December 16, 2013

fishing toy

Take a few moment what these fish toys are made from....

There was cute post I found on Pinterest using old paint brush handle! Tim got excited with this so we pulled out our old brushes.

Used a saw to cut off and discard the bristle part of the brush.Drill a hole beside "eye hole" to put in wooden dowel through as fins(Used IKEA's wooden pegs instead). Painted in white and dipped in color paints for variation.
Fish hook was made with coat hanger and painted in red.

These turned out so cute I had to make a bag for storing!

white fish

how it's made
                                                                                                                    Photography by: Tim
fish on hook

colored fish

fish in a bag

fishing toy

crochet bag for fish toy

December 9, 2013

mini meat loaf

There was cute recipe I found in Fresh Juice(Sept 2013 edition), Portobello Turkey Meat Loaf! This was my first attempt of making meat loaf. The ground turkey really goes well with portobello mushroom with relish that tasted like thanksgiving dinner.


 Portobello Turkey Meat Loaf:
- 1/4oz - dried porcini mushrooms
- 2 tbsp - olive oil, divided
- 1/2cup - finely chopped celery
- 1/2cup - finely chopped onion
- 2 - cloves garlic, minced
- 1cup - chopped spinach
- 1tbsp - poultry seasoning
- 2tbsp - dijon mustard
- 1tbsp - Worcestershire sauce and hot suace
- 1 egg
- 1/2cup fresh bread crumbs
- 1lb/450g - extra-lean ground turkey
- 4 portebello mushrooms, stem discarded
- 1/4tsp - salt and pepper

Ruby Relish:
- 1cup - pomegranate juice
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1tsp - finely chopped rosemary

1. Preheat oven, 375F/190C
2. Reconstitute porcini mushroom with 1/4cup hot water for 10min, drain, reserving liquid, set aside.
3. In large skillet, add 1tbsp oil, celery, onion, garlic and saute for 4min.
Add spinach, poultry seasoning, mustard, Worcestershire and hot sauce; cook for 2min and cool for 5 min.
4. In large bowl, combine porcini mushroom, reserved liquid, egg bread crumbs and turkey.
Add sauteed veggie, mixing thoroughly to combine.
Divide into 4 rounds.
5. Brush portobello mushroom with remaining oil and season cavities with salt and pepper. Stuff with turkey patties. Arrange on baking sheet and bake for 35 to 40min.
6. Relish: in small pan simmer with pomegranate juice, onion, rosemary until reduced to syrup for 10min.
Serve with meat loaf.

making of mini turkey meatloaf
                                                                                                                         Photography by Tim
pat on top of portobello mushroom
                                                                                                                         Photography by Tim
mini turkey meatloaf

December 1, 2013

paper snowflakes

Did a small fun project with Tim to make many paper snowflakes as we can. I can't remember the last time I made paper snowflakes.

Forgot how fun it was to cut out a pattern not knowing how it's going to appear until you unfold that paper.

Here are few patterns of  my favorite snowflakes. Share your snowflakes!

 60 snowflakes

make your snowflakes!

mini snowflakes

snowflake patterns

November 25, 2013

cabbage steak

Found this recipe, Cabbage Steak from Pinterest. It was such a simple recipe to make so I had to try it out! I actually enjoy this eating by itself, great for veggie lover.

Eat it like a steak with fork and knife, also goes so well with any fried food!

Recipe:
- 1 whole cabbage 1 inch sliced from top to bottom.
- 1-2 cloves of garlic, smashed.
- olive oil.
- pinch of ground pepper, salt.

1. Pre-heat the oven 400C.
2. Lay sliced cabbage on parchment paper with cooking tray underneth.
3. Rub smashed garlic on both side of sliced cabbage.
4. Brush olive oil on both side.
5. Sprinkle ground pepper and salt on both side.
6. Roast for 20min, then flip and roast 20min.

cabbage steak

November 18, 2013

minion carrying banana box

I have a friend who loves minion from Despicable Me and I've also been loving these cute little yellow nuggets. He had an unique idea to make Halloween costume with illusion of a minion carrying banana box while having you in the box. I just had to be part of this!
So here are progress shots of how it was made.

We've also entered to Coolest Homemade Costume contest. Hope we're getting good reviews!
You should click here to see the end result and more details how this costume was made. 

The chalkboard art was used as backdrop we drew to take photo with the costume.

minion backdrop

Minion carrying banana box illusion Costume

materials used

attach things together

put body together

size comparison

metal goggle

goggle complete

stenciled logo with pocket

materials for arms

glue goggle to body

fake legs

arm attached

banana box

Minion carrying banana box illusion Costume

Minion carrying banana box illusion Costume

Minion carrying banana box illusion Costume

Minion carrying banana box illusion Costume

November 11, 2013

sausage rice

This recipe is one of my own creation I came up with way back in Gr. 4. When you look at the recipe it might not sound good but still today I enjoy eating this as dinner.

My family has been calling hot dogs, "sausage" so I'm too used to calling this recipe Sausage Rice but yes, it is using hotdog, not sausage.

Sausage rice: 2 Servings
- 1cup(measurement from rice cooker) cooked rice
- 2-3 hot dogs, thinly sliced
- 1/2 Kraft Single cheese, rip into pieces.
- 2 egg, half beaten
- 4 Cavendish hash browns
- 1/2 cup ketchup

1. In medium heat, heat hash browns and break into pieces as it defrosts.2. Throw in hot dogs until adds grill mark.
3. Mix rice, add oil if rice is sticking on pan.
4. Pour ketchup and mix all together until rice had bit of crispy texture to it. Add more ketchup for more flavor.
5. Pour rice mix into oven bake bowl. Sprinkle cheese on top.
6. Drizzle with egg on top.
7. Throw into microwave for 1min or longer until egg is 3/4 cooked.

sausage rice

November 3, 2013

summer time meal

So before it gets anymore colder, here I am sharing meals I made over the summer.

I had new attempt to make homemade Italian dressing. My mom's salad always had lettuces, carrots, celery and sliced apple that goes so well with Italian dressing.

I tried out making sliced baked potatoes again to go with one of the dish. It's fun to make but takes time to bake potatoes.

Another great place to enjoy your food you made is eating breakfast outside your patio. I wish I had hammock or something to take a nap outside after my meal.

It's getting cold really fast, take lot of ginger, green onion to avoid cold! That's my secret.

fried chicken + salad + baked potatoes

baked chicken

breakfast outside

baked bass

roasted potatoes

October 31, 2013

mini pumpkin

Quick update to say happy halloween!

Did another pumpkin carving using Mandarin orange. Maybe next year I'll make whole bunch of them lined up!

blog198-1

What's next? Pumpkin carving idea for lace lovers. 

October 28, 2013

happy halloween

Trick or treat! Hope everyone is enjoying your Halloween week.

I realized recently that I have never carved pumpkins before so I tried out this year! With my first attempt, I used my favorite design element of lace and circles. I used screw drivers to stab each holes.

Another annual crafty activity I can do!

happy halloween!

my first pumpkin carving

October 6, 2013

Tobermory

Another activity I did over the summer. Went to Tobermory in Bruce Peninsula for camping. The place was booked so fast that we were only able to stay a night.

Beautiful place! Water was so clear and the weather was perfect, seeing natural blue gives me shiver sometimes.

Another highlight of this trip was trying out fish and chips. I never had fish and chips with skin on with very thin batter. It was quite refreshing.

I would love to go back again there for next summer.

Cyprus Lake

Cyprus Lake

Indian Head Cove

Indian Head Cove

Indian Head Cove

The Grotto

The Fish & Chip Place

Little Cove

Little Cove