Carrot Muffins - YUM!!

I felt the urge for carrot muffins, I looked through a few cookbooks but found nothing I really cared for, the trusty internet came through once again, I found this great recipe for Carrot Muffins on Joy of Baking - I've used this site before, the recipes are very straight forward and there are also videos to guide you along, if you prefer that kind of thing.  I'm going to include the recipe here for your convenience or you can check out the original.

1/4 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped - I used pecans and did not toast them.

1 1/3 cups grated raw carrot

1 small apple, peeled and grated

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup coconut 

2 large eggs

1/2 cup safflower, corn, vegetable  or canola oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat over to 350, place paper liners in 12 muffin cups.

Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant.  Let cool and then chop coarsely.

Peel and finely grate the carrots and apple.  Set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Stir in nuts and coconut.

In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, oil and vanilla.  Fold the wet ingredients, along with the grated carrot and apple, into the flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.   Divide the batter between the muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

They're delicious - give them a try!!!

Pocket Letters - The Newest Paper Fad!!

I've jumped on the Pocket Letter bandwagon, thanks to my good friend, Sharon, she started me on SMASHing, now this!!    If you like paper and you like an easy enjoyable craft session, you should give it a try.  Here is the link to the gal that originated this fun obsession - check it out and get all the details to make your own Pocket Letter.

I've made five so far and have two more lined up to do.  I joined the Facebook group - Pocket Letter Pals,  that's definitely a place to see lots of great work, there are just so many ideas and so many creative people!!    You can find someone on there to swap with or just swap with people that you already know that enjoy doing the same sort of thing!

My love for these letters began when I received these two in the mail - from Sharon and her very talented granddaughter -  this is the front view, the back is also decorated and little bits and pieces of goodies can be slipped in between the papers.  They both did such a great job, they're perfect!!  As always, click on for a closer view.

Here's the first one I made, it went to England to my IG friend, Lynne.  This is front and back - I did this in April and I feel like I've learned so much already!!   I like the front but the back leaves a little bit to be desired!!

The next one was for Tatum, here's the front and back, I used vintage SNAP cards for the back, they fit in the pockets perfectly, goodies were included in between.

I sent Sharon this one - looks like I took the picture before I had prettied up the side of the pocket!  I used a travel theme - use a theme or just do them any way you want.

My friend, Diane who pens the blog Lydia's Post and I decided to swap Pocket Letters.  We're both novices at this, she did a great job on her first letter - I love how she included the book cover of David Cassidy (my 70's heartthrob) and other things that she knew I liked!  Mine is on the way to her right now, or I would include it, I don't want to ruin the surprise!!  I have one other that is on the way to a Pocket Letter pal too, but can't show that one now either!

Pocket letters are everywhere - Facebook, Instagram, on blogs -  it's not hard to find someone to swap with!!  It's so fun!!  Thanks, Sharon for getting me hooked on something else!!!

Forgotten Paper!

How can anyone throw things like this out?  I don't understand!  We went back to a sale that threw open their doors for the second week.  I knew there probably wasn't anything there and I was right, except for some stuff they had marked as garbage.  I spotted a box on the way out of the garage, it was all paper, I thought there might have been something interesting, we asked if we could go through it, no problem, says the son of the lady that owned the home.   

This album had some pictures removed but so many great photos, I don't know these people but I couldn't leave this album there to be thrown out.  Is anyone else interested in things like this, besides me?  

From what I can figure out, the photographer signed up to serve in the Second World War, he was from Toronto, his training was in Nova Scotia - there are many pictures of that time. 

Were these lovely ladies some girlfriends of the soldiers?

Selfies before selfies were cool, in the early 40's.

How many of these brave young men made it back to Canada?

Even a couple of hankies in the album.

I wonder if these happy couples were married before the war or after?  Isn't this a lovely picture?

The wedding shots are beautiful!

Also in the box was this old chocolate box, full of old cards, postcards, papers and this soldier's service book, which is oh, so interesting and I know just who I'm sending this to.

I rescued someones history and paid nothing for it - it has me thinking about the young Canadian man who served his country as an aircraft assembler.  

I Found Some Things!!

I actually have a post of some treasures I've found in the last week!!  The posts and the purchases are few and far between - a house can only hold so much stuff, can't it?  I'm being selective!!

Anyone that has been following my blog for a while, knows that I am always on the lookout for Vera scarves - my collection numbers 288 right now, I hope I can reach 300 by the end of the summer.  Last Friday I saw an unexpected yard sale, lo and behold, I found a Vera there - for 25 cents or was it 50 cents, whatever, it was a steal.  I was away last weekend and found the rest of these at a Salvation Army - always on the lookout!!

I've been looking for a nice jug for a while, spotted this one at Value Village the other day!

I wanted it to replace a Pyrex carafe that I had on this shelf, now I need to find another one to replace the green coffee pot!  It sure is hard to take a good picture when you're standing on a chair!!!

I hardly ever see these magazines at the thrift stores, they're so great to cut up for SMASHing, I bought every one - and got one for free!!

It's raining here today, I didn't go to any yard sales but there was an estate sale advertised, which we never have here, of course, I had to check it out!!!  I came out with a bag of goodies for $5.

It's worn, but we're of Scottish heritage and it'll be great in the game room!

I bought this little alarm clock because I received one for Christmas, in the 70's, as well, mine is beige and has one leg broken off, I knew I was going to get it for cheap, so I took it!  It still works!  And, I love the little note on the bottom, looks like that might have been a Toronto jeweller!

This is a real vintage Cootie game!  My kids had a Cootie game but it sure wasn't like this one, look at those little game pieces!

A mixed bag of game pieces to go in a jar!

There was a box of playing cards, I took them all, some of the illustrations are so cute!!  I can use them for SMASHing, or my newest thing - pocket letters, but that's a post for another day!!!

It was fun to poke around and actually find a few things, hope the fun continues!!  

Time to Bake - Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Bundt Cake

I know, I haven't blogged in ages, but I don't think I'm the only one, there are just so many other things to keep our attention these days, my vice is Instagram, which I have mentioned on here before.  I posted this on Instagram this afternoon, so I'm sharing the recipe for those of you who might be interested.

Today I was searching the internet for a coffee cake recipe, I found this one, made it and loved it.  The original recipe comes from the blog " Baked by Rachel" - click here for her recipe, I will type it out as well.  It was delicious and makes the house smell so good.  I didn't make any major changes to the recipe.

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Bundt Cake

Topping:

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

6 Tbsp. flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Cake:

5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

6 Tbsp. sour cream

1 c. flour

Icing:

1 c. icing sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp. milk (I added a bit more)

Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly grease your bundt pan, don't forget to do the middle!!

In a medium bowl, combine topping ingredients with a fork until crumbly.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine filling ingredients, also set aside.

I used my Kitchen Aid mixer for the next step - cream together butter and sugar.  Mix in egg and vanilla until smooth.  Add remaining dry ingredients, mixing until combined.  Finally,  add sour cream, mixing well.

Divide batter between two bowls.

Scatter topping ingredients in the bottom of the greased bundt pan.  Carefully spread one half of the batter over streusel topping.  Sprinkle with brown sugar filling and top off with remaining batter.

Bake for 50-55 minutes.  I set my times for 52 minutes, I think 50 minutes would have been sufficient.

Invert onto wire rack to cool.

Whisk together the icing sugar and milk. Drizzle over cooled cake - enjoy!!

It really hit the spot!!!

Sons of Anarchy - LOVED IT!

We were late jumping on the Sons of Anarchy bandwagon - Season 1 was a Christmas gift for my husband, well, right, from that first episode, we were hooked.   It wasn't broadcast on Netflix Canada, so I bought the second season, then I had a brainwave and checked my local library, they had every season and by the time we finished season 6, the final and last, season 7 was out and available there too!  

Some evenings we would watch three episodes, we talked about it the next day, I can honestly say, we have never watched a tv show and were so engrossed in it.  It's a story of a biker club in California - tough men in a violent world -  and it IS violent and gets more violent as the seasons go on.   Every episode was gripping - so many situations with the guys and their relationships!  We finished it over a week ago and we're still talking about it!!

It's not often CD's are bought in this house anymore, but had to have this collection!    The music is excellent - old songs, newer songs,  songs written specifically, for the show - the majority of them performed by The Forest Rangers.  Katy Sagal, who starred as Peg Bundy in Married with Children plays the character of Gemma, she  joins the band on a few songs, her voice is wonderful on Son of a Preacher Man.   

We thought this show was something like The Sopranos, we loved that one but we thought this one was even better!  I say "yay" to this show, I know there are a lot of people who would not care for it, but to each his own, isn't that right?  

Made from Pinterest - Maple Pecan Salmon

I never set out to do a blog post from something I make so I apologize for not a great picture, but I wanted to share this really tasty recipe with you,  I had pinned it from Pinterest and tried it yesterday.  It's delicious - don't be put off by the picture!!  It's going to be my new salmon recipe - it might be yours too!!!

The original pin came from the blog I Love My Kids,  I didn't make any changes to the recipe.  

Maple Pecan Salmon

1/2 cup Maple Syrup - the real stuff, not Aunt Jemima

1/4 cup soy sauce

2-4 cloves, garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Salmon

1 cup chopped roasted pecans - I didn't roast them

In the baking dish, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, salt and pepper.  Place salmon in the dish, skin side down.    Coat with maple syrup mixture and then after 15 minutes flip over on the other side and coat with the pecans.  

Cover the dish and marinate the salmon in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, bake salmon around 20 minutes.  Do not overcook!!