Small Things With Great Value

The past week has been a sort of emotional roller-coaster and I've just been rolling with it, being gentle with myself and doing the self-care bit. All is well (and there's even a personally very exciting plan taking shape, yay!) But isn't it always the way that just when you think you've moved through the worst of it the littlest thing can unexpectedly bring the teary train rushing into the station? Or is that just what happens in the life of perpetually overly-feely Moi? Ssh. I know I'm a crybaby.

Over the years, for various reasons, I've lost custody of many objects. My mantra is that things can always be replaced. The only ones that fill me with true feelings of loss and regret are the ones with deep sentimental meaning. Regardless of their monetary worth, those are what have great value to me and it's those losses that can make my heart ache. The priceless things.

There aren't adequate words to express what a gift it is to have someone who cares enough  and makes the effort to share something I thought was forever lost. Today my dearest friend made me cry - in the best way possible. 

In a blog post a while back, I'd mentioned the coffee cake recipe she'd shared with me almost thirty five years ago, that it remains Kitty's favourite, and how I wished we still had the fundraiser cookbook from when she was in grade two. Leave it to the amazing woman I chose to be my children's Godmother to save her copy:

Thank you, Laur - for your friendship, for being there through it all, for always understanding what really matters to me and why. I love you, beyond...xox

Zupa Ogórkowa

There's a bit of a pickle obsession in this house -- and nine (!) empty jars taking up space at the back of the fridge that I'm going to get to right away as though it's the most important thing in the world stop judging me the pressure is too much. 

All weekend I've been talking soup with Belle. This just popped up in my Insta feed. 

That seems like a Pickle Soup Sign to me.

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A post shared by Hayden Haas /Delishaas (@haas_hayden)

Dear Pinterest

 I've been looking through my feed and noticed a bit of a trend. What exactly are you trying to say?

A little something as we head into the most frightful weekend of the year; Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...

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Autumn Cooking Weekend

With the cooler fall weather rolling in I've been thinking about baking and cooking up some seasonal meals. A huge batch of cabbage rolls are probably going to be a big project next weekend. I'm also going to make Kitty's favourite cake. When she was in grade two, her school did a fundraiser and asked parents to contribute their child's favourite recipe. The result was an adorable cookbook filled with a diversity of tried and true recipes. Oh, how I wish I still had it. 

Kitty's request then (and at least a couple of times each year that's followed ) was for her Auntie Laurie's Sour Cream Coffee Cake. The recipe was given to me by my best friend almost thirty-five (!) years ago and has never once failed. I usually make mine in a springform pan but have done it in bundt, loaf and rectangular pans, as well as muffin tins. The only difference aside from appearance is the baking time which can be easily judged by using a toothpick to test centre doneness. It's easy, adaptable, deliciously moist, and disappears fast. When I had eight people at home I'd double the recipe because one was never enough. Now if I make it for myself I'll slice and wrap it into portions and freeze. It thaws well on the counter or in the microwave. A few years ago I searched Pinterest to find the same recipe that's permanently lodged inside my head to share with my kids and this Kraft My Food & Family Moist "Sour Cream Coffee Cake" is it. 

After having a similar coffee cake from Starbucks years ago, I experimented with layering on small dollops of 1/2 cup of additional sour cream on top of the first layer of batter, then sprinkling half the streusel and the next layer of batter as directed. It's certainly not necessary but it gives little extra pops of unexpected creaminess that go well with the crunchiness of the nuts. It's strictly a personal preference but I double the  cinnamon, brown sugar and nuts because we REALLY like the struesel in the middle. And if we're having cake we're having good cake!

Is there anything more comforting than the smell of soup simmering away on the stove when fall and winter come around? I've been on the lookout for new recipes to incorporate healthier things into my diet and soups are a bomb way to do that - this one from Ancient Nutrition showed up in my Instagram feed and I really want to try it. Unless I can come up with a believable name that is not pumpkin soup it will be a singles soup for one. Mancub and Kitty would be horrified. I think it looks delicious and Belle would probably try it out. Right off the bat, because you can never have too much garlic, it's going to be doubled. A good way to stay single, oui?

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Last weekend Belle sent me this recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Soup and I think it's going to become a favourite. Not only because it turned out to be delicious, made her apartment smell amazing, is healthy and was as scrumptious the next day, but because it was the first meal she prepared in her new kitchen! The video tempted her so much she ran out for ingredients and expressed how much cheaper everything is there. 'Cheap' is a relative term these days but the cost of food in the Lower Mainland was getting insane for quite some time. Food insecurity is a huge issue everywhere and I'm grateful my kids aren't in the position of choosing to pay for heat or buying adequate healthy ingredients to prepare nutritious meals. This looks yummy and I can't wait to try my hand at it. Everyone thought she was a tiny weirdo for liking fava beans when she was little. She ate them like candy and has quite a sophisticated palette now. I'm impressed by some of the recipes she tries. This looks absolutely yummy and I can't wait to try my hand at it. Creamy soups are delightful but I've never thought to use beans to replace all the fat that makes them tasty and thick.

Her move went very well -- if we discount the warning a man with the flashing red and blues gave her after pulling her over 20 minutes from her destination. Welcome to 'berta, bitches. 😂 The kitty was a dream co-pilot and acclimated well to her new surroundings quite quickly. 

They're all settled in and it's safe to say she's thrilled. The new apartment is adorable, the job is with one of the biggest firms in the city and her first week of training went great. Best of all, her employer really gets that work/life balance aren't just a buzzphrase, but have worked the possibilities into policy. She's never had that before and this will be the first time she can plan the life she wants to build instead of constantly scrambling to survive and working to exhaustion. 

Their first morning was spent as everyone's should be: with a hot cup of coffee, mindful of all there is to have gratitude for, and enjoying a beautiful view with someone you love. 

She's becoming acquainted with the city and her public transportation stories bring me to tears with laughter. It does a mama's soul good to know she's in a good place, happy and making new friends, and enjoying everything autumn in Canada has to offer. Cheers, my sweet Belle! I love you, beyond...xox

Chonky Punkin

🎧 The Witches Are Back

This adorable little guy was looking at me in 2009 - probably thinking how grateful he was for all the spiffy duds. You're welcome, child. 

Forgive me another granny moment, but tonight he went into the pizza place to pick up dinner and when his almost 6' tall frame walked out, I was thunderstruck again. Where did the time go??? Xbox and his friends are starting to win the battle for his company but luckily he still wants those moments. Moments like decorating for Halloween, witch he is excited about. Yes, I wrote that. Nervy, huh?

Spooky SZN continues and there are ideas a'plenty. I see a lot of home-made pumpkin bread, pie, crumble, muffins, cupcakes and face masks in my future.  

Last week I thought it would be a good idea to pop into my Pinterest to get a few fun ideas to share. While I adore the app and my eleventy billion 'must remember this' pins, it's easy to get sucked into a never-ending loop that makes time disappear in a frightening way. I fought my way out and brought a few thousand things to blog about. But now I am sick and cranky so if you want to spook up your food, beauty game, and enjoy a delightful beverage you'll have to do some of the work. 

• Bewitching Halloween Accessories to Make
• Halloween Nails 
• Monster Burgers
• Creepy Halloween Food for Parties
• Drunk Witch
• Now I Feel Incompetent

Wet Start to Spooky SZN

Good Monday to you! It's rainy here today - there was a pounding downpour during the night - and while I enjoy the sound of it, the change in air pressure can spark wicked headaches. Sure enough, I woke up with what feels like a migraine brewing and screen time is a bit of a nightmare. 

One of the fun things about contesting is discovering new companies and products I'd never know about. For weeks my email has been inundated with Halloween promotions. It's almost scary. Here's a few standouts. Keep in mind there will be more in the coming days because somewhere along the way, Halloween stopped being an occasion just pushed the last two weeks of October - now, it's a SZN.🎃 Act, dress and behave accordingly, or face frightening consequences. 

Canadian companies always catch my eye, especially ones owned and run by women. Hamilton, Ontario's Hayley Elsaesser is new-to-me and I love how she proves comfortable fashion can be super fun. There's something for everyone in their Spooky SZN offerings. I'm hankering for the Ghostie Ghost long sleeve midi dress. The Skeleton dog shirts are hilarious, and I'd give almost anything to send Kitten and Belle a Spider Print Longline Sports Bra & Leggings, but that's a joke out of my price range.

For the very wee ones, BuyBabyBuy has 25% OFF of the sweetest Halloween themed attire for The Bebes. Tea Collection has the most adorable, easiest Halloween styles for the bigger Wee Ones (and I would like the Dragon Head Hoodie in growed up, size large, for everyday life please.)  

I'm still mad at Jane, but Halloween is no time for petty...the season calls for over-the-top, in-your-face creepiness, right? That isn't sustainable long-term though. If this is going to be a whole damn season, we're going to need to add wearable pieces for at least a few weeks, right? How could I not share these cute tees for my American friends looking for a little simple but on-point addition to their fall wardrobes? We'll get to costume specific content in a later post in the coming weeks, but for anyone with a Bridgerton obsession, here's some hints on how to make your own Regency-inspired creation. 

Finally, the noms! Thematic food doesn't just happen with the waving of a wand. You need ingredients that may not be a staple in your pantry and presenting it the way you want takes planning so here's 40 Foods in the Spirit. (I respectfully disagree any food is too spooky to snack on though.) Thanks to Youtube, Mancub has become obsessed with Japanese candy, and though I can't do it for this Halloween, his Christmas gift might include a subscription from Japan Candy Box - their Halloween edition is ready to go and would be a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth in need of regular feeding.  Nobody knows better than Candy Fun House that goodies aren't just for trick 'o treaters, but they're ready for one of their busiest times of year with all the gooey ghoulish yummies. 

And the puns wrote themselves. Bad dump bump, tssss.

National Cheeseburger Day

Integrated US-Canadian supply chains contribute the ingredients for the perfect burger - Happy National Cheeseburger Day 🍔!

Learn more about the origins of your next bite here : https://t.co/VyDVh2Dvnv#NatinonalCheeseburgerDay #CdnAg @AAFC_Canada pic.twitter.com/sg6xPHRhgH

— Consulate General of Canada in Dallas (@CanCGDallas) September 16, 2022

Take that, Jane! Also, please note, I have officially retreated from my JUSTJUSTIFYIT Blogger battle to regroup. It is what it is. Onward...

Regardless of nationality, everybody and their brother has a cheeseburger recipe, so I've been searching for some new-to-me thematic recipes. I ended up hungry. Rather than sharing yet another recipe for how to make a patty - cow, seasoning, binder - I opted for starting with toppings to bump flavour. This Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger is a good place to start, right? I mean, bourbon, bacon, cheese: what's not to love? Now I have to make that jam. Then I found Spicy German Lager Mustard Sauce and my head almost exploded. Come. On.

Before I drown in drool, let's talk the tools needed to whip all this deliciousness. In the Beforetimes, I had amassed an enviable amount of quality cookware, but now there's many an evening spent eating cereal over the sink. That doesn't stop me from enjoying a little foodieporn now and then. Putting things in my online cart on KitchenAid and Zwillings that I have no intention of buying are guilty pleasures. If you're in the market for high quality cooking equipment, you can't beat the deals you'll find at the online Zwilling's Warehouse Sale  - up to 80% OFF and today is the last day, so get to it! 

I love slow cooker meals. Every time I use mine, a laugh erupts as I recall my ex father-in-law, who called them "Slut's Pots" because women could go out and do bad things during the day, serving up meals to unsuspecting husbands at night. No toxic patriarchy at work there at all. I'll be sure to serve up some Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Soup soon to the great-grandson he never met. He'll be astonished at the story, and critical of the mindset, thank goodness. 

While I'm not intolerant of any foods, I am trying to eat a more plant-based diet. I do love me some lentils. Not everyone is so lucky, or they choose to forgo animal products, but they don't have to sit on the bench. These alternatives are great for Vegetarians and vegans  and this gluten-free low carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole looks pretty yummy too. I'll probably give a bunch of these a try over the next few months. 

Finally, from what is quickly becoming one of my favourite blogs to read, is a recipe for the scrumptious sounding Caramelized Onion, Pear and Arugula Focaccia. What does this have to do with cheeseburgers, you may ask? Absolutely nothing. Except, as mentioned, I'm starving and it sounds so delish I want to make it. The work, she never ends.

TGI Feel Me Better

My Go To Feel Me Better Tunes 

Have you ever been told, "YOU should write a book!" I bet you have. Did you think, "Shuuuure. It can't be hard. I'll get right on that . . . " as the molten sarcasm sap tried to explode from your pores? Shocking, I know, but having been through some things and possessing a modicum of writing ability will not do the trick. Whatever the trick actually IS escapes me today. 

This has been the least productive day of writing since I decided the time had finally come to settle   in and give it a real go. Maybe my own mind is blocking me. I've been in some bad internal places the past few days. Weirdly, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday has made it worse, triggering feelings about my mom. Hard. Since she died, pictures of Her Maj began to morph in with my memories and emotions, especially of Mum's quick decline. With each news story on the monarch's health that I read over the last year, another fierce feeling of protectiveness would wash over me. Being aware it's classic transference for my feelings orphans helps identify it. Dealing with it is another story. I'm not sobbing, but I am hurting in that deja vu way living with grief makes us experts at. Of sweeter memory, it was also something about their smiles, lighting up a room. I miss it. Today, I can't even pretend to write a book. I'll sit with this strange grief soup for a bit.

Giving myself that permission, and acknowledging my concentration is shot, finally led to surfing. Not the healthy, soak up the sun and surf, gnarly kind. The wicked kind. The big WWW. You know. 

The result after having hours sucked away? Not much. Except, now I need to BUY THIS:

And whip up some Beef & Stout  delish in the kitsh:

And MAKE THESE beauties!

Because lordty, lordty, I can't think of a reasonable argument to stop me. Mancub will think it's hilarious and that's enough motivation for Moi to make a stupid craft.  Maybe we can create them together on the sly, then force Kitten to wear them to work and school? Heheh. That cheered me up. 

Have a great weekend. Stay safe and make the most of where you're at. 

If you can, buy cute drinks. 

Mandoquerita