Washing Wednesday - Wine bottles

In another three weeks we will be going back to the Vernon Vintners to bottle another batch of wine.  This time we will have a variety of red and white wine that five couples had pick one type each.  With this group, we are able to have six bottle of each of the wine that was picked.  The five different wines are as follows: Italian Viognier, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, White Trio, Red trio and Chilean Malbec.  We have started collecting more empty bottles from our neighbors and I started getting them ready.  First I take the bottle and soak them in warm water and ten tablespoon of baking soda.  This process makes it easy for me to take out old labels.  Once it has soaked for at least 30 minutes, I start peeling them and the more sticky one, I use a scrubber and whatever stickiness is left on the bottle, my hubby removes them with a paint thinner.  Then I wash them again and sort all the bottle according to sizes and color.  So far we have three boxes of 12 which should be enough.  I have decided to clean some more later, just in case some of the other bottles are not up to the right height and cannot be used.  When we get our appointment to come in, we will bring all three boxes and then we will have to clean them there again in their special wine bottle washer.  We are getting excited because when everything is done we will have a great variety of wine with our own label for our house guest to try.  Luckily, I have a son in law who is so creative and an amazing graphic designer who will do our labels for this next batch of wine.

Mexican Monday - Colorful arts

Last week we decided to take a short trip and spend a few days with my cousin who lives in Blaine, Washington.  There were two reasons for the trip, not that we needed a reason.  My hubby had ordered a few items that can only be shipped in the USA.  Also he was checking one of his favorite store (tools, etc), and they were having a big sale.  While we were visiting we helped my cousin remove an old microwave and install a new one.  Since she was having some renovations done in her bathroom, my hubby helped a little bit and did a bit of demo.  In appreciation for what he had done, my cousin took us to dinner at a Mexican restaurant which was recommended by one of her contractor.  The food was amazing and the portions were huge.  My entree was enough for two meals and I ended up having a box to go.  What was very interesting about the restaurants was the very colorful and artistic chairs they have all over the place.  There were a variety of different designs and I took some photos of my favorites.  Since I am practicing my Spanish, I have named each of the chairs myself. LOL.

El pajaro

El barrio.

Las fruitas.

Dos tucanes.

Los pescados.

El campesino.

Savory or Sweet Saturday - All mixed up

When deciding what to bring to a pot luck event, I am always debating between savory or sweet.  But lately our neighbors are usually requesting sweet since they have been to our home and have tasted a variety of desserts that I serve during our events or just simple dinner.  Another event is coming up in a week and the host has already requested if I could bring desserts.  It is a pot luck event and the host is making two main entree and rice.  The rest will be bringing side dishes or maybe even an appetizer.  Today I am just sharing some of the savory and sweets that I have made for guest or just for our use. 

Savory - Prosciutto, asparagus and swiss roll

Jalapeno and cheddar corn bread - savory.

Mixed berry and nuts cracked cake - sweet.

Fresh vegetable roll aka lumpian sariwa - savory.

Peach Pecan Personal Pie - sweet.

Macapuno and custard pie - sweet.

Support Sunday - Community Contributions

Sometimes you don't have to belong to an organization in order to contribute to the community.  There are several ways I have found that I can help out in my own way.  Whether it's sharing some of the baking items that I have or sharing some extra meals that I have made to some of our neighbors.  Each month when I do my volunteer shift, I usually take a plate of treats for the members at our local detachment.  Last week I tried to give a small plate of treats to our garbage man but I keep missing him.  Hopefully next Friday, I will try and keep an eye on him and not leave our home so I won't miss him.  As for my hubby he has his own way of contributing to the community.  He has been helping some of the seniors in our neighborhood that might need a little techie support.  Most of the time it's a half an hour or maybe an hour of his time.  Sometimes he goes over to a neighbor's home even just to keep an eye on the oven because the owner needed to pick up her daughter at school.  Since both of us are home a lot, we are able to help out neighbors with whatever they needed.  It could be just keeping an eye of their home for a few days or weeks while they are away.  Sometime it includes watering their plants or checking their mail.  We truly belong to a great neighbor because whatever we do for them, they do it in return without hesitation. There is a great satisfaction in knowing that whatever you do for them are so much appreciated.  Are you doing something in your neighborhood?  Do you belong to a group within your area?  

Filling Friday - Sweet enough

A little disappointed with myself because I forgot to take pictures of our Canadian Thanksgiving feast.  We invited a few people to join us celebrate.  My hubby was in charge of the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.  While I made a prosciutto cheddar puff pasty for appetizers.  As for the sides, I made roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and caramelized onions.  Then I made french green beans with roasted almonds.  Another side dish was a creamy corn casserole.  We also had some dinner rolls that were yummy but store bought.  For dessert, I made a coconut pie (macapuno with custard and meringue) and my favorite crack cake.  One of our guest brought a pumpkin pie with whipped cream.  Almost forgot that I also made my buko pandan fruit salad.  It was a very filling dinner and dessert was a hit.  Anyway, I remembered to take photos of the dessert.  But I guess you can just imagine the rest of our dinner.  Belated happy thanksgiving to all my family and friends in Canada.

Woven Wednesday - Aztec Design

Two years ago my cousin asked me if I could sew a cover for her Keurig Machine.  Of course I said yes.  The problem we had is that she wanted a paisley design with red and white.  Unfortunately we both couldn't find them at the store or at least the one she liked.  During our last visit, we stopped by a fabric store and she finally found one that she like, no it's not paisley.  She found sort of an Aztec design with bright colors.  I believe that was August and I cannot believe that I have put it off this length of time.  She said she was not in a rush.  Anyway, after sewing a lot of items for my sister, I decided to continue sewing and finished all my outstanding projects.  Like this request from my cousin.  Now I am all done and I am sharing to you the complete set.  There was a lot of extra fabrics so I decided to make her some other items for her kitchen and for her.  Hopefully she will like it and make use of it.

Keurig Coffee Machine Cover

Center piece hot pad to protect her table.

Another hot pad for smaller casseroles.

Kitchen towel.

Pot holders.

Her very own lanyard.

Frame to hang around her kitchen.

Minions Monday - The old and new

For those of you who knew me from a long time ago, you might remember that I use to have some Winnie the Pooh collections (in the early 2000).  After 10 years, it was time to let it go.  Since then I didn't have anything that I wanted to collect until the Minions Meyhem started. 

First I got Kevin, which is the one that when you press his tummy, he would speak in a variety of languages that you can't understand.  Then I started finding Minions Cotton Fabrics and started sewing items, like my luggage tag, pouch, etc.  During our last visit in the USA, I stumble upon a couple of key holder at Rite Aid, of course it was one sale.  The lastest addition to my collection is Bob which I got from a neighborhood garage sale.  The owner (a man in his 40's) sold it for $2 as long as it will be in a good home.  And from the way I held it, he knew it was going to a good home.  By the way, he said that it spent over $50 USD at the fair in Orlando.  It looked so new, the tag was in it.  When my cousin in law was shopping for fabrics in the US, she found a bunch of other minions fabrics and got me some. Now I have a collection of a variety of design and colors. Are you a minion fan if so which one do you like?

Floral Friday - What's around the home

Now that the fall season has arrived, I decided to change some of the flowers in and around our home.  Last weekend we were able to catch a couple more garage sale and I found a couple of really nice ceramic vase.  In addition to that, there was a bunch of fall colored faux flowers that I thought I could use.  If you remember on one of my other post, I changed the pot/vase for our front door arrangement.  I thought it would be nicer to have something taller and sure enough it was more noticeable than the previous low one I had.  In fact I decided to add more orange flowers to the arrangement to make it fuller.  Now I am very happy to share those photos that I remembered to take.

Wine Wednesday - Vernon Vintners

A couple of weeks ago, we finally got the chance to bottle the wine that we had ordered from this wine place called Vernon Vintners.  What was exciting about all this process is that we have never done it and it was a very special time as we are doing it ourselves.  We were very fortunate to have a son in law who was amazingly creative who designed our label for our very own house wine.  This time we remembered to take some photos of the process and that is what I will be sharing with you today.  The manager Cheryl was very helpful, professional but so much fun.  We were able to taste the wine before we bottled them.  One of our friends asked if we had tasted it prior to ordering.  Of course my answer was no because I just trusted my choice of wine.  Since it was a Chilean blend I knew that it would be great.  And I was right.  Since then we were invited to join 4 others to go into another order.  We will have to wait eight more weeks and we will get 6 bottles of each of the following, Italian Viognier, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon,  White Trio, Red Trio, and finally a Chilean Malbec.  By the time our next guests arrive, we will be able to offer a variety of one to taste. 

First the bottles are washed.

Then it is filled with the wine.

Then the cork goes in using a special machine.

 

The red foil goes on top using a special machine.

Jeff placing the foil and I place it on the machine that heats it and seals.

Once the foil is heated and sealed, the last process is placing the label.

Our very own house wine - Chilean Cabarnet Malbec Carmenere

Measureless Monday - Sometimes it works

Sometimes when I have leftover ingredients that needed to be used, I would try make use of that ingredient.  Last week I was making a Pineapple Filled Bars and I ended up with extra crushed pineapple.  I tried to look for a similar recipe for a muffin but I could not find the exact one I like, so I just thought of just combining ingredients that is for a regular muffins and just add other ingredients.  It turned out really moist and yummy, so I am sharing the recipe.  Here it goes.

• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cups oats
• 1/2 sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 crushed pineapple
• 1/3 cup flaked coconuts
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup berry jam
• 1/4 cup yogurt

Mix all the dry ingredients and then mix all the wet ingredients.  Then mix until just combined. Scoop into a muffin pan lined with cupcake paper. Baked at 375 F for 25 minutes.

Shareable Saturday - Squares and bars

It is hard to believe that the golf season is almost over.  Last Wednesday, our ladies group had our final round and we celebrated by having lunch, a drink and I brought some sweets to taste.  The money that we have been putting in for every putt (.25 cents per putt) over two putts actually was enough to pay for all our lunches.  It is a little different playing with a group but I met some really nice ladies as each week you get to play with different golfers.  I look forward to next year's season.  By the way, this was the same group that witnessed by Hole in One.  Actually one of the other ladies, she also had a Hole in One, same #8 hole, a couple of years ago.  But today's post is about the sweets and treats that I have been making that are shareable.  As the golf season ends, my baking season begins.  I will have a freezer full of squares and bars for the holidays and whatever events that might happen in our neighborhood.  It is also handy to have to give away as gifts during the holidays.  

Chocolate Fudge Cupcake and Chinese Chews

Each cupcake has a Twix mini inside for a surprise.

French vanilla frosting with berries syrup

Chinese Chews that has not been cut into squares.

Six layer bars

Double chocolate brownies

Banana/chocolate chip/walnut squares