All posts in Domestic Damsel

Bake Off Day Two

by admin on December 22, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me, Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Holiday Messages, People In My Heart with No comments
(My sister and I, in two of my favourite and most faithful aprons!  Working hard, but not too hard!)

 Christmas bake off day two 2011 was a big success!  We got so much accomplished so quickly!  We made many many cranberry tarts and fudge walnut tarts!  I added extra dark chocolate to the fudge ones and MAN the samples we had where LOVELY!

 Add my sisters daughter to the mix and we had an audience of up to five kids and a dog, when all in attendance.  I so appreciate my kitchen at times like this.  The open concept means the kids can literally hang around and easily see what is going on, without being under our feet.  They have gotten very good, and fast, at pulling up chairs to get a spectator spot.

(My youngest two kids hanging off the half wall of my kitchen.  Eyes glued on what their Auntie is making, TARTS!)

 Before the afternoon was through Mirelle got the Dutch Almond Spice rolled out and filled with their soft sweet filling.  Flaky pie crust filled with ground almond flavored with a little spice and lemon, sweetened with icing sugar.  They come out so lovely and golden thanks to an egg glaze. )

(Almond Spice log, ready for the oven)
(Fresh out of the oven! I feel like they could be such pretty little gifts if wrapped with a Christmas ribbon like a wreath is)

We all had such a great day together.  My playlist of favorite Christmas music on repeat; tea and coffee available to us at any time.  A plate of lovely home made treats to refresh and fill us with energy (gifted to me JUST that morning by a good friend).  We rolled up our sleeves, dawned our aprons and joyfully enjoyed one anothers company and conversation, while working in the kitchen!  The kids played really good for us, so in no time we where able to head off to meet and greet the mall Santa.

I feel like Christmas baking should always be a group event.  Good friends and loving family are a must!

Well, other then the fresh cakes of gingerbread, that I will prepare Christmas Eve for our tea, and the pancakes and pigs in a blanket for Christmas brunch (all of which really need to be made the day of to enjoy most), I am done my Christmas baking!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TTFN

Day One Of The X-mas Bake Off

by admin on December 17, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me, Holiday Messages, People In My Heart with No comments
(Garnet’s sugarless blue berry pies, they are his priority this baking season. Yum, can’t wait.)

Mirelle started it… I was complaining about how I miss eating Christmas baking and she encouraged me to go for it again. We plan to get together during the holidays and make favorite items from our x-mas baking list but I woke up eager to feel like I had accomplished something so I crossed off a few from my list.

My Christmas Baking List

  • -walnut fudge pie or tarts
  • -cranberry pie or tarts
  • -ginger bread cakes (2)
  • -Scottish shortbread
  • -scuffles
  • -pumpkin spice roll out sugar cookies

And the last three are almost done. I am waiting for the scuffle dough to finish rising before I can work it into sweet little crescents. I must break for supper before making the butter icing for the pumpkin sugar cookies. Otherwise I feel well under way with the Scottish shortbread done and in the freezer. We will be enjoying them and the ginger cakes at our yearly Scottish tea on Christmas eve.

I put this off for a lot of years, with good reason… with Garnet being hypoglycemic it isn’t easy to make baking that is family friendly and secondly with moving to the city (and the crazy new life style that involves) and having my fourth child, I felt fine with just sluffing off the Christmas baking. We worked super hard at keeping this season nice and calm and it was so calm I guess I just needed a little nudge to give into the baking bug that was already niggling me.

I will for sure let you know how it goes when (and hopefully if) we, Mirelle and I and perhaps more, manage to do a together bake off night! Merry Christmas!

BESTEST BUTTER ICING 🙂

2 cups organic icing sugar
2 1/2 Tbsps cream (or whole goats milk works great)
4 Tbsps butter
1 tsp vanilla

Over medium heat melt the butter in the cream till smooth. Add vanilla and stir. Mix in sugar till smooth. Remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer till thick and smooth.

TTFN

Roll Out Pumpkin Sugar Cookies (Recipe Request)

by admin on December 16, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me with No comments

(Phew, thought I lost this recipe… It has been a few years since my eldest daughter and I used it last. I am looking forward to making it with the kids again.)

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup packed organic coconut sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin puree (or yam)
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups unbleached flour
  • 1/4 cup chick pea flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 pinch salt
  1. In a medium bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and orange zest. Stir in the pumpkin or yam. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well.
  2. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Chill dough for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place onto an unprepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven.
  5. Decorate, when cooled off, with frosting or candy.

TTFN

Thrifty Holiday Attire

by admin on December 4, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, Little Things with No comments
(The brightly coloured small fitted cardigan was so pretty! All the more pretty for 4 dollars.)

I take great pleasure in finding what I need at thrift shops, it all helps keep this single income family running smoothly. I went on the hunt for a dark brown long sleeved cardigan, a white long sleeved cardigan and a holiday dress for myself yesterday during nap time. My husband took over and set me free to shop for a few hours.I found the dress right away. It was more then I had hoped for with a sweet feminine look to it, modern in cut and SPARKLY. Ideal for the holidays and 9 dollars!

Although I found a long sleeved cardigan it was neither brown nor white but my favorite color, turquoise. I had to leave before finding exactly the right brown and white sweaters but I will find another calm afternoon to go for it again.

Finally, I spotted a long sleeved, transparently soft material, mid-evil inspired wrap that I couldn’t pass up for three dollars. It was a good night and although I am still hoping to find the two cardigan colours I am missing from my collection I feel successful. Ah, how lovely are the calm afternoons where I can take my time hunting through the massive array of clothing at thrift shops. The hunt is just as fun and rewarding as the finding of the treasures.

TTFN

Doily Appreciation

by admin on December 2, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, People In My Heart with No comments
(A favourite doily from Grandma)

While the doily may not be in general a in trend style around the house I have noticed they are popping up everywhere else. I have seen some cute versions of them framed in stylish ways, necklaces with tiny crochet doilies and one of my favorite trendy scarves is basically one long doily.

Thanks to my Grandma Hicks I have a fabulously large collection of them now. I love presenting them on surfaces, in their traditional use, but I have plans to frame some pinned to pretty wall paper and I found a fabulous craft there you turn your sweet doilies into adorable dressy collar complete with pearl buttons.

Thanks to Grandma for these handmade treasures and I sure hope I can get over to learn how to crochet from you soon!

Fab ideas LINKED HERE,
and a necklace idea HERE,
OH and this sweet collar HERE,
More with a bracelet idea HERE,
and a scarf idea HERE!!

TTFN

X-mas Craft

by admin on December 2, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

I think my little hand made books are cute and cheerful! They mean a lot to me, as I don’t craft very often. Christmas seems to bring it out in me like no other time of year. My mom was just saying how this time of year brings out the seamstress in her and she can’t help but joyfully get busy at her sowing machine. She JUST brought down a box full of dolly clothing for my girls, oh how they treasure Nanny’s doll clothing.

Often my crafts include the kids, like the paper garlands one or two Christmases ago or the yarn dolly angels my eldest daughter and I made for our tree years ago. This year the project was just for me.

I made up two sweet little books and wrote two little stories about why babies and stuffies (stuffed animals) are meant for one another. They will be gifted to two very sweet little babies from my own dear extended family; the stories along with specific stuffies I choose for the little ones.

Oh do you wish you could see inside? I did the art work too and I am very pleased with the portrait drawings of each child with their stuffed toy. I feel like the pictures actually look like the babies I am giving them to. Considering my sketching style is faceless that isn’t always easy to accomplish.

With the gifts wrapped, and one packaged for the mail, I am beyond eager for the babies to meet their stuffy companion!

(This is one of the Christmas cards I sent out years ago, it is called ‘delivering the gifts’)

Ah I adore babies and stuffies and Christmas time.

TTFN

Owls

by admin on December 2, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, Little Things, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

Posy the owl pillow, a treat for my couch.
I have a wooden owl statue in my living room as well. I like owls. I like them largely because my grandmother Smith liked them so much, Decorating with things that remind you of loved ones is never a bad way to go.

TTFN

Winter Wonderland Maquerade Tea

by admin on November 27, 2011 in Adventure and Me, Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me with 1 Comment

Trying something knew and having a winter tea was an adventure for me, especially when I decided to have my first masquerade party. After seeing so many pretty masks in October I was looking for an excuse to wear some. My summer tea this year was a grand affair but many important ladies where not able to attend and so I decided to throw a winter-y event.

Most of the evening I wore a lovely brown fur cape I have that has the prettiest satin bow paired with my pink dress gloves, but it got a little warm. My youngest daughter managed to keep her furry red scarf on all night, with her feathered mask, and she must have drank tea all night long. My oldest put on her cat mask and looked adorable in a hand made pink collar that my mother had found. Icing on the cake was finding out last minute that my Mom was going to be able to attend. She was so much help and such a great conversationalist.
It was grand fun to see what everyone picked to wear and all the creativity and uniqueness my circle of women have. One talented friend came in a costume dress she herself had made. Another had made her own lovely blue mask. A third had her daughter make hers in true sweet heart of a mother style. We had a lady who looked the princess in her gown of soft blue and ladies in more modern attire that suited their sophisticated taste.As usual everyone contributed to our snacks and we had a beautiful spread. It was so pleasant to see a collection of modern women drinking from my pretty collection of ‘real’ tea cups and all in all it was a sweet evening.You just don’t fine two women completely alike and they are so fabulous to get to know, each and every one!

TTFN

Menu Trends

by admin on September 16, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, Life Keeps Changing with No comments

I am back at it, the menu planning that is. With the end of summer I am no longer slacking off so much. Time to roll up my sleeves and make the supper hour go smoother with pre-planning. It is just so nuts around here once the kids are home from school!

Week One MENU Draft One
Walleye Chowder
Cheeseburger Stew
Black Bean Salsa Stew
Creamy Broccoli Soup
Carrot and Zucchini Soup
African Sweet Potato Peanut Stew
Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup

(Oops, hmmmm sensing a pattern here!)

While I was working on my first two weeks of meals I had to make a conscious effort to not fill it right up with soups, stew, chowders or chilies; all of which we hadn’t had much of all summer. It made me realize my food preferences and favorites really do change with the seasons.

Summer was full of salads, or meals of sandwiches and raw veggies and fruit!

Early fall was full of harvested veggies and then a quick protein.
As the chill of autumn really sets in I am, as before mentioned, all about warm bowls of soup (or something like that) to wrap my self around at supper time. Not only that but biscuits, cornmeal muffins, fresh bread and butter or bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with the meal are common place again.

Yeah I am glad about fall and the food that follows its return. Can’t think of what I get all obsessed with come spring though… will have to pay more attention next year.
TTFN

Apple Sauce Every Where

by admin on September 13, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me with No comments

I am SO done with apple sauce this year. I have made more then enough frozen bundles of the stuff for us to have a batch of it a week till June. Over 100 cups of boiled and sweetened apples. My hands are cramping and sore and my feet are killing me so I told my man not to bring another single apple off that tree into my kitchen.

I am really happy with all the work done though. We are really enjoying the treat already and will all winter with the amount I stored up. The apples where nice and big, reddish and juicy this year. I hardly had to add any water. Needed less sweetener this year and we went with coconut sugar so Garnet can enjoy the sweet treat too. I then added a generous amount of organic cinnamon to each batch. All mixed together to a smooth sauce this year. I have done chunky in the past but thought if I want to add the sauce to pie or squares I can just chop up some extra apples at the time. I like my apple sauce smooth.

Not sure how I missed out on rhubarb this year. The whole time I was working on the apples I was kicking myself that I forgot about making our winter store of rhubarb strew! Oh bother… we will have to do without this favorite this year.

Well after days of a kitchen filled with jars and freezer bags and wooden spoons, great big pots boiling away and apples in buckets, in the sink being washed, on the counter being chopped or in the pot being sauced, all of this STICKY, I am thrilled to clean it all up for another year. This mommy is putting it away knowing job well done.

P.s. Related POST HERE:)

TTFN

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