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!