signs of spring...

Two of my favourite signs of spring have been popping up all over for the past couple of weeks...

Just in case I haven't mentioned it before... I love asparagus season! And the little corner of the world where I live is known for producing great asparagus. This season I may be consuming a little more than my fair share...but it is SO good! I love...really love roasted asparagus. Although I think I may be the only one in my family who is happy that there are at least two more weeks left in the season! The same could be said for rhubarb... my kids do not share my obsession with the tart, pink, deliciousness...but I am really enjoying the flavours of spring this year and they are learning to like them...they don't seem to match my level of excitement until strawberry season hits.

The other sign of spring that I can not get enough of is lilacs!

After fruit blossoms, my favourite spring flower is definitely lilacs.

I love how lilacs perfume the air...

I love the variations in colour...

I love how simple the individual flowers are...

and I love bringing in an armful and grouping them together...

Waking up to the scents and sights of spring are one of life's small pleasures. 

and I am learning that it is the small things that make the biggest difference.

berry season

I was so happy to receive a phone call from my local organic farmer to tell me they had three flats of Raspberries ready for me! I have been waiting so patiently for the rain to stop (the okanagan has had the rainiest, coolest summer that I remember. We haven't even topped 30 degrees yet! I think this is mother nature's way of preparing me for my move to Vancouver). The berries finally managed to dry off long enough to be picked and I jumped and ran out the door as soon as I received the call.

We have been snacking on berries all week and it has been wonderful. I really try to buy a lot of fresh berries when they are in season. I feel so bad for my kids who do not have the pleasure of picking berries in the backyard. When I was growing up my granny had a large garden and every summer I used to pick strawberries and raspberries by the ice cream pail full and I could always eat as many as I wanted. We also had a large row of blackberry brambles running across the front of our property and I would do the same in late August with those. Even though we don't have our own, I try to recreate the excitement of berry season by buying as many flats as we can eat. My kids look forward to berry season every year and we all dream of the time when we can just step out into the backyard for our yearly fix.

All the berries around our house has also kicked off canning season! This week I have made over thirty jars of jam: strawberry, strawberry rhubarb, raspberry, raspberry strawberry cherry, and apricot. The smells coming from the kitchen have been amazing! I have frozen bags of rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries - cherries are coming later this week. I always feel so content looking at what I have stored away for winter.

I also surprised my kids with another treat from my childhood...while the two oldest were out with their grandma for the afternoon, I whipped up a double batch of granny's pyrahi (learn about granny's pyrahi here). I used the last of the strawberries for one batch and the first of the raspberries for the second...so good! I love being able to pass on a family tradition.

They taste of summer and happy childhood days.

I love berry season.



Fresh local produce and Rhubarb Scones

I have really been enjoying Spring in the Okanagan this year...especially my first local, fresh asparagus and rhubarb in three years. I have really missed them.

I have been eating asparagus almost every day now for the past few weeks in omelets, stir fries, steamed and roasted (my favourite which is where most of my asparagus ends up). Rhubarb in muffins, pies, crisps and scones (and a new cake-like crumb bar I will be trying this afternoon).

Asparagus and rhubarb are two of my very favourite vegetables; possibly because they are so refreshing after a winter full of root vegetables and the occasional imported "luxury" like salad greens or a pepper or cucumber.

I have really been enjoying them but I am really excited because in about two weeks the strawberries will be ready...the beginning of berry and fruit season!!!

The Okanagan is known for it's orchards...I really can't wait. For so many years I took the fresh fruit for granted. When I first arrived in Nova Scotia I remember picking up a harrowsmith magazine that declared the only places in Canada where peaches were grown was in BC's Okanagan Valley and the Niagra region in Ontario! I almost cried...what?!!! No fresh peaches for almost three years! While I did find some great farmer's markets in Moncton, NB and in Halifax, NS...the fruit was not the same. They just don't get enough sun to really bring out the flavours (although I really liked the maple syrup...oh and the lobster). I am a little embarrassed to say, but honestly, what really made me want to move back to BC was the fresh fruit. I have decided I just don't want to live somewhere where I can't get fresh local fruit within a days drive. I know that sounds crazy to a lot of people and I am getting used to the strange looks I often get (and the more polite smile with the raised eyebrows and head nod)...but I know there are a few of you out there who will understand!

My favourite this season has been the rhubarb scones.

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup vanilla sugar (I keep a canning jar with cane sugar and a couple left over vanilla pods) but you can use regular sugar as well
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

whisk the above together in a medium sized bowl. Cut in 1/4 cup of butter.

In a small bowl whisk together:
1 egg
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp heavy cream (or milk or half of each)
1 tsp vanilla

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry. Add 1 to 1 1/2 cup chopped rhubarb and work into the dough. Form into scones. I like to flatten into a sqare shape and cut squares or flatten into a circle and cut wedges.

Place on a lined baking sheet and brush tops with cream and sprinkle with vanilla sugar if desired. Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.

Enjoy the season!

Canada, Maple Syrup and a Scone

I love maple syrup.

Wait...let me go back a little farther.

I love Canada.

I love being Canadian and I love that I have lived on both the West and the East coasts. I love so many things that it would take all day to list what I love about this great country.

(Just to make it clear...I do not love beer and hockey, drive a pick up truck, live in an igloo, or beat small seals with a club. I am not a red neck and I do not punctuate the end of every sentence with eh?...for that matter I do not call people hosers either...although I do own Bob and Doug's 2-4 anniversary special on DVD.  But, that is not what I want to talk about...)

Today, I wanted to talk about one of my favourite Canadian products - Maple Syrup and yes I do realize that Maple Syrup is made in the north east of the U.S. as well. But, did you know that according to agriculture Canada (see here for more info) Canada produces 85% of the world's maple syrup...so I call that a Canadian product. YUM.

Living in Nova Scotia we were lucky enough to visit here a few times during sugaring season.

We loved seeing how they turned, well, basically tree sap...into something so delicous...

I can see why the sugar maple leaf was chosen for the flag...what could be wrong with a country that produces 40,000 tonnes of maple syrup annually! Who doesn't love that? And while I know today is St. Paddy's Day and I should be making green food or something...I just couldn't get into an Irish mood...I don't think I have a drop of Irish blood. And there is not one part of me that would ever want a green beer. (is that even Irish?) This morning I am feeling more dark amber than green and more Canadian than Irish. So, I whipped up a batch of yummy rustic oatmeal, maple scones (actually oatmeal scones might be more Irish than green beer).

 I thought I would share...these are best warm from the oven and they are excellent with a cup of chopped walnuts added to the dry ingredients. Oh...and I confess I did overbake these just a little...I was trying to find our sugar farm photos and missed them being just perfect...but they were still very good.

Oatmeal, Maple Scones:

preheat oven to 400 degrees F

In a medium sized bowl mix together:

1 1/2 cups flour (I used 3/4 cup all purpose and 3/4 cup whole wheat but you can use all all-purpose or substitute the whole wheat for spelt)
1 cup rolled oats (Quick oats not instant)
1/3 cup oat bran
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Cut in 1/4 cup butter

In a small bowl whisk together 1 egg, 1/3 cup maple syrup and 1/2 cup milk.

Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined. (do not overmix).

form into scones (I used an ice cream scoop) or you can flatten into a disk and cut into perfect circles with a cookie cutter or cut into wedges. Place on silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, sprinkle tops with maple sugar (if desired...and really who doesn't!) and place in preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes. Serve warm...

Oh...and they would be very good with maple butter...

Enjoy!

following my own path

Can you believe it is almost two weeks into the New Year?

I've been thinking a lot this year (so far) about where I want to go and what I want to do.

I think it is important to keep re-evaluating to make sure that the path I am on is heading in the direction that I want to go.

I really want to keep learning and going forward. I read a quote once (unfortunately I can't remember who said it) that went something like this...if we keep doing what we have always done we'll keep getting what we have always gotten. Something like that anyway. If I want to see new results I have to keep trying to do new things.

I am really excited about all the possibilities and opportunities this year holds for me and my family.

Over the past decade, most years I have had no idea where I would be at the end of the year which I think is kind of odd for somebody my age. The excitement and wonder of discovery is something that is often experienced during the late teens and early twenties.


I bought my first house just after my 22nd birthday and worked for most of my twenties at a good job with benefits. I didn't explore much...I focused on "responsibility". It's not that I am not responsible now; in fact, I am sure that I am much more responsible and cautious on a day to day basis than I used to be. But, I am much more open to experiences and trying new things. I am less afraid to try and less embarrassed by failure.

 I want to live my life...not a life that others have imagined for me. My life may not be conventional in many ways but I am enjoying the adventure. Although it may look at times like I am failing at what I am attempting to do I do experience more successes than failures and I know if I continue on my path I will arrive at the destination that I have envisioned.

 I agree with Thomas Edison. "Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up". I think that this is an important quote to remember. Keep going....success may be just around the corner.

in season

I have been feeling a little guilty about my last post...it is not exactly in season as I look out my window at the snow. I do love to be in season and so I thought I better post something a little more appropriate.

We have been enjoying the snow for the past couple of weeks

We have been tobogganing almost daily...

and enjoying the views of winter. My parents have this great tree in their yard. It is actually two trees that have grown up together...

One tree is an apple tree...

and one tree is an ornamental cherry.

In the spring the blossoms are beautiful. Half the tree is white and the other half is pink.

This year I discovered the tree is beautiful in winter as well and I had some fun photographing it.

I ran out of canning jars and didn't get to finish all the fruit before the snow came. I am happy that I did. I think the apples add a nice hint of colour to our gray winter sky and the birds will have something to pick at through the winter.

I love watching snow fall. Especially at night.

There is a creek on one side of the farm. I always love it down there. It is so cool in summer and especially peaceful in winter.



It is also very beautiful...

I am very happy to be spending the winter surrounded by my parents' farm and having family around.

I love living in Canada and being able to watch the seasons change.

Happy Winter!