Food, Inc.

Again, during my research into food, I found this movie at the local movie rental shop. It is a MUST WATCH!
You truly will get on the food band-wagon, as I am!
Next to add to my re-cylcing and working on getting more vegtables into my back garden, side garden while taking care of the soil- I will be adding Farmers Markets to my grocey shopping-- and how to do this and feed a 22 year old athletic son on a restricted budget will be an adventure for sure!
Stay tuned in my new travels.

Healthy Food - We Eat Together

I lucked out while visiting a local little bakery in Edmonton and ran into the authors of this cookbook- availalbe at Audreys in Edmonton. I tried to locate this couple and could not in order to ask for more information on them- and could not. I did tell them when I bought the book that I will be placing them on my blog- so this is with their permission.

This cookbook is full of terrific local recipes, some vegan and many local farmers. A great buy.

If you would like to eat at some local restaurants that support local farmers and organic food here is a great list.

1 ) d'lish Meal Assembly Studio--- http://www.dish.ca/
2)  Leva- http://www.levabar.com/
3) Jack's Grill-- http://www.jacksgrill.ca/   ***
4) Red Ox Inn- http://www.theredoxinn.com/ ***
5) The Blue Pear- http://www.thebluepear.com/ ***
6) The Dish Bistro & The Runaway Spoon Catering- http://www.thedishandspoon.com/
7) The Blue Plate- http://www.blueplatediner.ca/
8) Accent Lounge- wwwaccentlounge.com
9) Cafe de Ville--www.cafedeville.com  ***
10) Wild Tangerine- http://www.wildtangerine.com/ **
11) Skinny Legs & Cowgirls -www.skinnylegsand cowgirls.com

The stars indicate resturants I have eaten at and are - in my humble opinion- terrific!   
.

Penelope Cruz

I LOVE LOVE THIS LOOK- I so want this dress- I so want to look like her!

She is the new Sophia Loreen-- I want this dress!

I want this body- I simply want to be Penelope Cruz-

as the kids would say- guess I have a girl crush! Yes, even with my horrid fear of

crowed places and dark theatres- I am going to see NINE at the movie theatre
there better not be a weirdo behind or beside me!

Sarah's Key

I normally do not blog about the books I am reading-generally because there is not much to say--- Zen, Buddhism, cookbooks too many to mention (one of my regular bedtime reads) I am pleased to be able to make an exception.
Sarah's Key- by Tatiana De Rosnay gripped me almost instantly.

Parts of the book in the beginning were too painful for me to read- so I scanned and skipped and read other passages.

Relaxing in a hot bubble bath my skin prickled with goosebumps and chills ran through my body at the horrors the French inflicted on their Jewish citizens.... the cruelty towards the children- all in broad daylight while no-one stopped them.

Once I got to the part where I could read all the text- I was mesmerized, horrified, I cried, I read the entire book in one sitting, from sofa- to bath, back to sofa---incredible read!

I highly recommend this book- you will feel emotion, you will cry with horror, anger, pain and also with incredible faith- faith in the love of people!

Excellent read for the Holiday season- to remind you what the season really means.
Love towards our brothers and sisters on this world regardless if our faiths differ!

Happy Holidays to all- and eat the best chocolate!

Jennifers Gallery

Do you not just love love the simple light grey background? Much softer and more modern that the ugly stark white we have been seeing- too much white- while it can be nice- is usually way too cold-- even in Palm Springs. It simply leaves the heart cold-- art should warm the heart- heck everything should warm the heart!
I am in love love with the female sculpture that just peeks out from some of the photos!
Almost more than my wall art- I LOVE sculpture! Jennifer if you are reading this- can I please have a close up of that--- and please who did it? How much-- and please GOD can I win the lottery-- I love love that sculpture!
I have been a very good girl--- and we all know art is an investment!
One you can actually enjoy while the value goes up- up and up!
So wish I had bought a few pieces -that I did not when I had the money!
The artist proof of Andy Warhol Number 5 does come to mind!

Cute -but too expensive!

these are both images of sinks and vanities from one of our large big box stores!

I must get you the contact for the second hand store I shop at-- actually many of the items are brand new! Note the 929.00 price tag on the first item that does not include the counter/sink or the taps! I pay about $500.00 for cabinets, sink, counter and taps at two of my finds.

If you want a custom paint look-simply paint over the standard issue.

I will get you the names- best if you live in Edmonton and are trying to save money!

Pumpkin Soup

Soup in pot- sorry we got so crazy forgot to take a picture
of the soup in the gourd-- but I prefer to wait until serving
time to sprinkle the colourful red peppers on top- so none in yet!

Serve the soup in the empty gourd! (then still

save it for more use!

I just scoop out what I need from the gourd- so I can then serve it in the gourd--- and then simply rinse out the gourd with water, pat dry, cut into a five star shape,rub with oil and put face down in the oven to soften the rest of the 'meat' and harvest that for homemade pumpkin pie! You most likely will have more meat than you need for one pie- so simply let the moisture drain off- more about that in another post- and freeze the 'meat' you do not need for your pies!



Yes, pumpkin soup! We all have to be as frugal as we can-while being stylish!
Pumpkin soup is a silky, easy to make elegant take on simplicity!
While I was young, I was very poor at times and seemed to eat soup every day-so for years I would not even look at soup- peasant food! I have since grown up and have learned to love 'peasant food'-- now called comfort food!

This can be a spicy dish if you add enough ginger or Curry--- or a tame version to simply tease your tastebuds before a more elaborate feast. I make mine rather mild- as the 'boys' in my house do not like too much spice- and also with turkey dinner so not to confuse the tastebuds before the main course-- and also so as not to outshine the homemade stuffing- with fresh herbs of course or the velvet smoothness of perfect gravy smothering the buttery whipped potatoes!

A good pumpkin soup recipe is a necessary thing when fall comes around. Hallowe'en reminds us that pumpkins are the very symbol of autumn, and Thanksgiving celebrates the fall harvest. What better way to take off the chill than with a rich pumpkin soup with warm spices?

Many pumpkin soup recipes call for typical "pumpkin pie" spices, like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. These are great in pies, I will agree, but there is a more savory and spicy option that I think works better in a main dish or starter soup. You can adjust the spiciness in this recipe to suit your taste.

4 Tbsp butter or olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, chopped2 tsp garlic, finely chopped or minced6 cups of roasted pumpkin
5 cups chicken stock
2 cups heavy (35%) cream
Cayenne pepper to taste, or red pepper flakes
2 tsp curry powder or more to taste
ground ginger to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
1. To roast your pumpkin, cut it in half and scoop out the seeds (put them aside for later). Coat the inside flesh with a bit of olive oil and salt, and place in a roasting pan or on a cookie sheet open side down. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour.
2. Heat oil or butter in soup pot, add onions, garlic and salt. Cook on medium low until onions become soft.
3. Add roasted pumpkin and chicken stock
, bring to a slow boil, and reduce heat. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.
4. Use an immersion blender (hand blender) to puree the soup.
5. Add remaining spices and cream. Bring back to heat, and allow to simmer for a few more minutes to let the flavors mingle.
6. Taste the soup, and add more curry or cayenne if you like. If the heat is too much you can add a bit more cream or brown sugar to take the edge off.

what a way to recylce!

Branches and crystal light fixture

Last place

Last dance

last waltz

Last night

Last dance

Bath Tubbies

click- click for more details

I would love this as a shower curtain! Well, it does not match my 'trying to be uber stylish 1920's Hollywood glamour bathroom'- but what fun!

Jennifer has a series of these bath 'tubbies' that for years I have coveted- but being a spoiled brat I wanted originals-- I know-- just a tad too much-- never mind she paints in water colour and not an option for a steamy bathroom! You can check out her website though for the bath tubbies individual pictures!

Jennifer has a way of making life fun- and we need people that can do that!

http://www.jennifergarant.com/

Maggie Walt and Wine !

Thursday is our monthly, after-work mixer, we call "Maggie Hour". From 5pm – 8pm we invite you, and perhaps a friend or two from the office, to join us for a glass of wine and a little socializing with a bit of fashion and shopping. Our theme for Thursday is Office Wear & Day Wear. We'll feature some of our best ideas and specials will be announced during the evening. Please join us on Thursday. We look forward to seeing you then…
11217 Jasper Avenue(780) 482-1238

Pinks,oranges and green silks!

Silk for bedroom!

We have choosen, this is it!
Lined with blackout and some felt to give the silk some body, with small inverted pleats on the valance. You will love it ! Finally, one bedroom done!

Taupes again

All the patterns you need for easy reference to create a balanced room! And affordable!

Smoky blues

This would be a great line for a cabin or a country inspired room

Imagine these glittery sheers in a little girls room!

Taupe sheers and glitter!

Things to spend money on!

I have a love-love with round tables. I love the fact there is no 'head of the table', you can see everyone around the table. Plus, I especially love 'expandable' round tables. Imagine having a round table that seats 4-6- and magically expands to seat 8,10- or 12 and the table is still round!
Now, these tables are not cheap, they are investment pieces. Having said that we all need investment pieces in our home, future heirlooms, and you can save so much space! Space is expensive. You can have a small round table that expands in a regular 'square' room and save on floorspace.
Linens, well again, I guess the round linens get passed on down with the table, as they are not cheap either!
Judy from McElherans fine furniture sent me the above picture.
[JudyF@mcelherans.com]
http://www.mcelherans.com

(Shhhh- by the way they are having the most incredible sale on 'estate quality' furniture right now. If you have a spare dime this is the time to invest it in great quality furniture. Honest, some of the prices seem like cost to me!)
I am still begging Judy for some images of two of the tables she has in the showroom- round expandable tables.
Trust me when I get the pictures I will add them. This is one item I covet- I sooo want an expandable round table. I would save thousands- no need for a new house, special dining room, I would plop that expensive baby in my kitchen area and love the hell out of it!
My heirs can refinish it when I am done!

These are amazing glittery sheers!

A week of fabric!
check out these crazy colours. In a gauzy, glittery sheer material!

Chocolate for Charity!

Can charity ever possibly better than this? Click on to enlarge image

Time to think about winter

This is the time every year I clean out closets and linens. (I can't believe I still have stuff!). I clean out clothes, bedding, pillows, coats and bundle them all up to give to charity.
One should have a warm coat in the winter. Especially the poor souls that for what-ever reason are down on their luck!
So, I bundle, bug friends for their items they no longer use and take them to either the Bissel Centre here in Edmonton or my friend's care centre on the west-end.
This year I will be donating to

Christian Care Centre.....
10137-150 St. 780 484-5847
......outreach ministry of Paul's' Anglican church
mission statement
"we are here listen".......".first in prayer.".....comforts, hot coffee, snacks....sometime more depending on what volunteer brings in......maybe full breakfast, homemade soup, roast turkey, then sandwiches, clothing room, fellowship, prayer.....community gathering place for all....Mon-Fri 9:30-12:00 noon.

While it is run by a church, they do not turn anyone away. Apparently there is increased need in the west-end of Edmonton for food, clothes,small kitchen goods.
Also, a growing homeless group.
Often, we do not think of those in need until the snow is falling and we see a poor soul bundled up in a doorway. Then we thank 'our god' that is not us.
Or we think of giving during the winter religious festivities- which is great!
But, I think we should think of those in need before the snow falls, so they can be better prepared.
When shopping for your new coat- think do you need your old one?
Can you spare a few dollars and drop into a second hand store and pick one up for a less fortunate soul?
Thanks
Raine