Striped Full Skirt

When plans get cancelled and my time suddenly becomes free, I practically race to my sewing machine. I've been dreaming of so many summer dresses and skirts and shorts lately, but just haven't had much time to start any thing new.
Well today was the day I've been waiting for and this striped cotton fabric I dyed (very poorly I might add) months ago was calling my name.

Red Lentil Soup with Bacon

This soup is a wonderful reminder that simple is best. It also doesn't hurt when simple is surprisingly delicious.

Pear Pie

There's really nothing like polishing off a big meal with a slice of freshly baked pie. This pear pie was easily my favourite part of our huge thanksgiving dinner this year.
It's now officially spring and there are still pears at the farmers market, so I couldn't help but make this one more time before they're gone.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to make a booze infused whipped cream or a salted dark caramel to top this pie, but then our dinner guests showed up with a container of banana cardamom ice cream. Problem solved! And it was a match made in heaven. Cardamom + Pear = Fantastic!

Unfortunately I was too distracted with said dinner guests that there were no photos of the finished pie, so just use your imagination ok?

One Button Cardigan - take 2

Phew. Finally made a sweater I like enough to wear.
I sure am learning a lot about knitting patterns and construction. This time around I tried to make the sleeves and arm holes smaller, but the entire sweater still feels a little too loose for my tastes. I should have taken out more stitches throughout the back. Oh well, onto the next sweater....

Pesto Chicken Pizza

I'm normally not one to get excited about a pizza that has pieces of chicken on it. Truthfully I'm not usually that excited about chicken in general. I love my husbands BBQ chicken, or a great whole roast chicken, and even spicy chicken wings but that's about it.
But my husband has been making this pizza for me for years and trust me, it's delicious.
Strangely enough the chicken is really only a minor detail in this pizza. It plays an important role, but the pesto is really the star of the show.

Baked Oatmeal with Apples & Pecans

As I type this all I can think of is sleep. It's 10:13am, I've been awake for just under 2 hours and yet I'm still tired. I think I'm getting sick.

This is oatmeal is hearty, filling, delicious and easy to throw together. 

I wish I had the energy to write more about this but the couch is calling me...

Quick Drop Biscuits

I think one of my most cherished gifts from my mother might have to be the copy of "Joy of Cooking" she gave me years ago.
I have such warm memories not only of my mothers very stained and tattered copy of that classic cookbook, but also of the many childhood favourite foods that came from within its pages.

There's something else about this book that just has such a special place in my heart. I guess the fact that it was written by an American homemaker in the 1930's could explain that. I feel like its pages just ooze with a sense of history and I can't help but think of all the generations of homemakers who depended on this book to guide them into the kitchen.

As a homemaker myself I must confess I don't refer to the "Joy of Cooking" quite as much as my mother may have. But there are a few recipes (like the one used to make these biscuits) that I wouldn't think of looking anywhere else for.

Reversible Placemats

As I lay in bed this morning not quite awake, the idea to make some cute and summery placemats popped into my head. Now that I really think about it, a lot of my sewing project ideas usually start this way. What is it about lying in bed, slowly waking that seems to stimulate my brain in this way? I think it's a bit odd...but I'm not complaining.

Orange & Avocado Salad

The sun may be shining today but it still feels so cold and wintery to me. As I anxiously wait for spring, it's salads like these that keep me from staying in bed all day.
How are you coping with the end-of-winter doldrums?

One Button Cardigan

First attempt at a cardigan.
Not exactly smitten with the results, but that is completely my fault.

I chose a pattern based on how easy it looked, rather than how much I really liked the design, which was Mistake #1. Then I screwed up in various ways and didn't fix it, which was Mistake #2.
Good thing Mistake #2 doesn't matter due to Mistake #1.

Sesame Seed Buns

I've made these buns to serve burgers on and to accompany a big ol' turkey dinner. Today I made them with the intention of pulled pork sandwiches, but instead they'll be slathered with garlic butter and eaten alongside pasta.
No matter why you make them, I promise you'll love em.

Greenvale Chocolates

So it's been about a month or so now that I've been making and selling my chocolates at the Dartmouth Farmers Market. So far my little tasty treasures have been quite well received. (Thanks Dartmouth!)
But last weekend I packed up all my gear and headed to Halifax to sell my chocolates at the Night Flea Market at the Khyber which was co-hosted by my friend Natalie.
The flea market was awesome, so much great used and handmade goodies to choose from. And my chocolates were a hit! (Thanks Halifax!)

Here's a shot of my set up at the night flea market. I shared my space with my amazingly talented friend Lindsay. She was selling the most co-ordinated packs of paper and craft oddities (which you can also find in her Etsy shop) as well zines, notebooks and necklaces.

So if you're in the Dartmouth area on a Saturday between 8am - 1pm stop by the Alderney Landing Farmers Market for some handmade chocolates! Also you can follow me on Twitter for up to date info on all my chocolate offerings. 

Feta & Bacon Omelet

This omelet is a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Chock full of maple bacon and feta (with some spinach and red onion thrown in to make it feel slightly healthier) the salty richness of this breakfast makes me weak in the knees.
Good thing I started my day with a giant glass of carrot orange and apple juice to balance it out.

Long and Narrow Patchwork Quilt

This quilt has taken me far too long to complete.
You see quilts are just so...BIG, that after that initial excitement of creating something new dies you're just left with the daunting task of spending hours (and months) finishing it. Am I the only one who would rather push it aside and pick up something fresh and fun, something that can be made and enjoyed so much quicker?

Shaved Beet & Proscuitto Pizza

Last night I planned on making a pizza version of this caramelized onion tart. But as I gathered onions from the pantry I couldn't help but notice the sad looking bag of beets that has been somewhat ignored lately. I think I've already gone off the deep end in terms of pizza toppings, so what's stopping me from trying one with beets?

Apple Spinach Smoothie

I'd like to think that I do what my body tells me to do.
And I think I'm pretty safe in doing so. Our bodies know what they do and don't like and aren't afraid to tell us when they don't approve of what we're doing.
So this morning when I woke up at 6:30am with the strongest desire to make a smoothie, I knew there was no point in fighting it.
And really, for all the days I wake up craving a chocolate croissant and I give in, it's only fair that I even things out with a healthy start to my day at least once in a while.

Candied Orange Peel

Yup. Candied orange peel.
In other words...candy.
I made it with the intention of decorating orange flavoured chocolates, and wasn't expecting it to be so darn tasty and addictive! I will definitely find more excuses to make it uses for it.
Like on top of a cake? Or as a garnish in a cocktail? Or even chopped up and added to granola?
(Ok that last one was a bit silly, I think the sugar is going to my head)

Check out these super simple instructions (with step by step photos) and make some citrus candy right now. You know you want to...

Cabbage, Apple and Pecan Salad

I'm grateful for this salad. 

It's 12pm and I'm starving. I've been quite busy all morning with household chores, making breakfast and lunch for the working man, putting finishing touches on some chocolates, and truthfully I did not have a very healthy breakfast to start it all off.

So therefore I'm grateful for this salad that I made with dinner last night, and I'm really grateful that there was still some left in the fridge today, and I'm even more grateful that it tastes even better today than last night. Thank you winter salad. 

Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo

This is the start to my day that I needed. 

The start to my day that I actually got was slipping on a patch of ice right outside my door on my way to get my morning coffee. Good thing a chorizo and avocado filled burrito heals all wounds.