Be Careful What You Wish For

I love real estate...I know that sounds a bit strange. But its true.

As a child I used to pour over books that my dad had of floor plans for houses, and I would imagine where my room would be. I would draw dream houses which most often had a pool and secret loft where I could play. I was the only daughter who would get excited to walk through open houses on Sundays with my family.

Today, I love driving through neighborhoods at night and watching people living their lives through the lit up windows. I grab the real estate paper just for fun and I always look to see what houses are for sale.

We have been blessed to find the perfect places to live for the past 2.5 years of our marriage. And leasing has been just what we have needed at the time. But I've always wished in the back of my mind, that we would own a house someday....

We have been renting a home for the past year, and it truly has been perfect. We have hosted parties, had family over, and enjoyed visits from friends. But after a year of living here, I started to look at homes for sale, I couldn't help it!  Little did I know that on Halloween, I would get a call from our landlord to say that she needed to move back in on February 1st.

All of a sudden, things became a little crazy. Okay, a lot crazy.

All day and night, I was searching for the perfect house. I would scour the internet, talk to anyone who would listen and drive up and down neighborhood streets in search of a 'for sale' sign on the lawn. Evenings and weekends were full of viewings and open houses. My cell phone buzzed with realtors and home owners calling me. And all I wanted was one thing: to move by Christmas.

I know it sounds silly, but once I knew that we would have to move, I didn't want to take out the decorations or do any of the usual baking and hosting that comes with the season. My heart wanted to be in the place we would call home.

And for weeks, things were not looking good: prices were too high, the houses were too small, too old, too ugly! There would be no garage or no basement...or in some cases, no bedroom walls (yes I'm serious).
And near the end of November I was starting to lose hope. We had visited every house in our price range and it was a waiting game. Would someone put their house up for sale, right before Christmas?

On November 29th, I woke up and I checked all of my real estate websites, like I would every morning in the hope that a new home would pop up. And on Kijiji of all places (Canadian Craigslist) there it was, right before my eyes: THE PERFECT HOME. So I emailed the seller and then went nuts waiting for Matthew to wake up so I could show him. I emailed my in-laws, and my sisters and looked at the pictures over and over and over....it almost felt too good to be true. Thankfully I wasn't delusional, when Matthew saw the pictures, he loved it too. And as we waited for the seller to contact us, one very interesting update appeared on the listing: Immediate Possession. I about fell out of my chair when I discovered it at work. Wow.

So long story short: We walked through the house that day, put in an offer two hours later, had it accepted by midnight, met the seller, found a lawyer, hired an inspector, got a mortgage, and today...TODAY we get the keys!

And the amazing part of this story is that the perfect home came along, just in time.. and God who listened to the wishes in our hearts....fulfilled every last one. I can't stop saying 'thank you'. From the brand new kitchen to the two car garage and lovely neighborhood, this house feels like home and warms my heart from the inside out.

I can't wait to share more Married with Kitchen adventures from our new home.

Being Thankful

Lately my heart has turned to think about being thankful.

When I sat down and decided to revive the blog again, I was up north, in a trailer, on a rainy and cold day, all alone....and I loved it.

I was so thankful for the peace and quiet. For the scenery outside the window, for the chance to sit and do nothing at all, and for the fresh pot of coffee just for me.

This year, for Thanksgiving, (Canadians do it right, I'm sorry to say y'all) I decided to make a turkey.

The phone conversation went a bit like this:

Me- I'm going to make a turkey.
Him- But you've never made a turkey.
Me- That's why I want to make one!
Him- But you have no time to make it (that was true), when are you going to do it?
Me- I can do it, I will do it! I have a plan!
Him- No! I forbid it!
Me- You're a turkey!
Him- Promise me that you won't buy a turkey.
Me- I promise...I won't....buy...a live turkey! ***hangs up phone, evil grin***

Okay so, I'm not promoting marital discord. We did joke about it for a while and I promised that I had a plan. Which I did. He was of little faith, but knew that I would not rest until I satisfied my sense of adventure!

So first, I googled turkeys and discovered that there are so many tips and ideas available to read. I would say: find a reputable source, and stick with that. I ended up turning to my favorite cookbook "The Bride and Groom's First and Forever Cookbook", which I have talked about in a past post. They recommended that I find a fresh turkey, one that has not been pre-brined, as they are the most flavourful and I would be doing the brining. For size, it was recommended to buy 1 pound to 1.5 pounds of turkey per person who would be attending the dinner, especially if I wanted leftovers. So I called around to the local butcher and he had an 18 pounder, which sounded insane. So I decided to try my chances at the grocery store and on the day before Thanksgiving, I found what I was looking for: A lovely 10 pound fresh turkey....Ok I'm lying, they're not very lovely. They're huge, slimy birds. But, I digress..

The next project was to find a roaster. As luck would have it, I found one during a yard sale adventure this past summer for $7. Mine looks like this: 

I also picked up a silicone roasting rack on clearance. It did the job, but was a bit flimsy. I did like that it folded and fit inside the roaster.

I wanted to brine the turkey for a long time to ensure that it was infused with moisture. So the night before I was going to cook it, I took it out of the fridge to start the process. Lucky for me, my sister who is not afraid of much and happens to be in medical school, was there to help me prep the turkey. She helped me to rinse it both inside and out with water. She then reached inside and took out the neck and giblets (grrrroooooossss). I set them inside in the fridge for later. 

I happened to have a large, clear plastic bag, but the cookbook also recommends using Reynolds Brining Bags (check out the website for lots of faqs about brining). Basically, the bird is placed in the bag with 1 cup of Sugar and 1 cup of Salt and about a gallon of water (enough to cover the turkey).  I then let as much air escape from the bag as possible before I sealed it, and placed the entire pan (just for stability and in case of a leak) with the bagged bird in the fridge overnight. 

I estimated that I would need 3 hours to cook the turkey, so I took it out of the brine 4 hours before dinner. I rinsed the brine solution off the turkey and patted it dry with paper towels inside and out before placing it on the roasting rack which I had set in the roaster. NOTE: Place the turkey in the rack, Breast side DOWN. 

I preheated the oven to 400°F and ensured that the oven rack was at it's lowest position and there was enough room for the turkey inside (you may need to remove the other racks). While the oven heated up, I let the turkey sit and get closer to room temperature. I also prepped all of the veggies and fruit that I would use in the pan and inside the turkey during cooking. I chose sliced apples and oranges, onions, garlic, carrots, fresh parsley and fresh rosemary sprigs. I used what I had, and a little imagination...you can do the same! I was able to twist the wings under the shoulders, and thankfully, the turkey came with tied drumsticks, otherwise they have to be tied together with string.

I lightly seasoned the turkey with salt and pepper, and then placed one third of the veggies and fruit inside of the turkey's body cavity with the herbs. In the pan I placed the rest of the chopped veggies and fruit, fresh herbs, 2 dried bay leaves, the giblets and neck, then poured 1.5 cups of white wine (I actually used some leftover champagne and topped the rest with marsala) and lastly 3 cups of water into the bottom of the roasting pan. Lastly, I melted 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the microwave and brushed it all over the turkey's skin, making sure to end with the turkey breast side down.

The rest was fairly easy; I placed the turkey in the oven and let it cook. The book said to check it 1 hour later, but I waited a little longer (approx 1.5 hours) and then took the turkey out of the oven, flipped it over to breast side up and then basted it with the pan juices before returning it to the oven. 

Another 1.5 hours later, the turkey was a lovely golden brown and was looking done. I took my instant read thermometer and measured the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh. It needed to register between 170-175 °F and the breast should register at 165 °F  or higher. Thankfully, the temperatures were right, and with great success I removed the turkey from the oven, placed it on a platter and then tented it with some aluminum foil.

I took the pan juices, strained out the large pieces and poured it into a saucepan. Then I boiled it together with some chicken stock and thickened it with cornstarch for gravy. Delicious!

While we prepped all of the fixings, the turkey stayed good and hot. Its okay to let the turkey sit for up to 2 hours. We did not have to do that, but when we carved it, it was evenly warm and moist.

Without further ado, here's what our Thanksgiving Dinner looked like:

Baby Spinach Salad with Vanilla Infused Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil Dressing 

Sweet Potatoes, cooked slowly in the crockpot (wash, stack, put on high heat, add a little water, set for a few hrs. and presto caramel-y sweet!)

Creamy Garlic Mashed Potato, Roasted Baby Carrots w Herbs, Homemade Rosemary Infused Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Stuffing and Steamed Green Beans with Slivered Almonds

Last, but not least, the Bird of the Hour, My First Ever Roasted TURKEY!!

My Plate of Deliciousness!

Better than the meal, and the fact that my first Turkey dinner was a hit...was the people that filled the room. Just remembering it brings a smile to my face. 

There is not much out there that can compete with the feeling of sitting down after a day of hard work and a week of mental preparation, of scampering all over the kitchen and piling pots and pans in every corner...to the sights, sounds and smells of a room filled with ones you love, enjoying a meal straight from your heart, laughing together....pure. joy. gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 

So Long Summer

My summer.

It was not what I expected or planned. It felt long at times and so very short at others. It was busy in good ways and challenging as well. Now I am ready to breathe in the crisp air of Autumn and embrace a new year of life (Happy Birthday to Me). I also feel ready to put words back on a page and get more creative in the kitchen. Something about the chilly air makes me want to bake and cook new things.

But before I move forward, here's a snapshot of what you missed:

Where did we go?
Not much of anywhere...No long trips this time around. However, we did make a little weekend getaway to Cleveland and experienced what their quaint downtown and culinary scene had to offer. If you go, you have to eat at the Chocolate Bar restaurant located downtown.

Salted Dark Chocolate on a Toasted Baguette with an Olive oil and melted Chocolate dipping sauce. Amazing! 

We also took an extended business trip up to St. Catherines and made a point to stop in London, Ontario then St. Jacobs for the farmer's market, on to Kitchener/Waterloo, Niagara Falls and lastly Niagara on the Lake. 

If I could pick only one place to return to, I would definitely head back to Kitchener/Waterloo. We tried a few restaurants and were pleasantly surprised by their culinary scene. In Kitchener we ate at Martini's Restaurant, where Matthew enjoyed eating Pig Tails, which are a very savory cut of pork and are actually...pig's tails. We were really impressed with the menu offerings which were comprised of locally grown food. The next morning we headed to The Bauer Kitchen for a delicious breakfast of French Toast (I have an addiction) and an interpretation of Breakfast Poutine with the smoothest cup of coffee that I still crave. Both restaurants belong to a collection of world class restaurants in the Waterloo area by The Charcoal Group, and I hope to go back to try some of the others.

What did we eat?

This summer was the summer of fresh local corn. I grilled it, I used it in salads and soup, or buttered it up and ate it on the cob. Its probably fitting because we moved to Tecumseh, the home of the Corn Fest. The whole weekend long, the air smelled of grilled sweet corn, mmm delicious! I also broke out my ice cream maker that I found at a garage sale for $5, and tried my hand at peach ice cream. It was yummy and so fresh!

It was also the summer of new foods. I tried quinoa for the first time, as well as cousous (I've eaten it before, but not by itself). Its terribly unhealthy and embarrassing, but for the first year of marriage, I always kept a carton of 35% whipping cream in our fridge to use for meals. I blame it on cookbooks with no regard for my waistline. Needless to say, we needed to find different options besides rotating a different meat every night for dinner. That's when we invented "Meatless Mondays", which is a term we used loosely because we rarely had it on a Monday, and we always had some type of meat in small amounts. So it was more like "Summer Salad Suppers", where our main entree was a salad. We had so many variations, its hard to remember them all, but my goal was to create a filling but healthy and delicious salad with new ingredients each time. I would often put a grilled fruit or veggie in it, such as corn, peaches, nectarines or apple. We would choose one type of meat such as taco seasoned ground beef for a Mexican salad or grilled sausage to use in small amounts. I'll let some of the pictures speak for themselves...

So the summer has come and gone, and it was not disappointing by any means. Just different. 

I have learned a lot, I have taken some time to rest and now, NOW, I am back and ready to write again. Thank you for waiting, friends. 

Welcome Fall! Bring on the apples, cranberries, squash, and maple syrup. Bring on beautiful colours, crisp air, cuddly sweaters and cold noses. I'm ready for you!

Married...2 years and counting!

I took a glance at my blog just a moment ago, and its been a little while since I've added anything to its pages. So I wanted to add something, but I wasn't sure what to say. And then it jumped off the screen and slapped me in the face. MARRIED! Who me? Yes you.


WOW. Its June, the month where my husband and I became one...two whole years ago.


One year is exciting...it's new, it's a huge accomplishment. Two years...well two years is a whole different thing. It's comfort, it's growth, and it's home.


I have learned so much in two years, I thought I should probably write some of it down:


-Apartments are nice, they are small and manageable. They make for funny moments with strange neighbours such as a man we will forever call: Skunk Man. All of you East Windsorites should know that this man has your back: he calls the police about skunks, he calls the newspaper, he even has a shirt. We will never know what our upstairs neighbour did, each night we would hear wood furniture dragged across the floor, and what could only be described as marbles or nuts and bolts being dropped on the floor constantly. Ping! Ping! PING! 
-I am much more violent in my sleep than I had originally thought. The latest episode included my elbow and his forehead. Oops.
-Apparently it is unusual to have that many pairs of shoes. I have resorted to scattering them in various parts of the house, that way it looks like less!
-Having two firstborn children married to each other and living in the same home should be a social experiment. 
-Being able to get up and go out to eat spontaneously or take a quick little vacation together is so incredible!
- We are so good at blitz cleaning. Give us a 20 minute head's up and we'll have this house looking fabulous. Also, do not pop in unannounced. Thanks.
-It doesn't matter how many times you tell him, or how many times you show him, or if he put it there first: He can't find things that I can find with my eyes closed. 
-Apparently its weird to stand on the kitchen counter to get something out of a cupboard. 6 feet tall meet 5 feet tall and ambitious.
- Car Ride Karaoke is so much better with two people.
-I will always be 10 degrees colder than him at all times.
-The similarities and likes that we share make life fun and the things that make us different, make us grow and make life richer. Like the way we love to take pictures on vacation make the trip fun but the different ways we see our surroundings makes our pictures so diverse. 
-I am much more talkative in the mornings. Much more. Much much more. Teaching him baby signs has been beneficial. 
-Saying "See you later" is so much better than "Goodbye".


Obviously it sounds like our marriage is a cake walk which isn't the full picture of any marriage (then again if you try walking with a big and delicate cake, its not that unrealistic). But in some ways it is, we constantly find ourselves looking at each other and shaking our heads in disbelief. Its wonderful to live with and love your best friend. It makes the stakes higher, the emotions deeper, the decisions bigger and the journey lighter. 


I am thankful for 2 years and so very excited to see what this next one will bring!

Married, Hold the Kitchen

Sometimes in life the balance tips one way or the other.


Lately, it has gone from busy, to very busy for me. But somehow in all of that I have a strange sense of calm. That is, I feel calm today. 


When I decided to do this blog, I wanted it to be fun for me, most of all. It sounds selfish, but I work enough in other spheres of life. So I promised myself that I would blog when I felt it was fun to do, and I would not turn it into another chore. 


I know this blog has focused mainly on the kitchen aspect of my life, partially because I didn't want to start a journal of personal things and bore you all to shreds. (aside: I wonder who you all are, even if all means just two people ) But today I feel motivated to share with you a bit about the other parts of me. So what else have I been doing instead of cooking? Well......

***

I love music. I especially like finding musicians that are unique and undiscovered and then I go over the moon when I hear them on the radio! Some of these musicians include, but are not limited to:

• Audrey Assad  I was at a conference where she sang at a talent show and blew us away..the rest is history
• Matt Wertz hilarious man, fab concerts, and is friends with the two guys below
• Dave Barnes we danced to his song "I Have and I Always Will" for our First Dance
• Ben Rector 
• NeedtoBreathe 
• Joy Williams and her new group The Civil Wars

The reason I mention this is that for Sibling Christmas I bought tickets for my sister to come to a concert with us in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was a concert for NeedtoBreathe and was opened by Ben Rector himself! The night before the concert, Ben Rector came down with a bad case of the flu and couldn't sing. So naturally a few weeks later we bought tickets for their show in Toronto and became "those people"! We traveled up to the Big City, stayed at our dear friends' home and also spent time with my other sister who is in med school at UofT. It was a blast and since my little sister could not join, Ben Rector agreed to send a video greeting to her! Here's a taste of their music at the very concert we went to...what an amazing time! 

Song: Slumber at the Phoenix Theatre in Toronto

***

I am making headway in my vintage room (he gets the office, I get the spare room...its only fair). I have purchased several vintage-esque pieces, some which I have to paint or restore. Its going to be my ongoing summer project, and I can't wait to make my vision a reality. Here's some of the things I have purchased so far:

Milk Glass Vases!

Two French Provincial Armchairs.

 Not the same as pictured, mine are a beautiful robin's egg blue with white painted wood.

They need to be restored, but at 10 dollars each, how could I resist?!

This dresser was an Ikea  purchase and fits well with the decor, it also is a great place for off season clothes!

I also have been collecting vintage dresses, broaches, books and odd pieces of furniture to paint and restore (yes I will pick up cool things at the side of the road), with more ideas in the works. I'm looking forward to some serious treasure hunting in antique shops this year!

***

I don't have many pictures or recipes, so it really isn't fair. But I have been in the kitchen and have been excited to use the summer fruit, Strawberries, in my desserts. I have now attempted to add them to a strawberry cake, strawberry crumble, strawberry flavored cupcake icing and a strawberry brownie trifle.

Here's the recipe to Martha Stewart's Strawberry Cake. It was yummy with some vanilla ice cream on the side and a cup of coffee or tea. Click for Recipe

And I did remember to take pictures of the Trifle (do not drool on the keyboard.):

This dessert is simple and I use store-bought items to make it. I layer broken pieces of fudge brownie (bake it ahead and let it cool completely before using), drizzled chocolate sauce (I used Sanders Milk and Dark Chocolate fudge sauce), sliced strawberry, strawberry mousse, then repeat and end with whipped cream instead of mousse. Decorate as desired and Voila!!

***

Summer is upon us and I am excited to start gardening again. Last year I planted a few of my own flowers and fruit/veggie plants. This year I have plans for more. A few weeks ago I went out to discover this new garden at our new home and found these!! 

PEONIES!

Calm my beating heart!!!! When I was planning for my wedding, these flowers were my inspiration and splurge. They cost a bundle per bloom, but my decorator was able to place a few in our table arrangements, and I just loved it! They are such a gorgeous flower and they come in the most vibrant to the most delicate shades of pink.

This was the Sweethearts table at Our Wedding where we sat.

Okay, back to the garden. So this year I plan to plant a variety of my own foods to use in my cooking. I purchased some butternut squash, spanish onions, strawberries, roma tomatoes, and carrots. I also plant a little herb garden as I love to add fresh herbs to many-a-meal. I was gifted with some herb seeds, and am going to try and see if I can get them going. Otherwise I already have some Rosemary, Basil, Parsley and Peppermint plants in the works.  

***

That is just a taste of the lighter sides of life that are going on behind the scenes. Warmer days and the glowing sun have made my steps a little lighter and my excitement grow for the days of summer and plans for adventure.

Hopefully this little glimpse into my life has reminded you of all the things you enjoy and will motivate you to keep doing them! 

I can't wait to share some summer recipes, ideas for summer parties and delicious restaurant reviews with you again soon.

Slow Cooker Series: Tender Roast Beef

In the past I have not been shy about the fact that my husband and I come from two totally different backgrounds, both culturally and culinary.


I knew that in order to be a success, I needed to be able to recreate his favorite meal. What's that you say? Oh you know, just Easy-Peasy Roast Beef! No big deal, just roast it to perfection, make sure its both tender and juicy, and seasoned just right. It didn't help that my lovely mother number 2, (not a fan of  the words: "in-law") makes a beautiful roast beef dinner, so he had something to compare it to. 


I was so scared in the beginning that I just never made it and crossed my fingers every time we went to eat at his parents, that she would just magically be serving it. However, I came across a sale on fresh top sirloin roast beef at the store and could not pass it up. So I bought it and then threw it in the freezer so I would forget I even had it. In hindsight, that was a stupid idea. 


I like to cook fresh meat or poultry whenever I can, so I try to buy enough for the week. However, when its on a great sale, which it was, its a nice thing to have in the freezer for when you have to throw together a nice dinner for friends one evening. BUT let it defrost in the fridge over a few days, rushed defrosting is bad news!


Needless to say, one day I defrosted it and decided to read up all I could about cooking this cut of beef. Top sirloin I have found is a decently priced cut of beef, with a nice balance of fat and tender meat. If you can snatch it when it goes on sale, its always a good idea. I buy a roast that is about 2 pounds in weight for the two of us as it shrinks when cooked, but we do end up with some leftovers. Depending on the cut of beef, you may need to cook it longer or cook it with liquid or not. Top sirloin just needs a good sear and no liquid, so make sure you read up a little on your meat and find out the best way to get it tender.


As mentioned in the past, my slow cooker is my new best friend. If you don't have one, I highly suggest finding one, especially if you work during the day and like the idea of coming home to a hot meal with little prep-time involved! I found a second "crock-pot" on our local used items listing (kijiji.com) for $15, and it was digital, which is fancy shmancy! The simpler dial versions are great, but stay on for hours on end until you manually come and turn it off. A digital version can be set for a certain time frame and then it automatically turns to a "keep warm" setting so that your meat doesn't overcook while you're away.


So without further ado, here's the way to prepare a Slow Cooked Tender Roast Beef in a Slow Cooker:


1. Season the meat with salt and pepper or I like Montreal Steak Seasoning, I also rub the meat with some olive oil
2. Heat olive oil in a pan or dutch oven until it is almost smoking, the pan needs to be very hot!
3. Use tongs to hold the meat and brown it on all sides in the pan, it should turn a light to medium brown colour.
4. Transfer the roast beef to a warmed crockpot (I turn it on as I start to prepare my meat) and turn it to low heat setting.
5. Drizzle the leftover juices and oil from the hot pan on top of the roast and then drizzle a bit more olive oil on top.
6. Come back in 7-8 hours to a fully cooked, juicy roast! Try not to lift up the lid as that will allow moisture to escape. 

(see pictures below for visuals)

Here's the delicious finished product. I used the juices from the pot to create a gravy. I like to either make a straight au jus, or do a balsamic vinegar reduction gravy. Do what you and your family likes and pair it with your favorite sides.  

I may not make it just like his mother does, but I passed the test. It was so tender and juicy! Delicious!!

Detroit Restaurant Week!

Hey Everyone,


Its been so crazy around this house, that I've had to put the blog on a list of to do's, which is sad because its more joyful than a chore. But no clean clothing for the husband and no food on the table at dinner take precedence, I hope you understand :) Plus I love weekends away as much as I love bubblegum ice cream, so we've been away the past two weekends making memories as a married couple and being together with family and dear friends. 


Now that we've spent a weekend at home, I've caught up on the essentials and so I'm ready to write some amazing things down in this blog, so get ready for more posts really soon.


To tide you over, we went out for brunch after church yesterday with my dear second set of parents (in-laws just sounds cold). We decided to head over to Atlas Global Bistro for some delicious fare and found out that this week is:

DETROIT RESTAURANT WEEK!!!

Basically, several higher-end restaurants have teamed up and offer for this week only, an amazing three course meal for 28 dollars!


Check out their website for more information http://detroitrestaurantweek.com/

This is a steal for some decadent food at gorgeous restaurants in the downtown Detroit and surrounding areas. Some places I would recommend because I hear amazing things or have been are: Mosaic, Atlas Global Bistro, Cliff Bells (still have a review to share for them) and Roast (Michael Symon, Iron Chef's restaurant) 


So have a date night out across the border and make sure to have a reservation, spots are filling up fast!

A Little Weekend Getaway

As this past weekend was the Easter Holiday, I had the fabulous privilege of enjoying a four day weekend.


We had family events both on Saturday and Sunday, but after work on Thursday night, while I complained in the kitchen about having to clean up after dinner...my husband drops the bomb that he is looking for hotel deals. This is of course not an inexpensive way of getting out of doing the dishes, but mighty effective!


I feel pretty fortunate to live across the border from a bigger city with a variety of places to stay, visit and eat. I know that the City of Detroit has a reputation for being rough around the edges, but it is where I decided to do my Masters, and where I find "diamonds in the rough" so to speak.


In my past posts about Dates in Detroit, I have given you some idea about the culinary adventures to the north of our border (go figure, Detroit is NORTH of Windsor). Its also a nice place to spend a day or two or even three if you have the time to drive to surrounding communities and the willingness to seek out the little treasures that Greater Detroit has to offer.


We ended up getting a Priceline deal for a 4 star hotel, which if you decide to go away on a whim, is a great money-saving idea! Another website that we love is Hotwire for travel and hotel deals.


Friday morning we headed to Birmingham which is an affluent suburb of Detroit, located just down the road from Troy, Michigan. Birmingham has a lovely downtown with unique shops and restaurants, and on the right Spring day is a fun place to visit.


We stopped in a bustling place called Toast for lunch...and let me tell you, it was so good! Here's a little tour  of this eclectic restaurant with pictures:

Can I just say that I loved the decor. Old vintage charm mixed with eclectic art and contemporary colours and lines. It was well done!

Matthew enjoyed a "Make Your Own" Omelette complete with bacon, homemade smoked chicken and apple sausage and cheddar cheese. On the side you see homefries with a light herb seasoning and cinnamon challah toast!

I enjoyed one of their many french toast options. This one was called the Granola Mountain French Toast. It  consisted of challah bread (I opted for cinnamon) topped with vanilla yogurt, granola, fresh berries and drizzled honey. MMmmmmm!

We then walked the downtown and popped into any store which caught our eye. Downtown Birmingham is home to some great coffee shops, eateries, ice cream parlors, boutiques and The Cupcake Station (Have you ever had a salted caramel cupcake? My sisters are addicted to this place!) They also have a place where I could spend an entire afternoon: Anthropologie Its a shop that is hard to describe, its relaxed, colourful, creative, bright and makes me want one of everything.

Here's a little glimpse of inside:

We headed back to the hotel in the late afternoon for some R&R and then dressed up for a nice night on the town. After browsing some restaurant review websites, we settled on a new restaurant in Novi Township called The Toasted Oak Grill &Market. As a side note, Detroit has a wonderful publication called Hour Detroit which keeps up on the pulse of Detroit and the surrounding areas. Each year they award different local business with "Best of.." and Toasted Oak were awarded in 2011 for : Best for General Excellence and Best Ambiance! Check out their website for more "Bests", but be aware that parts of the website is restricted to those who are subscribers. 


Anyways, back to the Toasted Oak. Its situated on the main strip on Novi Road and is actually attached to the Baronette Renaissance Hotel. When you walk in the doors, it looks like you are entering a deli market/cafe with a wide variety of local and specialty wines, baked goods, sausages, meats and cheeses to purchase or sit and enjoy. Many of the offerings are made in-house or are local Michigan specialties. 


Past the market is the the sit down restaurant complete with fireplace, warm tones and plum velvet chairs. When we informed our waiter that it was our first visit, he provided us with a thorough tour of the menu and offered several suggestions on popular menu items and some of his favorites. I love when waitstaff are open to discussing the menu and demonstrate a real grasp of the food that they serve. The menu highlights local farms and seasonally offered food. 


I started with some sparkling rose wine and we enjoyed a started of some fresh warm cornbread with homemade butter and a house salad. Yum!

For dinner I ordered their Steak and Frites! It was a Grilled Creekstone Farms Bistro Beef Tender with shallot butter and red wine sauce. I order my steaks medium well, and although the steak was pre-cut, it was still tender and juicy! Delicious!

Matthew ordered the king of meals, I had to include two pictures so you can grasp the size of the bone. Wow. What you see is the Faygo Braised Beef Short Rib with whipped potatoes and rootbeer demi-glace. His meal was absolutely fantastic. He loves Root Beer and you could really taste the subtle sweetness with notes of the spices that make it fantastic. The meat was cooked to perfection, it was so tender that he didn't even need a knife to cut, it just fell apart with a fork! 

Toasted Oak is definitely a place to revisit. We were so stuffed and so we could not try the amazing dessert that they had to offer. I think that's a pretty good reason to go back, don't you?!


Back at our hotel, we enjoyed a restful night's sleep, or at least I did. Matthew admittedly watched a show about ghosts late into the night, which he didn't recommend to do again. I must say that being out of the house, even if its just a few miles drive across the border, was worth its weight in gold. Its always nice to get away, regroup, shut off from life and the responsibility of home, and spend time with the one you love. 


The following day we had to head back for Easter celebrations with family, but we did make sure to stop for some Panera Bread breakfast and a little retail therapy for some bargain hunting.


I'm always up for new ideas, so how about some audience participation: have you been somewhere that's a driving distance away which you would recommend for a little getaway? Hit up my facebook page or post in the comments of this blog. I would love to hear from you! 

Restaurant Review: Motorburger

This restaurant review has been long in coming, but is so worth the wait!


Windsor is home to a variety of cultures and culinary experiences. Erie Street is a street in town which is dedicated primarily to our Italian friends and is bustling with little shops, cafes and of course; restaurants that offer a variety of Italian fare.


Except for Motor Burger.


When you drive up, it almost shines a glow onto the sidewalk, like a beacon that beckons you to walk inside. Owners Gino and Jay opted to try something different after being restaurateurs in the community for years. And I dare say that it is working wonders. Motor Burger is an automotive themed, gourmet burger joint with contemporary decor, a bustling atmosphere and best of all: freshly made, creative food. 


When I mentioned that I would be writing this blog, I was sent the link to this video on twitter. I think its a nice introduction to this awesome place that is forging a permanent place is Windsorites' hearts. 


Check it out: Motor Burger Video

I decided to wait until I had several burgers to feature, because, if I'm honest, I am a true-blue "classic" burger eater and they have so much more to offer.


Let me first talk about the decor. Its definitely auto-themed, but its classy too. The lights are reminiscent of the bulbs hanging in a mechanic's garage. The blue napkins are those used in a shop. Chalk drawings and wood shadow cow art (you have to see it to understand what I mean) creatively grace the walls. 

The food is brilliantly named after cars like the El Camino, Lamb-orghini or Dip Sticks. What is also neat is that they filter and serve their own bottled water which comes regular for free, or sparkling in a large glass bottle if you choose for $4. Its an awesome way that they stay eco-minded and current. 


Here's what we have ordered on our past two visits: 

This is the in-house filtered water in the custom glass bottle. 

Here's my burger of choice: The Classic Motor Burger

The bun is crispy, the burger patty is delicious and I added caramelized onions which balanced nicely with the house-made sauce that the burger comes with.

Matthew ordered the Deux Chevaux Burger which comes with Gruyere Cheese, Dijon, Baby Spinach, Caramelized Onions and Bacon. Be warned that the dijon has a sharp flavor, which is good if you like that sort of thing. But all in all, a good burger.

 On his second trip there he ordered the Autostrada Burger which he said was amazing. It came with chipotle rubbed Northern Italian sausage, gorgonzola cheese and sliced apple. 

I cannot forget the fries, wow. They are called Belgian fries because they come with a seasoning of herbs and parmesan cheese. I ordered sweet potato fries, of course! (pictured above) Matthew had the regular fries (see below). 

On one occasion, my in-laws joined us, and my father-in-law enjoyed the newest burger on the menu called the Firebird. Its a spicy number, but according to him, absolutely delicious!! This burger came highly recommended to us by the couple seated at the adjoining table. The gentleman quickly mentioned to us when we were browsing our menus that every single burger is delicious and he and his wife usually order two to cut in half and share. But he really loved the "Firebird", so much so that when we ordered one, he jumped up and whooped "YEAH!" Now there's a man who loves his burger!


I have to also mention our waitstaff. Even though the place is busy, they are attentive, and our particular waitress Samar was so pleasant.


Motor Burger is a fabulous addition to our restaurant scene and a great place to enjoy a delicious and fresh burger. Prices range from $7-$15 dollars for a burger depending on whether you get a single or supercharged. Unless of course you are feeling like having some amazing Japanese Kobe Beef Brisket which comes at a bit of a higher price tag. So prices are very reasonable and the food is so worth it!


Thank you Motor Burger for bringing thoughtful and creative food to our city! 

Now GO people, motor on over for a good meal!

Check them out online:www.motorburger.ca , Facebook or on Twitter

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Oh yes please. 


That is what I say whenever I am offered the choice between regular fries and sweet potato fries.


I am in love with a Yam.


I don't know what has happened this year, but something inside of me snapped and I became voraciously hungry for sweet potatoes. It began by hiding them in things because you see...the Hubby is not a yam fan.


So when he had light orange mashed potatoes, he grew suspicious. But with a little sweet seasoning(cinnamon, brown sugar and a hint of nutmeg), it was a delicious side to some ribs. 


When he agreed to have some butternut squash soup, I threw it in! And voila! He liked it!


Whenever, however, oh it didn't even matter...I needed my sweet heavenly potato.


Then if you have seen my review of Atlas Global Bistro , their Sweet Potato Cake sent me on a tailspin. Dessert! BUT OF COURSE! 


Now, I am one to admit my mistakes, and then get very angry. This particular mistake occurred on my first attempt to make Sweet Potato Cupcakes, which if you search online, don't seem to be all that common and/or uniform in how one makes them. So the disastrous first batch was made and I stomped all the way to my Grandmother's house for a family gathering with no dessert to speak of. The stupid things didn't rise and stuck like jellyfish to the sides of the cupcake liners. 

BUT

I would not be stopped! A few weeks later, we decided to host lots of family at our new house for the first time, and I decided to put it all on the line and try again. And then I stumbled on this blog and recipe at: http://www.laurenslatest.com/sweet-potato-cupcakes-with-brown-sugar-marshmallow-frosting/  She used some alternative ingredients, but I reinterpreted the recipe and came up with something I can only define as amazing.

Delicious Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Cinnamon French Vanilla Icing 

(cue the choir of angels)

Ingredients: (makes 12 cupcakes)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cooked and then pureed sweet potato
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup cake and pastry flour * (see below for how to substitute)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup milk

1 container of Betty Crocker Rich and Creamy French Vanilla Frosting

Cinnamon powder (to taste)

Before you begin, you need to get yourself some pureed sweet potato. In my opinion, fresh is best. So take a small sweet potato or half of a larger one, peel it and chop it into cubes. Set up a small pot with lightly salted water and a steamer basket over top (put in enough water to almost touch the bottom of the steamer basket). To make it go fast, I put the diced sweet potato in the basket, covered it and put the burner on high. I let it get to a rolling boil and kept it there until the sweet potato was soft and cooked through. If you like to steam in a different fashion (i.e./ let the water simmer for longer) go right ahead, I am not the boss of you! Once the sweet potato is soft, mash it in a bowl to make a nice lumpy puree, it does not need to be smooth and perfect.

DON'T FORGET to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. And to save time, prepare your muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

Now its time to make the batter. Soften the butter, but not to the point where it is melted. You just need it to be smooth enough to mix easily. 

In a large bowl, mix the butter together with the brown and white sugars until they are blended very well.

Stir in the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract and sweet potato puree, and mix until it is almost lighter in texture. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix, mix, mix!

*If you don't have cake and pastry flour (which is just a lighter flour in texture), all you need to do is get some corn starch and regular all purpose flour. Take a 1 cup dry measuring cup and put two tablespoons of cornstarch at the bottom, then top it up with all purpose flour. POOF! Now you have cake and pastry flour!


In a large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together: the flours, baking POWDER and SODA, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then measure out the milk in a measuring cup. Now, I followed the instructions on the recipe, and I am not superstitious about anything: except baking. So just do it, I don't know why, but it makes magic cupcakes, and that's a good enough reason for me.


Into the wet ingredients slowly mix in some of the dry mixture, follow with some milk and then dry ingredients again. Always end with the dry ingredients, and do it until it is all combined. The recipe does this with a stand mixer on low. I did it by hand. Either way, when its all combined, give it a good stir or two by hand to make sure all of the ingredients are mixed together. When its done, it should look like the picture below:

Divide the batter into the prepared muffin tin, don't worry if it looks like a lot, the batter is a bit thicker and so it won't rise too much. 

Place the muffin tin into the preheated oven. Then lower the temperature of the oven to 325 degrees F. Bake the cupcakes for approximately 20-25 minutes depending on the heat of your oven. Check them once you near the end with a toothpick. Poke one of the cupcake centers and if you get some crumbles, keep them in the oven for a couple minutes more. 

As the cupcakes bake, you can prepare the icing. I like store-bought icing and its an easy alternative to homemade; but if you don't, please feel free to make it! The essence of the icing is the hint of cinnamon. When the icing is at room temperature, I mix in about a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Taste the icing and add as much cinnamon as you like. I will say that using it in moderation is a good idea because the cupcakes are fragrant and spiced also.

Once the cupcakes are done, let them cool to room temperature on a cooling rack...ice them...and serve them! 

Here's my finished masterpiece:

And one week later, I made them again for another family gathering. The mint green icing is to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day!

What is nice about these cupcakes is that the flavors are delicious, diverse, but not overwhelming. Even the sweet potato scoffers could not help but eat one..or two!