T'was a Magical Night

Hello lovelies,

I hope you aren’t too busy with end of the semester craziness. My schedule has been packed with meetings and study groups but I have been able to cram in some fun times here and there. Last weekend, I hosted a dinner party for 20 of my closest girlfriends and we had a magical evening. I decorated our house and it was so much fun (but sometimes stressful) to throw a party. I love throwing parties, but not your typical university party. My friends kept teasing me and saying that I was going to throw a huge kegger à la Project X. I was like NO WAY! I figured that 20 guests was the maximum number of people I could feed under my budget and this way everybody got to socialize with everybody there. There were some elements that I absolutely wanted to incorporate into the evening:

1. Hand-written and delivered invitations. I set off on my bike with them in my basket and delivered them to my friends' houses. In the age of Facebook, it's so refreshing to get mail and this way it adds a little element of surprise with regards to who would be there.

2. Whimsical decorations that make you feel like this is a special evening and not just another dinner party. Think DIY balloons and garlands, floral everything, and candles scattered throughout.

3. A good meal that was interesting and different, but that wouldn't require that I slave away in the kitchen all week or that would break the bank. The solution: Grilled Cheese Bar. Yes, that is capitalized because it was ah-ma-zing. I loved the buffet-like layout and our house is perfectly set-up for the make-grill-eat sequence. I had three types of cheese, bacon, ham and various spreads and toppings.

 4. Party games were also a must-have. A few years ago my mom made a Jeopardy board for either an office christmas party or a family reunion, I can't remember which. Since then, we've been customizing it for various occasions and it's made an appearance at more than one of my parties. We also played the "get the Oreo from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands" game. That game sure is great for pictures ;)

5. The last thing I really wanted to see happen, was goodie bags. I love to give my guests a little something to take home! I put together little s'mores kits and put them in little brown paper bags that I had jazzed up a bit with my flower hole punch and japanese eyelet paper.

We had such a wonderful time and I couldn't stop telling my friends how happy I was. I know this sounds really cheesy but when I was surrounded by all my friends I couldn't help but think how lucky I am. I made the best decision of my life coming to Bishop's and it really showed last Friday night. 

I made my grandma's wacky cake cupcakes with buttercream icing for dessert and I got these cute little hot pink foil liners to go with them. I also got tall candles and they looked fabulous on my cake stand. 

Here are the basics for a grilled cheese bar:

1. Have a few different kinds of cheese. I had jalapeño mozzarella, cheddar, and goat cheese.

2. Have your toppings labelled. On the night of the party you'll be pretty busy and you won't have time to be running around telling people what's what. 

3. Have enough bread! You can't make a grilled cheese without bread. 

4. Think big with your toppings and add something for everyone. At the party we had two vegetarians, two gluten intolerants, and one vegan, so I wanted a good balance. Some of the toppings included caramelized onions, ham, bacon, herbed cream cheese, red pepper jelly, and pesto. 

5. Have many frying pans on the go, or a big pancake griddle and rotate the sandwiches.

There were even sparklers!

I mentioned last week that Maggie was coming to visit me. We had a great time and I'm so so so glad she came. Everyone was amazed at how similar we were and how we laughed at all the same things. It brought me back to high school days when we'd always get scolded for giggling at all the wrong times. We went to a Great Gatspy (GABspy) party and I loved getting all dolled up with my best friend on my side. I even pulled out my grandma's fox scarf and it was a hit!

 xox Gaby

So you think you can knit?

Hello my lovelies,

Today is a special day because it's Prince Charles's birthday! Oh, and mine too :) This is yet another example of how I'm related to the Royal family. On that note, look at this cute picture I found:

What gossips!!

I am getting really excited because this weekend one of my best friends, Maggie, is coming to visit me!! I love visitors so this will be great fun! My friends are also hosting a Great GABspy party on Saturday night that will be a bigger crowd than my birthday dinner party on Friday. I have a strict budget to follow and so far I'm on track. The grocery store must think I'm trying to murder a lactose intolerant person because I bought three big blocks of cheese, spreadable herbed cheese, goat cheese, and 2 giant things of ice cream. If I haven't mentioned, I'm having a small gathering on Friday night with a grilled cheese bar. Yes, you heard right. A grilled cheese bar. I'm pretty pumped too :)

On another note, tonight is my first knitting club meeting of the year. Last year, this lovely woman in our community offered to teach Bishop's students how to knit. I jumped on the occasion and LOVED it! Wendy is so sweet and such a good teacher. She even offered to Skype with us if we got our stitch mixed up. She really brought us together and we're going to donate the hats we made to a refugee centre this winter. I stepped up to the plate this year and sent in the appropriate forms to our student representative council so that we can get some funding. I have gotten incredible demand for the club and we're going to have over 30 knitters this season!!! I can't wait for tonight.

Okay, okay, I'll get to what this blog is supposed to be about. Here is a recipe that I made a few weeks ago on a cold afternoon. They are delicious and a must try!!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Recipe from Ambitious Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup quick oats

• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¾ cup melted coconut oil

• ¾ cup dark brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened is fine)

• ¼ cup milk chocolate chips

• 2 teaspoons milk

Instructions

✿ Preheat oven to 350 degrees ℉. 

✿ In large bowl whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

✿ In bowl of an electric mixer beat together melted coconut oil and brown sugar until smooth. Add in egg, milk and vanilla; beat again for 2 minutes or until smooth.

✿ Add in flour & oat mixture to the wet ingredients; mixing until well combined. Slowly add in coconut and chocolate chunks.

✿ Drop dough with cookie scoop or by large rounded tablespoons onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges just being to turn a golden brown. Do not over bake; we don’t want crispy cookies! Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes on baking sheet. Transfer to wire rack to finish cooling. Makes 2 dozen.

 Enjoy!!

p.s. Watch this video. I never cry at movies, but tears were just rolling down my face this morning when I watched this. If you're wondering, yes, I watched the full 27 minutes… pathetic I know.

Hello Old Friend

Hiiiii!

Woah, this time it really has been too long! The past few weeks have gone by in a whirlwind and I'm so glad I can finally blog again. I had a little hiccup in my blogging a few weeks ago. As a true food blogger my laptop is always around food and drink... And my beautiful little piece of technology was having a bit of a nap because of said food and drink. With a little help from the computer Gods (a.k.a. the Apple store) and wishing on every 11:11, my laptop is in tip top shape and I'm ready to rock and roll.

Since I last posted, a lot of exciting things have happened to me. First, I got a position on the Bishop's University Commerce Society (BUCS) as Relations Executive Assistant. I am so pumped about my new role and I look forward to working with the profs of the Williams School of Business. I am also organizing the first BU Knitting Club meeting of the semester. I've had such great feedback on Facebook and our school's e-mail newsletter, that I am eager to see all the new faces this Thursday. Speaking of Thursday, it's my birthday in less than a week and I don't fool around with birthday parties. This year I've decided to go with a girl's-night-in theme with a hint of classic childhood birthday party staples, think loot bags and party games. I am thinking of dedicating a post to it, in the coming weeks.

On another note here's a recipe that will knock your socks off! I made them for Ellen's birthday and we polished off the leftovers in no time at all.

Sandy's Meatballs

Meatballs:

- 2 lbs of beef

- 1 cup of milk

- 2 eggs

- 2 cups of breadcrumbs

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- 1 tsp dry mustard

- 1 tsp salt

Sauce:

- 1 bottle VH garlic spareribs sauce

- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar

- 3/4 cup water 

- 3/4 cup vinegar

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- 1 tsp dry mustard 

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs together and forms 2 inch balls. Place in an oven proof dish.

2. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl then pour over the meatballs. 

3. Cook at 350 degrees for one hour. 

4. Serve over egg noodles or rice.

Enjoy!

xox Gaby

p.s. Shout out to Ariane for coming home to me last night, curled up in the fetal position under my covers clutching onto my phone scared that there was a man lurking around our house. I was obviously paranoid but I SWEAR I heard footsteps and then an alarm went off nearby. Anyways, she warded off all the monsters and I was able to fall asleep. You da best, roomie!!

Pizzas and Midterms

Hi lovelies,

Erica and her little munchkins

Doesn't it feel like forever ago that I wrote a post? I have been super busy with school seeing as I had two midterms last week and I have three coming up this week. I actually have two tomorrow but my Dad always used to tell me that you should relax the night before a big test if you feel you've studied enough. Watch a movie, go for a walk, write a blog post, or whatever else calms your nerves. So that's what I'm doing!

I have been keeping sane with various school events this week such as volunteering at the Shoot for the Cure women's basketball tournament and pumpkin picking with Big Buddies. I don't have a little buddy this year since I am the club's Vice President of Finance, but I have my hands full and this way I get to meet all the kids!

We're so cool!

On Tuesday night, I went to the Business Wine & Cheese event at the campus pub and it was a nice study break, plus we got free food and drinks. I stayed till the end of the event to help clean everything up and I pounced on the leftover bruschetta. We brought some supplies back to Dewies, our campus dining hall and I may or may not have taken a few (too many) cookies!! I asked the the cashier and I guess my undeniable charm is what got to him ;)

With the leftover bruschetta I made this excellent pizza!

Pesto Pizza with Herbed Cream Cheese

➝ Two Variations: Salmon or Bruschetta

Ingredients:
- 1 package of naan bread (two pieces)
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese, or however much you like on your pizza
- 2 Tbsp of pesto
- ¼ cup of chopped onion
- ⅓ cup herb and garlic cream cheese
- Bruschetta ~ or ~ Salmon

Other good add ins:
- Pears
- Artichoke hearts

Instructions:
✿ Spread 1 Tbsp of pesto on each piece of naan bread. Sometimes I add a little olive oil so it's more spreadable.

✿ Then grate the mozzarella cheese on top of the pesto.

✿ Top with chopped onion and bruschetta, or salmon. If you're using salmon, I just fried a thin fist sized portion of salmon in a pan for a few minutes then chopped it up into pieces and placed it on top of the cheese.

✿ Scoop the cream cheese by tsp (so they're little globs) onto the pizzas.

✿ Bake at 400℉ until cheese has melted or until desired crispiness is achieved (~7-10 min)

Pesto Pizza

Bruschetta Pizza

Enjoy! I should probably end the post here so I can get my beauty sleep before my 8:30 AM midterm.

Ciao!

Gaby

Study Break/Baking Break

Hi!

I know I have some international readers, so bare with me guys while I go on about Canadian Thanksgiving! I got home on Thursday night (yay for no Friday classes) at around 7 and it was so nice to get a ride from my friend Karly. Don't get me wrong, I love taking the train, but not two weekends in a row with a suitcase the size of Russia and a backpack packed to the brim with textbooks and cue cards. I am in the middle of midterm season and to put it quite frankly it sucks. I am following my study schedule like my life depended on it, but I wish I could just parade around Ottawa and see everyone with no time constraints. Oh student life, what am I going to do!? 

The other night when I got home, I made these wonderful turtle bars. I would have made something more Thanksgiving-ish but I thought I was making dessert for our family Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt Nini and uncle Roger's house. Then, I got a call saying that someone (I will not use any names...) snatched up my dessert making duty and my mom and I were demoted to appetizer duty. Maybe I'll make something extra delicious next week with that can of pumpkin puree that's burning a hole in my cupboard in Lenny. 

Butter Pecan Turtle Bars

From Bake or Break

Ingredients: 

Crust

- ½ cup butter, softened

- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

- 2 cups flour

- 1 cup chopped pecans

Filling

- ⅔ butter

- ½ firmly packed brown sugar

- 1 bag of milk chocolate chips (300g)

Directions:

Crust

✿ Beat butter until creamy. 

✿ Add brown sugar and mix well. 

✿ Add flour gradually and mix well. 

✿ Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9″x13″ pan. 

✿ Sprinkle with pecans.

Filling

✿ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

✿ In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.  Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil, and continue stirring for about 30 seconds. 

✿ Pour over crust and pecans. 

✿ Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. 

✿ Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. 

✿ Let stand for a few minutes, and then use a knife to cut through chocolate. Cool and cut into bars.

 They are so delicious and remind me of Erica's Skor bars. I'm so happy to be home and see everyone. Especially these little munchkins!!! They're the cutest little neighbours and I could just eat them for dinner. Happy Thanksgiving and if you're in the middle of midterms, or another tough time, just drop everything and go hold a baby. It helps every time. Just remember to ask the parents!! ;)

Trains and Treats

Hello readers,

I am once again on the train! I finished my homework and so now I can attempt to write a post with this horrible internet connection. I had a fabulous weekend and it was just what I needed. I have been wanting to visit my friends and family for a while and I knew if I didn't get all my stops done on this trip, I probably never would. My first stop was a visit with my friend Steph, from high school. She goes to HEC Montréal and it was neat to see another business school. Hers seemed so intense and the big city just enhanced the image. While I was at her apartment I got to see my friends Alexis and Ysabelle, who also went to De La Salle in Ottawa. We had a few good laughs thinking about our up and downs at school. 

Then I left for Toronto on Friday morning and headed to the Glendon campus of York, where Zoe, one of my best friends, is in her second year. I've taken more subways in the past few days than I have in my life (side note: there are no subways in Ottawa) and I felt like a country girl cause I was so rattled and jumpy for all my rides. Speeking of subways... My friend Elizabeth's aunt is the woman who announces the station names on the Toronto subway. Cool eh? We went for a nice Italian meal at Fusaro's downtown and I got to put a face to all her friends' names.

Saturday Afternoon, I met my cousins, Ali and Monica, my Aunt Ann, and my sister Steffi and we headed to Mississauga for our 41st annual Farlow Family Golf Tournament. I love my family so much and I get along well with all of them so it's great when we get together. I ate like a king and I'm still full from all the wonderful food. Last night, I went back downtown and stayed with Ali and Moni at their beautiful apartment in an old brick house. Their street is so nice and you'd never know it was in the middle of a bustling city. This morning I woke up bright and early and caught the train.

So now I'm here, and I'm going to brighten your rainy day by sharing THE BEST cookie recipe. They're so delicious that I made them on my last day at OAG this summer to say thanks to my coworkers. The other night I had a brainstorm to put jam in the center instead of the cranberries and white chocolate. They were ah-ma-zing and a must-try.

White Chocolate and Cranberry Shortbread

Adapted from Kraft

Ingredients:

- 2 cups butter, softened
- 1 cup superfine sugar (sometimes I cheat and use regular white sugar)

- 3½ cups flour

- ½ cup cornstarch

- 1 pkg. (170 g) Baker's White Chocolate, chopped or 1 cup of white chocolate chips

- ½ cup dried cranberries

** If you're making thumbprint jammies, you can make a dent with your thumb in the dropped cookies and place a tsp of raspberry jam in the middle of each one (pre baking).

Directions:

✿ HEAT oven to 350°F.

✿ BEAT butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Mix flour and cornstarch. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate and cranberries.

✿ DROP by tablespoonfuls, 1 inch apart, onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

✿ BAKE 20 min. or until just lightly browned. Cool 5 min. on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. 

Enjoy these cookies and don't be afraid to take a little vacation for yourself once and a while. It was totally worth it!!

xox

Gaby

p.s I took my pumpkin spice latte virginity this weekend at the Chapter's Starbucks in the Yorkdale mall. It was a defining moment in my life. I just had to see what all the fuss was about. ;)

p.p.s I found out that my cousin's girlfriend's sister is dating Harry Styles. One moment while I die. Does Harry golf? He will soon! (Wishful thinking?)

1 Squash 2 Ways

Hello guys and gals,

Today I commenced my cross country journey (I'm going to Toronto, we can all stay calm) from Lennoxville. I was so antsy in my last class, but apparently my prof didn't pick up on that because he kept asking me direct questions. He did quite like my managerial accounting analogy about making chili. This past week has been busy as usual, but I like it that way. Now that we're into October I am loving life because fall is just great. I went for a nice run this morning at around 6:30 and it was so calm and beautiful out. Lennoxville is structured in a way that wherever you go there are hills, so the views are impeccable this time of year.

I love hunting for bargains and I usually base my meals off of what's on sale. So when I found out butternut squash and eggs were on sale, I was at the grocery store faster than you can say ''Two dozen eggs for $4". The squash recipes that I am posting today are great for autumn and are simple, yet delicious.

Roasted Squash with Brown Sugar

- ½ butternut squash
- ½ Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp butter

✿ Cut squash in half and cut a small section out of the back so that it doesn't wobble on the pan.

✿ Remove seeds from center and place butter and brown sugar in the center. You can rub the butter
and sugar over the surface of the squash too, to spread the flavour.

✿ Bake in the oven for 40 minutes at 400℉ or until tender.

Squash Croquettes

Adapted from Cierra's Country Life

- ½ butternut squash, grated

- 1 small onion, chopped

- 1 green onion, chopped

- 1 egg beaten

- ½ cup + 1 Tbsp of flour

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tsp pepper

✿ In a large bowl, combine squash, onions, egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well. Stir in flour.

✿ In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.

✿ Drop batter in ¼ cup portions into oil.

✿ Cook about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown, turning when needed.

   

Well that's it for today folks! Have a happy october 3rd and a good Friday too (TGI-almost-F right?).

xo

Gaby