Notes From the Cookie Jar

The Teen is Going to Motorcycle School

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:24:00 +0000

Last weekend we ventured over into the city and trekked all the way out to the Abbotsford Trade Ex Center for a Motorcycle show. It always makes for a long day, heading that far into the valley, but John was determined since he missed it last year!

Our bike is currently in storage because it's far too cold out to ride, but it was fun to look at all the accessories and things that we could get. I'm not up for a pair of leather chaps, thanks. Or a skull motif ring. However, I did want one of these:

Scorpion makes a great selection of women's motorcycle gear, and I absolutely love my jacket and pants by them (completely unsponsored statement). Apparently I have a really weirdly shaped head and the helmet that we initially bought just doesn't fit me well. A seam from the fabric presses into my skull, and after about 45 minutes it literally feels like I have an ice pick being driven into my head - which really isn't the greatest when you are on a long ride! The visor on this one is really appealing, as is the more open air feel to it.

Na, we aren't buying him one of these. Don't worry.

We wandered the Trade Ex among the booths before finally stopping and committing the one thing that I think has cemented us in Kevin's mind as the coolest parents on the planet; we signed him up for motorcycle lessons.

People really are opinionated about giving your teen motorcycle lessons. Hey, I get it if you've never been on a motorcycle and the only thing you know about it is someone who died riding one. Perhaps it would seem akin to allowing your child to play with matches and explosives. However, for us it's a little difficult to tell the kid "No, you CAN'T ride one" when we do all the time. Besides, he plans to buy himself a bike eventually so we think it's far more responsible to make him take a course and learn how to ride it properly when he's 16 (and easier to influence his habits) than when he's 20 and just does it on his own.

This one's pretty, but I'm happy being a passenger. Honest.

By the end of the summer, we'll have another fully qualified motorcyclist in the family, and I'll be bringing you the details on what learning how to ride is like!

The Almost Famous Chef Competition and a Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:02:00 +0000

Earlier in the week I had the pleasure of interviewing Hans Berg, from the International Culinary School at the Arts Institute of Vancouver. Coming up next week is the 10th annual San Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Canada Regional Competition, and Hans earned a spot to compete in the Canadian regionals for the chance to go all the way to Napa Valley in March for the finals.

This competition is a fantastic opportunity for culinary students, who are paired up with a chef mentor and will have a chance to win prizes, job opportunities, and the chance to meet celebrity chefs. Hans expressed what an honor it is to even be in the regionals, and how excited he is to compete.

Born and raised in Norway, Hans' original career path was to be an engineer, but he found that his heart just wasn't in it. The applied math was fine, he expressed, but the theoretical "just wouldn't stick in my head.", which I can relate to wholeheartedly. Taking some time off from school and doing a little travel, Hans met a girl in Hawaii and followed her to Montreal, where he began working as a dishwasher in a little Italian restaurant. It was there that he became hooked.

"The chef there shaped the way I approach food. The ingredients speak for themselves." Hans worked his way out of the dish pit and went on to prepping food, but eventually was laid off. This is common in the restaurant industry, as tourist seasons slow to a crawl and establishments try to keep ahead by laying off extra staff. Back home in Norway, he found himself working at a high end contemporary seafood restaurant, with a modern take on traditional recipes.

Soon, Hans's girlfriend got a job in Vancouver and again he followed, this time enrolling at the International Culinary School at the Arts Institute. "I wanted to learn the why of doing things. I knew how to do them, but I didn't know why I was doing it." Hans spoke glowingly of the program-the fantastic instructors, which includes local chefs with restaurants in the city. Graduating this summer from the Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management program, Hans spoke of a possible move to Victoria, BC and has plans to get into butchery. "I think it's a dying art. Making sausages, curing, making pates..." Listening to him speak, it's hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.

So, what does a chef like to eat when he's cooking for himself? "If I were to cook for myself, I'd make a simple pasta dish." Hans is a huge fan of Italian and Mexican food, which he describes as simple, homey, and hearty. "And you gotta have a baking stone," he interjected when I confessed my love of pizza. "I picked one up and it was $25!" Okay Hans, I promise-I will buy one next chance I get.

Onto the looming competition-how did Hans get himself chosen for this great honor? In mid December, seven or eight chefs were thrust into competing in a "black box" situation where you are given 3 or 4 unknown ingredients and 30 minutes to do as much as you can, the best you can. "It really tests you. It's all about creativity because you keep it simple, but not so simple it doesn't impress." As soon as Hans won the competition, he began developing his dish for the Canadian regionals. "I thought about food from home, and what they would be eating about now, and went from there. Food should have substance, be comforting. Uncomplicated. A meal should be real. I like to keep food simple but still impressive." This chef is a guy after my own food-loving heart, as we talked about a mutual admiration for John Bishop's work and I expressed how "Fresh" is one of my favorite cookbooks. Co-incidentally, Hans had just been cooking some of John Bishop's recipes that very day!

The dish in production for the competition is cod and potatoes, but not just any cod and potatoes. As Hans described it I couldn't keep writing and instead just stopped and let my imagination take over. Simple, yet still sophisticated, the dish sounds amazing and I can't wait to see how it fares in the competition. When asked about the challenges to competing, Hans listed that being watched to see if he's using proper technique, working in a new kitchen, and not being able to deviate from the recipe pose some challenges. On the other hand, "it's and exciting opportunity to have the top people in the industry rate your dishes!" Oh, indeed. I'm not sure I'd be up for that!

Hans' signature dish for the competition

Drop by the Almost Famous website for more details about the competition, to see live streaming video and to find recipes from past year's winners! Once the winner is announced, there will be more recipes of the chef's signature dishes.

Does all that talk of food make your mouth water? Well, you are in luck-I've paired up with the Almost Famous competition to offer a gift certificate to one lucky reader for a dinner for two, and this time I have a fantastic local twist! The winner, chosen at random, will have their choice of a $125 gift certificate to The Painted Boat located right here on the Sunshine Coast, OR a $125 gift certificate to Cardero's in Vancouver. It's not often that I have the opportunity to provide a prize local to the Sunshine Coast!

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)

Tweet the following about this giveaway (1 entry):

RT to enter to Win $125 gift certificate for dinner #AFChef frm @scatteredmom

I'll draw a winner on Saturday, February 4th after 8am PST. Check out the Almost Famous Chef Competition site for more information about the competition, or take a look at their Facebook page. You can even follow on Twitter!

Good luck!

Video Fun: Featuring Gregory Miller

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:33:00 +0000

After days of enduring what felt like the never ending plague (also known as the most miserable cold/flu I've experienced in years), I finally felt well enough to surf the Internets a bit and found some videos by these hugely talented boys. Their beautiful video tribute to their Mom, who was killed in a Ford Explorer roll over crash, has gone viral and was on the front page of Yahoo this morning. Make sure to go watch it with some tissues handy. This video features Gregory cooking an omelet, and I swear this boy has better technique than I do! Way to go! Now if I could make an omelet without it falling apart....

Food Revolution Friday: For Paula Deen on Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:38:00 +0000

Paula, I have to admit, I had never looked at your site or seen you on TV until I heard you have type 2 diabetes. I’m sorry about that, by the way – diabetes is rough. My husband was diagnosed awhile ago and while we didn’t have to make that many changes in our eating habits, judging from your site, you’ve likely had to give yours a complete overhaul. I mean really, you can’t possibly be eating deep fried cheese cake, butter, or that macaroni and cheese you whip up. I hear that you are cutting back on sweet tea, getting more active, and starting on medication.

I don’t begrudge you, honestly. I know it’s a tough world out there, and you’ve done a good job carving out a niche for yourself and made a lot of money doing it. Celebrity chefs these days all need a ‘thing’, and yours seems to be the queen of indulgence. Shock value food sadly has a place these days, so your deep fried lasagna or butter really isn’t any different than things featured on shows like “Man vs Food” or “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.” Besides television, there’s no shortage of deep fried kool-aid balls at any county fair, and I haven’t forgotten KFC’s Double Down. There’s a market. You’ve helped fill it – because honestly, if there was no demand for your kind of food, you wouldn’t be selling it, right?

When the news of your illness first broke, I thought the critics were being unreasonable. Chefs are not role models, they are artists in a way – using food as materials to create new flavors and to discover methods, so why should they be restricted by what may be deemed healthy? I myself love to play with ingredients and come up with things that are delicious, but not necessarily good for you. I wanted to give you a pass, really I did, until I went to your site.

There, you talk about cutting back on sweet tea and now your sons have a TV show with conveniently lighter food, you hock medication, but that’s not what caught my eye, Paula. Nope, it was the ‘kid – friendly’ section of recipes. After all, providing parents with recipes to feed their children are, in some way, a responsibility. If the parents are looking to those of us who can cook to show them what is good for their kids, we need to take that seriously and try to give them food that is reasonably nutritious. Of the 85 recipes listed, half of them are desserts. Many are ridiculously high in fat and use processed ingredients, and as I flipped through them, I began to feel sad.

It’s really hard to take someone seriously when their kid friendly food features things like chocolate fudge made with processed cheese or crackers topped with cheese and wrapped in bacon. Seriously, Paula? Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents in the USA are obese, and these are the snacks you are offering?

The time for shock value food is over. You have a platform to create real change, if not for you, at the very least, for them. Diabetes type 2 is serious, and one can’t take care of it just by cutting back on the amount of chocolate cheese fudge they eat and pop some pills. Right now, you are looking pretty opportunistic and not credible in the least, in my eyes.

You can do better.

If not for yourself, at least for the parents who are making your recipes for their children.

(I purposely didn't link to the recipes, because I don't want to give them more traffic.)

Cooking for a Food Blog without Breaking the Bank

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:21:00 +0000

As I was reading over at Yummy Mummy Club Food, I found this post by Sharon talking about getting to see all the great recipes coming into the site. She suggested that someone cook along and try them because that would be so much fun!

"Yes, it would," I'm thinking on one hand, but then the other part of me is thinking, "OH MY LORD the pressure to make sure they are all amazing! GAH!"

That's just because I'm a perfectionist when it comes to food, I think. A comment really caught my attention-someone said that if they had the grocery budget, they'd really have fun with that. So, let me let you in on a few things here. Firstly, I don't have a huge grocery budget. Or rather, I don't think it's huge-I try to keep our weekly groceries, including all our household cleaners and toiletries, to around $200-$250 a week. Meal planning, buying some things in bulk and having a deep freeze help, too. I've become really good at taking bits of things left over from other recipes and incorporating them into new ones, so nothing gets wasted, too. Over the last few years I've learned this because at first, I was spending more money on groceries than I was making writing, which was ridiculous.

How does it work? What am I making this week? And how do I find the TIME?

Monday: Chicken/Bacon arugula sandwiches, home made coleslaw, roasted yam bites

The bacon was on sale-I'll portion it out for a recipe next week, the cabbage left over from the week before, and I'll use arugula in salads.

Tuesday: Tomato Chick pea sauce with feta and fried eggs, salad from the night before, home made pitas. (Fast-I'm going out that night!)

Sounds weird, I know-but really very good. I have leftover feta from a week or so ago that will fit nicely with this. Plus the canned beans, tomatoes, and eggs are super cheap. If you make your own pitas it's really cheap as well.

Wednesday: Turkey Shepherd's Pie and salad (a little longer time commitment)

I've been planning to blog this one forever, but it always gets thwarted somehow. It's a family favorite and I'm always happy to make it. Lots of veggies! It's pretty inexpensive, except the ground turkey can be a bit costly. The rest, however, is all veggies so it's inexpensive that way.

Thursday: Chicken in Vinegar (braised chicken dish) with bread and salad (This one needs to be slow braised, so I need to prep ahead and it won't be done until 6pm)

Cut up whole chickens were on sale, and I happened to have most of the other ingredients so this was a no-brainer. Plus it will give us leftovers for Friday! I bought a bottle of wine to use in this, and I may have a glass, but I'll also freeze some for another week.

Friday: For me and Kev: Vegetarian Curry with rice. For Hubs: Leftover Chicken (Lazy Friday, a.k.a no time commitment. I just need to pull from the freezer)

I had the vegetables leftover from last week, so I used them to make the curry on the weekend and tucked it into the freezer.

Weekend: Leftovers and freezer meals

Baked Goods: Cranberry squares, Sunflower Whole Wheat Baguettes, and toffee cookies
The cranberries were picked up on sale after Christmas, as well as the toffee bits. If you have a well stocked baking pantry it's never really that expensive to whip up a batch of cookies.

Time is a whole different issue. I admit, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Tonight I wasn't that well organized and dinner seemed to take forever. I know I can do better, and Tomorrow night I will. In fact, I have to because I need to be out at an event at 6pm. Often I get off work at 3pm, I'm home by 3:30, and I start cooking by 3:45 to get dinner on the table by 5:00 or 5:30. I often prep things ahead of time, or have things in the freezer that help me out, or will choose recipes that don't require a long time commitment. It's a balancing act!

PS. And yes, they are all going to be blogged at some point, don't worry.

Food is Love

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:16:00 +0000

A blast of warm air hit me in the face as I removed a pan of cookies from the oven, and took a deep breath of the butter and chocolate filled air. Baking cookies has been a weekend ritual almost as long as our 19 year marriage.

I love the smell of fresh cookies. John was soon beside me, hovering over the counter, his hand poised to pick the perfect one.

"You know, honey I should teach you how to bake these. Or at the very least, write the recipe down so that if anything ever happened so that I couldn't bake or something happened to me, you'd still have your cookies."

John shook his head.

"No. I just wouldn't have them again. "

"Oh, come on. Someone else could make those. Even Kevin could, they are so easy!"

He finally chose a cookie, cradling it gingerly in his hands, and met my gaze.

"No. I wouldn't eat them. Nobody makes cookies like you." He licked chocolate off a finger and smiled.

"Nobody."

John's Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

Before John was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2, he enjoyed these on a regular basis. After the diagnosis I made it my mission to perfect them using brown sugar Splenda. Splenda changes their texture to a drier, more crumbly cookie, but he can still enjoy them! I included the instructions for both ways.

2 cups flour
3 cups quick oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar Splenda and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 2 cups of brown sugar)
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the Splenda and blend well. Scrape down the side of the bowl and add the applesauce and eggs. Blend somewhat, but only until it's combined. It will look rough and chunky but that's okay. When Splenda is in a recipe, it doesn't blend together like it would if there was actual sugar in the mixture. If you use regular brown sugar, it will all blend up beautifully like regular cookie batters do.

Add the oatmeal/flour mixture, stirring on low until the batter comes together. Turn out into a large bowl and stir in 1 3/4 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Spoon the cookies out in heaped tablespoons onto a cookie sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart, shaping with your fingers into roundish disks and pressing down slightly with the palm of your hand.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes until lightly golden and set in the middle. Remove immediately to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for a few days or freeze them up to a few weeks.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen

I May Just Be Completely Insane

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:29:00 +0000

Photo credit: DaniMU

So, just to keep life really interesting, I applied for a job. Not another one on top of the one that I already do, but a change in the one I already do. A move, if you will, to a different school. The third one in 8 months. In a job that is completely different from anything I've ever done.

As a special ed teaching assistant, I've worked in kindergartens, singing "Old MacDonald" to 5 year olds and helping zip coats. I've taught teenagers how to cook, fourteen year olds the life cycle of stars, grade fours about dragons, and kids in self contained special needs rooms how to recycle cans. There has been everything from sign language to wheelchairs, and much more. This job will be completely different from anything I've ever done.

This job will be working in three PE classes, from grades 8 to 10. PE classes that do runs every day, that I would be required to go on, rain or shine. Or snow, even. With three classes it could mean that some days I'd have to do TWO runs. TWO. Long, long runs.

While I may be fairly thin, and I eat healthy, I will admit (albeit somewhat ashamed) that I am not a very active person. I never go to the gym, I don't attend any sort of exercise classes, and my idea of a workout probably means a walk around the block. At first when I heard about this job I thought that it would be complete and utter insanity to apply, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought that it might just be the thing for me. A change of pace that may just be really good for my mental health. Exercise is good for stress, which I've had in spades, and maybe being able to zone out and get active with groups of kids is exactly what I need. Being paid to exercise may be just the motivation I need.

Also, the bonus would be I'd be in great shape by summer. That is, if the first month doesn't completely kill me first. Today I crossed my fingers, and I applied. I won't find out if I have the job or not for a little while, but here's to taking risks and trying something new.

Either that, or I'm a little insane.

Two runs? Oy. Also, I'd need to buy some new workout clothes.

I'm crazy.

Peaceful. And a Promise.

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:20:00 +0000

It is said that people who make resolutions only last for about six weeks at best-even less if you really want to keep track, I suppose. Gyms are full at the beginning of January and then all those people trying to get rid of their post Christmas paunch eventually fall off the treadmill and slink back to eating a box of cookies at their desk. Bloggers make grand promises, then don't write again for awhile.

I'll bet you all think that's what I've been doing. (edited to add: Oh dear, I only JUST noticed that Christmas photos are in my header, almost as if I still have my treat and stockings up. Yikes!)

Tonight I wrote up a few recipes that I think you'll enjoy for Valentine's Day-besides the fact that they contain Oreos, which I have made no secret that I adore and only have 3 ingredients each, they are incredibly indulgent and hard to keep away from. Even my own iron clad will power that everyone on Twitter extols when they find out that I only eat a few cookies while I bake is stretched to it's breaking point with these treats. (recipe for Oreo Cookie Bark and Oreo Truffles)

See what I mean? Melty chocolate and Oreos? Come to Mama

I came over here, realizing that I hadn't written for awhile, and was struck that the last time I had posted anything it was January 3rd. How did that happen? Where did all that time go? It seems as though while I tried to grasp my new routine as we settled into 2012 that the last week or so just slid through my fingers. Really, I was peppering my boards on Pinterest, talking about contests for crazy amazing cookware at Yummy Mummy, getting people to send me photos of things that make them furiously happy over at Kickass 2012, and making things like Meyer Lemon Curd. So I suppose it hasn't been an entirely unproductive week.

There have been many stories that have made their way into my head and not to here, yet. How I found letters written to my teenager that were tucked away for his sixteenth birthday, all with predictions that at the time seemed silly when he was still a babe growing inside me but now are startling accurate. There's a jar on my window sill with tiny bits of beach glass inside, all gathered by hand from an area not far from my home. Like tiny promises they sit there in the sun, reminding me of a time when life seemed harder and reminding me of a friend and our walks on the beach now. Of Kevin, and how he thinks I should become a computer technician because he thinks I have the aptitude for it.

I don't know why they haven't made their way from my head to here, but maybe it's part of being a writer. I guess we all go through times where the words flow from brain to fingers so easily, and others where it takes a little more perculating. If you remember our saga from dealing with bullies who falsely accused Kevin of plotting to murder their foster mother last year, just this week we finally heard from the ombudsman regarding the complaint that we filed.

In small towns when there is much gossip and innuendo, where we both have jobs which place us in the public, it's hard to have much privacy. Certainly, it can't help to have a blog as well but in our case, my space is going to allow us to tell our story. I had initially taken down the posts which had the details to the story, but now that time has passed and we have more knowledge about the situation, I am going to re-post them. The truth is that as of right now, while powers that be agree that things went horribly wrong, that there simply isn't enough information to hold anyone accountable. At least, some people. We aren't finished. Another complaint is going to be filed-one that I put off, but have been encouraged to pursue. One against a group that can be extremely intimidating, and who have a lot of power.

It's pretty disappointing so far, but at least Kevin learned that we will fight tooth and nail for him when there's injustice. Not that he didn't know that already, but he knows now that we have his back no matter who it is.

2012, so far, has been peaceful. No worries, just cozy nights by the fire where we chat and laugh together as a family. This has been a wonderful way to start the year, really. If it's a precursor to how 2012 will go, I'll take it.

Back soon with stories and the outcome of our dealings with the ombudsman. Promise.

We did It. Really DID IT.

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:53:00 +0000

Remember when I wrote this? I totally meant it. In fact, I meant it so much that Ann from Living Through the Tears and I created a blog to chronicle our year. Don't expect sad stories over there, we are going to be completely living it up! Everything fun, inspirational, and amazing will be on Kick Ass 2012.

Fun, everyday, amazing things are going to populate that blog. Even if it's just extolling the virtues of forgetting to take down your Christmas ornaments. (How long do you think I can hold out before Hubs cleans them up?) It might even be about singing the praises of good chocolate and friends who send it. The fact that The Hobbit is coming out in 2012.

Ohhhh...my precious! Did you know that I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan? That when The Return of the King was released, I dragged Hubs to the theater (and for me, that's huge-I NEVER go to the theater) even though I was horribly ill and completely drugged up on painkillers and antibiotics? Also, despite the fact that the horrible cartoon version of The Hobbit (1977) scared me so badly that I had nightmares for months about giant spiders trying to eat me and in that movie there was a massive spider who tries to eat Frodo? Of course, back when I saw the Hobbit I was 6 years old so of course I was terrified. Try massive Hobbit eating spiders when you're hyped up on painkillers. It's awesome.

I am that much of a fan.

And the really silly thing? I keep thinking of cheesy lines from Lord of the Rings these days.

(as I'm writing this Hubs is watching a show about a hunt for monster spiders and it's seriously giving me the willies. No, I don't want to know about a spider web that was as long as two football fields. Or watch people roast tarantulas. EW. That's a Food Revolution I can't get on board with. )

Which leads me to my last really awesome thing that happened today at work. On Friday, I decided to give the kids a break from all those vile vegetables that I keep making them eat and have them make these way delicious lasagna roll ups . Try them! They are SO good. As I was explaining the dish to them today and saying that they won't have to add too many veggies if they don't want to, one of the kids stopped me and said,

"But I like vegetables. Can't I make mine vegetarian?"

I almost fell over. Seriously? They went from "Salad is bunk. I'm not eating salad" to "Can we please have more vegetables?"

It's a freaking MIRACLE.

Happy 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:43:00 +0000

Somehow, over the course of Christmas holidays I hunkered down and took a break. It was unplanned really, but there I was for two solid weeks, all pajamas until noon and days without make-up, sleeping in until 10 am, cooking without taking photos or some days not cooking at all, immersing myself in books or movies, and working on a 1000 piece Christmas puzzle.

It was glorious. Simply, without a doubt, glorious.

Yesterday it was as though I finally awoke from a long slumber, looked around, and finally all my creativity, writing, and urge to cook came flooding back. In fact, I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I was up until 1 am! No matter, I had one last day to sleep in and enjoy before it's back to work and the usual routine of life.

What have I been up to?

Well, in case you missed some things while I was ridiculously snowed under with stuff and then gone:

I helped Annie make this video. It's long, but I like how it turned out.

Mid December, I helped Jamie Oliver.com throw another Twitter party, all about baking! It was a lot of fun. Then not to be outdone, I baked and decorated over 200 sugar cookies with the kids at school for our Christmas party.

Aren't they ridiculously brightly colored? The kids begged me to let them, and I caved. At home, I have some way cool natural food coloring that I need to try on my maple gingerbread that I never quite got around to icing. This week I plan to dig them out and decorate them. What, you never eat gingerbread after Christmas?

I was involved with Kraft Canada's #dessert1st fun over the holidays, where they sent me some products and I baked things up to take to friends and family. I'm STILL baking things! Oh sure, you all say that you are into the healthy stuff now that it's January but these are perfect for Valentine's Day or even Easter too!

People were SO happy to get these chocolate chunk shortbread. When I get back to work I'll bring some Oreo Truffles and sea salt caramels to share.

There was a lot of writing going on for Yummy Mummy Club. There's an article with 20 Pantry Essentials, another that talks about my frustrations with an adult picky eater, and how to get your teen to eat vegetables.

I'm doing recipes that are exclusive just to the site, so I'll be sending you over to try them out. Here's two for starters...

Sage and Apple Biscuits that are so yummy you'll make them again and again! I love how they have grated apple in them to make them super moist. Try them split and stuffed with ham and a really good mustard.

This Turkey and Black Bean Chili is a huge favorite in our house, and even my husband who won't eat anything "weirdly spiced" (aka curry) loves it. We served it with naan bread, froze it and later had it for lunches, the works. Plus it has butternut squash, which is a great way to get your kids to eat their veggies.

How was your holiday? Are you looking forward to lots of things in 2012?

My New Year's Resolution: I'm Kicking 2012's Butt

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:53:00 +0000

Photo by .anna.

One thousand paper cranes dangled from the ceiling, all in different colors and sizes, illuminated against the stained glass cross behind them. It's been ten years since I have set foot in a church and yet there I was on the winter solstice, sitting in a circle listening to the beat of First Nations drums.

Like a heartbeat, the sound thrummed away, as I tried not to cry.

2011 has been a year of huge, amazing opportunity. I have been so blessed to work with great companies, travel to Toronto, meet amazing people, and grow this place. I earned jobs that I love, and have been supported by so many people. On the flip side, 2011 has also been one of the hardest I've had to endure. Sick family members, loved ones, and on the winter solstice, news that I never, ever, expected to hear.

Someone in my life doesn't have a lot of time.

The solstice ceremony passed in a blur, and I found myself in bed the next morning not even wanting to get up to finish getting things ready for Christmas. At the store, I wheeled my cart to the cash register and stood there blankly, willing myself to keep plodding, keep moving forward.

A lady behind me waved her two items in my face and tried to start up conversation, while I blankly stared at her and then turned around.

I can't do this, I thought. I can't continue to go on as if life is normal, when it isn't. It just so isn't.

I caught her puzzled look as she moved onto the next person, but I didn't care. Maybe on another day I would have let her go ahead of me in line, but that day, it took everything in me just to push that shopping cart through the store and make it home again, where I sat and cried.

Everything seemed just so pointless. What had I been doing the last two years? Self promotion? Writing about things for companies who sent me a product and then I never hear from them again? Stressing myself out about silly things like creating a recipe for a contest, for what? Why was I doing this? Talk of Christmas presents, shopping, decorations, and more flitted by on Twitter and for the first time in my life, I truly didn't care. So what that our tree was tiny. Or that we didn't have a pile of presents under it. So what that we chose to stay home and spend time together instead of parties, and that this was the quietest Christmas ever.

This Christmas, what I needed was peace.

December 25th came and throughout the day, I participated in #hourlyphoto, focusing on the things I love-the little things that bring me joy, such as old decorations that hold memories, or watching Kevin and John put something together.(you can look at the whole set here)

That night, I lay in bed wide awake, and I finally realized that 2012 is coming whether I'm ready or not and I could sit here and fear it, or I could claim it and help this person that I love so dearly to squeeze every last drop of happiness out of it.

Life is far too sweet, and much too short to waste my time.

The other night, I began tweeting my intentions. 2012, I'm so going to own you. I'm not wasting time anymore. I'm going to live with intention because while I know things are coming, I'm not going to let that own me. I'm taking charge and living the best I can right this minute because tomorrow is a GIFT.

Suddenly. @annbac9 joined in. Then someone else. And another. Still more.

Right there, a hashtag was born and before I knew it, #kickass2012 became a movement. Not about being successful with money or blogging, but not allowing adversity to kick us down, and instead to grab life and squeeze out every bit of happiness.

2012, I can't change you.

But I WILL own you.

Wanna join?

(Ps.before anyone freaks out, I'm not talking about myself or an immediate family member. @annbac9 and I have big plans for the #kickass2012 hashtag, which just may turn into a full fledged blog to chronicle just how we are kicking 2012's butt-and YOU are invited to join in. Details to come!)

Merry Christmas! Hourly Photo Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

My friend Andrea over at Peek Inside the Fishbowl threw down her annual photo challenge, and this year I couldn't resist. Photos? Christmas? You got it. Good thing it was on Christmas Day this year too, because Christmas Eve my batteries died in my camera. Fully charged, ready to go, here's our photos so far! I'll be adding to it as the day (and evening) roll on by. You can follow me in real time on Twitter, too. Just look for #hourlyphoto!

10:00 am. When you have teenagers, everyone gets to sleep in! It's wonderful, and gives me time to get the big gift under the tree because the teen? Slept until 10:30 am. I started making breakfast.

11:00 am. Wait...breakfast? We opened gifts first while these amazing maple syrup glazed bacon pecan chickpeas roasted in the oven. Then we scarfed them down with croissants, oranges, glasses of milk, and later big cups of coffee.

12:00 pm. It's never, ever, Christmas in this house until John and Kevin are building something. This year we found a very old stereo system at the thrift store that Kevin wanted, and they spent hours fixing/taking it apart. It even has an 8 track player! I laughed that out of all the gifts, he's most excited about something under $10 from the thrift store.

1:00 pm. Gifts from an amazing friend (not pictured: a way cute elf cookie cutter and mini pie plates) This girl really gets me! Lots of treats to eat, cool food things to play with (lime oil!) and a beautiful handmade stocking.

2:00 pm. Wind, rain, sun...the weather isn't that great today, but the view across the Strait of Georgia from my kitchen is amazing. I thought those black specks above the houses and trees were something on my lens at first, until I realized they are birds.

Come back throughout the day as I add to this!

Christmas Cookies: A Cautionary Tale

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Chocolate chip candy cane shortbread, butterfinger truffles, and maple butter tarts are lovingly baked and tucked into the freezer for Christmas. With only three of us, it seems to make sense to bake ahead because there's no way that we need a pile of treats at Christmas, right? Bake, have some to eat, keep some in the fridge, we're good to go!

I reach my hand into the frosty interior of the fridge and pull out a tupperware that only a week before held three dozen of the most delectable chocolate ganache coated and candy cane sprinkled shortbread. Wait, it feels light. Really light. The lid comes off and there's one lone cookie-a stray really, which was missed when I was coating them with chocolate and carefully sprinkling with crushed candy cane.

A single plain shortbread cookie is at the bottom of the tin.

"You are them ALL? All three dozen?"

"You're going to make more, right? Those were so good." Kevin munches his pizza at the dining room table.

Either I need to bake more cookies, or just stop baking at all until December 22nd.

Do your kids eat all your Christmas cookies?

Check out Tasty Five over at Chasing Tomatoes for some fantastic cookie recipes, and details on the Food Revolution Twitter Party I'm guest hosting on Tuesday!

Change for A Dollar

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:59:00 +0000

This time of year when people are so concerned with the perfect gift, keep this in mind:

You CAN create change, with only a dollar.

Embarrassing Your Teen In Three Easy Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Kevin: "Mom, can you take a photo of me for my website?"

Me: "You really need a hair cut. Say 'cheese!' No really, smile, dammit. Not like that. Not like you are constipated. Think of girls. "

Kevin: "Uh, Mom? Why are you still taking pictures? And stop mentioning those girls I like."

Me: "Why not? You're smiling aren't you?"

Kevin: "I can NOT believe you just said THAT to get me to smile. You are SO WEIRD."

Me: "You're a guy. I knew THAT would make you laugh."

Recipe Tuesday: Maple California Walnut Mini Cheesecakes

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:58:00 +0000

When I think of walnuts, I can't help but pair it up with maple, and these mini cheesecakes are perfect for a special occasion dessert! I was asked by the California Walnut Commission to come up with a great holiday dessert using their delicious walnuts! How could I resist? Maple Walnut ice cream was my childhood favorite, and this takes me right back.

Crust:

3/4 cup graham wafer crumbs
1 tbsp maple sugar
1/2 cup California walnuts, chopped finely
1/4 cup butter, melted

Line each of the muffin cups in a large muffin tin with foil, smoothing it out as best you can. Set aside.

In a bowl, stir together the graham wafer crumbs, maple sugar, and walnuts. Drizzle the melted butter over top and stir. Divide the mixture among the six muffin cups, pressing it into the bottom of the cups. Set aside.

Filling:

two 8 oz packages of cream cheese
2/3 cup maple syrup
2 eggs
1 tsp maple extract

Pre-heat oven to 325 F.

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the maple syrup and extract, beating on low until well combined.

Pour the batter into the muffin cups and bake for about 30 minutes.

Garnish:

5 tbsp maple syrup
1/3 cup maple sugar
1 cup California walnut halves

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip the walnuts in maple syrup, shaking off the excess, then roll in maple sugar before placing on the baking sheet. Bake in a 325 F oven for about 10 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. Let cool.

To assemble:

Gently remove the foil from each cheesecake. Chop about half of the candied walnuts and roll each cheesecake in the nuts, coating the sides. Place the cheesecakes on a plate and top with whipped cream and candied walnuts as a garnish.

Makes 6 mini cheesecakes. Keep them refrigerated for a few days, or you could possibly freeze them, wrapped, and with out the garnishes.

Christmas Awesomeness

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:37:00 +0000

Do you have Christmas carols that get on your nerves? Ones that you feel if you must listen to them again, you will run screaming from the room? I have a few like that, and if I had seen the title of this video on You Tube it's likely I wouldn't have clicked, but I found a story about how viral this video has gone, and I did.

This. IS. AWESOME. I would pay to download this version of Drummer Boy from iTunes, even. Check out some amazing Canadian talent, brought to you by Sean Quigley of Winnipeg. You can also find Sean at @SeanQuigley204 on Twitter.

Another teenager from Nashville made this video, which is completely different but had me laughing so hard my eyes were watering. Want something light and fun? Then this one's for you, by Preston Leatherman. (@prestonstweetin)

Christmas Is..

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:03:00 +0000

A counter covered in flour as I roll out sweet dough, cutting it into stars and pressing a cherry into the centre before baking.

Curling up on the couch with a gangly 15 year old under a blanket to watch a movie.

Strolling through the woods hand in hand with my husband, marvelling at the beauty of the forest this time of year.

The colourful twinkle of Christmas lights on the trees downtown, lining the road like soldiers.

Phone calls with old friends.

A tiny tree in our living room, which has become a symbol of our commitment to return to the basics of Christmas.

Small gifts, chosen with care together and wrapped carefully.

Home made cookies and treats for our neighbours and co-workers, and the delight on their faces when we drop them off.

A puzzle spread on our dining room table, ready to be finished by anyone who happens to walk by.

Stealing gingerbread cookies from the freezer and picking off the M&Ms first.

Mandarine oranges, sweet and juicy.

A new package of socks in my stocking.

Fuzzy pajama pants, perfect for sitting around and drinking hot chocolate in.

The delight of looking out the window and in the moonlight, seeing snow softly falling.

Butter tarts.

Kevin's laughter as he and John tease each other, then their arguing as they build something. (EVERY Christmas!)

Slipping extra food into the Food Bank donation box.

Appreciating the things that are simple; because when you think about it, they really are enough.

What is Christmas to you?

Food Revolution Friday: Not Just a Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Last week, I made these biscuits with the kids. I'm learning things about cooking with teenagers, things that I never considered would be an issue. Each week, I learn something new.

Firstly, some of these kids really cook and they are chomping at the bit, man. They want to make bread, try things that they have never tasted, and get with the program. I wish, so deeply, that I could make that happen. For now? Let's just teach them biscuits. Here's how you hold a pastry cutter. Yes, you need little bits of butter in your biscuit dough, so it gets all flaky. As they cook, I feed them little bits of information; tips and tricks to help with technique, information about their ingredients, and more.

Secondly, teenagers are easily grossed out. Well, I should be fair-some teens are grossed out. Hungry teens? They could care less. While we baked biscuits, they all wanted to know what buttermilk was, and I will admit that I was a total chicken and didn't really tell them. Uh, it's kind of a special milk, I said. Has lots of flavor in it. WAY better for biscuits. Fermented milk just would gross them out.

I love watching these guys cook. I love, more than anything, teaching them how to make something out of what seems like nothing. More than anything, I love being able to feed them because I know that some of them are hungry every day. Nothing ever goes to waste, and although what we've made is simple, it makes my heart swell with joy when they take the recipe home with them and we discuss how they can make it better.

The tiny room with huge windows isn't just a kitchen.

It's freedom.

Go Ahead. Call Us Weird

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:14:00 +0000

This post was written in reply to Today's Parent's call for blogger submission about what makes our families unique.

Snow fell silently outside in the glow of twinkle lights, as the strains of "Silent Night" drifted through the quiet hospital corridors. Kevin slept, finally, the light blonde fuzz of his sweet newborn baby head illuminated in the moonlight like a halo.

"So this is how Mary felt," I thought. "This is what it's like to be a Mom."

I really had no idea of what I was in for. There were the highest moments of all when my heart felt like it would burst, like when he fell asleep on my chest, reading bedtime stories after a bath, kisses goodbye, and when he grabs me in a bear hug now and lifts me off my feet. There were also moments when my heart would break, such as finding him in a corner sobbing that he was stupid, the bullies down the street, and advocating for him with his schools.

Nothing prepares you for motherhood. The best you can do is hang on and enjoy the ride. Our family, I'd like to think, is unique. Different from other families. Maybe it's because John and I have a twenty year age difference, and for years ran a therapeutic group home raising teenage boys. Then there is his daughter, who is almost my age, and Kevin, our son together. Some people think our family configuration is weird. I will admit, I get a kick out of playing with their brains when we're all together, as I watch them try to figure who exactly is that Mom, and how we all fit together. The truth is, I’ve never cared what other people assume about our family, which some classify as unusual as our May/December marriage.

After nineteen years, we think it just works.

Throughout adversity that tears families apart, ours has only grown closer. In the midst of job losses, many moves, near deaths, illness and more, we have become an extremely tight knit little group that is prone to huge adventure. Maybe it’s the fact John can never sit still, and I’m always one who is along for the ride. Not ones to sit on a couch, years ago John and I were scuba diving off BC's coast, flying planes, and now we spelunk, take 8000 + km long road trips, 4x4 in remote Utah locations, dream of zip lining and kayaking, all unplugged from the trappings of the Internet. We have some off beat views on cell phones (rarely ever use one), and are a family who would rather be out hunting for fossils in the dirt than attending a play in the city. Give me a sunny day digging around in the dirt by a rose quartz mine in the middle of South Dakota instead!

Sometimes, it feels like we've held every unusual label-the family that has struggled with learning disabilities, who have advocated with school districts, and finally opted for online learning for our teenager. We've lived in the city, and now are out in a rural area where bears roam a short distance from our door. Our home may be free of any video game consoles, but to our shock Kevin eventually designed his own computer games in the recesses of his room. Maybe we’re all a bit quirky, yes. A little off beat, even. Certainly not average, that’s for sure.

Go ahead, call us a little weird, we won’t mind.

In fact, there’s a very good chance we’ll agree with you.

Hungry for more?

1. When you Feel Like the Bullies Are Winning
2. This is What Freedom Looks Like
3. My Most Read Post

Taken

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:05:00 +0000

Last week I was at the grocery store picking up the latest copy of Bon Appetit, when the older gentleman in front of me started chatting.

"Hey, I'll come to your house for dinner!" He sidled up to me and smiled warmly. "That looks great. What are you making?"

"I'm not sure, yet." Flipping through the magazine, I grinned at him. "Oh, this looks good. How about this?" I hold the magazine up to him, as he reaches over and grabs my hand.

"Oh, you aren't married" He noticed the absence of my wedding ring. When I had been deboning chicken a week ago, I think some bacteria had worked it's way under the ring and my skin had broken out into a rash. I cleaned the ring and then put it away for awhile until my finger healed.

"Well no, actually I am married...."

"Want to trade in the young guy for an older, more appreciative model?" he winked. I began to giggle.

"My husband is 60."

He gasped, one hand placed on his chest for full effect.

"You must be...NO way...." he stammered, looking at me curiously.

"I'm 40."

"Oh, well then," he placed his hand on my arm and smiled sweetly before collecting his groceries and leaving, "Your husband is a lucky man, then."

Today as John and I walked through the woods in the sunshine hand in hand, I recanted the story to him and when I got to the end, I looked up to find him smiling at me.

"I am."

Best Books For Cooks

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:17:00 +0000

Photo credit: Slightly Everything

Do you have a cook on your Christmas list, and you are wondering what to buy them? Head on over the Chasing Tomatoes where I listed my favorite cookbooks from this year. There's something for everyone, from the highly complicated recipes to easy and every day, families, healthy, and baking. These are the books that I've been using my kitchen for the past year, and some are so new I haven't even had the chance to try them yet. You'll be sure to find something interesting over there for a cook in your life!

Keep an eye out, as I'm scouting kitchen shops and finding interesting tools and other fun Christmas gifts for cooks in your life-or just those who love to eat!

What's on your Christmas list?

On Balance and Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

If you've been here awhile, you've noticed that I've been struggling. Posts have been sporatic, I haven't finished things I've started (hello, Bliss?), and it's pretty clear that I've lost my focus.

At home, it's the same-I haven't kept up with anything, from laundry to housework, making sure Kev is on track with school, and more.

I hate it. I hate being unreliable, letting people down, and not being at my best. I've been losing things, like one of our hand sets for our phone. How does that happen? Hubs is wandering through the house, trying to find it while I'm at work. (between you and me, I hope that I didn't leave it some place where it can be ruined, like the freezer. Or outside. Fingers crossed?)

Yes, things are stressful; and I think, I was trying to keep from thinking too hard about anything by just not allowing myself time to think at all. Pile on more, and more, and more so that I'm so exhausted that I can't think anymore, blog anymore, BE anymore, because if you are too tired to think, you can't worry in the middle of the night, right?

That plan didn't work so well.

Over the weekend, I took the great advice of a friend of mine to go easy on myself, and for the first time in a long time, I shut off the computer and walked away. No sitting in front of it, trying to will myself into writing something and then panicking when the words wouldn't come. No pressuring myself to tweet, write, or come up with anything witty and entertaining. No looking at stats, reading emails, no trying to take photos for content, just....nothing. Nothing at all.

Instead I walked with my husband in a carpet of leaves in the forest, and we marveled at how close a squirrel was when it ran up a nearby tree trunk. We meandered our way down a path he has named "Mushroom Alley", and counted all the different kinds of wild mushrooms we could see. Some were the color of orange sherbet, others looked like fairy parasols.

I took Kevin out and we enjoyed conversation over huge slices of cheesy pizza and cokes in a local shop.

There was tea and cookies with a dear friend, who I had missed when our schedules didn't allow us enough time to meet the week before.

Finally, I had the chance to organize things long since forgotten, throwing out all sorts of papers and garbage that needed to be purged, making piles to donate and others to stash away. I found things long since forgotten, such as pictures, my social insurance card, coupons, and recipes.
Curled up in a fuzzy blanket by a warm fire, I dozed for hours.

A calendar was dug out, cookbooks thumbed through, and plans made for the next month in the kitchen as I watched the Jamie Oliver videos I posted yesterday.

My plants, parched and starting to wither, were finally watered. As I stood there with the watering can I realized that like my very soul, all that running and working, trying to be distracted so that I didn't have to think too hard, was making me parched too.

I don't think that I've quite found the balance yet, but I'm getting there, and tonight I wrote this post as I sipped hot chocolate, sang to you Tube videos, and smiled more than I have in weeks. Bit by tiny bit, I'm finding my Bliss again.

You can't write about life if you aren't letting yourself stop long enough to live it.

Recipe Tuesday: Maple Chocolate Pecan Butter Tarts

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

So delectable, even the most strict butter tart purist will find them hard to resist. Head on over to Chasing Tomatoes for the recipe!

Watch Jamie Cook Christmas Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:29:00 +0000

I was browsing You Tube and found a Christmas special from Jamie at Home that I thought you all would enjoy. While we aren't cooking a turkey dinner this year, there are things that I'd really like try, such as the chestnuts and some flavored butter. There's wonderful tips in there too, especially about carving birds (I was doing it wrong!) and making gravy. If you only watch one, you must watch #4 as Jamie bakes with a friend and slips something special into his tart. I was laughing so hard that my eyes were watering!

Want more? Check out parts 2,(braised greens with flavored butter, best roast potatoes, 3 (learn how to carve turkey, make great gravy, boil up some chestnuts) and 4 (dessert!)

What's on your menu for Christmas? Do you even start thinking about it this early?