Easter 2010

Grateful for my salvation!!! We here in Southern California got a good shake today. There was a 7.2 earthquake in Baja.

Let's see if one can buy groceries for a month, on 400 bucks for a family of 4. It takes a lot of planning to eat healthy and still accomplish this goal.

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market
Originally uploaded by Heather Garwood

I took this shot at a Farmer's Market in the Bay area. One of my favorite shots.

Cupcake Pinata

What can you make in two hours with two kids, 3 cereal boxes, some packing tape, crepe paper, and glue? You guessed it, a cupcake pinata. I just couldn't bring myself to buy a pinata made with cardboard and staples. It turned out pretty cute. If anyone is interested in how I made it, let me know and I will try and rehash the experience.

This is a picture of Napa Valley in February. I had to quickly pull the car off the road for this picture.

Northern California

 Looking forward to using my camera this weekend on a little trip up to Northern California. Keep posted for pics!!

Farmer's Market

 I am looking forward to checking out the Santa Monica Farmer's Market tomorrow to take some food shots. I am going to try and get to know my Canon 50 D better. This month Sunset Magazine's Flickr photo group is asking people to submit pictures of Farmer's Markets on the west coast. We will see what I find to shoot. I am also looking forward to eating at my favorite British pub, Ye Olde King's Head. The best Sticky Toffee Pudding in town!!

Canal Crafter

Canal Crafter
Originally uploaded by Heather Garwood

One of my favorite shots of life on the canal in England.

DYNAMITE BIRTHDAY CANDLES

DYNAMITE BIRTHDAY CANDLES

Check this site out!! It is an awesome place to pick up something fun and unique!!!

WINE CORK TRIVET

WINE CORK TRIVET

smart way to recycle those corks!!!!

GIANT WINE GLASS

GIANT WINE GLASS

Chinese Pork and Shrimp Dumplings (Jiao Zi) - Fine Cooking Recipes, Techniques and Tips

Chinese Pork and Shrimp Dumplings (Jiao Zi) - Fine Cooking Recipes, Techniques and Tips


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  Well, I finished all my Christmas gift cookie baking and now I am ready to try some yummy dessert's just for us. I think I will try my hand at making Pithivier. I was inspired by making this while shopping at Trader Joe's today. It is simply puff pastry stuffed with an almond cream. I may even try Caneles again.  They are a bit hard to make but I am up for the challenge!!

Homemade Fabric or Paper Dye

Homemade Fabric or Paper Dye

Rain and Baking.........

I am thankful for the rain today!! It is the perfect day to bake cookies for my annual giveaway. This year, I have decided on five different kinds. I thought it would be nice to make Speculaas (a crisp spicy cookie) with my mold that I bought from Brugge this year. Of course, I have never made them and I wish that I had a recipe that I knew would be great. Oh well, guess I will have to do a little trial and error baking -- but those in my house won't mind!

Bon Appetit!

I just finished watching Julie and Julia and I must say I am feeling inspired to cook. I will never forget back in 2003 my mom and I were in Santa Barbara walking around the farmers market and lo and behold whom do we see -- out looking at all the beautiful produce was Julia Child herself. She had the assistance of a personal nurse whom was pushing her in a wheel chair. We were feeling a little embarrassed to bother her, but we just could not resist the opportunity to meet her. I shook her hand and told her something which was probably nervous talk. I am feeling like I should take the next 365 days and go through her cookbook too!! Maybe I will get the book for Christmas and I can start on January 1st.

Finally feels like winter

Well it's been a few months since I last wrote. Time seems to move in warp speed sometimes. It finally feels like winter here though in California because I now have to have 3 blankets to cover my feet at night and because my tree in the front of the house has made a big mess with all its leaves. I am also glad that my website is almost done it seems it is about two years in the making. Well its taken that long to get to doing it:).

Attack of the pumpkin

  Ok, so I decided to finally cut and cook my FairyTale pumpkin. It was so heavy and huge that I thought we were going to have to get out the chainsaw(no joke). It is going to be a long night of cooking these dark orange wedges. I hope next year to actually grow my own. 

Operation Birthday Cake

  Today is day one of operation birthday cake...I sure hope it turns out they way I imagine it in my head. I think I will post a picture when I am done. Here it is..........

How to Make Jawbreakers: 8 steps - wikiHow

How to Make Jawbreakers: 8 steps - wikiHow