Monday 22 December 2014

Update...Christmas 2014

Hello Everyone, I've completely dropped the blogging ball! So sorry for that! With it being baby's first Christmas, it's a scramble to get everything done. And it's only 3 days away! Eek!

Here's what I've been up to...
Enjoying the Kinder Advent Calendar...
Super cute perfume bar from TONYMOLY found at T and T in Metrotown...
Couldn't help picking up a pick me upper from Loft...(was on my wish list post)
Enjoying an eggnog donut from Lucky's Doughnuts...



Wednesday 10 December 2014

Humpday Happenings...Make it Show

Tag Blanket - Gracious Gowns and Gifts
Bunny - Bird on Elephant (They had the most darling ballerina's but a lady right before us purchased the last one :( )
Elf Ornament - PLC Originals (we went nuts at this booth, so many to choose from)
Leggings and Infinity Scarf - Little Citizens
Banana Cream Pie - Vancouver Pie Hole (I was dreaming of this pie, went back for more but they were sold out :'( )
Coconut Crispies - Chickadee Family Bakery ( These were sooo addicting, I came back for 2 more bags and 1 mookie)
Dried Blueberries - Lake Country Harvest

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. This past weekend we spent it shopping at the Make It Show. We purchased our tickets from Groupon and it was valid for 4 days. Event parking was $10, and it was super busy. Be sure to wear your walking shoes, as there was a lot of walking from the parking area and around the show. I love that everything is made local and hand made. Excited for next years show!

Make It Show


Friday 5 December 2014

Banana Bread Muffins...

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 large ripe bananas
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup of melted butter

Serves 12

I added almonds, chocolate chips and walnuts on top...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. My gf made these recently and they looked so good I wanted some! She sent me the recipe and I tried them the next day. So yum! These will definitely be added to my recipe box. Thanks Peaches!


Monday 1 December 2014

Affordable Christmas Gifts...Bath and Body Works


My Verdict: Praiseworthy. Picked these up on sale, buy 3 get 3 free and the slippers were on special for $5. There's always some sort of deal or sale offered at BBW, sign up for e-mail notification to get coupons!


Friday 28 November 2014

Monday 24 November 2014

Hermes Jewellery Wish List...

Amulette Birkin (now sold out online)

Christmas is around the corner, have you started your wish lists yet?





Friday 21 November 2014

Pom Pom Hats...

Last year I found and wanted to purchase this one...

This year there's quite a few options...



And how about 2 pom poms for good measure!


Aren't these so cute? Readers will you be picking up any pom pom hats? So many to choose from, I'm torn!

Monday 17 November 2014

Eggplant Dip...Kashkeh Bademjoon

1 Eggplant (next time I'll try this recipe with Japanese Eggplant, I found this one had too many seeds)
1 onion (chopped)
2 garlic cloves (crushed)
1/2 cup Sour Cream or Kashk
4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
And the meal...Garlic Prawn Recipe coming soon!


My Verdict: Praiseworthy. I am absolutely addicted to eggplant dip from Zeitoon. There was a time I ate Persian food every week and this was a must! I googled and found a recipe and decided to try it. I'm so pleased with the results, definitely time consuming for this meal but was well worth the wait!

Instructions:
Peel and cut eggplant into 1" rounds. On wire rack with paper towels, lay eggplant on and salt both sides. Add another layer of paper towels and top with something heavy ( I placed 3 cookbooks). Leave on for 1 hr, this will help expel the excess liquid.
Preheat oven at 400 F bake eggplant for 20 minutes. Flip and continue baking for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven to cool.
During this time chop onions and garlic. In a pan on medium heat add 1 Tbsp of EVOO, add onions and sauté until soft. Lower heat to low and caramelize, mine took about 28 minutes. Add the garlic in the last 2 mins. Set aside 1 Tbsp of onions for garnish.
In a bowl add the eggplant and onion garlic mixture and mash with a fork. Add the sour cream and pepper to combine. You can transfer to a serving dish, but I kept mine in the same bowl(less dishes to wash yay! lol) Add the onions from earlier as garnish. 

Here's another recipe that's quicker...

Readers if you try this recipe I'd love to see your creations! tag #passorpraiseblogbakes 

Here's my IG: kngap

* update round 2 with lots of butter on the garlic prawns




Tuesday 11 November 2014

Turkey Spaghetti...

I halved the recipe and even still I was able to freeze 3 days worth of lunches and dinners!

Ingredients:
2.5 pounds of lean ground turkey (next time I'll use less around 1.5)
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper ( I omitted this as I'm allergic)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup white wine or chicken stock
1 can 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
half a can (2 ounce) tomato paste
1 jar store bought Marinara Sauce ( I used the full jar and omitted the additional 6 oz of crushed tomatoes)
1/2 Tsp ground oregano
1/2 Tsp ground thyme
2 whole bay leaves
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tsp Salt
1/4 tsp crushed pepper (optional)
2 Tbsp finely minced fresh parsley
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional, I used a lot as I love cheese :))
extra minced parsley for serving
extra parmesan cheese for serving

Serves 12

Simmering...
Plated and ready to eat with a side of garlic cheese bread...

While creeping on IG I was motivated by Chrissy's post and the next day purchased the ingredients to make turkey spaghetti. I have tried the spaghetti squash but this time I used spaghetti noodles instead.

Find the recipe here...


* Thank you to those who gave their lives for us to have our tomorrows... November 11 Remembrance Day



Friday 7 November 2014

Sephora VIB 2014...

It's that time again!

Here are my picks...


Readers are you picking up anything? Any faves? I'm buying 2 repeats and the rest first time try outs. Biting the bullet for Guerlain this time around...

VIB sale Thursday Nov 6 - Monday Nov 10, 2014 20% off use code GIFTVIB
* it's so busy online the site crashed *~* 

Happy Weekend Everyone!






Tuesday 4 November 2014

Banana Oat and Coconut Muffins...

Ingredients:
1-2 or 1/2 Cup Super Ripe Banana (Mashed)
1/2 Cup Oat Flour
1-2 scoops Protein powder
2 Tbsp Coconut Flour (3 Tbsp if you're omitting the protein powder)
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Egg
1 Egg White
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon (Optional)
2 Tbsp Mini Chocolate Chips (I only used 18 to sprinkle on top)
Yields: 6
Using a fork to combine everything...
After 20 mins of baking and cooling off...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. I found this recipe on IG from a feed I follow: fithealthyrecipes the original recipe came from lean_lisha
Preheat oven to 350 F
In a bowl whisk all dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients until combined. I didn't have any protein so I skipped this option and added another tablespoon of the coconut flour instead. I also added the cinnamon as I love anything with it!
At this point you can fold in your mini chocolate chips, or do what I did and place them on top.
Spray your baking tin and fill it evenly to fit the 6. I used a medium sized ice-cream scoop for convenience. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy! And if you do bake these tag me! #passorpraiseworthyblogbakes

* round 2 this time with coconut flakes 

Friday 31 October 2014

Essentials...AYR

I saw this wonderful post from Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere and it had me itching to purchase some essentials...

Here's my picks...







Readers have you purchased from AYR before? What are your picks? I'm loving all things Navy!

Monday 27 October 2014

Loft Wishlist...

I'm obsessed with the styling for Michelle Williams for the Louis Vuitton Spring 2014 campaign!
It's too late to purchase these tops, but I have been on the hunt for an alternative...





This morning Loft had a promotion for 60% off-- code FLASH!

Lou & Grey Specklestripe Popover, see it modelled here on Jean

In any case I would buy all 3 shown here!

Readers were you one of the lucky ones who took advantage of the 60% off? What did you get?

Loft
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