just a 'lull'

So, it seems we were more excited about this blog BEFORE we decided to publicly post it. oops. I think we have some hope yet, though. Don't give up on us. We'll get there. Just a dry spell. It is January, after all. But only for another hour or so...I have hopes that February will be a whole new month of inspiration for us.

I didn't make supper tonight, but we did use our last Buy 1/Get 1 Free coupon at Swiss Chalet. My favourite restuarant. And totally worth the 1 and a HALF HOUR WAIT. I'm not kidding, either. Seems everyone else in Charlottetown remembered tonight was the last night to use the coupon, as well. Mmmmm. I'll try to make something yummy to share on here soon. In the meantime...

Happy last day of January.

maybe the best ice cream you'll ever eat...

So...last week, I was sick, and my little sister brought me one of my favorite treats: Farmer's Bay of Fundy Mudslide ice cream. Delicious, creamy chocolate ice cream, with swirls of caramel, and delightful little peanut butter cups - and I mean: a ton of them!! Its soooo yummy. If you live anywhere other than Canada...I'm sorry, but: you probably won't be so lucky as to try this yummy treat unless you come to Canada. And more specific: the Maritimes. Which really, is the best place in Canada, in my opinion. ~ Kristi

And Other Such NonSense

So Kristi & I met "officially" at NBBI back in 1999 but became the closest of friends while both living  and ministering in New York City back in 2001. During that time of  living in the "Projects" of CBF we scrapbooked by day, learned to drive Jays (her now husband) standard car, and began our love of baking. Probably the worst baking disaster known to man kind was a very conceited, cocky and heartfelt attempt at what turned out to be the worst tasting peanut butter cheesecake ever. I wish I had pictures of the  day this cheesecake was made so you culd see the sheer delight on our faces at how proud we were to be making that cake and then the after photos of how terrible it tasted. Oh Mercy. we still laugh at that now.. 10 years later. (wow... 10 years)

We have shared in a mountain of goodness  and a small heap of trials these last 10 years. For 7 of those years we lived in different countries or provinces wishing we were neighbours and here we are.. just a town away writting this blogg together. We have seen each other through weddings and a divorce, family deaths and sickness, the birth of her baby boy Jonah and the growth of my boy Silas. We've watched other friends come and go.. both been  through financial woes and have become what we would consider kindred spirits.
We share a love a Matlock, boardgames, coffee and the ocean. Please enjoy some pictures of us over these past 3 years.. and continue to read our blogg.

Cheers,

~Amanda

Curried Shepherd's Pie

Sometimes my favorite meals are the simple ones...I don't feel like as much of a 'real cook' when I make these meals, but...when I eat them...oh. my. word. YUM!!
 So, this recipe is stolen from a friend from church, but I know she'd be thrilled if she knew we were publishing it for the world to see...So, Karyn. You're welcome. And people: please try this.  You won't regret it. I promise. And the nice thing is, the ingredients are things you probably always have on hand, if you're like me.


Curried Shepherd's Pie
Potatoes, pared and cooked (probably about 6 medium potatoes)
3 to 4 tablespoons butter
1 pound or so of lean ground beef...more or less depending on many you want to serve
1 large sweet onion, chopped...or 3 small ones
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon salt (I don't usually cook with salt, 'cause I have a 2 year old; I just add it to my own plate)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
28 oz can of diced tomatoes
250-g pkg cream cheese...if you have it - if you don't, no big deal.

Cook enough potatoes for the size of your casserole dish. I like a deep dish that is fairly large because leftovers are even yummier than first day servings.


Meanwhile, cook lean ground beef with a small amount of butter until browned. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and set aside. Add a tablespoon of butter and onion, ginger and garlic. Sprinkle with curry. Saute over low heat until onions are soft. Stir in salt, cayenne and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Return beef along with any juices that collected. Simmer for a few minutes, then pour into your greased casserole dish.


Your potatoes should be cooked by now. Drain them and whip them with the cream cheese that has been cut into chunks and 2-3 tablespoons of butter and same amount of milk (or cream, however you like your whipped potatoes.)  Spoon over beef-tomato mixture...and smooth out a bit. Cover with shredded cheddar cheese and cook uncovered in a preheated oven at 350F for 30 minutes. And...you're done!! That's it. Pretty easy. And tasty. And just a little change from the regular Shepherd's Pie. Which I also happen to love.


No picture right now, 'cause I made it last week and forgot to take a picture of it. *gasp*, but...next time I make it - I'll add a picture. Don't worry. Try this. Really. ~Kristi

An attempt at moms Molasses Cookies

Well allow me to start off with this very first blogg of  eats, treats and probable disasters by saying thanks for stopping in and checking out our new food blogg. As you get to know us and read our personalities through this fanceyful blogg (name to be changed) drop us a comment and be sure to try whatever we give a "thumbs up".

Below is a receipe that I thought was my moms molasses cookie receipe but turned out to be a yummy one from a gerneric google website that was tasty and went over quite well at work but just wasn't my mom's. Let me tell you about my mom for a brief second.. She can not cook. Ask my dad, and we've made fun of her cooking (and singing) for about 31 years now. However, she can make a killer molasses cookie! (along with amazing fish chowder, chili, turkey soup and biscuits). But the list stops there. Love yah mom. :)

So though these are not "Fernie's Cookies" they really are quite yummy. I will post my moms receipe as soon as she mails that to me and we will give these cookies another go!

1 1/4 c flour

 1 1/2 ground ginger

 1/2 tsp. baking soda

 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

 1/4 tsp. each ground cloves and ground nutmeg

 1/3 c soft butter

1/2 c white sugar

 1 egg

 2 Tbsp. molasses

 1/4 c white sugar for smashing the rolled cookies into, then flatening. 

 Now on to the fun part:

 Heat up the oven to 350 * F

 In a medium bowl stir the flour, soda and spices together. In another bowl,  cream the butter and 1/2 cup of the sugar until nice and fluffy. Beat in the egg then add the molasses and mix until it is all combined. 

 Dump 1/2 of the flour mixture into the wet mixture and beat with an electric mixer. Dump the rest of the dry mix into the wet mix and  voila! you are almost done.

 Use  your hands and make small balls out of the dough... plop them onto the dish of 1/4 cup of white sugar and roll them around until covered. Do this with all of the dough and place on an ungreased cookie sheet then flatten with your hand. (If you think thats gross and need to be all fancy use the bottom of a glass.. but come on.. get real.. your hand is fine. )

Bake for 8 minutes ONLY then let them sit for 2 additional minutes on the cookie sheet. Place on a cooling rack  to finish cooling. 

When cooled.. take 3 freshly baked cookies, a drink of your choice.. milk or coffee for this gal.. and eat happily. 

Happy eating folks!  1 Thumbs up!