Cookbooks…..I love cookbooks! Particularly those that are unique in approach and paired with beautiful photography and illustrations.  Here is my latest find….

As I have a daughter who is vegetarian, I am always looking for new and creative ways to appease her palette. Written by a very interesting woman who grew up on an apple orchard in Sonoma County, California in the 1980s, she approaches food in a very natural way.  She is a self taught cook.  Her recipes are simple and based on local and sustainable food as much as possible.  

I'd like to share with you a couple of recipes from the book that will be the first I will try!!

 

Don't these look so tasty!!!!

Breaded Leeks…..divine!!

I am so looking forward to trying these recipes……unique new ways of preparing food!

Outdoor entertaining is fun!  It is fun because it can be casual and therefore much less intimidating with endless menu options.  Some of my favourite choices include foods that can be barbecued and then served easily outside.  Recipes with simple and fresh ingredients that highlight the natural flavours of the food.  Let me share some with you!

Cedar Planked Salmon is probably my favourite.  

This is a truly delicious and fun way to prepare and serve salmon with so many variations depending on   your preference of flavours.  It is also very easy to prepare and is served beautifully on the cedar plank. My favourite toppings are capers, finely diced red onion and then fresh dill topped with thin slices of lemon.

Buttermilk Chicken Skewers……always a hit!!

These melt in you mouth chicken kebabs are absolutely heavenly in part due to the fact that they are prepared and then sit in a buttermilk marinade seasoned with worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and fresh rosemary prior to barbecuing. 

Salad Nicoise……what a treat!!

Beautifully seared tuna, sliced and served on a bed of fresh butter lettuce along with some par-boiled new potatoes, sliced hard boiled eggs, black olives, cherry tomatoes, freshly steamed green beans and then sprinkled with mustard chive vinaigrette!!  Simple, fresh and delicious.

 A Charcuterie Board….so many variations and the presentation is fun!

I have a collection of wooden boards that I use to serve various types of cheeses and cured meats.  It is fun to experiment and try new things and then add nuts, dried fruits, olives, crisps…etc.  Let your imagination guide you!

Hope you are feeling inspired for some outdoor entertaining!!

A friend of mine gave me some very poignant advice the other day.  The timing of such advice couldn't have been more perfect.  It came at a time when I was questioning so much….why am I back in Winnipeg, what is my purpose, have I done what I needed to do in order to make this house a home for my children……etc.  I am sure this sounds familiar. 

The advice was this…..Life is too short; seize the day, live in the present and make the most of every moment.  I had heard this before, but I took a few minutes to really reflect on what it meant and how I could directly relate it to how I was feeling at the moment.

Yes, life is too short.  We all know people who have been taken from us too soon.  People with whom we had wished and hoped for more time to share time with.  People we wished we could have shared more experiences together. Which obviously leads into living in the present.  Shared experiences become cherished memories.  And if we are not present while this is happening, are we really benefiting from the experience? We need to focus on what is happening right in front of us, and what we are currently engaged in at all times.  That is all we have….we can't change what has happened or control what will happen.  Which leads to making the most of every moment.  Every moment is a gift and how do we know it won't be our last. 

So….why am I back in Winnipeg? Because destiny led me here and this is my home.  I couldn't imagine having accomplished what I have here without the love and support of the people I call my family and friends who have welcomed us back.  What is my purpose? To continue to do what I have always done and do so well.  Serve others through nurture, support and understanding.  It may look a little different now than it used to, but no less significant.  And finally, have I made this house a home for my children? The fact that my children understand I have an "open door policy" as they know that everybody is welcome, that their friends are here nearly every night of the week, and that I am known as "the nicest Mom with a candy counter and a stocked drink fridge!"  This all speaks for itself.

This may not be the largest or fanciest house in the neighbourhood, but the fact is that my kids and their friends like hanging out here…..and that's a good thing.

A very wise woman once said it is not about what you did, or what you said,  it is about how you made people feel.  I like to think that everyone who has walked through my front door feels something that makes them stay, feel welcome, accepted and comfortable.  And that is why they stay for as long as they do and then come back often.

So thank you, my friend, for reminding me what is truly important in life.  

I have been working very hard on my outdoor living area.  The table and benches are assembled and fit the space beautifully.  Again, the outdoor table and benches are from my favourite store, Ikea! The market umbrella is from Superstore. I "planted" white geraniums in the garage window box…..they are actually "faux" if you can believe it.  Most people think that they are real.  

My fabulous contractor and his crew used the leftover flagstones to create this space for the BBQ to sit perfectly between the Elm tree and the garage.  It is tucked away perfectly.  My Dad has a little bit of BBQ envy!

The deck is outfitted with the coordinating wooden lounge chairs also from Ikea.  A perfect place to rest in the afternoon with a good book or for quiet nap in the sunshine.

I love the sound of water and picked up this little fountain from Canadian Tire.  The sound of the waterfall is very soothing and if I close my eyes, I feel like I am a million miles away.  Again, faux boxwood and flowers in these containers allow for low maintenance!

Think about ways to create your own outdoor living space in order to fully enjoy your home!

Happy Weekend! 

TREAT TUESDAY

My kids always arrive home from school looking for snacks….and I aim to please! Today, I was feeling nostalgic and decided to make a treat my mom and grandmother always made.  This is so simple and easy yet oh so tasty!! Homemade cinnamon rolls....with a little shortcut!

Start with frozen bread dough.  I always keep a package in the freezer….whether to make these rolls or to make a loaf of fresh bread.  Nothing makes the house smell more inviting than a loaf of bread baking in the oven.

I thaw the frozen dough in the fridge overnight and then roll it out in the morning on a well floured surface.  Spread butter, then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Roll up lengthways and slice into even sized rolls.  I can usually get 12.  While doing this, prepare your baking dish by putting in the oven to warm up with a generous serving of butter.  Once it comes out of the oven, sprinkle with some brown sugar and then arrange the rolls in the dish. 

Bake at 350 for approx 25 to 30 mins. Your kitchen will smell amazing! Before I could take this photo my youngest son had already snatched one……they are delicious!! 

Always striving to look at the silver linings, one of the benefits of starting over, from nothing, is the opportunity to create something completely your own. The only person you need to please is yourself and those you wish you surround yourself with.  While there are certainly pieces of furniture that I miss, as they were carefully selected for the space that became their home, I accept that they are only "things".  And of course, "things" cannot replace what is truly important in life.  They are simply the vehicles by which we enjoy what is truly precious….the relationships with those we love in our lives.

Therefore,  in my quest to furnish my home, I strive to find functional furniture that will serve to provide a comfortable and inviting venue for friends and family to enjoy.  And of course, this includes the patio dining furniture I was looking for as I had 2 requirements.  It had to look "good" and be flexible in terms of seating as nothing makes me happier than when my kids come home with a group of friends wanting to "hang out" and often that includes meals!   

As I have indicated, I am a big fan of benches and by using them for outdoor seating the possibilities are endless.  I purchased 4 of these and from my calculations, I believe I could potentially seat 12 around the table.

The table….I am thrilled with this square shaped table as I can fit the 4 benches around it perfectly.  Yes, I am very concerned with symmetry!  Most importantly, this arrangement will fit in the patio space beautifully.  All I have to do is pray for some lovely weather and a tall, handy, handsome lad to assist me in putting together this furniture! 

Look forward to happy patio parties!!

Now that spring has finally arrived in the prairies, I am thrilled to continue my outdoor projects around the house.  First on the list……an outdoor eating area!  The space between the house and the garage was already fitted with this flagstone patio which will provide the perfect place to set up the wooden table and benches that I picked up at Ikea.  Now I just have to put them together!!

Next is to find a little niche for the BBQ.  For my boys, nothing beats a homemade BBQ hamburger and when friends are over…..well, the grill will be well used!  This spot between the garage and the large Oak tree will be perfect.

I was able to find more of these flagstones scattered about my yard and had the boys assemble them in this area for the BBQ to sit upon.  On closer examination, I think they are going to have to arrange them in a more level fashion!

My fingers are crossed that the weather will continue to warm up and that this patio area will become a gathering place for my family and friends to enjoy some outdoor time together!

Having sourced some lovely balls of fresh white cotton yarn, I decided to undertake another project.  I am creating lovely hand knit white cotton dishcloths.  They have proved to be very hard working and the beauty of it all is once they are soiled,  they only require a little soak in bleach before washing……then as good as new!

 I am using a very simple pattern….cast on the desired amount of stitches and then just simply knit the the desired amount of rows.  Cast off and voila!!  

I was thinking what a lovely gift they would make paired with a fragrant  bottle of Caldrea dish soap!

As my niece has informed me,  they make perfect little blankets for a dollhouse 

when not in use as dishcloths!

Laundry is a chore we all face.....no matter what type of home we live in.  With 3 teenagers in the house, believe me, laundry is a daily ritual in my home and my machines certainly get a workout! I inherited the washing machine and dryer with the house and have had no complaints other than the washer had begun to smell musty and was not cleaning as well as it was.  Before I began my quest for a brand new fancy front loading machine, the practical side of me sought out some solutions.  And a solution did I find....which I will share with you!

Who knew you had to "clean" your washing machine on a regular basis.  Well.....I didn't! But wow, what a difference it makes!My whites have never been whiter and my brights have never been brighter! 

Put the machine on the heaviest or longest wash cycle and start filling the tub with hot water.  While it is filling, add 1 litre of liquid bleach.  Let the machine agitate for 1 minute, then stop the cycle and let it sit for 1 hour.  While sitting, I cleaned the outside of the machine with lysol wipes to disinfect the entire surface.  After 1 hour, let the machine finish its cycle.

Once that cycle is done, once again put the machine on the heaviest or longest wash cycle and fill the tub once again with hot water.  This time, add 1 litre of white vinegar to the water and again, let the machine agitate for 1 minute before stopping the cycle and letting it sit for an hour.  After an hour, let the cycle finish and voila, you have a clean and sanitized washing machine ready for its next dirty load!

This blog post is dedicated to my brother-in-law who is Mr. Clean himself!!  Apologies to my sister to whom he will no doubt insist she now also does on a regular basis!! 

My daughter and I have a new favourite treat…..dilled beans!  They are crunchy, flavourful and next to no calories.  While my stash of garden grown green beans has now been depleted for quite some time, I was happy to pick up a bulk package of lovely green beans at my local Costco.  After enjoying them freshly sautéed for a couple of dinners this past week I was still left with quite a bundle.  Not wanting to waste, I thought I'd make another batch of these tasty treats!

First step: Wash beans and trim the ends.  Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil.  Blanch beans…30 seconds to one minute, drain and rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process.

Prepare brine: 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 cup of water, add salt and sugar, bring to a boil.  Let cool.

To sterilized glass jars, add sprigs of dill, a clove or 2 of garlic and a red chill pepper.  Once beans are cool enough to handle, stack them vertically into the jars….as many as you can stuff in!

Pour brine into each jar covering the beans and then once cooled, they can be refrigerated.  Let them sit  in the fridge for a couple of days….and then they are ready for snacking!

Preserving is really is prairie tradition… even in the middle of a frigid winter!!

Brrrrrr…..the prairies have now been experiencing deep freeze temperatures for several weeks.  Yes, we are sturdy stock, never the less, it can be challenging to keep ones' wits about them whilst dealing with temperatures below -30 C on a regular basis.  It can become difficult to motivate yourself to actually leave the house when it means that any exposed part of your body could be frost bitten in a matter of seconds.  Those prairie winds can be wicked.  

On evenings such as this one, we like to enjoy what we call a "cozy in night".  I will light a fire in the living room fireplace and it is there that we will gather for the evening.  We will have "dinner theatre", talk about the day, the kids will do their homework, read and just enjoy being with one another. Nothing like a fire to bring people together.  

Warm comfort food….the other important and special part of a "cozy in" night.  Being a product of my grandmother, I cannot allow any food to go to waste.  I had some leftover cooked chicken from a meal earlier in the week and what better way to put it to use than into a chicken pot pie.  This bitter cold weather has been taking its toll on my boys who are now fighting fevers, coughs and cold.  Homemade chicken pot pies enjoyed fireside while curled up under a warm blanket.  

As a variation, I made individual pies this evening and they were a hit. I found these cute little ramekins at my local dollarama……2 for $1.25…..how can you go wrong!! And, I have now also added to my white dish collection.  

Benches are such a versatile piece of furniture.  They can be used for extra seating, for holding bags, purses or backpacks, a place to perch while putting on footwear, a place to put your feet up……the purposes are endless.  

Today while perusing through Homesense, I found this fabulous rattan bench that included an upholstered cushion to top it off.

It fits into the living room beautifully and provides that extra seating that I was looking for.  As a lover of beachy and coastal decor, anything rattan really appeals to me.  It brings a casual elegance to a space. 

I found another really terrific bench at the newly opened Target in my neighbourhood.  It sits pretty in this corner of my dining room.  The colours work perfectly with the artwork hung above and also provides extra seating when needed.  

Upon coming home from school, my daughter asked me exactly how many benches we now have in the house.  We have 5…..I suppose that is enough!!

Shades of White

Clean and fresh....white dishes organized, stacked and ready for to be used for the next meal.

Not only does it make it easy for family, kids and friends to find appropriate dishes but also helps to keep an orderly kitchen.

These white dishes are from Ikea.....I love the subtle scalloped detail on these plates as it adds an element of grace without being too feminine.  

And I found these terrific little bowls from Indigo which are the perfect size for serving condiments, nuts, candies, pickles and little snacks.

I'd love to add more white dishes of various shapes and sizes to my collection.  It is fun to explore and I am always on the look out for bowls, platters and serving plates in various shades of white!! 

Presenting my newly organized and functional front entrance.  I kept the original wood front door and just had it freshened up with a coat of paint.  It has beveled glass window allows light to shine through the space as reflected in the mirror shown in the photo below.

The mirror was custom made from materials left over during the renovation process....the ultimate form of recycling!  Beneath it sits a sturdy rod iron shoe rack from Ikea to keep footwear neatly tucked away.

I adore chandeliers and the sparkly light they reflect and since there was no overhead light fixture in this space, this little gem was the perfect solution.  Also,  an Ikea find!

This muslin covered bulletin board with a distressed white wooden frame is the perfect place to post photos, cards, invitations, reminders..etc.  

I had the doors taken off this little closet heading up the stairs and in doing so, gained further light as the window is now exposed.  It also gave me the opportunity to have hooks installed and a place for baskets on the shelf above to house hats, mitts, scarves and the like. 

These cute little drawers were already existing in the space and provide a great storage spot for out of season shoes, umbrellas, dog supplies....etc.  It is hard to believe but they are actually almost 3 feet in length...A great little hiding spot!

This bench is one of my favourite pieces of furniture.  It is solid and sturdy but looks as if it is 100 years old.  The perfect place to perch while zipping up boots or lacing up sneakers.  A very special find from Shelmerdine Nursery....who knew they had such fabulous furniture!

And of course, my absolute favourite shopping baskets in the world are from L'Occitane and I always have one around to grab as I run out the door.....perfect to take to the market or grocery store. They also make a lovely and very much appreciated gift!

Candle in the Window

There is something very soothing and romantic about candlelight.  It provides a lovely subtle light that creates a mood within a room.  Reflected against light or glass, it becomes magical.

I was introduced to these lovely pillar candles by a dear friend and I now have them scattered throughout my home.  They appear to be real vanilla scented wax pillar candles but are in fact battery operated by a remote if you can believe it!

Reflected in the glass of this window leading up to the second floor, this little vignette provides a warm glow.  With no worry of potential fire hazards of real candles, they can be left unattended and enjoyed by weary tired teenagers finding their way home!

The one area in my house that I am constantly re-thinking is my entryway.  It is such a multi-purpose area which requires storage and solutions for its' many functions.  With 3 teenagers and 2 pets, it not only needs to be hardworking and functional, but as the entrance to the house, it also is the first impression which means it should be inviting as well.

Benches, hooks, baskets are just a few of the key pieces that make an entryway functional.

Shoe storage is also essential…..

And I love the idea of having market baskets on hand when running out to the store!

With these ideas, some key pieces and my imagination, I am looking forward to seeing what I can come up with in my entryway!

Traveling and visiting new places provides the opportunity to freshen ones perspective and offer new inspiration for everything from food, art, decor and design. Even though I have left the prairie to visit the desert, I can see that many elements of desert design and decor can be enjoyed during our hot summer months.

So much of desert home design is focused on enjoying and appreciating the lovely weather and the stunning views. Whether creating "outdoor rooms" to enjoy the vistas, lush gardens or to simply breathe in the fresh air. We may not be able to grow grapefruits or oranges in our gardens, but we can grow apples, raspberries, blueberries and bountiful gardens of fresh vegetables.  

As you can see from this photo, the lounge chairs provide the perfect place to relax in front of the pool but also overlook the mountain peaks beyond.  There is also a covered area which also provides a lovely sheltered place to relax and entertain.  Large glass sliding doors offer the opportunity to fully open up the common rooms to the outside providing a wonderful flow of living space.  

As our time for outdoor living on the prairie is limited, I want to maximize it by thinking of what I can do to incorporate such ideas in my home.  I come back to my house on the prairie now refreshed and full of new perspective and ideas to continue making my house into the home of my dreams!

I have escaped the winter and snow for a much needed break in the warm sunshine. Here is the view from my bedroom for the next few days…..

After a good nights' sleep and a brisk walk I enjoy a morning swim!!  Then pick a fresh grapefruit off the tree for a morning treat...

What a treat to be able to sip freshly squeezed orange juice with oranges also picked off the trees in the backyard!

 Happy Weekend!

White dishes….my absolute favourite!  Clean and crisp, they showcase the food that is served on them without stealing the show.

My next kitchen project is organizing my white dishes on the shelves in my kitchen to provide not only a great looking display but for efficiency as well. 

I love how mugs, bowls, plates, serving dishes are assigned to a specific shelf in order to make housekeeping so much easier.

It also looks so orderly and very decorative at the same time.

As it is said, a place for everything, and everything in its place!