On My Nightstand - Outlander

Outlander – By Diana Gabaldon
Source: book I own (850 pages)

On the back cover:

In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dog the British Isles.  Suddenly she is a Sassenach – and ‘outlander’ – in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord… 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire’s destiny is soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch.  She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairs and spies that may threaten her life… and shatter her heart.  For here, James Frazer, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire… and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

 

My thoughts:

I know I am really late to the game on this book, but better late than never right?

This is my mother-in-laws favourite book and she gave me a copy for Christmas years ago, but at the time I didn’t read as much as I do now, and I was not into historical fiction like I am now either.
So finally I got down to reading it, and guess what?  I really liked it.

Now, I am not in love with Jamie like so many women I talk to, but I did really like his character.

I thought Gabaldon did a great job in painting an accurate picture of how difficult it would have been for Claire to go from 1945 to 1743, I can’t imagine how much harder it would be if that happened to someone today – I would be lost without the internet, my cell phone and my blow dryer!

My one problem with this book was that it is huge – and normally I love a nice long book that I can sink my teeth into, but the book I was reading was a pocket book size – and it was really hard to hold and keep open as I do a huge portion of my reading in bed at night.

I think it I had been reading it on my Kobo I would have found it easier to read and possibly easier to get into at the beginning.

Anyway, as much as I did like the book, I am not racing out to buy the second book, I do want to read it eventually, but I am okay to wait a little while in-between books.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

Birthday Cake

According to the kids and my husband, a birthday is just not a birthday without cake.

I believe in making my own cakes fron scratch as much as possible, and let me tell you - I must really love my husband because this required me to turn on the oven on Sunday (+29C) in Calgary, with no air conditioning!

I also try and make his a different type / flavour of cake each year, this year I got my insperation from Pinterest - a Mint Chocolate Chip "Ice Cream" Cake. 

First a few pictures and the recipe to follow.

The birthday boy and his cake.

So after dinner, someone comes to snuggle with her Daddy:

While someone else finishes my piece of cake:

I turn my head for a minute and look at what happens.  Oh, he is so his father's son!

The cake was delish.  The cake itself is a fantastic classic chocolate cake, but the icing tasted so much like the ice cream it is made to resemble.

Hubby, myself and the kids all gave it 2 thumbs up!

Mint Chocolate Chip "Ice Cream" Cake

David Lebovitz Devil's Food Cake

9 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ½ cups cake flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

½ cup butter, at room temperature

1 ½ cups white sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

½ cup strong coffee (cold)

½ cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F.

Butter two 9” round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, set aside.

Sift together, cocoa powder, flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together for about 5 minutes.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

Stir half the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, and then add the coffee and milk; continue stirring and then add the remaining half of the dry ingredients.

Divide the batter between the two pans, and bake for 25 minutes, or until done.

Cool completely before frosting.

Mint Chocolate Chip “Ice Cream” Icing

2 cups butter, at room temperature

6 cups icing sugar

2-3 teaspoons peppermint extract, adjust to taste

150g dark chocolate, very finely chopped

Green food colouring

Place the butter in the bowl of your stand mixer, beat on high with paddle attachment until fluffy and smooth.

Add the icing sugar one cup at a time (you might need slightly less or more), until you reach your desired icing consistency.

Add the peppermint extract to taste and the food colouring.  Gradually add the chocolate pieces.

Source: Raspberri Cupcakes Blog

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the best husband / partner in the world!

I can't tell you how old he is, but I can secretly tell you that next year I will be planning a big party to celebrate a birthday number that ends with a zero!  (I will let you figure that one out.)

We're having cake at our house tonight to celebrate - there's lots, so come by if you want.

Fun in the Sun

Well summer has finally arrived here in Calgary, we have been blessed with the last few days being nice and hot.
This weekend we went with some friends to Allen Bill Pond for a hot dog roast picnic - but instead of being right by the pond, we were by the river - which allowed for tons of fun in throwing rocks.

Sunday, we were planning to hit up Sikome Lake, but instead dragged out the kiddie pool and had a blast in our own back yard.

And then what would a hot day be without popsicles?
I found this recipe for Pina Colada popsicles on Family Fun Canada, made it with the kids and it is a winner all round.
I love that it's pretty healthy and not super sweet.

Pina Colada Popsicles

1 can (400 ml) Coconut milk
1 can (398 ml) diced pineapple (juice drained)*
1 banana
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons sugar

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into popsicle moulds and freeze until ready.

Enjoy!

*I didn't use the pineapple juice, but I am sure you could if you wanted.

Social Media Explained

Here is a very simple explanation of all the different forms of social media.  I think it's super funny.

The three forms of social media I use actively are:
Twitter - @jennyjenny99 if you want to start following me.
Facebook - I have my personal page and I am working on a Minivan Stiletto page - but just not quite there yet.
Pinterest - pretty much just a collection of recipes and the odd activity / craft idea for the kids. (jennyjenny99 is you want to follow my boards).

What about you?  What social media do you use?

My Long Weekend

Welcome back!  I was off work all last week and honestly it has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of things.  Plus we were out at the lake for the long weekend and I really want to go back.

Here's a little re-cap on last week and the weekend:

So our day home was closed - so I was off work.  Monday and Tuesday Hubby was working, so I was home with the kids - it was pure heaven!  I got so much stuff done, I could not believe how much easier it is to get ready for the trailer when I have 2 full days to do it.

On Tuesday I took Little Boy for his allergy test.  We knew he was allergic to fish, but needed to get an official diagnosis and see just how allergic he was.  Well after waiting 10 months for the appointment, we took the train into downtown and confirmed he is mildly allergic to various types of fish – mild enough not to need an epipen – yeah! 

Then Wednesday it was off to the lake we went.
The weather was not perfect, but it wasn't horrible either – so overall great and I'll take it.

Thursday was really nice so the kids wanted the kiddie pool set up – but of course could not wait for the sun to warm up the water at all. 

Needless to say, they had a blast.  After this Hubby took them down to the lake and they continued to have fun and swim in a very cold, not yet warmed up lake – kids are crazy!

I enjoyed many hours doing this:

Ahhh, bliss.

We had fun chatting with friends we had not seen since last year and we also had fun making sure the kids and people avoided the bears that were being spotted in and around the camp ground.

We figured they would take off once everyone arrived on Friday, but I guess the thought of all those smokies and beers are just too tempting for a bear.

Hubby spotted one on the train tracks Saturday evening and the next day the bear traps were set up.

This is how close that trap was to everything - literally right in the middle of
the campground.

As of when we left none had been caught, but more were spotted.  Hoping they are caught soon.

But back to reality, well what ever that means in Calgary during Stampede...

Happy Canada Day!

I live in a country where not only does my husband get to vote, but I do too.
I live in a country where we don't have a bomb shelter in our house.
I live in a country where I have never seem a bomb except in a museum.
I live in a country where myself or my son did / does not have to serve in the army if we don't want to.
I live in a country where my kids could someday become the Prime Minister. I live in a country where if I need to go to the hospital, I don't have a bill to pay before I leave.
I live in a country with space to have a house, a yard and even a garden.
I live in a country that has people moving in and becoming citizens all the time.
I live in a country where myself and my daughter can own a house, drive a car and have the same job as any man.
I live in a country where my neighbour is from Cameroon, my co-worker is from Israel and my friend is from The United States - and they have the same rights I do.
I live in a pretty kick-ass country!

Happy Canada Day!