A Party of Turkeys

I've tried to make blogging a consistent thing for me, especially with new goals for the upcoming year to stay focused on projects and commitments, but it turns out that stress and things going on really do get in the way. It's been test after test the last week, leaving me without time for cooking, and barely any time for just sitting on the couch to relax.

Usually, I get everything done on the weekend, however last Friday through Sunday each day was filled with jobs to do, and a birthday party one evening! I turned seventeen last week, and for my special day I invited a few of my close friends for a little afternoon tea party. I expected a small little get-together, but to my surprise when I walked in the door, the dining room table was laid with elegant little porcelain teacups and saucers, and two steaming pots of Earl Grey tea - my favourite.

There were six of us seated around the table covered with a red table cloth and a delicious array of mum's gluten-free home baking, from scones with clotted cream and jam to almond macaroons with orange icing sandwiched. There was also a small plate full of traditional English cucumber sandwiches on gluten-free bread - a must for any proper British Teatime.

I was so surprised to see so much baking, and so much delicacy put into my tea party, and it truly made it special to walk in the door to the perfect table setting. It is without a doubt that everyone enjoyed the gluten free treats, and no one hid their shock at everything being gluten free but still so tasty. Instead, the scones, macaroons, and jam filled shortbread cookies, were devoured as cups of tea were refilled continuously, and the kettle remained on for at least an hour.

Just as we thought that mum had been amazing by baking and preparing everything, one of my friends jumped up and pulled something from the fridge - my view was blocked luckily! She hung around in the kitchen for a few moments, before a large chocolate cake was brought over with brightly lit candles and everyone began singing Happy Birthday.

It definitely made it that much more special that I haven't had friends over, or really done anything, for my birthday in a number of years. In the middle of January things always seem to busy to plan a party, and it's usually much easier to pass by another birthday without creating more havoc with the stress of trying to do something. Except, it wasn't like that at all. Mum told me that she would plan the party, and do the baking, and make the tea, and clean the house - "All for me?" I asked.

"Just for you."

The cake which mum made was definitely the best cake I've ever eaten, it was made from real chocolate, and layered with a creamy chocolate coconut icing (we still had a lot of leftover chocolate from Christmas, which everyone was happy to put to good use). I remember when I was little her cakes were always decorated amazingly, one year she made a pink castle cake for a castle themed party, and another made a cake in the shape of a kid in pajamas when I had a pajama party. And this year, because I love chocolate, and asked for a gluten-free party, she made a wonderful, stacked, iced, and decorated chocolate cake that was about as good as you can get. It didn't even deflate after being cooked, and it didn't even crumble.

Everyone was so full after all the tea and baked goods, that we sat around the table chatting and laughing. Mum even said that all she could hear from upstairs at certain points when she took out her headphones was bouts of hysterical laughter, as if we were all caught in fits. We must have sat around that table for about three hours, completely enjoying being around each other and being so comfortable chatting away like gobbling turkeys. Every one of us has known each other from when were at least in preschool, and have grown up together, through elementary school, and now nearly through high school together. It was while looking through my old albums that we realised how close we all are, there are pictures of us all together at my previous birthday parties (the castle party and pyjama party included) and playing at school or at home as well. Each of my friends who came for that tea party found themselves numerously in the albums, and we just laughed more at some of the faces pulled in photographs.

I was in such bliss of being around my friends, all so close to me, and my stomach ached from laughing so hard with them that afternoon.

"Thank you mumma," I whispered after my friends had gone home, "That was the best tea party ever."

Smoked-Cranberry Turkey Balls
Print recipe here.

These were not served at the tea party, but they could be, as a perfect pairing of sweet and sour, these little turkey balls are delicious appetizer-sized meatballs with a cranberry-orange barbecue sauce. Pierce them with toothpicks, and they're perfect for sharing at a party!

Makes 12 turkey balls

Ingredients

Meatballs:

1/2 lb (8-12 oz) ground turkey or shredded turkey leftover from Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner
1/2 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs, such as Glutino brand
1/4 minced onion
2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1 egg
Salt and pepper

Sauce:

1/3 cup cranberry sauce
2 tbsp smoky hickory or chipotle barbecue sauce
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp gluten-free soy sauce
1 tsp grated orange zest

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a food processor or large bowl, combine turkey, gluten-free bread crumbs, onion, parsley, egg, salt and pepper.

Form mixture into bite-sized balls, approximately 1 - 1 1/2 inches wide.

Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking oil, such as grape seed, and place the meatballs about 1 inch apart.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through completely. Halfway through cooking time stir meatballs to brown both sides.

Meanwhile, combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, lemon juice, soy sauce and orange zest in a small pot. Over medium heat, cook the sauce until the cranberry sauce has melted and the mixture begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.

Remove the meatballs from oven, and transfer to a large pot. Pour the sauce over and stir gently until the meatballs are completely coated in sauce.

Cover and summer over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

Coco Loco For Christmas Macaroons

I don't know any other time when the house has been this tidy. Usually, with only mum and I here during the week, and dad home on weekends - my sister home once or twice a year - it stays clean. Especially compared to friend's houses who have little brothers and sisters running throughout the house, throwing toys around and a constant stream of visitors coming and going.

It started Thursday night with mum taking the afternoon off work to tidy and wash, vacuum and scrub the kitchen spotless. I came home from school to washed floors, and had to fight my way into the only dirty spot of the floor to put down my wet and muddy shoes. When the dog came back from playing around outside, dripping wet, she had to be towel-dried quickly before she ran across the wood floors and left little soggy footprints all across.

The house was being cleaned for today, finally the day when my sister comes home! However, the lovely weather outside, a constant drizzle of rain which sometimes switches into a light snowfall and heavy winds, has delayed flights and ferry schedules. Mum and dad remain on Vancouver Island at the moment, stuck between halted schedules due to delays from winds and weather. I couldn't be more surprised, I always thought ferries were very reliable. To make matters more confusing, I couldn't even understand the logistics of it when mum explained, my sisters flight has been delayed as well - I only hope it's not for too long, so that she can still make the connection of her flight to Vancouver. It's only a question of who will actually be on the mainland to be able to pick her up.

And I sit here, the focal point of their return. I woke up early in anticipation, I am so excited to have everyone home again, and to celebrate Christmas before the day with baking and decorating, and hopefully tomorrow we'll even go and get a tree. I've decorated the house with holly branches, of the ones that I could find with berries on, and have begun making Christmas presents. Scraps of fabric litter the craft table - I'm so happy we still have a craft room! - and decorations lay on top of each other across the floor. Two presents per person I've decided, which means lots of time in the back room with busy hands!

This morning I took my dog for an aprés-birthday walk, she turned three yesterday, and we battled the slanted rain and whistling of the wind through the forest trees. In my wool scarf, Olympic mittens from 2010, a red wool headband to cover my ears, big black rubber rain boots and an oversized rain jacket, I braved the weather, and the long walk there and back in the rain. It was a little frightening walking through swaying trees on my way down to the Chocolatier, as I was planning on warming up halfway with the best hot chocolate around, and my dog began darting quickly through the ferns, excited by the smells which were brought in my the movement of the wind, but also began to become wary of the sounds and air gushing past her and pushing her around.

She wasn't very good as I left her outside the shop to get my hot chocolate, and instead of sitting nicely, patiently like other dogs, she howled, whined and jumped up in a flurry of anxiety at being left alone. She could even see me from where she was sitting, through large glass windows, but it wasn't enough. I had to quickly order and pay, comfort her, return for my drink, and leave to soothe her again. She jumped up and pawed at me in excitement, as if I had just returned from being gone a week or more!

Now, she sleeps soundlessly on the rug, tired from running excited circles around me, and pacing lengths of the trail, back and forth past me.

I've dug up a recipe from a while back now, as my day seems to be filled with crafting and putting together Christmas presents while I have the time, and while no one else is home who will spoil their surprise for Christmas Day.

Coconut Macaroons
Print recipe here.

A sweet and delectable treat, that can be made for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or for a tasty appetizer at any party... Your Christmas party may even be the perfect time to whip out this recipe and bake for friends. Soft and chewy, I love macaroons when I crave something sweet, and so do others!

Makes 12 macaroons.

Ingredients

2 eggs whites
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c brown sugar (I often find store-bought macaroons to be too sweet, so I lowered the amount of sugar in this recipe, however if you would like more sweetness, increase the sugar to 1/2 c)
1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 3/4 c shredded, unsulphured coconut

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl beat together egg whites, vanilla, sugar and nutmeg.

Add coconut and stir to combine.

With a large spoon, drop mixture onto baking sheet, and leave in irregular shapes. Repeat for the rest of mixture, leaving 1 -2 inches between each macaroon.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until tops are golden.

Allow to cool for 10-20 minutes because they will be quite crumbly when they first come out from the oven.

Best served with a steaming mug of a Homemade Chai Latte or Spiced Pumpkin Latte.

Starts with a Chip, and Dip!

Last week I perused through recipes, and trying to decide upon what to make as a simple appetizer for mum's dinner party this weekend, every tab on my iPad was open to a different chef. The recipe I eventually chose, a simple Mexican staple (at least our idea of it), was salsa, but one sneaky ingredient that I didn't know left me puzzled.

The ingredients list had one unfamiliar vinegar, white balsamic vinegar.

"Just perfect, another thing to buy that I'll never use again."

I though to myself, and scanning the grocery shop shelves, I couldn't seem to find it anywhere.

I was the list girl in the never-ending aisles, wandering endlessly up and down, up and down. I felt like I was five years old again and even started to feel the panic of losing your mum in a big, unfamiliar place.

I almost gave up at that point to regular balsamic vinegar, already tucked in the cupboard, and also, barely used.

However, I really am glad that I double checked the aisles, because next to the Balsamic de Modena, an Italian vinegar, and White Cider Vinegar, and across the teas and coffees (I thought it was an odd location at the time), there was just what I was looking for - a clear glass bottle with a transparent, white liquid, that could only be balsamic vinegar.

As I stood in the aisle, I wondered how the two, with a very similar name, could be so different. And so, on my iPhone standing there facing the shelves, I did my research: It turns out that Italian vinegar production has been going on for thousands of years with a process very similar to that of vineyards in the production of making wine. Sweeter grapes are used, and of a much whiter colour, and are pressed into what is called "must" before being simmered for long periods of time (hours) until they thicken into a caramel-like substance. This syrup-y liquid is then portioned into many barrels, made from different types of wood to give the vinegar flavour and the "character" that its label boasts, and then aged. What is called "authentic vinegar" requires an ageing time of at least twelve years, however cheaper balsamic vinegars are not aged for nearly as long and in much larger quantities. The cheapest brands will be mixed with wine vinegar and be coloured by additives.

The white grape must is blended with white wine vinegar and then cooked at a very low temperature, this is required to prevent any darkening. The flavours of dark balsamic vinegar, the kind I always seem to have plenty of in the cupboard, and white balsamic vinegar are quite similar in flavour, despite balsamic vinegar being sweeter and having a more syrup texture. I found the white to be less rich, and also to have much less of an after-taste, which was really lovely in the salsa!

A huge reason that many use white balsamic vinegar in cooking rather than the regular balsamic is to prevent a discolouration. Since balsamic vinegar has such a strong colour and will change the appearance of the dish, white balsamic is used with lighter coloured foods, such as tomatoes and other sauces or dressings. Regular balsamic vinegar could work in this recipe, if you don't mind a darker salsa.

I know it seems like a summer recipe, this salsa, an odd pair to the start of Christmas festivities and decorations today, however, as we would start a dinner party, we shall start off December's posts with a little chip and dip.

Roasted Tomato Salsa
Print recipe here.

A colourful array of vegetables in this wholesome salsa makes a perfect appetizer to any party. The complementary herbs and spices bring about authentic flavours of the tomatoes and onions, and with only a subtle pinch of chile spice, everyone can enjoy this salsa whether served with chips, crackers, or on gluten-free bread as a bruschetta dish.

Ingredients

3-4 c roma tomatoes diced into large chunks
1 small red onion, finely chopped
3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
200 mL corn kernels, sliced from a cooked corn cob, or for a  
      quicker version, use canned corn kernels

2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp chile powder

3 tbsp grape seed oil
1/4 c white balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to season
a few chopped basil leaves to serve

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°F and place a large baking dish on the side.

Toss the chopped vegetables, corn kernels, dried parsley and chile powder together in the baking dish.

Drizzle the grape seed oil and white balsamic vinegar over top the vegetables, and mix well.

Place the dish in the oven and cook for 30 - 35 minutes, tossing halfway and adding more chile powder if desired upon tasting (Careful! It will be hot!)

Remove from the oven and set aside until completely cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge, and serve at room temperature with chopped basil and salt and pepper on top.