A future collection?

Did anyone notice the amazing collection of string holders Mario Batali had on The Chew today? If not you can see his fabulous collection here.

What fascinating things! These were a staple in many a household where you would need to tie meat or kitchen items. Batali said they were popular in butcher shops as well. How neat! Quickly looking around on the web, they come in a variety of styles. They are not all chefs heads, slurping on spaghetti. Cats are quite popular (although there are some very ugly ones) and black face items. And Dutch Girl heads. Can't understand the meaning there....but I seem to like the rod iron ones best.

They average about $100 although the chef's head on ebay is getting quite a lot of attention because of The Chew episode. Ah! I think I must start a collection to join my pie birds!

Comfy Jeans

Patiently, I have been curbing my dream of owning a pair of red jeans. I think I have waited about a year now. Finally I have succumbed to loverly red.

These red beauties are from Reitman's and are now on sale for $34!

To be honest, they aren't comfy though. While they are a great colour - a slight hint of burgundy to stop them from being too loud - they do not hold up to the bend test (i.e. does your underwear show when you bend over?) These suckers hang so low your butt crack nearly shows. It ain't cool. And my bubble is sorta burst.

Do you know how hard I worked into my investment of a red pair of jeans? It started last fall at H&M. I couldn't buy them. Red. It was loud. I - JUST - COULD - NOT - DO - IT. Would I look like a clown? A co-worker had a pair of red cords...but on me? I was scared.

Then this spring, voila, colour is all the rage. I went to the Gap. But they had red pants - not jeans. Later, I saw Old Navy ads and sought out a mall (a place I hate to go). And guess what? There weren't any on the floor. This was turning out to be a full time job! In the same mall, Reitman's had the above jeans, and they were a great colour. Okay - I'll get those.

But they didn't have my size.

Typical.

Now I have what I want I am not happy. I want another red pair. A comfy pair. It doesn't help I spoiled myself at Christmas with YOGA JEANS.

Sometimes, you have to treat yourself. Yoga Jeans is the way to go.
Price: $125 plus your loverly HST.  And to make things even better : they are
Canadian (!!!) and made in Canada (!!!)

Seriously ---YOU MUST TRY YOGA JEANS. These suckers wear like track pants, do not cut off at the knee, have a high waist (goodbye Britney Spears!) and guess what, they now have red! EEK! 

Now a quick advisory: everyone in the ads are skinny and skinny jeans are the trend at the moment. Do not be put off by this. An older woman (45+) was trying on a pair of Yoga Jeans the same time as me. She was a size 10 or 12 and she was no fashionista; just an ordinary woman. Well, they looked great on her. 

To add fuel to the fire, Second Denim is based in Montreal and are made in Canada! This warms the cockles of my heart and no more am I buying $30 Joe Fresh jeans. I bought mine at Shop Girls in Parkdale, Toronto and locations can be found on the Second Denim website here. Treat yourself.

Sparkles and Easter Bunnies

Last year, I purchased a bunny cookie cutter at Loblaws and didn't have the time or energy to try it out. It was pretty neat - coming with 3 stencils to use with powdered sugar. Boring! I want sparkles!

For the recipe, I used Nigella Lawson's, 'Cut Out Cookies' from her cookbook, "How to be a Domestic Goddess." I had a bit of trouble figuring out the British measurements and after calculation after calculation, I went to the food network for their adaptation. Sooo much easier!

The reviews on this recipe are mixed. Those who say the recipe tastes like cardboard I think are trying the cookies sans icing or sugar. This is a cookie recipe that is meant for decorating, hence why it is called what it is people!

The trick to make your sparkles stick is to lightly brush them with water. Otherwise they just fall off.

It does help to lightly press them into the surface of the dough too.

Hippity Hop!

I made a little tray for my boyfriend's co-workers and added some "Just Ears" chocolates (the best bit of the bunny) from Walkers Chocolates. Happy Easter!

Just damn fine design....

A poster of the floor plan of Eddie and Saffy of AbFab, from
Fantasy Floorplans/The Architecture of Television,
 http://www.fantasyfloorplans.com/

I am a lover of great design and my cousin recently stumbled on this neat shopping site named www.fab.com. It is set up like www.beyondtherack.com where you sign up to get daily deals on wonderful creations - some items up to 70% off! I don't really care about the deals since I am not buying anything...yet. Instead, I really like how fab.com showcases great stuff, not only by big manufacturers but by artists. The product mix and the creativity is great!

These profile bracelets are by http://www.cameobyrux.com/ 

This is a project of www.newyorkwritesitself.com. These posters are from a series
called "NY Love Notes in Letterpress."  Most of them are inspired by
overheard NYC conversations. Hilarious!

Perfectly captures a NYC subway announcement.

Gotta Date (Square)?

OMG! Time has flown. Perhaps it was the pre-Christmas nonsense. Perhaps it was laziness. Perhaps it was the fact I was working my butt off. Now I return to you....

One of my favourite places to go is the Bulk Barn. It has so many endless possibilities...plus the gluten free section has widely expanded and it is so much cheaper to buy at the Barn then it is anywhere else.

Plus they have gluten free oats. YUM!

They had dates on sale not to long ago and I was inspired to make Date Squares. This recipe ROCKS! It is easy-peasy and the squares are nice and moist. Here you go!

Date Squares
1 pound of dates (about 3 cups), chopped
1 cup of water
3/4 cup of butter (or shortening, but butter is better!)
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 tsp of salt (omit if you are using salted butter)
1 1/2 cup of oats
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 tsp of baking powder

Boil together your chopped dates and water, until dates are soft and of a spreadable consistency.

Combine your dry ingredients and half the mixture. Press half the mixture in a 9" x 13" pan. Press firmly!

Pour the date mixture on top of the pressed mixture. Spread evenly. Crumble the rest of the mixture overtop and bake for 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Oh these are soooo fab! I pat myself on the back! Yay me!

Pretty, Pretty Pumpkin Time

I looooove pumpkins - they make good eats. For Thanksgiving, we have glorious pumpkin pies (plural) because one is not enough. My parents recently traveled to the States and they picked up this interesting confection:

Maine Root - a New England soda manufacturer
http://www.maineroot.com/

I haven't tried the Jones Cola seasonal experiments but I have luckily tried this. I have to admit, it isn't half bad. I did find it really, really sweet and if they'd cut back on that ol' sweetener, I'd try it again.

On another note, the Autumn Longo's magazine is terrific. They have an AMAZING recipe for Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake. In the magazine they layered it with Marscapone Icing (!) which I did not do. It is simply good enough without it. The plan was to bring this cake to work, however Mr. B and I stuffed our faces with it pretty quickly. Enjoy this wonderful link!

All Signals Are Down

Damn. Typically when you start a blog, you write frequently. Unfortunately, no sooner than I have begun this blog, I have loss my internet access at home. So until I have the time to research a supplier, this page will become a tad static. Unless I blog at work. I don't think I recommend that, yet that is what I am doing now!