Chalk-board serving tray.





Vintage Tray painted with chalkboard paint and used to announce your yummy goodie!



Originally, I used this tray painted on the flat oval part with chalkboard paint, as a wall decoration.  It never quite found it's perfect place in our kitchen - until now!  When the idea came to me - out of the turquoise blue - to use it for our annual library bake sale as a tray - I knew it had found it's purpose.  Sometimes it's good to feel a little clever (even if somewhere out there on pinterest must be this idea!)

Do you love Turquoise?

Box or from Scratch Cupcakes?
Sprinkles or none?!

Dear Crepes...

Brie and Pear Crepes with Strawberry/Blueberry Jam

Dear Crepes,

You are really good with butter and sugar, and delicious with melted brie and fresh pears.  And with  strawberry/blueberry jam - you are perfect!  Yummy :)

Sincerely,

Michelle

Tater Tots and green salt.

Tator tots and green salt

Food

Tator Tots with green dyed salt - a true culinary classic!  We bought into celebrating St. Patrick's Day a couple of years ago when I received a little package from my sister. It was filled with fun items all geared around this green holidays.   I have two main memories that accompany this holiday:  One was of my mother making corned beef and soda bread and the other of being pinched!  I remember clearly that if anyone wore red this day -they would get pinched.  Mr. C thinks I made this part up - but honestly, it was a memory!  Past or present, the one thing that is certain, green, is the color of the day...  



Pistaccio/lime jello dessert w/ coin cookies

  We ended our evening with a fun and light green dessert made with the following yummy ingredients:

2 pkg. green lime jello (sugar free)

1 pkg. pistaccio pudding (sugar free)

1 tub of cool whip (light)

Prepare the two packages of jello in one container as directed and refridgerate until set.  Remove from refridgerator once the jello is set and add one container of cool whip light and one pkg of pistaccio sugar free pudding.  Mix together.  Add to individual containers, or leave in large bowl and serve later.

As a fun topper, I used Pillsbury sugar cookies and added yellow food coloring to the dough to make it look like gold.  I separated the dough into small balls and pressed them down before baking.  I added the little heart as my own little Happy Heart touch!



we also had get pinched st patty's day cookies.




sour creme and horsradisch dip
w/ our corned beef



Dubliner Cheese and Tomato Balsamic bread crusts.



 These were really yummy.  I headed to the store to find Bruschetta, but couldn't find it at our local grocery store.  Instead, I used:

1 can italien stewed chopped tomatoes

2 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP balsamic vinegar (maybe a tad more to taste)

1/2 tsp garlic and 1/2 tsp onion powder (maybe a little more)

I cut-up one baggette and spooned the tomatoe dip on top of each and a slice of Dubliner Cheese.  I put it in the oven on broil - low until cheese was melted.



Dubliner cheese.



Have you ever dyed your salt green?

Do you like cheese? 
Do you love jello or hate it?!

Dutch Baby

 Here is my mom's wonderfully delicious Dutch Baby recipe.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and take 2 TBSP to a 1/4 cup (I use it with the 2TBSP which keeps a serving down to under a 100 calories) and put in round or 9x9 square pan.  Take the pan and put it in the oven to melt until hot and bubbly.

Beat 3 eggs

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup milk until smooth.

Take mixture and poor into hot butter and put in oven for 18-25 minutes.

Turn on your oven light and watch it rise!

Your finished product should be puffy on the sides and and in the middle.

Snap that photo quickly, as it will immediately begin to fall once it is out of the oven.

Keep your serving under a 100 calories by slicing it into six servings.

I dish it on many occasions as a side to roast,

or top with more sweet options like powdered sugar or syrup.

*********

Do you like dutch baby?

Would you try it if you haven't?

When to give-up your me time.

What exactly is me time between us moms?  Is it the honor of going to the grocery store on our own – to shop for the family?  Doing laundry without children in the room?  Doing finances during naptime?  Me time 95% of this time is doing something for my family.  Normally I don't mind.  Do you?  It's a part of who I am right now and what needs to be.  But, sometimes mama (me) needs a little real me time.  And so I tried it today.  On my way home from Hawk's doctor appointment, I ran into Subway to get my favorite sub and headed home.  I put the boys to bed, popped on some TV, and hoped to read a library book called Homemade Marketplace....

But, guilt set in.  I had a messy office that needed organinzing.  So I ate my sandwich watched a little TV and hoped to finish the office and still find some of that me time...

 Enter, Mr. T.  He had dutifully fallen asleep at noon while his brother wailed and played in his crib for an hour and a half.  He was awoke by Hawk and although he went to sleep for a little more - he was wide awake when I went to check on them.  Hawk was asleep and I pulled little T out of his crib.  My time had officially ended, but I had something better in mind. 

My me time became a much beloved play date with my first little boy Mr. T.   Moments like these do not come along very often, moms with twins - you know what I mean!  Well, lets be honest, all moms know what I mean.

 We got to work making homemade whole wheat pizza crust for our dinner.  We had a blast getting messy together.  He spend most of the time giggling at the sound of the mixer and putting flour in his mouth and then gagging - and laughing.  At the end of the day what's important to me is being their for my kids.  I get enough time here and there that can equal as time for myself - for now!

We ended our little date with a kiss!

Do you believe in mommy me time?

When was your last date with your little man or little lady?

What age should parents start having these individualized dates?

Birthdays: No more cake please.

Granddad lighting the birthday candles

This month there was a blitz of birthdays in our family and one big special event (which I will post about next)! To say I am tired of planning birthdays and making birthday cakes and cupcakes is an understatement. I am, however, a little bit shocked at finding ourselves at this big event so quickly. When I started this blog, the girls were four and half. Whew, time flies and life changes quickly. We started the month with the girl's 8th birthday party bash with their friends from school and church. The theme this year was singular, as I couldn't find the time to come up with two different themes for each girl - so we agreed on a beach party theme.

The party decor.

This room, the dining room, is too far off the kitchen to really use it on a regular basis. When our home was built the kitchen was right through the space where I took the photo, with a large fireplace for cooking. A modern kitchen was added in the 20th century and now the dining room and kitchen two rooms away from each other. We've declared this room the party and game room, and the once in a while special meal room!

Surfboard cupcakes

The dessert for the party was made with funfetti cake mixes. Blue frosting as the ocean, gum cut out into surfboards, and lifesaver candy - made for a fun beach themed cupcake. You could also add swedish fish (a cute idea a friend mentioned to me after they were already made!)

Tiny beach bag party craft.

We had several outside games and a quick tiny-tote beach bag craft. Using stencils and spray paint, I helped the the girl's friends make totes like the one above. The spray paint is a bit tricky though, practice first!

Beach Party favors.

In the end, everyone went home with some party favors and all the kids seemed to have a good time. A special thanks to Kirsten for sticking around and being such a great help! I really need to have these parties away from home. I have a hard time fronting that much money for a party away from home - is just me on this? But, there is no clean-up!

Craig's birthday cherry pie (1 candle per 10 years)

Next up was Craig's big 40th birthday! His favorite, Cherry Pie, was a hit at his family birthday get together. I also found a great recipe for English Meat Pies that I'll share soon - they were really good! The cherry pie was simple with a can of cherries and pre-made pie crust.

Blowing out candles on Craig's 40th birthday.

Some may cringe at this photo with the g-u-n on his lap, but I promise it wasn't loaded. He received new gun handles for a favorite old revolver he's had since he was a boy. He is very proud of this and like a good dad - takes good care to lock it up. It wouldn't be a party without Craig being a bit silly and this year, sporting a pink lei on his head!

Decorated for family party.

Next-up was the girl's family birthday on their actual birthday. We had my parents and my MIL - together-under the same roof for an entire week. I will say, it went better than I thought. I can never round my parents up to take photos with them, sad really. But, the girls had a fun party and both received the cheapest Ipod's we could find.

Present and Cake time!

I decided to make their cake this year and had a lot of fun decorating it! It was just a box cake-do I make anything else!? The girls each got their own scriptures and covers for church. It's my parents tradition to buy them scriptures with their name on it and my MIL found the covers. They also received the cheapest Ipod's we could find as their gift from us!

I am so thankful that birthdays are over! It was way too much for me to take on with the boys and in toe the entire time. I am learning, slowly, to take it easy, cut corners where I can, and not worry if things aren't perfect.

VINTAGE PHOTO SHOT

This photo was taken the same year I started this blog on the girl's fifth birthday! It is one of my favorite photos - ever!

When was your last taste of birthday cake?

Do you fret about birthdays?

Yummy Thursday: iCarly Night.

Spaghetti Tacos

The spaghetti taco, made famous by Spencer on the hit show iCarly, made it's way onto our family's dinner table. It has been my goal to have a "fun" or "themed" meal every Friday night. There are not a lot of places to dine or get take home from and these nights provide variety and a bit of fun.

Nini's face is hilarious. She and her sister were certain that these would be awful. She grudgingly put this taco together, only to find out, that they were actually quite good. They have continuously requested that we have a 2nd iCarly themed night! My spin on the whole spaghetti taco is that it was a surprisingly tasty discovery. You wouldn't think the combination would apeal to anyone's taste buds. Would you like to know how to make them? Click HERE for the link on the iCarly website. You can also submit a photo of your Spaghetti Tacos to this link HERE

Stayed tuned for our next themed meal - Mall Night.

Have you ever had Spaghetti Tacos?

Yummy Thursday: Oven-Fried Onion Rings

Before delving into the joy of a good onion ring, let's talk chocolate cupcakes. They are good and essential for a fun weekend meal at home with the family. Yet, with all that chocolate cupcake goodness, comes fat. Take out the oil and replace it with applesauce. Most cake mixes require a whole 1/2 cup of oil, try replacing it with a cup of non-sweetened applesauce. Now your chocolate cupcake is now a yummy, and much less fattening dessert. .

The fat content on these bad boys was never tallied. However, they are not "deep" fat fried, but fried in a 9x13 oven dish with only 2-3tbsp. of olive oil. The recipe calls for vegetable oil, but I rarely use it, as olive oil tastes better and is much healthier. In other words, if you are going to fry something, fry it in olive oil!

You can find the recipe and instructions here.

These great foods were used as part of our own family's theme nights. One weekend meal is comprised of food items specific to a certain theme. These two food items were used for our "Diner Night". We also have had spaghetti taco's for the show iCarly night, Auntie Anne's pretzels and smoothies for "Mall Night". These meals were fun to prepare and a whole lot easier than taking our caravan out to eat. Next week's theme night: Russia Night (as per the request of Cici and Nini).

Do you have theme nights?
Or Applesauce in place of oil?

P.S. The boys are 7 months old today!

I Dream in Orange.

...in orange sherbet that is. This mix of ingredients makes this low fat shake something out of a heavenly dream. Remember Creamsicles? Do I dare say it tastes better than these yummy ice cream treats? Here's the scoop:

2 cups orange sherbet ice cream

1 cup free cool whip

2 1/2 cups milk ( I used 1%, using skim what make this a fat free dessert)

Blend all three ingredients together.

and PRESTO-

your very own 40 ounces of

I dream in Orange Shake!

Here's the calorie scoop on your 8oz glass (rounding up):

77 calories

31 carbs

.6 grams of fat (unless using skim milk)

This is my first Yummy Thursday edition. If I have time to post, Thursdays will be all about food and sharing some of my tasty ways of cutting the calories and fat from desserts. So raise your I dream in Orange Shake glass to having the time to post Yummy Thursdays!

Tell me if you try it!

I've been Ponkified.

What is a Ponki? This is what I asked myself when a friend I hadn't seen for several months came to visit me last week. There was no denying the fantastic smell that made it's way out of the small box she handed me and I was confident that whatever Ponki was - I would like them! Ponki's are Polish donuts, filled with cremes, chocolates, and/or fruit fillings. They are also known as a Berliner and also better than any donut I've ever had. The bakery is called La pâtisserie-boulangerie Wawel and there are several locations throughout the city.

The wonderful friend who took the time to bring it by was Rosemary. She is originally from Switerzerland, but has been here for over 30 years. We met when we first arrived and it has been wonderful to get to know her better. She spent several hours at my home and shared with me her portfolio of abstract paintings. I am grateful for her service, as I know she rarely gets time off work. Thank you Rosemary!

Ever heard of a Berliner or a Ponki?

One last smile.

These are lowfat brownies, placed in a muffin tin inside cupcake wrappers. Once done, peel the cupcake wrapper off the brownie, cool, and frost! They are really good, let's just say there were 12 on Sunday and by Monday they were completely gone! Yum-o-rama!

My internet was down all day today, although, I can't say I had much time to sit down at it! I must thank all of you who have left so many wonderful comments on my SPT post. I would love to write a book one day, especially about something as close to me as adoption. I hope I can put my time in order and maybe some day, my dream of writing and publishing a book will come true! For now, I have been staying busy with household chores, helping at the girl's school, planning for our next fertility treatment, a Halloween party at our house next week, a possible new part time job, cooking, excercising, and a few fun friend craft sessions and lunches all thrown together!

In other news, Nini has lost her third tooth! This is her on the phone to Grandma, my mom. I just love getting these candid shots, it will be a great memory someday at all their cute little expressions.

OMMPD: When the girls first started going to first grade, they were completely excited, but freaked that they were going back to school and that I wouldn't be there with them. I would stand outside while the children filed in during the morning routine and they would turn around every second, wave, or frown; making sure I was their and I waved or made a silly face back. Lately, although the same routine, they've stopped looking back when they reach the doorway. They used to hover by the door - perhaps in hopes I would run and scoop them up (believe me, I would if it were not frowned on!) Now they wave while they have to wait outside, but when that final push comes to walk through the school doors - they are ready...me, I still linger - hoping maybe they just might look back and give me one last smile!

Have you made brownie cupcakes?
Are you a candy corn addict, like me?
Are you a hovering parent, like me?

Galo and vacation checklist links.

Lunch at Galo Restaurant

I thought it would be fun to post one more pre-trip outing before we hit the road - literally! If I don't post this now, it will be forgotten and left behind in any vacation posts on our return. It's 12:40 and everyone is sleeping - except me! Why? Craig will be driving tomorrow and I won't. It is up to me to get the last minute things accomplished before our 5:30 a.m. departure. It's a bit early, but with St. Jean Baptiste weekend, the border is going to be a nightmare. We are determined not to sit in the long lines we endured last summer.

I have been trying to be adventurous with our newfound good weather and warmth. Many restaurants in Montreal, as in other parts of the world, go from in door to out door restaurants. While Monday I went with Kathy (friend from church) to a Vietnamese restaurant; Wednesday after the girl's graduation, Craig and I headed to a more locally owned restaurant in our neighborhood. It's a Portuguese grill that just opened around March of this year. We keep driving by it and saying "we should really try that place!" The girls chose to go back to school after the early morning graduation ceremony and Craig had an hour to kill before his next meeting.

It is a small place and I felt a bit silly pulling out my large camera to start snapping photos, but I decided to record this anyway! The salad was really nice, one of the best side salads I've had - and pretty too! Craig orderd the largest bottle of mineral water I've ever seen - personally, the stuff with "gas", as I they say, I could live without.

I ordered the grilled chicken, which was very good. It came with nothing on it but the meat and they served mayo on the side. Craig ordered churizo sausage , which I did not care for at all. The fries were good, but most are here in Montreal; everything comes with an order of fries. I felt bad leaving half of it behind, but I felt that I would not have eaten anymore once I left the restaurant. I can't say I'll go back, but I am glad I tried it!

Here are some great vacation and packing checklists for your next vacation:

I could not find one checklist that was perfect for our trip, our family, and how we travel. All of these lists and links were extremely helpful in breaking down every bit of the planning and packing aspect of our beach/cabin/hotel/camping road trip we are taking. If you are interested in my version of these checklists, leave your email in your comment and I'll forward it to you upon my return. Here are your checklist and planning links!


Save Money while out of town Checklist
Traveling with children Checklist
Blank planning Checklist (spreadsheet)
Beach Vacation Checklist
Vacation Packing Checklist
Fly Lady Planning and Packing list
Adventure Travel Planning list
10 Tips on Family Roadtrip PLanning (Nick)
Printable Packing lists (Nick)
Roadtrip Planning Timeline

Lastly, I've been working on putting together a craft blog. I can't think of what to name it other than this: Click Here

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

I am off for two weeks! I'll check in with everyone, if I have internet and perhaps post if I can - but otherwise - I'm off!

Check out my Tri-Athlon Sis! Good Luck Saturday!

Happy belated birthday Natasha!
And good luck Crystal!

Happy Birthday Mom (21st)! I love you!

Schwartz's Deli

Walking to Schwartz's on St. Laurent

Montreal is famous for it's smoked meat sandwiches and where better to eat them than at Schwartz's -the oldest deli in Montreal. After a year and half of hearing how great this place was, we finally took my parents down during Craig's lunch break this week. Craig had heard continuously that the wait staff and owners had little patience for doddling. "You get in, order, eat, and get out - quickly".

A bit like Seinfeld's Soup Nazi episode, Craig was instructed by his co-workers to order as follows: Walk in, hold up four fingers indicating you need a table for four, move quickly when instructed, sit, order 4 medium sandwiches, 4 pickles, 4 cokes, and 4 fries; say nothing else and leave as soon as you're done.

It's small and cozy and you get to know your neighbors as you are inches away from them. Ours were from New York and somehow managed to squeeze a baby stroller next to them. Almost sure that this couldn't be like the soup nazi episode, we heard our neighbors behind us ordering. They wanted a steak, but the waiter was sure this couldn't be what they wanted, and argued with them for several minutes that they really wanted a smoked meat sandwich. We got side tracked on our own conversation and don't know who won. Our neighbors at our table wanted to order another pickle, their was some confusion about the type of pickle, until I could hear the husband whispering across the table "just shut-up, just shut-up" and then saying loudly to the waiter, "we'll take the pickle".

We had a good experience, but we could see that if you weren't specific with what you wanted - it might not be such a great experience. The food was really good and something I would say is an absolute must do, if you come to Montreal. It's all part of the fun of doing new things!

SPT and missed moments weekend...

Lelly's June SPT's look very thought provoking including this week's SPT challenge The emblem of the land I love. When I first took a photo of this sign proudly displayed at a roadside food stop in the Adirondack area, I thought it was very funny, cute, and a fun way to bring character to the establishment. But, upon closer look, I felt that this sign represented my love and respect for America and my choice picture for this week's challenge. I have always felt strongly that people should be free to express their creativity through media, books, speech, art, and thought. I don't always agree with others form of expression, however, I appreciate that it is their choice; and I appreciate my choice to disagree.I love that this sign expresses the owners beliefs with a little humor thrown in; all without overpowering the viewer. This sign is an emblem that freedom of speech, religion, and expression are why I love this land called America.

Monday:

I've decided that this post is just way too long, but I am going to leave it as is - because, heck - I want too! It has been an excellent couple of days and weekend and I am grateful to finally be getting a chance to sit and record it. Last night, my friend Kristin's husband called around 3:30 a.m., I could hear somebody on the answering machine, but wasn't quite coherent enough to get up! He called back soon after, and this time I was up to answer it - Kristin was in the hospital and ready to have her baby. Like us, they are ex-pats living here, and don't have any family around, so we were lucky to have her three cutie's with us all day today. I kept my girls home from school, a kind of playing hookie day, and they watched movies, played outside, we went to McDonald's and did crafts here at my home. The mess wasn't too bad and as I was able to pick up as the day went along. Anyway, she had a baby boy! I've been up for almost 24 hours though, as I was having an insomniac night anyway. Maybe I shouldn't be posting in my state?!

My camera:

My Nikon camera was such a wonderful gift. I've had fun taking lots of photos, although, not a lot of time spent on how to work it though! Thursday while waiting to go to the Bistro with LeeAnne (I'll take photos next time!) I noticed that our entire street was lined in shade trees, like this one - literally. I don't know if I should call this photo shade tree, or cement tree - but either way I just couldn't help but snap this photo.

This weekend we spent some time at our cabin and planted some flowers in stone planter boxes. It was nice to have a bit of color throughout the green and brown forest. Towards night fall one night, when the sun was shining, I asked Cici to do some posing for me, this was the best shot - what do you think?

Saturday:

One of the best things to do in the Adirondack and Vermont area, is to hit the roadside stands they have along the way. We have one very close to our cabin, and despite the rain, we stopped in and got some ice cream - as you can see our dog Rolfe, also enjoys these roadside stops. It even stopped raining while we were eating it! I hope one Saturday to go on a roadside stand road trip, sampling food at various stands we've noticed during our trips. Should be fun!

Mosquito's:

I wasn't prepared for what the rain had brought us, lots of mosquito's and no bug protection. Let's just say I have 12 bites, including three on my back where I had a little patch of skin showing between my pants and shirt when I was doing some gardening! I really should tuck in my shirt when I garden! I tried to cover my arms to avoid further bites -but it didn't really work!

Craig's furniture creations:

Craig finally finished our lamp and side table this weekend. They are built from wood off our property, except for the lamp shade which was purchased at a store in Lake Placid. Craig's father was always building cabinets and things around their house, and Craig has always wanted to put what he learned from him to good use. What do you think of his creations?

Nini and the tooth fairy:

Nini lost another tooth! I didn't quite get a photo of her cute little bottom gap, because she was a bit perturbed that the tooth hurt coming out. Her last tooth didn't hurt at all, but the tooth fairy did bring her a tooni ($2)!

GoodMail and belated birthday:

I have felt quite spoiled this last week as I have received some very wonderful surprise birthday gifts from people I wasn't expecting. LeeAnne and I have been talking a lot about scrapbooking and she told about this great tote at Cosco for only $40 dollars. She said she had bought one for herself and was excited to use the stuff inside. I didn't realize that she was fishing to see if I would like it - anyways, it was quite a shock when she handed it to me this Friday. She doesn't have a blog - yet - but I must thank her anyways! Have you seen these?

Barb sent this wonderful Birthday card, I love the letter design on the front - very cute! She included a really sweet gift that she found in China town. You write your wish on one of the strips of paper, and follow the directions to fold it into a star. It's a really great idea and I can't wait to try it out! Thank you Barb!

Jill S. sent some really sweet cards my way! I love the colors and the font used on the front is very chic sweet! Thanks for sending these Jill!

Kristin and her kids gave this little necklace to me the week of my birthday. It's a magnetic latch, witch is really easy to put on. I was blown away by all these gestures of love and friendship. It's been awhile since I've had a close bond to someone living close to me. LeeAnne and Kristin have been such a blessing in my life and I thank them profusely for their friendship.

Did you do SPT?
Have you eaten at roadside food stops?
Do you like road trips?
How are you?!