When I first saw this event I decided to ask my “American” friends what they thought of when I said the word Canada. Hockey, beer and maple syrup...oh and Canadian Bacon(it's called back bacon people!!!) All good things but I found it humorous that those were pretty much the same four answers I got over and over again. I did get a Bryan Adams the singer and “cold” thrown in now and then for good measure. If I hadn't felt so crummy as of late I would have made something involving back bacon and beer for the savory event that Jasmine is holding...I might just do that for me anyhow. :) Since I was only going with the one event, Mmmm Canada(the sweet edition), hosted by none other the Domestic Goddess herself, I settled on good ol' maple syrup(Canada does after all make more than 80% of the world's supply). Most people in the states think maple syrup is Mrs. Butterworth or Log Cabin...ugh(so does, surprise...my husband). Oh the horror. FYI- none of those actually … [Read more...]
Back on a sugar high….
Sadly I can not remember the last time I participated in Sugar High Fridays. It seems I barely participate in anything anymore as it is(DMBLGIT). It just slips my mind(what's left of it these days :P). But when my lesser evil twin Helen(Tartelette) announced that she was hosting, I of course had to participate...how could I not? Helen picked a citrus theme, which is so versatile and so Summer. Good choice Helen. I really thought of doing something elaborate but I was sitting around looking through my blog and realized that I haven't made any cookies in a really long time. Ironically these cookies ended up being pretty elaborate for a cookie. Coconut Lemon-Lime Tassies were a little more work than I was wanting. I don't know what I was thinking. I don't like making pie, and this was pretty much like making pie....just really small ones. The cream cheese pastry is easy but you have to wait around for 4 hours for it to chill. I'm not good at smashing them into the mini muffins as I have … [Read more...]
Enjoy the now….
When we would go back to visit my maternal grandparents it meant a few things. One, my diabetic grandmother would slip us money to go buy her doughnuts and we could “keep the change”(my cousin Chad and I were always to young and foolish not to know that you don't go and buy a diabetic doughnuts). It meant picking raspberries while trying not to be stung by bees(Summer only). It meant breathing in the fumes of Vlassic pickles the couple nights I would stay at my cousins(the factory has since moved and sadly I miss that smell). It meant getting to swim in the mayor's swimming pool(Summer only). And it meant the torture that was Sunday drives with my grandfather. Oh how that man loved to get in a car and drive absolutely nowhere...for hours. Hours and hours. My uncle has this same trait but he is smart enough to sucker you in to a 5 hour trip to Duluth, Minnesota by saying we were going for the “best pie you ever tasted” and I am stupid enough to be lured … [Read more...]
Cutting out the middle man…
One of the greatest things I learned about my husband is that camping to him was in a 4 star hotel. Score. Now don't get me wrong, I like the outdoors, heck, I was Forestry major my freshman year of college. But sleeping on the rocky ground vs. a mattress is really a no brainer. Tying my food up so that a bear does not come into camp vs. brunch with a mimosa..again no brainer. Washing yourself in a river where an elk was peeing earlier vs. a hot shower. No brainer. And speaking of peeing, this is pretty much the main reason I do not camp. Call it the only time when I have penis envy. I was not made to go to the bathroom outside. And no, an outhouse the smells ungodly with a spider in the corner just waiting to pounce on me is not a suitable option. Now, I know that many people camp and love it. I know many of those people have RV's. I would rather just spend the money on the nice hotel and drive out to see the pretty scenery during the day. I do miss one thing about camping though … [Read more...]
