Household Tips

I came accross this website a while ago and found a whole list of helpful household tips.  I thought I would share some that interest me with you all.

Kitchen Tips

1. To keep marshmallows fresh and moist, store in a freezer.
2. To revive dried out marshmallows, put them in a wire strainer and hold them over boiling water.
3. Stuff a miniature marshmallow into the botton of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream cones from dripping.

* None of these tips have been tested by me, I just thought they were good ideas and just might work.

Puppy Love

I love how a dog will always find the sun spot in the house.

I love how much he is part of our family.

I love his character, even his attidude - and let me tell you - he has ATTIDUDE!

I love how he thinks he is a big dog - and really he is - he was jsut born with short legs.

Temper Temper

You gotta love a 2 year old.

This temper tantrum is because I said no to candy at 6:20am.

On My Nightstand - The Lost Symbol

The Lost Symbol - by Dan Brown

When this book first came out it did not get the best reviews, and now after having read it I have no idea why? It is a great book - full of thrills and shockers that will keep you reading right to the end.

As always Dan Brown does an amazing job at describing the details and background as the story develops.

I loved this book and I am sure if you liked any of Dan Brown's other books, you will love this one too.

On the back cover:

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer.

The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of story telling that find famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of cores, secrets, and unseen truths ... all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning paced story with surprises at every turn. This is Dan Brown's most exciting novel yet.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

1 pork tenderloin

1 onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

8-10 mushrooms, sliced

1 red pepper

2-4 tbsp balsamic vinegar

4-6 leaves fresh basil

mozzarella cheese

5-6 slices bacon

olive oil

salt and pepper

Using a little bit of olive oil, saute the onion and garlic at low heat.  Cook until caramelized, this will take a while, so let it cook while you prepare everything else.  Once done, set aside to cool.

Roast the red pepper, if you have a gas range - roast it directly over the open fire, if not - place it on a cookie sheet and broil it in the oven, turning occasionally as it blackens.  Once it is sufficiently blackened, remove from oven and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.  Allow to sit on the counter until cooled.

Once cooled, removed the skin and seeds, then slice thinly.

Saute the mushrooms in a little bit of oil, until soft.

Slice the mozzarella cheese into "fingers", you will need enough to go the length of your pork tenderloin.

Butterfly the pork tenderloin, then using a meat mallet, pound out to an even thickness.

Down the middle of the pork tenderloin, layer, the caramelized onions, sauteed onions, roasted red peppers, basil leaves and mozzarella fingers.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, the wrap up to form a log.

Wrap the log with bacon slices and sprinkle freshly cracked black pepper on top.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 F convection for approximately 20 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 135.  If the bacon is not crispy enough, switch to broil for a few minutes.

Remove from oven, place on cutting board and tent with aluminum foil for 10-12 minutes.

Slice and enjoy!

Source: We have a full time chef at work, and this is his recipe.

Reading

 

As you might know or gathered by reading this blog, I like to read.

I can remember exactly when I started my love affair with books.

The summer before Grade 6.
I discovered the Sweet Valley Twins and High books.

Although I do tend to read much deeper books today, I still remember them fondly and so appreciate the love of books they created.

Lasts year I read 41 books. My goal this year was to read 52, but I am not sure I am going to make it.
I am not keeping a list on my blog of all the book I have read this year.  2010 Reading List - can be found via this link - also at the top right hand side of this page.

Right now I am reading #45 - Room by Emma Donaghue - this is an OMG book. (Review will come early next week since I will finish this one tonight.

I am not sure where I got the idea, but I decided to keep a list of all the book I have read - I keep it by year, I number them and date them according to the month I finish it.

I also keep a list of books I want to read - this is super handy for when someone says - oh you have to read this book - and then 2 months later you have no idea what book that was.

I reserve books at the library according to that list. Sometimes it is long, sometimes it is really long.
Right now I have about 40 books on that list - I will not read them all - some books come off that list because they no longer interest me or I get some trusted feedback and it really does not interest me anymore.

I often hear from people who know me - "how do you find the time to read that much?" (remember I have 2 small children and I work full time).

I read when I can - I don't watch much TV anymore.

When the kids are watching some TV show, and it is before bed, I will often be found holding Anderson - while he watched TV and I am reading.

Reading is my hobby, I love to do it - and I love a good book suggestion - just no sci-fi - and no fantasy!

This is one of my favourite things - coffee and a book - it is even better early in the morning, if I wake up before anyone else in the house, and can sit and read for a little while, alone!

Blog Watch - Pinch My Salt

Pinch My Salt is a blog I found a long time ago.  I fell in love with not only the food but the amazing photography too.

Here are a few photos from her site and the links to that post.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Rosemary Garlic Sweet Potato Fries

The Perfect Couple

Would you like to be the proud owner of this ring? 

I totally would, however I am not sure I would be comfortable taking my kids to the park with it on.

Michael Hill jeweler is having a contest and the winner gets this ring!!

The Best Couple contest.
There are 12 challenges you have to go through, get votes and prove to be "The Best Couple"!

Are you up for it?

As much as I would love the ring (or should I say the money we could get from selling it), I think instead Adam and I are going to focus on getting Jackie comfortable with her swimming lessons, saying please every time without us prompting, changing Anderson's diapers and keeping the 2 kids from pulling each other's hair out over a toy.

On My Nightstand - Minding Frankie

Minding Frankie - by Maeve Binchy


Maeve Binchy is my favourite author. I have read almost all her books and cannot wait for her next one.
She is an Irish author and writes great novels that really let you know and love the characters.


In her latest Minding Frankie, she did a great job bringing me into the world of a few main characters.


On the back cover:
Baby Frankie is born into an unusual family. Her mother is desperate to find someone to take care of her child and she doesn't have much time.
Noel doesn't seem to be the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well be Frankie's best hope.
As for Lisa, she is prepared to give up everything for the man she loves; surely he's going to love her back?
And Moira is having none of it. She knows what's right and has the power to change the course of Frankie's life... but Moira is hiding secrets of her own.
My rating: 4 out of 5.

On My Nightstand - The House at Riverton

The House at Riverton - by Kate Morton

This book is written by the same author who wrote The Secret Garden, so when I saw this book at Costco, I decided to give it a try.

The House at Riverton is just as good, if not better than The Secret Garden.

I loved it!


On the back cover:

Grace Bradley was just a girl when she began working as a servant at Riverton House. For years, her life was inextricably tied up with the glamorous and eccentric Hartford family's daughters. Hannah and Emmeline. Then, at a glittering society party in the summer of 1924, a young poet shot himself. The only witnesses were Hannah and Emmeline, and only they - and Grace - know the dark truth.

Many years later, when Grace is living out her last days in a nursing home, she receives a visit from a young director who is making a film about the events of that summer. The director takes Grace back to Riverton House and reawakens her memories of the last days of Edwardian aristocratic priviledge, of the vibrant twenties and of a stunning secret that Grace kept all her life.

My rating: 4 out of 5!

Cupcakes

I made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for Anderson's birthday party. Then they were both topped with the best buttercream icing in the world!

I found this recipe with my sister in Thomas Keller's ad hoc cookbook.

It is a little bit of work - but oh so worth it. Everyone really liked this icing because it was not so super sweet (it allows for a big fancy pile of it on top of a cupcake).

Here is the recipe for the icing (the cupcakes were also from the came cookbook and were great - but nothing super special).

The Best Buttercream Icing Ever

3/4 cup egg whites

2 cups white sugar

1 3/4 - 2 cups butter, at room temperature

2 tsp vanilla

Place the bowl of a stand mixer over a large pot of boiling water, put in the egg white and sugar, and whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved.

Remove the bowl and immediately place in the stand mixer and using the whisk attachment, whisk until stiff peaks form (about 10-12 minutes).

Switch to the paddle attachment at medium speed, slowly add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, making sure it is fully incorporated before adding more.

The icing will change consistency at the very end of the butter, if it does not change, add a little bit more butter.

Add vanilla, and beat until incorporated.

Blog Watch - Amy

I thought I would let you all know that my wonderful sister has decided to come back to the blogging world.

She took a one year hiatus, but she is back and determined to be a regular poster.

Amy has a great blog going on - recipes, life, etc.

I especially want to point you to this post - she made the Caramelized Onion Tarts for us the other weekend and they are AMAZING!!

Keep up the good blog Amy!

Birthday Party #2

Sunday morning we hosted birthday party #2.
This is the one that involved children & their parents.

We had 9 little kids running through our legs, screaming and playing.
It was great!

Gift opening time is always fun with that many little helpers.

Emily

Love the hair piece!

CUPCAKES!

Once again he loved the candles - did not want to eat the cupcake - just wanted to blow out the candles over and over again.

We had a great party with some great friends - thanks to everyone who came.
Ahh - now only 4 months until Jackie's.

Birthday Party #1

Due to our house not being huge, and there being a lot of people, I decided to do 2 parties for Anderson this year.

The first party was a Family Dinner on Saturday evening.

In attendance was:

Grandma & Grandpa Nadeau

Grandma Hill & Grandpa Eric

Auntie Amy & Uncle Scott

Uncle Paul & Auntie Catalina

Anna & Tony (Anna is the kid's day home provider)

and us of course.

Anna & Tony

Amy & Scott

Anderson sharing his treats.

I made Chicken Tortilla Soup, Caesar Salad and 2 kinds of cupcakes - chocolate and vanilla.

Anderson had a great time, the theme was definitely trucks!

He loved blowing out the candles - as soon as we were done - he said "AGAIN!"

So we did it again.

Then he wanted it again - that is where I drew the line.

He did not end up having any cupcake - but instead showed everyone just what being 2 is all about... throwing a tantrum because you can't get what you want.

My 2 Year Old

I wanted to post these pictures on Friday - his actual birthday, but due to blogger not letting up upload any pictures - here you go.

I do want to know though - how this....

can become this....

in the blink of an eye?

Kisses!

Happy Birthday Anderson!

Okay, I know I am going to sound like every other parent out there when I say I can't believe he is 2 already - I have no idea where the time has gone. But here is the thing for all you non or yet to be parents out there - the reason everyone says that is because it is TRUE!

If you want to speed up time, have kids.

It is amazing how slow but fast time flies.
So many days are agonizingly slow,
but time still flies!

Today my little man is 2 years old.

2 years ago I became the mother to a little boy.
2 years ago I learned how you can love 2 people the same but so differently.
2 years ago I fell in love, again.

Today I look back and see how much that love has grown and changed with you.
Today I celebrate all your milestones, big and small.
Today I look forward to many more milestones to come.
Today I cherish the small quiet moments.
Today I snuggle with you because I know when we celebrate your 2-0 - there is no way you will let me snuggle with you!

Happy Birthday Anderson!

(I have some pictures to post, but bogger is not letting me upload them - so pictures will have to wait.)

T-shirts in November?

One thing I love about living in Calgary is the weather.

I know we all like to complain about it, but recently I decided - there is nothing I can do about the weather, no amount of complaining is going to make it better, so I might as well accept it and enjoy it.

It has been so much nicer once I made that decision.

It did not matter that it was freezing at the beginning of September, and I don't care about how much rain we get. I actually enjoyed all the rain in September.

In the big picture too - is a bit of snow or a few cold days really that bad? We are not dealing with tornadoes, hurricanes, or extreme heat, so hot that you can't be outside and people are dying from dehydration.

Overall - we have it pretty good.

And this fall had been amazing! We have had wonderful warm days, the kids are loving the extra time at the parks this is allowing for, and yesterday, as I left work - this was the temperature!

24 above! Love it!

Now we get to look forward to our first big snow fall - that means snowmen, snow angles, sledding - and all kinds of fun for the kids (and parents!).

Sneak Peak

Swimming Lessons

Since we spend so much time in the summer out at the trailer, and the trailer is on a lake, we thought swimming lessons were in order.

So to make our lives easier, both kids on the same night, at the same time, in the same pool!

Anderson - in a parent and tot class (with Daddy) and Jackie in a preschool class - no parents.

Knowing how shy our little lady is, we have been talking about this for weeks. Telling her she is a big girl, she gets to swim with the big kids, no mommy or daddy - but Anderson is still little and he needs daddy.
She has been so excited!
Looking forward to it for days.
Knowing there would be other kids.
Knowing there would be a teacher.

Here are the before pictures while we wait for the class to start.


Anderson could not wait to get into the pool.

Well, things did not go as planned.
As soon as the instructor came to get his class and do a roll call, her shyness came out.
She was petrified of going with them and not having myself or Adam with her.

She spent the first 20 minutes of the class in 2 inches of water at the edge of the pool while I was on the sidelines trying to convince her to join the class.

The last 10 minutes were spend like this.


With Daddy trying to get her to make friends with Michael the instructor.
Who knows how next week will go?
Anderson - well - he did no better. You see in the parent and tot class, you go into deeper water and the parent hold the child for most of the time.
Anderson did not want to be held - he wanted to do his own thing.
He is Mr. Independent!
We were the parents with 2 crying kids during one 1/2 hour lesson. Fun!!
Can't wait for next week.

On My Nightstand

Here are a few more books I have recently read:

Rachel's Holiday - by Marian Keyes

Rachel is a mid twenties woman, living in New York and a drug addict, but she does not think she is a drug addict.

This is her humorous story about family doing an intervention, getting her into rehab and her journey of self discovery while there.

I really enjoyed this book - although the subject matter is rather heavy, Marian Keyes writes so well and with lots of humour to make this a good book.

My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

This book has been around for a while, but I had never read it.
It is a short little book but really, really good!

This is a story about a boy and his family - his father is very high in the German military during the Second World War - and gets posted as the head prison guard at Auschwitz.
The little boy (9 years old in the book) tells the story from his perspective - and we see through the eyes of a boy who does not understand what is going on around him. We see what he sees - knowing what is really happening.

I would recommend this book to anyone - it was a very powerful read.

My rating: 4 1/2 out of 5.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

This was a book club pick, not a book I really wanted to read, but I did for book club.

The story is about a group of connected people - all told from different perspectives, but it starts out with a man slapping a child at a backyard barbecue that is not his.

It is a great concept - that brings up so many current issues in society today with respect to parenting, however I did not like the book.

This book is crass. The characters are not very nice / good people. I did not like how the author depicted men or their wives.

I did not like how he presented such a touchy yet important subject.

I would not recommend this book.

My rating: 1 out of 5.

Coffee Dates

When I was pregnant with Jackie, everyone asked us if we wanted a boy or a girl.

I knew this was my first pregnancy with one to follow, and I wanted a girl - it did not matter if she came first or second, but I wanted a girl.
When Adam was asked - he told people he wanted a girl. He wanted a girl so I would drag her shopping instead of him.

Well, now that Jackie is a bit older - that is exactly what we do.
She is a great mall companion - however if the trip is going to be on the longer side - I must be prepared with the stroller and a stop at Kernels for popcorn.

Another favourite if ours is to go for "coffee" together.
She knows where Starbucks is (smart girl)!
And she knows a local coffee shop too.

So once in a while we head out together for some quality Mom and Daughter time.

Jackie gets Hot Chocolate.

But a while ago I picked up these super fun, small kid coffee mugs from Starbucks.
This past weekend we pulled them out for an At Home Coffee Date.

I made London Fogs (I have decaf Earl Grey tea bags for her).


We had a great time and look forward to many more coffee dates in the future.