Pistachio, Orange & Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Just a quick note to tell all of you how important it is you try this recipe! Joy describes them as "bonkers awesome" and she's totally right, as usual! Our apartment smelled amazing for a full 24 hours after baking them!

Yeast and I are just starting to become friends. I've had some very disappointing experiences, but I think my luck is changing. These rose perfectly - I was so thrilled! The combo of orange & chocolate has to be one of my favourites. And why wouldn't you throw some pistachios in?

Oh, and this recipe is a collaboration between Joy and The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) - a fellow butter enthusiast!

I forgot to take a photo before we started to devour them - so I'll have to borrow Joy's.

My only tip would be to used shaved chocolate. I had mini dark chocolate chips and figured it would be fine, but they didn't melt as much as I was hoping they would. So I ended up with chocolate dotted rolls - which was fine, but a more even distribution would have been better. Also, the recipe makes 16 rolls - I thought that was a bit much for just the two of us (even though we totally could have eaten them all, no question!) - so I halved the recipe to make a more respectable 8 rolls.

PS.
Corey bought me Joy's cookbook for part of my anniversary gift.
But wait, there's more.
He told me after I opened it that he emailed Joy and asked her what her favourite/most inspiring cookbooks are. He was planning on buying me a library of cookbooks based on her recommendations. Unfortunately, she didn't get back to him - yet. But it's the thought that counts, right? I'll keep you posted if he gets a response.

Xo, A

Summer, So Far

Hi Ladies!

So July has been pretty busy, despite my hopes of our lives slowing down a bit.

There is a new addition to our lives...

After nearly a year and a half of transit, car2go, and begging people for rides, we finally bought another car. She's a 2001 Honda Civic. Nothing fancy, but we like her. We're so excited to have our freedom back!

The 8th marked our 8th anniversary! We didn't really do much to celebrate, just went out to dinner. We usually always take the day off to spend together, but this year we both worked. So we decided to celebrate the following weekend with a picnic on Bowen Island. We ended up heading to Tunstall Bay, and had the beach all to ourselves! This was our beautiful view...

I took a break from working on my granny squares to try my hand at tapestry crochet - a style of crochet used to create designs & patterns of multiple colours. Well, I tried and it was really hard! I think its something that I really need to sit down and concentrate on, until I get the hang of it. Then I found this dishcloth tutorial, and tried it out while we watched a movie last night. It was super easy, and despite it being a bit rough around the edges, I think it turned out well. Ella and I can go into business together selling market totes & dishcloths at farmers markets!

It's supposed to look like chevron - I think you need to squint a bit.

I'll have to try it with more contrasting colours to get the pattern to pop more.

I have the next few days off, and I have a long list of things I'm hoping to get done - crafts, recipes, cleaning & organizing. On the top of my list,  Joy's Pistachio Orange Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Buns! I'll let you know how it goes.

Sending love to all of you!

Xo A

This week...

Happy weekend, friends! I so look forward to quieter Saturday mornings with my cuppa tea and a chance to catch up on your happenings - very thankful!

It's been a (HOT) good week up here: full of beach field trips with the kiddos, evenings on the patio, and lots of BBQing. :) Oh, and I made green tea icecream using our ladies' eggs - so refreshing!

Last weekend we celebrated our friends' wedding. We had a lot of fun and it was so exciting to see them tie the knot. Jon was a groomsman and I did the flowers. We danced all night!

 

We are up to 6 eggs every day from our chickens now. The smallest bird has just started laying and this morning I found this under her in the coop...

Don't know if you can spot the size difference, but Brave's egg is on the left. She's just learning...

Tolmie got a treat for breakfast since the egg was not much larger than a quail's.

That's all for today. I'm off to watch a little Downton Abbey, while I work on my advent calendar for Christmas. I decided to break from knitting for a bit [before I get to work on my market bag

orders ;)], so I've pulled out some cross-stitching.

What crafts are you working on?

 Enjoy your weekend, everyone. xoxo

Nap time

Hello beautiful ladies!
Let me start off by saying I am missing you so much!
I made Joys strawberry and cream scones but I have a little person wanting to help so the didn't look as perfect as I would have hoped and with a comment from Joy herself I didn't dare share the picture ;) but let's just say they tasted delishious! I love scones!

William is seriously getting so big! I look at him and I think he has grown over night! I have started talking to him about how no one is allowed to touch his private parts not really knowig if he understands.  Well! Yesterday Aaron and him are laying on the couch together and he started to scratch himself.  And Aaron said hands off. And with out a second of hesitation he replies Mom said no one is allowed to touch my peepee, only Me! I think we all just were like how on earth do we explain this one to him!  Lord helps us all when he asks how babies are made!;)

Lucas oh my sweet Lucas is going to be 1 next week! That year has gone so fast! And yet I have never been so tired I am trying to love every second and napping when ever I possibly can.  I fell asleep on the couch while the kids played on the floor the other days. I woke to Will asking if I was alright?!  Great Job Mom! Lol

But all in all we are going so good! It is so cold and 35 at home. But before I know it it will be summer again and we will be so hot and sweaty. I should clairify. I think at night it may get below 10 but just barley.  And the days are about 20.  True Canadian here lol


Miss you all heaps. Looking forward to hearing all about everything! Xoxo

Happy Birthday Micah!

Micah, you are honest, adventurous, and a devoted mother & friend.

Wishing you an amazing 25th birthday - officially in Australia & Canada.

Hoping your boys spoiled you, and this year brings you great things.

Xo, A

Happy Birthday!

Lovely friend! What can I say, we all miss you tons! Hope your boys spoiled you and 25 is amazing to you! We will be rocking our pearls only into the next 25 too I'm sure! #classyladies 

Love, Kristine :)