January

Some photo journalling for y'alls...

(clockwise, from top left)

- We are trying to get more fresh fruit and veggies into the kids ...this selection from their afterschool snack.

- Pantone colour of the year, as represented by this little tuft of forest moss.

- Mr. Hausfrau and I made our first batch of blini for a date night recently...they were SO good!

- Spanish Banks in Vancouver - we walked here on New Years Day.

- Table decor from a Hawaiian themed dinner party we hosted.

- My mom with Oliver and Charlotte - love this shot.

- These guys got bashed up and rubbed onto a goose we roasted.  Turned out great too!




Hoping your January is filled with lovely moments too!

Snack-laces

I dug an old Girl Guide camp snack 'recipe' out of the vault this summer!  I remember stringing these up as a young Guide in the '80's...my kids had so much fun making (and eating) them!  We brought them along as a surprise for friends we met for picnics and as roadtrip treats too.

First:  Gather a few different string-able snacks.  I chose cereal, pretzels, and gummy lifesavers.

I helped the kids get started by tying one piece of cereal to the very end of the string and then creating a pointy tip on the other end by wrapping some tape as a "needle".

I didn't let them go crazy on the candy, of course (five per necklace only), and had them count out the grain snacks in fives, which turned out to be a handy math lesson for four-year-old Charlotte!

(Only after they were done did I realize that the snacklaces were counted and structured exactly like decades on a Rosary.  *Sigh*   Catholic habits...)

Summer Summary

As every summer, I'm less in the studio, more living life with the littles who are home from school.

Galiano Island, BC - Summer 2015

Here's a sampling of my summer, so far:



Listening

 - Armistice

- Charlotte Cardin

- Egyptian


Eating

 - nectarine + tomato salad

 - grilled herby shrimp

 - the 'insanity' burger


Reading

 - The Wilder Life


Watching

 - Amy

 - The Paradise

 - The Killing


Exploring

 - Galiano Island

 - The Fort Winery

 - lake canoeing



What's on your list?  What's appearing on/in your dinner table/ headphones/ nightstand this summer?

Finds. Favorites. Flowering.

Some additions to the photo journal this week:

Our container garden is in full bloom

We painted the powder room the colour that had been keeping me
up with excitement...and of course finally hung the Grant Haffner
paintings I'd been obsessed with as of late!

Big news in our world:  we are able to buy mâche salad locally now.
Reminds me of summering in Switzerland...

One of Oliver's (aged 7.5) latest paintings.

I love a good crime drama in the summer months.  Been watching 'The Bridge', a Danish/Swedish venture.  Soooooo good!

Anyone have a good fictional crime author or tv series recommendation?  Ghost stories are up my alley too.  Please share in comments if you do!

Happy Halloween!

We are suited up and ready to trick or treat!

I've found the perfect "dinner on the go" for Mr. Hausfrau while he chaperones our little werewolf and princess this year:  nicoise salad in a bun!  I can't think of anything nicer.

Tuna Nicoise Sandwich  (source)

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 cans oil-packed tuna (6 ounces each), drained
• 1/4 English cucumber
• 1/2 small red onion
• 1 8-inch round loaf country-style bread
• 3 tablespoons jarred olive tapenade
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2 large eggs, hard-cooked and sliced

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard; season with salt and pepper. Transfer 2 tablespoons dressing to another bowl; toss with tuna. To remaining dressing, add cucumber and onion; toss to combine.
2. Cut bread in half horizontally; remove most of soft interior crumb. Spread tapenade on bottom half. Top with basil leaves, then egg slices; season with salt and pepper. Top with tuna, then cucumber mixture; close sandwich.
3. Wrap sandwich tightly in plastic and place between two baking sheets. Weight with a heavy skillet. Let stand 1 hour (or refrigerate, up to overnight). To serve, cut into quarters.

Happy Halloween!

The Weekly Courgette and Other Lovelies

The first week of April has been humming along at our haus...

We are the last gluten eaters alive.  (This particular homemade pizza is laden with zucchini,
mushrooms and spinach...we do a bit more vegetarian cooking during this season...)

During spring break, we had a wonderful, educational afternoon with our children at an
important local historical site:  The Gulf of Georgia Cannery.  These colourful pipes were a
 part of the steam-sealing section of the plant.

A very special family portrait I finished recently.  I was most pleased with the beautiful cheongsam  I painted my very beautiful subject in!

Mr. Hausfrau and I love going on dates.  Recently we went to a new place near my parents'
(thanks to them for keeping our littles while we got some alone time!).
We enjoyed the sausages, beer and this marvelous exposed brick-and-pipes feature wall.

What has been new and marvelous for you this week??

The Homemade Fruitbar

After realizing we spend more than an appropriate portion of our household income on those foil-wrapped fruit 'n grain bars (we all love them), I set out to teach myself how to make them.

Turns out, it's easy!

Apricot Ambrosia Bars

If you have a food processor, you're able to make these too...no excuses!

I found a wonderful collection of tested recipes here.  Recently, I made a batch of Apricot Ambrosia bars and added a couple of teaspoons of ground flax seeds to the recipe, nothing more.  They turned out perfectly!  I cut them into serving sizes, wrapped them in cling and popped them into the fridge for one and all to help themselves.  I especially love them after a workout or to stave off the kids when they're "starving" just before dinner.

I'm off to make the Carrot Cake bars...or maybe the Key Lime bars...ugh...decisions!

Have you ever dried fruit yourself?  Made these types of bars or granola bars?  I'd love to hear!

Musings on Perfectionism

I love a decisive person.

Someone who is sure what the right wine pairing is.  Has just the right accessory in mind for the ensemble.  I don't always go with these suggestions, but I do admire the confidence behind them!

Maybe this is why Martha Stewart is still one of my go-to sources for almost anything culinary.  Recently I was having my (very organised and always perfectly assembled) friend over for a morning coffee date and needed just the right baked good for the occasion.  I knew Martha would suggest something perfect...ideal...complimentary to our 'kaffeeklatsch'!

Apple-Rosemary Tea Cakes

Another thing I love:  Martha never has an existential crisis.  Not a public one anyway!  I've never heard the woman bemoan her lack of sense of self.  She never needs a retreat to "find herself".  Her self-assured, unwavering public persona causes me to trust her...and ergo, her product.  This is a fairly recent self-discovery - as a consumer, I buy into perfect packaging.

How about you?  Who do you trust to suggest just the right wine?  The perfect dessert to end a rich meal?  The boot of the season?  I want to hear about your infallible sources!

Adding Some New to the Old

A few weeks ago I realized something:  every evening before I go to bed, I have the exact same routine. After I put on my pajamas, I head into the bathroom.  I pull my hair into a pony tail  using the hair elastic I've left in it's spot from the night before.  I then brush my teeth.  Washing my face comes after that.  I take out my earrings and place them in the dish with the other earrings, from which I will choose a new pair tomorrow.  Pony tail elastic out, place it back in the right hand corner of the bathroom counter.  I sneak down the hall to check both of our children: first our daughter, then our son.  Back to our room, under the covers, apply the lip balm I keep on my sidetable always.  Lights out.

Routines are good and comforting.  Discovering new things is good too and after realizing my nighttime habits, I determinedly set out this past week to watch, read, eat, admire and make some new things!

I read a paper I don't usually read.

I watched not one but two wonderful (I highly recommend them!) documentaries.

We ordered a take-out dinner from my chef friend and neighbor, who offers a few of us a meal-making service.

Charlotte created a new piece of art at her Thursday class for us to admire at home.

I had a brainstorm one night and got busy trying something new at the art desk:  painting on fabric!

I've already turned these originals into special somethings...more on that soon!

Aren't daily rituals and habits funny?  What are some things you catch yourself doing without noticing it?  Maybe you get dressed in a particular order?  Cook and serve a favorite meal?  Drive somewhere?  Funny!

Chili Party!

You think hipsters are eating chili?

Cuz, as of late, I've been asking myself; "what would hipsters do?" when faced with style related decisions during my day (a menu is no exception to style...I like a balance between nouveau and classic).  The new mantra usually leads me down an adventurous path.  

Well, I'm hoping they are since I couldn't do without chili feasts during the rainy season, here on the west coast of Canada!

I  usually make a classic version, one everyone loves.  (To Martha's recipe, I always add a can of each: red kidney beans, black beans, and summer corn, just to make it mine.)

And then...and then!...the leftovers.  Ugh.  I'm so not into leftovers.  Short attention span?  I dunno. 

Anyhoodle, this is what I love to do with my chili leftovers...it's my new bar snack, I think!

Introducing...'Chili-in-a-Blanket'!

Method:  Preheat oven to 425F. To make my rollups, I take one part leftover chili, one part couscous or rice, and mix them together (this just creates a denser, more substantial filling).  Then I roll out some store bought, butter puff pastry into a rectangle (approx. 8 x 5 inches, 1/4 inch thick).  Pile the rice mixture along the bottom of the long seam of pastry.  (Here you can shred some cheese overtop, if you fancy, like I did.)  Roll the whole thing together, brush the top with an egg wash, then slice the log into inch-sized slices.  Pop the pieces on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, till crispy and golden.  

Cool on a rack.  Serve with a variety of crudites, dip and an autumnal microbrew from your region (here's my pick)!

Also making chili (their own way) are my creative friends:

Kristen from Milo and Molly

Ayla from Eyelah

Paige from Little Nostalgia

Meg from 18 Preston

Mia from Mossy JoJo

Natasha from Nibbles and Noshes

Allison from The Bauble Dept.

Snoop around...you'll find something you'll love!

Taco Party!

Recently I threw a little taco party.... in tandem with a fun-loving group of trendy girls living in other places around the world!

Barbecued salmon, blueberry salsa fresca with chipotle crema taco taster!

We Pacific Northwesterners enjoy a beautiful bounty of seasonal delights this time of summer.  These ingredients are what formed my inspiration: the barbecued wild Pacific salmon, blueberry salsa fresca with chipotle crema taco taster!

This idea is loosely based on this Canadian recipe, which I make often in the summer.  Deconstructed, it became a wonderful amuse-bouche!

As a perfect pairing, we blended refreshing watermelon margaritas...I cannot describe how delightful they were together with the tiny tacos!  I will never go back to a store-bought margarita mix!

Thanks for stopping by...now get going to check out what my taco-teammates have on offer!

Little Nostalgia

Rowhouse 14

Milo and Molly

18 Preston

Always Wear Your Invisible Crown


ps:  Thanks to Paige for organizing!

Instant Date Night: Pakoras + Import Lager

Mr. Hausfrau and I enjoyed some alone time in our own kitchen last Friday night.  He mixed a pre-dinner cocktail while I cooked and we reviewed the week together.

Ever since attending a good friend's 40th at a downtown gastro-lounge a few months ago, I've been craving the pakoras we shared at the table.  Reviewing versions of recipes, I finally found one that seemed simple, yet contained all the integral pakora ingredients.

Pakoras
(source)

Preparation time: approx. 45 minutes

Serves 6-8 people

• 1 cup chickpea flour (Besan)
• 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 finely chopped green chillies (jalapeno)
• 1 tablespoon coriander, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• oil for frying
• An assortment of vegetables: Onions, cut into rings or sliced, potato cubed

Method:

1. Stir the flour, salt and chilli powder into a bowl.
2. Pour in sufficient water to make a thick batter and beat well until smooth. Leave to stand for at least 20 minutes.
3. Stir the chillies, coriander and baking powder into the batter.
4. Drop in the potatoes/onions to coat with batter.
5. Heat the oil in a deep pan, drop in the battered potatoes/onions and deep-fry until crisp and golden.
6. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen towel and keep warm.
7. Serve hot.

note: I made these with potatoes and onions as the recipe calls for on date night.  Tonight I made the recipe again, this time using chopped fresh spinach + roasted red peppers.  Both were delicious!  I think this is only the beginning of my pakora making madness!

Garlands, Growth + Goodies

The week is slowly unfolding...lots of making and discovering...

1) The communal flower patch around the corner is looking promising...a welcome discovery after a rainy west-coast winter.

2) I'm cutting my way through beautifully soft felt, making this custom garland for a customer.

3) Luckily our five year old needs very little encouragement to get to school in the morning.  But he does grow tired of the same old recess snack from time to time...I made mini cornmeal raisin muffins to switch things up...I highly recommend them!

Hope you are having a very inspiring first week of April too...

Hidden Gems

Living in a small town is funny.

Cons:  The whole world knows when you get back from vacation because your exhausted screaming kids announce your arrival getting out of the car at 10pm.

Pros:  Turns out the neighbor down the road is a talented vegan chef...and she's been kind enough to have you come look over her shoulder while she preps her family's dinner!

I was infected with Penny's love for the details - watching her chop all the aromatics and roots, sort carefully through the legumes.  I drew out of her tips on menu planning (buy seven proteins, then shop for fresh vegetables twice a week, if you're wondering), made off with some new (to me) cookbooks to borrow, and tasted the most amazing dhal, which she'd made right before my very eyes!

Don't you love it when it turns out someone you know has an amazing, unexpected talent!?

Instant Date Night: Crispy Stuffed Flatbread + Champagne

We put it in our calendar.

We sourced special ingredients.  Ones our children probably definitely wouldn't like.  That's how we knew they were special ingredients...haha...

Jamie Oliver's Egyptian Stuffed Flatbread, with a side of champagne

The two of us had a marvelous evening (after our two littles had been tucked in) chiffonading our herbs, seasoning liberally with za'atar, and considering our luck in finding the 1930's champagne cups at a German Canadian retirement home bazaar before Christmas.

(To be sure: Jamie Oliver delivers here again!  We made our flatbread with beef, and figured a slice of halloumi would be a treat of a stand-in for a vegetarian.  His trick to DIY press these into shape is pure genius.)

Some Things Cannot Wait 'till 40

You know that friend who lives within walking distance and has two kids that play well with your two kids?  The one who comes with wetwipes, fruitbars and a chilled Pinot Gris in her backpack?  Well my version of her came by yesterday (with all the aforementioned supplies and offspring) for a pre-dinner playdate.

We caught up over lime chips and fermented grapes, summarizing our respective Christmases, nearly bragging (we caught ourselves just before the full-on gloating began)  that we'd finally chilled out, rather than stressed our way through December.  (I personally achieved this alongside many others by placing one foot in front of another).

WIBF (wine-in-backpack-friend) updated me on her fantastic 40th birthday bash plans, coming up this year.  

As my WIBF and her littles were putting on shoes to leave, she mentioned how happy she was that she was not having to make dinner when she got home, thanks to a big pot of chiles relleno her mother-in-law had made her.  For my fortieth, I told her, a batch of chiles rellenos would be marvelous.  Put the order in now.

Lo and behold, I got a text message around dinner time: "check your back door".

WIBF had left me a neatly packaged "dinner for one".

This 2013, I sincerely hope you all find yourselves a WIBF within walking distance, if you don't already have one!

Winter, Stockholm Style

Turns out the theme of my December is a distinctly Swedish one.  Nothin' wrong with that!


Got It:



Meet our new dining room chair set!   We are in good company, loving this design-y seat...

Feel It:



I miss my sister extra lots when I stream this sister duo.  Beautiful and haunting. 
My no. 1 soundtrack for gift wrapping once the kids have gone to bed.  Listen here.

Make It:



 

 

Wanna make your own IKEA meatball dinner?  I tried this recipe this week...totally amazing...don't leave out the steak sauce or the vermouth!

Scandinavian Meatballs in Mushroom Sauce

FOR MEATBALLS

1 1/2 lb ground beef
1/3 cup minced onion
1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1 clove garlic, minced
4 shakes Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp fine salt
1 tsp ground black pepper

FOR MUSHROOM SAUCE

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 lb button mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium beef or chicken stock
3 Tbsp bottled steak sauce
3 shakes Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp dry vermouth
               coarse salt and ground pepper

For meatballs, combine ground beef with remaining ingredients  Scoop or shape small meatballs, about 1/2 inch (1cm) across and chill until ready to cook.

For mushroom sauce, heat 1 Tbsp of oil in a large saue pan on medium-high heat.  Sear meatballs to brown on all sides, but not cooked completely.  Remove from pan and reserve.  Reduce heat to medium and add remaining oil.  Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add mushrooms and saute until tender and any excess liquid has evaporated.  Add garlic and flour and stir to coat mushrooms, cooking for 2 minutes.  Pour in about 1/2 cup of stock, stirring constantly, until it has been absorbed by the flour.  Switch to a whisk and whisk in remaining broth.  Stir in steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce and vermouth and bring up to a simmer.  Add meatballs and cover, letting simmer until meatballs are cooked through, about 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Serves 4

From Anna & Michael Olson Cook at Home

 

The Artist's Weekend Away

Recently I was invited to spend the weekend at a friend's home and studio for a weekend retreat.   All the participants emerged more filled than when they arrived, I feel that's safe to say!

1 getting to know one another over tapas + uber-trendy vino
2 my refreshed self in the morning
3 brunch at the neighborhood cafe
4 homemade dinner included an avacado + mango + shrimp salad,  the best orzo salad I've ever had, and a lovely quinoa + herb salad.  Oh, paired with Portuguese rosee!
5 our group pausing to admire wet november leaves on the sidewalk
6 a late morning walk led us to a beautiful old cemetery facing the river

On Sunday, my talented friend led us in a mixed-media-on-canvas workshop in her studio.  I went home with the most amazing loot-bag!

 

 

If there is an opportunity to have such a weekend with friends and discover a new neighborhood, it would be a sin to turn it down.  I encourage everyone to make one happen for themselves!




 

German Farmer's Lunch

I'm out of the closet with my German food obsession.

Evidence here, here and most recently here!

So when the Hausfrau family is at a farmers market and there's an award-winning Mennonite sausage for sale, we are for sure buying some.

Ergo,  my new breakfast of champions! 

Ingredients:

sliced cured + smoked sausage of choice
sliced scallions...as many as you like
eggs

First, fry the sausages + scallions with a quick spash of olive oil until you see light brown and crispy loveliness.  Swirl in and scramble as many eggs as you are hungry for.  Easy on the salt (enough in the sausage!) but pepper to taste.




PS: extra good with 1516 lager!

I promise to ease up on the bavarian gastronomic posts...it's feeling a little rich...even to me...
 

Art. Food. Music.

Despite being wrapped up in my own crocheting, school-lunch-making, bulb-planting, and general homefront-peacekeeping, I've made some cool discoveries this week. 


Art:



a Ryo Takemasa illustration

Food:



Chef Rachel Khoo -  any girl with Austrian/ Chinese
 + Malaysian roots born in England who dreams
up noodles with french sausage for breakfast is an
uncontested superhero in my world...and hello??... 
how foxy is she in her dots + heels picnic?!

Music:



Lianne La Havas. Neo-soul-indie-folk?  Yes, please!

It's fun keeping track of new loves.  New discoveries keep us spicy...hope you are all feeling spicy too!