Domestic Sunday

Very proud of myself today! Finally got around to using up a lot of the stuff in my fridge. Made cranberry sauce with my last huge bowl of market cranberries, but still had some left over. I made about 16 jars, most of which will be Christmas gifts, and stopped there, considering people only need so much cranberry sauce (I don't even think that many people have Turkey anymore?). I think I will try making craisins with the reamaining berries.


With that done, I made a big batch of chicken stock. I tried roasting the bones first this time, hoping the soup would resemble that great Thanksgiving turkey carcus soup, but I can't say I really tasted a difference. I won't bother next time. And then finally I made some great spicy shrimps. I peeled them and made a stock first, using vegetables and herbs, just stuff I had around the house which was:

-carrots
-celery
-onion
-basil
-thyme
-sliced garlic

I simmered the stock for about half an hour, and then strained. Delish! I was expecting it to have a very seafood-y smell, but not at all. So I sauteed my shrimp with a little garlic, added some stock (reduced), and threw in a little tomato sauce with dried chillies. Amazing! I'm always pleased when I try to make something for the first time and it turns out well!

I'm also pleased when I manage to use up all the goodies that need to be used up in the fridge. I've gotten much better about not wasting over the years, but I still seem to have to throw out food at the end of every week. Which I find heartbreaking.
It's off to bed now for this cook!

Bleu Lavande

I made a very exciting discovery today! Bleu Lavande, Canada's only certified lavender growers, and one of the largest growers in North America, has opened a boutique inside The Bay, in downtown Montreal, selling its products. I visited the fields this summer just outside of Magog, about an hour and a half from Montreal, and was blown away by the beautiful colors and unmistakable scent.



I purchased some of their essential oil, hand soap and body cream at the gift shop. I was getting geared up to make an online order for Christmas gifts, until I found their products right downtown! I obviously had to celebrate by getting myself a little treat, so I tried out their hand sanitizer (I'm finally getting on this germ-free bandwagon everyone is so concerned about). I love it! It leaves my hands smelling of lavender all day instead of like rubbing alcohol. And the best part is, it actually moisturizes instead of leaving my hands feeling dry and raw. My next purchase will be something from their "CUIZINE" line, which includes lavender spice, lavender honey, and lavender tea. I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I highly recommend everything I've used so far. If you can't get to a store, Bleu Lavande's website offers free shipping on purchases of over 40$.

The bounty of fall

I never thought I would have the urge to write a blog. Probably because I never knew what blogging meant. After stumbling across a blog I love, Lovely Morning, I decided it was time to start sharing my own passions. So here I am. I have recently discovered my interest in anything homemade, home-grown, and unique. I dove in head first this summer, making jams, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, soups, squash and pumpkin purees, all for the very first time. Not to mention all the fantasic uses I found for my leftover mason jars! This week I will be making my last batches of the fall bounty (growing season of any kind is pretty much over for us here in Montreal), using the cranberries I bought at atwater market, to can some sauce for holiday turkey. I also have to use up the last of the Empire apples I picked (I was told these were the best variety for making apple sauce). I still have lots of squash left form my October visit to a pumpkin patch in St-Eustache, but they will keep for months to come. Pictures and recipes of my upcoming canning to come!