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the travelling crockpot – becky’s dinner no.4

hey everyone!  it’s friday!  of a looooonng weekend!  at least here in ontario it is.  why not get in that kitchen of yours and cook up a feast!  just because!  maybe my latest travelling crockpot dinner will inspire to cook up a meal you haven’t before, or perfect a tried and true recipe.  enjoy your weekend regardless of – wherever you are.

for some stupid reason i decided to do my dinner only 3 days before josh and i moved to our new apartment.  talk about hectic!  the real reason though, adrienne left toronto for the summer so it was imperative we get in one more dinner before she departed.

i’d never made gnocchi before.  or biscotti’s.  or browned butter.  or poached a pear before.  or made chocolate mousse.
so why not try all of it out  at once right!!??!

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only recently have i realized that i love mushrooms.  i had a craving, and so, mushrooms on toast.  i toasted rye bread with olive oil and salt and pepper.  cremini, oyster, and hedgehog mushrooms were chopped up and fried with one shallot and a liquid mix of apple juice, vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, and a splash of amber maple syrup.  cooked down for a solid 25 minutes until the liquid is no longer or has become a delicious glaze.  topped on the toasted rye bread and topped with chives.

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the pears were poached in sugar water with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, lemon… i really can’t remember what else.  my reason for poaching them?  they weren’t ripe yet!  pop them in simmering hot liquid for a bit and soft as can be.  arugula was tossed with a dressing of olive oil, balsamic, hot mustard, maple syrup and salt and pepper.  my favourite additions were the blue silton cheese and roasted pecans which had been baked in maple syrup, rosemary, thyme and cayenne.  hmmm… i just might be addicted to maple syrup.

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sweet potato gnocchi in a sage browned butter sauce.  delicious.  i wish i had some right now in fact.  the crispy sage was really tasty too.  it’s this light, but decadent earthy taste.  hand making gnocchi wasn’t as bad as i thought.  although, i didn’t make them look super pretty by adding ridges and such.  maybe next time.

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and finally, chocolate mouse with an almond biscotti.  oh, and two squares of cadbury coconut cashew chocolate because why not right!?  the biscotti’s, i should have shaped flatter and pancake like rather than a nice hilly bump.  they were super fat and didn’t cook as evenly as i would have liked.  one side was darker than the other too.  and so – because panic set in about the mediocre biscotti’s i quickly decided chocolate mousse would redeem me.  having never made it before either, i could use the practice, but all in all i’d say it all worked out.

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the travelling crockpot – nikki’s dinner no.4

first let me start by saying, hi, hey there!  it’s been awhile!  my life lately has been a sea of boxes.  josh and i moved to a new neighbourhood in toronto and are just getting settled in.  i hope to be less silent on here as soon as the last box is unpacked.  but until then, i think it’s time to share another crockpot dinner, so here she is!  the beauty that was nikki’s dinner.

it started off with vermouth soaked blackberries topped off with prosecco.  i lost count after 3 top ups of this delicious bubbly drink.

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next came a unique fruit salad. grapefruit, avocado, coconut, mint, blackberries and a sprinkling of salt.  super refreshing!

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a single radicchio leaf was topped with a tempura’d egg yolk that oozed when you bit into it, on diced smoked salmon dressed in capers & white wine vinegar.  the flavour combination had me wanting more.

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to end, the most decadent french toast i’ve ever had.  mascarpone-raspberry stuffed french toast with maple candied bacon.
MMM MMM MMM!  take me back to this night please!
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think you can handle this cuteness? a baby shoot.

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meet logan.
at 10 months old he’s a ridiculously cute little guy and i had the pleasure of photographing him and his parents.  as i do not have a child of my own yet, i can only imagine the emotions (and lack of sleep) they are going through.  take one look at this face though and it’s all worth it.  thank you to jordana, kevin and of course, logan.  the three of you were a delight to photograph.

photographing people is my absolute favourite thing to do!
get in touch if you want to have a little shoot of your own.
we’ll have some fun – wherever you are.

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self expression. pieces of many.

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my brain – heavy
my knees – weak
you came without warning
left me barely able to speak

my vocab – little
yours – textbook endless
look into my soul
where there’s more
tell me.
can you see through the darkness?

yes.

we’ll still be friends
smile and wave
though my insides be aching
i’ll brave.

cause i’m a leo
through and through.
an arrogant
stubborn
pushy
jealous
lofty
brash
vain
smug
cunning
proud
over-ambitious
patronizing
temperamental
bossy
pompous
controlling
lustful – person.
you know it’s true.

so
party on
you’re a rockstar
wherever you are.

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weekend rambles.

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there are times when i like to doodle.  mind you, i’m not very good at it – but i find it soothing.  putting a pen to paper is not the same as putting these hands to a keyboard.  it’s a different kind of creative.  this past week i spent a great deal of time contemplating my photography homework – looking deep into myself – who am i?

am i the words i put to paper?  or the words upon this screen?
as the years pass and change, do i change or stay the same?

possibly only my notebooks can tell.  and a few select special people.  people who get it – and me.
i love people so much.  such interesting beings we are.  full of mystery.  full of excitement for life.

my phone died one evening – as iphones tend to do in cold weather – and for a few hours i remembered what it was like to be disconnected from everyone in my life.  even my music.  to just be with me.

my saturday mornings are similar.  there’s a stillness that falls across our apartment.  the only sound that can be heard is the steaming and dripping of my morning coffee brewing.  it’s the time i spend with myself before heading to the farmers market that i love.  it’s my time to write, time to spend with my cat tut, time to make a leisurely breakfast, time to just stare out the window at the people below.  in silence.  don’t get me wrong – i love when friends are around.  friends who appreciate the simple life.  the joy in the slowness.  the joy in small talk.  there’s a joy in food and drink that’s shared with others.  those are special people.  hold them close.

i could continue to ramble on – but i’ll save some for another day.
go do something that makes you happy on this last day of the weekend.
be a little selfish.  you’re worth it.
and tell me – how was your weekend? – wherever you are.

Becky Gean and littlesiddallstudios – March 16th, 2014.

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the travelling crockpot – adrienne’s dinner ||

the snow has arrived in toronto again and on this chilly blustery day i thought why not warm up the soul by sharing this delicious meal that adrienne made the ladies of the travelling crockpot back in february.  adrienne sure knows how to set a mood.  it was unbelievably romantic.  the lights were dimmed, the candles lit, and flowers adorned the table.

see for yourself what we ate in the pictures below.  where do these pictures of her food take you?  what do you think it tasted like?  what ingredients can you point out?  i’m not going to give it all away now.  romanticize and fantasize for yourself and maybe, just maybe a little later on i’ll share a recipe or two from her.

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stay warm friends – wherever you are!

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road tripping to nowhere in particular.

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hey there.  that’s me behind the lens – taken last august on one of Josh and i’s many “let’s just get in the car and drive” trips.  also known as our “green adventures.”  we’d often take a quick look at google maps, pick a patch of green space we had yet to explore and just go.  not knowing what we’d find once we got there or what we would pass along the way.  it’s the mystery of it all that’s so exciting.  the free feeling of no set plans.

this cold weather has really put a damper on my soul.  every once in a while i’ll get a glimpse of sunshine and warmth but just as quickly as it comes, it goes away again bringing on the negative temperatures.  it’ll come.  soon enough.  i just have to keep reminding myself of this.

lately i just want to get up and go.  that’s where my heads been at.  GET ME OUTTA HERE!  to nowhere in particular.  bring along a few people who have the same agenda as i do – an agenda of nothing – who want to have a ton of fun while doing so.  sounds great doesn’t it?  i think so.  pack snacks, a map and my camera and i’m set.

road snacks like
roasted nuts
crisp apples
homemade granola & trail mix
thermos full of caffeine and mason jars full of lemonade.

so – who’s coming with me?  and where are we going?
let’s just jump in the car and go shall we.

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a sunny, snowy sunday snapshot + skims.

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1 | i survived the weeklong work conference – it was a blast.  i’m not joking when i say i slept for 15 hours straight upon arriving home.  i’ve ate so much food since arriving home – the most RANDOM cravings too.  i’ve ate A&W, eggs benedict, custard and fruit, mr. noodles, smart food popcorn… random i tell you.  and now i’m thinking i need to make this – there’s something about a perfectly poached egg that makes my insides go weak, they’re just SO FREAKING GOOD!

2 | did any of you watch the superbowl?  even though i’m a fan of watching football, i still find the commercials to be the best part.  this article gives you the 10 best.  it makes me happy that the muppets are a thing again.  just saying.

3 | this is a fabulous talk with charles morrison.  i fall in and out of love with writing pretty frequently and it’s people like this who re-inspire that love – he also has a fabulous voice if i do say so myself.  have you written a letter to anyone this year?  if not – well then, get on it!!!  they’ll love it!

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a caffeine filled sunday snapshot + skims.

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1 | i’ll be attending a work conference this week.  one that i helped organize – so here’s hoping all that planning pans out.  i know i’ll be drinking many cups of coffee to get me through until friday.  how do you take your coffee?  i like mine strong!  the conference is to start at 7am each day – ugh – but after i read this article on what successful people do in the morning, i’m thinking i should start changing my sleeping habits.

2 | love this article by vicki hogarth – well… what do you think?  is montreal style sexier than toronto style?

3 | i know, i know – so many questions!  alright, fine.  here’s something to drool over.  ya!  i know, right!?!!

happy sunday – wherever you are!

Becky Gean and littlesiddallstudios February 2nd, 2014.

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the travelling crockpot – becky’s dinner |||

for my third dinner, as it was around the holiday season, i wanted to do something that felt a little more special, and when i say that, i really just mean, i spent a stupid amount of $$ on a gorgeous piece of beef.  once it was all cooked up, sliced and in our mouths though, there was no complaining coming from me!  i’d buy it again and again and again.  as gordon ramsey described it – it’s something he’d be happy to eat as his last supper.  i’d have to agree.

i’d say my biggest problem with these dinners is wanting to dig in right away – who needs pictures when it’s staring you right in the face saying EAT ME!!!  but then i think about you, my wonderful readers, and i hurriedly snap away.

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menu
becky-made amaretto sours
butternut squash soup topped with maple cinnamon roasted squash seeds
beef wellington served with celeriac puree & sautéed kale, apples and onions
gingerbread cookies with royal icing

i really enjoyed making this dinner!  i planned the majority of it ahead of time so that i wasn’t scrambling last minute – which around the holidays is KEY to being stress free.  you can find the wellington recipe here – i found the video incredibly helpful.  it was nikki who gave me the inspiration to roast my squash seeds – never am i ever going to throw out squash seeds again – soooo good!  the soup was made with butternut squash and SO MUCH GINGER, which i then drowned out with apples and carrots.  the amaretto sours were my favourite though, and the most time consuming out of the entire meal when i think about it.  don’t worry,  i’ll share that recipe with you soon.  it is my favourite drink after all – it deserves a post all to it’s own.

even though the holidays are over and we’re well into january, this meal would be great to serve your special someone on valentine’s day.  instead of soup and gingerbread cookies, i’d probably do something light, like starting with a green salad and finishing with homemade raspberry sherbet.  mmm.

until the next crockpot – happy eating!