Happy Friday!

I hope you've all had a great week! Any big plans for the weekend? I'll be shooting Grace Bonney's, queen of Design Sponge, book signing, at Anthropologie in Vancouver tomorrow night. If you're attending, please say hi. I'll be hanging out with Jan, of Poppytalk, as well!

I leave you with a couple of images from a shoot for House and Home, the other day. Can't wait to show you the entire, amazing, home!

Have a lovely weekend!

Back on Sunday!
Janis

Baked

Hello new week! My last super busy week for a bit and, I have to admit, I'm looking forward to a wee break. How's your week shaping up?

These cookies help me when I'm glued to my computer. So good. I make them with spelt and whole wheat flour, and they taste just as good as using all purpose flour. My wheat experiment continues ;)

Double Chocolate Macadamia Cookies - makes about 24

1/2 cup whole wheat flour*

1/2 cup spelt flour*

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup golden brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup mixed white and dark chocolate, chopped into pieces

3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts

* you can substitute the whole wheat and spelt flours for one cup all purpose. 

Preheat oven to 350f/180c. 

Whisk together the flours and baking soda in a medium bowl. In another bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla, mixing well. Add the flour mixture and mix together well. Add the chocolate pieces and nuts and blend well. Drop by spoonfuls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, leaving an inch or two between each. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown around edges. Cool on a wire rack, then enjoy!

Sunday Observations

I have to admit, I was very happy to wake up to side-ways rain, as I had heaps of editing to do from the past week. It's amazing how fast things can snowball. Ouch.

Other than editing hundreds of images, this is what I observed today......

I sewed up a set of coasters, with vintage fabric, and baked some house shaped cookies, to add to a house warming gift. I love the abstract floral pattern.

That was my Sunday. What did you get up to? Hope you had a lovely day!

Back soon.

Janis

Hello Autumn, See You Summer

Happy first day of autumn! Are you an autumn person? I think it just may be my favourite season...well, at least the first month of it. ;)

If you find yourself in Abbotsford tomorrow, be sure to check out the Fieldstone Vintage Market. I had a sneak peek at some of the vendors, and it's looking pretty fantastic. Maybe see you there?

Back soon!

Janis

A Morning at the Cross

Happy mid-week! How's your week going so far? Mine's another busy one, but fun. Thought I'd share some images from a shoot I did at the Cross - a lovely shop here in Vancouver. They have a great mix of  product that will suit the girly girl (or boy), to the not-so girly girl (that would be me!).

If you live the in the Vancouver area, I'm sure you're familiar with The Cross. If you don't live in the area, lucky for you they have an online shop. ;)

The winner of my calendar give away is......
Mise of Pretty Far West! Whoohoo!

Back soon!
janis

Baked

How're you all doing? Hope your Monday has been a good one!

I baked some rice pudding for a little brunch this weekend, perfect for the sudden change in weather. I've never been a huge rice pudding fan, so for this recipe I used coconut milk instead of cream (I don't like a real creamy taste), and brown rice, because I seem to still be on this health kick, though I have to say, I think I like brown rice better ;) It turned out well, I'm happy to say.

Baked Rice Pudding with Cherries and Pears - serves about 6

2 cups cooked brown or white rice
1 400mg can coconut milk (I used a light version)
1 vanilla bean, split down centre, and seeds scraped out
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1 cup chopped pears (any kind will do. I used bosc)
Juice and zest of one lemon
1/2 cup sliced roasted pecans (to top)

Lightly spray a 8 inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375f.
Chop up pears in small cubes and toss, in a small bowl, with the juice and zest of one lemon. Set aside.

In a large bowl mix together, rice, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla bean seeds, cinnamon, cherries and pears. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove foil, stir and continue baking for about another 20 minutes, uncovered, until the rice is really tender. Allow to cool a little before eating. Top with some chopped pecans. Voila. So good.

Do you like rice pudding? I think it's either a love or hate thing. Let me know if you give it a try!

One more little reminder - if you missed Friday's post, click here to enter the give away. I'll make the draw sometime on Wednesday the 21st. Bonne chance!

Back soon!
Janis

Sunday Observations

Hi all! Hope you've had a lovely Sunday. Here's a little of my day...

Robert Edmond's show opening is September 21st at Walrus, in Vancouver. If you're in the Vancouver area, come on by! Hope to see you there. 

I was included in Flea Market Style Magazine's favourite blogs (in various categories), along with 5 other blogs, including a friend of mine, Heather. 

One more thing - I posted a give away on Friday. Click here to see what it is! 

That was a bit of my day. What did you get up to? 

Back soon!

janis