Party in pink! How to host a Cook for the Cure cocktail party - Entertaining - Food - Canadian Living

Party in pink! How to host a Cook for the Cure cocktail party - Entertaining - Food - Canadian Living

Our cook for the Cure cocktail party/slash housewarming party will be here before too long. While searching i found a great article from Canadian Living about that very topic. I don't know about that whole silent auction thing, but of course the food ideas are exactly what I'm searching for.

Virgin Bevvies or Vintage Sammies?

That is the big question.

So it's finally confirmed, we will be hosting a pink party in order to participate in Cooking for the Cure.

What we do know is:
The party will be sometime in August and feature the color pink (possibly along with a tangy splash of lemon and tangerine). There will be lots of tasty homemade food. There will be sweets. Guests will be asked to bring a small donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. I will most likely go overboardy.


What we don't know is:

Do with go with a mocktail party or a tea party?

The Mocktail Party would have a bit more splash, with great appies and interesting non-boozy drinks. I would have to consider music and some really great swag. It would be later at night and guys would likely be invited along.

The Tea Party would be more of an afternoon gathering, with a selection of ices and hot teas, vintage tea sandwich recipes, tiny baked treats and other such nibbles. Music would be less important, there would be the possibility of great looking hats, and it would likely be more of a ladies gathering.

At the moment I'm still undecided. Both options sound like fun. Should I go for the mocktail party or the tea party?

Peanut butter and jelly birthday cake

Cutest cake pan ever! It just so happens that I have a sandwich lovin' SO who I think might get a kick out of this cake pan (hiya babe, I know you're reading this).

Have a closer look at this Cakewich pan and lots of other insanely cute baking goodies -like the most incredibly gorgeous selection of cupcake baking cups. If you love cupcake baking and pretty paper, you may just faint dead away.

Find it all at Bake It Pretty.

Window tasting -like window shopping, only yummier!

<--------This, my darlings, is a parsnip cupcake. That's right, a beautiful, scrummy looking cupcake that just so happens to be made with that infamous, pale carrot look-a-like, most often seen in thick winter stews vegetable. I cannot claim this concoction as my own; although I'm dying to try baking them, if for no other reason than to say that I have. This cupcake and dozens of others can be found on a super user friendly site called mingmakescupcakes.com. There you'll find oodles of interesting, beautifully photographed cupcakes like chocolate with chambord, flourless beet chocolate cupcakes, sour cream fig cupcakes and several others. The sheer gorgeousness of each creation is nearly satisfying enough. Have a look!

A garden full of memories

As a brand new gardener, it can be a real challenge trying to figure out just what to put in the ground, which makes walking into a garden center both an awe-inspiring and overwhelming experience.

I had already identified my zone and figured out how much sun/shade I had in both front and back gardens. I also knew that really I wanted to put some perennials in, with only a small patch for annuals. Annuals are easy, because you can change your mind year after year, and throw a few containers in to shake things up. Perennials however, are a commitment.

Speaking of commitment ...as I stood in Vandermere's Garden Center, staring at row after row of plants not yet in bloom, trying to figure out what I wanted to devote my years to, it struck me that planting these perennials could be symbolic of another commitment I had just made months before. I would plant my wedding flowers -hydrangeas!


I picked up one Niko Blue and one Masja for the backyard and then two more Niko Blues for the front. And as I put each one into the ground, I said a little prayer over them, acknowledging that they were a symbol of my marriage and that I would nurture them for years to come. I would delight in them in good weather and keep them safe through storms. I would fight to keep them healthy even during the coldest winter storms, knowing all the while that they will be better for it come springtime.

The fact that Niko Blue hydrangeas bloom out of old wood from the previous year is so wonderfully poetic. It's like a symbol of hope and of promise.

I would suggest to any new bride and homeowner that planting the flowers used in your wedding (if possible in your zone) can become more than just a gardening experience, but something beautiful that can be shared with generations to come.

*Yep, that's one of my Niko Blue hydrangeas. The lack of acidity in my soil has resulted in what looks more like Niko pink. LOL. I may play around with the soil composition in the backyard next year to try and get that Niiko to turn blue.

Miles or perhaps kilometers of milk glass in Ontario

While planning my wedding last year, I began frequenting a wedding planning and DIY blog called Wedding Bee, and while my wedding was over 7 months ago, I still love to visit Wedding Bee every now and again. That's how I came across this post and discovered the understated yet elegant beauty of milk glass.

I am now in possession of three lovely pieces of hob nail and I'm pretty sure that one of them is Fenton.

For anyone in and around the GTA with an interest in collecting milk glass (or other antiques), I've found a veritable gold mine of fabulousness. The St. Jacobs Antique Market is just wonderful for milk glass and several other varieties of collectibles. There is just row after row of antique furniture and dishware, military items, bits of art and housewares. It's about an hour and a half from my neck of the GTA and not a bad drive at all. Of course while you're at it, you absolutely must stop in at the St. Jacobs Farmer's Market for fresh fruit, vegetable, flowers and even a tasty apple fritter or two. It is the perfect summertime, weekend outing. Go have a look!


View Larger Map

How to get lipstick out of a wedding dress

Much as I love sharing the fabulousness of home decor products, recipes and the like, I'm not usually one to give word of mouth to small packaged goods. HOWEVER, this is where I simply must make a huge exception, because an old tube of something wonderful literally saved my wedding day.

Here's the skinny on my near wedding day disaster. My not so smart makeup artist (who is very lucky to remain unnamed here) thought it would be a good idea to apply my lipstick after I'd donned my wedding dress, while I was standing up, if you can believe that! Several minutes later, after taking some photos I looked down at about hip level and there was a dark pink spot on my dress about the size of a penny. Needless to say, I completely lost it. I mean we're talking full on bridal meltdown! It was not pretty.

After much screaming, near crying and sheer panic, my mom remembered that she had an old tube of something called Didi Seven in the laundry room. So she grabbed it and had my MOH apply little dabs of it with a wet rag, first at home and then in the limo on the way to the church, and I'm telling you, it took the stain right out! I honestly can't think of much worse than lipstick on a wedding dress, before the wedding even got started. But thank God for Didi Seven.

If you're getting married soon, or planning something important that will have you dressed in light colors, I would highly suggest getting a tube of this stuff and keeping it close at hand. Here's their link. Check it out!

Globally Concious Home Decor

With so many eyes on Africa this summer, now is the perfect time to introduce you to one of my favorite new home decor and gift giving finds online. The site is called Aid to Artisans and they help create business opportunities for global artisans living in 3rd world countries. Artisans are provided assistance with product development, business training and given access to the world market. One of those markets happens to be Aid to Artisans own online store.

I have been positively salivating over the gorgeous handmade delights in ATA's online store. Right now (with the option to change my mind, of course) I'm pretty sure that these exquisite Carved Wood Sugar Bowls from Mozambique are my absolute favorite!

Although this beautiful Mexican Ceramic Pot is running a very close second...

...closely followed by this super cute set of Cimberre Wood Bowls.

Have a look at the rest of Aid to Artisan's online store

Eeeeee is for Eco friendly, disposable serveware

So you've figured out that becoming eco chic should be at the top of every domestinista's todo list. Congratulations! Perhaps you've procured a beautiful new set of bamboo dishtowels, have created kitchen recycling station or filled your crisper with a bounty of home grown, organic veggies! No matter what steps you've taken to add a bit of green to your home, you're certainly to be commended.

However, with summertime making its glorious arrival (despite some ominous looking clouds saying otherwise) eco chic domestinistas are faced with something of a dilemma. What to do if you'd love to throw a festive, sun-filled barbecue, or even whisk your significant other away for an impromptu picnic, but simply hate the thought of buying paper of styrofoam plates?

Using your everyday dishware is an option, assuming you have enough for all of your guests and don't mind a whole lot of washing up afterwards or the chance of breakage.

Thankfully, there is a wonderful and even quite stylish option, and that is Compostable Serveware from Green Living. Green Living offers plain white plates and bowls made from Bagasse, which is the fiber left over from sugarcane stalks after they've been crushed, flatware made out of potato starch and soy, and my absolute fav -bamboo veneer plates, which I happen to think would be perfection at a green wedding, backyard birthday soiree or other festive event that has eco friendly entertaining on the menu. All of Green Living's compostable dishware is certified organic, FDA approved, free of any dyes or bleaches and will biodegrade in 4-6 months after disposal.

Eco friendly, chic, AND affordably priced. I am eeeeeeing with absolute delight. Time to put my order in, start perfecting my version of this luscious-looking Jerk Chicken Panini I saw the other day, and grab the hubby for a romantic picnic by the lake.

Cook for the cure: Updated

It's almost impossible to find a person whose life hasn't been touched by breast cancer in some way; myself included. So when I heard about Cook For The Cure, sponsored by my beloved Kitchenaid, I absolutely had to share the news!

This summer, the weekend of July 16-18th, Kitchenaid is providing domestinistas (and domestinistos of course) with an ab fab excuse to dazzle friends and family with an unforgettable soiree. Now, what makes Cook For The Cure truly special is that in lieu of the traditional hostess gifts of wine, chocolates or flowers, party hosts are to encourage guests to bring a donation to Susan G. Komen for the cure -possibly the most reputable and well known breast cancer charity in America. In Canada, donation will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation


Not that we need any added incentive beyond helping to find a cure for this horrible disease, but if party hosts raise more than $50.00 (US parties only), Kitchenaid will send you this adorable serving plate.

Feeling inspired? Have a peek at the American site or Check out the Canadian Site and start planning!

Quick & Easy Cinnamon Spice Waffles

I awakened this morning to the sound of a torrential downpour. Ok, perhaps it wasn't that dramatic, but there was rain....a lot of it. While the morning's precipitation may have quite literally dampened my plans for mid morning gardening, it opened the door to my absolutely favorite meal opportunity ... The Rainy Day Weekend Breakfast!

I don't know what it is about mornings such as this. For some odd reason, they seem to just fill me with the desire to create something especially delicious. Today, that something was my genuinely quick and easy recipe for Cinnamon Spice Waffles.


Here are the dets (with photos), to help you fill your own kitchen with the absolutely glorious scent of hot, comforting waffles in just 3 easy steps:

The Tools

I have a confession to make. While I sincerely do love Kitchenaid with a passion not typically bestowed upon inanimate things, I've recently turned to another. Yes, my darlings, I've welcomed *gasp* Cuisinart into my kitchen. Shameful, I know, but look at the exquisite lines and timeless beauty of this shiny chrome waffle iron. What choice did I have?


Along with a waffle iron, you will need the following:


1 Large Bowl (or a stand mixer with bowl)
Electric mixer (or a cooking spoon)
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Spatula
Pancake flipper

Ingredients

4 eggs
3 cups of milk
1 cup of margarine, melted
4 cups of all-purpose flour
8 teaspoons of baking powder
3 tablespoons of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 teaspoons of rum flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg



The amount of the ingredients above will provide enough batter for 18 - 20 waffles. Why so many? Because what you don't have now can be divided into packs of two, wrapped in plastic wrap and freezer bags to be kept in the freezer. That way, if you'd like to serve weekday waffles without the preservatives in the store bought frozen kind, all you need to do is grab a pack, unwrap and pop them into the toaster. Even tastier than the store bought kind, and you know exactly what's in them! Of course, making half the recipe and serving them all for breakfast is perfectly fine as well.

Now, just a few quick steps and you're done.






1) . Beat the eggs with a mixer or spoon till foamy.













2). Add the rest of the ingredients and stir till smooth.










3). Measure 1/3 cup of batter for each waffle. Fill the waffle iron then close. Bake for five minutes or until your waffle iron timer sounds (if it is equipped with a timer).

And that's all! Serve with your favorite syrup and enjoy! Easy as 1-2-3.

Mel Bartholomew - Introducing Square Foot Gardening

So many industrious Domestinistas relish the idea of growing their own vegetables, but simply cannot abide the thought of weekends spent kneeling in dirt under the hot hot sun ...not to mention what that might do to a fresh mani.

That's where Square Foot Gardening comes in. SFG is a a gardening system developed by Mel Bartholomew. Gardens are built in raised 4x4 foot boxes and greatly reduce the time and effort required in traditional row gardening. Have a peek at the video and prepare to be inspired!

May the forks be with you

Have a mentioned before that the people of Williams-Sonoma are conspiring to kill me? Actually, first I'll go broke and then I'll simply die of cute kitchen toy overload.

Unless you'd rather Star Wars pancake molds over Star Wars cookie cutters:


Either way, may the forks be with you!

The Color of Style

What's the hot color (colour for my lovely Canadians) for this year's most fashionable kitchens? Well green, of course, darlings. What else?! Of course I'm not talking about having hubby slather your walls in a refreshing shade of Bartlett pear, I mean eco green (but of course you knew that, savvy domestinista that you are).

There are oodles of ways that we can create a greener kitchen, like buying new energy efficient appliances or installing counter tops and cabinets made of sustainable materials. Fabulous ideas of course, and the perfect excuse to finally get that kitchen of your dreams; however, this Domestinista likes green ideas, and well, just about anything really, that keeps a few extra pennies in my pocketbook. That’s why my current fav money save is an old idea that new all over again, and that’s home canning.


You’ll reduce your carbon footprint by making and canning your own fruits, sauces, relishes and more, and possibly even save a few bucks come holiday season with your scrumptious homemade gifts! Just think of the extra mani/pedi money you’ll have!

Now, before you even entertain the thought of standing alone in the kitchen, behind a mountain of ravishing romas for an entire day, let me give you the skinny on two ab fab ways to get into the canning game.

#1 – Take a test drive

A company called Ball has a spectacular little kit that helps newbies test the waters without making a big commitment. The kits are practically a steal, at under $15.00 each and allow you to do three jars. Simple and affordable. What more could you ask for?



#2 –Canning party

No need for a test drive and ready to take the saucy plunge into home canning? Grab a few of your like-minded bffs, a bountiful harvest (or farmers market find), and home canning gear for a canning party. You’ll be able to share the work and divide the results, with a light lunch and some great together time as a bonus.

Want to learn more about home canning before you dive right in? Here’s a great read to get you started.

Williams-Sonoma is trying to kill me Pt. 1

Without a shadow of a doubt, W-S is the ultimate domestinista's toy store. I mean just look at this Apple Pocket Pie Mold! Do you swoon? Seriously, I swoon! The cuteness is just swalloing me whole. Visions of gifted baby apple pies are doing a chacha in my head.

Just imagine them as edible dinner party favors, daintily wrapped and sitting upon each guests dinner plate. Or perhaps placed in cello bags, wrapped with a fetching grosgrain ribbon and placed into a wicker basket for an office pot luck. oh the possibilities!