the kitchen is thinking seriously about the food it serves.
For dessert, we gorged on a homemade cheesecake, and a cold raspberry and balsamic vinegar soup with fresh doughnuts on top. It was all too, too delicious.
If I had to give Le Grain de Sel a grade, it would be an F++.
Hold on now, that stands for Fresh, Friendly, and Fantastic.
OK I feel a little bit uncomfortable showing you my (not at all special) closet. Especially after the teasers for the last couple of weeks... I'm GOING WHERE NO WOMAN HAS GONE BEFORE! (Cue the Star Trek music) LOL! You see it's totally a builders grade cheap and blah space... But I longed for a little bit of "French pizazz"! (Me... imagine that *winks*) I didn't want to go in there every morning and think to myself "this is just plain ugly" *sighs* Alas I don't currently have the funds to transform my little closet into the Parisian palace I'd love it to be, but with the help of a few special blogging friends I did manage to add a few fabulous elements!
So come on in and I'll show you what I DO love about my closet... You first... I know it's going to get a little tight in here *winks* I started by adding a "closet" to my closet lol! If you read my blog you know how much I adore French armoires! So I thought "hey why not put one in the closet?" I have them in pretty much every other room in the house *winks* So voila! BIG french flavor!... Little unhappy husband with sore back, but that's another story... *winks*
Do you see the screen to the left? "Really"( you're asking yourself) " how could I miss it? I've got my nose practically squeezed into it in here!" *winks* Well it came all the way from Missouri from my dear friend Richard's store. Richard has the most wonderful blog "My Old Historic House" HERE. When you've managed to squeeze out of my closet please give him a visit. Can you say "eye candy WITH an education" BIG time! You'll leave Richards having learned something new each time you visit! *winks* Anyhoo turn slightly to the left and get a close up view of my wonderful new/old screen! Isn't it pretty AND frenchy?! I'm loving it Richard! Thank you!! I stole the LV from the bedroom so I could pretend I was going on a fabulous trip to Paris *winks* (If I sold it I actually COULD go on a fabulous trip to Paris! LOL!!) And to be honest because my poor closet can use all the "bling factor" it can get. *winks* The Dior shoes are just for looking pretty too because they absolutely kill my feet!! And after what I paid for them they need to be good for something! Haha!
Such a pretty and ornate top... Just the way I like em!
And since we're talking about Richard here, check out this vision of loveliness! I won this pillow from Richard's blog giveaway. No wonder I love that man huh? *winks* It's one of the most gorgeous pillows I've ever seen!! 1920's pale yellow silk with french lace appliques and ribbon roses surrounded by marabou! *swoons* French flavor for sure don'tcha think?
It came to me looking like this. Even Richards wrapping is beautiful!
This is another of the french elements that I love having in here. This beautiful wedding cake chandelier came all the way from France via Leeann's blog Fabulously French. She has some lovely french treasures in her store. This beauty was only $200 with shipping. I think that was quite a steal! The pheasants on top of the armoire agree, they can't take their eyes off of it... Literally! Lol! *winks* Merci Leeann!
Now turning toward the armoire I'll open up the doors (If you can take a step back?) and I'll share a few new (and not so new) things with you.
This sweet French girl bust came from my shabby bedroom. I ran out of space in the armoire there, so I glammed her up a bit and placed her in here with some of my favorite hats. Which by the way I wear frequently. I wish we'd go back to wearing hats. I think they add so much personality!... And hide bad hair days... Not that I ever have any of those... Just sayin' *winks*
This beautiful french maiden lamp contributes to the french flavor and adds some much needed light.
Going down a shelf I found this little chubby cherub clock at a local antique store.
I also found a couple of new boudoir dolls to add to my collection. The pretty lady on the left broke her neck in shipping and the seller refunded my money so she was FREE!! I put a pretty ribbon splint on her neck and she's good to go!
She loves the Viktor & Rolfe Flower Bomb perfume and so do I! *winks*
And a new Marie Antoinette doll who appears to be checking out a portrait of herself *winks*
Isn't she exquisite in her tattered blue silk?! She's my new favorite!
These lovely roses came in the package from Richard and the little cherubs in the background also came from his store... Good stuff I tell ya!
To the right of the dolls is this precious little jewel casket that I found at my new friend Peg's shop Maison De Wine And Wienies. It's my newest favorite online shop! Really good prices! I've purchased quite a few things from her now and I can tell you that she's lovely to deal with! The large cherub tray that the ladies are sitting on also came from Peg's store.
You've heard of the "bluebird of happiness? Well this is the silver glitter bird of bliss! Because things that sparkle make me blissful! Ha ha!
In the "found at the Goodwill category" (So I can Join Kathleen's party at Charm Bracelet Diva *winks*) is this Italian majolica pottery vase featuring beautiful dancing ladies on three sides for $6.99.
This vintage carpet is also a $15 Goodwill find from awhile back.
What's that you say? You're" getting claustrophobic and need to get out!"... Errr... oops!... Oh my!... I'm trying to move aside... really I am!... but it's a little crowded... Didn't mean to pinch that!... well maybe I did *winks*
The cherub twins on the shelf say "goodbye!" Thanks for stopping by my closet! Hope you didn't get any bruises? I hope you'll come back next week when Flea Market Finds returns. Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same. I LOVE to hear from you! Vanna
I'm (of course) joining Kathleen At Charm Bracelet Diva for:
I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:
I'm also joining Ann of On Sutton Place while she hosts for the next three weeks:
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