peanut butter crispy squares

I remember overhearing at the playground, a young mother complaining that her child had the right to eat peanut butter at school.  Her school was peanut free.

She went on about how allergies in school have gotten out of hand...now there is a ban on all nuts, fish, and eggs because there were too many children with those allergies.  And what about her own child's rights.

As she continued to complain, I noticed that her child was running around the playground, pushing and hitting all the children around him.

Of course I shook my head and told her that every child has a right to go to school and live without an analyphalitic death.  That there are other options besides peanut butter, fish and eggs to send to with their child for lunch and they can have their "right to eat peanut butter" at home.  Then I also pointed out that every child has the right to go to a playground and not be terrorized by a bully (she turned to see who I was referring to, and got embarassingly upset with her child).

I'm not sure how someone who wants these certain "rights" for themselves so selfishly disregard the rights of others.  All I know is this...my kids love peanut butter.  So, I let them have the right to eat peanut butter...at home.  With these amazing easy and delicious peanut butter crispy squares.

Peanut Butter Crispy Squares

Adapted from the book: 150 Delicious Squares

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup smooth organic peanut butter
• 4 cups rice krispies cereal

Chocolate Topping

• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. smooth peanut butter

Directions

• Combine first 4 ingreidnets in large saucepan
• Heat and stir on low until melted and thick.
• Remove from heat
• Add cereal and stir until coated.
• Press firmly into a 8x8 inch pan
• Let stand unti set.

Topping:

• Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter in small bowl and microwave, stopping and stirring intermittently every 20 seconds.  Continue until chocolate is almost melted.
• Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
• Spread evenly over cereal layer.
• Let sit overnight or in the refrigerator.

Cuts into 24-36 squares.  Eat...at home.

file it under "done"

Young adults or children generally mark "significant" birthdays with an accomplishment.  (On a 16th birthday, you get your driver's license.  On a 21st birthday, you mark the birthday doing more "adult" activities...etc.)

Once you reach *ahem* bigger milestones (30's, 40's, 50's etc.), you take on larger activities, like a huge party or travel to bring in the new age.  But in between those milestone birthdays, similar to what most normal people do at New Year's Eve, I make new resolutions after my birthday.

Last year, my resolution was to ensure I create memories.  Leading up to this was the creation of this blog, which for the most part, documented those special moments.

This year, my resolution is to be more disciplined.

To keep my energy focused on being more efficient and...just get things done.  No procrastination or excuses that keep me in my comfort zone.  In fact, now I do what makes me uncomfortable, having the  discipline to do, no matter how tired I am or difficult the task might be.

So, this past week, I pulled out my "get dirty" clothes, dusted off my paint brushes, and finished a few projects that I've made excuses not to finish.  And while my projects are still in progress,  I've completed quite a few in such a short time....and now I can say, "file it under DONE".

Refurbishing a Metal Filing Cabinet

Now that school has started, it means more paper comes into the house.  Unable to find a "pretty" filing cabinet (is there such a thing?), I took our old filing cabinet, and gave it a facelift.  Here's how it went.

1)  Empty file cabinet, and use painters tape to cover handles.
2)  Using Rustoleum's "Flat White" Exterior spray paint, spray even (and very light) coats of paint, making sure you let it dry in between layers. (I used about three layers).
3)  Using a stencil, tape your design to the front of the drawers.
4)  Using craft paint, using gentle dabs (not strokes!), apply your colour.

Done.

bittersweet beauty

It's hard not to look at a clear blue September sky and not think of a similar beautiful clear day, eleven years ago.  As much as I love the beauty of the horizon...today, that beauty is bittersweet.

One of my post popular posts was about my trip to New York last fall, which included a visit to the 9/11 Memorial site.  To honour those who lost their lives eleven years ago, here's that post again today.

a hole in the heart

(originally published October 5, 2011)

After a whirlwind weekend of indulgent window shopping, seeing the bright and dazzling Times Square, admiring the million dollar architecture and enjoying the scrumptious culinary delights in NYC a few weeks ago…we felt we needed to end our weekend trip by visiting a special place to bring us back to reality and reflect how fortunate we really all are.

{Above photo, courtesy of CNN}

You see, ten years ago, we had planned to be right here in New York.  Before going to a London/Paris excursion on Sept. 12^th, we were planning on stopping by as a post birthday celebration, before heading to London.  But circumstances led to us to stay home instead. Now, not a September goes by when I don’t think about what could have been. It’s amazing how many stories you hear, of someone missing their flight, and someone else taking their place.  How one person was saved because of someone else’s sacrifice. 

Ten years later, looking at the void where the towers were, the enormity of it, the place where monumental heartache took place…I realized that for every hole that is created, somewhere else, another hole is filled.

And even though life seems unfair on the surface, we are guided to fulfill a destiny, a purpose.  And for some reason, all our lives are intertwined in some form or another, with meaningful adjacencies.  (to read a beautiful article about how meaningful adjacencies relate to this memorial, please read Paula Grant Berry's CNN article)

I hope I fulfill my purpose in life…to help create a simple world of love, kindness, and appreciation for our beautiful world.  And especially, during this upcoming Thanksgiving season...to remember to be grateful, and thankful for all we have.

To simply…fill the holes.

Heart Shaped Jam Filled cookies 

(makes approx. 30-40 cookies)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar plus 4 tbsp extra for dusting.
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Preparation

• Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
• Add the egg and vanilla.  
• Add the vanilla and 1/2 tsp of baking soda
• Slowly mix the flour into the mixture until dough consistency.
• Refrigerate for approximately 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350degrees
• Roll out the dough into desired shapes, creating enough for a solid bottom and one with a cut-out on the top.
• Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden.
• Top one solid cookie with your favourite jam, and sandwich with a cookie with a cut out.
• Dust the cookies with powdered sugar.

Enjoy...with all your heart.

stone wash

Stone skipping is a ritual that every child (and adult) in our household has done at least once in the summer.  It usually involves the meticulous search for the perfect rock.  Flat and thin.  Smooth as possible.  Then aiming it just right so you can see it glide along the horizon.  With every bounce I could see a smile, as if with each bounce, they were one skip closer to breaking the world record.  (Which by the way, was 51 skips...the world record set in 2007) {Source: Wikipedia}

As I watched by the shore, I noticed all the beautiful colours of the stones along the water.  Every stone unique and beautiful in its own way.  Multitudes of colours, sizes, shapes and age coexisting beautifully on the sand as the waves of the lake crashed over them.

At first it would seem that the waves are aggressively trying to pull the stones deeper into the depths of the water.  Some of the bigger stones stayed put, as if they had the weight of experience to position themselves so they wouldn't get dragged in.  The smaller stones would move with the waves...some protected by the bigger stones, but many freely rolling deeper and deeper into the water with the pull of every increasingly stronger current.  But no matter how hard the waves pulled...the little stones still never ventured into dangerously deep waters as if they knew when to find their way back nestled between larger rocks, protecting them.

Collectively most of the stones stayed put, and with each passing wave, the water just made them cleaner...as if tears had washed the sand away, making them see more clearly.  Almost like diamonds in the rough that have transformed by the harsh waters, the stones are now like gems shining and glistening from the sun.

After I dropped off the kids on their first day back at school,  I thought back to that day at that beach watching those stones...as if it was nature's reminder of life.  With each passing year as the kids venture into new experiences, whether it's in a classroom, playground, friend's house or at the beach...that no matter where the current takes them, I know they'll grow to become polished gems...shining and glistening in the sunlight.

meat pack

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  I am very blessed to have met the person that I will spend the rest of my life with, and we both cherish the time we've spent together.

Since we went on our honeymoon around this time of year, for the longest time, we've always felt that NOW is the best the time to pack and get ready to travel.  We travelled Italy, France & Spain after our wedding, and the fall season in Europe is so beautiful...the temperature is still warm but not unbearably hot, and the crowds of kids are back at school.  For the first few years of our marriage, we always travelled at this time of year, I guess more as a default as it was when we had our honeymoon, but we couldn't ask for better weather.  Perfect for exploring or just relaxing and enjoying the sights and culture.

Now with kids, we're now unpacking after a summer filled with beaches, pools and lazing around, and preparing to pack school backpacks and lunches.   Part of me still wants to travel right now, and the urge to repack our clothes and hop on a plane to Europe is fierce.

Well, Europe will have to wait...for now.  I've always dreamed of taking the kids to see Europe, so maybe it's something we can incorporate with our summer travel plans next year? (fingers crossed)

In the meantime, we'll just have to suffice with packing our BBQ with the glorious flavours of what is remaining of THIS summer.

Meat Medley Kebabs

(serves approx. 6 people)

Chicken (Souvlaki style)

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed in 1" cubes
• Red onions, sliced in large slices

Marinade: 

• 1 lemon juiced, approx 3 tbsp
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped
• 1 onion, sliced.

Mix marinade in non reactive bowl (glass) and toss with chicken.  Marinade at least 3 hours or overnight.  Grill on lightly oiled grate on medium high heat for about 10-15 minutes or until desired doneness.

Pork (grilled apple style)

• 2 pounds of boneless sirloin pork chops (already in strips at Whole Foods, just cut into 1" cubes).
• 6 apples, peeled, cored and cut into bite sized chunks

Marinade:

• 1/4 or small onion, sliced
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped or crushed
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary (or 2 tbsp. fresh)
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• 1/4 tsp.  nutmeg
• pinch of cloves
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Mix marinade in glass bowl and marinade pork or 1 hour at room temp or 3 hours in the fridge. Add pork, alternating with apple chunks, on skewers.  Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until pork is just done.

Beef (Asian style)

• 2 pounds of sirloin tip steak, cubed
• Red, orange or yellow peppers, large slices.

Marinade

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger (optional)
• pepper to taste
• 1/2 a lemon (or 1/4 cup) lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch

Mix marinade in a glass bowl.  Add meat 30 minutes prior to grilling (this is a fairly salty marinade). Add meat, alternating with peppers on skewers.  Grill on medium direct heat for about 4 minutes.

Enjoy the summer flavours!

short and sweet

We all know someone who has the inability to make decisions.

You know the type...the one is so afraid of making decisions that they just...don't.  I knew someone who  couldn't decide what colour of paint to use in one small room in her house.  She even hired an interior designer to help her but she didn't like the designer's opinion, and continued (for about a year or so) to ask for everyone's suggestions. Everyone.

I often think when people ask for opinions...especially from many many many other people (everyone and their goldfish...strangers, neighbours whomever), then I don't think they're searching for the answer, but really searching to hear their own answer.

They're looking for someone who they can blame if things didn't go well.  They do this to escape responsibility of their own decisions instead owning up to them. Sometimes I wonder if these people go out of their way to be difficult because they have learned that their behaviour keeps everyone "walking on eggshells", or in other words, keeping others off balance, so they can get the upper hand.

Well, we all have insecurities.  No one has a crystal ball...and no two circumstances are the same.  And I've learned that the best decisions are generally made when you go with your first instinct.  It's usually right...free of filters, judgements or criticism.  Just purely what you want.  And although it might not turn out exactly the way you envisioned it, I've learned to acknowledge that my original "vision" might be not have been the right one in the first place. 


But for some reason it just evens out, when you keep it short and sweet.  Once you hold on to a decision and take that leap of faith...the rest is a piece of cake.

Strawberry Shortcake

Adapted from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/strawberry-shortcake/

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder (2  tsp.)
• 2 tablespoons white sugar (1/4 cup)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shortening (1/2 cup butter at room temperature or 1/4cup  butter, 1/4 cup. of shortening)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
• 2/3 cup milk (half and half or 3%)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon with 1/2 tsp sugar (cinnamon mix)

• 2 cups whipped heavy cream, 1 tsp of vanilla and 1/2 cup powdered sugar (during whipping)
• (alternate, use premade whipping cream and mix with strawberry yoghurt).

DIRECTIONS:

• Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan. (or make 8 rounds/biscuits...make sure you leave about an inch space between...think mini baseballs or cathead/large biscuits)
• In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening/butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg, milk and vanilla. Stir until just combined.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
• Slice cake in half, making two layers. Place strawberries and whipping cream on bottom layer, then place top layer of the cake on top.   Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream.

Enjoy.

a rocky road

Our youngest is finally big enough to go on more difficult biking trails with us.  Although she had her training wheels removed last summer, her bike was still too small to navigate some of the paths.

This summer, with her new bike in tow, a new bike rack for four, and a new trail map, we've ventured (slowly) into biking on the trails.

It's been quite a while since I've been on a bike on full speed...now that both kids are riding ahead of me, I now need to catch up to them.  As we were beginning our trek, I started to ask myself, about half an hour into our excursion..."Is it me or are these mountains high like roller coasters? ("They're just little hills, Mom!")

Although we had a map and knew that we were on a safe path, as we pushed upwards to the top of the hill, I couldn't help but feel a little butterfly in the stomach as I peered over to the other side, wondering...will the road to the other side be smooth...or rocky? 

Much like life, sometimes we have to trust the maps we are given that will lead us onto a safe path.  That we can still venture out of our comfort zone and still exercise caution.  Like my kids on this bike excursion...with the right guidance, they rode with determination and strength and discovered and enjoyed the ride on the other side.

Maybe that's the trick.  I just need to remove my prohibitions and just enjoy the moment through the eyes of a child.  So, with my helmet and a (very) firm grip, we went along these trails.  

They weren't bumpy after all.

Rocky Road Bars

(adapted from the recipe on the back of the 

Honey Maid graham cracker package)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (or Oreo cookie crumbs)
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/12 cups medium shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 cups nuts (optional)
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 can (300ml) sweetened condesned milk
• 3 squares of Baker's semi-sweet chocolate or 2 tbsp. of chocolate chips, melted.

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350degrees.  Mix crumbs and butter, press firmly onto the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan
• Layer coconut, nuts (optional), chocolate chips, and marshmallows evenly over crumbs.  Drizzle with condensed milk evenly over top.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  
• Remove from oven, drizzle with melted chocolate, cool.

Makes about 36 bars.

{Attending these beautiful  parties...Homemaker on a Dime}

Brown vs. Blond

With all the hoopla over Marissa Mayer's appointment as CEO of Yahoo a month ago, there have been countless commentaries about whether a pregnant woman should have been appointed to head a large corporation.  Again,  the "Mommy wars" reared it's ugly head again in the media, pitting working moms against stay at home ones...some question her parental responsibilities by abandoning her duties to go back to work, while others tout her as a work place role model.

Honestly, this comparison is just as absurd as the "who has more fun: blond or brunettes" comparison. It's really about appearances...what women portray out the outside, not what they truly are.

A recent study, written in Marketing Magazine, debunks all the media hype about one against the other, saying both working and stay-at-home Moms are not as different as you would think. It states that we all want whatever it takes for our children to succeed.

And I agree...and take it one step further.  I think there are more similarities than differences with all these women.  There is still guilt ("I wish I could spend more with the kids" vs. "I wish I could have more personal time").  We all do dishes after dinner, whether we made it from scratch or ordered in.  We all do laundry, whether it is work clothes or clothes covered in sand.  There will always be resentment, whether a woman resents choosing between her work load and her family, or resentment towards the general lack of respect for women who "only bake all day" as a stay at home Mom.

I think once and for all, we all should agree that we make our choices in the best interest of our own families. Period. What methodology works for one is different than the other and we ALL want nothing more than the best for our children and make choices that brings out the best of ourselves, whether it is earning an income or volunteering at the kids school, in order for our families to succeed. 

I wish there were more articles like the above one, highlighting the similarities between all these women, instead of differences.  Then maybe there will be less barriers, we can learn and work together to pool our resources...and take the best of both worlds.

Marble Brownies

(created by merging two recipes...

Blondies from How to Cook Everything, 
and using the cocoa from a marble cake technique).

Ingredients

• 8x8 inch baking pan
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla or 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1 cup of all purpose flour
• 1 cup of  chocolate chips (or nuts).
• 1 tbsp. cocoa.

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease the bottom and sides of a baking pan.
• Place the butter in a microwave-safe container and heat for 30 to 45 seconds on medium-high heat or until melted.
• Combine with brown sugar, egg, vanilla and water in a large mixing bowl. 
• Add flour until just mixed.
• Remove approximately 1/2 cup of batter into a separate bowl, and add cocoa and mix completely. Set aside.
• Mix chocolate chips into the vanilla batter
• Gently fold in the cocoa batter, until the batter resembles marble.
• Transfer to a greased baking pan, and press the batter into the pan firmly.
• Bake for approximately minutes, or until a dry crust forms over the top of the brownies.
• Remove the pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool completely. Place it on a cooling rack, if desired, to speed cooling.
• Cut the brownies into 2- or 3-inch bars

Serve....and share.

a crabby app

Last week, I wrote about a really cool iPhone app...today's app is a little different...less "digital".  It harkens back to a past vacation we had in Prince Edward Island...a place where we unplugged, where the seafood was plentiful and the sun, sand and smiles were even more abundant.

Every summer we head to the cottage and enjoy the beaches in and around the area.  When we asked the kids which beach they'd like to go this summer, the little one piped up "PEI"!!!


There was something very special about that vacation.  Maybe it was the various beaches (white sand like the Caribbean on the northern part of the island, red sand with seafood right on the beach on the southern part).


I think what made it special was the lack of commercialism.  There were no fancy hot dog stands.  No beach towel/jewelry/sunglass stands on or near the beach.  There was just water...and whatever the sea had to offer.   Souvenirs came from nature, not a store.

It brought us back to our primal instincts...to catch our own food. Unfortunately for some rural communities, the generational tradition of catching their own food has been replaced with the dependancy of foods being shipped to them instead.   And as the world gets more populated, the supply and demand will just drive the costs of food to almost unreachable costs. (here's an article on the prices of food up in Nunavut)

Now while I'm not suggesting that we now start hunting for our food...I think it's important to understand and respect where it came from, and take baby steps towards growing our own garden, maybe even learning how to fish, and enjoy real food made from real ingredients. I was very proud to hear my husband mention after a trip to the grocery store, that our son was reading all the labels and checked if the food "was organic or not".   

Good manners, the understanding of food and how to cook it, and an open mind about trying new things is an important lifelong skill. I hope I'm creating the stepping stones to future health and wellness.

Baked Crab Cakes

(a combination of Ellie Krieger, Paula Deen and Kikkoman's recipes)

Ingredients

• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1 pound of lump crab, picked over for cartilage (or 2 cans of 120g crab meat and 1 can 213 g of salmon, cartilage and bones removed, if fresh crab is unavailable.)
• 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs 
• 1/4 cup of panko crumbs (or an extra 1/4 cup of bread crumbs)
• 1/4 cup mayonaise
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl mix together the egg, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice. 
• Stir in the bell pepper and shallot. 
• Gently fold in the crab, 3/4 cup of the bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. 
• Spoon approximately 1/4 cups of crab mixture onto the baking sheet, making approximately 12 mounds/patties.
• Press the mounds down with a fork, about 1-inch high.
• Top each with approximately 1 tsp. of panko crumbs.
• Bake until golden on the bottom, about 10 minutes. Gently flip the crab cakes and cook until the second side is golden, 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Serve with mixed greens (with goat cheese, raspberries and poppy seed dressing).  


Enjoy.

slowing down time

Every once in a while, I discover something that inspires or triggers creativity...something that brings out the inner "Spielberg" or "Martha" in me.

Last year it was iMovie.  After creating a little video for my husband's birthday, I found that I love stringing together pictures and video set to music, bringing out the former film director/producer in me.

I remember during film school, we had to edit by carefully cutting each film strip to create a scene.  Stringing images together with the sound strip (which in itself, was an arduous task as you would have to lip read to ensure that everything was in sync).  iMovie has changed that (for me anyhow), and assembling videos takes 1/3 of the time.

Well, this summer I discovered a new iphone app that has stirred that fun creative side in me again.  It's a really easy app called SloPro. Consider it as a special effects app.  After taking video (it's best to use it for action type footage), you can manipulate it to slow down key highlights of the scene...essentially it's a slow motion app.

We started to test this app with a simple action like jumping in the backyard.  

Then the kids had a great idea of doing it at the pool, using the slow motion effect on their cannonball dives in mid-air and immersing into the water.  

Here's TheB's dive...

And here's TheG's dive...

What I loved about this was the twinkle in the eye of the kids when I showed them this.  And the kicker...it only took about 5 minutes to do each of these videos!  Oh the possibilities..."We can do this in the winter when we ski/snowboard!  We can 'slow mo' some bike tricks when we're on the trails!  We can film Grandma and Grandpa blowing out candles at their birthday!"  

I think we should film their Dad golfing...and help him analyze his swing ;)

Anyway, 16 videos and 2 days later...we're were still playing and tinkering with this new app (free on iTunes...you can pay for the pro version which gives you more flexibility in terms of posting the video).  

Loads of fun...and a great way to slow down time.