tart

So I keep seeing these pinterest posts about these very prettied up tarts with icing and macaroons etc... and thought hey why not? And if they turn out good I can give one to my co worker who is always making me food lol

She's from Thailand and is super nice and always giving and I wanted to make something nice to give her in return..

I dont have the website i got the tart recipe from, pinterest wouldn't let me open it... one of the video pins...

But I made this in three parts starting with the tart obviously...

I didntI didn't have caster sugar, not even sure what that is, so I used regular sugar and creamed it together with the butter and vanilla extract.

then I added the flour...

now it's supposed to come together like a dough... and I dont know if it's because I used "not" caster sugar lol but mine just got crumbly...

And I mixed it for soo long and nothing happened, I decided to add some cold water just to see. I mean at this point what do I have to lose, right?

YAY! It worked!

I rolled them out and used one of my glasses to cut circles out that were all the same size in shape.

Put them in the oven, hoping they wouldn't spread.

The video I used didnt even give me a temp or time so I started at 350 for 10 mins... and I believe it took in the end about 25 mins.

They didn't spread! 

I felt very successful after making these. They ended up tasting like a sugar cookie and will definetly be my go to recipe from now on, even though they are tarts lol

Next step was the macaroon cookies that I wanted to make as decoration on top the tart.

only 2 ingredients sugar and egg whites. And whip it till stiff peaks..

oh and add your colouring, I did a pale blue.

Pipe them out and in the oven at 212 degrees for 1 hour, and yes the full hour lol I checked.... every 20 minutes just to make sure lol 

I did small rosettes and stars.

Third step and phew this is a lot of work! 

Icing...

I did a swiss meringue butter cream.. so you take the egg white and sugar over a double boiler until the sugar is melted 

then you whip it in a mixer for atleast 10 mins until it gets stiff, then add your butter in chunks one at a time until they are in incorporated

And add colouring... we want pretty remember? 

After you have all three parts assemble your tart...

and add the sprinkles!

instant pot casserole

I made a ham the other day... a huge stinking ham... for two people, cause why not? 

Does anyone else not cut their ham in slices, but dramatically tear it into pieces? No? Just me? 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Well anyways I had to work the next day (today) and needed a lunch but did not want just a regular ham sandwhich (spoiler alert; tomorrow will just be a sandwhich), anyways I found this recipe for a casserole that can use any leftover meat as far as I can tell.

https://temeculablogs.com/instant-pot-casserole

Anyways you start by putting ham, noodles, your seasoning in the instant pot, cover it all in broth and let it cook for a quick 5 mins while you like shower or whatever.

Then you add your cheeses and saute for a couple of mins.

Tasted good, but was more soupy, and the next day for lunch it didnt taste quite the same... probably wouldn't make it again or maybe omit the cheeses cause I think that's where it went backwards for me.... 

Seeds

I have managed to do a garden every year since we've been in this house... in a different spot every year..I wish I had pictures of this to show you..

First year, o had this great Idea to do it on the hill in my backyard, made it look like stairs, dug it all out. I even twisted my knee cap (digging with flip flops, oops). I started it to late tho and nothing really took.

Second year we moved it to the bottom of the yard in a far corner, used pallets to block the dogs out, but lo and behold not enough sun, didnt get very much that year either.

Third year I moved everything to the front. Made some garden boxes , planted everything on time and got, I swear, THOUSANDS of cherry tomatoes. They just kept coming. Now my confidence is booming.

Fourth year, I left it where it was. I decided let's do pumpkins! Because I mean obviously, right? Anyways they kind of took over everything. They legit spread everywhere... no sun for anything else! But I got 4 beautiful sized pumpkins that me and my sister carved for halloween.

Fifth year, last year, Andrew decided he wanted our front yard to look nicer so we built these huge beautiful raised garden boxes.. my garden was a HUGE success... I had tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, peppers, I even tried cabbage and cantaloupe! I added strawberries, raspberries and grapes, as well as rhubarb, just some stuff that grows back every year.

This year, Andrew read somewhere that you can start seeds in a damp paper towel in a plastic baggy and then just plant the rooted ones.. so that's what I did and in just 3 days most have sprouted just a few didn't.

So I planted the few that already sprouted and will leave the rest a few more days and can just plant as they sprout.

I'm excited for this years garden.

time to paint

In my last post I talk about getting property and starting a homestead and part of the process, my least favourite part is getting our house ready to sell. 

Right now the property value where I currently live, has gone wayyy up, on account of people from the cities wanting to move to our area, less people and less covid cases... hoping we can jump on that band wagon sell for more then we paid and get a decent down payment for our property.

Anyways back to where I was... oh right, getting the house ready.

I had a plan... Andrew's school was 4 weeks driving, which means I had 4 weeks to do stuff to get it done... first week, bedroom. Second week, kitchen. Etc.

But his school ended up being 3 hour days, which meant he was home more then gone and he has his own way of doing things, my plan was no longer in motion. When I started the bedroom, I woke up next morning to him dismantling my kitchen, MEN right?!  I was not happy. 

You see in my house if kore then one project gets started their less likely to get finished, maybe we get overwhelmed?  Tell me we aren't the only ones...

Anyways here's an update on the ONE wall that actually got done, I quite like the colour, matches our blankets...

Look at me, using actual paint tape as to not make a mess... it's a first...

Trigger had to photo bomb this one... he wasnt allowed in the room all day on account of his shedding getting everywhere.... scared I was gunna lock him out again. He's a cuddler.

More pictures to come, probably the kitchen LOL!

I'm Back!

 Wow! It has been 5 whole years since I've last posted on this blog....

How about an update?

lets go back.... way way back... centuries ago.... back when we can visit family and see others mouths when they talked to us LOL

Me and Andy lived with our two dogs and rabbit in a house that had black mold.... We hadn't noticed right away, but one day we decided to move some furniture around and low and behold there it was hiding behind our furniture. We were only renting this place, so we told the landlord, and out we went.

We didn't really have anywhere to go, but my grandmother had a little apartment (bachelor) in her house that she let us stay in. we were there for 2 months... it was crowded but we were just happy to have a roof over our heads. 

Then in June, we had purchased our home!! It was exciting to have space again and a fenced in backyard for our dogs to run around.

Flash forward to 202, here we are still in our home... 1 less rabbit, but a new cat... 

Andy is now going to school to start a career in transport driving, something he's always wanted to do since I've met him and I am currently working at a Bakery in the grocery store here....Sometimes I do cakes there and I take pictures for Instagram, if you're interested you can check me out kimberlygareau.

Me and Andy are looking to move to a piece of property now, to build our home and start a little homestead. It's in the works and I will for sure keep you posted...

That's all for now, I plan on posting more blogs and continue to try new things, they will have to be done on my days off, but I assure you, I am back!!

Growing my own garden

Yes, I know what you are thinking, "but it's still winter". Yes it is, especially here in Northern Ontario where the snow is still waist high. Oh, how my dogs do love catching snowballs!

However growing vegetables indoors isn't really all that hard. I started my celery and lettuce a week ago already. They are one of the few that only need water to regrow.

Than of course, I went to walmart yesterday and obtained some sort of seed starter. So, why not?
I planted everything from corn and watermelon to turnip and onions. I even did double rows of peas and carrots. Carrots are used most in this house ( I have a pet rabbit, remember?) and peas well because I just love raw peas. Have eaten them with my mom and sister right from my parents garden for as long as I could remember!

Labelled everything with little popsicle sticks because my memory with things like this sucks lol and hopefully they'll start growing.

When spring rolls around and they start selling dirt at the stores. I'm going to build some raised garden boxes and then I'll transfer them outside.

I can't wait to not have to buy vegetables anymore :)

I also want to plant my own apple and lemon trees. I'll be saving my own seeds and drying them out to use.

Check me out being all self-sufficient and all :D

Butter

Yep! you read the title right.... Butter... not just any butter, but HOMEMADE butter!!! I actually just literally made my very own homemade butter, and I will NOT tell a lie.... It was awesome!!

I was making more bread this morning when I noticed I had no more butter or margarine. Since I am trying to be all frugal and stuff and remembered This pin and had all the ingredients, why not?

The taste isn't bad either....
So you start with your ingredients in the bowl of your mixer...
Literally just heavy cream and salt

Then you mix, and mix and mix even some more...
eventually you will get to the whipped cream stage..

And of course you can do whatever you want while you wait because it's a stand mixer and is doing all the work for you. Leave that awesome machine on for a little, actually a little is an understatement... this next part seems to have taken forever maybe like 20 or so minutes.... but once the cream gets all grainy in stuff you feel like you are a success!!

Oh btw you may want to cover it when it starts to separate, I had buttermilk flying in all directions when it started.

Look at all that buttermilk!!

It was tasty and spread nicely and was just plain fun to make!

Saving Money

According to Pinterest there are a lot of ways to save money, So I did my research.

These days you can basically make anything you want from toothpaste, to laundry soap and bread, to regrowing your own vegetables. I think they call it living "frugally".

I'm not sure how long I can last making my own stuff, well actually I think I'd do quite good, I might even stop buying dog treats and make my own. Andy on the other hand I'm not so sure he'd want to use homemade toothpaste. He does however love my homemade bread, and is totally on board with me growing/regrowing our own veggies. Since it's the middle of winter, I can't really do an out door garden... but there are plenty of foods you can just grow with water and sunlight from inside the house... such as green onions, celery, lettuce etc. I have some celery and lettuce that I am going to regrow.

I'm also going to start the garlic I have inside and then move it outside when the snow disappears.

Today I made bread, we ran out and instead of going to the store and paying like 4 dollars a loaf I decided making my own would help save money. Since my recipe makes like 7 loaves (I used to own a bakery so baking in bulk comes naturally) and since valentines day is coming up I decided on making 2 loaves of bread, 24 mini (like really MINI) rolls and about 6 heart shaped buns!

I'll post my very large recipe below. I ended up freezing one loaf and 12 of the rolls.

7 Loaves of Bread

Add to a large bowl 1 and a half tbsp of yeast, half a cup of warm water and 2 tsp of sugar. Let that sit for 5 mins till it gets all frothy.

Then add 4 cups warm water, 4 and a half tbsp of lard (I use Tenderflake), 2 tsp salt, 3/4 sugar, 2 eggs and mix until everything is melted and what not. then add 11 cups of flour 4 cups at a time until incorporated. (you may end up adding 12 if it's too sticky) Knead for a few minuted on a floured surface and then let rise until doubled in size, punch down and then rise again. Than you would mold into whatever you want to make. Loaves of bread cooks for 1 hour at 350 degrees, and my little rolls and hearts cooked for about 20-30 mins.

IT'S ALL IN T BOX

So finalllly I got my online store set up! you can buy boxes that are different themes and have different activities for you and your family and friends!

These boxes range from movies and books to craft time for children and everything in between!

I'm just starting out, so I just have a few different ones on the site, but I'm constantly coming up with more ideas and adding them. So come check it out and help spread the word.

IT'S ALL IN THE BOX

Just a few of the boxes you can buy at 1 month or 6 month or even1 year subscriptions.

Body scrub

Body Scrub.... It's one of those things that you get in bath gifts from people. Usually they smell good and maybe even leave your skin feeling nice and soft afterwards...
Well I made some the other day, only it didn't smell anything but oil, maybe of I would have had essential oils or something to put in it, then maybe it would've been different. It did still leave my skin feeling oily. Maybe if I added more sugar to absorb the oil a little more than maybe, it wouldn't have been soo bad... but I'm going to keep looking for a different recipe that might work better.

This recipe didn't have too many steps, making it fairly easy... This is my 2 cups of olive oil and coconut oil.  I melted it in the microwave, took maybe a minute and a half.

and then stuck it in the freezer....
And whipped er up...

It really does look like whipped cream.

I just looked up the recipe again to find the link for you guys.... This is where I muffed up..
I added my sugar, but not realizing I doubled the oils, i only added half of the sugar I needed same with the corn starch. Which is probably why it's soo oily for me. I added blue food colouring to it to make it pretty, Not too much  because I didn't want to come out looking like a smurf!

I Think  I'll go add some more sugar and cornstarch to it and see what happens. I'll edit this post with my findings.

whipped body scrub

** Edit**
So I added an extra cup of sugar and It was a hell of a lot better! Still too oily for my skin; but if you have like maybe super dry skin or something it might be perfect for you!

Cheese Tortellini Bake

baked tortellini casserole

 I've been working on a website to sell stuff . So I've been pretty taking pictures of stuff I make to sell and getting everything done.

There's just one thing holding me back, but as soon as it's done. I'll post a link. 

I had to get a bigger pan at this point. Next time for 2 people maybe cut the recipe in half. 

 It's subscription boxes you can buy 1 month, 6 month or 1 year. like a bunch of different kinds of boxes. It's just for Canada tho.

My dogs lovedddddd the left overs. They are my biggest supporters <3!

The tortellini casserole tasted amazing, my Andrew even went back for seconds... That within itself should tell you how awesome this tasted, He never goes back for seconds, like ever.

Crock Pot Roast

I feel like it's been forever since I last wrote a post! Since my house has been freezing lately I haven't wanted to get out of my room with the heater and my blankets and my dogs lying on my toes, But Andrew went and got diesel so it's time to get back to life....

I'm trying to eat healthier and exercise a bit more... I have a wii with Zumba and just dance, and maybe one day I'll get the wii fit or something I dunno, so far zumba has me pretty worked up lol.

So I finally did a huge grocery shop with like 50,000 items.... okay maybe not that many but it was huge. Eating healthy is expensive! I tried to buy like a bunch of fruits and vegetables and OMG the prices were ridiculous... but anyways I shopped and then I made a roast in the crock pot the next day.

Click here for the recipe

I picked this recipe over the others because It says in the title "clean eating and Gluten free", Now I don't really care about the gluten part... but clean eating... isn't that what I'm trying to do?

I threw everything into my mini crockpot. You can't see any carrots but they are there just hiding under the roast. I also didn't have any beef broth to add because I forgot, oops. I filled it with water to cover and just hoped that the juices from the meat would add enough beefy flavour.

When it was done, I used the juice, which did taste a little watery... okay so maybe next  time I won't forget the broth. So I used the juice and added some powdered gravy to it and it was good, not great, but good.