Mailbox

This post is fairly straightforward and simple...we got a new mailbox! By new, I mean we found it at a thrift store back when we moved into our rental unit, originally planning to put it up there, but we never did. When we moved into our house, we knew we would be replacing the old, rust-stained white mailbox with our thrift store find. This week, we finally did!

Before

After

Is that not the most dramatic before and after you have ever seen? We are also hoping to either replace the door or sand/strip/stain it to be a dark rich wood colour - which will match the mailbox better.  I am not a big fan of this door for many reasons:
- It is not sealed well, so you can feel a draft
- The window is only a single pane of glass (not great for warmth or safety)
- The lock mechanism is not great...it has to always be locked or the door won't stay shut, and I would prefer a deadbolt
- I don't like that it is white - only for the reason that I use a white curtain so that some light can still come through...and I don't like the white on white. I would prefer a dark door with a light coloured curtain or maybe just a door with a smaller or frosted window

But I digress...I'm here to talk about the mailbox!

I am definitely a home owner, because the thought of our new mailbox makes me squeal with excitement (although let's be honest, I tend to do that with just about anything). I keep opening our front door to make sure it's still looking great. It is. The day we put it up, I was hoping to witness our mail carrier deliver the mail and hopefully see an approving 'this-mailbox-is-way-better–than-your-old-mailbox' nod while I peered through the window. That didn't happen, which is probably for the best. But I just know that he must have loved it!

All this talk of mailboxes has me itching to go check the mail.

Until next time,
a&a

Our Granola Recipe

Andrew and I have been using this delicious recipe for the past couple years. Andrew came up with the recipe through several trials and few errors, and we think it is finally all in correct proportion.  Needless to say, we still tweak it every time it is made depending on how we feel and what ingredients are available.  It has been a hit with many friends and family, so I thought I would share the recipe here! I made a batch today (as I mentioned in this post, it is one of the things I do best in the kitchen).

I make it in massive quantity (about 6 quarts), so it normally lasts at least a couple weeks. I've organized the ingredients into four different groups, as you add them at different times. To begin:

First - preheat the oven to 400

Add the following into a big mixing bowl:

- 4 cups large flake oats

- 2 cups roasted peanuts

- 2 cups sliced almonds

- 2 cups coconut

- 2 cups spelt flakes

- 2 tsp salt

Bowl 1

Once all the ingredients are added, give them a good mix. I left them separated for the photo because it looked cooler. Don't let the coolness fool you, I did mix it afterwards!

We use large flakes of coconut, but shredded would be fine too.

 In a second bowl, mix the following ingredients:
- 2 cups sunflower seeds
- 1 cup pepitas
- 1 cup sesame seeds

Bowl 2

In the last bowl, add and mix:
- 2 cups raw cashews
- 3 tbsp ground flax
- 3 cups of raisins (we use golden, thomson, whatever is handy)
- 2 cups of apricots (cut into small raisin-sized pieces)
- 1 cup of miscellaneous dried fruit (this time I used dried apples and cranberries, but it can be anything...go crazy!)

Bowl 3

In a small pot, add:
- 6 tbsp of butter or oil (or a combination of both)
- 6 tbsp of honey

I normally place this pot on the burner that gets the warmest when the oven is on. It melts by the time I'm ready to use it without even turning the burner on.

Once the oven is ready, divide the contents of Bowl 1 into two pans. Place in the oven for 5 minutes. Take it out, put it in the bowl and stir. Then put back into the pans and in the oven for 5 minutes, take out, and stir again. At this point, add the contents of Bowl 2 into Bowl 1, divide into two pans and put it into the oven for 5 minutes. Take out and mix again, this time adding the melted honey/butter/oil goodness and mixing it evenly throughout the granola. Put the mixture back into the oven for 2 minutes.

To recap those crazy instructions:

- Bowl 1 in oven for 5 mins

- Stir

- Bowl 1 in oven for 5 mins

- Stir and add Bowl 2

- Bowl 1 and 2 in oven for 5 mins

- Stir and add honey mixture

- Bowl 1 and 2 and honey mixture in oven for 2 mins

Those instructions look even crazier...I hope this is clear!

Take it out of the oven, add the contents of Bowl 3, and give it a final stir. Note that the contents of Bowl 3 never go in the oven. Let it cool and then put it in an airtight container.

Serve with yogurt, milk, or just eat it as a trailmix snack - Bon Appetit! 

My Chef at Home

In light of Valentine's Day approaching, I thought it would only be appropriate to write a post about/to my own personal chef at home.

I would have to say one of the questions I get asked most often is "So who does all the cooking at your house?" and I always struggle to answer it.

The honest answer: Andrew does - he does almost all of the cooking.  

I remember in 2006 (before Andrew and I were even dating), we were just starting to strike up a friendship.  We would hang out at the restaurant where we worked, at staff parties, or I would go to his place and he would cook up a storm for me.  Advice to any single man: if you want to woo a girl - cook for her.  If we were at work and I complained of a sore throat, Andrew would whip up a hot cup of lemon, ginger, and honey tea for me.  He couldn't have been more considerate, attentive, and caring.  I felt so loved. 

One thought I remember verbalizing early in my relationship with Andrew, to Christina or Erin or Tess, was that "if I marry this guy...I'm going to eat like a queen for the rest of my life."  I couldn't have been more right! Which brings me back to the question of who does most of the cooking in our house. I think the reason I struggle to answer it is because part of me feels guilty that I have been so blessed to not only marry one of the most caring, funny, and capable men I've ever met - but also to marry a chef! I'll be the first to admit that I am spoiled rotten when it comes to meals, and for that I am forever grateful.  When I answer the question, I normally follow up with "but I'm a really good dishwasher/helper/eater". Which are all very true statements.  

Now this whole 'chef at home' thing is a bit of a double-edged sword, because my repertoire of recipes is not as vast as I would like it to be.  Don't get me wrong, I do help out.  I can fend for myself when Andrew is not home, and would consider myself to have more culinary knowledge than the average person, but I would like to know and do more. The following is a list of cooking/baking duties I am awesome at:

- Making coffee in the morning

- Making granola

- Spooning out yogurt

- Baking cookies, chocolate cake, scones etc.

- Making a mean batch of popcorn

- Cutting up any kind of vegetable or fruit

- Making a vinaigrette/dressing 

- Making grilled cheese

- Following a recipe

- Sauteing onions

- Did I mention doing dishes?!

I have learned so many skills and tricks from my handy husband. As much as I love being cooked for, this year I am hoping to take a more active role in meal-planning and preparation, and hope to document some of that journey here.

To conclude: Andrew, I love you so much. Thank you for everything you do. 

 Never ever leave me because I would starve to death.

- a