Strawberry Roan

This Isn't Goodbye

2013-08-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

What an unproductive summer on the DIY/Blogging front over here. As I stare at my list of projects and plans from May it's impossible not to feel a bit disappointed at how little I accomplished. That's not to say I wasn't busy this summer - it flew by again, just like every other one before it. However it's never fun to look back at all that could have been completed and know that you will never get the time back.

I supposed the list will have to wait for next May and I can take comfort in the fact that nothing on it was important enough to require a timeline - no, "reverse global warming" didn't make the cut this year. In the meantime, I am off to Europe with my boyfriend until early 2014, where I can all but guarantee I won't have any DIY projects to share.

If you get the itch and can't wait until I'm back for a new DIY project, may I suggest checking out a few of my most popular posts from the spring? My stenciled Aztec Tote is right on trend for fall, while my Vintage Book E-Reader Case can be completed in under an hour. If time in the kitchen is more your style, it's hard to go wrong with a blackberry-lemon flavour combination!

Until the projects begin flowing again next year, you can always pop by and say hello on my travel blog haveblogwilltravel.org

Thanks for following along and have a wonderful 2013!
Calli

Writer's Block

2013-06-10T09:53:00.001-07:00

On this sunny Monday morning I find myself with the day off from work and very little crowding my to-do list. After a shower and a few minutes distraction provided by various morning news programs on television, a little voice in my head begins nagging at me to write. It's been a month since my last post, and although I've accumulated some new muffin recipes worth sharing, and could brag about the successes of my first attempt at growing a vegetables garden (the lettuce is ready to eat already!), I just can't bring myself to do the work. Getting the words down, while making smart and cool pop-culture references and funny quips, bringing the piece together in a neatly tied package, is daunting to me today - a feeling that's been growing over the last month.

It's not that I haven't been writing, on our Travel Blog my boyfriend and I recently put out a four week series detailing every aspect of our budgeting process, and announced another long-term trip we will be embarking on this fall. However those pieces border on clinical, a far cry from the fun or funny. While I struggle to get words, any words, down in blog form, I can't help but think back to the fall, when we explored Europe's winding streets and ancient sites by day and wrote about them, at length, by night - every night. Exhausted from walking all day, we somehow managed to write, edit photos, and keep up with social media, on a daily basis.

Now home, with excess time on our hands and an array of comfortable locales from which to settle in and write, the words have dissipated and I find myself perched in front of the computer staring at an empty screen, unable to string together anything worth sharing. Perhaps the issue is not one of time or accessibility, but a lack of inspiration. Without that burning desire to share what I've been up to in the kitchen, or pride in a recent DIY project, the words have dried up.

The passion will return, this isn't my first dry spell and will unlikely be my last, however there is something truly frustrating about losing the desire the moment you give it your full attention. While working part-time this summer, I have the rare opportunity to spend copious amounts of time doing what I love, and instead I find myself parked in front of Breakfast Television, cringing at the awkward interviews.

While I work to find my way back to writing, here's some wonderful Monday Morning inspiration to start the week off right, courtesy of my Pinterest addiction...

Spring blooms in colourful glass bottles (via)

Mix and match patterned pillows for the perfect outdoor seating (via)

Buttery and soft sugar cookie sandwiches on charming china (via)

White on white with hints of blue (via)

Poolside hit of pink (via)

Sweet and Easy Strawberry Tart

2013-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

A big wedge of tart with a scoop of frozen yoghurt

Sometimes, in the chaos of the work week, dessert becomes a necessity. Hailing from a long line of dessert fans, both my grandfathers are guilty of overusing the phrase "one of each", dessert is always welcome, mid-week or not, however I often don't have the time to make something during the week, much to the relief of my waistline.

However I may have just created something out of control, forever wreaking havoc on both the space time continuum and my favorite skinny jeans. As though I could accomplish two things at once, dessert accompanied dinner tonight, without any juggling of my schedule, with this super easy, incredibly fast, and wonderfully fresh tasting Strawberry Tart.

And yes, I watched Fringe on FOX and now think I fully understand the field of Physics including the theories of time travel.

This tart is not only fast and simple to make, it also requires only three ingredients - puff pastry, strawberries, and sugar - and, after realizing how amazing it is, I plan to keep puff pastry in my freezer on an ongoing basis, meaning I can easily whip this tart up whenever I want, using whatever fruit I have on hand (peach raspberry first popped to mind but there are plenty of options).

Looks tasty doesn't it?

To make your very own Strawberry Tart simply...

1. Lay one piece of the pastry out on a buttered baking tray and set your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Wash your strawberries and slice, about a cup and a half, then arrange on the pastry leaving a half inch border. Sprinkle with one teaspoon of sugar.

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the berries are tender and their juices begin to seep out

4. Cool and top with whipping cream or vanilla ice cream or frozen yoghurt (our personal favorite)

The tart, fresh from the oven

Recipe Synopsis:

Taste: Fresh and not too sweet, the berry taste comes through and works well with the whipped or ice cream.

Texture: Juicy berries and light, fluffy pastry

Wow Factor: The prettiest dessert I've ever assembled in five minutes

Difficulty: Wonderfully easy

Serve With: Whipped or ice cream, it's wonderfully light making it perfect for hot summer days

I actually found this recipe a year ago and somehow my plans to make it have continuously been delayed. You can find the original version at PopSugar.

Note: my berries didn't let off as much juice as those in the original photo, so on my second attempt I let them sit with some sugar in a bowl after being sliced, then poured the juices over the arranged slices before popping it in the oven.

Yes, I made two - when the puff pastry comes in two packs what's a girl to do?

Cranberry Scones for Breakfast

2013-04-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

I fell back on an oldie but a goodie this morning, as I whipped up a batch of Cranberry Scones to accompany my morning tea.

I return to this recipe time and time again, as these scones always turn out wonderfully, however this morning when I decided to make some on a whim I realized I didn't have any half and half - it's not something I normally keep in the house. Before panicking, I decided to substitute yoghurt for the cream, however upon opening my container of Greek yoghurt I realized it had gone bad.

It must be Monday morning.

Unwilling to abandon my desire for fresh Cranberry scones I turned to the internet, and although the options were lacking, I decided to chance the recipe using some some sour cream.

Luckily the scones turned out as wonderful as always, and now that I know they can be so delicious without half and half I am unlikely to go back - it will be only healthier Greek yoghurt or sour cream moving forward!

The scones, heading into the oven

Fresh and juicy from the oven and ready to be devoured

I've shared the recipe before, in it's original context, (adapted from Martha Stewart), however here is my revised recipe using sour cream...

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

5 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons chilled butter

2/3 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon milk

2/3 cup frozen cranberries

Process:

Combine the dry ingredients and then cut in the chilled butter using a pastry blender. Add the sour cream and milk and stir to combine. Add the frozen cranberries. You may want to use your hands at this point as it can be hard to get the dough to form a ball, however be careful not to overwork the dough as it will make your scones tough. As these scones are quite rustic, don't worry about making every little bit of flour come together. Move the dough onto the counter and work into a disc shape, about 1/2 and inch thick - again these are meant to be rustic. Slice into wedges and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until the bottoms begin to brown. Let cool slightly before consuming.

Recipe Synopsis:

Taste: The scone is light, not too sweet, and the cranberries add a lovely juicy tartness.

Texture: Flaky pastry and plump juicy cranberries.

Wow Factor: Although intended to look rustic, the scones are still quite lovely and would make a wonderful gift

Difficulty: Quite simple and fast, the recipe only requires one bowl. The most difficult part is bringing the dough together and not trying to make everything perfect.

Serve With: A hot cup of tea or coffee for breakfast, or tuck into a lunch bag for a morning snack.

Ending up on Etsy

2013-04-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Perusing the internet on a Friday evening, waiting for my boyfriend to get home so we can eat dinner, I stumbled over to Poppytalk, a wonderful Canadian design blog if you haven't yet had the pleasure, only to read about an exciting Etsy and West Elm pop-up shop hitting Vancouver later this month.

With Vancouver only a few short hours away I had to check it out, which led me to the individual Etsy sites for each vendor participating... an hour of browsing beautiful things later and my Christmas shopping is complete, or might as well be.

Sometimes I find Etsy a little bit intimidating, there are so many vendors and so many products that one search pulls up hundreds of pages of results. It's very simple to be sucked in, only to surface hours later unsure of what just happened. Therefore I love to read up on other people's favorite sellers, and to hear that they are getting together in Vancouver is just too exciting!

Here are a few of my favorite item's from the featured sellers, you can find the entire list on Poppytalk here, as well as all the event information.

These cufflinks are made from bamboo. I love the little teepee tents! (by Cabin)

Can you believe this is a soother clip, perfect for the preppiest of babies. (by DownHomeAmy)

A gorgeous Merlot Sea Salt that has my mouth watering with sweet and salty flavour ideas (by The Pink Peppercorn)

Every Vancouverite needs their own set of jealousy inflicting chopsticks (by StorieBrooke)

Unfortunately, even being so close, it doesn't look like I'll be able to sneak down for the weekend. However if anyone lives in the area and decides to go please feel free to gloat away, I will live through you vicariously.

Tutorial - DIY Aztec Print Tote Bag

2013-04-23T20:44:00.001-07:00

It appears Aztec and Navajo prints are going to stick around for awhile - which is plenty fine by me, I love their sharp geometrical angles, especially when paired with bright punchy colours.

As the trend continues to grow, moving from fashion to home goods, accessories, and even manicures, I decided it was time I had a little Aztec in my life. I decided to incorporate the print into a DIY project, preferring to stay away from the shops to save my pennies for travel, utilizing a stencil to keep the edges crisp and straight.

To make one of your very own, here are the materials you'll need:

Transparent paper (to make the stencil)
Thin tip permanent marker
Exacto knife
Any pattern, print, or silhouette
Scotch tape
Acrylic paint
Sponge paint brushes
Canvas tote bag
Cardboard
Plastic plate

To start, we need to make the stencil for our pattern. Although I chose to go with an Aztec print, the options really are endless and I've got a few more ideas in the works that I hope to try soon. I found a print I liked online and printed it out, scaled to fit on an 8x11 piece of paper. With some decent ruler skills you could also draw up your own pattern on some grid paper.


Stencil materials - I used a pop flat to cut on but a cutting mat would be much better

The transparent folders I bought from Staples called Poly Project Pockets worked great

Taking the pattern, attach it to your transparent paper and trace over the pattern with your marker. I found transparent folders that had a good thickness - thin enough to cut through but thick enough to hold up - a five pack was on sale for $6, and I was able to cut them open, doubling what I have to work with (cutting my cost/stencil to 0.60 cents) .

The transparent paper after tracing my pattern

Cutting open the folder

Once the pattern is transferred, remove the original paper copy and then, working on a piece of cardboard to protect your table, carefully cut out the pattern using your exacto knife.

Cutting out the pattern is tedious but you want to do a good job to ensure you get a quality stencil

Now that the stencil is created, we can move onto painting - the fun part!

Slide a piece of cardboard into the tote bag to prevent any paint from bleeding through and place a small amount of paint onto the plastic plate. Layout your stencil and secure it to the canvas with the Scotch tape.

My canvas tote bag was a bit wrinkled so I ironed it first to ensure it would lay flat.

Lay out the stencil and secure it with tape

Using one colour at a time, apply the paint with the sponge brush in a dabbing motion. To avoid bleeding, keep the brush vertical, dabbing up and down, and only apply a small amount of paint to the brush at one time.

I found it was also helpful to tape off the sections of the stencil I didn't want to paint - because my stencil was more on the intricate side with small gaps between the shapes, I didn't want to accidentally "spill" paint over the edges of the stencil.

You can see the tape covering sections of the stencil to avoid accidents

Apply the paint one colour at a time, letting it dry in between

Between colours it's a good idea to allow the paint to dry for 5-10 minutes - remove the stencil to avoid any smudging.

Once the pattern is complete let the entire bag dry overnight before putting it to use. As far as cleanup is concerned, it was a breeze. I simply peeled the tape off the stencil and wiped it down with a damp paper towel so I can use it again and washed out my foam brushes.

Once the painting is done remove the stencil and let it dry

I tried to think ahead when applying the paint to avoid having too much of one colour in a single area

This craft smart paint is from Michaels - I used Dark Yellow, Spearmint, Turquoise, Grape Taffy, and Hot Pink

I'm extremely happy with how my tote bag turned out, the colours are perfect for summer and the lines are quite crisp with very little bleeding. The project took about 6 hours total, which depends significantly on the complexity of your stencil. Initially I thought this tote would be the perfect size to hold my knitting projects; however, now I think it's too cute to keep stored away at home.

The finished product!

Psst! I'm sharing this project over at...
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DIY Inspiration - Aztec and Navajo Prints

2013-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Aztec is not only one of the hottest trends right now, it's also the inspiration for my latest DIY project. Although we saw an array of glorious chunky aztec print sweaters this winter, the pattern is now dominating fashion as well as interior design and the vast world of accessories - it's even found it's way onto my little blog as a little something extra to spice up the header.

THE INSPIRATION

Add a crisp blazer for a polished look (via)

Patterned sunglasses to match your manicure (via)

A cute detail on these two toned oxfords (via)

A fun printed quilt in primary colours (via)

An relaxed tunic in blacks and browns (via)

Some Aztec inspired bling (via)

A delicate clutch gets a punch of neon pink (via)

A pretty little throw pillow in bright hues (via)

MY CREATION

Taking in all this inspiration, I decided to make an Aztec print tote, using a handmade stencil I whipped up from items at my local office supply store. I'll share the tutorial tomorrow!

Killer Flavour Combination - Lemon & Blackberry Part II

2013-04-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Warning: These pretty little cupcakes pack a major punch of bright, summery flavour. Any winterized taste buds familiar with root vegetables and bland stews may be in for a shock.

My apologies for the delay in writing, these cupcakes were served up at my Grandmother's birthday nearly a month ago, oh how times flies.

After promising to bring cake for the afternoon celebrations, I went back on my word and switched to cupcakes. Easier to assemble and transport than a large cake, they are also more fun to eat, less messy to serve, and conveniently packaged to send home as leftovers.

Relying on a simple lemon cake mix, I added an extra kick with a tablespoon or two of fresh lemon juice and zest in place of the same amount of water. Although I cheated this little bit, it was impossible to tell after topping the cakes with a generous portion of fresh blackberry buttercream (I used this recipe from Sugar Song Cakes which calls for thawed frozen berries).

The nod of approval, and confirmation that the cupcakes were in fact delicious, came from my grandfather. After being diagnosed with dementia a few years ago we had to move him into a care home last January. Although he doesn't recognize me or remember the relationship we once had, his face lit up after biting into the cupcake and that was all the praise I needed.

Sharing this over at: Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons, Nap Time Crafters, and Just Us Four Blog

Killer Flavour Combination - Lemon & Blackberry Part I

2013-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit lemon crazy as of late, perhaps it's their cheery lemon hue, wonderful tartness, or teamwork skills when paired with a variety of other flavours. Therefore, it's no wonder I leaned on the lovely lemon for our Bake-Off Rematch this past weekend.

With the addition of plump blackberries to my lemony base, the flavour was irresistible - sweet yet tart, creamy yet fresh, and the perfect accompaniment to spring. This was actually the second of two desserts I've made this month using a Lemon-Blackberry flavour combination (the second I will be sure to share soon!).

Going back to a recipe I'd struggled with in the past, I was a bit nervous about how my cheesecake would turn out. However, after cutting the amount of milk to 1/2 cup and baking the base layer for 15 minutes, the cheesecake set up wonderfully.

It did crack - there's my big dirty secret - however after topping it with a generous pile of fresh berries no one was any the wiser.

Recipe adapted from ivillage

Ingredients:

2 tbsp melted butter

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 pounds cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cups flour

1 tbsp vanilla

1 1/2 pints blackberries

1 lemon, zest and juice

(you may want an additional pint of blackberries for decoration)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.

Combine the graham crackers and melted butter in a bowl and press into the bottom of the pan. (The original recipe called for the crust to extend halfway up the sides of the pan however I did not have enough mixture to do this - you may want to increase the graham crumb and butter amounts to allow for this).

In the bowl of your stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), combine the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Blend in the milk and beat in eggs one at a time until incorporated. Mix in the sour cream, flour, and vanilla until smooth.

Divide mixture between two bowls and set one aside.

In a blender or food processor, puree one pint of blackberries with the lemon zest and juice. Add the puree into one of the two bowls of cheese mixture alone with half a pint of whole blackberries. Mix well.

Pour the blackberry mixture over the graham crust and bake for 15 minutes. The middle will still be slightly jiggly. Remove from oven and carefully pour the plain filling over the cake - I used a measuring cup to gently pour the filling and ensure the bottom layer wasn't disturbed.

Return to the oven and bake for one hour. The outsides will be set yet the middle will still be slightly jiggly. To cool, I like to leave the cake in the oven with the door open for about an hour before moving it to the counter for a couple hours and then finally into the refrigerator.

Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Recipe Synopsis:

Taste: A bit tart with a big punch of blackberry flavour. The plain layer compliments the intense berry layer nicely.

Texture: Extremely creamy and light.

Wow Factor: The layered look is quite impressive. For a fancy look play with different topping options such as sugared berries, whipped cream, and lemon zest.

Difficulty: A bit more labour intensive than sinlge layer cheesecake, add the second layer carefully for a clean look.

Serve With: Delicious on it's own or even for breakfast (guilty!), this cheesecake would be delicious for Easter or Mother's Day.

Bake-Off Rematch: Cheesecake

2013-03-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend marked the re-match of the infamous bake-off last summer. Seeing as I escaped to Europe shortly after that heartbreaking loss (mostly to lick my wounds) this spring was the soonest we could set up round two.

The parameters this time were easy - bake a cheesecake good enough to knock everyone's socks off. I knew the competition was tough but felt up to the challenge.

The three incredible looking entries

I opted for an intense, spring-like flavour combination using fresh blackberries and tart lemon. I was positive this recipe would clench the title, it looks beautiful and tastes even better. However victory escaped me again and left me seriously doubting my baking skills.

Now I'm wondering if the judging isn't rigged.

Making sure to sample each piece

Seriously, this cheesecake is wonderfully sweet and fresh tasting and, as I drown my sorrows today eating it straight from the spring-form pan, I don't know where I went wrong. Yes, the flavours are strong, but who doesn't love lemon and blackberries? Perhaps I misjudged my audience...

In the end it seems everyone is a winner, indulging in creamy cheesecake and a wonderful evening with friends. Or perhaps, more accurately, we are all losers, three pieces of cheesecake in one sitting is too much for even the biggest of dessert fans.

I gave it my best shot

I'll share my recipe and some photos with you later this week - if you don't mind second rate cheesecake.

My (Current) Favorite Stitches

2013-03-22T11:24:00.001-07:00

In my quest to take up knitting, I've been honing my skills with a lot of scarf projects - almost a dozen already - and discovered some wonderful stitches that knit up flat, fast, and fluffy, the perfect combination for winter's wicked winds and frigid temperatures.

It's really only fair that I share these super stitches with my fellow knitter-wannabees, so that is exactly what I will do. Right now. Besides the odd yarn over or slipped stitch, which sound scarier than they are, these stitches are relatively simple and a nice step towards more complex patterns.

Easiest - Seed Stitch

Wool Ease Thick & Quick Yarn in Fig

Shall I count the ways I love this stitch? Although extremely simple, it's just alternating knit and purl stitches, the end result is impressively knobbly and plush. It also lays flat so you won't have to overcome annoying rolled edges that plague even the most chic of cowls.

To get started: Cast on an odd number of stitches. K1, p1 - continue to end of row. Repeat this row until scarf is desired length.

Note - Some directions call for an even number of stitches, alternating k1,p1 rows with p1,k1 rows. However, as a beginner, I prefer eliminating any possibility for confusion and stick with the simple directions above.

As Easy - Scrunchable Scarf

Wool Ease Thick & Quick Yarn in Apricot

I found the Scrunchable Scarf on Ravelry* and immediately fell for it's rustic and handmade look. However it was the basic combination of knit and purl stitches that made me finally give it a try myself.

To get started: The pattern is available online here, however I prefer to add on two additional stitches (end result - multiples of 3 plus 2) which allows me to slip the first stitch purlwise and knit the last stitch to create a crisp, clean boarder.

Note - For great visual help look up "how to slip a stitch purlwise" on youtube. Once you get a visual, it's really not that difficult.

A Tiny Bit Harder - Wrapped Stitch

Wool Ease Thick & Quick Yarn in Oatmeal

About a month into knitting I discovered The Weekly Stitch, an incredible site that features a new knitting stitch each week! Scouring the entire site, I found the Wrapped Stitch which has a very modern look with it's geometric lines.

To get started: Cast on multiple of 2 stitches, plus 2. You will work this stitch over two rows and learn how to knit a yarnover (yo).

Row 1: Purl all stitches.

Row 2: Knit 1 *YO, K 2, Pass the YO over the two stitches just knit* Repeat from * to last stitch, K 1

Note - the pattern looks difficult, however there is a fabulous video explaining everything here. Trust me, you can do it!

Using these stitches, I've managed to keep busy for a couple months working up new scarves. Hopefully I'll be able to tackle some more complex patterns moving forward and share them soon!

Dutch Apple Pie (and memories of summer)

2013-03-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

I made my first pie before I could drive, relying on only a tattered index card that held my Nana's secret recipe for pumpkin pie. I think it turned out fine and although I can't really remember (there have been endless pies since) I also don't remember any complaints.

After playing it safe with pumpkin and apple for a few years, I made a jump to mixed-fruit pies only three years ago. My boyfriend was working at an agricultural research centre doing... insert ecology jargon and boring science procedures here... The job was out of town and I put up a fuss at the start of each week when he had to leave. However, a wonderful perk that ~~almost~~ made the distance bearable was the free fruit he was allowed to bring home.

Apparently after harvesting the fruit, an appropriate amount was set aside for experiementin' and the rest was fair game. We quickly found ourselves overwhelmed with fruit - cherries, plums, raspberries, blueberries, peaches - glorious crates of the sweet stuff started stacking up in our garage and as much as we consumed (and gave away) the stacks didn't seem to shrink.

Times were tough.

A wonderful side effect, besides the relief we would never be overcome with scurvy, was the opportunity to test out an array of new recipes using fruit I would normally reserve for eating fresh, not baking. Plum clafoutis, berry crumb cake, peach pie with raspberries - after filling our fridge with frozen goodies we moved on to gifting desserts to friends and family. All this baking was wonderfully fulfilling.

Years later, I still dream about the crates of fruit. However, as we will never be able to afford the quantity or quality of fruit at retail prices, I reverted back to my safe and cheap comfort zone to celebrate International Pi Day.

More affordable than peaches in March, this Dutch Apple Pie with Strudel Topping doesn't taste like a consolation prize. I added some pecans to the topping for added crunch and cut back on the sugar to ensure the flavour of the apples came through.

I know in baking every measurement is supposed to be precise but honestly when it comes to apple pies/crisps I kind of wing it and, since I took the lazy way out and used a frozen pastry shell, all I really had to make was the filling and strudel topping which was insanely easy and went something like this...

1. Cut up your apples - any apples you like - until there are enough to fill the pastry shell. Toss in a bowl with a tablespoon or two of flour, 1/8-1/4 c. sugar (depending on how sweet your apples are), a teaspoon or so of cinnamon, and 1/4-1/2 tsp. nutmeg. Pour apples into pie shell.

2. Cut cold butter into small chunks and add to a bowl with 1/2 c. flour, 1/4 c. sugar, and more cinnamon. Add oats or pecans or whatever your little heart may desire - brown sugar in place of a portion of the white sugar above is also delicious. Using a pastry blender, or two butter knives, cut into mixture until butter chunks are pea sized. If this sounds daunting simply crumble everything up with your hands (don't worry, everything will taste good, this isn't rocket science). Pour strudel mixture over pie.

Bake pie in a 375 degree oven for 30-45 minutes - the total baking time will depend on how large your pie is and your individual oven. To test done-ness prick apple pieces with a knife, they should be soft.

Let cool a good ten minutes before devouring, this not only lets the pie firm up a bit but also helps avoid any nasty burns. If there is vanilla ice-cream within a 5km radius of your house YOU MUST find it and apply a generous scoop to the top of your warm pie. Seriously, it's for the good of all of humanity.

As a result of not following a rigid recipe, sometimes my pie is runnier or sweeter than average, but with this combination of ingredients it's always delicious.

*If you really need a recipe to follow don't worry, just check out this recipe for Dutch Apple Pie with Oatmeal Streusel.

3.14 - International Pi(e) Day

2013-03-14T14:55:00.001-07:00

(image via)

Today we venture back to those horribly awkward high-school years, riddled with an abundance of hormones, acne, and embarrassing social situations. Have no fear, as a reward for reliving the trauma there is pie at the end!

Many years ago, in eighth grade, or ninth, or possibly tenth (but not eleventh or twelfth because I was finally cool by then, kind of), a friend and I decided to memorize the mathematical number Pi - or at least the ten digits our calculators could display. I don't remember how the challenge came about, or why we thought it would be fun, however now, and for the rest of my life, I will possess the astounding ability to recite the digits 3.141592654 on command - it doesn't impress at parties as much as you may think.

I'd like to say this little exercise unleashed a mathematical prowess in me that, prior to then, I was completely unaware of... and the rest is the plot to Good Will Hunting; However a quick glimpse into my father's finances reveal a different story: years of expensive tutors to get through high-school math and into university.

Perhaps it's more likely that my ability to memorize Pi stemmed from its association with one of my favorite foods, and not my impressive intellect - I come from a long line of pie fanatics.

Luckily there is a day perfectly designed to honour my love of all things Pi/e, March 14th or 3.14 (isn't that adorable?), and tonight I'm celebrating with classic Dutch Apple Pie - waistlines be damned!

I'll share the recipe tomorrow, for now grab yourself a piece and enjoy!

Lessons Learned: My First Few Month Knitting

2013-03-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

My scarf collection is growing a bit too rapidly

Taking up knitting was something I did on a whim. Driving to my friend Jen's house that Saturday morning I had absolutely zero intentions of taking up knitting - I'd been promised an afternoon of "knitting and bitching" and was looking forward to gossiping with the gals more so than learning anything new.

Thank goodness for borrowed needles, and yarn, and hands on instruction - the girls basically placed the needles into my hands and then started moved them in some awkward marionette type situation. I'm such a lucky girl.

Now of course I'm completely in love with knitting and can't wait to try more and more complex patterns and stitches. A couple months since that first knitting session here are a few things that I've learned so far...

It's ok to be a beginner

Embrace the basics and nail them down before trying to get into anything more complex - trust me, it'll save you from pulling out your hair in frustration. I spent a couple weeks sorting out my knit and purl stitches, using scrap craft yarn and borrowed needles, before looking at a pattern or buying pretty supplies and I'm grateful for it. Jumping in over your head will only turn a wonderful hobby into something you despise.

I'm Talking About Practice

I've made six scarves in a month and have no desire to attempt anything else anytime soon. The reason? I like scarves, I can wear or gift scarves, they are easy to make, and are a great way to play with new stitches. If you pick something straightforward and make, like scarves or dishcloths, and make a few before moving onto something else, you'll start to recognize what works and what doesn't. An example, I've recognized to look for stitches that work up flat because I hate curling edges and a nifty trick for clean borders (slip the first stitch of each row).

Keep on Knitting, Keep on Knitting

The day will come when you need to rip out everything you've done, many, many times. Either because you've made a mistake or you don't like how it's coming together, pulling your project apart is heartbreaking but worthwhile - the last thing you want is a mistake glaring at you from a finished project. Just last week, recognizing I hated the scarf I was making, I unraveled my skein, took the loose end and cast on, knitting up a knew project from the previous partial one.

Help! I Need Somebody, Not Just Anybody

It's always nice to have knitting-talented friends at the ready to help when things go wrong or the pictures in your pattern make your brain feel fuzzy. Luckily I have a half dozen friends and family members that are willing and able to help when needed. If you aren't as fortunate, or it's 3am and your friend won't answer their phone, Youtube is extremely knitting friendly. There's just something wonderful about seeing someone explain a process step by step.

Continuing into the spring with a growing appreciation for knitting, I've developed a soft spot for a few stitches and discovered some awesome knitting resources online - all the more to share in my next recap!

Banana Muffins with Dark Chocolate and Pecans

2013-03-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

Hello again, sorry for the nearly two week absence but life got busy somehow, funny how that happens.

As we enter March, with January's high-maintenance birthday cakes behind us, it's time for easy comfort food to match the cold and drizzly days we've had, serving as a reminder we aren't quite over winter yet.

Sounds like the perfect time for moist banana muffins, speckled with dark chocolate chips and pecan pieces, warm and delicious fresh from the oven.

It doesn't hurt that bananas, unlike many other fruits at the moment, are easy to find and priced just right.

This isn't the first time I've used this recipe for Banana-Walnut Loaf from Martha Stewart, it's my go-to recipe for using up browning bananas. It also isn't the first time I'm sharing it with all of you (remember this ancient post?). It is however the first time I opted for muffins instead of the traditional loaf. My reasoning? It's easier to give away six or eight muffins than half a loaf of banana bread (or at least it looks better to your recipient). However in the end, the muffins disappeared before they could leave the house.

Besides using muffin tins, the only other changes I made to the recipe were:

1) Cutting the sugar by 1/4 cup - and I probably could have cut it down more. One cup of sugar was more than enough, with the sweetness from the overly ripe bananas and chocolate chips, and I think next time I'll try just 3/4 cups.

2) Adding dark chocolate chips and pecans in place of walnuts. I didn't have walnuts on hand, but I had pecans, so the nut-swap was the result of convenience more than anything else. As for the dark chocolate, it's a personal preference. I've used milk chocolate chips before, with and without nuts, and they are delicious but this time I wanted something darker.

3) Reducing the overall baking time. This was a necessity to accommodate my muffins as they cook much faster than loaves. In the end, thirty minutes was perfect, give or take a minute or two. To be sure, I poked the heck out of those muffins with a couple of toothpicks.

Recipe Synopsis:

Taste: Extremely moist due to the three cups of mashed banana. These muffins have a great flavour with a sweet chocolaty kick and a little crunch courtesy of the pecans.

Texture: Good crumb without being overly messy (I'm not a very neat eater) and quite dense making them a filling snack.

Wow Factor: Muffins may not be a show stealer but tuck one or two into a lunch box and try not to be excited come noon. Using a loaf pan makes a more dramatic end result to gift away.

Difficulty: Super easy and fast to make. Seriously if you can make cookies these will be no problem.

Serve With: A glass of cold milk or as a snack time treat.

FYI - converting to a muffin tin, the recipe produced 16 decent sized muffins meaning... you can still gift a full dozen and have four mouth-watering muffins left over for your eating pleasure!

1 Hour DIY - Vintage Book E-Reader Case Tutorial

2013-02-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from baking and knitting (I haven't done much but for the past month), I found inspiration for a functional and cute DIY at my local thrift store and whipped up this case for my Kindle e-reader in under an hour.

My 1 hour DIY e-reader cover

Last year I inherited some beautiful vintage hardcover books from my grandfather - many with lovely scrolled messages in the front cover dating back to the 1940s - and I've been smitten ever since. Since the books hold special meaning, as a reminder of my wonderful and well-read grandfather, I display them proudly in my bookshelves and adore the character they add amongst my new editions and hit up my local thrift store when I need something I can cut-up, stamp, paint, or glitter...

After walking around with this little case in my purse it's held up well and has done a great job protecting my e-reader. For a pricier or more delicate item - tablet or ipad - I would be inclined to add some fabric wrapped padding to the inside cover to add a little more cushioning and protect the screen.

Materials:

Scissors, ruler, pencil

Elastic tape (mine was 10mm in thickness)

Cardboard, both thin and corrugated (I used a piece of notepad backing and the lid from a shoe box)

Glue, white and hot glue/glue gun (I used Aleenes Tacky Glue and a toothpick to apply it)

1 hardcover book

*A note about buying the perfect book - Bring your reader/tablet/ipad with you to measure in store and choose a book that is only slightly bigger than your electronics. You'll also want to pay attention to the width, I realized the book actually becomes wider once the inner pages are removed so try and select a thin book if you can find one. In the end my book was about an inch thick in the store and I had room to include my charger cord inside the front cover.

Steps:

Remove the book pages from the hardcover. I initially tried using a knife to gently slice along the inside of the binding but it didn't work very well and I gave up and used my scissors which worked much better.

Remove the book from the spine

Measure a piece of thin cardboard (notebook backing works well) to fit inside the now bare book spine. This is important because the spine portion of the cover isn't reinforced the way the front and back panels are and therefore is a bit wobbly. Before gluing the cardboard in place, cover it with a page from the book to give a clean, professional look. Glue the cardboard down with basic white glue and let dry.

Measure a piece of cardboard to fit the spine

Double check the size

Cover cardboard with a page from the book

Paste the cardboard into the spine of the book

Cut a piece of corrugated cardboard to fit inside the back cover - this is where I used the shoebox lid - and cover it with another page of the book. The front of my book included a wonderfully illustrated title page so I used it here to add a pretty little detail.

Covered cardboard with a page from the book

Once dry, cut four pieces of elastic. To measure, wrap the elastic around the corner of the e-reader - mine were 3 inches each. Remember you want the elastic to be tight enough to hold your precious electronics securely and it will stretch. Using your hot glue gun, glue the elastic ends to the back to the corrugated cardboard (see below) so that it stretches over the front corners.

Glue down the elastic on each corner

Test the elastic placement by sliding the e-reader into the cardboard piece, ensure the elastics are secure.

Attach the corrugated cardboard/elastic piece to the back cover of the book using hot glue and press firmly until dry.

Test the e-reader's fit in the elastics

Glue the cardboard backing down and you're done!

If you want to add a piece of elastic to hold your cables/cords, simply cut a small piece of elastic (mine was 2 1/2 inches) and hotglue the ends together to make a loop. Glue the loop to the front cover with the glue gun. Then coil the cords and slide them through the loop.

Make an elastic loop...

... and slide in your accessories

I also added a piece of elastic to keep the book closed while hanging out in my purse. To do so yourself, cut a piece of elastic to fit over the front cover (with the e-reader in place) and glue it vertically onto the back of the corrugated cardboard (where the elastic corners are secured) a half inch in from the the outside edge. Once dry you can slip the elastic over the top cover, and while reading flip the elastic over the back cover and out of sight.

Elastic keeps the front cover closed

Voila, there you have it! And the best part, besides how adorable it is... this project only cost me five dollars for an old book and some elastic!

I absolutely love my e-reader, the convenience and portability is hard to beat. However I know many die hard readers who swear by the real deal and refuse to give up their paperbacks. Perhaps now, we can have the best of both worlds; after all, isn't our hate better reserved for those crazy social outcasts who don't read at all?

This post has been shared over at:
Yesterday On Tuesday
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Somewhat Simple
Beyond the Picket Fence
Rae Gun Ramblings

Rich and Fudgy Chocolate Truffle Pie

2013-02-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Before the icing on my mom's Lemon-Strawberry layer cake had a chance to firm up, I was asked to whip up another cake, this time for my uncle's birthday at the end of January.

As the light, lemony cake had turned out so well, I was tempted to use similar flavours, however knowing my dad's family and their love of chocolate I knew I needed something rich and fudgy to win them over.

After scouring the internet for inspiration I found myself salivating over a beautiful French Silk Pie; it's lovely layers and mouse-like consistency the perfect departure from the traditional chocolate layer cake with Smarties I make three times a year for my dad's birthday, brother's birthday, and father's day (as well as for my Dad's wedding a couple years ago).

My Inspiration...

Stunning French Silk Tarts (via)

Classic French Silk Pie (via)

Unfortunately, most French Silk Pie recipes contain raw egg and I wasn't overly comfortable bringing something to dinner with a warning label attached, therefore I needed another option that still offered light, chocolatey layers without the risk of salmonella. As luck would have it, I stumbled onto a delicious looking Chocolate Truffle Pie and my concerns of sick dinner guests were no more.

Recipe Synopsis:

Taste: Rich is the best way to describe this pie, however the use of semi-sweet chocolate was good and not overly sugary like milk-chocolate can often be. The graham cracker crumb crust offered a crunchy contrast to the multiple layers of chocolate mouse.

Texture: This pie is very light, almost mouse like. I would have liked the whipped cream layer to be a bit lighter tasting (perhaps by omitting the confectioners sugar as the chocolate is already sweet). The crust offers a nice bit of crunch.

Wow Factor: My pie wasn't as tall as I would have liked, perhaps a smaller pie plate would have created a more "mounded" result. As a whole, the pie is quite simple looking, however once sliced the layers are very pretty.

Difficulty: This dessert is very easy to make, however it is also quite time consuming as each layer needs to chill before the next can be made, one layer is chilled overnight. With that being said, it's a great option to make ahead of time.

Serve With: Any chocolate fans will love this dessert and as it's a chilled pie it would be quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately after seeing almost a full Litre (33 ounces) of heavy cream find its way into this pie I really didn't want to eat any of it however in the end I opted for a very small piece. Luckily the guests were oblivious and had nothing but positive feedback to offer. Although I wouldn't make this pie again for myself, my tastes sway more towards light lemony chiffon cake, I am sure I'll receive requests from the chocolate lovers in my life.

I'm sharing this recipe today, for everyone with a sweet tooth over at...
Jam Hands, Say Not Sweet Anne, and Skip to my Lou

Learning to Knit Part II - Chunky Cowl Scarf

2013-02-14T00:06:00.000-08:00

They call this the teaser shot

I've mentioned that, with the encouragement of some lovely friends, I've opted to take up knitting in 2013 and shared a few of my less-than-beautiful practice runs from the past few weeks. With nothing but time on my hands, I was able to quickly work through some old yarn and in no time found myself tucked away in the back corner of my nearest Michael's craft supply store surrounded by glorious skeins of plush wool in the most beautiful colours imaginable. After settling on a slate blue hue (officially called "denim") I grabbed two skeins for seven dollars each and returned home to search for my first official knitting project.

Do you have any idea how many knitting patterns are online? Likely a comparable figure to the number of recipes, DIY tutorial, or pieces of celebrity gossip floating around out there right now. As a result, deciding what to knit, while also struggling from indecisiveness, was next to impossible. However, as I already knew I wanted to make a warm, chunky, cowl scarf I narrowed my options down, slightly.

Not yet knowing how to knit "in the round", an essential skill for making anything circular, think toques, mittens, socks, or cowl scarves, I refused to give up on the idea of a stunning slate-blue cowl scarf and set out to find a way around my knitting in the round dilemma, which led me to the wonderful and glorious fisherman's rib stitch.

Hallelujah!

Using this incredibly-chunky-and-amazingly-awesome stitch, I simply knit one straight scarf and then stitched the ends together after casting off. Is this the correct way to make a cowl? Not really. Did it work anyway? Heck yes. Would I do it again? Try and stop me!

Just look at those lovely ribs!

Isn't that colour amazing?

The Fisherman's Rib really is a plushy soft stitch and it works wonderfully here with Wool Ease Thick & Quick yarn to create this chunky look. For a great tutorial on this stitch and many more check out Fluff and Fuzz, there are also some really helpful videos on youtube that helped me figure out how to "knit the stitch below" (after struggling for an hour or so - I'm very stubborn).

With this success under my belt I can't wait to start my next project - as soon as I can secure some Michael's coupons and buy more yarn!

*Note - we have a lovely yarn store downtown that I have yet to visit, I'm afraid it won't be good for my bank account and am instead awaiting a birthday gift certificate before venturing inside.

Say 'I Love You' with Breakfast in Bed this Valentine's Day

2013-02-11T00:00:00.001-08:00

Romantic Parisian breakfast (via)

My boyfriend and I aren't big into Valentine's Day. Not because we're jaded and think the card companies and florists are out to get us, or because we like going against the established norm, we just simply feel that there are so many opportunities to show love for one another that make a heart shaped box of candy seem a bit silly*.

Shoulder massages, a card to say "I'm thinking of you", scrapping the others windshield after a heavy snowfall... there are endless ways to show someone you care that don't cost a lot, and a delicious breakfast in bed may be my new favorite!

My favorite for many reasons, it's hard to beat a great breakfast, I love this idea because it allows you to be really creative. Although bacon and eggs or pancakes may be traditional, if you're trying to eat healthy or pull this off mid-week it isn't very practical. Instead of trying to create something enormous and complex why not go for simple and charming using your loved one's favorite ingredients?

Some inspiration to get the gears turning...

For a fresh and healthy start to the day, why not opt for a fruit and yogurt parfait or half a grapefruit with some whole grain toast? It may not be a significant departure from the norm but will still be much appreciated with a glass of fresh squeezes orange juice or steaming coffee.

Pretty Parfaits (via)

Juicy grapefruit (via)

If you're time pressed in the mornings, a simple croissant with some sparkling cranberry juice or homemade scones (made the night before) and warm cup of chai tea are easy to prepare while making the recipient feel special. Find my all time favorite cranberry scone recipe here.

Flaky blueberry scones are hard to beat (via)

For something with a Valentine's Day twist, the classic egg in a basket becomes extra special with the help of a heart shaped cookie cutter, or try heart shaped French Toast with some beautiful red strawberries piled on top.

Eggs in a basket, Valentine's Day edition (via)

And finally, if time and effort aren't an issue, it's hard to beat a warm gooey cinnamon bun (my favorites), mouth watering Eggs Benedict, or an adorable heart shaped marshmallow bobbing in a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

Pretty little marshmallows (via)

Take a bit of extra time for the small details - cutlery rolled in a nice napkin, a crystal glass or champagne flute, butter or jam in a small side plate - and your breakfast, no matter how easy to prepare, will be all the more special. Don't forget a sweet note or romantic card reminding your sweetie of all the things you love about them.

Then, after all your hard work, snuggle in bed and enjoy a few extra minutes together before the day starts.

*With that being said, the romantic inside me awwwwes whenever a coworker gets flowers at work, and my poor boyfriend has to hear all about how beautiful they were.

Learning to Knit in 2013 - Part I

2013-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for a new challenge to keep me busy, a couple wonderful friends turned me onto knitting and after only a couple weeks I can't put it down!

Although I've spent my fair share of time ripping out stitches and making mistakes, I've also dedicated a lot of time on the basics, rows and rows of knit stitches and then endless purl stitches, to ensure I have the hang of it before moving on. I look at knitting as a long term hobby, not something to be rushed, and over the past month I've moved from borrowing needles and yarn to buying my own and wrapping up my first official knitting project.

I'll be sharing that project soon, but in the mean time here are a few of my practice rounds. The good news when it comes to knitting is that small improvements result in big results and these scraggly scarf-looking bits won't be coming from my needles for much longer!

I absolutely adore knitting and can't stop pinning beautiful (and intricate) patterns I hope to one day complete. Not only is knitting wonderfully portable, I carry it around in my purse all the time, it's also relatively affordable, my needles were six dollars and a skein of yarn was seven, and keeps my hands from reaching for a snack while watching television at night. Anything that trims your waistline, or at least slows it from expanding, while lounging in pajamas is my kind of hobby!

Typography, Quotes, and DIY Art

2013-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Because even the smallest of words can be the ones to hurt you, or save you."

- Natsuki Takaya

When it comes to filling my home I want every piece to be special. Whether simply beautiful, full of sentimental value, or capable of eliciting emotion, each piece builds on the other to generate a specific mood in the room. Art is a great way to add this personalized touch to a room and as it doesn't need to serve a functional purpose, it's only purpose is to represent you.

Art can also be pricey, and as we've established that it's purely decorative it can be hard to lay down your hard earned cash for something that simply hangs on the wall. Luckily, it's quite easy to whip up something personalized yourself for a fraction of the cost - photographs, children's drawings, sketches, and paintings - and now with the help of Photoshop you can create professional looking posters.

Inspiration-a-plenty can be found everywhere, with Etsy and Pinterest being my go to resources, and after a casual glance my gears started turning...

(via)

Blame it on the proximity to Valentine's Day, or just the fact I'm a hopeless romantic, but I immediately knew the beautiful prose of F. Scott Fitzgerald would marry perfectly with these graphic, modern, typography posters. Unfortunately, nailing down just which line to use from his many beautiful stories was easier said than done. After finally settling on a couple, I played around with different fonts, textures, and layers in Photoshop for quite some time, becoming lost in my experiments.

Using Photoshop and this simple tutorial I was able to create these typography posters of my own in a few short hours. The best part is that they are absolutely free to make, and the perfect rainy (or snowy) day activity, and therefore easy to interchange whenever I want to try something new.

I'm planning to print them on a good quality paper and frame them in crisp white frames, once of course we're settled in a place of our own and have some wall space for them.

Five Minute Bunting Birthday Card

2013-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Scrap fabric, ribbon, and glue - the 5 minute bunting card was born

After whipping up an incredible cake for my mom's birthday, gift wrapping and buying a card were pushed to the last minute; in the end gift wrapping didn't happen, sorry mom!

Without a card, I needed to come up with a DIY version quick and turned to one of the most adorable trends plastered all over the internet right now - bunting.

My Inspiration...

Festive birthday cake (via)

Cute little necklace (via)

Birthday invites - love the bright hues! (via)

This card was not only incredibly easy to make, it also didn't require any special materials and was ready in less than five minutes (plus some drying time for the glue). It's also amazingly cute if you ask me.

Easy yet effective, there's nothing better for Birthdays than bunting

Using some basic card stock, folded in half (hamburger style - remember learning hotdog and hamburger style?) I sketched the bunting first with a pencil and cut the little flags from scrap fabric and ribbon. After laying everything out to ensure it looked nice, I went over the pencil with permanent marker and then glued my flags down. A few minutes of drying time later, the card was complete!

Free, easy, and cute - so much better then spending five dollars at a card store!

Lemon Strawberry Birthday Cake

2013-01-28T11:25:00.002-08:00

Delicate pink layers of deliciousness

This past weekend we celebrated my mom's birthday and I was tasked with bringing the cake (after offering, begging, and finally insisting to bake something). In year's prior we've indulged in light and airy New York Cheesecake and Incredible Raspberry Trifle (one of my personal favorites), so this cake had a lot to live up to.

After scouring the internet and second guessing myself a few dozen times I finally settled on the flavours I wanted to incorporate - lemon and berries - and found a few wonderful looking recipes online. Unfortunately I wasn't 100% sold on any one of the recipes so I did what any indecisive perfectionist would do and opted to mix and match components and make a brand new cake.

My inspiration...

Gorgeous strawberry layers! (via)

Triple Lemon & Blueberry Cake (via)

After finding fresh strawberries in my local grocery store (thanks California!) I settled on a strawberry puree filling with light and airy lemon chiffon cake and a whip cream/cream cheese icing. Little did I know what a wonderfully delicious cake was in the making...

Don't mind the poor winter lighting and distracting table cloth

Relying on the abundant positive reviews, I used this recipe for the lemon chiffon cake and used two nine inch round cake pans instead of the ten inch tube pan the recipe calls for (to get that classic birthday cake look). I also added two table spoons each of fresh lemon juice and lemon extract in place of some of the water for an extra oomph of lemon taste.

Once the cakes were baked and cooled, I removed them from the pans and sliced them in half horizontally to create four layers. Not only did this allow me to use more delicious strawberry filling but also added some drama once the cake was sliced! And speaking of mind-boggling delicious filling, I used this recipe and process for both the strawberry puree filling and the whip cream/cream cheese icing.

We didn't even wait to remove all the candles before slicing this beauty

It's always a bit nerve wracking to rely on a new recipe for a big event like a birthday, let alone three new recipes from different sources online, however the cake turned out incredible, better than I could have imagined, and I can't wait to make it again. Seriously, I cannot express how AMAZING this cake tastes!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Recipe Synopsis:
Taste: The chiffon is light with a hint of lemon, I may add more zest to the cake batter next time, while the icing is fresh tasting without being overly rich and sugary. This cake's light, fresh taste doesn't weigh you down, even after a generous piece.
Texture: With a nice crumble, the cake resembled a light angel food and the puree didn't make anything mushy or soggy, in fact the leftovers tasted better two and three days later.
Wow factor: Although the simple white icing exterior wasn't overly pretty, this cake's beauty is in the inside and once sliced the four lovely layers steal the show.
Difficulty: Saying this cake is labour intensive may be an understatement as chiffon is already tedious without the addition of icing and filling. However, I'm no professional and was able to tackle it in a weekend so don't be discouraged from giving it a try. After making the cake a day ahead of time, I simply made the puree and icing and assembled everything the day of.
Serve with: This cake is delicious enough to stand on its own (we had it after Chinese takeout and it was still great). It would be wonderful for Easter or Mother's Day as well as a perfect finish to summer bar-b-ques and fish/seafood dishes.

Due to the cream and strawberry filling, store the cake and any leftovers in the refrigerator and it will stay delicious for three or four days.

Back and Ready to Get Crafty!

2013-01-28T11:25:00.001-08:00

I have some confessing to do...

Although we made it home, from our amazing travels abroad, just before Christmas, it's taken me over a month to figure out what exactly I want to do with the whole blogging/crafting/DIYing thing here at Strawberry Roan.

Exploring Santorini, Greece by ATV

See, as our place is still rented out and we are tossing around the idea of more travel later this year, I don't really have the space/supplies/setup/equipment to take on some of my most loves, but messiest, DIY desires (think refinishing and upholstery and paint).

Although I am without my crafting bat-cave, the one thing I do have now more than ever is time. Whereas before all my crafty dreams were simmering on the back burner because of work and responsibilities, now I find myself with oodles of time and zero obligations.

It's always been more table-like than cool bat-cave dwelling

Imagine the possibilities...

In fact I have, to the point of becoming a bit overwhelmed with all the ways I can spend my new found freedom. Apparently when met with limitless opportunity to go craft wild, my perfectionist self decides to stress out and lose sleep contemplating all the ways I can mess it up. As it turns out, the only way to mess up a lifestyle of open possibilities is to spend your time worrying.

Although I'm still trying to sort out craft space and projects that can be accomplished with a spread-out-between-places living situation, I have decided to take up knitting and am loving it so far and have a lengthy list of new recipes to try. While I tackle these projects I'll continue to share the results here for all those interested.

I'll also be playing with the format of my posts and the ideas/content I share, just to spice things up a bit, which means there may be fewer posts than last year, or even some post-less weeks, but just know I'm working on something (hopefully) great to share soon!

Here's to a wonderful (and crafty) 2013!

Calli

Perfection Found - White It Out

2012-11-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

(via)

I really enjoy this little nook - perfectly situated in an otherwise unconventional space. The painted out brick walls and floor to ceiling windows make the space nice and bright and offset the gorgeous pillows. The perfect little spot to peruse pinterest on a rainy day.

Enjoy,

Calli