Great Book

I have just finished reading Last Chance to Eat: the fate of taste in a fast food world by Gina Mallet. What a funny book and scattered throughout are some classic recipes. I made her Ian's Thames Mud and was amazed at how elemental a recipe it was - clean chocolate taste and wonderful texture - And SO SO easy. If you are even a little bit of a foodie, you should read this. At the very least, make this instead of buying a cheesecake next time you have a dinner.

Classic Chocolate Mousse

8 extra-large eggs, separated
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
3 tbsp black coffee
1 tbsp brandy

Beat egg yolks until thick and pale yellow. In a lo-temp oven, melt the chocolate in the coffee, and before it starts to thicken, blend in yolks with an electric beater or balloon whisk. Add brandy.
Beat egg whites until absolutely stiff.
Put 2 spoonfuls of beaten egg white into the chocolate mixture and mix gently. Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites.
Spoon into a glass bowl or individual ramekins; leave in refrigerator for several hours.

Houseplants

Have you ever seen a Jade plant flower? I haven't either. Apparently they do this when they think they're about to die. I guess this is a testament to my ability to manage a single houseplant. One that folks claim is unkillable. Heck, this plant spent a year in my father inlaw's basement while we lived in Victoria....and yet here it is in my window, thinking it's going to die.

I've been Tagged

My Online friend in New Brunswick, artist Sheri Burhoe has included me in a tagging game. So here goes....eight things about me.

1. I can burp like a 280lb beer-drinking biker.
2. I am a loner and yet like to entertain and cook for people.
3. I would like to go back to school and take Pastry/Culinary Arts
4. I would rather stick hot pins in my eyes than learn how to drive.
5. I miss smoking, as filthy a habit as it is.
6. I am a font junkie.
7. I have a sense of humour, but only my husband knows it.
8. In a former life, I was a big Italian Mumma.


You are tagged:
Hollie
Kristie
Pam
Angela
Kelly

Button Cookies

Super cute wee sugar cookies with royal icing

Thinking of taking Cake Decorating?

Check out my Kijiji ad if you are - save yourself some money and get what you need!

New Jewellery @ Trinity Jewellers

I have been working for Trinity Jewellers for over a month now and have started to make hammered silver and beaded jewellery for them. There are lots of greta new pieces at both the Park Lane shopand the flagship store on Quinpool Road.

Here is a little taste. Prices start at $39

Earrings!

grey day sterling silver, fresh water pearl, tourmilated quartz & iolite $59

tangle oxidized sterling with african opal. $49

oxized hammered sterling silver and blue lace agate. $49

Summer Jewellery

irregular dangles with sunstone & pink botswana agate $49

white silver chain with detachable aquamarine pendant $149

irregular shiny hoops with green tourmilated quartz - SOLD

long white silver chain with chrysopraese, new jade and amazonite. front closure 20"

$249

Todays Jewelery - Inspired by the Sea

Seafoam Chain - 30" $145

Seafoam Chandelier Earrings $125

by the sea Bracelet. $55

Churning Waves Pendant. 30" box chain $75

Fresh Dinner

Whenever Trevor and I are feeling sluggish and lethargic (read: fat) from eating too much junk food, we have what we've come to call Green Soup. The beauty of Green Soup is that it can have almost anything in it. It actually doesn't even have to be a green veg. If we have celery, great. Green peppers? broccoli? spinach? Most of the time we have at least one of these slowly wilting in the fridge so there is never an excuse not to use it. Simmer up some chicken or veg broth, drop in what ever takes the longest to cook. Sometimes we put minced garlic in the broth. In this case, I put in the green onions and tortellini for five minutes. When the pasta still had a minute to go, Trev dropped in the broccoli. When serving it up we put a dollop (Trevor just hates that word!) of bottled pesto in the centre and give it a sprinkling of parmesan.
The broth keeps this super light, while the pasta puts a little something lasting in your belly. Otherwise I'd be starving in an hour. The only problem with this soup is that it is getting harder and harder to find yummy ravioli or tortellini in the deli counter. They've discontinued my favourites one by one. It is starting to look like we might have to make some and freeze it in Green Soup sized batches.
I hope someone out there tries this and lets me know how they like it or how they've changed it - I think that would be fun.
To go with the soup I made the Carrot Cilantro Salad from Jamie's Dinners super yummy! I didn't have lemons so I used limes instead and I think it was just as good, although next time I think I may add a half teaspoon of sugar or honey as it was really tart. Great book. I got it from the Library, but I might have to invest at some point later (when I am employed and can buy books) Hey everybody - go cook something from scratch!

Green Soup

Carrot Cilantro Salad

Almost Summer

Today feels so much like summer I can barely stand it. I actually had to come inside to cool off a bit as the lunch time sun was getting strong. Love, love, love. The tulips on the other hand are still blooming. I must have picked a later variety. I supose I should write these things down somewhere. They are also all planted in the front of the house where it is much cooler.

Looking at this picture, I am in love with the green that I painted the cupboard last year. I think I have a tiny bit of it left and plan to paint the inside of my desk drawer with it. Unless I can find something better to use it on, it just has to be a small job as there really is very little. This colour requires a lot of coats even with a tinted primer so it didn't leave much left over to play with. Of course if I could find the paint chip all this would be moot.

Corner of the studio

Boo thinks He's the King of the Castle

I had just made the bed up so that I could take a picture of the pillow cases I had painted and doesn't Boo think it was a good time to showcase his handsome features (and dirty nose)?

These cases were rather blah ones that came with the fleece sheets this winter. I decided to scribble on them with heat fixable fabric paint. The only drawback is that the fabric paints I have are the Setasilk ones which are thin and like to bleed. I remember that there used to be such a thing as fabric medium that you could mix with acrylic paint to turn it into fabric paint. Must check Michaels the next time I find myself in Dartmouth Crossing (snort! never....) I think it would be fun to do some cushion covers with the poppies from the Crow painting - cheery and colourful.

Floral Paintings

I can't say I know what I'm doing. Partly, I'm just playing with the paint to get back into the habit of using it. These are exercises I guess. It's been seven years since I painted and sold the work at Art Sales and Rental and much longer since I was seriously painting at the Art Centre. I am looking forward to getting into my little room and setting it up from scratch.

Custom Order Necklace

This a piece that was designed for my friend Jean. The large peacock pearl was hers and it had come on the leather cord. She was looking for something funky that could be convertible, would include the cord and showcase the pearl.

You can clasp this anywhere in the front depending on the neckline and the pearl can be hung inside the silver loop it's attached to or below for more dangle. You can also remove it completely without taking anything away from the necklace. The pearl and silver piece is heavy enough that should she wish for a simpler look, Jean could simply hang it on a chain. I was so excited how this came out. I might have to make something similar for myself one day. Trevor, proud of what I do, but not particulary interested in jewellery per say, thought this was the coolest thing.

Purple Tulips

So I think I've finished this one. It's background has been blue, white and now green. Of course I may change my mind. Nothing earthshattering here, but it's good to just start getting into the habit of sitting down and squeezing paint and playing. You can't create anything if you don't sit down and try right? The question is: should I put it in my Etsy and if so, for how much? Constructive criticism is always welcome.

Keeping busy

Being unemployed is never fun, however the first couple of days can seem like a bit of a vacation. My first few days were a flurry of interviews that I had right off the bat. Then things tapered off. Past that, this last week has been painfully slow. Kent was supposed to call to tell me when the orientation day was going to be. Wednesday I called to touch base and was told I'd be called first thing the next day. Well it's friday now and still nothing. I have another interview today with a jewellery store in Halifax that at first glance I didn't put much stock in because they were so far away. Now, it looks like they are expanding to Spring Garden Rd, so suddenly this job looks like just the thing for me. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

In the mean time, I have been trying to get back to painting - something I have been itching to do for the last couple of years. I think once the new studio is ready it will be the perfect place to paint as the light is excellent. For now I am in the dining room. These flower paintings are just exercises meant to get me back into the habit, nothing particularly original. I'll post some finished images this weekend. purple tulips in progress

Sweetheart Cake

Almond and raspberry cake for a friends birthday a couple of weeks ago. I wanted something simple and pretty and I think these ribbon roses fit the bill.

Earrings for Spring

Faceted Pink Botswana Agate with Olive Jade. 14k gold fill. $65

Citrine & Smoky Quartz Shoulder Dusters. 14k gold fill. $75

Yay for Cupcakes!

Coconut & cream cheese mini cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes with Vanilla frosting.

Liking Gold

I never did like the look of gold much. but lately I have been changing my mind. So, with a mixture of 14k gold fill, vermeil and some pretty stones, here are three new pairs of earrings.

Angle Dangles. Turquoise, Amazonite, 14k gold fill, vermeil. $59

Dangle Hoops. Turquoise, Swarovski crystal, 14k gold fill, vermeil. $49

Spring Mixer. Citrine, Amethyst, Swarovski crystal, 14k gold fill, vermeil. $69