My X-Mas Wish List

What to get a Foodie/Blogger/Traveller for Christmas...Hummmm let me count the ways!

Each year, Oprah comes up with her "Favourite list", well here's mine in no particular order. Enjoy!

1)Adobe photoshop Elements, just because Pioneer Women uses it!

2) Roots-Village Bag in Vintage Tribe Leather. Love this purse! Perfect for traveling and looks super durable... I need a durable purse.

3) Emilie Sloan Gabrielle Lunch Tote: Cranberry

http://www.ebags.com/emilie_sloan/gabrielle_lunch_tote_cranberry/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=125693

4) A Class/gift certificate at the Urban Element in Ottawa:

http://theurbanelement.ca/#/home

Here is an exert from their website: " Hands-on Class: This class is a must for foodies and newbies alike-it's for anyone willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty! You will play an active role in preparing your own 3 to 4 course meal with the help and guidance of our featured chefs. ...Before you know it, it will be time to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labour. From here, the Urban Element staff will treat you like a guest, pouring wine, plating and presenting you with the wonderful meal you helped create. "

SIGN ME UP!!!!

5) Dinner at au Pied de Cochon in Montréal, Québec. By far my favourite restaurant, if do go, I suggest wearing elastic waist pants.

6) A good Porto, Quinta de Castelinho comes to mind... SAQ sells it.

7) Waiters Rant Book

8) Gel mat for the kitchen. Perfect for those achy tired feet and legs! Hate those hard ceramic tile floors...

http://www.gelpro.com/page/gallery

9) Food Network magazine subscription...why not...

10) Scharffen Berger milk chocolate (not the dark one)... velvety smooth melt in your mouth goodness! My favourite chocolate ever! Usually I much prefer dark bitter chocolate, but this one is simply sinful.

11) Le Nordik Gift certificate. My favourite place to escape and unwind.

Nordic baths http://www.lenordik.com/

Outdoor hot tubs, Finnish sauna, steam bath, Nordic waterfalls, cold and temperate pools, outdoor and indoor relaxation areas & outdoor fireplaces. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE!??

12) Trail of Crumbs book

13) Gift certificate at Le Cordon Bleu for a demonstration class.

If we win the lottery:



-Kitchen aid mixer in Copper pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze PRETTY pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze

-Saaco Espresso machine. One of these would make me a happy women!

Our Wine

Hummmm...What to do on a gloomy Sunday besides laundry.....

I decided to label and cap our wine bottles! With the economy and being the wine drinkers we are, we decided it might be more economical to make our own wine. I must say, it turned out much better then I expected. I was pleasantly surprised with the complexity of the bouquet and
how robust some of these were. Very good experience overall, something satisfying about making and bottling your own wine.

New Zealand Merlot...Who knew!

Great Italian Barolo

Jesss....We're Winos

This year's line up

Life is Hard...

Eating, chasing squirrels, napping, more eating..... Tough to be a dog nowadays!

My Heirloom Tomatoes

My favourite thing to do with fresh garden tomatoes;

-Slice tomatoes and fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, sprinkle with fresh chopped basil.

-Drizzle with your best olive oil & balsamic reduction and some sea salt and pepper.

Oh how I miss summer already!! I was so born in the wrong country!

Summer's over...

BYE BYE my Beauties.

My New Favourite Thing

I LOVE this thing! It really really works. Every pet parent on my Christmas list is getting one of these!

Rosemary Butter Dinner Rolls

Can you smell that??!! HEAVEN

After rising.

Look at this rosemary! it was so fragrant and fresh!

Restaurant worthy buttered soft little bundles of joy. The secret is in the pan, as in Cast Iron pan.

Buttered Rosemary Rolls
Frozen, unbaked dinner rolls

Melted butter (regular, salted)

Fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped

Coarse sea salt

-Coat a medium cast iron skillet with olive oil. Place frozen rolls in the skillet, leaving plenty of room for rising. Cover and allow to rise for several hours. (I heated my oven then turn it off and put the pan with the bread in the oven with a dish cloth on top)

-After rising, brush rolls with melted butter. Sprinkle on chopped rosemary. Brush with additional butter.

-Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. I used grey sea salt, I had it on hand & it's my all time favorite

-Bake according to roll package directions (usually 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes), until rolls are a deep golden brown on top. If you are adventurous and not watching calories, brush some more butter on top... Just for fun!

-Serve skillet on the table and stand back to avoid the tramped.