Photo of the Week

Week #10

I can mash potatoes....

{ And Then She Snapped }

Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

Because sometimes plain old mayo just isn't enough...

So you're out at a restaurant (yes, very occasionally we do venture out of the sticks!)

and you order fries with your meal, because, um, you're out so it's okay to be bad right?

The waitress asks if you would like blahblahblah dipping sauce to go with?  Um, yes please!

Nine times out of ten the flavoured mayo they give you is bomb,

and you proceed to dip the entire meal in it's delicious creamy goodness, not caring if others are staring.

Well, I decided that it was okay to be bad at home every now and then too, 

and if a restaurant can make it, well dammit, i can too.

I went all (ahem) french and ate this with fries, but the next day we put it on sandwiches and were blown away!

Of course, i was too busy eating to take an actual photo, but swap in for mayo on your favorite 

sammy and you might never go back to plain old boring mayo again!

Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

1 Red Pepper, roasted and skin removed (i cheated and used the jarred variety - easy!)

1 large clove of garlic

1/4 cup mayo

A squirt of lemon juice

Salt and Pepper to taste

This is too easy... 

Put the garlic clove in the food processor and give it a few pulses, just for a headstart.

Add everything else and let it go until desired consistency is reached.

Season to taste with S &P.

Enjoy!

Ps - let it sit for a while in the fridge to let the flavours really come together!

Happy Friday : )

Seventeen

Seventeen Months!

I always remark upon how big you are getting, but it's simply true.

You are moving too fast, and growing up when i want you to stay little forever.

I feel like i put a baby to bed and woke up to a little boy.

You are strong and sweet, two traits i hope you will retain throughout you life.

Your vocabulary of animal sounds is becoming impressive, though you won't perform for anyone.

All you want is milk.  I think you are a milkatarian.  You stand at the fridge and cry until we pour you a cup.

This is okay, except that your belly is so full from it that you don't seem to eat much.

There are now ten teeth in your sweet little mouth, maybe more, but i am not allowed to see.

Somehow you figured out that mommy REALLY likes it when you hug her.

You curl your little head into my shoulder and wrap your arms around my neck and i melt. every. time.

Then you lean back and coyly look down. Like you know exactly what you are doing to me.
You like being outside and helping daddy with the wheelbarrow,
and helping mommy empty the dishwasher too.
Like I said, strong and sweet.

You are dirt and noise.  Light and joy.
And oh-so much fun!

Underwhelmed

Sometimes life just slips out of your grasp, and nothing ever really seems to get done.

And there are so. many. things. 

Worse however, is if it does actually get done, and someone undoes it instantly.

Like the blog post i wrote that disappeared, or my just swept floors that the plant mysteriously exploded on.  

Hmmm....but i suppose that's life, and i'm trying not to get my panties in a bunch ; )

So instead of the perfectly worded and well articulated post i wrote for you last night you get this....

Because she looks about as impressed as i feel : )

And now i'm going to have a word with that plant....

Photo of the Week

Week #9

( And Then She Snapped )

Happy Friday!

Hope you're all this excited that the weekend's here too : )

We will be laying low around here, work and working on the house are kind of putting a cramp 

on our weekend style these days, but it's all so worth it in the end!

Hope you have a great weekend!

The 'B' Sides v6

Hmmm, I just have to wonder what he's saying....

What's the 'B' Sides all about?  Go HERE to find out!

Living on the Edge

Lately we've entered the climbing phase.  Really not my favorite, though i think it might be his : )

Places that used to be safe are safe no longer.

Things that used to be out of reach are suddenly at hand, and nothing is sacred.

This is one of those things that nobody tells you before you have kids - your stuff is no longer your own.

If you cannot find a place for it out of the way, it will be tasted, sampled, tried, thrown, torn, hidden, eaten, ruined, used, abused, 

and completely at the mercy of those precious little hands.

It's a good thing those hands are indeed so precious, and that little face so loveable...

At least one of us is having fun ; )

Something....

...to pretty up your day!

It's okay, monday's over now : )

{ Show Off }

Photo of the Week

Week #8

{ The Simple Things }

Wandering....

...into the sunset.

and into the weekend.

Happy Friday!




{ Shoot. Edit. Submit. }

Creamy Butternut Squash Lasagne

When i get an idea in my head i usually have to run with it, especially when it comes to food.

And with winter (slowly) fading away, i feel the need to get my fill of cosy comfort food

before i am stuck eating salads and barbecued foods for another summer.

So when i had half a squash left in the fridge and was craving comfort food and lasagne sprang to mind, 

i knew i had to follow through.

Now, like any lasagne, this has various steps, and takes time.

The steps are really easy though, and once you've made this you might never go back to regular old laz again!

Lucky me, I have a child that usually naps for a few hours in the afternoon, 

allowing me to make such yummy things on a weekday.

Like your basic lasagne this consists of four things:  Noodles, Sauce, Filling, and Cheese.  

Lots and lots of cheese. 

Creamy Butternut Squash Lasagne

12 Lasagne Noodles - i used spinach noodles
1 medium Butternut Squash

8 - 10 Mushrooms - use your favorite type - i think these were just regular button mushies

A few handfuls of Spinach

Lots and lots of Cheese - I used Mozzarella and Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit.

Lightly grease a 9 x 13 deep oven proof lasagne pan

Peel, seed and cube the squash and toss with a bit of olive oil and some salt and pepper.

Arrange on a baking tray and roast 30 or so minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and caramelized.

Remove from oven and allow to cool a bit, then squish them up a bit to make it easier to spread.

Cook you noodles as directed on the package, drain and set aside.

Slice up the mushrooms, get your spinach ready, and grate up the cheese.

Having everything ready makes it easier to assemble the lasagne.

Sauce:

2 Tbsp Butter or Margarine

2 Tbsp Flour

2 cups Milk - I use skim to keep calories down

Dash of Nutmeg

1/4 cup Parmesan

Salt & Pepper

In a saucepan melt the butter on medium heat, then add the flour and allow to cook for a minute, stirring.

Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.

Allow to cook for a few minutes, stirring often, until bubbling and thickened.

Take off the heat, add nutmeg, S & P, and stir in Parmesan.

Now you just have to put it all together!

Start with a light layer of sauce in the bottom of your pan, then layer 3 noodles side by side.

Layer half of the butternut squash on top of the noodles, then some more sauce.

Add another layer of noodles, then the mushrooms and spinach, then sauce.

More noodles, the rest of the squash, and more sauce.

The last noodles, the rest of the sauce and your grated cheeses

Cover with foil ( i usually spray the side that will be near the cheese with pam to avoid it from sticking)

and put in your already heated oven.  Cook for 30 minutes, until bubbling.

Remove foil and cook another 20 minutes or so, until the cheese is nice and golden.

Remove and let sit for 5 - 10 minutes to set up, then enjoy!

{ This Chick Cooks }

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Sunday I woke up at around 4 am to the horrible realization that I was the easter bunny.

I had totally forgotten this super important role and the duties that go along with it.

Total. Mom. Fail.

Knowing what light sleepers I have, there was no way I was going to start hiding eggs at 4am,

so instead i set my internal alarm clock and promised myself that i would be the first one up.

Two hours later - i wake drenched in a cold sweat from a horrible dream about attacking plastic easter eggs. 

Lesson learned:  The easter bunny will be on time next year : 0

I think you could say he had fun.....and that he likes chocolate!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!

Photo of the Week

Week #7

Egg-stravaganza

One of the things i look forward too the most is when the Little is big enough to do crafts with me.

Now, you all know i want him to stay little forever, but this is one case where i wish he would get a move on.

Knowing my luck, when he is big enough he will most likely rather play in the dirt than play with glitter,

but at this stage i can still hold on to hope....

So this is why i decided that we should try to dye some easter eggs today.

My first instinct was to put him in the tub and let him go to it.  This is precisely what i should have done.

It is not, however, what i actually did.

What went down was more along the lines of him trying to grab the egg out of the dye, stick it in his mouth,

and then attempt to throw it on the floor. (he was only successful once.) 

I learned three things today:

1.  Trust your instincts. He would have had way more fun in the tub, and it would have been super
funny to have a multi-colored toddler for a few days.

2.  Always look online before you begin a project, chances are someone else has a better idea.

3.  I am terrible at dying easter eggs.  Just don't look too closely, mmmkay?

Happy Easter!

The B-sides v.5

Bed Head.

That is all.

Finally, a launch!

At long last, after years and years and years of procrastinating, i have finally 

launched my own Photography Company!

Tangled Tree Photography is finally open for business, and i couldn't be more excited!

Please check out my new website!

If you are in the Halifax area and are interested in a family photo shoot,
or are getting married and haven't yet secured a photographer for your big day please get in touch,
I would absolutely love to hear from you!

A Roaring Success!

I am so happy to say that the craft fair was amazing!  

Suzanne and Kate did a fabulous job organizing and advertising,

and the place was jam-packed full of talent and the most amazing handcrafted items.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and supported us!

Photo of the Week

Week #6

{ The Simple Things & Sunday Snapshot }