FRIDAY Favorite!

Such a happy little man and we LOVE HIM to Bits

There are no words....

BUTTER TARTS!

One of my fondest memories of growing up was baking with my Mom.  Everything was always from "scratch".  I wish I had a dime for every batch of butter tarts or buns she created, and a lot of the time were given to others.
I have to agree with Mom when she told me one of the greatest skills a young lady could learn was how to make home made pastry.  It really isn't a scary task at all and sure comes in handy for bribery.  Now I wish I had a dime (or maybe loonie) for every batch of butter tarts I've made.
My job this year for Easter dinner was you guessed it... butter tarts.
Thought I'd share our family recipe.  It really can't get any easier, honest!
YUM!

BUTTER TART FILLING

(this usually makes enough for 12 tarts, I easily make 4 times this for one "batch" of pastry)

2 well beaten eggs

3/4 tsp vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp butter (cold)

Blend by hand until butter chunks are broken up.

Wash raisins and add as many or few to the pastry shells as you desire.

Add tart filling until pastry shells are 3/4 full.

Bake at 325-350 for approx 10-15 mins (depending on your oven).  Watch for the filling to be slightly bubbling and pastry to be barely golden brown.

**Take tarts out of baking dish immediately and cool.  If you wait too long, any filling that may have boiled over while baking will stick to the tray, making it difficult to pull your tarts out of the tray.**

ENJOY!

GOOD FRIDAY Favorite!

LET'S EAT!!!

These are a few of my favorite BABY things...

I've come across a few fun and functional baby items that have made life easier to smile and easier to get through the nites.  I can't help but share them.

HOLLYBERRY SOAPS

I love love love love Holly's Belly Cream.  My girlfriend Kael introduced me with this gift when she found out I was expecting (Kael is Holly's sis in law).  It has been one of my favorite treats just for me.  It isn't just great for a growing or shrinking belly, but great for baby cheeks and toes and everything in between, it smells so natural and clean.  LOVE.
Check out Hollyberry's site, she has wonderful gifts and natural hand made products for the entire family.  She is a Mom to be anytime now and would love your business.  You won't be disappointed.www.hollyberrysoaps.com

ALL THINGS COURTNEY - ETSY

I found this super cute idea on another Mom's blog.  It is in my opinion the PERFECT personal baby/child gift.  I couldn't resist ordering one for Andrew.  Ohhh how I wish I was blessed with the crafty/artsy gift.  Instead I'll support others.  I can't help but buy them for so many of my new Mom pals.

If you aren't familiar with ETSY, check it out.  Anything and everything homemade is up for sale.  Some people have amazing talents and Etsy is such a brilliant idea to buy and sell gifts.  Courtney is talented and soooo easy to deal with.

If you mention my blog Courtney will offer you 20% off her items.  Check out AllThingsCourntey.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AllThingsCourtney

WOOMBIE

This item is gold to me.  It changed Andrew's sleeping overnite.  He wasn't a bad sleeper but would wake himself up at nite with his flapping arms then not be able to go back to sleep.  At 6 months Andrew still uses his WOOMBIE to be swaddled at every nap and every nite.  I LOVE WOOMBIE!
www.woombie.com

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES BLOG

Kierste is a Mom of 5!  Not only that but she has 2 sets of twins.  HOLY HOLY HOLY!

I've been following her blog for a year now and find some pretty amazing recipes and crafts, she is all about DIY.  I more just admire the crafts and try the recipes but she has some really affordable and fun projects for adults and kids.  If you read her bio you'll be exhausted just by reading all she can do in a day.  5 kids!! Pretty amazing.  Everything she creates is geard towards family and fun.  Love it.

Check out Brown Paper Packages, you might get lost in her entries....www.brownpaper--packages.com

PIZZA! PIZZA!

We usually roll into Fernie Friday nites just in time to pick up a delicious yummy pizza for a late dinner.
Not the best idea for healthy eating habits but worth the splurge of being "bad".  Life is too short to be good ALL the time!
If you are ever driving through Fernie at lunchtime or dinner... or really ANYTIME of the day, check out LOAF BAKERY - CAFE, PIZZERIA & BAKERY.  Thin crust pizza to DIE FOR!  The menu isn't limited to pizzas though.  Fancy coffees, bread and pastries. YUM YUM!
The staff is really friendly and will even serve you beer while you wait!  It is in a tiny house off the main strip through town.   CHECK IT OUT!
www.loafbakery.ca

FRIDAY favorite!

Way back when...

Today I'm doing a little stroll down memory lane.  While pregnancy seemed a lifetime ago, I know it was just a few short months.
Andrew was a busy boy in the belly, much like he is outside now.  We are gonna be BUSY!
A few shots from the manufacturing process....

16 weeks!

22 weeks!

29 weeks!

31 weeks!

35 weeks!

37 weeks!

39 weeks!

SOLIDS!

We started Bean on real food this week.  So hard to believe 6 months has "flown" by. It is safe to say he liked it.  Maybe he just liked the playing but all in all it was a success. Thanks Jenny and Jen for your advice!

Not sure who had more fun, Dad or Andrew?

 Nom! Nom! Nom!

Wordless Wednesday

FRIDAY favorite!

SURPRISE!!!

I am a huge fan of surprises.  Planning surprises and being in on a surprises... any kind of surprises.  FUN FUN FUN!

Enjoying some sunshine at our favorite Mexican fast food spot - Little Sombrero.  THE BEST!

Today Andrew and I flew to PHX to surprise Grandma.  Thanks to Grandpa for helping STRETCH the truth a wee bit we were able to make it all happen.  Grandma nearly fell off her chair when we walked in the door today. She had NO idea.  Bean and Mamma are snuggling with the Grandparents for a week before they come home for Canadian "summer".  Mamma will cash in on some solo pool time this time around because it is HOT HOT HOT!  Yahoo.  MARGARITAS anyone??!!

Snug as a Bug!

These are just too cute not to share.
Let's hope our NEVER ENDING winter takes some time off soon.   Good grief!

Red Velvet Delight

Lately I've been scouring the web for all kinds of new recipes.
Lately I've been a ridiculous sweet tooth nut.
Combine these two and I found Red Velvet delight this week on this great blog: bestcupcakerecipes.blogspot.com
Try them, you'll love them!


RED VELVET CUPCAKES with CREAM CHEESE ICING

2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 oz. red food coloring (two bottles) or 4 oz beet juice (if you use unprocessed light cocoa you can leave out the food dyes and you'll get a warm red/brown color)

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin tins or silicone pans with cupcake liners.

2. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside. In a smaller bowl, mix food coloring and cocoa powder to form a thin paste without lumps and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla and the red cocoa paste, scraping down thebowl with a spatula as you go. Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

4. In a small bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda. Be careful as it will fizz so don't do it in a shallow bowl. Add vinegar mixture to the cake batter and stir well to combine. Fill cupcake cups with cake batter until they are a little under 3/4 full. I ended up with 20 cupcakes. Place muffin tins in your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 20, rotating pans halfway through. The cupcakes are done when you are able to pat the tops and the cake springs back up. If it sinks down they are not yet complete. Or you can insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake in the center of the tin and if it comes out clean they are done!

5. Cool the cupcakes in their tins on a wire rack for 10 minutes then remove and allow to cool completely before frosting.

(I had my oven at 325 and baked for 15 mins)

CREAM CHEESE ICING

8 oz (2 sticks) unsalted butter
12 oz cream cheese
3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract

Visit with Grandma

Grandma made a short visit home from sunny AZ this week.  We were lucky to spend a good chunk of time with her and have cuddles, walks, tea, and naps.
We thought we'd take a stroll in the sunshine along the river on Wednesday.... uhhhhhm it was freezing cold, windy as heck and generally miserable but the sun was shinning so we bundled up and persevered.  I think she is happy to be back in PHX where the real sun is (I told her she is a Princess and turning soft with age).

Springtime in Alberta!

Hangin with Grandma at Timmy's

Dropping Grandma off at the airport.  Moose photos are a MUST!