Home noshings

Top left to right clockwise: soba noodles with soy ginger and scallion sauce;  barbeque pork ramen; home-made sun-dried tomatoes; chinese coconut "cocktail" buns

Not that I never cooked when I was living at home, but ever since I moved out on my own I've really stepped it up in the kitchen. I've always had a love for cooking and baking, and my food board on Pinterest has actually been quite useful for dinner ideas and inspiration. I like to try a few new recipes every month, and luckily I've only had one or two dishes with lacklustre results. Last night I used some of the sun-dried tomatoes (okay, they were oven-dried, but still amazing) and blended them with toasted chopped almonds, Parmesan, and garlic to create an amazing pesto-like pasta sauce. It was so tasty but also felt so healthy because it was made from scratch and I knew exactly everything that went into it. We've been trying to eat healthier and exercise more. So far it's been great. I'm so thankful for the free fitness classes at my work, which allow me to workout during the day, as we all know we don't always feel like working out after a long day at work. I also took the plunge and purchased a bread maker. It's not only been great for making our own whole wheat sandwich bread, but I love the Dough function which helps me make the softest, fluffiest Chinese bun dough ever. Knowing how to make coconut buns probably wasn't the best idea considering I'm trying to slim down a bit in time for the wedding, but what can you do. I love carbs too much! 

Blurbs

- One thing I miss terribly about Vancouver (other than our amazing food) is its access to great fabric stores. I used to spend my lunch breaks at Dressew downtown, wander aimlessly down the fabric and zipper aisles, mentally picturing all the awesome things I would one day learn how to sew. There was an amazing sewing lounge that sold the cutest vintage inspired fabrics and offered great introductory classes. I took my very first sewing lesson there and loved it so much I bought myself a sewing machine a few weeks later.
- After a very rocky start to our vacation (read: a cancelled flight), we just returned from Hawaii. It was so refreshing to be able to relax, sit on the beach and bask in the sun all day. Although the weather was overcast at times, it was otherwise perfect. I got my sushi fix, had tons of ahi poke (amazing tuna), and became obsessed with this udon restaurant right across the street from our hotel.  Out of our 8 day stay in Honolulu, we ate there once and bought take-out four times.  It's the most efficient (cafeteria-style) restaurant I've ever been to. Hope to write more about our trip later.

- You know you have a keeper when you hop in the shower after dinner and not only has the mister cleaned up all the dishes, but surprised you by making lunch to take to work the next day :)

- Today everyone at work was sent home early because we were expecting 10-15 cm of snow (ooh, gotta love coming back from +27° weather one day to -14° the next!) and it was coming down pretty hard. I used my three extra hours of free time to vacuum the apartment, get rid of the pile of clothes on my dresser, wipe down dust, start preparing dinner (poached salmon and potato latkes eggs beni tonight!), catch up on Sons of Anarchy, give myself a pedicure, and blog! If only we were always given 3 extra hours every day (okay, I'll take every week).

I end this post with a photo of the most beautiful beach I've been on, one we found while driving southwest of Oahu. The skies were blue, the sand was soft, and the waves were enormous. What an amazing find!

Smoked salmon and bagels

 

One of my latest home made recipe projects.  There's nothing I love more than bagels topped with a thick spread of cream cheese, meaty pieces of smoked salmon, and cool cucumber slices. I had always been curious about making cured salmon from scratch, but never bothered to try until now because I always assumed it was a long and complicated process. It's much more easy than I thought it would be, but it definitely takes patience, as you have to let the salmon cure in your fridge for 2-3 days. The results are completely worth it though. I used this recipe for the salmon, and this recipe for the bagels. They were a great alternative to the dense and doughy versions most of us are familiar with.  These ones came out thinner, fluffier and lighter, similar to an English muffin.  Smoked salmon is definitely a luxury I've learned to appreciate since moving out, but knowing how to make it from scratch (and have it taste just as good!) means I can enjoy it more often if I want. Not to mention it's easier on the wallet!  

Much has happened in the last eight months since I've moved to Edmonton.

• I enjoyed six months of vacation unemployment (fun for the first 3 months, not so great after)
• I experienced life on my own without the parents (it's not true independence if you're not paying your own bills, right?)
• I experienced domestic life with my better half of eight years. I've learned that in a relationship, there is always one person who is constantly cleaning up after the other. It turns out that I am the slob in the relationship. Oops. 
• I've become a Martha Stewart of sorts, cooking up a storm in the kitchen with new recipes and trying new crafty ideas (thanks, Pinterest)
• I found my first real, related-to-my-expensive-education-thank-god-it-wasn't-a-total-waste job! And I'm so lucky to work with genuinely nice and capable people.
• I got engaged!
• I became an aunt :) 
• I bought (well, he bought) our first car. So far the biggest purchase we've made together. I can't tell you how nervous I felt as I watched Wes sign the papers, and it's not even my name that is on the official papers. I do not look forward to purchasing real estate -_-
• I learned there is life outside of living in Vancouver my whole life, and it isn't so bad.

I can't believe I've been in Edmonton for over half a year already. Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever, but other times I can still remember it like it was yesterday, as I stepped off the plane and got my first exposure to Edmonton weather. Mmmm -30 degrees. Lucky for me it turned out to be one of the coldest weeks in Edmonton. How's that for a welcome? 

Two days ago was our one year pre-wedding anniversary.  We are planning our wedding mostly by long-distance, but will take the occasional long-weekend to fly back to visit friends and family, and to get as much planning as we can while we're there. I hope to bring this blog back to life with wedding and food posts; I've started my search for a dress, and it seems like I'm cooking up a new recipe almost once a week, so stay tuned! We also booked our trip to Hawaii in November, our first vacation in a year and our second time together back to Honolulu. I can't get enough of that place. Stay tuned.