Mama's Makeover! We Moved!

I have moved my site to www.suburbansinglemom.ca

Thanks to you I have re-vamped my blog and moved it to www.suburbansinglemom.ca

Without you this would of never happened! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

I will try my best to post daily my favorite recipes and other exciting stuff!

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Old School Munchies

 

 

Dropped by my parents house the other day just to see how they were doing. My uncle and aunt were over. All four of them were having a game of cards. The snacks my mom was serving brought me back to my childhood days.  The snacks served were what I call peasant food. Food they grew up on back home.

Pictured below, my mom served mini taralli, flavored with white wine. Lupini beans, dried figs that were cut in half and stuffed with walnuts. The dates were also split in half, pitted, stuffed with goat cheese and topped with an almond.

With the figs and dates, serve warm. Just place it in the oven just to warm through.

I must comment on the dates. The thought of sweet and savoury totally turns me off. But with this combination, the flavors balance. The sweet date offsets the savoury goat cheese.

Let me tell you, I cannot stop at one! So addicting! And with a glass of wine, even better!

Toss the chips and peanuts and try this for a change.

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Lemon Blueberry Breakfast Parfait

Healthy eating has become a lifestyle in our home. The children and I try our best to eat healthy all week. For breakfast I have been making this parfait made with cottage cheese. Before you cringe, I must say this is so delicious! Nordica (Gaylea) has introduced creamed flavored cottage cheese! I'm not a fan of cottage cheese but I do enjoy this!

1 (113g) container of plain smooth cottage cheese
1 (113g) container of smooth cottage cheese in lemon
10 unsalted almonds
1/3 blueberries

I incorporated the plain and lemon flavored cottage cheese so it's not as sweet. Layer the cottage cheese, almonds and blueberries for a delicious, healthy breakfast. If you're in a rush, create this parfait in a mason jar so you can pack and go.

I love this especially in the morning. The lemon refreshes and cleanses your mouth.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This is my all time favorite banana bread recipe It's the best and easiest you will ever make! I usually freeze my ripe bananas in baggies to save for banana bread.

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
4 tsp baking powder
4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3 shots rum (optional)
7-8 bananas

Preheat oven to 325. Butter two loaf pans, Mix all dry ingredients together. Mix eggs, oil and bananas together. Combine the flour mixture with the banana mixture and pour into pans. Bake for 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean, let cool, enjoy!

A great lunch box snack!

Kitty Chronicles

As mentioned in my previous post, our cat Tiffany has been a true blessing to our family. She has brought in so much happiness and joy into our hearts. When we brought her home from the shelter, we all made a decision that she would become an indoor cat. Our property backs onto natural green space with a lot of wild animals. The odds of her being preyed upon was very high. We didn't want to take that chance. But we have windows! She's constantly staring out the window making these really weird noises. She sounds like a goat! She trembles and has little mini fits.

When we check in on her we see that those pesky birds are teasing the shit out of her! OMG! Not to mention those bratty squirrels!

We have to pull her away from the window and calm her down. Our little chickita is being teased by the neighborhood animals! Our poor baby!

But that's life and we will only love her more!

Until next time! xo

Pamper Me Please!

When I was a little girl on summer break I never had the opportunity to go to summer camp. My summer camp was picking tomatoes, doing household chores or playing outside with my friends. My mom was a seamstress so she would pull me under her wing and teach me the basics about sewing. I really didn't like it. I just didn't have it in me. I loved to craft though! My mom would teach me to embroider pillow cases and do some beading. My aunt lived near by and was amazing in crocheting and knitting. I would spend afternoons over at her house learning to knit and crochet. I will never forget those precious times! But when I got older, my life got busy and had to put all of my hobbies behind me. I sort of kept up with knitting but I'm not that great at it. Thank God for YouTube! With all the tutorials on there I brushed up on my crocheting skills. It has been a long time and have forgotten the basics.

Well, I wanted to gift my girlfriends last Christmas but didn't want to spend much (it's the thought that counts right?) So I started to make these cute scrubbies in all different colors. It is made with nylon tulle and it makes an amazing exfoliating scrubby! I found the pattern from Maggie's Crochet. It's quick and very easy to make. Add it with a delicious scrub, body cream or soap and voila! A stylish unique gift that every woman would love! Why buy a candle, cup or picture frame for your child's teacher. Gift her with this - she will love it!

 

 



A scrub is a cinch to make!

Homemade Body Scrub

1 cup of dead sea salt or sea salt

15 drops of essential oil of your choice

3 tbsp. coconut oil

Combine all ingredients in a clean bowl. Place content in your favourite jar. I used a mason jar and decorated it with bling. Hand write a pretty label to personalize your gift.