Today's Fav's

Here are a few of my fav's today!  Looking for places to shoot my next grad!   i love the warm colours that fall has to offer, but still want the trendy 'Simply 17' feel!  So I went to the old railroad district to get a few ideas.

 This last one is at Mission Creek Park, not quite in full fall colours!

Red Pepper, tomato Soup

You can't go wrong with soup!!   I never use a recipe for my soups...I simply follow the same steps, it doesn't matter what ingredients, or flavours I use.  Soups are tasty, healthy, full of flavour and most of all easy!!

Choose your flavour, squash, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, chicken....the possibilities are endless!!!   Oven roast your veggies, with S&P, garlic and any other seasonings you enjoy.  Roast for 45min at 325'

Chop up 1-2 large onions, saute with minced garlic.  Once soft and flavours have combined add in whatever oven roasted veggies you have prepared. 

Add in stock, and any other seasonings...remember to taste and don't add to much salt...this is an easy one for each person to add individually...simmer, slightly cool, then emulsify!!

Presto!!  Tasty, homemade, heart healthy soup!!!

In my Freezer Clean out Challenge...I had a whole bag of organic, baby bell peppers, and a clamshell of blusher tomatoes....I had purchased right before a trip...and could not let them go to waste.  Tomatoes and peppers are only good in soups and sauces ie: spaghetti sauce, or other simmered dishes, after they have been defrosted.

I took them out of the freezer last night and let them defrost in the fridge over night.  This morning I chopped of the tops of the peppers, and de-seeded.  If you are using large, non-organic peppers you may want to remove the skins, before or after roasting.  I de-stemed the tomatoes, and deheaded the garlic.  I then placed them all on a cookie sheet drizzled with EVOO, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.  Roasted at 325' for 45min.  

I turned off the oven and left for yoga!

When I returned I chopped and sauteed 1 large onion, with 4 shallots.  I then added in roasted garlic bulbs and roasted veggies....sauteed together to let flavours infuse.

Next I added a carton of Campbell's low sodium Chicken Broth, and let simmer for 30min, let cool slightly, pureed and enjoyed!!!!

YUMMMM!!!!

Step 6-10 Freezer clean out challenge

Step 6:  I determined the amount of protein I needed for a meal and split up any I had to much of for one meal...ie 10 chicken breasts (split into two meals)  9 turkey breasts (split into two meals)  2 pkgs ground turkey ( two meals).   I then determined how many meals I could make (only dinners for most nights).

Step 7:  I then wrote all my proteins, starches, veggies and fruits on small pieces of paper, and arranged accordingly.

Step 8:  Next I arranged what I wanted to use together:

-Sole
-Fettuccini


-Whole Chicken
-Green beans


-Bananas
-Blueberries


-Blueberries
- 3 sm pork medallions


-Ground turkey
-Wonton wrappers


- Sirloin steaks 
-Green Peas


- Halibut cheeks
-1/2 bag prawns


-5 turkey breasts 
-cranberries


-Ground turkey 
-Spinach


-Bell peppers
-Pink cherry tomatoes


- Ham hock
-Hashbrowns


-5 chicken breasts


- 4 turkey breasts

Step 9 :  I arranged my dinner schedule....meaning... there are nights I know we will already be out due to other plans, also I know there are nights I will not have as much time due to activities, meetings, photo shoots etc.  This way I know when some of my less time consuming dinners need to be done....and when my more demanding dinners can be done.

Wednesday lunch - Bell Peppers and Pink cherry tomato soup....recipe and photos to come!
Wednesday 12 - Ted is taking me out for dinner tonight ;-))

Thursday 13  - Pork tenderloin, with a blueberry sauce  ( I choose this because it will be just Ted and I for dinner and there is a very small amount of meat.)

Friday 14 - As it is Ted's Bday weekend we will be fishing and spoiling him...so it will be fresh steaks tonight, BBQ'd

Saturday breakfast... Ham hock and hashbrowns (I know not creative..but hey it works well ;-))
Saturday 15 - Whole chicken, and Green beans.  Beer can chicken (the best way to do a chicken!!)

Sunday 16 - My SIL is hosting dinner tonight as it is Megan's Bday too!!

Monday 17 - 5 Chicken breasts & Fettuccini (I may have two extra for dinner...so I need to plan for this)  Actual dinner decision ???
Banana & Blueberry bread - for Tuesday morning breaky!!

Tuesday 18 - Sirloin and Green Peas (The girls have piano, so I usually plan a slow cooker meal so it is hot and ready without 'dinner time' prep.  This way I can do all the prep in the day)

Wednesday 19 - Halibut cheeks and Prawns....recipe to come?  (I know fish back to back...however, I will be out on a photo shoot here so it will have to be easy going)....this one may get cancelled...it might be easier for the family to meet me downtown after shoot...depending on timing ;-))

Thursday 20 - We are out for an Event

Friday 21 - Sole & Fettuccini  I have a photo shoot at 7pm so I need a quick to cook and clean dinner!

Saturday 22 - I'm out for a girls night dinner.

I think we have guests coming....so I will determine when the other 5 dinners will be....  I have them paired though...

Ground turkey & Wonton Wrappers (wonton soup)
Turkey breasts & cranberries (yum...post Thanksgiving dinner)
Ground turkey & spinach ( lasagna)
5 Chicken breasts (may be less if we do have company for the monday above)
4 Turkey breasts




Step 10:  Decide on recipes and make shopping list!!!

I'll post when I'm done....It might seem like a lot of work now...but won't it be great to shop once, have everything planned, and more time to work on all the rest of your TO-DO's ;-))

Step 1 - 5 Freezer Cleanup Challenge!

Step 1:  Take Photos...grab your point & shoot, your I-phone, your DSLR...whatever you have and take before and afters!!!   Why???   Because to see what you have done is so motivating!!!

Here is my Fridge Before!!!

My Freezer BEFORE!!

Step 2:  After taking your before's throw out any un-useables in your freezer.  As Ted and I leave for 2 or more days frequently, I often put everything that is fresh in the freezer leading me to a total abundance of brown bananas (yes Ted you were right...I have to many ;-))  Also get rid of anything that has been in the freezer past it's timeline...yes just because it is frozen, it doesn't mean it is still good!!!
According to Lifehacker.com, the limits are as follows :

Fruits and Vegetables: 8-12 Months
Poultry: 6-9 Months
Fish: 3-6 Months
Ground Meat: 3-4 Months
Cured or Processed Meat: 1-2 Months

So throw away anything WAY over...I still cook with borderline products and so far have not had any issues ;-)  Plus I HATE throwing away food!!!!!!

A few of my throw-aways!

5 scorpions - From our Phoenix home...then T took to school and they defrosted, so the smell is unbearable 

1 dead fish (if they die the pet stores say to freeze and then bring them back to exchange for new ones)...we must have forgot.

Shortening...I never use...when I bake I buy the pie shells (come-on it tastes just as good and saves a whole lot of time)

a bunch of bananas...I admit I had to many

Lamb rump...it was WAY past..because I'm not a lamb fan, and Ted can't eat it anymore...;-(

Step 3:  Wipe down shelves, organize according to 'type' of food and put away!

Step 4:  Take your inventory....

 

Then take inventory of your newly organized and cleaned fridge.

Then take inventory of your dry storage.

 My Inventory!!!!!


FREEZER:

UN-USEABLES
2 dog bones
26 ice packs ???  not sure how we have accumulated this many?


APPIES  (these I will not worry about...as I always have something quick and easy to cook up for drop-in guests....)

Cocktail wieners
Edamame (which I will also use in dishes)
Gyoza
Jalapeno Poppers
Mini Tacos
Chicken strips- for the girls
garlic sausage (either for guests or Taeya's perogie addiction)
Ice cream treats
Cookies
CHOCOLATE LOTS ( Ted and Taeya are chocoholics)
Cashews (fresh from Indonesia...our neighbours Bryan and Karen, went on a mission there and brought home a huge bag for us...however, as Ted cannot eat any nuts, except for almonds, it is hard for me to use in any baking or cooking...snacks only!)

PROTEINS:
6 Fillets of Sole 

9 Turkey Brests
10 Chicken Brests 

2 ground turkey pkgs
1 whole chicken
1 ham hock
9 halibut cheeks
3 small pork medallions

6 Top Sirloin steaks

1/2 bag of prawns


STARCHES:
Mushroom Rav (I will save this for Taeya's lunches...so I will not include)
Tri-colour 3 cheese tortellini (this is for the girls lunches (when I'm having a lazy day))
Wonton Wrappers
Hash browns - ? not sure where these came from...family visiting....anyways they are game for the challenge!
2 pkgs Fresh Fettuccini (ironic I know) Steamed Farkay noodles  

VEGGIES:
Spinach
Green Peas 
Bell Peppers
Pink Cherry tomatoes
Green beans


FRUITS:
7 brown bananas
Lots of blueberries
cranberries

OTHERS Turkey soup
Butternut squash soup


I also have a lot of fresh Italian plums from my MIL I would like to incorporate, along with clementines, pears, apples (from both my girlfriend Jes' orchard, as well as our neighbours brought us a beautiful fruit basket)  I have leeks, celery, onions, lemon/limes, beets etc!!!


So here we go!!!!!

Step 5:  Pick your recipes.....have fun there are may resources on the internet.... Food Network is one of my fav's!   Research, put in your desired ingredients and go with your families tastes and desires!   I'll see you tomorrow with my game plan!

Good Night!

Ok so maybe....

Ok so maybe not everything is organized...I just went to the backyard to collect the linens I was hanging to dry...to get that crisp fall smell, that I absolutely love falling asleep to, when I noticed I have seriously neglected the back yard.

The pool has been shut down for the season, however, the flowers and grasses are dying in their pots, the cushions and furniture needs to be tucked away, all blow-up pool loungers need to be deflated, aired, and rolled away, along with diving toys, goggles, life jackets etc.  Pool filters, screens and cleaning tools to be dealt with, our large fabric umbrella, needs to be dry and then hauled inside...it weighs a ton so this is a BLUE job ;-))!   The cooler full of random drinks needs to be cleaned, and the drinks put back into the beer fridge.  Gardening tools need to be put away, pampas grasses need to be tied for the upcoming snowfall!!  .........and the camping trailer AAHHHH!!!  Anyways the house is good ;-))

And I'm concentrating on the FREEZERS!!

Next Up....Step 1 - for my FREEZER CLEANUP

Freezer Challenge

So it is official...all cupboards, drawers, closets, clothes, storage, movies, CD's, Wedding rentals, photo props...I could go on but I think you all get the hint!!  Are organized!!!!!!  With the help of Kim Richards, cleaning and organizing extraordinaire!  It is amazing, so freeing, it has been my goal for the last year...however, by the time one is done..another is back to its original state ;-0)  Who knows how long it will last...but it is time to celebrate!

So my one last task...to feel fully freed from clutter...The Freezer!!   The fridge is a given, and needs to be done often in our house...however, the freezer is not on my regular list!!!  It is kind of that bottomless pit...meat, buns, veggies, they all go in but rarely come out!!!  I have just finished my winter Costco shop to stock up on the cooking supplies I use frequently, stocks, beans, tomato products etc...

My goal over the next two weeks is to clean out my Freezer!!  I challenge you all to do this simple task;-0 ...the best thing is you will save a lot of money this month...which leads to spoiling the ones you love for Christmas ;-))

I have a full standing freezer, so it holds the amount of a small deepfreeze, I'm sure...so those of you with an above fridge/freezer...dig deep and include the bottomless pit in your garage? basement? Pantry?  where ever you keep it.

After many of you tried the Rouladen, with great success...and thank you all for you comments (many of you through text or person) - to which I think I have fixed the comment area and you should be able to post without an account (Simply click on Name/URL type in your name and comment and post ;-))  I will try to keep the recipes easy both to prep and follow!  Don't worry I won't be doing anything like Julia Childs Beef Bourguignon, which I cooked last week, and I'm sorry Julia...but 6 hours in the kitchen just wasn't worth it for me ;-))

........More to come on how one would successfully clean out and cook with your frozen goods!!!!!!!   Take the challenge... post to my Facebook page!!!    Good Luck!!!

Thanksgiving Gems

My MIL has a beautiful collection of antique oil lanterns, I snapped a few pics of these gems last night after dinner...along with a few funky looking lights!  I love the reflective one, with all the boys relaxing after way to much turkey in the sitting room!

Jeff & Christina

So I will be posting Christina's maternity in about 8 different posts over the next week.  I love so many of them...and want to play around with a few different techniques to get the feel I'm after.  This first set I really like in muted colours, I think it adds to the moment they were sharing, in their new home, awaiting baby Giovanni.

Fridays Sunset!

This is what caught my eye on Friday...I loved the jet streams crossing against the warm night sky.  The lake chilled and rippled with the gentle breeze! The strong dark silhouette of the foreground.   The view from our deck was Picture Perfect!

Silhouette Fun!

The sunset was so clear and warm on Friday, so Taeya and I decided to have a little silhouette fun with it!!  Theses are on our back spiral staircase!   The sun had been down for at least 20minutes before I walked downstairs to see the lighting was perfect for these shots!   Hope you Enjoy!

Simply 17

I have been very busy launching my new line...designing logos, rep programs, and trying to get pamphlets, and other advertising off to the printers for the trade show!!!   Can't wait to show you all.....

This is my new grad line logo!!   What do you think??