New Year's Resolution Recipe #7: Perogies/Valentine's Day Dinner

Today is Valentine's Day (or friendship day in Finland) and I thought since we didn't even bother trying to get a sitter - we'll celebrate my birthday, Valentine's Day and our anniversary all in one dinner date at another time.

However, I wanted to do a little something and thought we could spoil ourselves once the kids were asleep tonight (and I'm back with the dogs) with a delicious dinner of steak and shrimps (those would be for me).
I didn't want to have rice with it and I didn't want to have mashed potatoes or baked potatoes either.
Salad is out of the question as my husband has a digestive condition (Crohn's) and for the life of me - I had a hankering for some perogies today!

In Canada (where I'm from) - I used to buy them every couple of months frozen and they would be a nice late night snack during movie night or a different side dish with a meal.
Obviously not the healthiest option of course...I even remember Boston Pizza having a perogy pizza and I was in love!

I can't get frozen ones here - as far as I know - so obviously the next step is to make my own.
I started with a Google search and found this recipe.
Stupid me - I for some reason thought that "20 servings" meant portions for 20 people.  It was a long night last night with the kids and my husband constantly waking me up with his snores or shaking from running in his sleep or something...

Anyways, I downsized that recipe above for "2 servings" and got such odd numbers and the dough didn't work out - so I dumped in more flour and it magically turned into a proper dough! :)

I just mashed potatoes up with spices and shredded cheese.
Next time I'll add crumbled up bacon! :)

For some reason I can't rotate this photo - but you get the idea.
Top: First attempt aka "I have no idea what I'm doing".
Bottom: Several attempts later...aka "Holy crap it looks like a perogy!"
Words of wisdom: I didn't roll the circles out very thinly in fear of them bursting while cooking.  I did flatten them a bit more and stretched them a little with my hands.  I used about a heaping tea spoon for filling and sealed them with water and once they were all done - used a fork dipped in flour to press down the edges.

There were actually 36 of these puppies ready!  I couldn't freeze them as it was suggested (to prevent bursting during boiling) - so I did the next best thing.  I layered them in a bowl with a light dusting of flour and parchment paper/baking paper then covered with a towel and tossed them onto my frosty balcony for a few hours until we were ready to eat.

I have to say I was annoyed (but perhaps it's obvious) that the recipe just says to boil them in lightly salted water and once they float to the top, remove with a slotted spoon.
I'm annoyed because what the recipe doesn't say - and I'm going to share with you - is that you should put a bit of oil in the boiling water to prevent those perogies from sticking to the bottom - and they're going to anyway.  It's possible that the salting of the water will prevent sticking - I just went with oil to be safe.
I couldn't figure out why some weren't floating and it turns out they were sticking anyway!  Luckily I got it in the nick of time and they floated and nothing burst in the pot!
And there should so be a "step 5" - heat a pan with a generous dab of butter and fry them suckers on both sides until golden and crisp.

Again - probably obvious because of the photo posted on the top of their site, but they certainly didn't look just boiled and removed with a slotted spoon to me. ;)

Here was the final result:

Perogies, surf and turf with fried onions and mushrooms and a side of caramelized carrots (boiled in water until tender, drained then cooked in browned butter with a few tablespoons of brown sugar).

We had a feast at home and watched Scandal while the kids slept and the dogs stared at us - waiting and drooling.  Yes, I'm a sucker and gave them some fat from the steak.

Perogies are well worth the time and effort and a few small potatoes goes a long way!

Happy Valentine's Day.

BIMU

PS originally posted on 2 Hookers 2 Kitchens

New Year's Resolution Recipe #6: Princess Cake

Last weekend I had the joy of celebrating my daughter's 2nd birthday party.
I love prepping for birthday parties - I actually don't find it stressful but find it really fun!

Anyway, the theme was cupcakes...kids decorate their own cupcake and that saves me a bucket load of time! :) And because she's so young, she doesn't care about games-they all just run around and wear themselves out!

Well, super last minute - like 2 days before the party itself and I'm in the grocery store- I decided I wanted to try making one of those Disney princess Barbie cakes.

You know the kind - maybe you had one as a kid - where you bake a cake, shove a Barbie doll in the top of the cake and frost the heck out of it.
Instead of doing a layered cake and shaving it to a dress-shape - I used my favourite cupcake cake pan from Tiger and figured it looked alright!

I used Martha Stewart's Buttermilk cake recipe from her book, "Cakes" (Book Depository Affiliate link) and regular buttercream frosting with Wilton's colourings in teal green and leaf green.

First of all - did you know Ariel is super tall without her fins?

I had to cover up her bottom with some extra frosting...

And if you're wondering about how to pack your Princess Cake - I put her in an Ikea food container with a bottle of maple syrup to support her.  A foil tent on top  - both in front and behind.

Ariel showing off her leg...so scandalous!

Anyway, the birthday girl was pleased as punch about the cake and for my first one - I'm impressed too.

Sure, I could've smoothed the frosting better and used a much lighter green frosting but anyhow, I used this video tutorial and it was a huge help!

Our friends liked the taste and flavour of everything and the vanilla buttercream went great with the buttermilk cake inside (a first for me!).
We can't buy actual buttermilk here - in Finland there's an equivalent called "Piimä" but we don't drink it so instead I just saved the money and used regular milk with a hefty splash of vinegar!

In the treat bags I stuck in a mini Kit Kat bar or mini Smarties and a glow in the dark shape that can be stuck on a child's wall with sticky tack.  And on the side a mini play-dough.

I think it may be my daugher's new thing as she got a plushy version of Princess Ariel as well (we already have the movie) and was ecstatic.

That and Barbies are hella expensive!  But anyway, it was fun and I'll practice frosting more :).

BIMU

PS originally posted on 2 Hookers 2 Kitchens

New Year's Resolution Recipe #5: Jelly Roll Cake

One thing I learned in school this past week was how to make jelly roll cakes.
They're so easy - too easy.

So I tried to make my own at home using home-made jam and chocolate sauce (couldn't find my dark chocolate bar for shaving) and I baked it a smidge too long!
So it isn't rolled up as nicely.  But it still tasted lovely!

At home - yeah it was threatening to break so I just flattened it because it wasn't flexible enough to roll properly or tightly.

School version - much more roll-y looking!

I got positive reviews of my piping skills of the whipped cream at school (photo below) until I started to run out of whipped cream and some pieces had too much cream.
"This isn't America D! We use a lot less cream!" she chastised me.
Naturally, having American friends over on Friday called for "American-style" whip cream.

At school all pretty.

So how easy is this?

Pre-heat your oven to 225*C

• 4 eggs
• 2 dl of sugar

Beat these with an electric mixer!  I used just a whisk and it wasn't beat well enough and I found the cake to be a smidge heavy.

Sift:

• 1 dl of potato flour
• 1 dl of all-purpose flour

Fold it into the wet ingredients and mix well (not with mixer with a spatula) and then pour into a baking-paper lined baking tray and bake for 5-8 minutes.

I try to aim for 7 but apparently nearly hit 10 with the one I made on Friday!

Remove from oven and have a second baking paper sheet on your surface sprinkled in sugar, powdered sugar, cocoa powder or whatever you want your cake dusted with on the outside.

Flip cake onto the 2nd sheet and slowly peel off the paper backing.

Spread a thin and even layer of filling all over the cake (but don't go over the edges!) - whether it be:

• jam
• Nutella
• marmalade
• whipped cream etc.

Carefully roll the cake horizontally from one side to the other and tightly as possible without breaking the cake.

Wrap tightly in baking paper and chill in the fridge until you're ready to serve it - then slice it up and enjoy!

This is a fantastic cake for your next handicraft meeting, book club meeting or little tea party!  It's dairy-free (unless you put the whipped cream or chocolate) - which will make your local lactose-intolerant/dairy-allergic friends very happy I'm sure.

I wish they weren't so easy to make!  Really I do.
BIMU

Originally posted on 2 Hookers 2 Kitchens.  Recipe from Kokkiprokkis - my school book in Finnish.

How I Became A Gym Mouse...

If you didn't see my video already or my Instagram posts as of lately- I have joined up for a local gym.
It's called "Fitness 24/7" and I first heard of it in Sweden when visiting friends last summer.
I brushed it off as "I'm not a gym person" because I'm really not.  (Or I wasn't...)
There are several reasons why I'm not a gym person:

• I have commitment issues. I don't know if I'll be in Finland next year -so any kind of yearly-contract membership was a no go.
• I really do have commitment issues and I didn't know when I would have time to go to the gym with my school schedule and picking up/dropping off the kids.
• And even if I found time (which I have) - I still don't know if I could commit to going!
• Budgeting. Trying to save money-remember?
• Self conscious of my increasing muffin top and the fact that I'm in cooking school does not help. 
• I love food and am a stress eater. The greasier the better. 
• I hate sweat- the stench of it or my body sweating.  Sounds funny but I've probably been traumatized by that high school hockey player boyfriend who hugged me after every game-and I just wanted to puke. 

Anyway, a classmate suggested I sign up for Fitness 24/7, as it is a central location, reasonable price, no yearly contract (just 2 months notice prior to ending your membership), group classes were included and she goes there.

So I signed up last week and have to say I'm impressed with the layout and more importantly the security built into my membership card. It has my photo in the card which flashes on their screen (I'm guessing when the card is used), my finger print is required for entering the building and I need my card to get in the changing room.

The first day, I didn't have my headphones with me and just went with the flow.

My goal was to try and do a little bit of this and that with the machines. I hurt like hell the next day but only in my shoulders and chest. Considering I haven't been to a gym in almost 11 years- not bad.

I also credit carrying a heavy backpack regularly to me being able to do anything in the gym. 

I went on the treadmill with mixed jogging and walking-with the hopes I would not have an asthma attack during my exercise. 

(It's also super annoying when you're on the treadmill and the tv program is showing "Italian week at Lidl" and a variety of pasta, tiramisu and other tasty delights...then a cooking show with beef, potatoes and roasted carrots...)

So I did the same on day two and three-I would spend about 1 hour and a half there-happily.

I seriously never thought I would say that but my head feels so nice and empty-it's amazing.
I am guessing that is the feeling when you're "in the zone" - you're focused on your work out and not thinking about anything else!
I honestly haven't felt like that since I was a teenager!  Just honestly, having a completely empty head free of stress and worries about:

• School - learning it in Finnish and having a classmate that has been incredibly difficult to work with...
• Supper and what to cook and what to buy at the grocery store and when with this school schedule...
• Kids - who I need to spend time with more lately because they haven't had 1-on-1 hang out time and what we can do that isn't costly and doesn't involve Netflix.
• Hubster - am I giving him enough time to do his work (apparently not as he's exhausted running around to two day-cares 3 days a week now so I can be in evening class) and when was the last time we actually had a conversation this week?
• Cleaning/laundry/how many cleaning supplies do we need this week? - turns out my dishwasher is busted - the spray doesn't work quite randomly.
• The dogs - have I spent enough time with them too?
• Friends and family - when was the last time I chatted with my girlfriends in Canada?  Hmm - better remember to Whatsapp them today.

The list goes on - but all of this rotates and spins around in my head usually and it's exhausting thinking of all these various things and trying to get it all done.  

Anyway, the feeling of having a clear mind has really been amazing and I might not do hardcore work outs but I do try to push myself a bit more everyday and get myself up to hardcore work outs where I might actually break into a sweat...some day.

(I never understood why in movies women are always drenched in sweat when they're in labour because I seriously didn't do that - not because "I didn't want to because I hate sweat" but because I just didn't!)

I find I am also more motivated to go to the gym to do yoga (nothing fancy or complicated) as part of my post-work out stretching and put aside about 20 minutes time to do so.

I try to listen to slow music and sappy stuff so I move with the music as well.

I started out with positions like "The Warrior" and whatever I could remember from my days of being a dedicated "Wii Fit" user (until we moved and lost a cord and still don't know which cord needs to be replaced - it's only been over 3 years) - then I used my phone to find some basic yoga positions on Pinterest (so I didn't have to watch videos) and went for that!

I also like that the gym here (maybe it's all of them in Finland) doesn't seem to have any strict rules about using your phone in the gym.  I suppose it's common sense to not take photos of strangers (in-appropriate ones or not) and so many people use their phones for tracking their fitness and for music - it'd be harder now to say "no phones in the gym".

Yesterday I laid on my side straight and lifted one leg up in the air and slowly put it down (like scissors) and repeated that a few times and switched to the other side and I just hoped that I didn't cut one with a guy behind me doing his stretches! :P

I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one to fart in the gym - my friend is a PT (personal trainer) and she's shared some stories of stenches going on the gym that were simply not from sweat.

I don't do yoga at home (especially when the kids are awake) because the dogs are constantly in my face and last night mid-pose my husband asked me "Why are you doing that now?" which totally killed my mood and I got rather snappy with him for interrupting my attempt at having a stretch to help me be a bit more tired so I could sleep!

Well, I find I'm more energetic, feel refreshed and my patience with my children is increasing as I try to just ignore their wails and whining (unless serious) and not take it all so seriously and focus on my next work out - or refer back to the list above of things to think about! :)

I have found I am more conscious of what I'm eating in terms of treats and portion sizes and have tried to do half a plate of salad or just 1 potato if there's no salad available at lunch time.  I don't even crave any of my regular junk food anymore (i.e. Burger King, McDonald's etc) because I have another way to have "me time" alone downtown.  I can go to the gym and have a healthy bagel sandwich and a cup of tea (healthier than deep fried goodies) at the nearest cafe instead!

It's so weird and yet so exciting!  I've noticed some changes already - my attitude, my desire to stress eat is cutting down, I'm not munching on snacks for no reason anymore and I just feel happier.  Also my ability to concentrate and focus has also greatly increased - which is a massive need when studying!  And I no longer feel like taking a nap mid-day - usually because I'm too busy to do so anyway with class! :)
Of course the ultimate goal is to shed the muffin top, decrease the extra love handles I've developed over the years and feel fitter, more energetic and sexier even (since I'm being honest here)!

Your gym rat in training (current status: gym mouse),
BIMU

New Year's Resolution Recipe #4: Surf & Turf Shish Kebabs

Sorry it's been a bit over a week - I've been secretly planning a pampering baby shower for my friend who was expecting kiddo #5 - and prior to that - another baby shower for another couple of friends!

Anyways, I'm back and I've been trying a few new things!
For the life of me, I couldn't find skewers (metal or wood!) in a shop downtown and didn't have a lot of time to spend - so I asked the cashier and she found me these metal wires with super sharp skewer tips and they were 2 in a pack for 13.95€ and I thought I'd try them out.

I don't know why I never think to even DO skewers - they're so easy and simple!  I suppose not having a barbecue and not being allowed to have one on my balcony has something to do with it too!
But I got motivated from school (where I'm studying cooking) and the student restaurant treated us to a fancier lunch and there was a chicken skewer.

School "fancy" lunch from the student restaurant where I study.

So it turned out last Friday (2 days ago), we had our guests over as usual and I found out through Facebook that my friend's birthday was on Saturday - so I wanted to make something a little more special and opted for those skewers/wires.

I had 5 minutes to marinade the beef and I just tossed them in soya sauce with roasted garlic spice and Chinese 5 Spice and pepper.  

I didn't thaw the shrimp all the way - so there was a bit of water in the pan when I pulled it out of the oven.

I do plan on doing this again as it was easy, a great motivator to eat more vegetables and I felt happy and full (without the need to switch to sweat pants) afterward.
I'd also try to put more thought into the marinade and maybe brush some extra on during half way (but was in a rush making dessert) of the cooking time - but otherwise it was a pleasant treat.

I used (already cut) chunks of beef, frozen shrimp, bell peppers, red onion and whole mushrooms.
I used cooking spray on my wires to ensure easy slide-off and cooked them in a pre-heated oven (350*F/175*C) for approximately 30 minutes.
I couldn't flip these as they were on a wire and both wires were filled from loop to tip!  This fed 4 adults, 5 semi-peckish children and was served with rice.

In the bottom two, far-right photos - a filo pastry (puff pastry) covered in sliced pears with brie, crushed walnuts and pecans and dried cranberries with a drizzle of honey and shaved dark chocolate!

Off to bed for now!  Until next time!

BIMU

PS Originally posted in 2 Hookers 2 Kitchens!

New Year's Resolution Recipe #3: Chocolate Avocado Pudding (Crap in a glass)

I tried 3 new recipes today as a spur of the moment but I'll try to spread them out (in case I don't make new things in the next couple of weeks! :) ).

Today I'm going to talk about a failure.

I had made egg-drop soup today and it was okay - there was something missing and I think now, I realize it was some sort of red Chinese vinegar that I normally ate with it and it should've been a tad thicker.  I'm letting it sit overnight with the hopes it thickens on its own some more.
But that wasn't the failure.  that was the could've been better.

I felt like dessert and I was trying to avoid devouring cookies and chips and whatever else - oh yes, chocolates from Christmas - as I'm actually trying to lose my chub buddy.

So I went on Pinterest.  I wanted something:

• Quick
• Quiet to make
• Healthy 
• But yes, also some sort of dessert-classified thing.

I came across this: Chocolate Avocado Pudding on Pinterest.
Perfect!! I actually had some leftover avocados I wanted to use up and they were still ripe and lovely.
I didn't use a blender because I didn't want to wake the kids up so I just used my hand mixer and it didn't do it for me in the end.  It was a bit chunky - despite me mashing it a bit more with a spatula and mixing it again with a mixer.

I tried drowning it in honey and extra coconut/almond milk and a bit more powder to make it darker and I was gagging as I scooped it down and into my throat as fast as I could.
Of course because it contained avocado I couldn't feed it to my dogs.  Nor would my Hubster even look at t his...and the kids were asleep - so I couldn't trick them into thinking/eating this chocolate pudding...
(A-Man would call my bluff anyway.)

If I were to do this again I would:

• Use chocolate milk instead of a nut milk to liquidize it.  (Chocolate oat drink or something chocolate-y and vegan - dairy milk's been making me sick lately - even lactose-free!)
• Whipped cream on top - it honestly looks like crap in a glass.
• Add peanut butter or Nutella for more flavour.

Not all recipes will be winners and that's okay.
I think also, I'm so used to avocados as a savoury item like in guacamole, in sushi or a salad or on a pizza or with cheesy garlic bread (it was some sort of vegetarian recipe I found years ago) - that the concept of it going into something sweet baffled my brain.

If I try it again - I'll let you know when I'm despserate enough.
BIMU

PS Originally posted on my other blog, 2 Hookers 2 Kitchens

A Side of Autism: My Moisturized Sofa

I love my kids and there are times where I am more on the "why the f*ck did I have kids?" end of the scale.

Remember that awesome trip to Helsinki I vlogged about?  Well, I was riding on that high of having a meltdown-free day with the V-Man and even managing to travel to Helsinki and back within the same day (almost 8 hours on a bus!) and it was all burnt to smithereens this morning.

We (Hubster and I) were still asleep and we knew 2/3 kids were awake.  We found out that the V-Man was awake when A-Man started screaming, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
I let the Hubster go check and see how much damage control would be needed and then when I heard him shout, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
I braced myself for the worst.
Like laundry soap all over our old hardwood floors (that soak up liquid like sponges - so you need to act fast!) or more fabric softener...

I opened my eyes and saw white stuff everywhere on our grey sofa.

Thankfully - my sofa probably needs to be washed anyway.

Unfortunately - I'm super lazy and don't have a car to rent a deep cleaning vacuum.

I then saw red.

Why be so pissed off about THIS much lotion spread deeply and all over my sofa?  Along with my daughter M-Girl who was caked head to toe in it?

Because I just bought the lotion the day prior, it was 750 ml and was nearly empty by the time we saw that up there and I used it once.

I'm trying to be better at moisturizing my skin because frankly - my legs look like snake skin boots - for free! HA!

I was also mad because it was Burt's Bees lotion and I can't get that in my city - so it was a real shocker for me when I walked past a shop and saw it for 50% off.

So what you're looking at (not including the blobs of lotion in M-Girl's hair, on her belly and all over her hands, feet and diaper/pajamas) - is 9€ of lotion everywhere.

We know the V-Man did it because A) he was caught red (white?) handed with the tube in his hand and hand painting it everywhere and B) A-Man shouted it to us.

I'm calmer now about it - I can almost chuckle about it.

I realize it could have been worse.

It could've been blood.  Mud.  Poop.  Pee. Wine.  Vaseline.  Olive oil.  Soya sauce. 

Remember my New Year's Resolutions?

Calmer parent - well, that's gone.  In fact, on NY Day - I am pretty sure I screeched the roof off about something at the kids and cursed a storm.

That morning of the moisturizing sofa incident - I did a billion times worse.  I think I yelled at V-Man and M-Girl (as she was caked in it) for a solid 5 minutes - like hollered at them - for a solid 5 minutes.
Then I stormed off and tried to scrub the sofa with sofa cleaner and then went to the bedroom to sob and calm down.

But it's done and over with and the stain is sort of fading.

And Milo licked the sofa a lot for the next 2 days to try and help me out I guess.

This is exactly why I don't buy new anything (with few exceptions like underwear, groceries, toilet paper and so on).
And it's also why we don't have white clothes or furniture.
This is the life of motherhood that annoys me the most I suppose and I have no shame in saying that.
I'd love to meet the parents that thoroughly enjoy parenting to the extent that they're happy 100% of the time.  Never once having a melt-down or a breakdown (whatever sounds nice to you), children that are pure angels that do no wrong and can own nice things from the moment they're with their partner straight through baby barf, toddler-hood and creative art on the wall ages.
(Or is this completely imaginary like unicorns?)
BIMU