cook :: Peruvian Potato Salad

In the summer, our apartment is like a fiery inferno when it becomes super hot outside. So, during the heat wave last month, there was no way I was going to turn the oven on for anything. Good thing, we had some a good mixture of home grown and farmers market vegetables to whip up some homemade potato salad! Potatoes are in abundance right now at the market or even from your own garden, so this can be enjoyed well through the Fall.

This recipe was passed down to me from my Peruvian Uncle who says that it is a Peruvian recipe. The shade of the salad will differ depending on the type of beet you use. Red beets = red salad (and red fingers!).

New Potatoes (choose the small ones)

Beets

Mayonaise

Carrots

Peas (I didn't have any that day)

Boil potatoes and beets. Chop potatoes, beets and carrots into bite sized pieces. Mix in enough mayonaise to make it creamy. Add peas.

It's that simple! Enjoy!

i'm the baker

I'm the baker and Robert is the cook in the family. Lately, he has been very interested in making his own dairy and pasta. We haven't tracked down a good pasta maker at the local thrift store yet, but I will share with you his recent adventures in making his own yogurt.

Homemade yogurt means cutting out extra sugar and artificial additives. Check out our blog post over on Granville Online to see how easy it is to create your own yogurt as well as options to make it vegan friendly.

Did you know that Robert and I contribute to a DIY Vancouver blog on Granville Online? Check it out here.

happy easter!

photo credit: Abigail Lee

Happy Easter! Some eggtastic (sorry!) links:

Eat: Peeps Sushi by craftzine.com

Make: Chocolate Surprise Easter Eggs by notmartha

Share: "Message in an egg" by Present & Correct

eating :: recipe :: caesar dressing

Apparently, the need for cooking from scratch comes with the handmade lifestyle. At least, this is what Robert has told me when I mentioned that I wanted to start making my own salad dressings. Caesar is one of our favourites and is enjoyed many times throughout the week. Throw in some homemade croutons made from this bread recipe and this caesar dressing recipe posted by post grad hair cut and you have some green leafy heaven!

1/4 cup fat-free or low fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste (you can buy this at the grocery store, its pretty cheap)
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (I used regular)
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard

Whisk together. Add garlic to taste.

Instead of adding lemon juice to the dressing, I just squirted over the entire salad. This recipe makes about 6 salads depending on how much dressing you use. I found the results quite watery at first, but it tastes fantastic and makes it easy to spread.

i am baker

photo credit: i am baker

i am baker is a delectable website full of all kinds of sweets. Manda started the blog just over a year ago as a place to collect her baking thoughts, to share her recipes and show off creations such as the amazing heart cake above. Think you have what it takes to make your own? Visit her site for a full tutorial or try whipping up a triple word score with i am baker's sugar cookie recipe below.

conversation hearts

photo credit: Martha Stewart

Remember when you were little and the teacher used to send you home with a list of names, so that all the kids would get a Valentine's card? Then on Valentine's day, there would be a party with pink heart cookies and candies.

I remember saving the one from my childhood crush and feeling so special even though his mom probably wrote it!

These conversation hearts shout Valentine to me. The ones pictured above are sugar cookies iced to look like the candy you find at the drugstore. If you are feeling crafty and want some of the old school kind, try whipping up some of your own with this recipe I stumbled across.

making + creating

A weekend of catching up and preparing for the upcoming craft fair season ...




I even made my first batch of bagels! Recipe can be found here.

Before:


After: