Halloween

It's that spooky, ghoulish time of year again...Halloween! I know that for some people this is actually a pretty big deal, but for someone who hasn't been surrounded by it on a yearly basis then it isn't. Therefore, my costume effort today for work was a pretty lame one. Instead the Halloween spirit I did have was channeled into a baking request from a co-worker at the end of last week. She was having a Halloween fancy dress party on the weekend and enlisted my services to provide sweet treats for the event. It was decided that I would make some cake pops, which have previously been made here as well as the cupcakes I had also made here. I gave both of these items a Halloween twist by making the cake pops orange and topping them each with half a green Mike and Ike candy, thus turning them into pumpkins. The cupcakes had black and orange sprinkles baked into them for a confetti effect whilst being topped with chocolate shaggy-style frosting and oversized jack o lanterns. 

That was only half of the project with the final delicious items being sugar cookies using the recipe found here. It had been a while since I had made rolled out cookies so I was fortunate to have the opportunity to make some a week earlier as homework for my weekly decorating class, more about that in a future blog. The sugar cookies became black cats and white ghosts, which turned out really well although it was a bit of a task to create the black royal icing. I used the recipe here for both the white and black royal icing, applying it with a small spatula and using Wilton tip #1 for the eyes and mouth. Once the cats and ghosts were complete it turned out I had extra cookie dough. So drawing inspiration from a co-worker, I cut the dough and molded it into fingers using a knife to define knuckles and almond slivers for the nails. I baked them for a few extra minutes then the recipe suggested, as they were a bit thicker. I suggested to the party hostess that she dip them in a pot of raspberry jam to look like severed fingers, which was an idea my housemate gave me. 

All in all, she was pleased with her Halloween bounty and reported to me today that every last one of the treats were eaten. So as you can see I got into the Halloween spirit in my own way and am looking forward to the next challenge. Happy Halloween!

Hooray for the weekend

I am sure that I am not the only one who often thinks that the best part of the week is the weekend. I guess this is particularly so when I have had a super busy week and this week was no exception to that. The days were long, filled with work and different after hours' commitments. Therefore, I greet the weekend with open arms and a giant smile, thinking of the glorious sleep in I shall have tomorrow, the TV shows I will catch up on thanks to the rainy, cold weather and the other fun activities in store before Monday and the work week returns. Also, on my mind is the fact that I need to deck my wardrobe out with a few dressier tops. I know these thoughts don't really coincide, but it just reiterates how all over the place I am at the moment. It does not escape my attention that we are heading into winter, but it has become more apparent that I really don't have anything to wear out and about. My current options are either too dressy, in the form of actual dresses, or not quite dressy enough. So with this said, I have been looking online for some inspiration. The irony of this is that I undertake such a task in my pajamas, but I imagine that this is not uncommon. I feel like I have images in my mind of what I am looking for and for some unknown reason it does involve a bit of sparkle or flair. From my search, I don't think I have quite found what I am looking for, but the options below from Urban Outfitters, Garage and New Look have some potential and are a great start to the hunt:

To remake or not to remake

I haven't been to the movies in ages, well it has felt that way at least. This is not due to lack of movie options, but more so due to lack of opportunity to undertake one of my favourite past times. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before I found myself back in a somewhat comfy seat with popcorn in hand and movie trailers screening before my eyes. This brings me to last night because who doesn't like to take advantage of the cheaper ticket price on a Tuesday night, as I know I do. It had been decided a little while ago that the movie of choice would be that of Footloose, a remake of the 1984 movie bearing the same name. This movie choice was courtesy of last week's birthday girl and most enthusiastically supported by another friend. I must confess that I was very reluctant to see this movie, but it was agreed that each of us were entitled to a birthday movie choice with no questions asked and so a deal was a deal. I can't really say exactly why I didn't want to see it, I guess partly because I haven't quite gotten on board with the whole concept of remaking a film, as they say if it ain't broke don't fix it. Also, there are some movies that many people would consider timeless and part of their all-time favourites including the likes of Footloose, Pretty Woman, Top Gun, Ghost and Dirty Dancing, of which I have never quite seen the appeal. I know this will probably leave some readers dismayed or even appalled, but this is why there is such a vast library of movies out there so as to cater for everyone's diverse likes and dislikes. Anyway I have digressed, but I would like it stated for the record that the remake of Footloose, except one particular dance sequence, was surprisingly a most entertaining movie and definitely held a captive audience with me. Possibly even enough to make me watch the 1984 version at some point in the near future, which goes to show that sometimes it is worth trying to tinker with the original.

The original (image courtesy of IMDb)

The remake (image courtesy of IMDb)

Choc full of goodness

For the most part when I am baking I don't need an excuse to do so because I enjoy the opportunity to create new treats. However, it is nice sometimes to have a reason to bake even if just to act as a motivation tool when you might not feel like it. In this particular instance, I did have a reason to bake, which didn't require any further motivation at all. Last week my favourite Canadian celebrated her birthday and in honour of this occasion I decided to bake her the kind of cookies that she loves. I am sure she is not alone in saying that white chocolate and macadamia cookies are her favourite. I had never made this flavour of cookie before so I searched for the perfect recipe online and found one here. I also had to make sure I could get a hold of macadamia nuts, a task that proved more difficult then I imagined it would. They were finally located in the bulk food section of my local Whole Foods Market. With the key ingredient secured the rest of the task fell into place quite nicely. It was a pretty similar process to making the chocolate chip cookies I previously made here and they tasted just as heavenly. I think it is safe to say that I was rewarded with a happy birthday girl once she was presented with this part of her gift bounty.

Time to get organised

At this time in my life I would like to think I have the heart and soul of a traveler. However, I have never quite mastered the ability to live like one in the sense that once I am in a new place I quickly set up camp and my possessions rapidly multiply. This is mostly my fault, but occasionally I will be gifted an item, of which I am most appreciative of, but I am unsure when I will get to use or how I will transport to my next destination or on my homeward journey. The possession gathering can be a bit of a problem when you share a somewhat small apartment with 3 other people and as a result slowly but surely begin to outgrow the space you have. It doesn’t help that my passion at the moment involves baking which means not only weekly trips to Michaels, but also a bit of creativity regarding where to put the items purchased on said occasions. I have tried to utilise all of the little nooks and crannies I have available to me, which has in turn made my room resemble a moderately neat mess. This is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow for someone who craves order and cleanliness and so now I am trying to come up with a solution to this problem at hand. One likely solution is utilising the under bed space for storage with lidded long plastic containers. Another option to consider is a set of shelves (not attached to the wall) or a bookcase to put the items that are occupying my windowsill. Currently, the final option to spring to mind is getting a shoe rack, which would then free up some wardrobe and floor space. These are definitely ideas to consider in combination with a trip to the likes of IKEA, Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart, where I am sure I will find further inspiration.

Storage and organisation options (images courtesy of Canadian Tire)

Turn that frown upside down

Some food for thought - life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies; instead there are moments and even days that can seem anything but happy or joyful. Well at least for me this is definitely true. I know that at the time this occurs I cannot see beyond the negative, but then there is that second of clarity when you can grab hold of the good of that day. This positive may have already happened or you may still have the opportunity to turn your day into a winner. Happiness or happy moments can be materialistic or as simple as a joke shared between friends. These moments or days are by far my favourite so I definitely have a few sure fire winners in my arsenal ready to draw upon if needed. I like to think there is a little bit of funny buried under my sass, however sometimes it is easier to focus on the materialistic happiness. My happiness tools are places like Michaels, Chapters or Bath & Body Works. Also, treats such as Starbucks cake pops, a cupcake from Cupcakes or Cobs Bread pumpkin scones can be the trigger I need for a smile or two. Lastly, a refreshing beverage in the form of an old-fashioned glass bottle of pop or a Starbucks beverage, probably a caramel macchiato, white chocolate mocha or pumpkin spice latte can save the day. In a time of negativity these are a few of the happy things that reign supreme to turn my frown upside down.

Happiness is.... (images courtesy of Michaels, Cupcakes, Chapters,
Bath & Body Works, Cobs Bread and Starbucks) 

One homemade pizza coming right up

Who doesn’t like a slice of pizza or two every now and again or in my case pretty much every Tuesday night courtesy of one dollar slices from the Fresh Slice pizza place literally right next-door. Although better than this is the thought of consuming homemade pizza. A mission I decided to tackle for myself with the help of a key ingredient, yeast, gifted to me by yet another housemate’s Vancouver departure. I located a pizza dough recipe here, which worked really well. However, I found that I didn’t need as much flour as the recipe suggested so I recommend adding the flour a bit at a time until you get the right dough consistency. Also you should be aware that the process takes a few hours so it is better to make this recipe on the weekend unless you don’t mind a late dinner. 

For the pizza sauce I decided to go against the norm and instead roasted 2 peppers, a red one for the colour and a green one because they are more economical. I roasted the peppers for just over an hour in the oven on 375F. Once roasted, I removed the skin from the peppers and pureed them in the blender before spreading a layer over the rolled pizza dough. 

The toppings I used were some cooked chicken pieces, broccoli, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto. I baked the pizza for 20 minutes at 425F. 

The smells wafting through the apartment as it baked were mouth watering and I am pleased to say that so was the end result. Now I just need to branch out with my toppings.

Across the border we shall go

This week has been quite busy mainly due to the shorter workweek courtesy of the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday. While my mind has been abuzz with topics to blog about today, these thoughts have been pushed aside by the important task I need to complete tomorrow. With any luck, this time tomorrow I will be the proud owner of a new 2-year Canadian working visa. The whole visa process started with acquiring a new Australian passport, successfully completing some important paperwork and will culminate in a trip across the Canadian/US border with a Canadian driver and an Irish accomplice. Now I love any excuse to head down south to the US for a day or several, but on this particular occasion I must admit that I am filled with a bit of apprehension about it. Hopefully, the time spent in Bellingham, WA will provide a welcome distraction with it's shopping and a good brunch somewhere still to be determined. I am particularly looking forward to stopping in at Target and Bath & Body Works in the Bellis Fair Mall and a visit to Michaels is a must of course. Fingers crossed that it is a successful journey, not only where my visa is concerned, but also maybe I will find a random bargain on an item I need. Well at least the weather seems to be on my side with no rain forecast, which is quite impressive for this time of year.

Author in the spotlight - James Patterson

If you like to read then I imagine you have a favourite author or two. My favourite author is James Patterson. This dates back to my high school days and is thanks to a friend's mum. She had a bookshelf full of books and one day I borrowed a few including one of James Patterson's earlier Alex Cross novels, which I believe was Roses Are Red. With the completion of this novel my reading fate was sealed as I was drawn into the fictional world of the character. Since then I have gone on to be captivated by many other characters created by James Patterson and his collaborators. I was surprised by my enthusiasm for an author of this nature as the thriller genre isn't usually my favourite, but he has a way with words and story lines that really hook you in. The plot twists and turns come thick and fast, surprising you over and over again. The short chapters have you saying just one more and I will finish for this reading session, but the one quickly becomes ten and sometimes before you know it you have finished the novel, eager for the next. As well as following the Alex Cross series, I have also embraced the Women's Murder Club series and the Michael Bennett series, each just as enjoyable. James Patterson's bibliography is extensive and quite diverse. So if you are still not quite convinced by the genre then there are several other series and options to sink your teeth into including stand alone romance novels such as Sundays at Tiffany's. A few of his novels have even been turned into either cinema bound movies or made for television ones. If you want to learn more about James Patterson, his novels and areas such as his community involvement check out his official website here. Why not give one of his books a go; you never know where it may lead.

Some of my James Patterson novels

A time to give thanks

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving! If you want to learn more about the origin of this event I suggest you look here. While I don't quite appreciate this day for what it truly stands for, I am grateful for not only the opportunity it gives me to unwind for an extra day, but also the time to remember what I am thankful for. This has particularly resonated with me this past week with the recent passing of an incredible man, Steve Jobs, responsible for not only the invention of the iconic Macintosh, but who also gave us Pixar. I know both of these have touched my life and I was further reminded of Steve Jobs' insightfulness this weekend by watching his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech, definitely some food for thought. Whilst I took time to remember what I am thankful for and to continue to do so, I also escaped the Vancouver bubble for part of the weekend on Saturday morning. We headed to a historic place called Fort Langley and it's annual cranberry festival. It was worth the trek to such a lovely little destination full of history and market-type stalls to check out. I was particularly fond of a cafe that we stumbled upon called Tracycakes Bakery Cafe. Their cupcakes were divine looking and I couldn't resist trying a creme caramel cupcake that was presented in a very cute mini Chinese takeaway style container. It was a lovely morning and we were able to beat most of the crowd by getting there early. Seeing as we were already in that neck of the woods I really just had to stop into Scoop-N-Save, a cake decorating supply store brimming with all sorts of exciting items ripe for the purchasing. I walked away with only a few purchases and the promise of a return visit in the near future. 

A few snapshots of Fort Langley

Of course, a mandatory part of this weekend is the Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. We prepared ours today to finish off the lovely weekend. It consisted of roast turkey, vegetables, gravy and yorkshire puddings made from scratch using this recipe. A successfully created delicious spread that left me stuffed full of contentment. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Outerwear is in

Fall in Vancouver often seems like winter to someone like me, an Australian still not quite acclimatized to the weather. I feel it is an easy assumption to make what with the constant flow of rain and the drop in temperature. As a result of this week’s cooler weather, I have pulled out and put on one of my heavier coats to get from A to B. In this weather there isn’t anything better than an item of clothing that feels like a warm comforting hug, especially first thing in the morning as I take my usual walk to work. The weather, the subsequent coat wearing and the email I got this morning from Forever 21 about outerwear has inspired and reminded me that there are still a few types of this item that I covet. Whilst the temperature hasn’t dropped dramatically just yet because we are only in fall, I know it won’t be too long before it is too cold to rain. Before this time is upon us, I would like a jacket for now i.e. to provide protection and comfort from the rain, thus giving my many umbrellas additional support or to even stand-alone. As well as a jacket to handle the colder elements in the foreseeable future, maybe one that is stylish and practical or maybe one that is a bit more ski-like. I haven’t quite decided yet. To help my decision making, I have started to look at the options and below is a sampling of these.

Outerwear possibilities (images courtesy of Forever 21)

Let the games begin

Now I have never been that good at sport, too clumsy and uncoordinated for my liking. Therefore, instead of playing or even teaching I like to watch, I guess this is where my inner tomboy gets to come out and say hello. You have to admire people with athletic ability and prowess, I know I do and it doesn't hurt if they are easy on the eye either. So it is that time of year again - the start of ice hockey season, but before I get into that I want to tell you about another exciting sport to watch. This past Friday I went along to the re-opening of the BC Place stadium, which had been closed for renovations since the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony at the end of February 2010. The game that would mark the grand re-opening was that of the BC Lions vs. Edmonton Eskimos, a Canadian Football match. Minus one very big hiccup with our seating, it was amazing to be back in a stadium of this size and stature. The BC Lions did not disappoint on this occasion and both teams put on a great show under the watchful eye of a newly completed retractable roof. If you have ever watched a CFL or even a NFL game, you will know that it is a very stop and start process. As a result, four 15-minute periods of play may seem to go on forever. It is an interesting sport nonetheless and definitely one to watch at least once in your lifetime.

However, since my arrival to Vancouver, the sport that has really nestled its way into my heart is that of ice hockey. I cannot help but admire the ability of the players to not only be able to skate, but to also handle a puck and have a strong physical presence at the same time. It is a talent most definitely worth admiring and one I plan on spending the foreseeable future paying very close attention to. The team that will captivate me once again is the Vancouver Canucks, who created many moments of jubilation and despair last season by coming agonisingly close to being Stanley Cup champions. I know I will be joining other Vancouverites to get behind the Canucks and see if they can take it one step further this season. Go Canucks Go!

Cupcake magic!

This past weekend was very interesting and jam-packed, more so than usual. One of the highlights of it was attending a cupcake decorating class on Saturday morning at a cookware store called Cookshop in Vancouver. It was such a pleasant morning involving the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. The instructor was excellent, very personable and clearly a talented individual. Her teaching style was awesome; she really connected well with us all and held quite the captive audience. It was very inspirational and made me think about what an enjoyable occupation she must have. The class involved not only learning how to bake cupcakes and create a variety of icings, but we also learnt different frosting techniques with a diverse range of tools. Below is the end result of my cupcake-decorating attempt. Please note the instructor baked the cupcakes and is also responsible for the lovely orange fondant flower adorning one of them.

As you can see my skills could definitely do with some improving, especially when the younger participants did such an amazing job with their decorating. The 3 hours left a lasting impression and made me want to learn more so as to build on the skills learnt on the morning. So much so that a visit to Michaels followed directly after the class, to purchase a few essentials to practice at home with. My passion to bake and create seems to be growing with each passing week, especially with outside influences such as this class and with the support and feedback of my friends. Having said this I want to finish today’s post with a quick little side note and give a shout out to all the awesome friends in my life, you know who you are. I know it isn’t International Friend Day (according to Wikipedia that was on August 7th 2011 this year), but friends are important and really surprise you with lovely gestures and just being their wonderful selves. Thank you!