OUR TRIP is UPON US!!!

Cavendish Beach, 2009.

It was February...that's when we planned our trip to Prince Edward Island....and it seemed so far away...especially in February when its soo cold and dark......it was then I thought about saving MONEY and eating KD....well, it lasted for awhile and it was the go to meal when stuck!! I found many variations for KD, thanks to some readers!! But here we are NOW....July 11th....and we leave at MIDNIGHT on the 14th!! We are ALL QUITE EXCITED!!! There are talks about never returning to Ontario!!

So...it will be THREE kids, a VAN and Mommy and Daddy!! I am trying to be compact...HA....I want everything to go into ONE BIG SUITCASE!!! And I think that I have that under control. There will be a little suitcase, full of toys and movies(taking a DVD player...for those early mornings in PEI....I don't want to be bothering the neighbours) and a small(ish) Roots Bag...which will carry things for ONE night in the Hotel!! A Dora backpack FULL of SNACKS...and later a COOLER with Yogurts/Milk and Frozen Juice Boxes(they will act as a freeze pack...and then later a COOL treat). They also will have colouring activities...I found colouring packs in Walmart...by Crayola....so I think I am READY??

Our agenda is to leave at midnight on Saturday....this way a lot can be done at night...and its cooler and it should be EASIER than three years ago when going through Quebec...full on construction/congestion. We then stop over in New Brunswick....and because we collect Air Miles...we traded some in and are staying for FREE at the Best Western in Edmundston, NB!! From there we will wake early and head out...hoping to make PEI somewhat EARLY??

NO trip is COMPLETE till YOU have been at COWS!!!!

I knew packing was always difficult just for myself....trying to remember this and that, making lists, second guessing if YOU will need this or that...but add three kids and trying to help the Hubby....well...no wonder I have lists coming out of my ears!! And its only for a week!! But we are ready...new camera has been bought...tires are checked, oil is good...brakes are NEW....tissues and wipes are in the VAN...snacks...GOOGLED MAPS(three years ago,when we made this trip...the directions...in slow motion flew out of the window in New Brunswick....this YEAR I wont ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN!) I guess that's all....stay tuned for a FUN FILLED TRIP BLOG full of PICTURES!!!

Three years ago....there was alot of this................

LAST DAY of FREEDOM!!

This is the LAST DAY of SCHOOL!! If you are like me....you are slightly HAPPY...no more HOMEWORK...no more routines of getting them up and ready for school...lunches packed(which by the end of the school year it gets a little boring to make the same things over and over again)...and I cant wait to throw out their LUNCH BAGS...used everyday....I have tried washing them out...but I don't know...I'm sure there is some kind of bacteria in there.  Then there is Josh's LUNCH BAG...broken pull on the zipper(since September)...so glad that I don't have to fuss over getting it closed.  Its all done...when they come home tonight, I am going to chuck the bags in the bin and REJOICE!!!

There is a difference between the kids...Josh is EXCITED not to do any work...sadly he doesn't know that I will be getting him MATH books...he lacks in the mathematical area...lol!! Poor kid!! Then there is Katie, she loves school and is sad that it is over.  Katie has no real work, she was BE(beyond expected level)...but to make her feel LOVED, I will get  her some books too!!

I know some parents fret...its summer...what am I going to do with them...no school...yikes...especially if they have to work...HAPPILY I am not one of them...at least not YET!! I have a few things planned for them...but mostly having FUN...cause they are KIDS!! They are starting the weekend off sleeping over at my Aunts(we are going to a WEDDING...alone..overnight....NO KIDS...so excited!!) Then we will get ready for our trip to PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND!!!! After which my Nephew is coming up from the States....so something is always going on.....I came across a friends idea(actually she got it from Pinterest...which I still don't know what that is all about...).  She is doing a FAMILY BUCKET LIST for the SUMMER....and I think that's GREAT!! I am going to do that too....each kid gets maybe 4-5 IDEAS and we toss it in the BUCKET...and then randomly choose one weekly!! Should be FUN and ENTERTAINING...cause as we know, kids ideas are the simplest...they just want to be with YOU and SHARE time with YOU. I know as a PARENT, I sometimes go OVERBOARD with my IDEAS...when in fact they want something SIMPLE!!!

So....have a great summer at WHATEVER YOU DO!!! Stay SAFE!! Stay HEALTHY and ABOVE ALL...HAVE FUN!!!

So today...for the LAST FEW HOURS of SANITY...I am cleaning the HOUSE...thoroughly, cause I know  I wont be able to do a REAL GOOD CLEAN again until September!!!


Cheers!!

Old Fashioned, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Cookies!!

I find that WEATHER can set the MOOD for so many things. Today its slightly cooler...but there is a lovely breeze, pushing all the humidity and stale air out of the house.....its also the last week of school, MY TIME is slowly running out...soon it will be them fighting, yelling, not sharing...stating that they hate each other....wishing that they had their own room.....own space....  and declaring, while slouching on the couch,  "I'M BORED!!!" So while its still quiet, here is another Cookie recipe. There is nothing better than an Old Fashioned, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Cookie...and shouldn't every bite of COOKIE have some CHOCOLATE in it?? YES!! Even before they were made....the smell of softened BUTTER being CREAMED together with BROWN SUGAR was QUITE COMFORTING!!! So after making these....and the smell still lingering about the house...relax...make a cup of tea and sink into your chair with a cookie!! Cheers!!!

Old Fashioned, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies@Sherry Watton

Preheat Oven to 350

½ cup Butter(softened)

½ cup Brown Sugar and ½ cup White Sugar

2 eggs

2 cups of flour(just the regular All-Purpose Flour)

2tsp Baking Powder

2 cups of Oatmeal( I use the Large Flakes)

1 ½ cups of Chocolate Chips

Cream the Butter and the Sugars, once well blended, add the eggs and cream again…..NICE AND CREAMY!!!

In another bowl have the flour, B. Powder and Oatmeal mixed together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. When it’s almost thoroughly mixed, I add the Chocolate Chips. Mix WELL!!

Then drop good-size Teaspoons of batter on the Cookie Sheet…I use parchment paper…easy peasy….once baked for about 12-13 minutes(start to check around the 11 minute mark…ovens vary..and depending on your GOOD-SIZE drops of COOKIE…it’s good to check)….I lift the parchment paper and cookies off the sheet and place it all on a cooling rack…easy!!! Line the cookie sheet with another sheet of parchment and you’re ready to go again…..makes 24 COOKIES!!

Christmas in a Pinwheel...

Gotta LOVE this weather...HOT..HUMID...HAZY!!!! This past weekend when we went up to the cottage...I took some little appetizers for us and our friends. Our Friends were celebrating their upcoming Wedding Anniversary!! Two years ago we were there and witnessed their Wedding....it was held at the cottage...it was a joyous occasion....then came the food!! Waiters walked around with appetizers...wine and beer was readily available...then came a lovely, Waiter with a tray of these pinwheels....he had no name for them and would not divulge what was in them.....and believe me...I asked....repeatedly....it was then I started 'tasting' them to figure it out!!! I had the basics....I knew...and after tweaking the recipe to suit us...I discovered that it reminded me of Christmas!  Therefore I call them "Christmas in a Pinwheel" and this past weekend, I made them, chilled them, and brought them up to the cottage. Slicing them Saturday afternoon, I took them out on the deck....and with wine and beer in hand...they popped a few! She knew right away.....he then joined in and commented, "you are awesome....you remembered and made them...you are talented!"

So here they are.....easy to do....can be made well in advance....and are a HIT at any function that you have....or NO function at all......and on a HOT day like this, it will take you back to December...when things were a little cooler!!





Christmas in a Pinwheel@Sherry Watton

2 packages of Cream Cheese(250g each) I stick with Light!!

1 package of Fresh Basil(40gr containers)

1 package of Fresh Chives(40gr containers)

1 Cup of Dried Cranberries(Craisins Original)

Sprinkle of Sea Salt…not really needed but I do it!

5 wraps(full size..whatever Brand.…jazz it up & use multi-colour ones)

 With softened Cream Cheese in a large bowl…add chopped Basil, Chives and Cranberries(after measuring a cup of Cranberries I do a rough chop with them) and a pinch/sprinkle of Sea Salt…..mix thoroughly!

  

Then spoon and smear the Cream Cheese mixture on the wrap…..almost to the edge of the wrap…and then do a tight roll(best you can)…..then once finished you should have 5 rolled wraps. Wrap them all tightly with tinfoil or cling film..…and fridgerate for a few hours or overnight.

Once the party begins…slice and serve them…I usually give the ends(cause they don’t always have a lot of filling) to my kids!!!

Everyone is HAPPY and HOPEFULLY it will remind YOU of Christmas…like it does for me!!

ENJOY!! 

INSPIRED...Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cherry Trifle!

I LOVE watching the Food Network....I have my favourites...Jamie, Michael, Anna, Ina and of course the Domestic Goddess Nigella(see how I use just their first names...like close friends....how little they know!!) I love watching Nigella cook/bake...and putter away in her kitchen...just seeing her wall to wall bookshelves makes me swoon.....I think she is great!! She makes mistakes and admits to that...she is not perfect...NO chef is...she shows her faults...actually, if I think about this for a moment......all the chefs that I admire do show their faults! (Huh.....I learnt something new today....see what happens when you Blog!!) I have all of Nigella's cookbooks...they sit proudly with my other books on my kitchen counter! Its soothing to see my books, neatly in a row...close to the coffee maker!!

Hubby loves Nigella too....so for Fathers Day and his Birthday cause it follows a few days later....I decided to make Nigella's Chocolate Cherry Trifle! I have made it before...followed every instruction to a T and felt AWESOME and PROUD when it was all finished! I too was like Nigella(however less bosomy) and drooled over my Trifle......so did Hubby!!! But this time around...being on a time crunch and with three kids to entertain...I cheated with her recipe!!! And you know what.....friends who hadn't sampled the original recipe thought that my verison was the best that they ever had! So....you know that I just had to share it..........anyone can do it!!

Nigella INSPIRED Chocolate Cherry Trifle@Sherry Watton

Once everything is made….it is quite like an assembly line….I had the kids helping me!! Plus….there was some leftovers…which the KIDS LOVED even more!!!  Trifles have layers…..first is a Chocolate Cake…second is the Cherry…third is the Pudding…the fourth is the Cool Whip….then a light dusting of Chocolate Shavings(or in my case…I only had Chocolate Sprinkles).

First off……you can buy two Chocolate Pound Cakes from your local store…if you cant find that(and at times I cannot) I just use a Chocolate Cake Mix(use what you like…) follow the Box’s directions and make the cake…let it cool before slicing it!!!

Cherry Layer……for me it was Cherry Pie Filling(E.D. Smith…540ml)

Pudding Layer….I made two boxes of Chocolate Fudge Pudding(Jello Brand…each box was 114grams) and chilled in the fridge while the cake was baking.

Cool Whip layer….use what YOU like….I used the Fat Free…made me feel slightly healthy! Just make sure that it is thawed!

By now the cake is made and cooled….I use whatever LARGE size bowl that I have…I have a nice glass bowl for showing off….but this time since we were going to the cottage, I used a glass mixing bowl with a lid!! So…the point is….use what you have!!!

I sliced the cake in rows and pressed them up around the bowl….basically mirroring the bowl’s shape….of course there will be leftovers…I used the inside rows and left the outside rows of the cake for the kids!

Next I spooned in the Cherry Filling…trying to get it up all the sides…it gets messy…but that’s the fun part…..especially with kids helping!!

Chocolate Pudding.…well set and chilled and ready to be the next layer…spoon  the Pudding over the Cherry Layer….by now its filling up nicely…and on your fingers too….and REMEMBER there will be leftovers….ideal for a treat/dessert for the kids!!!

Lastly, fill the top with Cool Whip……I leave some edges of the Chocolate Cake/Pudding showing….I guess I like it rustic! Make some curves and wurves …..then a light dusting of Chocolate Shavings…or... if YOU are like me…who had NONE….I used Chocolate Sprinkles!!

Chill over night…..make it a day ahead…so it can all marry and mingle and become ONE!!

Enjoy!!

Cottage Life!

This past weekend was Fathers Day and Matt's Birthday .....they are so close together I try to do a BIG Celebration for him...but he would prefer that we just celebrated Fathers Day...to him that's the MOST important date!! So this year....we went to a friends cottage. Matt loves the COTTAGE.....he LOVES to FISH! He is most happy when he rises early...makes coffee and heads out to the dock...spending the early hours fishing...and spending time with his son, Josh...who wants to be with him. To me..that would be the GREATEST gift to give Matt! And that's what we did. The whole weekend at the cottage...no phones, TV, computers....no FaceBooking...no Tweeting....no Blogging...no Kijiji.....just US, two friends and great food...of course a BOX of WINE was on hand....it just added to the moment...sitting on the dock, listening to the Loons...sipping wine...it was HEAVEN...no else existed...just us!!

Never having a cottage when I grew up... I realized what I missed out on....I would love for my kids to have their own cottage...a place to go to and escape the WORLD...to RECONNECT with YOURSELF and YOUR FAMILY! Packing for the cottage is another story....soo much to bring..lists here and there...what food...what clothes(what if it rains, turns cold....) and being Fathers Day Weekend...I wanted to make a special dessert. Matt LOVES Nigella Lawson...and I do too...she is my GIRL CRUSH.....I made her Chocolate Cherry Trifle!! I made it before following her every instruction BUT this time around...I cheated... I didn't have enough time to make chocolate custard from scratch...cake and whip cream!! But THEY all LOVED it!!! With FOOD pack/prepared and clothes neatly folded in Katie's Dora the Explorer Suitcase...we were ready!!! AND we only turned around TWICE....to return home for things that we forgot!!

It was a great time...and you know its GREAT when........Alex falls into the water, I lose a sandal in the mucky bottom of the lake(but find it again), Josh falls and scrapes his leg, I get spiked by a fish(who knew that fins had spikes on them for protection) dock SPIDERS can walk on WATER and then after the weekend is over and you are about five minutes from home, Josh throws up in the VAN...cause you are on the highway and  there is nowhere for you to pull over...so you hand him a diaper to throw up in...but most of it lands on the floor(ugh)! That was a GOOD WEEKEND!! Then comes the laundry when you get home....two full loads...and showers and baths...and to save time you bathe two kids together and when they get out, it looks like the beach is in YOUR TUB....ITS THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAD AN AWESOME WEEKEND...and are ready to do it all over again!!!

June is ALMOST OVER.....YOU know WHAT that MEANS!!

I cant believe it...June is almost over!!! I am looking at the calendar and realizing that Katie has 7 more classes...Josh has 13...then its OVER..they are ALL HOME WITH ME for the SUMMER MONTHS!! I have mixed feelings...I am happy that they get a break!!  I get a break from school too...no more sitting with Josh and trying to help him understand MATH....drilling him with SPELLING WORDS or READING those annoying little books....and helping him with those PRESENTATIONS(he is in GRADE ONE!) Then there are the LUNCHES....its hard to get creative...and by the end of the school year you are throwing whatever in the lunch bag(with no NUTS)...it will be a NICE BREAK!! But with that the BREAK comes the REALITY that they are going to be HOME...fighting with SIBLINGS, complaining that its too HOT, complaining that THEY ARE BORED!! Let the FUN begin!!! COUNTDOWN is on..........

At least there will be EXCITEMENT this SUMMER...15 days after SCHOOL is finished we head out to the EAST COAST....to PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND!!! For a week we will be staying in the Provincial Park, in Cavendish...renting a HOUSE!! Just cross the road and there is the OCEAN!! There has been non stop talk about our trip...kids are excited!! Josh even commented that "the suitcase is not big enough....we have to pack up our whole house!" I WISH!!  Perhaps ONE DAY....but for now its a WEEKs' VACATION!!

So I HOPE all PARENTS and KIDS have a GREAT, SAFE SUMMER...filled with FUN and with PERFECTLY BEHAVED CHILDREN......CHEERS...... here's HOPING!!

I can almost see myself there...sitting in the sand, listening to the waves....smelling the sea air...perhaps a  glass of wine..and the kids making a sand castle!!!