roasted carrot curry from Edible Matters and another giveaway

I think my son finds me exasperating at times. I am a chatterbox by nature and he’s much more subdued. He prefers to ponder things quietly rather than discuss them in great detail ( the way I do.)

It’s my downfall really. I never shy away from a good debate and am fiercely argumentative inquisitive. Probably more than I should be if we’re being completely honest but in the end, it’s all about resolution for me. I’m the kind of person who can’t sleep if I have ‘unfinished’ business to contend with.

But Nikolas is different.

He doesn’t feel the need for long -winded discussions and is perfectly content keeping conversations to a minimum.

That worries me a little.

What if he doesn’t open up about what’s happening in his life?

What if me ( the extrovert) and he ( the introvert) can’t find common ground? What if he doesn’t ever want to share all of the things happening in his beautiful little world. Naturally, my way of dealing with this, to prevent it even, is to bombard him with a million questions.

How was school? Who did you sit next to at lunch? Who was the teacher’s helper today? What games did you play outside? Did you choose a new library book?

And he often answers with very short sentences and one letter words. He shrugs and tells me his day was ‘fine’ and he doesn’t feel like talking anymore.

Hold on one second here. 

You don't want to talk?!? Anymore?!? what does that even mean?!

You have to understand that for me, this is excruciating. The reason I feel such incredible turmoil over this is because deep down, I’m afraid of what this means for Nikolas and me. I want to be a part of his life and I want him to communicate with me.  A small part of me fears there is only a small window of opportunity to form that bond. I just hope I haven't missed it. How will I get into that much coveted circle?

I’ve tried many different ways to approach our discussions. Over a bowl of chocolate ice cream. Just as he’s drifting off to sleep. During a mean game of snakes and ladders. And up until a month ago, I got the same response every single time: Mommy. My day was fine. Stop asking me about it over and over.    

It’s a blow to my maternal ego. The part of me that likes to think I am approachable and trustworthy, that my children will come to me and share every detailed little secret. We’ll chuckle and discuss and contemplate and resolve. Maybe I’ve grown so accustomed to my daughter’s ‘open book policy’ that I’ve come to expect that from Nikolas too.

But I need to change that way of thinking.

I need to treat them like beautiful, bright constellations. Unique and perfect in their own way. Brilliant and distinct. Absolutely mesmerizing, with their own story to tell. With their very own, distinct place.

It’s so very hard to do at times. The balance of wanting them to flourish by developing their own personality, and yet, needing them to be tiny bit like you.

I love parenting Nikolas. He’s a joy. Truly, he is.

I love that he can ‘let things go.’ That he’s not concerned by small details. That his approach to most things is uncomplicated. That he can make decisions without a lot of lingering or skepticism or deep-seeded second-guessing. I love that when we’re shopping he’ll say; mommy! We came for undershirts. Can’t we just buy them and leave?!?

I just have to find ‘our thing’ I thought to myself a couple of months ago. That thing we do together that’s just for us.

And then, in the midst of making dinner one night, he pulled up a chair next to me and started tossing the salad. He often does that but this time, he started sharing things about his day. He was so preoccupied with his newfound job, that the conversation flowed without any pauses. 

And lately, in the midst of stirring and tasting and peeling he opens up a bit more about his day. About the things he did and the people he met and the kids he played with. About things he found amusing or a favorite book he discovered at the library.

They’re small things. But it’s really all about the small things you know.

About a month ago, Nikolas and I went for a drive and we  stopped for lunch at the most delightful little café. I fell in love with the décor and the pantry selections ( the parmesan salt, delicious chutneys and homemade bread caught my eye right away.) And the food. It was perfect in every way.

If you haven’t been to Edible Matters, you really must give it a try. The wonderful folks at EM are sharing a delicious recipe for their roasted carrot curry and giving one of our lucky readers a $25 gift certificate to their beautiful establishment. All you have to do is "share" this link and leave a comment below. Draw date will be Friday, May 31st. 

It’s the perfect place for a date with your favorite little boy. And who knows, perhaps you’ll discover new and exciting things about him. Maybe he’ll tell you all about his day and share his precious little secrets. And I know I can’t push my luck here. I can’t bombard him with a million questions in typical Nicholetta style. I need to listen to his cues and scale back when he’s had enough. When he’s showing me he needs some space, I need to listen. I need to play it cool and act like I’m not so deliriously interested. Even though I really am. Even though hearing about his day, is the highlight of mine. 

local dinner of pan seared halibut, celeriac-potato + creamy gouda mash with haystack slaw of rainbow carrots + zucchini.

Friends, I have a confession to make.  I haven’t been entirely honest with you. I fear I may have given the impression that we always eat like kings around here. That our table is always set with beautiful linens and fine crystal and decorative napkins. Perhaps you’ve imagined that our meals are always gourmet ones and that we use really fussy ingredients like pink Himalayan sea salt to adorn our everyday dishes. If I’ve ever given you that impression, I’m sorry.

Because that’s just not true.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love a properly dressed table. I love beautiful white dishes and fluted stemware and frilly napkins. But they're just not realistic for my everyday life. 

We try and eat healthy, well-balanced meals, but I have to be blaringly honest here, there are days that I am bone tired and the very last thing I want to do is make anything for dinner. On days like that, we have scrambled eggs and toast. Or grilled cheese sandwiches. Or peanut butter and nutella pancakes.

Promise.

On most days, I realize mid-meal, that I’ve been eating dinner with a tiny dessert fork and my children are using ones that are much too big for their little mouths. More often than not, we are out of napkins and have to resort to paper towels (although my children seem to prefer wiping themselves on their freshly laundered clothing so what’s the point anyway?) napkins? paper towels? newly pressed pants? No difference at all around here. But I digress.

My only saving grace is proper meal planning. Creating a tentative plan for the week and ensuring I have all of the ingredients on hand is essential to getting good food on the table fast. If I wait until 5pm on a Monday night to get groceries, you can be certain it will be a peanut butter and jelly themed dinner at our house.

One thing that really helps me stay on track, is a weekly visit to The Halifax Seaport Farmers Market because there is absolutely nothing more inspiring than seeing local farmers and vendors displaying their fare. It’s one of my favorite places on earth. And it never fails. As soon as I arrive, I can’t help but imagine all of the wonderful dishes I can create using the freshest ingredients available to me. 

There is something to be said about the power of visual stimulation and I always feel really great knowing I have supported the people living in my community.

This past weekend, I arrived there bright and early and filled my basket with loads of vegetables and fish and herbs and wine. Freshly baked bread and eggs and beautiful flowers. Chocolate and croissants and gourmet coffee. When I got home, I was eager to start cooking. To make something tasty and nourishing.

And you know, there’s simply nothing more rewarding than cooking for those that get really excited about eating.

My children have become those kinds of people.

They don’t always get excited about eating the same things however, and sometimes it’s still a bit of a struggle to feed hungry little mouths in a timely manner. But we’re coping. And if we resort to the occasional quick fix, it’s really not the end of the world.

yay for Instagram!

6 year old fish lover...

potatoes and milk- Blois Family Farms

zucchini- Hillcrest Farm

halibut- Goldwater

soft, peppered gouda- That Dutchman

rainbow Carrots and celeriac- Noggins

thyme and parsley- Shubie River Vineyards

pea shoots- River View Herbs

wine –Vero by Benjamin Bridge

mini pound cakes with lime + coconut cream cheese frosting

(nic)

Two years ago, Kara and I had this crazy idea to start a blog.  I'm not entirely sure what prompted the idea.

Perhaps a mix of things: Our evolving friendship. Our love for food and art and pretty things. Our diverse yet complimentary paths. Our ah ha! moment that perhaps on some level, a blog would help us journal our way to some sort of authenticity. I do vaguely recall calling her up one night after a slew of delicious pineapple margaritas with a pronounced: Hey, wanna start a blog with me?!?

It was one of those five reasons for sure. 

Whatever the motive, I am so glad we did it. Although the concept of a public journal is quite daunting, it’s also liberating in the most brilliant way. In a way that’s rather difficult to explain really. We didn’t know if anyone would read our little blog but from the very beginning, we made peace with that possibility. Our drive came from a place of reflection rather than one of acceptance.

We blog because we like blogging. It’s as simple as that.

But here, here is where I need to interject with a big, fat thank you to all of our readers. Because there’s nothing quite as wonderful as a heartfelt response to something that has nestled its way into your life. That has in essence, become the perfect platform to express and feel and just be. It’s gripping and soothing at the same time. Beautiful on so many levels. It’s the integration of so many intricate little tidbits and we’re so happy we have the opportunity to share it with all of you.

Thank you. Truly. For taking the time to read our teeny tiny litte blog. And for your comments and emails and questions. Those sweet messages have allowed us to grow and ponder and reflect. Not too long ago, after I posted about wanting a third baby, I had a series of e-mails that made me weep.

Not in a bad way.

In a, oh my goodness I really never thought of it like that before, kind of way.

In a, I love you for saying what I've been too afraid to admit, kind of way. 

In a, how can a perfect stranger be so spot on about my life? kind of way.

Pepper + Paint has brought us so many exciting opportunities, including some upcoming projects that we can't wait to share with you. We have been humbled beyond words and you can’t possibly know what your support means to us.

Really.

Now, about this cake. You might think it’s rather silly to bake a small cake to celebrate a blog, but it honestly was the perfect excuse to experiment with this cream cheese frosting idea that’s been rolling rampant in my mind. With the addition of lime and coconut it has become a favorite around here.

It seemed only fitting to honor this tiny milestone with...well...a tiny cake of course!

Anything mini just oozes cuteness doesn’t it? So here you go! Delightful little pound cakes that are perfect for just about any occasion. I made four of them in small cake pans  (4 inches wide) but I bet you could use small glass pots or even large muffin tins if you get stuck. They'd make a great little ending to a meal or lovely little party favors for a bridal shower or children's birthday celebration. The original recipe is for a bundt cake so you will have leftover batter ( just make more small cakes or make mini muffins.) And you'll need to adjust your baking time too.

P.S - I should add that my children insisted we cut one of the mini cakes into tiny, mini pieces which is only really fitting if you’re hosting a tea party for Barbie dolls and other stuffed animal friends.  Then, and only then is it appropriate (although crazy cute I must admit.)

xo, nic

tiniest piece of cake ever!

my blue shelf

(kara)

I love thift stores. I didn't always though. My mom starting shopping at Value Village over 30 years ago in East Vancouver on Hastings Street, near our house. As a kid, getting anything second-hand was embarrassing and I remember having my lunch packed one day in a VV shopping bag and when I pulled it out at lunchtime in my grade five classroom – I was mortified. I remember crying that night at home, asking my mom how she could do that to me. Back in 1985, it wasn't cool to shop at second-hand stores...or at least it wasn't where I grew up.

When I got older, my grandma, mom and I would go and do the circuit on seniors day to all the VV's and Salvation Armys in Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and even sometimes Maple Ridge – we were serious about it and often turned it into a day trip. It was a bonus for me because it meant 30% off and most times my grandma and/or mom would pay for my things. I still look forward to Tuesday's with my mom when I visit and think of my Grandma everytime I go. I never admitted going until later on when I'd find myself wanting to go on my own, living away from home, to hunt for treasures. Instead of lying to friends where I was or where I'd purchased things, I'd fess up, at first reluctantly, for fear that they'd make fun of me, like when I was a kid. Turns out I have some pretty amazing friends!

I grew up with a resourceful family. My aunt always refinished pieces she'd find in bright colours. My mom always had a collection of treasures and I remember going to a lot of garage sales in my childhood – even hosting my own in my front yard if I needed an allowance top up. My mom would say "Why spend $100 on something when you can find it for $10?". Sometimes that's hard when you want it now, shinny and new straight out of the shop. But I learned at an early age that being patient, resourcful and treasure hunting for what was waiting to be uncovered at roadsides, garages and thrift shops, was not only less expensive, but it was saving stuff from going into the landfills. Most importantly, it's a ton of fun, especially when you find something you love.

My most recent find was a find on Kijiji. A shelf that I fell in love with for its legs. I primed and painted it a lovely shade of blue.

- kara

Primer: Zinsser Cover Stain

Painted: Semi-gloss Benjamin Moore: Lucerne AF-530

Michelle St.Onge

Our friend, Michelle St.Onge, makes beautiful silk screened pieces. Nic and I have both purchased pieces from her and on a trip to Austin last year, I feel in love with my first piece – Power Plant – printed on linen (below). Whenever I can, I like to support artists, especially local ones. It takes a lot of time and energy to create and then sell your own work. Michelle does all her own printing and stretching by hand and her process from start to finish is inpiring to watch. She has just completed a new collection for Austin and Halifax.

Her Austin and New Orleans prints can be seen here and her Halifax pieces can be viewed after May 7th at Morris East and Argyle Fine Art. Michelle is offering a 50% discount until May 7 on her new Halifax collection. You can view the collection here and contact her via email if you're interested.

I'm headed into her studio in the next couple weeks to have her show me some cool techiques I can use on my own pieces. Super pumped!

Power Plant

A few pieces from the Halifax series:

Tower Rd. Pigment Print on Organic Canvas 24" x 36"

Hart & Thistle. Pigment Print on Organic Canvas 24" x 36"

Tall Ships. Pigment Print on Organic Canvas 36" x 24"

Bedford Overpass. Pigment Print on Organic Canvas 24" x 24"

A few pieces from the Austin series:

Mean Eyed Cat. Original Silk Screen on Canvas 24x36

SXSW on 6th. Original Silk Screen on Canvas 16x54