Almond Butter Cake

Hello friends! Time to dust off this old blog & send out a new recipe! And it's a good one!

In the last few months a new local bakery opened up, and boy oh boy, they're CRAZY good. I cannot stay away. Everything they make and sell is fantastic, but one of my standbys is an individual almond butter cake, best enjoyed with a vanilla latte or peppermint tea. Inspired by that cake is this full-size rendition. It's rich, dense, and has the loveliest subtle flavour of almond. In the words of my good friend Emily, "OMG. I could eat the whole thing." Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, melted 

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
1 1/2 cups flour, sifted
3/4 cup sliced almonds

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly combine melted butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add 2 lightly beaten eggs and mix vigorously for 1-2 minutes, or until it appears creamy. Add salt, vanilla & almond extract and sifted flour. Mix again until combined. Lightly grease a springform or 9-inch cake tin and place a measured parchment round on the base. Pour the batter into the pan and evenly sprinkle the sliced almonds over the top. Bake for 50 minutes or until the a toothpick placed in the center of the cake comes out clean. If the almonds brown faster than the cake bakes, place aluminum foil over the top.

"A great many things can be resolved with kindness, even more with laughter, but there are some things that just require cake." ♥️ 

My Favourite Gingersnaps

I almost called these "Snappy Gingersnaps", I know, I'm sorry, we're better than that. It's true though, they're a cinch to make and don't take very long from start to finish....or very long from start to finishing them all off with a glass of milk, for that matter. That leads to my next confession: I've made these 3 times in the last week. Both of my brothers have declared that gingersnaps are their favourite kind of cookie so every time the cookies run out I just keep making more! Maybe I'll take a break when we run out of molasses... but probably not.

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
Pinch of salt
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
Sugar for rolling


Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl, combine together the brown sugar, molasses, canola oil, and egg until smooth. Mix the flour mixture into the brown sugar mixture, stirring until dough comes together.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop up dough by the heaping teaspoonful and roll into balls between your palms, about the size of a quarter. Roll the balls in sugar and place on the baking sheets 2 inches apart. Bake 8 minutes – if you like crispy gingersnaps, try 9 or 10 minutes.

Cookies will be very soft but will firm up. Leave on the baking sheet several minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy with a glass of ice cold milk. =)

Recipe from 17 and Baking

Music Monday - cold, wet, lazy days

The weather outside was pretty miserable today - cold, rainy and dark by 4pm. I took the opportunity to have a beautiful, lazy day indoors. I stayed in bed until very late in the morning (okayyyy, it was noon), savored my cup of coffee, perused the newspaper, caught up on my favourite TV shows, listened to some beautiful music, drank hot chocolate, nuzzled with Meeko...ahh, bliss. Such a good idea to have one these lazy days every once in awhile.

"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."

Sweet & Salty Pretzel Bites

So I discovered the easiest dessert in the world... besides simply unwrapping a chocolate bar that is. I made these treats for a small get together and they were eaten up almost as quickly as the time it took to make them. They need only 3 ingredients, maybe 10 minutes, & are really hard to screw up (bonus!). Did I mention how good they are? Mmmm. You're never gonna look at a Rolo the same way again.

You'll Need:
Mini Pretzel Twists
Pecan Halves
Rolo Chocolates

To Make:
1. Lay your pretzels out on a baking tray covered with parchment & top each with an unwrapped Rolo.
2. Put tray into a 250°F oven for no longer than 4 to 5 minutes. Remove. Rolos should retain their shape.
3. Press a pecan half into the top of each Rolo.
4. Place the baking tray in the freezer for 5-7 minutes to cool the Rolos to room temperature.
5. Devour. =)

"Recipe" from Glorious Treats

♥

Europe 2013 - A Photographic Sample {Portugal}

So....let's just skip past the whole part where I was supposed to post these pictures a long, long time ago. Okay? Good. In case you missed it, one of my best gal pals, Jenae, and I went on a 3 week long gallivant around Europe during the summer. Our last week was spent in Portugal, in and around the Lisbon area.

Pastéis de Belém - ohh maaan, these are SO good...warm..fresh..crisp outside & creamy inside. I'm salivating now.

When we landed in Lisbon I was a bit hesitant and unsure of being there; I was expecting HOT, sunny weather but the skies were totally overcast, I initially found the architecture to be not as impressive as we'd seen in other countries, AND I was definitely missing our hilarious tour guides from the first leg of our trip. Wah-wuhh.

But don't fear! The weather cleared and we discovered some of the most beautiful buildings with incredible history. One bite of a Pasteis de Belem (traditional custard pastry) was really all it took for me to fall in love with Portugal. Jenae and I made way too many great memories to list, but some of the highlights include touring the local cathedrals, mansions and castles, sunset drives along the coast, stretching out on hot, sandy beaches, enjoying Santini Ice Cream (lots of it),  devouring pastries for all 3 meals, and of course, getting pulled over by the local police. Trip of a lifetime, I'm telling you! Enjoy the pictures! =)

Music Monday - Happy Autumn

Photo taken from Mode Reporters

Jenae & I planned an Autumn Party, or a Fall Fête as we called it, this past weekend. We had so much fun brainstorming and planning our activities, decorations & menu and even more fun putting it all into action together.

 In the process of making a music playlist
for the party, both Jenae & I came to the same conclusion -- it's difficult to find nice Fall or Autumn music that isn't super depressing! We wanted the guests to have fun and not be bummed out by our music. After a lengthy search we were able to find what we were looking for!

Let me know if you like this playlist 

or if you can think of any other "Happy Autumn" 

songs that should be on our list for next year!

Grey Sky Daydreaming..

Is there any place you'd rather be on a chilly, autumn day? Me either.

Look up more adorable videos by Olive Us here. =)

Waffles for One

I've been wanting to try making waffles for quite a while. The urge usually strikes on quiet mornings when I'm home alone. Buuuut, I always seem to talk myself out of it. "Who's going to eat them all?", "Will this waffle maker from the 60's even work?", "I don't have any buttermilk", "Toast and yogurt is so much easier.." Blah, blah, blah.

But today! Today I told my brain to quiet down and I hauled out the super old Toastermaster Waffle Iron from the back of the cupboard and set to work. I chose this recipe because it had a smaller overall yield and really really positive reviews. I didn't have any buttermilk so I made an excellent substitute with lemon juice - see the link below.

About halfway through making the recipe I saw that I had to whip egg whites and make soft peaks and then gently incorporate them...and I got thinking that maybe this was going to be more effort than it would be worth. I persevered, though, (although it was super easy and totally not a big deal) and I'm quite happy to report that they were most definitely worth it. There is something really special about putting effort into a meal that is just for you and no one else. After all, you've got to love yourself too.

Light & Crisp Buttermilk Waffles   
 Recipe adapted from Fine Cooking

3/4 cup all-purpose flour        
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk (substitute)
1/4 cup milk
6 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 large egg, separated
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract 

Instructions:
Pre-heat the oven to 200°F and turn on your waffle iron.

Mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Measure the buttermilk, milk, and vegetable oil in a liquid measuring cup. Add the egg yolk and set aside.

In another bowl, beat the egg white to soft peaks. Sprinkle in the sugar and continue to beat until the peaks are firm and glossy. Beat in the vanilla.

Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until just mixed. Drop the whipped egg white onto the batter in dollops and fold in with a rubber spatula just until incorporated.

Pour the batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until the waffle is crisp and browned. Every waffle maker is a bit different so experiment with the temperature and amount of batter to add until you get it right. Put the cooked waffles in the oven, directly on the rack to keep it warm and crisp (don't stack them). Repeat with the remaining batter, holding the waffles in the oven. When all the waffles are all cooked serve immediately with all your favourite toppings. Hard to go wrong with powdered sugar & peaches.

Favourite Music Pairing: Ella Fitzgerald, I've Got a Crush on You  =)

**Even though I made a smaller batch, I ended up with about 10 extra waffles. I know they don't keep well so I am freezing them. I've read online that they freeze really well for 1-2 months and are easy to reheat in the toaster. Suh-weeeet!

Europe 2013 - A Photographic Sample

Well, Jenae & I have been home for about a month and a half and I haven't shared any pictures from our trip on this blog yet. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to post anywhere near all of our pictures....as we took well over 5000 of them. This first post covers the first two weeks of our trip and is very, very condensed. Enjoy a few of my favourites =)

By the Brandenburg Gate on our first day!

Watermelon-Lime Freeze

Have you noticed the influx of recipes for watermelon popsicles, lemonade, smoothies, slushies, and sorbet? I have been seeing them ev-er-y-where...all over the internet and in magazines, all summer long! Today I finally said, "Okay, let's do this then if it's such a big deal!" I didn't use one specific recipe for my version of this drink but tried to draw inspiration from the many, many ones I'd seen. Regardless, it's reaaaaally simple. I'm talking 3 ingredients.

I was surprised at how well watermelon blends; I kind of expected it to be a watery mess of pink pulp. The secret, I feel, is to freeze the watermelon in chunks. This gives the drink it's cold, frosty nature, but also eliminates the need for ice cubes, which will dilute the more subtle flavour of the melon. So, have these frozen ahead of time and the drink will come together super quick. You will also need lemon-lime soda & one lime. I felt the drink was sweet enough, but you could add agave or simple syrup if you wanted.

We enjoyed these on a sunny afternoon - a perfect accompaniment to a plate of sliced watermelon or a barbecue. Wouldn't it also be lovely on it's own while sunbathing or reading a book outside? Definitely yes. Can you believe it's almost September? Fastest summer of my life! Pretty soon it'll be Pumpkin Spice Lattes instead of cold, fruity drinks so make some while you still can!



Watermelon-Lime Freeze
2 1/2 cups frozen watermelon chunks
1 lime, juiced
1/4 cup (approx.) lemon-lime soda

Instructions:
Add frozen watermelon chunks and lime juice to blender. Add enough soda to combine to preferred consistency. Garnish with watermelon slices or lime wedges - mmm, enjoy! Xo

Music Monday - Paradise Valley

My ears (and the rest of my body) are continually craving new John Mayer music. Unlike a McDonald's breakfast after working a night shift, satisfying this craving always leaves me feeling fantastic. Paradise Valley, John Mayer's sixth and newest album, is streaming for free on iTunes now before the official release tomorrow. I have already pre-ordered my copy (obviously) but have had the stream on repeat since last week.

His music style is evolving, but I think my tastes are evolving alongside it. There are a couple tracks that are distinctly more "country" than any of his other music. I am generally not a huge country music fan, but honestly, for me, John Mayer can do no wrong. Topping my list of early favourites are "Waiting on the Day" (his guitar solos make me weak in the knees!), "Who You Love" (a duet with Katy Perry-- I swear it's great), & "On the Way Home" (who can resist a catchy "ooo-o-ooo" and some harmonica?).

I'm not sure about the outfit, but he lives in Montana now so I guess I'll give him a break.

Listen to the album, love the album and then buy the album. It deserves the attention ...and you deserve to listen to good music.

BBQ Virgin

I'm still kind of bitter that my parents never bought or used a barbecue while I was growing up. Whenever I would ask why, the answer was always, "Oh I don't knowwww, what would we even cook on one of those?" To which I would always answer, "Um...anything? Everything?!" I learned early (mostly from eating barbecued deliciousness at friends' houses) that cooking something on a barbecue makes it taste like magic.

After 20-something years of frustration and desperation, I finally caved. I think it was a recipe on Pinterest that finally broke this camel's back. I drove to Canadian Tire, found their charcoal barbecues and bought the one that spoke to my inner grilling goddess, only $29.99! Coming from a family who doesn't barbecue, I had no idea what else I had to buy...but this guy did (don't you love him?) and so I promptly bought a bag of charcoal, lighter fluid and a grill scraper/cleaner.

My brother, also deprived for much of his life, helped me assemble the grill. To christen the grill I decided I would make marinated vegetable kabobs, hotdogs & a simple lentil salad. Yuuuuuuum!

This stage was a bit sketchy for me. More coals & more fluid next time...or maybe one of those electric lighters.

Lentil salad with cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta, parsley & balsamic vinaigrette. Recipe from Ginger Fig

Pre-grill veggies: green & yellow zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes & mushrooms. Marinade recipe from wash.the.dog

Just look at those beauties. We just grilled and ate..and then grilled some more and kept eating until we were sooo full. I may not be a BBQ virgin anymore but I'm super stoked for more firsts: chicken wings, salmon, burgers, maybe a thin crust pizza... Oh boy.

Music Monday - J & J's Travel Favourites

Jenae, the driver & Jessica, the navigator =)

 

I've been home for just over a week now and I can honestly say that it was the trip of a lifetime. People told Jenae & I that we were crazy to try to cover so much ground in such a short time period, and maybe we were, but oh man! - every single day was an exciting adventure in a brand new part of the world. We had the best, best time. 

 We travelled almost exclusively by car for 3 weeks (through Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, San Marino, Slovenia, & Austria and then around Portugal - we were BUSY), so our road trip playlists had to be up to par! "Just Give Me A Reason" was dubbed the official song of the trip - not because we loved it but because it followed us around the entire trip! From Paris to Ljubljana, it seemed like every shop and restaurant had it playing!  

Here are a few of the songs that I found to be the most memorable! Enjoy =)

All My Bags are Packed...

Image taken from Inslee

 ..but I'm not sure that I feel ready to go. Haha. I keep feeling like there must be something that I'm forgetting, although I'm sure that I've read the essential Europe packing list from every travel guru on the internet. And still, there is this nervous energy hanging around in my stomach...oh yeah, I think those are called butterflies. I think it's partially just disbelief that this trip is FINALLY here. Those months of planning itineraries, researching attractions, emailing back and forth, pinching pennies, and dreaming of L'Europe are over and tomorrow I get to step onto a plane with an amazing friend and experience a new part of the world, a new part of our friendship and a new part of myself. I'd say that warrants the butterflies. I'm praying for safety and street smarts, flexibility, positive experiences and the ability to trust in Him if things go sideways. I'd appreciate your prayers too!



 I'm not too sure about internet access -- expect a good blog update in a few weeks when we're back. In the meantime, I'm hoping to be able to post on my Instagram & Twitter accounts through the trip. Catch you on the flipside! Eeeeep!

Music Monday - Tegan and Sara

I'm reaaally enjoying this song from Tegan & Sara's new album, Heartthrob. The piano intro is kind of addicting.. I think I'm going to have to learn it!


PS - I will be on a different continent next Monday so I don't think there will be any new tunes for Music Monday here on the blog. I'm thinking that when I get back I'll share some of the music I enjoyed most throughout the trip. Deal?

Shear Perfection

           “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.”    - Coco Chanel

I had a good 7 inches of hair chopped off and it feels oh so lovely! I'm still getting used to running my fingers through it and using half the normal amount of shampoo. And that whole changing your life thing? I hear that's what world travelling can do to a person. T minus 6 days! =)

Music Monday - Disclosure

I've probably promoted this song enough already this week, but I honestly CANNOT. GET. IT. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD. I've had it playing on repeat since it was used in the Jazz Round on So You Think You Can Dance. After seeing choreography for this song, I've had a hard time listening to the music without imagining dance with it -- almost like the song was made for dance. I'll stop babbling, here is "Latch" by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith. Enjoy!





Also, this choreography is pretty great too. (Seeeeee? I can't stop!)

The Final Piece of the Puzzle

I finished my classes 6 months ago. I started my job 4 months ago. I received my CRNE "pass" results 3 months ago. And  I walked across the stage 3 days ago. It's all finished now -- all the little pieces are in place and I'm a Registered Nurse! It's the end of an era for me, but as the saying goes, it's the beginning of something new and exciting. Another huge thank-you to all my friends and family who continue to support me as I transition out of university! Here are some of my favourite pictures from the big day:

My nearest & dearest from the BSN program (L to R: Anna, Margui, Julia, Allyson)

A Few Pictures from Mexico!

So I've been home almost 1 whole week after the most relaxing vacation I think I have ever been on. A beautiful place to stay (just steps from the Sea of Cortez), the best company (my mom is awesome), fresh meals, endless reading material, a turquoise swimming pool...the list goes on. I was in heaven. Best graduation present EVER.

On one of our first nights there, a huuuge wedding was set up on the beach. Big tents, lots of lights, and LOUD traditional music. Around 10pm, we noticed these big orange lanterns floating in the sky so we looked down the beach and saw at least a hundred of them being sent off. It was so so beautiful and I desperately tried to get a decent picture of them, but sadly, I was unsuccessful. And then there were fireworks! And then more music and dancing until 4 or 5am! It was crazy!

These dolphins were seen in the San Jose del Cabo marina where you can pay to swim with them!

Thank-you for an amazing trip, Mom! xo

Time is really flying by -- Convocation tomorrow & Europe in 2 weeks! Viva la vida!

Music Monday - Brandi Carlile

I knew about Brandi Carlile before I ever listened to her music, thanks to my good friend, Julia, always raving about her. I even listened to a mixtape from Margui, another friend & "musical soul buddy", with a few of her songs on it without paying her too much attention. Her voice, her songs, her sound -- just how good they all are didn't hit me until last week, listening to my iPod on shuffle. Despite having less than 5 of her songs in my iTunes library, they seemed to keep popping up to play. And I loved them. And now I'm going to get the rest of her songs. And listen to them on repeat. Because I should've done it a long long time ago. "Save Part of Yourself" from last year's album, Bear Creek, is my current favourite. =)