M&M Cookies - Easy Peasy

I love the website Picky Palate, some of the most wonderful recipes can be found.  Jenny has a fantastic site and I refer to it regularly.  I was intrigued by her recipe for Perfect M&M Cookies so I tried them with my 2 nieces.  Something didn't quite work for me and I had to adjust the recipe slightly.  Here is my altered version. Oh and these were a hit with everyone who tried them.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix ( I used Jello)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 Tbs of milk*
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 3/4 - 1 cup Mini M and M’s

I also added approximately 1/4 cup of brewed coffee*

* The milk and coffee added flavour and made the dough less dry. Easier to scoop and form into a cookie.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a baking liner, parchment paper or non-stick spray.

In a large mixing bowl cream your room temp (softened) butter and sugars until well combined. Add egg and vanilla mixing to combine. 

Add flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, milk, and coffee. Mix until even consistency. Add chips and m and m’s stirring to combine.

With either a teaspoon or medium scoop, drop dough on baking sheet about 1 inch in between. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through. Let cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before moving to a bakers rack to complete cooling.

Makes 2 dozen cookies

Small Space Garden Musings

I am wordy - Anyone who has spoken to me, read an email from me or god forbid a work report can attest to this fact.

I was asked to write a gardening column for a new micro-magazine from Jordan Hipson and was flabbergasted!  Who would read it and could I string coherent words together to be publishable?

Apparently so, and this week part of the article below was included in his inaugural magazine.  Thanks to my big brother Glen and Sis-in Law Ann Marie for editing.

Please take a moment to visit Jordan's site, it's a pleasure...

 Annnnddddd - here we go.

Small spaces… Let’s face it, we all have them and wow can they be a challenge. Now compound this small space dilemma with a desire to garden.  What are we thinking? Relax everyone, glorious small space gardening is possible and can be used to our advantage.

Lori’s Lessons on Small Space Gardening

Lesson 1 – Look to your left. Look to your right. Likely you know someone who is a gardener. Risk being disowned and pester them with questions (cough, “thanks Dad”, cough). If you sweet talk them, chances are they will share supplies and clippings too!

Lesson 2 – Examine your space. Is it a deck; a small patch of grass; or a window?  Measure the space. This will help when you start looking for items to grow and things to grow them in.

Lesson 3 – Look at your time. Time you say? I have plenty! Read these words carefully: decide how much effort you want to devote then cut it in half. Trust me. Life’s busy and gardening duties may slip down the list in favour of a jaunt to the beach.

Lesson 4 – Start small. Most of us have limited time, space and money to devote to gardening. For many this is your first foray into green goodness. Remember those folks from Lesson 1 and the sweet talking? Get yakking. If you are especially charming you’ll come home with containers, plants and a story or two.

Lesson 5 – Decide what you want to grow. Are you yearning for flowers, veggies or herbs? You can grow them all in a small space.  Today’s garden centres are not the ones of yore and within that wacky World Wide Web ideas abound. This year I am using a canvas shoe bag* to grow herbs and pansies and hang it off my deck. Cool, cheap and easy peasy.

Still cannot visualize anything? Here was my first year condo deck garden plan:

• Flowers (Wave Petunias and Pansies) in a rail planter. All vibrant colours.
• Carrots (Rondo) in a rail planter. These carrots are small, round and delicious. Great for shallow containers. *Available at Halifax Seed.
• Tomatoes (Cherry). Look at seed packets for the word “determinate”.  Determinate usually means a smaller sized plant. Most seed packets will say the width and height of the plant.  Take that into account when you you choose.
• Herbs (Oregano, Thyme, Basil). A small container is all you need.
• Potatoes (yes, you read it correctly). I had an old bucket and painted the outside. I tossed in some soil and a couple of seed potatoes and in October there were beautiful baby potatoes. The link here is to my page on how to start bucket potatoes.  No injuries reported except for the potatoes.

Potatoes in a bucket (15 meals in 4 buckets)

• Peppers (Red Sweet). Choose ones whose plant size is less than 4 ft.

Two planters on the deck railing, three veggie containers sat on the deck and my herbs were my bistro table centerpiece. Lots of growing for a small amount of real estate.

There are reams of ideas, plants and projects available to the small space gardener. Play in the dirt, experiment with growing, visit a local reputable garden centre and ask questions.  Don’t let space limit your garden oasis potential.

Post-Script

Ok, Ok... I will admit that in year two while living in the condo, I went a bit bejonkers.  Evidence as seen below.  Strawberries, more tomatoes, more flowers etc.  I am always experimenting.

Post Post-Script (Remember - WORDY)

I would be remiss if I didn't thank those who have (and those who continue to) selflessly shared their love of gardening and knowledge with me.  For that, I will always be grateful.

* Thank you to pippa5 from intructibles.com for the inspiration

Choices and why I feel a little like Angelina Jolie

Updated March 24, 2015.

Today People reported that Angelina Jolie elected to have some surgery done. While I don't always agree with the minutiae of  a celebrity's life being reported as news I was struck by the report. Over 15 years ago I was presented with a similar dilemma - I had uterine cancer and decided to take on a significant surgery, not only to get rid of the cancer but to prevent cancer from appearing in other parts of my reproductive system. This decision wasn't without consequences and impacted the rest of my life - HOWEVER, it was the best decision for ME.

The followng is the original post I wrote some time ago - still with Angelina Jolie in mind but mostly about me.

Original Post
Let's be straight up... I read People. I know what the stars are doing. I have my finger on the pulse of Hollywood.

No, not really but some stories catch my eye.

This week it was Angelina Jolie's story on a double mastectomy. For those who aren't in the know she underwent this surgery as a preventative measure against ever developing breast cancer. She witnessed the death of her mother of this disease.  Most of the things in her life are discussed in a public forum so I wasn't surprised that something like this was reported too.  To each their own, while I am typically a private person, not everyone shares that logic.

Huh... Am I a private person? I have shared on here and in social media some of the most laugh inducing and in contrast painful periods of my life. So, let's just keep this train a-moving.

Why would I say I am a little like Angelina Jolie? In a past post (click link to read) I spoke of the time where I was very intimate with Cancer.  It was a miserable damned experience and promptly kicked the a$$hat out of my life. So how was this situation preventative?  Let's review and discuss...

It's 1999: I am 26 and in an oncologists office having a yarn about Endometrial cancer. The options presented are few and the best bet is a hysterectomy.  As I learn, they can elect to remove all reproductive organs or simply remove the uterus - a radical hysterectomy. Well... if you knew me you would know radical is the only way I roll (snicker).

They asked me what I wanted... I said "Take the works of it". "Now Lori, are you sure? There is this issue and that issue.  You are still young. Hormones... blah, blah, blah".

Pause scene

Let's travel in our time machine back to 1979-1980. I am 7 years old and my mom is dying of cancer, cervical cancer to be precise - she's 39. From what I remember (and it isn't much) it was awful, she was so sick and facing the reality of leaving a husband, 3 children and all she knows.  Pretty darned sucky. Imagine that being a memory for 20 years...

1999 (Humming Prince song)

Seated in the doctor's office I ask them one question. "If your mom died of cervical cancer and you were presented with my diagnosis, what would you do?"

Oh yeah, "the works" went.

Do I feel that I absolutely needed to have the surgery I chose? Yes. Would I have eventually developed cervical or ovarian cancer had I chosen to keep the rest of my reproductive organs? Don't know.  But as an 8 year old, standing at the foot of a bed, looking at your mom dying - you can be assured I made THE RIGHT decision.

Everyone makes choices. I have never regretted mine...

Seriously...

No really... Seriously

Camino de Santiago - September 2014
If I didn't make the choice would I still be here?

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Squares

So I wanted something simple to take to work.  I dug this recipe up from my last visit home to the parents.

Ready to bake?  Here we go!

Take the following out of the fridge and let soften well

1 cup salted butter
8 oz cream cheese (I use full fat or light)

I also take out:

2 eggs

We can now measure and prep the  rest of the ingredients.  The only real work is chopping the pecans. If you have pecan pieces then have a cup of coffee (or in my case a glass of beer) - you'll still be finished in the same amount of time.

Preheat oven to 350F

1 cup of Pecans (chopped) or Pecan pieces

I take a piece of wax paper and put it on the cutting board. Dump the pecans on it and then chop.

Look at that Chopping Skill!!

Then I measure the rest of the ingredients

2 1/4 cup Flour (I sift but you don't have to do so)
3/4 cup White Sugar
1 tsp  Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Salt
12 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (I think Milk Chocolate or White would so as well)

Note: Toss in 1/4 cup of Toffee bits if you want

You also need 2- 8X12" pans
Non-stick Spray
Parchment Paper (not absolutely necessary but makes it easier to remove cookies from pan)

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar in mixer.

Add eggs and beat until light.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

Add dry ingredients about a 1/3 at a time and mix until completely combined. 

Add chocolate chips and pecans and mix.

Let's prep those pans.

Spray non-stick cooking spray on pan, then layer parchment paper then spray again.

OK. Oven is preheated and ready. Now we can spread the mixture evenly in each pan.

Pop in the oven from 20-25 minutes.  Start looking at the pans at about 20 minutes so it doesn't overcook.

Let cool, carefully lift parchment out of pan, cut and serve!

PS. I did imbibe a little during the making of these squares.  None were harmed due to inebriation.

Growing Potatoes in a Bucket (or Gardening Container for you Fancy Folks)

Growing Potatoes the Earl Penney Way 

(adapted by his daughter - that's me!)

Preparing the containers

I actually took a couple of plain buckets from Dad's shed.  There were a good size (say about 5 gallons - 18-20 litres).  The issue was - no holes for drainage.

Cue the drill!!!!  Places, places everyone!  EMT on alert... 9-1-please don't make me press the last number...

Plain Bucket

Warning - There may be some damage. No not the bucket - ME!!

Five (5) good holes for drainage

In retrospect, I probably should have drilled larger holes.   But we'll see how it develops over the growing season.

No injuries reported....

Now for planting

 

Cut seed potatoes into chunks having at least 2 eyes each. Each piece should be about 1.5-2 inches long. Allow the pieces to dry, about 2 days. Whole seed potatoes can be planted if they are small.

Have your bucket?  If not, get it out!

I know it's not the one from above... Let's pretend it's yellow?

No need to use good quality soil.  I used some black earth with a bit of peat and compost. 3:1:1 ratio maybe - I was not exact. Fill container to about 1/4 full.

Plant the seed potatoes.

Top the potatoes (just) with some more soil.

Look closely and there is a slight peek out of the potato. That's how thin  I top the soil.

Water the soil thoroughly. It should be moist but not soggy.

All planted and raring to Grow (get it? Grow? - I am hilarious!)

Now - I ask that you come back periodically as I will update this post with pictures of the potato crop progress - Promise?

Here are the rest of the steps anyway...

When you start to see leaves and sprouts come, mound some soil around it. Don't cover the leaves as they need to be exposed to the sun and air.

As the potatoes continue growing, keep adding soil mix until you reach the top of the container.

Keep watching in September/October (depending on maturity date of potato and when you planted), the potato leaves and stems will begin to turn yellow. Timing will vary somewhat depending on the potato variety. Typical grow length is 75-90-100 days.

When the leaves and stems have died back and the weather is cooler, stop all watering. The leaves and stems will turn almost completely yellow within a week or two. You are ready to harvest.

Cook and enjoy!

Here is the first crop of 2013 potatoes (picked July 21st)

 

Some of last years harvest  - About one bucket full.

Post Script - Here is a picture of my Dad's last potato garden - He was very proud of it.

Potatoes to the left - fish drying flake to the right

To explain the setup:

• He found rectangular containers from a grocery store or fish plant
• Built a ladder (or reused one) to sit the containers on (or in)
• Drilled holes in the bottom
• Filled with soil
• Planted seed potatoes and let it grow

To learn a little about why my Dad is the biggest influence in my gardening life - here's a snippet.