Blueberry Breakfast Bars

My husband and I are die-hard snoozers.  We are guilty of carelessly hitting the snooze button time and time again just to catch those extra nine minute intervals of doze time.  (And a nine minute snooze?  Don't even get me started on that).  It's stupid really.   But it means that we're often running out the door; beginning our days without breakfast in our bellies.  So I was quite excited to happen upon a recipe for breakfast bars.  They are not exactly the most nutritious breakfast as, though they have fruit and oats, they are no stranger to sugar.  

I suppose you could cut down on the brown sugar and substitute organic honey, but heck, they just wouldn't be the same.  They are not only delicious with a dollop of healthy yogurt, but were a welcome addition to our throw-'em-in-your-bag-and-out-the-door-you-go-breakfast of banana muffins routine.


They're, as I have come to affectionately describe them, a cross between a crumble and a fruity sandwich cookie.  



Baked in two parts:  


First, the lower layer.


Then the fruit middle and 'crumble' topping.

Easy enough to whip together before making dinner and yummy to boot.  The original recipe called for raspberries, but as I had heaps of blueberries in my freezer, I made the simple substitution.  I'm confident that any berry or reasonable fruit substitution could be made and the recipe would hold up (and by reasonable I mean the obvious no-no's like watermelon).

For the crust and crumb: 

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 1/4 cups rolled oats

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

For the fruit filling:

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 tbsp grated lemon zest

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp flour

1 pound blueberries, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp butter, melted and cooled

Make the crust and crumb: Preheat oven to 350°F.  Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of a 9x13 glass or light-colored baking pan the pan, letting the parchment extend up the sides and end a bit.  (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked).  Butter the parchment.

Put the flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a food processor.  Pulse in short bursts until combined.  Add the butter and pulse until loose crumbs form.  (As a lazy side note, if butter is melted and mixed with dry ingredients, a nice crumb can also be formed).  *Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the mixture and set aside.  Pour the rest of the mixture into the prepared pan and push crust into an even layer.  Crust should touch the sides of the pan.  Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack and let cool.  Keep oven on.

Make filling: in a bowl, whisk sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, and flour together. Add fruit, lemon juice, and butter.  Toss gently until fruit is evenly coated.

Assemble and Bake: spread filling evenly on top of the cooled crust.  Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture evenly on top of the filling.  Bake for 35-45 minutes, rotating the pan once or twice, until the top is golden brown and the filling starts to bubble around the edges.  Transfer to wire rack and let cool.  Cut into squares and serve.  

I wrapped the bars in parchment and chucked them in the freezer with our other quick breakfasts.  They're particularly yummy, and actually quite reminiscent of dessert crumble; I kind of feel like a kid sneaking a treat when I eat these for breakfast.

The Perfect Cookie

I have, in my search for the perfect cookie, tried many different recipes whose origins range from library books to foodie blogs to family recipes.  I am, as already noted, a big fan of just winging it; never following a recipe to the 'T'.  That often doesn't work out so well with cookies, but every once in a while you get lucky.


So, as I was perusing the Smitten Kitchen blog, as I am oft to do, I found a fabulous recipe for Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, and Pecan Cookies.  I figured they were definitely worth a quick whip together while I was making my Amped Up Beer Nuts (otherwise known as Sugar-and-Spice Candied Nuts).


Soft in the middle, crispy on the outside, and with a very grown-up hint of orange zest..... 

.... these cookies have most certainly earned a place in the family recipe box.  

And though I was slightly taken aback when the recipe produced three dozen morsels of goodness, I was so very thankful as my first bite of warm, chocolately-crunchy-yum assured me I had found the perfect cookie.  These cookies were so good, they made me wonder if I'd missed my true calling.

And while I consider myself a perfectly reasonable person, I am choosing to keep this recipe to myself.  If I gave it to you, you wouldn't love it nearly as much as when I surprise you with a plate full of what may very well become my signature cookie.  Yes, you could find the recipe online if you did a bit of searching, but the mystery would be gone and I can't have that, now can I?

Amped Up Beer Nuts

My husband often gives me a hard time that once I find something I love, I'm a complete addict.  Of course, I would fervently deny that I have, in any way, an addictive personality.  


Me?  


I have, however, come to realize that he's dead right.  Did you hear that my love?  You were right.  I was wrong.  


I cannot deny it any longer, when I find something fabulous, I am a woman on a mission and I cannot be stopped.  


So when I found this Texas-themed honky-tonk Sugar-and-Spice Candied Nuts recipe, I knew I was in trouble. They are, as accurately described on the Smitten Kitchen blog: dangerous.  Read it again and believe it.

DAN-GER-OUS!

I also have the 'bad' habit of never following a recipe to the 'T'.  It's probably some deep-seated aversion to following direction, or a wonderfully creative streak ;)

I'm inclined to think it's more of the latter!  So, instead of using merely pecans and almonds, I went all out and used a nut mix which also included hazelnuts, brazil nuts, and cashews.  They were sinfully easy to prep and bake and a mason jar full of 'em will make quite the holiday gift.  They're sweet, crispy, and have just the right amount of kick.  They are delicious with a beer and the game and will be terrific while mingling at the New Year's Eve party.  

Often, I'm torn between sharing a recipe I love by shouting it from a mountain-top and guarding it with my life because I want to keep the fame that automatically follows the smile that sweeps across your face.  But these nuts need to be shared.

Let's face it, it's candied nuts, you could probably figure it out!

Sugar-and-Spice Candied Nuts 

Adapted from Elizabeth Karmel of Hill Country


1/3 cup dark-brown sugar
2/3 cup white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt (I might up this by a 1/2 tsp. next time for more of a sweet/salty balance)
Generous pinch of cayenne pepper (I swapped this with 1/4 teaspoon of hot smoked paprika)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pound walnut or pecan halves or whole peeled hazelnuts
1 egg white, room temperature
1 tablespoon water
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix sugars, salt, cayenne, and cinnamon, making sure there are no lumps; set aside. Beat egg white and water until frothy but not stiff. Add walnuts, and stir to coat evenly. Sprinkle nuts with sugar mixture, and toss until evenly coated. Spread sugared nuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet fitted with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven, and separate nuts as they cool. When completely cool, pour the nuts into a bowl, breaking up any that stick together.

I dare you to put these out at your next party.  They will disappear before your eyes and you'll be the talk of the game.

As for my newest addiction, I blame my friend.  She introduced me to the Smitten Kitchen Blog and I'm hooked.  My Tuesday night was filled with not only nuts, but cookies and bars too.  Yes, I made three delightful goodies, all inspired by Smitten Kitchen.

But I couldn't possibly give away the other two recipes now... you'll have to wait for the next blog!

Grandma's Shortbread

When my husband and I were living overseas, we did our best to celebrate the holidays by surrounding ourselves with friends and hold on to as many of the traditions we grew up with.  It was, however, quite difficult to replicate Christmas without snow or readily available Christmas treats like candy canes and boxed chocolates.  There was no early eggnog gracing the shelves in November, no gingerbread houses to be decorated, no trees strapped to the roofs of cars, or a schwack of holiday parties to keep you busy.  No.  Turkey and eggnog was only to be found after an hour-long plus trek to a Costco (and back!), candy canes and gingerbread kits were sent from Canada, and holiday parties consisted of school plays and potlucks with lots of KFC.

So, one year, we decided to throw a real Canadian Christmas for all of our friends.  It took 12 hours to roast the smallest turkey I could find in my toaster oven (the largest available).  We made two bigs pans of stuffing, enough mashed potatoes and gravy to serve an army, and a big salad.  Did I mention I only had burners?  Roasted veggies was just not an option.  Rum and eggnog, a first for friend from Australia, flowed freely.  Cheese and wine graced our bellies all night.  And my friends finished their made-with-care-and-holiday-spirit dinner with my Grandmother's shortbread.


I called my mom and asked her if she would refresh my memory and share the family recipe with me again.  She responded by not dictating the recipe, or sending an email.  Rather, she sat down at her table, and wrote in her perfectly beautiful cursive the recipe that my grandmother used when making our Christmas cookies.  And then she tucked it in a box with a special surprise and shipped it all the way to Taiwan.  I opened that box weeks later, nervous that I had not received a cookie recipe for our party, and found not only my mother's note, but two of the cookie cutters my mother and I used year after year to make our family shortbread.  A bell and Rudolph.  I had been looking for traditions everywhere and there, in a small box, all the way from Canada, I stared at a treasure.

I made my grandmother's shortbread for my friends and they smiled with every, melty bite they enjoyed.

This year, as we're back home in Canada, I made them again; but with different cutters, as I begin to build my own traditions.

During this holiday season, may you keep old traditions and form new.

And may you be surrounded with loved ones and lots of shortbread.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

                                      xoxo

Hello New Friend

I realize it's been a long while since I've posted and I have no good reason for not keeping up with it.  I have most certainly been cooking away and trying new things. 

I have been making particularly yummy things with my new KitchenAid Stand Mixer.  First, before I go into the details of how much I love (literally, l-o-v-e) my new mixer, I should say that if you do not have one, get one.  Put it on your Christmas wish list, ask for it as your anniversary present, heck, go buy it for yourself.  You will not regret it.

I had my heart set on the mixer for awhile and I think I used it three times on the first day I had it.  My friend once, let's say 'questioned' rather than 'criticized', my use of the mixer on Thanksgiving day to whip my potatoes rather than just use a plain, old masher.  Well.  Why wouldn't I?  They were scrumptious garlicky-herby clouds of yum.

I truly use it for so much more than just mixing cakes and whipping soft peaks into whites.  No, I use it to whip up a quick batch of pancakes for my sleepy husband on a Sunday.  I use it to mash up those back-of-the-fridge avocados that have just been waiting to become gaucamole.  I have made countless dozens of banana muffins for the freezer, or to keep the kids occupied while the girls chat over brunch.  I've brought back a friend's long-forgotten childhood favorite: yorkshire pudding.  I don't even need to go into the cookies galore that have been made.  And did I mention I prepped a wicked meatloaf in about 5 minutes flat?

But one thing that I was pleasantly surprised to see come out of my beautiful new mixer, was a recipe that I borrowed from another blog.  I made "buckeyes" from the Smitten Kitchen blog and they were fabulous!  

http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/10/buckeyes/

The recipe, however, made about a million little balls of deliciousness; I took them to work, I gave them to family, I tucked some away in the fridge, and I still had enough to feed a small army.  They are sweet, tiny balls of homemade-peanuty-goodness but they aren't for the faint of heart when it comes to sugar.  I didn't have any cream cheese so I substituted eggnog, which, in hindsight, may not have been the best substitution since I had to more, yes MORE, sugar.  But they turned out just as yummy as hoped.


And now that it's the holiday season, I can't wait to make my Grandma's shortbread and a newfound addiction; rum cake.   Mmmmm.


So, as I said.  Go get yourself the one thing that is not only going to revolutionize your kitchen, but your life!

A Dessert to Die for....

I will admit that I have a sweet tooth.  And I like to bake.  A dangerous combination.

Now, I don't consider myself a boastful person but I do know in what area I can confidently say I got me some skillz.  I have cupcakes down pat.  Cookies on the other hand... not so much.  Cookies were always kind of my nemesis; every time I tried my hand at the most basic chocolate chip cookie recipe, I failed.  Miserably.  They were never good enough.

And then, I decided to tackle them.  Me and the cookie.  We were going to have it out.  I have, quite successfully, man-handled the chocolate chip cookie and had a heart-to-heart with the maple-glazed pecan cookie.  I have, however, severed ties with the white-chocolate cranberry macadamia nut creation that didn't much resemble a cookie at all.  Gone are the days of waiting anxiously, gazing through the glass door of the oven, hoping they wouldn't turn out to be a gooey, greasy mess.  But I digress....

Cookies were but one baking hurdle.  Then came bars.  I grew up eating one particular sweet treat that I longed for as an adult and never had the recipe.  Lo and behold, as I meandered up and down the grocery store aisles one day, I was reunited with my childhood love, in sweet, delicious, dessert bar-form of course.  The Magic Cookie Bar.  It is as elusive as it sounds and even more delicious than you could imagine.  It's sweet and salty, gooey and crunchy.  And painfully easy to make.  Now, there are some recipes I keep secret; like my grandmother's shortbread cookie recipe.  That's under family recipe lock n' key.  The Magic Cookie Bar recipe, on the other hand, cannot, in good conscience, be kept a secret.  Some things are just too good to not be shared.

Eagle Brand's most famous and popular recipe, it was invented in the 1960s, originally named the "Hello Dolly".  A simple layered bar that takes 8 minutes to whip up and is in and out of the oven in 25 minutes, the Magic Cookie Bar is easy to make and always delicious.  Check it out in my "Recipes I Love" and let me know if you love it as much I do.  I dare you ;)

Now to tackle pie!

Pizza Party

My husband and I like to enjoy a good pizza now and then... the trick is finding a 'good' pizza.  We fell in love with pizza while on a trip with friends in Venice.  Of course, there are mixed feelings amongst us North Americans when it comes to traditional pizza; pizza the way it is supposed to be.  We, too often, are presented with a pie of sub par ingredients on a doughy wheel.  There are, of course, some people who prefer the Western-style pizza, but we, on the other hand, crave the thin, hand-tossed crust graced with fresh, local ingredients.

While in Taiwan, we revived my husband's family tradition of pizza night.  These nights were enjoyable but severely limited due to our lack of a real oven and quality ingredients.

So, last week, we invited some good friends over for a more laid-back dinner party; a pizza party, to be exact.  I took my first stab at making pizza dough from scratch and was thoroughly impressed to discover that it was not only easy, but delicious too!  (see "Recipes I Love" for a wonderfully simple pizza dough recipe).

The wives whipped together two pizzas; a classic pepperoni and bacon with a fresh tomato base for the men and something a little less traditional....

A medley of portabello and crimini mushrooms blanketed a basil-infused dough bestrewn with a light fig glaze and creamy goat cheese.  We fibbed a little with the husbands and called a straight "mushroom pizza" just to get them to try it.  And they loved it.  How could they not?  It was inventive and delicious.

So I encourage you, the next time you have a hankering for a pizza pie, to treat yourself to something really terrific and make your own.  It's easier than you think!

Traditions Renewed

Wine.  Food.  Friends.  All the things you need for a great dinner party.  Sure, everyone could use a little entertainment but that’s usually what the wine is for… no?

I have long been a fan of cooking my heart out for the ones I love and revel in finding the perfect wine to compliment the menu I’ve prepared.  So it shouldn’t surprise my husband that I am as giddy as a kid on Christmas morn when the new Food & Wine issue arrives in the mail.  Those delicate little magazine pages are full of inspiration that is far from flimsy and though some recipes may not pique my interest, they are straight-forward and simple to pull out of any well-stocked pantry.  And delicious too! 

So it is with great excitement that, as I prepare to move into a new home, my mind is already a-whirl with the ideas of all the fantastic dinner parties to be had.  And it struck me that we so often underestimate the value of sharing a meal with the ones we love.  A resurrection of the tradition of gathering to chat over a cocktail, reconnecting with a warm meal, and relaxing with a glass of wine is in order.

Everyone’s lives are busy; filled with long work days, slow meetings, bad traffic, soccer practices, ballet lessons, piano class…. you name it, we’ve shoved it into our schedule.  So the little morsels of time we steal away from meals are spent in a drive-thru, arguing with the tardy pizza-delivery boy, or whipping to the grocery store for some prepped and ready food that is bound to be dull.  I, too, am guilty of being too busy to care what I’m putting in my mouth, but I am, more and more, realizing the beauty of winding down with a glass of wine, surrounded by friends.  Of course, it can’t be done every night; it would soon turn into a chore if that were your goal.  But how much more effort would it take to make a few extra servings of your favorite meal and invite your friends over?  Besides, everyone has to eat.

There are a great number of terrific resources for you to explore when planning your next dinner party.  Of course, I’m biased and think Food & Wine is a great place to find recipes and wine pairings; full menus for your next soiree.  A site that allows you to browse by menu, dietary considerations, prep method, seasons, even by main ingredient for those days when you’ve had a rutabaga lingering in your crisper or have been dying to try your hand at duck.  Check out: http://www.epicurious.com/ for these fantastic ideas.  

Epicurious App

As an aside since I believe apps are for a whole different blog post; epicurious.com has a terrific iPhone app which makes stopping by the grocery store convenient and inspiring all at the same time!

Not to mention, the other great apps that have revolutionized my life: Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver.  Now if only Gordon Ramsey would jump on the bandwagon!

But back to the real challenge....

   

If your life needs a little oomph, I challenge you to seek out a recipe, invite your friends over, and uncork a bottle of wine; new or tried and true. 

Cookies Galore

As the title of my most recent favorite library book is titled; you guessed it, it's all about cookies.

Growing up, I don't remember my mother baking a great deal of cookies.  And as I started experimenting more in my own kitchen, cookies never really came into the mix.  I always had other things I craved; cupcakes... bars... tarts...

Then, a little book tucked away on a top shelf at our local library caught my eye and I decided at that moment that I would venture to master the cookie.  Ok, so maybe not all cookies, but a couple great ones I could steal away and place in my 'family recipe' vault most definitely.

I began with a Honey Lemon cookie which is one of the simplest cookies I've come across but something I'd pay good money for in a bakeshop.  It is, essentially, two honey lemon biscuits sandwiched together with a creamy, tangy frosting.  It's like two ridiculously yummy biscuits squished a lemony cloud of goodness.  'Tis a keeper for sure.

After this initial attempt, I was feeling pretty good about my skillz, so I pulled up my bootstraps and tried my hands at the Maple Glazed Pecan cookies.  I have to admit that I've never been someone that follows recipes to the absolute measure and make flippant changes whenever I see something I'm not crazy about.  And let's face it, Pure Maple Syrup (the good kind) is pricey... so I threw my substitutin' into high gear, whipped out the Rogers Golden Syrup and chucked all caution into the wind and added butterscotch chips too.  What the hell right?  It's just a cookie for Pete's sake!

Dad sneaking dough... they never grow out of it!

What began as a 'what the hell, we'll give it a shot' night of trying two different kinds of cookies; Pecan cookies and White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Nut cookies, turned into a surprisingly delicious evening.  The White Chocolate cookies ended up being a bit of a gooey mess on the first batch... but nothing that a hefty handful of oatmeal can't fix.

They look yummy at this point... the finished product wasn't so hot.

I was disappointed with the quality of the White Chocolate cookie recipe, and there are so many other tremendous ones in the book that I'm fine with abandoning it altogether.

The Pecan cookies, on the other hand, came out as little round morsels of butterscotchy heaven that were the victim of a pecan explosion.  Coming from a person who is not a huge fan of caramel or butterscotch, these cookies made me rethink all of my predispositions to the flavor.

Heaven

If I'm being completely honest, as I bit into my first Pecan cookie, I turned to my husband and said, with intermittent moaning that would have given anybody the wrong idea: "these cookies are totally going to put me on the mommy map.  Our kids will win battles with these cookies."  Another one for the family recipe vault fo sho.

Our cute pooch loved them too ;)

Could you resist that cuteness?

And if you're dying for the recipe, I'm not adverse to sharing 'family' secrets *ahem* or library book recipes.  So message me... I'm happy to spread the sweet, sweet cookie love.

A Little Sip of Heaven

We were fortunate enough to steal away a few days recently to head to the West Coast for some much-needed downtime.  What's not to like about hitting the island for a little relaxing and catching up with old friends?  I was pleasantly surprised when my friend informed me that we'd be going on a mini wine tour.  I should be up front and admit that I've never been a intense fan of Canadian wine; I suppose I've just always been more enticed by Napa, Italy, and Australia.  I had no idea I was in for such a treat.


We first stopped by the Church & State Winery and began our day with three of their 'best' wines.  We started with a Merlot which was easy-drinking and required only good company to fully enjoy.  Then, we dug into a Meritage blend which was nice on the palate with cassis notes but left something to be desired on the nose.  In fact, I remarked that it crossed the line of being punchy and pungent and skipped right to being pew-y.  But the last, which was most certainly lacking a nice cut of steak or a rich truffle risotto, was their award-winning 2006 Quintessential.  It was a blend of, if I remember correctly, half a dozen different varietals with a fragrant cacao blackberry nose and an even jammier mouthful.  It was lovely and at ~$25 a bottle, it jumped into the "terrific" category.  My only 'complaint', if you can even call it that, was that for the winery's size and beauty of the in-house kitchen, the tasting lacked even a morsel of food to cleanse our palates.  Of course, it can be ordered, but that was nay to be offered either.  It's a shame really; they could easily have convinced us into an appetizer or two.  

http://churchandstatewines.com/

Our second stop was at a much smaller and more quaint little winery called Muse.  We were welcomed by a friendly old dog and a busy patio that was nestled against the vines themselves.  We enjoyed five wines for $5; three white and two red.  

We began with a crisp and refreshing Pinot Gris that was dangerously delicious and went down like water.  The second was a Gewurztraminer and left a little to be desired, if I'm being honest.  It lacked the heady lychee flavors which would have really propelled it into being a great wine.  The last white we enjoyed, was a Fume Blanc.  I don't often drink whites, particularly this varietal, but it was delicately smoky yet full of light citrus flavors.  I dreamed of washing down some fresh oysters whilst guzzling a glass of it.  Mmmm.  The reds were of our choice, which in effect, allowed us to try 6 different reds, rather than just two.  We blew through a Cab/Merlot blend, a Syrah, a Pinot Noir, and a Malbec to name a few.  The Malbec took us by storm, so much so that we walked out with bottle in hand, smiling at the clever label on the back:  

"The Countess lingered in her flower garden inhaling scents of jasmine, violet and lavender. Nibbling dark chocolate, her imagination wandered as she remembered her wild days; her mad existence. The memory brought deep ruby colour to her cheeks. There was one evening in Buenos Aires – the man, a roaring fire, spit-roasted beef from the sun-drenched grazing plains of Argentina, spicy grilled sausages and blackened fish – the rest was history. She’d chosen freedom. She had fame. She had fortune. And you know what? That was working for her."

http://www.musewinery.ca/index.htm

And of course, our mini-tour would not have been complete without a stop at the Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse.  They have extremely flexible tastings of one by one, a set of three, or try all eight; all for a very reasonable price.  Their organic heritage apples and diverse barreling techniques make up vastly different ciders that were all intense in flavor, well-balanced, and the perfect thing for a sunny patio and a view overlooking the orchards.  

http://www.seacider.ca/

I began with the Wild English which derives its name from the wild yeast fermentation.  A beautiful amber color, it was dry and earthy and a tart way to start things off.  The second cider I couldn't resist was their unique Rumrunner, included Winter Bananas and Winesaps.  The apples are hand-pressed using a traditional rack and cloth press, slowly fermented with Champagne yeast, then aged in rum barrels.  It was full of succulent brown sugar flavors, spicy, and made me just want to say "arrrrr, this be mighty good grog!"  And the last cider I indulged in was the Pomona; inspired by the Roman Goddess of Apples, this still cider is concentrated and silky.  Hand-crafted by freezing then slowly fermenting crabapple juice at cool temperatures, it yields a dessert-style cider with citrus notes.  It truly was reminiscent of ice wine and was a perfect way to end our day tastings.  Sea Cider grows 60 varieties of apples, has an impressive menu to compliment their ciders, and an art gallery that showcases local artists.

  
There are still many wineries in Victoria alone that we did not pass through, and many more in B.C.; my experience in this one short afternoon proved that there are still many good things yet to be discovered in Canadian wines (and ciders).  


So if you find yourself in wine territory and looking for something to do..... 

find a friend and raise a glass!

Books Worthy of Praise

I am ashamed to say that it's been awhile since I've found the time to curl up and completely lose myself in the pages of a good book.  I suppose it's in part due to the fact that I've yet to find one that really captures me, and partly because I'm busy and never seem to find the time.

I read a book while I was still teaching in Taiwan; a book that I stumbled on while waiting in an airport.  I'd never heard of it, but as soon as I read that catchy little blurb on the jacket, I was hooked.  It might not be something you'd lay your hands on given the choice of any book, but you will undoubtedly catch yourself saying "ohhhh huh, I never thought of it that way."  It is, as self-described, destined to become one of the most provocative and influential books about children of our time.  Upon devouring it, I would argue that every human, not just parents, should read it.  You should read it because we all influence children; whether it be when you're fumbling around the strange land of raising your own kids, or dwelling in the I'm-not-ready-phase and awkwardly trying to converse with your friends' little ones, or even just trying to understand 'those strange' teens that seem so different than what you remember yourself as.  We do, inevitably, have a great deal of contact with the growing gremlins that will make up the future.  And let's face it, you'll catch yourself reflecting on your own childhood and contemplating the influences in your life.  You will, not only understand those slimy little irresistibly cute turds better, you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself.

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman compiled mountains of prodigious research and keen analysis to tell us one thing: you've got it all wrong.

"Nurture Shock" will change the way you think.  It will, most importantly, make you rethink every instinct you have about children.

It is ten chapters of thought-provoking, striking topics like "why the most brutal person in a child's life is often a sibling", or "when it's too soon -- or too late -- to teach a child about race", and why kids -- "even those from the best of homes" are still aggressive, cruel, or dishonest.  I was particularly interested in the first chapter: "The Inverse Power of Praise" which examined the neurobiological effects of praising children the 'old-fashioned' way.  I was, at that time, a kindergarten teacher, so I put their science to the test.  And I was absolutely amazed at the results I achieved with a slight change in my language and attitude.  It took me so little effort, but the results were profound, and swift too!

It isn't very often that I implore my friends, family, co-workers to read what I have my hot little fingers on; to each his own is my motto when it comes to enjoying a good read.  But I broke all of my rules and can't stop talking about this book.  I read it nearly a year ago and I will read it again.  And again, I imagine.

So, I'd like to share... but, go get your own copy.  You won't regret it.

http://www.nurtureshock.com/

It's a Good Thing

That's Martha's motto, no?  I don't know even know.  It's something stupid like that. 


I remember the first time I saw Martha crafting on the television.  It was Thanksgiving and she was, of course, doing holiday-related crafts.  In fact, she was going all out and dipping a dried turkey carcass into gold paint and then proceeded to recommend using it as your Thanksgiving centerpiece.  It was atrocious, disturbing, and downright ugly.  Awful.  I think that was the last time I ever tuned in.


Then, one day, my best friend made a comment in passing that I was 'Martha Stewart-y'.  The gold turkey flashed in front of my eyes and I shuddered at the thought of ever producing something so foul.  But when my stomach settled, I decided to explore why she'd thought that.  I started looking at her magazines and her website, and I discovered she had a whole lot of good things.  What the hell was with that turkey?!?  Sure, some of her ideas are a little out there, but there are great deal of things that are just so darn handy.  And I think she influenced me to be a more crafty person myself.


Now, while away in Taiwan, I started taking a stab at things I wouldn't necessarily have done here in Canada.  Card-making was one of those things.  I guess my interest in making cards (and the inevitable paper addiction that seems to accompany card-making) kind of started while creating decorations for my kindergarten classrooms.  Not to mention, the Taiwanese have this incredible knack for making the cutest things out paper.  So I took myself to a stationary store, bought some supplies and tools, and started to experiment.  It turned out, I loved the creative process of imagining up the perfect card for that special occasion.


There are countless companies that supply card-makers with paper, stamps, punches, stickers, ribbons, adhesives, machines, tools... you name it, they have it.  And Martha Stewart herself has one hell of an impressive stock of card-making ideas, techniques, tools, templates... the list goes on and on.  I could spend countless hours and gobs of money in the Martha Stewart aisle of Michael's and be a very happy woman.  It's a bit of a sickness, I think... the joy I get from new craft supplies.  But as it turns out, making cards makes me happy and that's not so bad.

Some of the first cards I tried my hands at....

I started to realize quickly that it wasn't important if the card looked professional, but rather more valuable if they didn't look like store-bought cards.  And quite frankly, they're nifty that way.

This card was particularly easy and yet turned out to be quite lovely, I think.

It may not sing when you open it, but it's way cooler!

I particularly like this card... I don't know why.  It's just cute.

Easier than you think ;)

I'm under no delusions that my cards are superior to what you might find at Hallmark, but they certainly have more heart.  Heck, maybe someday I might have a little custom-made card shop of my own ;)  Perhaps my friend was right.... maybe I am 'Martha Stewart-y.'  I'm starting to think that's a good thing!

Always on the look out for something yummy...

Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries... they're all hard for my husband to find just the right gift. Neither of us intend it, but there's this sort of unspoken competition to see who can give the gift that surprises, pleases, and fires you up for the next occasion. He is, more often than not, the one left open-mouthed as the wrapping paper falls away to reveal that caramel-colored bottle of Scotch-y goodness he'd had his eye on, or front-row tickets to the B.B. King show he was unaware was blowing through town. He, of course, does his best to shower me with the things I covet but can't justify buying for myself; expensive wine, frivolous craft tools... you get the idea.



But this past Christmas, he truly shocked me. It wasn't a pricey present, nor something I'd pointed out in a store; instead it was a gift that I had no idea I wanted, or would appreciate, so much. As a side note, I have to admit that I generally have a small idea of what his gifts are, but as I tore into the paper, I was puzzled and couldn't help but wonder: "what on Earth could this be?"

It turned out to be a magazine and a note indicating I would receive a subscription upon our return to Canada. Sure, it doesn't sound all that fantastic. It was just a magazine right? But, it wasn't just any magazine. It was a Food & Wine Magazine; not an easy-to-find publication in Taiwan and apparently quite the undertaking for my thoughtful husband.


If you aren't familiar with this marvelous magazine and love, well, food and wine, I implore you to take thee to a Chapters and buy yourself one. Or pop online at http://www.foodandwine.com/. It is full of tips and inspiration for recipes, wine and cockatils, entertaining and home, gardening, even some travel. It has revolutionized my life and our meals.

I have always been a fan of trying new recipes; searching for the one that amazes and yet is easy to execute and affordable. I am a big fan of Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, and Gordon Ramsey... not because they're popular, attractive, or a bit cheeky. I like them because they keep food simple. And delicious. Food & Wine does just that. They offer luscious dishes that are uncomplicated and use fresh, in-season ingredients that you can often find at your local grocery store or Farmer's market. And wine recommendations to go with each of their recipes. It's eating and entertaining made easy.

It's no surprise that my husband is as excited as I am when a new one arrives in the mail. One of our favorites is the Pasta Salad with Grilled Sausages and Peppers. From kitchen to table in approximately 15 minutes, I can whip this up even after the most tiring days and grilling the sausage on the BBQ means less clean-up. Always a bonus. The well-balanced 2007 Vintners Blend Zinfandel from Ravenswood Winery with supple tannins and a long, fruit-forward finish makes for the perfect wet addition to round off the evening. Not to mention, it's a fairly sophisticated wine for it's very affordable price.

Photo Courtesy of Food & Wine.com

And as a perk for those of you that search for locally grown or raised products, there is a superb, "Natural Beef; Field to Plate" butcher in Okotoks that offers up freshly-made sausages, in a variety of flavours, every Friday. They are the perfect selection for the above noted recipe. If you want to check them out yourselves, make the short trip to Okotoks to Hirsche Fraser Meats, located on Southridge Drive. You won't be disappointed!

Now, back to my magazine... what will a try next?