Un cadeau pour moi~I am again early with this post~

But before the buds burst open..and before I make pies with my gift..

I thought I should share..:)♥

A gift for me.. a gift ..or two and more..

Spring..number 1 gift..♥
As I walk along Main Road..I spy the lake through the still bare trees..but I see buds too..
I spy the scillas beautifully... naturally... popping up amidst cute  garden accoutrements on Main Road too:)
Sights I love..
The greening of QC~♥

Number 2 gift..♥

I am a blog lover..don't comment on all ... I peek..but often   I cannot bear to stay quiet..in the case of thanking them for a great recipe..or because of a beautiful child..or a heart string that gets tugged..or super inspiration..or friendliness..of humor..quirkyness..beauty..funny..nice..talented..sad..sweet..
Or I follow..:)
Some bloggers I have been friends with since 2001..maybe 2002..

And sometimes it' s a thing that catches my eye.
Like the rolling pin you see above.
I spotted it on a gorgeous French blog I gleaned a go to baguette recipe  many months ago..
..I've shared it here..
And a different macaron recipe etc..

One day she made cookies with her personalized rolling pin.
I've loved monograms..words..quotes..stamps etc..since grade school.
It just took my husband to tell me that  it would be an heirloom:-)
So..I ordered one.
And it's a little work of art.
Beautiful quality..came perfectly packaged from Poland..little note for the care instructions and a cookie.
Yes I spoiled myself..but maybe one day Max or Noah..Oli or Lulu..will roll out a pie dough or cookies thinking of me.
This is where I bought it..on Etsy..
It's very special.
I lost sleep  over buying it ( I have been married 40 yrs..I have a few rolling pins..and buy less and less "things"..except cookie cutters..:)..and then lost sleep thinking what else I will make with it:-)Once it got here.. a pie..different cookies..it is an exciting  treasure in a well loved kitchen.
By the way..I am sure there's no need to mention this..
But this is not a sponsored post or anything like that.
It was love at first sight for me..and thought maybe it would be for one of you..
Can you imagine a little shop's name..oh lala..
Or your mom..daughter..dear dear friend's name..:-)?
Someone that loves to bake obviously♥
Not for someone who  doesn't use her kitchen...
My kitchen is like a little laboratory to me and I get a kick out of making things.
My parents must be flabbergasted.
They never knew me as a cook/baker..  and even less a nana:)
Life has a way of instilling likes in you as you go along.
Like gardening..reading..music..baking.

Bonne Semaine~  Bonne Semaine!


PS I used Chef Nini's cookie recipe..  but omitted the salt..used salted butter.. added real vanilla..and lemon rind..lots..They are harder than a shortbread..perfect for tea.
Any cookie that holds it's form well will work..
I have posted many many here and numerous blogs have them too..
It's the newest addition to La Table De Nana~

A Side.. a Main and a Little Baker~

Yikes..3 posts in one week..I know..too many..but just in case you are looking for new recipes this weekend..

Mini Rod Stewart  made some Angry Bird cookies...

He likes when I get cookie press/stamps from Ebay..
So do I..:)

On my part..I tried a  few new recipes I thought you might enjoy..

We have enjoyed  them both more than once since I  first made them..

Lemon-Parmesan Roasted Potatoes~

So so good~

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine

La Recette..adapted..

1 1/2 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes,halved
1 1/2 lbs baby red skinned potatoes halved
Kosher salt
4 cups cubed day old sourdough bread
(I simply used Panko)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic grated
2 tsps finely grated lemon zest plus wedges for serving
freshly ground pepper
1/4 fresh chopped prsely
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1.Preheat oven to 450F
Put the halved potatoes in a large pot of salted water.
Cook until just tender.
Drain.
2.Here you would pulse the bread ..bla bla bla..just use panko... really...combine with olive oil..garlic..lemon zest.salt..a few grinds of pepper..toss the potatoes..
3.Arrange the potatoes cut side down(I make sure I coat them with the panko mix) Roast until golden and tender about 10 minutes..remove from oven ..sprinkle the potatoes with parm cheese and parsley..return to oven about 5 minutes.. serve with lemon wedges..(I love that part of adding extra lemon juice..so darn delicious)

Now.. I did not use small yukon golds..because I only had the baby red potatoes on hand..
and I adapted the recipe to make enough for Jacques and..I..the 2 serving dishes you see..
we had fish and roasted asparagus to go with..and I loved the potatoes the very best:)


Another thing that will definitely be made again and again here is this..
did I say again?

BBQ Chicken Pizza..

The recipe was found here..Such gorgeous pics there I had to make it the very day I found it:)


I cannot tell you how often I make it now:)There..I said it again..:)

  My small notes.. Halving the recipe is just fine..it makes 2 pizzas..2 delicious pizzas..and I ake the dough in my bread machine..
After a FULL day in the gardens..I love to make this pizza..Easy peasy delicioso!

Hope you try one of these..I am  potato lover..and a pizza lover..
They may not be your cup of tea but if they are do try them:)

There was another main that we loved..but we had that Saturday for dinner..gloomy Sat so a photo was out of the question..You will have to go to my source directly:)


The recipe was..this one..from...Julia
Divine.
We rarely have creamy sauce dishes..
If ever..
But this struck a lovely note for me when I spotted it..
I only used 1 very large chicken breast for the two of us..I marinated it all day..and cooked it in the same pan I cooked the mushrooms in afterwards..
I tented the cooked chicken breast..and kept it warming in the oven with our plates..
When the pasta..sauce etc was ready..I sliced the chicken breast  with slices on..each of our beds of  pasta with sauce..
By the way I made the full sauce recipe and used 5 nests of Tagliatelle.I used 2 cups of Costco organic chicken broth..instead of the cubes..
We could have licked our plates.
Thank you Julia for all the great recipes and great great pics~~

Come rain ..or shine..

       Rain is in our forecast this weekend..but our gardens and grass are pumped and primped ready for the rains..:)                                                                    ♥

BON WEEKEND~

Parrot Tulips~

Is there a more beautiful  tulip than the Parrot Tulip?

I thinkI love them even more than my Angéliques.

A dear friend sent us the most beautiful bouquet of assorted Spring flowers..imcluding these..I had to give them a spot of their own.

Long looong stemmed huge pink roses..Irises..Pussy Willows..Gerberas..etc..

I could have kissed the flower delivery gentleman.

It made our Easter even more special♥

I must get bulbs this fall and plant more..

They are much too gorgeous to forget.

I love these words from Claude Monet~

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers~

Our friend is an artist  a wonderful artist..She used to inspire me when I would ring her doorbell and her apron had paint splashes all over it..

Music gently playing..

almost always fresh flowers in her foyer.

Never pretentiously arranged..always so natural..

like her

We are able to now work in the gardens.. picking up all the leaves from the beds I was sure and am always sure we pick up every fall.

I think our gardens grow leaves...during winter.

Still a few to go..and with the wind howling..

It seems the leaves are laughing at us by coming right back..

Thank goodness I know that at one point..even their relentless nature..will be abated!

And FLOWERS will GROW!

Grateful..always..for a garden.

Until Next Year~

Getting ready...I was..

Susan Branch..apart from many other things..thank you for this sweet idea~
Loved making the lamb cake..I added a cake base w/ some green coconut and stuck marshmallow flavored
chocolate lollipops in the background..in that base.. to simulate flowers blooming..because ..well there are none in our QC gardens yet~
That cute little Happy Easter flag is from Amelie's House.. I could not for the life of me download it..so she sent it special email delivery..How nice was that?
Beautiful hand painted cakes on her lovely blog~ Have a look you will love..

Little cupcakes with rose icing..and homemade bunnies..and ducks and eggs~

I started early with the chocolates..  the lollipops and animals keep very well make a head of time..
The cupcakes were made with the first home made white cake recipe I ever made ..about 40 yrs ago..

The little houses were assembled..
Un village Franglais:)

Pinwheel sandwiches for the kidlets..


And my favorite..Pain au fromage.. camouflaged as a cake..

I first made this Pain Au Fromage  about 7 years ago for a shower for one of my daughters..
Traditionally these are made with unsliced breads that you slice horizontally and fill each layer w/ your choice of fillings..
This is a different take..you use brown bread and white bread..crusts removed cut like ladyfingers..and assemble almost like a layered charlotte..
I used her recipe exactly..for the chicken filling..egg filling and pesto cheese..once it is cooled and has taken shape you unmold.. and frost like a cake..so pretty really~



Don't attempt to make this last minute..it requires some preparation:)

You can find the recipe here and a video here..
It takes her 7 minutes..LOL

it takes a few hours..
I lightly frosted the whole cake..:)  lightly and added the garnish..

Some macarons and peanut butter Easter cookies..Soft peanut butter cookies..so good!

Eggs were filled and hidden here and there..there was still a chill in the air..but at least the snow is gone..no green grass yet..no leaves..no flowers..
They don't notice:)

I love that even the bigger kids still enjoy! Teens!
The bigger kids are AMAZING with the littler ones..
The day lasted into the night♥

If I learned one thing again this year though..too many treats..after the hunt..the children are FULL..so full..the lamb is at my daughter's house today..untouched..but we all loved to look at it..
A definite make again and again.
That's it..Easter is now over..and hopefully Spring is about to start..
Grateful for all the ideas.. recipes..inspiration I found on many of your blogs and others..
It makes the whole preparation that much more fun.
I love those kids..I think that's why I just want to always add just one more little thing..
I hope they will always want to come to our home for the hunt.~

Easter Preparations~

It's right around the corner and some preparations are being made..the little cookie houses were made but not assembled..and the Miffy cookies are made..

In case you need some ideas..that I gleaned  and thought were fun..I thought I would share a couple of things in the making~

A little while ago..on Susan Branch's Blog..I fell in love with her lamb cake..I found a vintage mold on Etsy..a very very nice seller in California..if anyone needs vintage items..I can recommend her.. could not have been nicer re shipping..expediency etc..she only had one lamb..but I do see that Amazon carries them also.

So  Lamby is made and frozen and I will frost and decorate for Easter..

I'll frost the night before..as we are doing Brunch..fingers crossed..

If you want to make the lamb..I used Susan's recipe and followed her every tip..held my breath at unmolding and  comme un miracle..it was fine and dandy!

The bark is easy peasy..melt white chocolate or almond bark  or candy melts in the micro and add festive Easter sweets and SPRINKLES.

Cupcakes are in the works..and a few  Pink almond macarons that I will fill the day of..

I find macarons quite festive!

The little gift box was gleaned off the internet so many many moons ago that I have lost the link..you just paint the way you like and write what goodies you are offering..

There are so many on Google..

So hopefully I'll be able to take a few photos of the finished treats..in the interim this might give you an idea or 2 for your celebration..

We have had rain and milder days..I've been able to clean up a few gardens..unfortunately most are still in snow or the accumulated last leaves frozen so I can't get them out..Many of the tamarack branches are picked up (such a great tree..but a messy one..)

We have more rain expected...that should take care of the snow..

But then a chill in the air..

Fingers crossed for a nice Easter weather wise..so much more fun for the children to hunt outdoors..

Today it's a Wuthering heights fog morning~

Happy Easter preparations♥

Here Comes Miffy~And some soul food...too..

Before we look at treats..
If you have one moment..

Go see..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWA2GbcnJU

This week two videos  moved me..so much..
I love videos like this..
They appeal to my every sense.
I cannot send Easter treats material wise..but this way..
I can..
Disregard if you have seen or are not inclined to love this type of inspiration..
♥

Nutella filled little vanilla bean paste sugar cookies..
The little cutters were bought on Ebay..a while ago..they are pink and small and are push cutters..
You can simply do a search.. Buy Now  Free Shipping   2x3d Miffy BunnyRabbit..they are under $5.00 for 2..
You can use whichever cut out cookie recipe you have..

I used the one I used for the Hello Kitty cookies..

The recipe is from Sol♥

La Recette~

2 1/4 cups AP flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
12 tbsps unsalted butter softened
1 large egg
1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream the sugar and butter together until fluffy~
Add the egg,lemon zest and vanilla extract and beat until blended~
 In another bowl..combine the remaining dry ings..(flour and salt)~
On low speed gradually add to the butter mixture until combined..~
Press the dough into a flat disk and wrap in cling~
Refrigerate at least 2 hours..
Then~
Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.~
Cut out and bake ap 8-12 mins  (I did at 350F)~
For even baking rotate the cookie sheet half time~
My note 
After cutting out..I stuck my cookie sheet in the freezer for a few minutes..I always do now..to keep the shape ..Maybe I did not need to..But I do~.

If you have another moment..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS_EqmoRvns

Bon weekend~
And thanks Carol G for Miffy's name!

Easter Chirps~

Whe I saw Rosa's cookies at   La Galeta Rota~
I was immediately inspired to make some for our Easter table.
I had the cookie cutter and the Wilton fondant mold for birds and heats and leaves etc.
It felt like she had posted her post for me..
I was grateful ..and I enjoyed every minute of making them

I had never thought to make little stands for my one dimensional cookies..Any cookie:)
Brilliant~

Think of the possibilities..♥

Thank you Rosa~

The recipe I used for these cookies were those almond lemon ones from the Italian blog..I made the Starbucks cookies with?

The recipe is found.. can be found here..With a little help from Google translate..and my own adjustments..they worked again perfectly..crisp and delicious..


Again..I halved the recipe..
and again used less flour than half..
Must be the difference between Italian flour and ours..I've yet to go to Milano to get some  and try..
I have the special pasta one..but not this one..
Half the recipe made 8 birdhouses ,8 round cookies that I used for stands..and 8 mini running bunnies...

For the hearts and flowers and birds..
I used this mold. but I bought it after Valentines day at Home Sense on liquidation.

So nice to learn.. from all around the world'
It's a small small world after all~

Lemon,Blueberry and Cream Cheese Muffins~

Cottage Country Favorite..I read..

That works for me..This is from an old issue of Hello Magazine..Marty Curtis the purveyor of Marty's World Famous Café in Bracebridge Ontario let Hello publish this recipe..They looked so good I had to try..
His recipe says it makes 6 Jumbo muffins..I wanted just normal size..
You can get 13 normal size muffins with his recipe.

La Recette~



2 1/2 cups ap flour
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tsps baking powder
1 8 oz package low fat cr cheese(I only had reg)
2 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup 2 % milk
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 -2 tsps lemon rind
1 cup frozen blueberries..I may have put a bit more

Glaze

 1 1/2 cups icing sugr
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1 tbsp lemon rind

1.Preheat oven to 375 F
Grease 6 jumbo muffin pan..I used muffin cups  in a reg pan  and made 13.
2.For the muffins whisk flour,sugar and baking powderin a bowl
3.Warm a knife in hot water,cut the cream cheese injulienne strips then pea sized bits warm the knife regularly and whisk the bits into the flour mixture..
(Confession..I cut into small pieces ..my cream cheese was soft and with impeccable hands I combined  with my hands)
4.In another bowl whisk egs then whisk in oil..then milk ..lemon juice and rind.Add to the dry ings and mix only until combined
5.Add the blueberries and fold gently.
6.Fill the prepped pan to just under the bake line and bake 30-35mins
(They are gorgeous at this point:) )
Cool in pan for 30 mins.
Make glaze brush over muffins..you can add a bit of hot water if not thin enough.
The glaze is the added touch that makes these quite addictive.

Muffins and coffee and cottage country..sounds perfect....doesn't it?

Maple~icious~ And Geraniums~

When I brought 3 geraniums in last October..I knew one was iffy..2 seemed ok..well they were..
I've been over the moon at seeing them bloom indoors this March~ and April~
They brighten up the sink area so much..♥
I placed them in  a basement window and kept them moderately watered..all of a sudden..the blooms happened!

It's  maple syrup time here..So I have been making maple things..  unfortuantely the macarons ended up in the garbage:(
I hate when that happens.. new recipe..not meant to be..
But..
Jacques had clipped a page from Costco Connections of all places..
For a maple syrup glazed chicekn recipe..

I  just happened to notice the Maple Walnut Biscottis~

By Marcy Goldman nonetheless.


La Recette~
Because they are that good~


View it here..online from the magazine I found it in~

My notes..I frosted only one side.. I added some maple extract..the Watkins one..
Bake them until they are crisp and dry..a bit longer than she recommends

It was my first time baking biscottis in a pan..
Who knew?
You still have to bake again after unmolding and slicing..but it was a great way too I found.
She never goes wrong though~
Do make sure they are nice and dry and crisp when you take them out after the final baking time..