.food + friends.

Back in 2008, I came up with this crafty idea to hand out to friends {and family} for Christmas.

A Friends + Family Cookbook!

It took a little time and effort, but I think it turned out pretty cute and it was a total blast for me to make. 

I simply emailed a bunch of my closest friends and asked them to send me their one favorite recipe {or for those who really embraced the idea...three recipes!} and then I typed them all up, real puuuurdy like, and put them into a duo tang or binder. Then I wrapped it in pretty paper, added a bow and Viola!

It seemed to go over really well and, as I mentioned above, was a total blast for me to make {as you all know, the food loving gal in me was thrilled! I got to find out what everyone's fav was and now had the secret directions in my greedy little fingers. Guess this appeals to the snoop in me too!}

So Last night, while P and I where looking at what to make with our Salmon that we had out, we came across this little doozy. And it was Amazing! I couldn't believe that we had this recipe for the last 3 years and had never made it! Silly Husband and Wife. So he made the side dish {a yummy quinoa with mushrooms and green beans}, and I made this main course. Aww, aren't we such good little cooking partners.

Salmon with Black Bean Sauce

Ingredients:

4 x 6 oz Salmon Fillets, 1 inch thick

2 tbsp Soy sauce

2 tsp Sugar

1/2 cup Canola oil

2 tsp Cornstarch

1 1/2 cups Chicken stock

2 Garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp fresh Ginger, peeled and minced

2 tbsp jarred Black bean sauce (available in the Asian or Sauce section of your grocery)

2 tsp Rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar

1/4 cup grated Carrots

1/4 cup grated Radishes

1/4 cup slivered Scallions

Preparation:

1.In a large bowl combine the soy sauce, sugar and 1/4 cup of the canola oil.

2.  Make 3 slashes in the skin side of each salmon fillet, cutting halfway into the fish. Place the salmon in a shallow dish and pour the soy-sauce marinade over it. Refridgerate for 30 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and chicken stock. Set aside.

4. In a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of oil over medium heat and add the garlic, ginger and black bean sauce. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic is golden. Add the vinegar and the cornstarch mixture. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, remove from heat, and keep warm.

5. Preheat the oven on Broil setting.

6. Remove the fish from the marinade and place on a foil-lined broiler pan, about 3 inches from the heat. Broil 3 to 4 minutes per side, until just cooked through (center should be slightly translucent).

This would be an excellent dish to serve to some friends or family too! Easy to make, looks pretty, and tastes yummy. I bet you could even impress the mother-in-law. Just saying!

xx

If you have a favorite recipe, or family 'secret' dish that you wouldn't mind sharing, please send it to me or leave it below in the comment section. It's been 3 years since I last gathered them, and would LOVE to replenish my stock!! It would be very much appreciated!

.A Grand Opening & A Wedding.

What a busy {and fantastic!} weekend the Hubs and I had.

I love those kind of weekends.
The ones where on Sunday, when you slip into your sheets for bedtime. Boom. You're. Out. Cold.
And I got to wear THREE Fantastic Dresses! Which by sheer coincidence, where all BCBG!
What did we do you ask?
On Friday, we got together with some friends, hit up Nola's Grand Opening and had a hell of a good time. We danced to the live jazz band {even I danced!}, munched on the appetizers going around, and sipped on beer and champagne!

Great Friends.

A Lovely Couple. Stephanie + Rob.

Kisses for his Mrs.

Lovely Friends.

How could these two NOT be brothers?? They look identical!

{Outfit #1 of the weekend} 

{BCBG Dress, Jacob Belt, and Stella & Dot Jewellery}

On Saturday, we attended our first Chinese Wedding to watch Phil and Weiman take their vows to each other. The ceremony {including tea ceremony} was outside at the Grooms brother's house and it was lovely. Both the ceremony + the weather.

{Outfit #2 of the weekend}
{BCBG Dress, Melanie Auld Purse, Expressions shoes, Sunglasses (just cheapies from somewhere)}

The wedding was a Blast! The Bride glowed and the Groom smiled from ear-to-ear.

Weiman + Phil

Old Pro's at this wedding thing :)

{Outfit #3 of the weekend}

{BCBG Dress, Nine West Shoes, Melanie Auld Purse, Stella & Dot Earrings + Bracelet + Ring}

Urban China

The reception was at Urban China restaurant, not far from downtown.

We dined on 10 courses of food {not kidding! 10!!}. Here are some of the more interesting things we ate.  If you where a fussy eater you had to keep an open mind and then you would have shared in one of the best food experiences we had ever had at a wedding. It was unreal. It was also unreal the amount of food that I can pack back! Holy Moly. I sampled everything and then some.

{Course #1 of BBQ pork and jelly fish we ate too fast!} Course #2 was a Seafood Birds Nest {my favorite of the night!}

Course #3, Shrimp Balls with a Crab Claw

Course #4, Shark Fin Soup

Course #5, Lobster in a cream sauce

Course #6, Sea Cucumber and Mushrooms with Veggies

Course #7, Tilapia, which is served as a whole fish which represents good luck.

Course #8, Crispy Fried Chicken,with Seaweed and Shrimp Chips

A happy {FULL} girl.

What a great weekend. Phew.

.Today's Happiness.

Just a quick note to let you know what had me super excited yesterday. Like SUPER DUPER excited.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back baby! Whoo hoo. Thank you Starbucks. Thank you.

This lovely package just showed up at my door.

My {highly anticipated} Melanie Auld Purses!

Love. Love. Love.

Thank you Melanie Auld. Thank you.

Martha Stewart's Annual Halloween Magazine is out! Spooky craft hour is about to commence.

Thank you Martha. Thank you.

And last, but not least, the newest addition to my winter wardrobe: New Black Zippered Leather Boots!

And {bonus!} they are Joe Fresh, aka. Superstore! Seriously! Can we all shout out "Deal of the century!!"

I Love them So Much. And I am so happy I found them.

Thank you Mr. Joe. Thank you.

I hope something brings you a little bit of happiness today.

And if you found something spectacular, let me know!

.Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad w/ Chicken.

Last night Husband and I discovered that we hadn't touched out HUGE Costco-sized container of Spinach. And it was due to go bad relatively quickly. So like the good wife I am {and because I finally sat down last night and did a 'meal plan'...but more to come on that later}, I whipped us up this for dinner. It was tasty, healthy and filled us right up. I have a thing about salads not filling me up, but this one certainly did! We Loved it!

Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad 

with Spicy Chicken

{But you can do your Chicken up any old way......although spicy had a very nice contrast to the sweet}

Ingredients:

1 tbsp Butter

3/4 cup almonds, slivered

A Bunch of Spinach leaves, torn into bite sized pieces

1 cup dried cranberries

2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1/2 cup white sugar {you might want to use a little less, but that's up too you}

2 tbsp minced red onion

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 - 4 Chicken Breasts {depending on how many you are feeding}

Note: If you want spicy chicken like we threw together in the picture, then here's our approximate marinade:

1/4 cup Sriracha Sauce, aka. Rooster Sauce {which is very spicy, and can be found in the Asian section of the supermarkets}

3 tbsp honey

2 tbsp garlic powder

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook and stir almonds in butter until lightly toasted. Remove from heat and let cool.

2. In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the toasted almonds and cranberries.

3. Cook your chicken according to how you want it. We did ours spicy, and I just threw the Sriracha sauce, honey, and garlic powder together in a bowl. Mixed it well, and then coated the chicken for a couple minutes in it. Then we put them on the BBQ till they where cooked. About 5 minutes each side. Cut them up into slices and let cool slightly.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, onion, paprika, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar and vegetable oil. Toss with the spinach just before serving and add chicken to the top.
Viola! A healthy and tasty salad for dinner.

.August Favorites.

Since the end of August has come and gone, I'm a little behind on my August Favorites. 

Oh well.

Better late than never I say.

Erinn's August Favorites.

*Yes to Cucumbers Natural Glow Facial Towelettes {fresh, cool, and crisp. perfect to cleanse your face with. fyi to canadian folks: i think you have to get them at shoppers drug mart}

*Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizer Face Creme {I dare you not to think this is the best stuff on earth}

*It's Potent Eye Cream by Benefit {minimizes dark eye circles. perfect!}

*Too Too Hot nail polish by Essie {perfect orange-red color combo}

*Hard Candy highlighter/bronzer in Tiki {not too dark, with just the right hint of color. will be good in winter too!}

*10 by Benefit highlighter/contour duo {shapes those somewhat cheekbones that like to hide}

*BadGal Lash by Benefit {just the perfect lashes in my opinion. also love the old school wand it sports}

*Nikon D7000 Camera {what can I say? my new baby will probably make every months favorite list}

* Organic Creamy Tomato soup by Pacific Foods {honestly the BEST canned/boxed soup around. go get it. with grilled cheese. ohhhhh ohhhhh ohhhhh}

*Mexican Lime Coolers by Woody's {i don't even really like coolers, but these little suckers are addicting. they taste like those lime sherbert soda's. and they come in cream soda too!}

*Citrus Pine candle by Pier 1 {my most favorite smell right now}

*Aprons! {any and all! makes you feel like a professional. don't believe me? try it}

*The Earth's Children Series of Books by Jean M. Auel {click here for the review}

*Chantilly Lace Earrings by Stella and Dot {click here to learn more}

*Chantilly Lace Cuff by Stella and Dot {click here to learn more}

*Serpent Bangle Bracelet by Stella and Dot (click here to learn more}

*Pink Quartz stud earrings by Anthropologie {pretty with a hint of pink}

*Gold and Diamond stud earrings by Anthropologie {perfect with everything!}