Well, this weekend wasn't really much of a weekend for me.
Friday night was quiet, Stephan was gone for work still so it was just me.
Saturday I had to go into work to get a few things done. It was only supposed to be for 3 hours, but it ended up being 6 hours. But oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes. After work I ran a few errands and grabbed groceries and headed home, and then cleaned the house until 7pm. I know, fun eh? I made a late dinner, and watched some TV.
Sunday was church. I ran around after church checking out prices for decorating our guest-bedroom, I'm trying to establish a budget to go over with Stephan and see if my vision is realistic!
I layed down to take just a short 3o minute nap, set my alarm....but my alarm failed to go off and I slept for 2.5 hours! OOPS! But, I've been running behind on sleep all week (last week was just crazy busy!) so I guess I needed it. I got some paper-work done for work, and made dinner. I tired a new recipe. I had bought some fresh-made ravioli with spinach and cheese, and I tried this homemade tomato-basil-and-cream sauce I found here, and it was DELICIOUS! Definitely something I'm going to make again. My next step is to try to make the ravioli myself! I spent the rest of the night relaxing for a bit.
How was your weekend??
I'm looking forward to Stephan coming home tomorrow! :)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
It's Friday!!!!
YAY!! This week has been a long week, and I'm exhausted. I had my exam Wednesday for the course I was taking, yesterday we took the kids at the pre-school on a field trip (and with 30+ children, it keeps your hands full!!), and we are getting ready for a government inspection to be accredited at my work anytime next week or the week after, for which I have to work late tonight. So, it will be another long day today, but I am SO looking forward to the weekend. I might have to work a bit on Saturday, but that's ok. I can still sleep in.
My next course doesn't start until March 1st, and it will take about 4 1/2 months (although I have up to 6 , months to complete it), however, there is no exam for this course! 3 essays worth 30%, 30% and 40%. So that will be nice. I'm looking forward for the break from some course work. It means I'll have time to read for myself, I won't have so much work to do during the week AFTER I finish my job each day. It means I'll have time for hobbies like the big painting I have planned for our living room wall. Oh, and starting to set up the guest-bedroom and do some work in the living room!
The end of the week also means Tuesday is that much closer, and Stephan will be home. Its supposed to be his 2nd last shift up north, and we will both be glad when he's back to his regular work week: 4 days on, 3 days off. It means he will be home every weekend :)
What are your plans for the weekend?
My next course doesn't start until March 1st, and it will take about 4 1/2 months (although I have up to 6 , months to complete it), however, there is no exam for this course! 3 essays worth 30%, 30% and 40%. So that will be nice. I'm looking forward for the break from some course work. It means I'll have time to read for myself, I won't have so much work to do during the week AFTER I finish my job each day. It means I'll have time for hobbies like the big painting I have planned for our living room wall. Oh, and starting to set up the guest-bedroom and do some work in the living room!
The end of the week also means Tuesday is that much closer, and Stephan will be home. Its supposed to be his 2nd last shift up north, and we will both be glad when he's back to his regular work week: 4 days on, 3 days off. It means he will be home every weekend :)
What are your plans for the weekend?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
What I'm Loving Wednesday
Today, I'm linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!
I'm loving that I wrote my exam today for the course, and now am DONE my course!! ...until the next one starts in March (but there's no exam for that one, woohoo!!).
I'm loving that the exam went well, and I'm feeling really good about it.
I'm loving the sweet text message I got from Stephan today wishing me good luck :)
I'm loving Anna, who is being super cuddly these last couple of days since Stephan went back to work yesterday (she misses him, and misses the attention of having someone home during the day.
I'm loving the cute positions Anna curls up when she goes to sleep....she looks pretty funny sometimes!
I'm loving that I wrote my exam today for the course, and now am DONE my course!! ...until the next one starts in March (but there's no exam for that one, woohoo!!).
I'm loving that the exam went well, and I'm feeling really good about it.
I'm loving the sweet text message I got from Stephan today wishing me good luck :)
I'm loving Anna, who is being super cuddly these last couple of days since Stephan went back to work yesterday (she misses him, and misses the attention of having someone home during the day.
I'm loving the cute positions Anna curls up when she goes to sleep....she looks pretty funny sometimes!
Monday, January 23, 2012
German Apple Crumble Cake
This past Thursday evening I tried a new recipe. Stephan had been asking and hinting for awhile for me to make a German Apple Crumble Cake, and I had finally got the recipe from someone. So I tried it, since the recipe looked pretty simple. And it was VERY easy to make! Not complicated at all. This is another traditional German recipe from Stephan's childhood. And according to Stephan's verdict, I aced it on my first try. Its very simple, not overly sweet and DELICIOUS! I would definitely make this again. Anna even approved...she licked the dough off of the bowl (she worked her way all around the rim), she loved the soft little pieces we broke off for her (the soft part under the top crust), and licked our plates clean after we were done.
weekend recap
This weekend was quiet, I spent it with Stephan just enjoying his time off together. He goes back to work tomorrow, and has 2 shifts remaining up North. After that, he'll be back for his regular work week and home every weekend. YAY!
On Friday we had planned to see a movie. We had been wanting to see the new Underworld movie (we love that movie series!), and the newest one was out in theaters on Friday in 3D. So we looked it up, but it was almost $20 each to see the movie, which we both thought was way too expensive. So we decided to see Contraband with Mark Wahlberg. It was a really good movie, one we both agreed we would buy. We saw the early show, so we came home in time to watch Grimm on TV.
Saturday we slept in a bit. We ran a few errands, and grabbed some groceries. I made us a lunch, and we did some cleaning around the house, and laundry (very exciting!). We grabbed some dinner, and spent the night watching some movies and having a few drinks.
Sunday I had church in the morning. I picked up Stephan after church, and we ran a few more errands after church. We needed to drop off our recyling at the bottle depot and pick up something from Stephan's work downtown. We also stopped by Jysk to grab a duvet that was on sale. We are slowly starting to finish decorating and organizing the house, and the duvet was for the guest bedroom. We have a friend of Stephan's, and his wife, coming from Germany at the end of May, so we want to have the guest bedroom done by then. We also want to work on organizing and setting up the office, as well as getting our living room put together. The rest of Sunday was lazy.
How was your weekend?
On Friday we had planned to see a movie. We had been wanting to see the new Underworld movie (we love that movie series!), and the newest one was out in theaters on Friday in 3D. So we looked it up, but it was almost $20 each to see the movie, which we both thought was way too expensive. So we decided to see Contraband with Mark Wahlberg. It was a really good movie, one we both agreed we would buy. We saw the early show, so we came home in time to watch Grimm on TV.
Saturday we slept in a bit. We ran a few errands, and grabbed some groceries. I made us a lunch, and we did some cleaning around the house, and laundry (very exciting!). We grabbed some dinner, and spent the night watching some movies and having a few drinks.
Sunday I had church in the morning. I picked up Stephan after church, and we ran a few more errands after church. We needed to drop off our recyling at the bottle depot and pick up something from Stephan's work downtown. We also stopped by Jysk to grab a duvet that was on sale. We are slowly starting to finish decorating and organizing the house, and the duvet was for the guest bedroom. We have a friend of Stephan's, and his wife, coming from Germany at the end of May, so we want to have the guest bedroom done by then. We also want to work on organizing and setting up the office, as well as getting our living room put together. The rest of Sunday was lazy.
How was your weekend?
Monday, January 16, 2012
Weekend recap
Hello all you fine people! It feels so good to get back into the swing of things, back into a routine! That, and Stephan comes home tomorrow...and I'm trying 2 new recipes. I love cooking :) Especially when one is a slow-cooker recipe, YUMMY!
Also, we're at the beginning of a VERY cold spell. It was -28 degrees Celcius today. I feel bad for Stephan, it was -39 degrees celcius 8 hours up north where he was working. These cold days are supposed to continue all week.
Back to the weekend recap. My weekend was pretty quiet. I ran a few errands after work, and then came home and had some dinner. I rented a movie on TV, The Help, which I loved! I thought it was a great movie, and I enjoyed it with a nice glass of wine.
Saturday morning I got up, slept in a little later than planned. But I got ready, and went off to church to do flower altar decorations. It was the first time I got to do them since I moved out here from Ontario, and I really missed it. I just didn't have the opportunity in my old congregation, but here in my new congregation I do :) My first time that I was supposed to do flowers was actually back in November, but that was right at my worst days of the laryngitis I had.
This is how they turned out:
altar flowers - right side
The rest of Saturday was spent doing a bit of shopping. I didn't really buy anything for myself, but I checked out a Home Sense store since they are supposed to be cheaper then Bed Bath & Beyond. And they were! They also had a lot more decorative stuff for the house, so I'll have to keep them in mind. The only thing is is the closest one is about 25 minutes from my house. So its a bit of a hike, those trips will have to be planned. I spent the rest of the day being lazy, relaxing and avoiding house chores.
Sunday was church, and I grabbed some groceries on the way home from work. I've planned a nice new slow-cooker recipe to make tomorrow for when Stephan gets home from work, as well as a German cake he's been wanting me to make (its one of his favourites). I did a few chores, planned some things for work and watched my Sunday evening shows :)
How was your weekend?
Also, we're at the beginning of a VERY cold spell. It was -28 degrees Celcius today. I feel bad for Stephan, it was -39 degrees celcius 8 hours up north where he was working. These cold days are supposed to continue all week.
Back to the weekend recap. My weekend was pretty quiet. I ran a few errands after work, and then came home and had some dinner. I rented a movie on TV, The Help, which I loved! I thought it was a great movie, and I enjoyed it with a nice glass of wine.
Saturday morning I got up, slept in a little later than planned. But I got ready, and went off to church to do flower altar decorations. It was the first time I got to do them since I moved out here from Ontario, and I really missed it. I just didn't have the opportunity in my old congregation, but here in my new congregation I do :) My first time that I was supposed to do flowers was actually back in November, but that was right at my worst days of the laryngitis I had.
This is how they turned out:
sacristy flowers
altar flowers - left side
altar flowers - right side
altar flower - both sides together :)
The rest of Saturday was spent doing a bit of shopping. I didn't really buy anything for myself, but I checked out a Home Sense store since they are supposed to be cheaper then Bed Bath & Beyond. And they were! They also had a lot more decorative stuff for the house, so I'll have to keep them in mind. The only thing is is the closest one is about 25 minutes from my house. So its a bit of a hike, those trips will have to be planned. I spent the rest of the day being lazy, relaxing and avoiding house chores.
Sunday was church, and I grabbed some groceries on the way home from work. I've planned a nice new slow-cooker recipe to make tomorrow for when Stephan gets home from work, as well as a German cake he's been wanting me to make (its one of his favourites). I did a few chores, planned some things for work and watched my Sunday evening shows :)
How was your weekend?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Holiday recap #1 - christmas baking results!
When I disappeared (hey, Stephan was home for 3 solid weeks and I was feeling lazy), I left off with getting ready to bake cookies on the weekend. Just to warn you, this post is a lot of pictures...and you might be hungry and craving cookies by the end.
I made 3 different kind of cookies.
1.) Rumballs
My mom's rumball recipe is not baked, and does not contain cake in it. It is pure chocolatey goodness, and since its not cooked off (and we double the rum) the alcohol is still in it. YUMMY. This recipe needs to be made the night before and refrigerated overnight until its solid. It will look like this when you take it out the next morning:
Next, you pick your toppings...I do the same as my mom: red sprinkles, green sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, ground walnuts and sweetened shredded coconuts.
Then you take a spoon, scoop out a little of the chocolate mix and roll a small ball in your hands, and then roll it in the topping of your choice. Place on wax paper in a container and continue on until done! Oh, and make sure you eat a few as you go. That's a must. Product control, right? They look like this when they are done:
2.) Nussgipfel
These are little croissant cookies dipped in icing sugar and vanilla sugar, and filled with a sweet walnut filling. They change from region to region in Germany, you can also use hazelnuts for filling. My family has always used walnuts. And we make them smaller than they usually are. I didn't take pictures of rolling out the dough and placing the filling in the center of the squares (I should have, I'm sorry!), so I'll have to start with how they look after you roll them. Mind you, I'm not the greatest at rolling them into pretty little crescents like my mom can, how she does this I have no idea!
You bake them, and then when they are still warm you dip them in the icing/vanilla sugar. They are incredibly delicious, so much so that I had to hide them from Stephan or I would have none left for anyone else.
3.) Pfefferneusse cookies
These are a spicier cookie, and again the recipies vary throughout Germany. Everyone has their own slightly different recipes. My family's is made with nutmeg and Cinnamon, cardamon, annise seeds, pepper and candied orange and citrus peels. They are coated with an icing sugar glaze, and a few rainbow sprinkles on top. I love these cookies, Stephan is not so much a fan. These are a cookie that you either like or don't like. They are not sweet, and they are a very old-fashioned German cookie. No offense is taken if you don't like them, as I know they are quite different than what people are used to.
These cookies take quite a lot more work. You need to make the batter ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge for an hour (by the way, the ingredients are obscure. Have fun trying to find them! haha!). Then you have to roll them into these little balls, and let them sit at room temperature overnight (or in the fridge for 6-8 hours or so) so that they set. This is what they will look like:
Then you bake them, and let cool. Put on the icing sugar glaze and decorate with the sprinkles. It is also best if you let these sit a few days before serving them, so they set more. Lots of setting with these cookies!
The end result of my kitchen after 3 different cookies:
I made 3 different kind of cookies.
1.) Rumballs
My mom's rumball recipe is not baked, and does not contain cake in it. It is pure chocolatey goodness, and since its not cooked off (and we double the rum) the alcohol is still in it. YUMMY. This recipe needs to be made the night before and refrigerated overnight until its solid. It will look like this when you take it out the next morning:
Next, you pick your toppings...I do the same as my mom: red sprinkles, green sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, ground walnuts and sweetened shredded coconuts.
Then you take a spoon, scoop out a little of the chocolate mix and roll a small ball in your hands, and then roll it in the topping of your choice. Place on wax paper in a container and continue on until done! Oh, and make sure you eat a few as you go. That's a must. Product control, right? They look like this when they are done:
2.) Nussgipfel
These are little croissant cookies dipped in icing sugar and vanilla sugar, and filled with a sweet walnut filling. They change from region to region in Germany, you can also use hazelnuts for filling. My family has always used walnuts. And we make them smaller than they usually are. I didn't take pictures of rolling out the dough and placing the filling in the center of the squares (I should have, I'm sorry!), so I'll have to start with how they look after you roll them. Mind you, I'm not the greatest at rolling them into pretty little crescents like my mom can, how she does this I have no idea!
You bake them, and then when they are still warm you dip them in the icing/vanilla sugar. They are incredibly delicious, so much so that I had to hide them from Stephan or I would have none left for anyone else.
3.) Pfefferneusse cookies
These are a spicier cookie, and again the recipies vary throughout Germany. Everyone has their own slightly different recipes. My family's is made with nutmeg and Cinnamon, cardamon, annise seeds, pepper and candied orange and citrus peels. They are coated with an icing sugar glaze, and a few rainbow sprinkles on top. I love these cookies, Stephan is not so much a fan. These are a cookie that you either like or don't like. They are not sweet, and they are a very old-fashioned German cookie. No offense is taken if you don't like them, as I know they are quite different than what people are used to.
These cookies take quite a lot more work. You need to make the batter ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge for an hour (by the way, the ingredients are obscure. Have fun trying to find them! haha!). Then you have to roll them into these little balls, and let them sit at room temperature overnight (or in the fridge for 6-8 hours or so) so that they set. This is what they will look like:
Then you bake them, and let cool. Put on the icing sugar glaze and decorate with the sprinkles. It is also best if you let these sit a few days before serving them, so they set more. Lots of setting with these cookies!
The end result of my kitchen after 3 different cookies:
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I'm back!!
Yes, I totally disappeared for a couple weeks with no word. Sorry! Stephan's work was closed for 3 weeks over the holidays, and so I had him all to myself for 3 whole weeks!! Since it was the holidays, I took some holidays from here too! (In actuality, I was too lazy to come on and post). I plan to do a few recaps from my holidays. I know holidays were actually over awhile ago, but last week I was busy finishing the final assignment for my course, and registering for the exam (which is in 2 weeks from today!)
So, course work is done, holiday laziness is over, and I'm back in action!
Can't wait to catch up with your blogs!
So, course work is done, holiday laziness is over, and I'm back in action!
Can't wait to catch up with your blogs!
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