Vegetables Are A Must On A Diet...

"Vegetables are a must on a diet; I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie."- Jim Davis

Zucchini is one of the most versatile veggies on the block that is why I was more then happy to take a couple of my neighbours garden variety giants off their hands. The best thing about home grown zucchini is that they grow to be massive, like a great big squash. Grocery store varieties are often limb and small. I have been baking slices with a little oil, salt, pepper and parm. and they are delicious. I have used some sliced in lasagna instead of noodles and I even made an epic pot of tomato sauce riddled with half moons of tender, garlicky zucchini. I personally feel it is painfully underrated; The Edward Norton or Sam Rockwell of the vegetable garden.

I also had a little fun tricking all kinds of people at home and at work into eating the green and yellow vegetable. You see zucchini (like the potato) when grated and mixed into cake and bread batters yields the most tender and moist baked goods. No matter how much oil, butter or soda one uses, nothing will compare to that of a treat made with shredded zucchini in the moist department.  I have so much zucchini that I experimented a little and made a lemon zucchini loaf and a chocolate sheet cake both teeming with zucchini. Neither lasted long on the nursing desk at work. Respiratory therapists, ward clerks, ward aids, nurses, physicians, physiotherapists and cleaning personnel made quick work of both and I ended up with many people requesting both recipes. Success! Satiating the three pm sweet tooth and grumbly bellies while providing full servings of veggies one recipe at a time....ah no, I though that would sound cool, kind of like a super hero. Totally didn't...shifty eyes. Anyway recipes to follow!
-m

Lemony Zucchini Loaf (adapted from all recipes)

• 1.5 cups of shredded zucchini (I grated it on the smaller side of my cheese grater...skin and all!)
• 3/4 c white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• 1.5 c of all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 tsp of baking soda
• 1/2 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 tsp of lemon extract if you have it (don't really need it! Be flexible people!)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbs (you can do half if you are not a cinnamon buff like moi!)
• zest from one lemon

Lemon glaze....

• Juice from one lemon
• 1/2- 1 cup of white sugar
• tsp of vanilla 

Pre-heat old Bessie to 325 degrees and grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan.  In a bowl combine all of the liquids plus the zucchini and lemon zest then beat until thoroughly mixed. In a separate bowl mix all dry ingredients with a whisk then slowly add to wet ingredients and mix until JUST blended (don't over do it people, you will have a hard lump of dough). Pour into pan and bake for about 45 minutes until a knife or toothpick comes out clean. When that bad boy is cooling, combine lemon juice, vanilla and sugar (go with the cup if you find it too tart!) in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil to dissolve sugar. While loaf is cooling, brush multiple times with glaze for a beautiful shiny finish. or poke some holes in the top and pour some over for a little extra tart zing!

Chocolate zucchini sheet cake and the best ever chocolate buttercream!

• 1/2 c of oil of your choice
• 1.5 c of sugar
• 1/2 cup of buttermilk (but regular milk works too!)
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 egg at room temp
• 2 heaping cups of grated raw zucchini (I left the skin on and just grated it all on the cheese grater's smaller grate!)
• 2 c of all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup of cocoa powder (I used dutch proc.)

Pre heat over to 350 and grease a 9x13 cake pan or baking dish. In a large bowl mix together oil, sugar, milk, vanilla and the egg.  Add zucchini and mix until just incorporated. In a separate bowl combine all of the other dry ingredients and give a spin with a whisk to mix well and break up any lumps (cocoa is extremely lumpy!). Slowly add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined (a little flour visible is fine!). Pour into baking dish and bake in oven for 25-28 minutes, until knife or toothpick comes clean and the edges begin to pull away from the side of the pan a little bit. Allow to cool completely and then dust with icing sugar or frost with chocolate butter cream. Please find recipe below for the best buttercream ever.....dun dun dun.

Best ever (!!!!) chocolate buttercream

• 1 c softened butter
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3-4 tbs of cream (I only had 5% coffee cream...it worked and I bet plain old milk would too!)
• 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
• 3.5 cups of icing sugar (powdered sugar)

In a stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream and butter until pale and fluffy. Add vanilla followed by the icing sugar a half a cup at a time (or it will be snowing sugar in your kitchen!). Whip on med or high until all mixed, smooth and pale in colour. Lick the beaters ('cause life is too short and it is seriously the best ever!). Frost your cake with a nice thick layer. This is also dreamy piped on to cupcakes and birthday cakes!

A Good Deal Is Only A Deal..

I"A good deal is only a deal when you actually need it ." Nanny lecturing my Papa

I have many qualities and some are more endearing than others. One of the least endearing ones is how much I love the thrill of a sale. Yes, I said a thrill. Not much can make me happier than getting an amazing deal on something I need. I will wait and scour and wait and scour for the perfect price. Don't get me wrong, I am not cheap and have no problem paying full price for something. I really do believe there are certain things you should not be looking to get a good deal on and those would include a hair cut and furniture (often times you do get what you pay for!). I also believe that buying fresh local produce is worth every penny. My general mindset is why pay someone for something you could do yourself and why pay full price when you can wait and get it on sale.

Why am I telling you this about myself? Well I took a risk this week that could have gone either way. This risk was taken due to an incredible price on a can of paint. I have needed to paint my final spare room since the day I moved in. It was the only room I didn't paint and the only room that was stuck in a boring, beige funk. When I moved in it was the best colour in the entire house and although I am not really a fan of neutral beige, it won by a long shot over the rusty brown and nicotine yellow that danced upon all of the other walls in the house. My plan had been to paint that room a light, airy grey. I even had the colour picked out and the swatches taped to the wall but the little make-over kept being pushed to the side as one project popped up after another. This week I was at Kent looking for Adirondack chairs and hoping they would be on sale (see it is a disease...) when I wandered through the paint isle and noticed a mis-tint . Now a mis-tint is a can of paint that was tinted wrong by the paint machine. It is never a true colour and therefore can't be replicated and a swatch can not be found to see what it may look like on a wall. Because of all of this they are usually half price. Mis-tints generally go for $20, which is a great deal if you are looking for a very cheap face lift (and let us be honest, paint is cheap to begin with!) but most of the times the colours are hideous. Well this can was $7. Yes, $7. That is the price of a grande' latte at Starbucks. It was what appeared to be a robin's egg blue and it was a paint and primer in one which was a $55 can of paint. Clearly my disease of good deals would not let me leave it there. Even though it was not at all what I wanted I figured it had to beat beige and if I hated it, it was a little time and $7 wasted.

Now I must remind you at this point that it is August. August on the East coast is humid and muggy and there is very little air circulation in older homes (like mine) that have the windows propped up with old books and pieces of dowel. To say I was sweaty and hot after painting my basically free paint on the walls is an understatement. When I left the room 2 hours and two coats of a bright blue later I looked as if I had jumped into the shower fully clothed (and not in the attractive way, if there is an attractive way to do that!). I must confess I waited an entire day to look at the finished room. It was brighter than I anticipated from the the little thumb print of dried paint on the top of the lid. In day light and with the room put together I surprisingly  love it. It was the best $7 I have spent in a long time and potentially the cheapest update my house has had to date. The next time you are in the paint section at your favourite hardware store make sure to check out the mis-tints, you may find what you didn`t know you were looking for!
-m

Before....

After...

I Advise Keeping Four Feet On The Floor...

"I advise keeping four feet on the floor and all hands on deck."- Anne Launders

As I type this I have a chai tea in hand, there are stars in the sky and I am cuddled up with a blanket on my deck. Sounds peaceful right? Things are good around here, my deck and I are old friends again.

One week ago my deck and I were not friends, we were hardly even acquaintances. I was fumbling with a book of matches and with the idea of putting myself and my deck out of our misery (but arson is a felony and my insurance probably wouldn't have accepted insanity as my plea). All I can say is that the people who built the deck and then chose to very sloppily apply a brown solid stain were lucky I didn't know where they currently live. They would have had a burning poop bag on their front porch to say the very least. Solid stain the the worst. It peels, it rubs off and eventually it needs to be scraped and/or stripped. I plead with you fellow deck owners. We are in this together and although solid stains look "right some nice" when they are fresh and new, they quickly turn into the spawn of Satan and what will soon become the bane of your existence. My deck should have been stripped and stained the year I moved in but it was just such a big under taking that I kept putting it off. Finally I could no longer stand the look of it and I put my foot down on my inner procrastinator. "It won't be that bad.." I told myself. "A few hours work and it will totally be worth it"...my pep talk included. My inner cheerleader was so wrong. I can honestly say that painting my entire house; trim, ceilings and all was a walk in the park compared to revitalising my poor back deck.

What I did was I bought a deck revitaliser and stripper in one. It was made by Thompson's Water Seal. I brushed it on and then let it sit for five to ten minutes allowing it to work it's magic on the old rotten solid stain.  I then pressure washed it all. This took approximately ten hours (but who is counting). The floor came up easily, it was the rungs that gave me a hard time. Next I had to sand (I chose to use my handy palm sander...the rotor dug into the wood!) the rungs to get off the rest of that stubborn stain. This took about four hours (again, I wasn't counting..). Next I went to home depot and had a horrible time deciding on what to use to finish it. Ultimately I would have preferred to use just clear sealer but because the knots in the wood seemed to have a death grip on the old dark stain I chose a transparent stain and water sealer in one. Deck stains come in solid, semi transparent, transparent and clear. I wanted something I would never have to strip off again and something that would protect the wood. I went with Thompson's Water Seal again and I chose the colour "honey", hoping it would make the knots less apparent while giving the deck a uniform appearance. I made the right choice but again fellow deck owners, I urge you to just use a clear waterproofer if your deck is new or untreated. Let your decks naturally turn grey while protecting them. Low maintenance is good my friends. Staining the deck took a full day.

Although I complained and yes it was the worst project to date, I am so happy with how my little deck turned out. Water beads on it and it looks mighty fine if I do say so myself. You would never know the deck it six years old. If I continue to treat it every few years it should last me for many more to come. I must be getting old if decks are so high on my priority list....sigh. Happy rejuvenating all.
-m

Before......

Stripped and bare....

What I used...

Going on and then finished !

Sometimes The Dustiest Cover...

"Sometimes the dustiest cover hides the best book. Sometimes the best cup is chipped."-Once Upon A Time

There is nothing worse than chipping your dinnerware. Well, that is a lie. There are so many things worse than chipping a mug or a plate that I wont even get into them because that list is probably endless. It is however, very frustrating, especially when it happens to be your all-time-favourite coffee mug. The mug that you use every single time you have coffee in the morning and the same mug you enjoy your sleepy-time tea in before bed. It is even more frustrating when you have no idea how or why that little chip happened. It is as if the magical little Chip Fairy danced herself into your kitchen when you were asleep and wreaked havoc. What is one to do with all of these lovely pieces of broken porcelain? I personally, have a horrible time throwing them out. I tend to put them under my sink (I really, truly am not a hoarder) to save for some unknown purpose.

Today I was under my sink looking for paper towel when my I noticed three of these ill-fated mugs collecting dust. I pulled them out, washed them up and decided they deserved a purpose. I went to a local greenhouse with a plan to purchase some succulents (they are so trendy and modern right now!). Turns out succulents are hard to find in Nova Scotia, so I settled on some waxy little flowers in bright colors. I took them home, threw a little gravel in the bottom of my mugs, transferred the flowers and topped them off with some good quality potting soil. They look adorable and you can't even see the chips! They have already made washing dishes in my sink more enjoyable! Happy up-cycling all, save all those cute tea cups and coffee mugs to make yourselves a windowsill garden.
-m

I Barbecue..

" I barbecue, therefore I am."- Rene Descartes

Yes my posts have been (terribly) lacking lately. June has been busy (terribly busy) but I have no excuses! Today is a new day and I promise to do better. Since it is Father's Day and because it is finally starting to feel like summer (with the exception of all of the rain we got today!), I thought I would share a recipe for the best ever pork tenderloin...ever!  I don't even like pork (seriously.. pork and I have never really been close friends, not really even acquaintances..) but this was so good when my friend Heather served it to me after working a long day shift that I had to bum the recipe and re-create it myself. It's sweet, tender and using the left over marinade to make a bad-ass demi-glaze is the topping on the cake...'er I mean pork.

Anyway, happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there especially mine who was always there when I needed him. He was even there that time I got a flat tire in a rain storm as well as that time I ran out of gas (well maybe the few times). I also can't forget about the time I left my car in neutral and it rolled across the front yard into the ditch. He has always had lots of patience (please refer to previous two sentences), he has always supported me and has always helped me be my own, one of a kind person! Thanks Gary!

 Recipe follows as well as one for a very complimentary salad dressing (also from Heather...she is that good!).
-m

Glazed Pork Tenderloin (the best ever)!

In a small mixing bowl combine...

• 2 tbs of balsamic or red wine vinegar (whatever you got!)
• 2 tbs of honey
• 1 tbs of olive oil
• 2-4 cloves of garlic crushed
• 2 tbs of grainy mustard
• 1 good twist of the pepper mill and a good sprinkle of salt

Whisk it all together and pour over two pork tenderloins and allow to marinade for a few hours if time is on your side. Pre-heat your bbq to high...yes high! Grill on one side for seven minutes, turn and grill for six more minutes. Flip then turn off grill and allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes. While your grill is grilling away, pour the rest of your marinade into a small sauce pan and then pour a cup of red wine in with it. Simmer it on medium heat and allow to boil off...trust me, this will leave you with the yummiest glaze ever. When your pork is off the grill, allow to rest for a few minutes before slicing, topping with a little glaze and  serving it to hungry people! It goes great with smashed new potatoes and a fresh summer salad!

Delicious Summer Salad

This dressing is the bomb..I have seriously eaten salad every single day since I made it. It is extra good on a salad made of mixed greens with a little apple and/or a little pear and a little slice of goats cheese. It is especially good when it is warmed! Enjoy all!

In a mason jar or a small mixing bowl (I choose mason jars because you can just shake it up when you want without getting anything on ya!) combine...

• 2 tbs white balsamic (the one I have is infused with pears! Its the bomb....)
• 1 tbs of honey
• 1-2 tsp of grainy mustard (go with the two!)
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Shake it up and enjoy! It is that easy !

It Is Easily Overlooked....

"It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.."- Tony Visconti


I love to thrift. Thrift stores, yard sales and roadside garbage retrievals give me a thrill. Records, old furniture, vintage dresses and costume jewellery are among my favourite things! Classic pieces have grace and class that is hard to find these days and nothing, I mean notta, was made of rinky dink press board back in the day. Solid wood baby, dove tail joints and scrolly details unparallelled. I guess I am just an old fashioned kind of girl.

I often make a point to make runs to the "Sally-Ann" and yesterday after very little post night shift sleep, I bombed off to value village with a plan to make some cake plates out of vintage dishes. Nothing spoke to me; that is until I was paroozing among the costume jewelry. A couple of vintage broaches caught my eye and at three for five dollars, I really couldn't leave them there. I had to bring them home and make good use of them.

After a glass of wine and a tiny bit of not-so-careful consideration, I gathered some crafting hair clips and some Goop (seriously the BEST adhesive on the face of this earth, that shit will make anything stick forever and ever amen..). I used my badass wire cutters/pliers to snip and pry the pin backings off of the two lovely vintage broaches. Then I decided where to place the clip on the back considering how to keep them from eyes view as well as which direction I would like the broach to sit in my hair. Using Goop (with the windows open, that stuff is stanky), I adhered the clips to the back of the broaches and allowed them to dry overnight. It was exactly a five minute and six dollar project. Quick and dirty but yielding adorable results that have an unexpected quirky flair. They give my short crop a little bit of feminine edge and I will be keeping my eye out for more in the future.

Happy upcying!
m

ps. You can use anything, buttons would be equally as adorable as would broken pieces of vintage tea cups and saucers (that will be my next project!)

If Bad Decorating Was A Hanging Offence...

"If bad decorating was a hanging offence, there would be bodies hanging from every tree..."- Sylvester Stalone

First of all, I think it is hilarious that when looking for quotes about home decorating the one that stuck out to me the most was one by Sylvester Stalone. Who would have thunk it that good old Rambo, Rockie-the-guy- next-door was so versed and opinionated in home decor.

The thing about home decor is that everyone has their own taste. That is what makes it fun. You can do whatever you want with your space and not have to worry about what anyone else may think. You are into bold wallpapers, go for it. Love country kitchen and roosters? Well the world is your oyster, cover your entire house in roosters if you so choose.

I have an eclectic taste to say the very least. I like character and have penchant towards objects from yester years. I love to parooze for old records, furniture and knick-knacks at antique shops. I love cast iron rads, old mouldings around windows and I truly believe that no hardwood shines as bright as vintage hardwood when it is well taken care of (not to mention you can't hurt it). That said I also love modern colours, modern light fixtures and graphic prints. I believe in my own little world modern and old world charm can live harmoniously together. At least that is what I keep telling myself. My dining room has bold vintage feeling floral wallpaper but it also has an extremely modern light fixture. It works for me!

When I first moved into my house, I found myself desperate to fill up the walls. I wanted everything new and fresh. I wanted it painted and renovated and "perfect". It took a bit of time but I eventually realised that if I bought stuff just to have it instead of waiting for the perfect pieces I would soon be unhappy with them and would just pay to replace them. I have done a lot around my house in two years (I find it hard to believe it has been two years) but I have a list longer than I am tall of projects to be completed. No matter how creative you get, renovations are expensive and the thing about home ownership is something will always come up!

I waited two years to buy something to hang on the main wall in my living room. I couldn't find what I wanted and to be honest, I don't think I really knew what I was looking for. When I moved in I hung the prints that I had bought for my first apartment on my own. They served me well for eight years but they were a little tired and worn. Then one day a few weeks back I came upon two printed canvases that sort of spoke to me. They were in muted greens and blues and were modern, graphic prints . I was surprised that I liked them as much as I did since they were so modern and to be honest...skylines of NYC really aren't my thing (over done and almost kitchy). I hmmed and I hawed and decided to buy them. I knew they were big but I was shocked when they wouldn't fit in my hatch-back. I have had entire hutches in my trunk, as well at front doors and tables and chairs...but these prints were no dice (turns out they are four feet by four feet!). I borrowed my aunts truck and lugged them home. I love them, even though they are not what I thought I would ever want, they are great. They are massive and pack a big, bold, punch in a room that is full of the mismatched rejects that I love. At just under fifty dollars a piece, I would consider it a job very, well done.

I also recently finished my mini gallery wall with the recent edition of a new graphic print that I can't get enough of. I love local artists and am very proud to say that three of my six prints on the wall are all products of Halifax artists and printed here in our beautiful city. One my mom picked up for me on a trip to Saint Johns and the last two are a picture I took sailing and a card from my beauty of a little sister I framed years ago. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Good things are worth waiting for!

Pics below, please excuse my beige couches. They are sooooo comfy but I just haven't found exactly what I am looking for to replace them! Happy decorating all!

PS. Isn't that Queen print the absolute best? I can't get enough of her turquoise hair or her lumber-jack jacket! 
-m

                   Before....

                       After.....