The Laziest Man I Ever Met...

"The laziest man I ever met put popcorn in his pancakes so they would turn over themselves."
- W.C. Fields

Ricotta. I have a love/hate relationship with the smooth, milk-whey cheese. I always forget how much I do not enjoy it until I use it and am epically disappointed by it's lack of depth in flavor. I always regret my purchase and catch myself saying "goats cheese would have been perfect".

Last week my bestie came over an impromptu late supper and wine. I had been surfing the online recipe world and found an appie that consisted of grilled cherry tomatoes, garlic and ricotta on grilled bread. How delicious does that sound? I popped over to the grocery store, picked up a few staples and fired up the grill.

Well, if it had been a more flavorful cheese I think I would have LOVED the recipe. I will make it again but I will substitute the ricotta with goats cheese... but all you ricotta lovers, go to it!

Of course the next day I had an entire tub of bland old ricotta left in my fridge. I do enjoy it in baked goods so I got on the horn to find a recipe to use up all this cheese. I settled on lemon-ricotta pancakes and I have to say I take all my above hate for the cheese back. It made fluffy, perfect pancakes, by far the best I have made EVER. They were light, fluffy and the hint of lemon was dreamy.

You can find both ricotta recipes below (my variations at least!). Happy whizzing about in the kitchens all!
-m

Grilled Cherry Tomatoes on Grilled Toast

Fire up your BBQ and soak a handful of bamboo skewers in water while you do your prep!

You will need:

• Around  a pound of cherry tomatoes
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• about 10-12, 8" bamboo skewers
• Sliced crusty bread
• 1/2-1 cup of ricotta cheese (or goats...)

Combine oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Toss cherry tomatoes in oil mixture to coat and slice bread. Thread tomatoes onto skewers (4-5 per skewer). Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Grill on medium heat for three to four minutes per side. Brush the rest of the marinade on bread and place bread on grill while tomatoes cook. When done, spread ricotta in a nice thin layer on bread and top with grilled tomatoes. Serve warm (with a crisp white wine!).


Lemon and ricotta pancakes (This recipe is the best!!)
Adapted from "The recipe critic blog" 

You will need:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 3 eggs, at room temperature, separated
• 1/4 cup sugar
• zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

In a bowl combine ricotta, milk, yolks, lemon, sugar, zest and mix. Sift dry ingredients into ricotta mix and stir! In a separate bowl whisk egg whites until frothy, add salt and continue to whisk until peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into ricotta mix and stir until combined (don't over do it!). Scoop onto hot non-stick pan or griddle (~1/4 cup). Cook until bubbles form on the top and then flip and cook for a minute or so longer. Repeat with the rest of the batter and serve warm with maple syrup! Tip- I turn my oven on to 200 degrees and place the finished pancakes in an oven-proof dish while the rest are cooking, that way everyone gets nice hot pancakes!

I Busted A Mirror...

"I busted a mirror and got seven years bad-luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five."
 - Steven Wright

This month had a Friday the 13th. I can be a little superstitious at times. I don't walk under ladders if I can avoid it, if I spill salt I reflexively toss a pinch over my shoulder and I NEVER put new shoes on the kitchen table (right mom?). Black cats don't phase me (I have two) and I have yet to break a mirror that I am aware of...

Two weeks ago I decided the inside of my fireplace needed to be painted...It was a big, black, gaping hole that didn't showcase my cute electric stove. I went to it and started with the same colour as my walls, grey. I didn't love it so I painted on the cream semi-gloss that lives on the mantel...it looked boring and stark. So I sat on it for a week.

On Friday the 13th, with no serious plans and a glaringly white fire place staring me down, I made the four minute trek to Home Depot. My favourite paint lady was there and with her holding my hand, I picked a punchy turquoise (yes I am a little nuts) and bought one of the four dollar samples (Tip-that is enough for most projects and you aren't left with oodles at the end). While my paint was in the shaker, I was flipping through the flier and noticed the door I have been meaning to pick up, the one that I have been dreaming of for over a month, was on sale for 15% off. I ran down like a maniac, convinced there would be none left. Well I was close, there was only one with a left-handed swing. I loaded it onto a trolley faster then I knew I could even move. Even though it was pouring out, I had on four inch heels and I only had my three door VW Golf, I wasn't phased and I pushed that door to the cash with all the confidence in the world.

The cashier rang me up and the door came up at 40% off.....they had priced it wrong by accident. YA-HOO (double fist-pump)! They were happy to know about the mistake but had to give it to me at that cost. $160 for the new front door I have been lusting after! Happy Friday the 13th to me! Now all I had to do was finagle the door into my car and use twine to hold her in place. The guy at the pick-up door was far from impressed...but we made it happen and I drove my stick-shift all the way home with the trunk wide open, hanging onto an exterior door for dear life. My turquoise paint securely nestled in my cup holder...
Sometimes luck is just on your side!
-m

Perseverance Is....

"Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.."- Julie Andrews

I had an epic fail this week, an EPIC fail. I usually plan and research enough that when it comes down to it there is little room for error, for the most part...

The back story is that around eight months ago (which may as well have been a lifetime ago) I purchased the most beautiful mosaic glass tile for my kitchen back splash. White marble tiles surrounded by frosted mint and crystal-clear blue tiles, it was a pleasure to behold.  At less than $4.00 a square foot, I could not pass it up! I brought it home and it slipped down into the black hole that is my basement until I had the time and the wherewithal to use it. Fast forward eight months and my cabinets have been painted cream and my house is slowly taking the shape of the picture I have had in my mind since the day I took possession. This would seem like the perfect time learn how to and to tile a back splash now wouldn't it?

How quickly we forget, I had picked the tile with the anticipation of removing the current counter and replacing it with charcoal grey polished concrete (which will happen someday down the road). And how quickly we adjust, going from hating a brown counter-top, to being able to live with it, to almost being fond of it (cream cabinets make anything brown look better!).

 This weekend I watched at least five "how-to" videos on tiling a back splash. I went to home depot and spent $50 on a trowel, a sponge, a grout float, a tile cutter and a glass tile epoxy. You know, the usual stuff. I spent an hour or so measuring and cutting glass tiles to nestle perfectly beneath my cabinets and closely hug the top of my counter tops (that I forgot I once despised). I took my epoxy and my 3/16" notched trowel and I spread that stuff on like a pro. Perfect lines of epoxy, not too thick, right to the edge, itching to have tile settled into it. I put up my first sheet of tile, it fit like a dream, and I pounded it into place with my palm. The next one fit just as well, my research and planning was paying off. When the left hand side of my kitchen was complete I stepped back, proud, to admire my handiwork..... and I HATED it. Two hours in and I absolutely despised the tile and counter combo...the glass, although beautiful, look horrendous next to the counter. My heart sank and I pulled it all off. I used a putty knife to scrape off all the epoxy then washed the rest off my walls. Luckily it hasn't set. I washed the epoxy off the tile and poured myself a big bottle, I mean glass, of wine.

I am saving the tile for an accent when I tile my bath surround down the road and for now I am living with the kitchen as is,  until a new counter has been secured.  Le sigh...
-m

When All Else Fails....

"When all else fails, take a vacation.."-Betty Williams

Vacation has come and gone. I am back to renovating my middle aged home and working (at work). I have been dreaming lately of travel. Travel anywhere really would do. Maybe it's because so many people I know are en route to somewhere fabulous or maybe it's just because travel is still so far in the future for me..

With vacation lingering on my mind,  I sipped on the end of my Blue Mountain coffee laden with Jamaican Rum cream and I decided to try my hand at traditional jerk chicken. Jamaica was my last vacation (PEI, albeit beautiful, tranquil and wonderful does not count) and the food was superb, especially the jerk.

Little did I know the marinade had 18 ingredients alone! Although that seems excessive, all you have to do it is throw it in a food processor. Press start and HUZZAH, the best chicken marinade you will ever have. Full of rich, flavourful spices with just a bit of heat, it keeps the chicken tender and moist while making your taste buds dance. It made three whole cups, jerk chicken for days (and I froze some too!). If you want to spice up your cooking and chicken is just a little bit dull lately, check it out. Just be sure not to dice the hot peppers then scratch your nose and subsequently your eye...it burns. Enjoy!
-m

Jerk Chicken
Yield- ~3 cups (one cup marinades 4 chicken breasts)

In a food processor, or blender combine:

4-5 chopped green onions
A few spring of fresh thyme (or 1/2 tbs dried)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbs of brown sugar
2 tsp ground all-spice
1tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (2 if you are a wimp..)
1/3 cup soy sauce (I used low sodium)
2 tbs of veg. oil
1/4 cup of vinegar
1 diced onion
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 cloves diced garlic
1 tsp fresh ground ginger

Combine above in food processor and pulverise. Pour marinade over chicken, I used breasts but I have a feeling a bone in cut would be even better. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Pour chick and marinade into a baking dish and cook at 350 for an hour or so (until cooked through). If you chose a cut with skin, broiling it at the end will ensure crispy, flavourful chicken!

How Will I Eat Cake...

"How will I east cake if my head is over there and my hands are over here?"- Marie Antoinette

I LOVE to bake. I find it calming and enjoyable. There is something methodical and comforting about combining simple ingredients and ending up with a sweet masterpiece that will (hopefully) be enjoyed by everyone. Baking is also a challenge, if you skip a step or cut corners you risk ending up with a disappointing concoction. It's simple chemistry. Don't get me wrong, I am no Julia Child, my biscuits are hockey pucks no matter how little I touch the dough. Yet I can bang out a pie crust no problem (I will master the biscuits some day!).

Yesterday I couldn't sleep after a night shift so I started flipping through my cook books with the intention of bringing something sweet to my sweet co-workers. My Smitten Kitchen cookbook turned up the perfect challenge- a citrus olive oil loaf. Loaves can be tricky business, over bake them and they dry out. Under bake them and they collapse.... dun, dun, dun.

The recipe called for grapefruit but low and behold I didn't have any and I sure wasn't going to run to the grocery store in my pj's post nights. I did have half a dozen lemons so I improvised. The cake was moist, the crust was perfectly browned and the flavour was impressive.  I would make it again and everyone who tasted it enjoyed it as well. Next time I will try grapefruit! Happy chemistry/ baking all!
-m

Lemony Loaf (adapted from D Perleman's Smitten Kitchen)

Cake:
1.5 cups of all purpose flour
2 tbs of freshly grated zest (I used lemon, she suggested grapefruit..yum!)
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 cup raw sugar (this stuff is the bomb!)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 eggs (room temp)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs fresh lemon juice (or grapefruit!)
1/3 cup plain yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream (whatever you got!)
1 tsp vanilla

Syrup:
2 tbs sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice (or grapefruit)

Glaze:
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp of vanilla
pinch of salt

In a bowl combine both sugars and add citrus zest. Mix with hands, rubbing zest and sugar together to release essential oils (this will smell AMAZING!). Whisk in eggs and oil, continue to whisk 'till smooth. Pour into sugar/zest and stir. In another bowl sift dry ingredients together. In second bowl combine lemon juice, dairy and vanilla until just mixed. Alternate dry ingredients and wet ingredients into sugar/oil mixture starting with dry ingredients and ending with dry ingredients (remember that chemistry stuff I was talking about...dry, mix, wet, mix, dry, mix, wet, mix, dry and then finally mix once more). Pour into a buttered and floured 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 45mins to 1 hour, until tester or toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool for 10 min or so in the pan before removing. While cooling make syrup by combining sugar and juice in a small sauce pan and simmering until sugar is dissolved. When cake is out of pan, poke top with a toothpick and spoon syrup over top of cake while still warm.

Combine glaze ingredients and whisk well. When cake is syrup-ed and fully cooled, drizzled glaze over top and serve! My glaze looks thicker than it probably should be...I was rushing and cooled my cake in the freezer (bad idea...please avoid this step) so they glaze didn't drizzle very well!

The Secret to Creativity....

" The secret to creativity is hiding your sources."- Einstein

For the last couple of years my dear friend Josee and I have been attending  a drop in pottery class in the north end of Halifax . It was an awesome hour and a half of messing about with the pottery wheel and sculpting with a little instruction if you so wished. We became half masters of throwing clay, I have many ash trays, catch-all dishes and little bowls to prove that. Sadly Turnstyle Pottery co-op closed their doors this winter and my Thursdays have never been the same. There is something so great about a creative outlet no matter how bad you are at it (refer to above note about ash trays).

Almost two years ago I started making little button earrings with rolled clay and fondant cutters used for cake decorating. I also made little clay bows which when painted bright made beautiful punches of colour on my winter jackets. I set the buttons aside and recently discovered them while cleaning. I went to a craft store and purchased Goop, a magical glue that makes everything stick. I glued posts onto my buttons and a few purchased buttons. They are so cute ! Happy crafting, happy Sunday and happy summer!

-m

A Vacation Is....

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it."-Robert Orben

My vacation started yesterday morning with a trip to the market followed by a one of my very best friend's weddings. It couldn't have started any better! Today I woke up with a very full head and a very sore throat. Although today could have started a little better I am still on vacation and am going to make the very best of it. Isn't it amazing, you never know how badly you are in need of a break 'till you finally get one!

The summer is coming to a close and I plan on making the best of it right until the bitter end! I have two weddings left in the "summer of weddings", six down, I had a ball at everyone so far and am looking very much foward to the final two!! I head home to the beautiful Prince Edward Island this week AND I turn 28. I feel like the last five years have just zipped by! When I am home I hope to indulge in some lobster, ingest a few (...dozen) bottles of wine, do some back-roads antiquing and visit what has been recently coined as one of the best beaches in the world! I also plan to catch up with old (and the best of ) friends! What are you doing with the rest of your summer? Happy end of August everyone!
-m

Check out some of the summer pics I snapped below!

Crystal Cressent beach ! Blue ocean, white sand!

Chester basin for the day!

Busker fest on the Halifax waterfront!

A foggy night on Halifax harbour

Blueberries for days at the market!

Fog burning off on an early morning market run!