February 25, 2017 in

coq au vin

I was looking for a French recipe this weekend and remembered a special dish we enjoyed in Paris: coq au vin. What better way to enjoy it by using my beautiful Le Creuset pot! Here's my spin on this classic:

2 tbsp. olive oil
6 slices bacon, chopped into small pieces
4 chicken breasts, pounded down a little and cut into 2-3 pieces
Salt and pepper
3-4 carrots, chopped diagonally into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup Brandy or Cognac
1/2 bottle red wine
1 cup chicken broth
10 fresh Thyme sprigs
2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature, divided
1 1/2 tbsp. flour
A handful of pearl onions
A handful of cremini mushrooms, stems removed and sliced

Preheat oven to 250 F. In a cast iron pot cook bacon. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same pot brown chicken. Set aside. Next, cook carrots and onion in that same pot for 10 minutes on medium-low. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the brandy and put the bacon, chicken, and any juices that collected into the pot. Add the wine, chicken broth, and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and place in the oven for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and place back on stove.

Mash 1 tbsp. of butter with the flour and stir into the stew. Add the pearl onions. In a small fry pan, add the remaining 1 tbsp. of butter and cook the mushrooms over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes. Add to the stew. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste and serve.
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I served this dish with mashed potatoes and a side of green beans. Prior to this meal we enjoyed a baguette with Beaufort and Délice de bourgogne cheeses!
February 19, 2017

Love You A Latte

Here is a card I made tonight using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. I used my Minc to foil the digi stamp sentiment from Verve and was excited to use this tea set from Concord & 9th!
Paper - Watercolour; White Daisy, Colonial White (CTMH);
Stamps - Let's Chat (Concord & 9th); Love From Me (Verve digi stamp);
Ink - Paradise Teal (Ranger); Cashmere (CTMH); Foil - Gold (Heidi Swapp);
Embossing Folder - Woodgrain (Tim Holtz); Dies - Stitched Circles (SSS);
Embellishments - Cashmere twine; Washi tape (CTMH).
February 13, 2017

Love With All Your Heart

I LOVE this new digi set from Verve for so many reasons and got the idea to use it with my Minc machine when I saw the colour challenge over at The Paper Players. I didn't exactly have copper foil (although now I will be looking for some!) so I played around with some others that I had - gold, rainbow, and hot pink. I was intrigued to play along with the Coffee Loving Cardmakers CASEing DT challenge and continued the sketch with the other cards I made as well. I am also linking up with the "cute" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
Paper - White Daisy, Slate cardstock (CTMH) Doll Pink cardstock (SSS); Cream and Sugar patterned papers (Doodlebug);
Stamps - Love From Me Digi Stamp set (Verve);
Dies - Stitched Rectangles (Memory Box); Cup 4 All Seasons (Verve); Embossing Folder - Bricked (Tim Holtz);
Embellishments - Matte Gumdrops (YNS); Cute Girl epoxy stickers (Crate Paper).

Here are the other two cards I made:

February 10, 2017

A Note For You

Here is a set of cards I watercoloured to give to my in-laws for their anniversary. We had a relaxing time while visiting them at their place in Phoenix, and I was definitely inspired by all of the beautiful cactus and other unique features of the desert! I am linking up with the Art Impressions "lots of love" challenge and the "cute" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp.
Paper - Distressed Watercolour paper (Tim Holtz); Kraft, Chocolate cardstock (CTMH);
Stamps - Southwest (Ai); Just For You, With Love (CTMH);
Ink - Chocolate (CTMH); Dies - Wonky Stitched Squares (MFT); Stitched Circles (SSS).
Images coloured with Marvy and Tombow markers.
Here are a few of my own inspirational pics :)

February 07, 2017

Coffee & Friends

It was a SNOW DAY today! I can't believe I'm saying it! I know many cities have snow days, but here in the Kootenays this is extremely rare. Despite the large amounts of snow we typically get every winter, we never seem to close schools! Anyways, I thought I would bust open my February card kit from Simon Says Stamp. I used the sketch from Fusion and am also linking up another entry for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge...I figure not only are these cards involving the "colour of love" but also their coffee theme is one that many love, too :)
Paper - Doll Pink cardstock (SSS); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); 
Cream and Sugar patterned papers (Doodlebug); Stamps - Coffee and Tea (SSS); 
Ink - White Shimmer (Delicata) embossed with Seafoam White powder (Ranger); Chocolate (CTMH);
Dies - Stitched Circles (SSS); Embossing Folder - Simple Chevron (CTMH); 
Embellishments - Latte Love shape sprinkles (Doodlebug).


February 05, 2017

Happiness Lives Here


Inspired by all of the snow we have been getting this weekend, I knew just the stamp set to take out! I won this set in January from Art Impressions for my snowy tree card and was excited to use it today. I made this card for my husband for Valentine's Day and coloured the door the colour I love that we will be painting our own front door this spring :). I am linking up with the Art Impressions "lots of love" challenge and the "colour of love" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp. I also quite liked the inspiration photo over at Inspired By All The Little Things and added a red heart to my door.

Paper - Rustic Home Fundamentals, Paper Fundamentals Enchantment Collection (CTMH); 
Distressed Watercolour Paper (Tim Holtz); Stamps - Wooden Door (Ai); Happiness Lives Here (CTMH);
Dies - Charming Oval (Verve); Wonky Stitched Square dies (MFT);
Embellishments - Red Enamel Hearts (CTMH); 
Markers - #18 dark brown, #29 prussian blue (Marvy); N65, 373 (Tombow).

I recently had some time to do some watercolouring and loved getting multiple images all painted up! I put together this card for my in-laws anniversary coming up this month using the sketch over at Your Next Stamp. I had intended on using some of their gumdrops, which I love, on my card but once it was all put together they did not fit. I am also linking up with the "colour of love" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
Paper - Rustic Home Fundamentals, Black cardstock (CTMH); Yes Please (MME); 
Distressed Watercolour paper (Tim Holtz); Stamps - Time For Wine (SSS); Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black (CTMH);
Images coloured with Tombow and Marvy markers.

I recently got to attend my first cooking class! It was held at one of my favourite kitchen stores, Sur la table, and was Thai themed. The salad we made was definitely one of my favourites. Here is my adaptation:

2 tbsp. brown sugar
3 tbsp. soya or fish sauce
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp. lemongrass, minced
Juice and zest of 2 limes
1 head red leaf lettuce, chopped
1 head green leaf lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cucumber, sliced
1 carrot, chopped
1/2 cup mint leaves, finely chopped
1/4 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped

Whisk together the first 5 ingredients to make the salad dressing and set aside. Chop the rest of the ingredients, setting aside the herbs.

Combine the herbs with the salad dressing and the rest of the chopped ingredients together in a salad bowl. Dress the salad and serve immediately.

***Additions to the salad I may try are zucchini and/or avocado - yum!

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