Cook me Italian

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Shauna

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I recently attended a squishy but lively cooking class (demo-style) put on by chef Dan Hayes of The London Chef.  The menu lured me in, and I’m so glad I attended!

There were fried mozzarella di buffala balls (Mozzarella from Fairburn Farm, perhaps? I hope so) on a tomatoe-ey sauce as the first appetizer.  This was quickly followed by a delicious crostini with bright tasting (and coloured) salsa verde, roasted asparagus and pancetta.  I want to run out and get everything to make that salsa verde.. it was my best memory of all the dishes.

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Next was a simple spaghettini with prawns and tomato sauce.  Again, something I’m definitely going to make!  Dan has convinced me to buy the more expensive spaghetti noodles from now on, for the way the sauce coats them all over.

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I was a bit nervous about the squid dish, but it was just as delicious as the rest.  I’m aaaalmost ready to try making some calamari at home.  This dish was Chargrilled Squid and Water Cress with lemon and caper dressing.  YUM.

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And the final dish was Pan Roasted Steaks of Rock Fish with Lemon, Rosemary and Fennel.  The fennel was going to be braised, but it turned out to be so fresh and tender that it just had to be made into a salad with lemon juice and orange zest.  It was bright and flavourful with the Lingcod on top.

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Now the only question is which class to take next…

Shauna
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Mini Album

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Shauna

I’m back from Mexico, with not much to report… Mostly I spent my time reading in the sun.  I’ve probably even got the darkest tan of my life.. which isn’t saying much, considering how pale I generally am (the lightest colours available in foundation/concealer!). 

I’m feeling relaxed, but have a bit of that panicky feeling I always get from being away.  It’s like I’ve let life slip away on me a bit.  My business? I haven’t kept up with that! My plants are a bit tired and dry. I’m excited to be home because I get to experiment with cooking, and I can finally craft my heart out again!

This is a mini album that I love, featuring a few of my beautiful girlfriends at New Years 2010.. Yes, I’m still a long ways behind with my scrapbooking.  I love this little album because you can showcase your favourite photos and make it interactive – – the pictures slide out of the pockets, as does the journal tag – fun!

This project is great for people who don’t want to do a whole big page of scrapbooking.  It makes a really cute and simple gift that can be kept forever.  And hey, why not make this project in my upcoming Mini Momento Albums class?  (Sunday June 12th – 1pm – $20)

Cheers,

Shauna
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Spring has Sprung!

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Shauna

In Victoria the sun’s out, there are birds chirping everywhere, flowers are blossoming; it’s heaven.  And I’m not there.  But don’t feel bad for me; I’m in a different paradise – a tropical one.

This card adds some bright, positive energy to my day too.  What a fun birthday card this would be to give to someone!  Hint hint – let’s make this at a workshop soon.

Alright, spring, not to rush things, but let’s have some stronger hints of summer.  Sun tanning weather.  Not the endless rain that’s in the forecast. Thanks.

Materials:
Cardstock: Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive
Stamps: Punch Bunch Sale-a-bration stamp set, linen thread
Accessories:  Sale-a-bration Quick Accents pack, DSP, buttons, and ribbon

Cheers,

Shauna
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Cancun Sunshine

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Shauna

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Hiya!

I’m pretty sure we’re in paradise.  Our room’s beautiful and clean, the resort, while being at 95% capacity, doesn’t seem in the least bit crowded, and I have nothing to worry about other than applying enough sunscreen.  I failed at that already – day 2.  Let’s hope the burn’s not too bad.

Still, I’m trying to soak up lots of sun in case we don’t get enough back at home. Doesn’t that picture above look a bit like a postcard?  That’s where I was lying all day today with refreshing drinks at hand.

Check out our trip so far:

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My handsome chauffeur and porter.

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Our plane ride. Pretty comfortable.

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Yesterday’s lounge bed view

357There are pools like this all over the place, and a swim up bar.  I love all the thatched roofs!

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Yesterday’s dinner, at the Mexican restaurant.  Chimichangas, coconut “mousse” (panna cotta that I wasn’t expecting and wouldn’t have ordered), and a delicious fruity drink.  It was a so-so meal.

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I saw this funky bug just hanging out down the way from our suite.  I couldn’t not take a picture of all that bright shiny blue and those spots.

What have we been doing?  No cooking, no cleaning, no crafting, no chores.. Just sitting and eating and reading.  Lots of reading.  Tonight’s dinner’s at a French restaurant.  I have high hopes!

Shauna
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May and June Class Schedule

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Shauna

I’m pretty excited about my new class schedule for May and June.  There are lots of fun ones on there (in my opinion)!

Check it out! Click on the image to enlarge it.

MayJune 2011 Workshops flyer copy

I’m really looking forward to the Clean and Simple Cards class, and the Fresh Summer Cards.. oh, and the album!  I’ll have a sample to show you soon.  oooh, and water colour techniques.. Ok, I’m looking forward to all of these classes!

Just leave a comment or email me to sign up.

Shauna
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Crème Brulégg

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Shauna

 

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Well this looks like a horrible mess!  It really was delicious, and I would definitely make it again.  I’ve even saved a couple cream eggs just in case I get a craving.  I’m a bit late for Easter, but if you’ve squirreled away any cream eggs like me, you can make your own, too.

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You can use your favourite crème brulée recipe, or follow the one below, by Alton Brown.  This was my first time making a crème brulée, and the recipe I used skipped a lot of steps, so it turned out pretty runny.  The one below should work out nicely for you!

Crème Brulégg

Ingredients

  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
  • 1 cup vanilla sugar, divided
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 8 cups hot water
  • 6 Cadbury Cream Eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 325F.

Place cream, the vanilla bean and what you’ve scraped out into a medium saucepan on medium-high heat and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat, cover, and allow to sit for 15 minutes.  Remove the vanilla bean.  You can use it for vanilla scented sugar once it’s dry, or to strengthen your vanilla.

In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and just starting to lighten in colour.  Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually.  Pour the liquid into 6 (7-8 oz) ramekins.

Nestle a Cadbury Cream Egg or other similar chocolate into the centre of each ramekin.  I especially loved using the caramilk eggs.

Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan.  Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.  Bake just until the crème brulée is set, but still trembling in the centre, approximately 40 – 45 minutes.  Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

Remove the crème brulée from the fridge for at least 30 minutes before browning the sugar on top.  Divide the remaining 1/2 cup vanilla sugar equally among the 6 dishes, and spread evenly on top.  Using a torch, melt the sugar and form a crispy top.  Allow the crème brulée to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Alternatively, you can brulée in the oven by broiling them for 2-3 minutes, or if you dislike the crackly top, you can skip this step and it’ll be a pot de crème.

Enjoy!

Shauna
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Clean and Simple Birthday

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Shauna

So much to do; why am I sitting here reading a million blogs?  Because I love them.  I could read all of your blogs all day long.. but then I’d forget to post anything to my own blog, and my ‘To Do’ list would never get shorter (not that it ever does anyway…)

Everything about this card makes me smile.  The colours, the gorgeous flowers, the little lacy scalloped trim.. I’m liking it.

Thanks to this beautiful Designer Series Paper (from the new Summer Mini Catalogue), this card comes together in under 5 minutes.  I love how a little bit of DSP instantly livens up a card and adds a touch of elegance.

This card will be featured in an upcoming class!

Materials:
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Beyond the Garden DSP
Ink: Melon Mambo
Stamps: Fabulous Florets and Create a Cupcake
Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

Happy Stamping,

Shauna
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Bold Blossom Fading Away

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Shauna

I think I’m developing some kind of skittish personality problem.  I wholly blame it on the Canucks, as I was never made to handle watching this much hockey.  My little heart just can’t handle it!

I’m pretty sure that’s why I play hockey – so that I have a good excuse not to watch it, thus saving myself from a heart attack.  But then conversations like this happen:

“What’d you think of the game last night?”
“Game? Canucks? Oh, I didn’t catch it.. I’d much rather just play hockey… I had no choice; I had to play for my team last night.  I’m so sad I missed all those handsome men showing off their wicked skills.”

OK, just kidding.  I do love watching my boys.  Kessler and Bieksa will always have a special place in my heart.

Card! So so easy! Stamp, don’t re-ink.  Stamp twice more!

I punched that first flower out and added a glimmer brad.  Fun. 

Materials:
Cardstock:  Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Basic Black
Accessories:  1” circle punch, glimmer brad, stampin’ dimensionals
Stamps: Bold Blossom set.

Happy Stampin’!

Shauna
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Easy Blossom Bouquet Flowers

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Shauna

Happy weekend!  Are you Royal Wedding’ed out?  I am.  Some crazy family members coerced me to attend an all-nighter party.. and I just don’t do all-nighters.  In fact, I’m one of the few who never pulled one in university.  I need sleep, and I need lots of it.  I truly wish I could function on 6 hours a night, so I could do more creating of fun projects, but that’s just not in the cards for me.

Anyhow, here’s a card that you can make even when you’re running on a sleep deficit.  Punch out some flowers in different colours, stick them together, add a bit of a background and a border.  Slap on a sentiment, and you’re done!

These colours are way outside of my comfort zone, but I thought I’d try them anyway.  It reminds me of a fun kids  card, with almost a construction paper feel to it.

Cheers,

Shauna
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Open House

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Shauna

To celebrate the new Stampin’ Up!~Summer Mini catalogue, I’m having an open house this coming Sunday (May 1st), from 1-4pm. 

I’d love to see you here!  Stop by for a bit and create a make-and-take project (or two!), like the card above.  You can take home a copy of the new mini catalogue too.  While you’re here, have some snacks and check out my upcoming classes, or sign up to host a free in-home workshop.

I’ll have lots of inspiration, and you’ll get to see all the fun new products that just came out!

Isn’t that flower cute?  It’s from a brand new punch and stamp set.  Get this – the punch has 3 different settings to cut out 3 different coordinating flowers!  So cute!

I hope you can make it to my open house.  See you Sunday!

Shauna
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Spring Interlude

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Shauna

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A house on the beach. Yes please!  For now, I settle with visiting my grandparents at their beautiful log house, right at the beach in Parksville.  Nathan and I headed there for Easter times with family. 

There were walks.
There was running,
There was playing with puppies,
There was copious eating.

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We saw beautiful spring flowers in bloom, 
Brant flying by,
Blue Herons fishing.

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That wee speck of red is “home.”

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We had our 3-o’clock snacks outside on benches, and then for some crazy reason, we climbed ladders to see if that fear of heights still really existed.

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It was a great big scoop of paradise.

Shauna
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Butterfly Thank You

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Shauna

I’m sitting here icing my neck.  Next will be a warm compress.  Don’t worry, I’m fine.  My neck (and hip and lower back and upper back.. ok, everything) is just a bit out of wack, so the massage therapist is trying to slowly fix me.  She said to do the whole hot/cold thing afterwards.  I forgot to use a timer though.  Oops.

Check out this card.  Check it out above there.. terrible picture of it, eh?  I messed up some settings on my camera.  I still think it’s pretty cute, though.  That’s a new package of designer series paper, and a new stamp set.  Surprise!  You can get it for a limited time this month (April), with a $20 purchase.  Otherwise you’re just gonna have to wait until July.  Or, if you want to book a workshop, this could be the make-and-take project.

Stampin, punchin’, button-in’…  I used the Big Shot and the beautiful wings die for that cute lil’ butterfly (done in DSP).

Now it’s about time I switch from cold to hot.  Cheers!

Shauna
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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Mini-Egg Cookies

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Shauna

This morning was busy!  Easter egg hunts with enough chocolate to keep any kid sick for months, a yummy frittata, bacon, and toast breakfast, and a delicious hazelnut latte.  Perfect day.

To do something Easter themed, I made some Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Mini-Egg cookies.  They turned out pretty well, despite the questionable Crisco I had, and the more-than-questionable, hard and gritty brown sugar.  Use the fresh stuff, please!

This plate of them was a quick sell.

Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Mini-Egg Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen

Ingredients:
1c butter, softened (or Crisco, or half and half would be good)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups large flake oats
1/4 to 1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/2 to 3/4 cup Cadbury Mini Eggs, roughly chopped, plus more for the tops
1/2 cups sunflower seeds

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter or shortening, sugars, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
  3. Dissolve soda in the boiling water.  Add to the butter mixture and mix well.
  4. Mix together flour and salt, then add to butter mixture and mix until combined.
  5. Fold in oats, chips, mini eggs, and sunflower seeds.
  6. Place spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and press with a fork.  Press one mini egg into the middle of each cookie.
  7. Bake 10-12 minutes, until the edges are light golden.

Enjoy!

PS: This recipe is adapted from my good friend Anya’s favourite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  It’s become my favourite too, and is so easy to adapt.

Shauna
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Masculine Cards Class

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Shauna

Hi there,

OK, I have news.  I’ve been feeling like I need a holiday.  I’ve been working lots and it’s making the days just sort of slip away from me.  It ends up being bedtime and I wonder what happened.  Nathan and I decided to get away and relax a bit in Mexico.  Doesn’t that sound like the perfect remedy to all of life’s difficulties right now? 

In the running were Jamaica and Hawaii, but we decided that since we wanted a very inactive holiday this time around, it’d be much smarter to save those destinations (especially Hawaii) for when we want to really explore. 

So instead we’ll sit poolside and read our books.  We’ll head to the ocean and jump in the waves.. or Nathan will, and I’ll continue to read my book while swimming in a bucket of sunscreen.  We’ll eat far too much delicious food – especially me.  I have no little warning sign that tells me when it’s time to stop eating.  Or at least it’s too quiet and gets ignored. 

*happy sigh*

I can’t wait!  Can I leave now?  Please?!  Everything’s booked.. isn’t that good enough?  No.  I have to wait.  But only until May 8th!

OK, enough telling you how lucky I am to have this special getaway to look forward to.  How about some cards?!  These are from a recent class I taught where we made masculine cards all featuring Stampin’ Up!’s Plane & Simple stamp set.

I’m a fan of this one.  I just used my clear stamping block to get those square-ish shapes in the background.  I added some of the new twine, a button, and was pretty much good to go.

Next up was this very quick card.  The part that my guests liked was the banner.  We curved it around our fingers, added some sponging, and glued it on, adding the ties to make it look like the plane’s pulling it through the sky.

This one’s good for a Father’s Day card.  We used cut around the circle part of the compass image and added a mini brad.  I’m happy with the two-tone look here.

And finally we made this green and brown card.  I was playing around with the layout when I accidentally bumped it.  The background layers shifted and came askew.  It stuck; I liked it!  It’s hard to tell from this picture, but we also used a Texturz plate in the Big Shot to add more dimension in the form of a cool diamond pattern to the green cardstock.

Closer up:

Shauna
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fruits of a vintage cards class

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Shauna

Crafty things! Oh yes! I’ve been doing lots of crafting, if little sharing.  And planning.  Lots of planning.  Craft planning, food planning, French-Teacher-Planning, and Mexico-trip-planning.  Yep yep. 

This little gem of a tied up package is from a recent private class I taught where we made cards with a vintage feel.  This is a card holder that keeps 4 little 3×3” cards safe and sound.  Don’t worry, I’m offering this class again soon!

What’s inside?

My ladies had mini panic attacks at how “intricate and difficult” these seemed, but they were all pretty easy!  The hardest part was tying that ribbon into a knot and trimming it down.  Add a frayed edge and it’s nice and vintage looking.

One:

Two:

Three:

Four:

There’s also this cute little card with an aged-style rosebud:

More:

Wouldn’t this make a nice little hostess gift the next time you’re at a potluck or other such party? Come take my class! Saturday, April 30th at 10am.

Shauna
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