Simply Sour

Hello Sweets,

I want to apologize in advance because this will be a fairly short post.  I had a hard time sleeping last night because of the needles I had earlier in the day, and I am still very sore :(  On the bright side, since I couldn't sleep I found myself looking for something to watch and came across a show I watched while in late middle school and high school.  See I have a soft spot for anything horror, and naturally I enjoyed watching "Tales from the Crypt".  Even though it is really old and sort of cheesy, it allowed me to forget about the pain even if only for a moment.  However, this is the first post in my fourth of July series :)  I only made two treats for the celebration as it was a small number of family that got together, so two posts will be about edible treats and the third will be about my very first fourth of July celebration.

Now I had always envisioned the fourth as a huge deal full of family bbq's, fun in the sun, and of course a crazy display of fireworks.  The last few years (according to Nathan) have been a little quieter but at very least I would get to experience "American" fireworks in all their glory!  So naturally I wanted to make somethings for the bbq portion, from scratch of course lol sometimes I go right in to house wife mode and there is no stopping me.  I wanted to make a beverage, a side salad, and a dessert but unfortunately I didn't have time to make the side salad (sad face).  So since I'm experiencing discomfort I thought I would start with the beverage and hopefully tomorrow I'll be as good as new, well at least to the best of my ability lol.

Fresh Lemonade (adapted from Disney Family Cookbook)

Ingredients

5-6 large lemons

1C sugar (I used about 3/4)

2qt water

an extra lemon to slice for garnish

Directions:

1)  Cut the lemons in half and squeeze each of them into a large measuring cup.  *should yield 1 1/2C of juice*

 

2)  In a large pitcher or mason jar, combine the juice and the sugar.  Stir in the cold water and serve over ice.

 

I didn't use as much sugar as it called for (or what is depicted for that matter), because I didn't want it to be overly sweet but more tart.  Nathan's dad, who you may remember as the lemon lover from my lemon cookie recipe, loved it too!  I even mixed it with some iced green tea I had made earlier in the week and hello yummy town :)  I guess it all depends on your preference for lemonade, but I will tell you once you make it you will never go back to store bought or frozen again.

Well y'all I am going to go kick my feet up and relax in hopes of forgetting about the pain I'm in.  As always I love hearing feedback from each of you, so don't hesitate to drop me a line in the comment box or shoot me an email :)  Until next time........................................................

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

Now Socially Acceptable!

Hello Sweets,

Spring is finally here!!!!!!!! Yes us Canadians have to wait longer than the rest of you to enjoy the nicer weather, but it has been fabulous and warm out so I couldn't be happier :)  Well actually I can, but until Nathan and I are reunited I will have to settle for sunshine only.  I took a walk the other night (no more treadmill for this girl) and I caught myself smiling because the weather was perfect and the smell of fresh cut grass assures me it's here to stay *happy dance*.

We've actually been fortunate enough to has some amazing summer like weather, weather just like Texas, which makes me miss my love but the warmer the weather the happier I get :D  Oddly enough our weather in good old Canadia has been warmer then Texas O_o but hey I'll take it!  So since it's been so warm I decided to make some more...............Canucksicles!!!!!!!  Yes that's right I made more but in a new flavor, which means a short but sweet post for a sleepy Sunday :)  But don't worry I've got some wonderfully delicious treats for you this week, I actually had a day where I was feeling especially creative and made a few different treats (this is where the cancuksicles were revamped), and I even spiced up one of my favorite dinner meals which is also the first full meal I had ever made at the rip old age of 12!  So as you can see my love of food started young and just kept growing into the passion I have today, let's get to the sweet stuff shall we?

Canucksicles #2

Ingredients

1 1/4C strawberries, quartered

1 banana, sliced

1/2C orange juice

1/3C yogurt (orange juice)

Directions:

1)  Chop up all your fruit into small manageable pieces for your bullet or blender.

2)  Place into the blender with the orange juice, blend just slightly before adding the yogurt.

3)  Add the yogurt and blend until completely liquefied, pour into your popsicle molds and put into the freezer to set.

 

So as you can see you can make popsicles with what ever you choose, I am actually toying with a green popsicle lol yup but I can't tell you what my secret ingredients are until it's complete :)  Be inventive and creative and most importantly don't be afraid to try something new and unusual.

So I know it's a short post today but it's Sunday and I have a day full of family, friends, and laughter so I think you guys will be okay with a short one :)  I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday whether you're relaxing with your feet up, or outside getting active with your loved ones!  Until next time..........................

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

Strawberry Fields

Hello Sweets,

Spring is finally here, to anyone other than a Canadian you've probably already been experiencing warmer weather but we just got ours.  I love spring time (but not as much as summer), the smell of rain and fresh cut grass to fresh fruit and veggie stands from local farmers.  Although nothing is better than going berry picking, and here in south western Ontario we have some wonderful berry farms!  I know it's a little early in the season to be picking (actually WAY too early), but I couldn't help but start dreaming about all the wonderful treats that can be made with farm fresh produce :)

My roommate bought too many strawberries and told me to help myself to them, and you know what happens when I've been day dreaming of creative treats and a present like that is drop on me?  You guessed it, I wanted to bake with them!  I recently came across this really cook foodie website where they share all sorts of recipes and tips called Mr.Food.  So I started looking at the different strawberry recipes and came across one that I thought sounded pretty interesting.  I add a few extra ingredients of course, but they were my inspiration!

Fast Strawberry Cobbler

Ingredients

1/2C butter, melted

1C self rising flour

1/2C white sugar, divided

1/4C brown sugar, divided

3/4C milk

2C fresh strawberries, quartered

1/2C water

1Tsp cinnamon

as you can see the additional ingredients were an in progress thought :)

Directions:
1)  Preheat oven to 350F.  Pour melted butter into a 1 1/2 quart glass baking dish.

2)  In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4C sugar (half of each), and milk pouring evenly over the butter.

3)  In a separate bowl combine strawberries, remaining sugar, and water; spoon evenly over the flour/milk layer.  DO NOT STIR.

4)  Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until golden.  Serve warm or cold.
*side note*  I ended up with more liquid than I would have liked once it was done baking.  I simply drained it off and simmered in on the stove top to make a simple syrup to go with the dessert, it turned out perfectly!

I think the next time I make this I will try a different berry and possibly use brown sugar only, but who knows what else I'll have dreamed up by then right?  Either way remember to have fun, and if something has gone not according to plan think of a way to make it work for you instead of against you.

So I have now began the cookie research phase and I think I'll be trying a batch tomorrow of one of the first three cookie, after all I need the first three chosen before creating the third!  So be prepared for cookies, cookies, and more cookies!  I am both looking forward to and dreading this all at the same time, since I like things like this to be perfect it will take some time.  I know this has been a fairly short post but I started with a mild migraine and now it is full force, so it is time for this girl to relax.  Until next time............................


Stay sweet,



Jennifer xoxo

As Late As the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland

Hello Sweets,

So I know Easter was almost a month ago now :/ and I realized I never shared my dinner experience will all of y'all. It wasn't a big extravagant ordeal, it was actually just my grandparents and myself which is always a nice treat to have, some quality time together. Since there was only three of us we didn't have the typical big meal, but just a simple, small and delicious home cooked meal.
My grandmother has been making all the big family gathering dinners since I was small, and the years she didn't my mother did. But since she is getting older I decided it was high time I took over, and as I'm sure you can guess I was only happy to do so. However my grandmother had a little trouble with the fact she was given relaxation time lol, she must have come in the kitchen or asked to help thirty times! Our dinner consisted of baked chicken breasts, country mashed potatoes, and a yummy garden salad. I, of course brought a homemade dessert I had prepared the night before, and that is the recipe I will be sharing with you tonight along with how I made everything else :)

The salad is a simple green salad with ice burg lettuce , romaine lettuce, carrots, and some yummy cherry tomatoes cut in half and topped with a zesty Italian vinaigrette.  I seasoned the chicken with a tiny bit of olive oil (so they didn't stick to the baking dish), garlic, pinch of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and a bit of lemon juice.  The country mashed potatoes are made just like normal mashed but you leave the skin on, I then made and seasoned them with butter, milk, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.  Now I saved the best for last, dessert!!

Fresh Berry Crumbly

Ingredients

2C strawberries, quartered

1C blackberries

1C blueberries

1/4C honey

3/4C all-purpose flour

1/2C rolled oats

1/2C brown sugar

1/2C butter

1Tsp cinnamon

1/2Tsp nutmeg

 

isn't my tiny bottle of honey super cute :D

Directions:
1)  Preheat oven to 375F.  In a large bowl mix berries, then coat with the honey.

 

2)  Sprinkle with 4Tbs of flour and toss.  Transfer fruit into a 8"x8" baking dish, set aside.

 

not quite 8x8 but it worked :)

3)  In a large bowl mix together remaining flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until large crumbly pieces form.

4)  Sprinkle over berries and bake until golden brown, about 45-50 minutes.  Serve warm out of the oven with a side of vanilla ice cream.

 You, as always, can mix up the ingredients from the spices to the fruit. I'm an avid Gordon Ramsay fan, and one of the best pieces of advice he gives is to keep it simple, you don't need fifteen spices to create a delicious dish. As simple as this meal was, it was a huge success.  How do I know you ask? There wasn't a plate with food left on it :), and that is what any kitchen creator hopes to achieve.

I wanted to take a moment to do a disclaimer for the upcoming post over the next week or so, I'm calling it the cookie overload disclaimer. My sister is getting married in June and I am making personalized initial cookies for their reception. I will be making three different types of cookies and the fourth will be a combination cookie, the combination cookie will be a symbol of their life together (I know I'm a cheese ball lol). So I'll make a cookie that represents my sister, one for my brother-in-law (not use to that yet lol), and one for my nephew. Thankfully the flavors they like will marry (pun intended) together well for the fourth and final cookie. I'll give you all a teeny tiny little glimpse into the thoughts/flavors swirling around in my head. I'm thinking along the lines of something chocolate, something banana, and something peanut butter. Now the hard part will be finding the perfect recipes and then making the fourth cookie balanced with all the flavors :) I can't explain how excited and nervous I am at the same time.  I put a lot of pressure on myself in normal baking situations but these will be consumed by 50+ people. I guess this will be a great opportunity to see if I can hack it as an actual baker right? Until next time............


Stay sweet,



Jennifer xoxo

One Thing A Canadian Knows.......

Hello Sweets,

I've been away for far too long :( and I feel awful about it, but trying to keep my health and pain at a manageable level can be difficult. I am back on Canadian soil after spending a week with my love and his family just relaxing and taking care of myself and I am ready to get back to writing (again). Since I still have some completed recipes that I haven't written about, I'm diving into the Canuckette vault of goodies!

So what is one thing a Canadian knows for sure? Anything cold! Considering it's almost the end of April you'd expect to see April showers right? Well you could imagine the shock on my face when I saw snow falling from the sky this afternoon, ugh not a happy girl. Although I am Canadian, I absolutely hate, and I mean hate, cold weather lol I know I'm a terrible Canadian. However I do love Popsicles all year round.  No matter what the weather is doing, I still want my Popsicles. It is one of my go-to foods when I'm not feeling well.  Then it dawned on me, I could make Popsicles that would help me get some vitamins and other goodness in me even when I don't feel like eating at all. Previously I brought you "Canuckette's fruity cubes" and now I'm bringing you Canucksicles!!! There simple, easy, and most importantly they are tasty :)

Canucksicles

Ingredients

Orange juice

Yogurt (whatever flavor or type you prefer)

Blackberries

Blueberries

Strawberries

Pineapple

Directions:
1) Combine all ingredients into a blend or magic bullet.

2) Puree the mixture until it is completely liquefied. Then transfer it into a Popsicle mold and place in the freezer to set.

You can change up everything in this recipe; the juice you use, the fruits, and even the yogurt. If you're feeling extremely adventurous try throwing in some veggies, as long as you balance it with a sweeter fruit (like bananas) you most likely won't even notice, better yet, the kids won't!

 Yum!

I know this post was short but I wanted to ease myself back into the swing of writing and relight my passion and get back to the basics. The good news..... I'm on my way there :)

Stay sweet,



Jennifer xoxo

Small In Stature, Big In Flavor

Hello Sweets,

I cannot even begin to explain how good, no wait amazing it is to feel like my old self again, and that my passion for all things tasty and blogs have been reignited and are stronger than ever :)  If you knew what my happy dance looked like you'd get a little giggle and a big smile, you can thank Nathan since I stole his (I love you handsome!) *happy dance*.  Did you all have a great weekend?  Was it full of smiles, fun, and good eats?  My weekend definitely embodied all of these things, I finally sorted through the things that were stressing me out, which has been a big reason my passion is back : D  I had a "play date" with the love of my life Saturday, for those of you who don't know we live far apart (1,290 miles to be exact lol) so we FaceTime a lot and we play an online game together so we make due.  Today even though I didn't get too much sleep I got ready for church and my friend surprised me by taking me out to breakfast first, and then I "payed it forward" by cooking my grandparents dinner.  As an added bonus my cutie nephew was there visiting when I got there (love that little guy to bits), so it was very much a family and friends weekend.

I know I had said in previous posts that I would be making them dinner a few times a week, but unfortunately that hasn't panned out as much as we had hoped so we just play it by ear.  They invited me over for dinner earlier this week where I tried breaded salmon for the first time, and it was actually pretty good.  My grandmother's parents came from England so fish and chips we very normal for us growing up, however my grandmother didn't realize she was out of tartar sauce so I whipped some up quickly and the meal was saved lol (alas I didn't even think to take pics so it's not making it to the blog........yet anyways).  While I was getting everyone dessert I noticed that they had shrimp in their freezer (I LOVE seafood, like love love), immediately I knew my passion was back because the ideas came rushing through my head.  So I asked them if I could make Sunday dinner at their house. They agreed but I told them it would be a surprise what I will make, so they had to trust me.  So for the last few days I had been thinking about what they had there and what is something they didn't make for themselves, and thus today's blog was born.

Canuckette's Spicy Shrimp Linguine

Ingredients

linguine pasta

 3Tbs extra virgin olive oil

2Tbs butter

2 shallots, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1Tbs red pepper flakes (I like spicy!)

1lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

1C peppers, assorted and chopped

salt

pepper

1/3-1/2C pinto grigio (dry white wine)

1 lemon, juiced

1/4C parsley, chopped

Directions:
1)  For the pasta; bring a large pot of water to boil, add a pinch of salt and the linguine, stirring to ensure the noodles don't clump together and cover with a lid.  When the water returns to a boil (6-8 minutes) drain the pasta, you want the pasta to be undercooked slightly as it will be going in the frying pan.

 

steamy

2)  While the noodles are cooking; in a large frying pan, melt 1Tbs of butter and 1 1/2Tbs of the olive oil over medium heat.  Saute the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes until the shallots become translucent (this only takes a few minutes).

3)  Season the shrimp with a small amount of salt and pepper, adding them to the frying pan, cook until they turn pink (2 minutes).

4)  Remove the shrimp; set aside and keep warm.  Add the wine and lemon juice and bring the mixture to a boil.  Add the remaining butter and olive oil and bring to a boil, then add the peppers and allow them to soften.

 

5)  Return the shrimp back to the pan along with the fresh parsley and cooked pasta.  Stir the mixture, slightly sauteing enough for the pasta to finish cooking and serve immediately.

 

I paired it with a french baguette and a small glass of the pinto grigio

The hardest part of this meal is the chopping of all the fresh ingredients, and I think it only took 30 minutes from start to finish.  It's very simple and delicious, not to mention healthier because it's not a cream based pasta and it's full of fresh ingredients :)  If you try it give it a twist of your own to make it your own, and whether or not you make any changes I would love to hear how you guys liked it too!

Funny side note, about a third of the way typing this post up I realized I had two other recipes (with photos) sitting waiting to be written lol, actually three now that I really think about it, and they are good ones too.  Well at least I know if I have a "sicky" day that I have some to fall back on, either way I'm ahead of the game for a little while at least :)  Sometimes I do the darnedest things, and I'm not a child!!  Until next time.....................

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

A Twist On Something Old

Hello Sweets,

I'mmmmmmmmmmmm backkkkkkkkkkk!!!  I know I know, it's been forever since I wrote a post. Well okay, almost two weeks, but damn it feels longer.  I'm so sorry but I had some personal growth to do and now I feel better than ever :) and I am happy with the steps I've taken in the last couple of weeks and have re-lit the flame of my passion again and it feels great!  My baking and blog no longer feels like a chore (cue the happy dance), which really had me down, but now being rejuvenated, I am ready to hit the ground running :)

So I have found some great outlets with some supportive women to help me get through my bad days, there is even a luncheon that we have once a week which means a whole new group of people to feed my baked goods.  At first I was nervous (surprise surprise) about having a whole slew of people trying my treats, but then I just reminded myself that I'll only get better when I have a wider spectrum of people's feedback.  It might sound funny, but I feel like a new woman, with an even brighter flame for my "torch of passion" ;) and I am trying new things and recipes like nobody's business.

Now the recipe I have for you guys tonight isn't a new one, it's actually a new version of a recipe I've shared with you before.  It also isn't one that I brought to the luncheon, those babies will start coming out tomorrow, and they are yummy and delicious.  So do you remember waayyyy back when I introduced myself to kale?  Well I was in the grocery store a week or so ago when I came across it in the produce section again, and I decided that I would make it again but would change it up a little bit.  Without further ado, I present to you my new and "fresh" kale chips!

Canuckette's Twisted Kale Chips

Ingredients

1 bunch of Kale

mint, fresh

garlic powder

sea salt

cayenne pepper

black pepper

celery salt

olive oil

Directions:
1)   Preheat oven to 350F.  Wash the kale and mint, cut the leaves off of the spine, chopping the leaves into bite size pieces and place in a bowl.

2)  Add olive oil (maybe a couple of tablespoons, I don't use measurements) and all of the spices.  Toss the mixture to distribute the spices and oil evenly.

 

3)  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the kale on it in a single layer.  Place into the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crispy.

4)  Allow to cool, and enjoy your healthy yet salt satisfying treat!

Adding the mint gave the kale chips this refreshing kick to them, and the celery salt gives it a clean yet salty taste as well.  This was a spur of the moment kind of recipe.  I didn't plan a single ingredient as I originally was going to use the kale in a salad but forgot about it and needed to use it quickly before it spoiled.  I encourage all of you to try your own twists on this recipe, adding different spices and herbs to take it to a whole new level of fresh and healthy :)

Now I know this post is a little short, but I'm getting back into the swing of things and feel that if I keep writing I might start rambling on lol which isn't too much of a stretch.  However, tomorrows post will be new and exciting and I may even let myself ramble a little since I have missed you all so much :)  Until next time...............

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo