Seriously Jonesing for Soda

That's right- soda. Not to be confused with Jones Soda, but good ol' bubbly, carbonated water.

I was cruising through Shoppers Drug Mart, when I was overtook by nostalgia. All thanks to this sleek bottle of 'carbonated spring water' on the shelf. The next thing I knew, I was gladly handing over 1.99 per bottle for nothing more than bubbly water.

Isn't it beautiful?

This isn't a new fad for me. I've had on and off cravings (can you call them that) thirsts for carbonated water since college days. I blame the origin on a three-month exchange to Europe in high school. If you've been to Europe, you understand the value of water. It always comes in a bottle, and it's just as likely to be carbonated as not. The brand I recall being purchased in our household came in a 1L bottle (roughly) and the name was in red font. I was more fond of Rosport Bleu, which was sold in restaurants. To this day, I still have an empty bottle I brought home as a souvenir.

I love the small luxury of having glass bottles of carbonated water in my fridge. The thought of cracking them open and pouring a fizzy glass with a splash of lime is bliss. It never occurred to me before now, I could create this luxury for myself. You can buy a machine for this, can't you?

So, I did a little research.

SodaStream Shop - This one kept popping up; not only in paid search, but also in the various organic search results. It also had several positive comments. $99 - 239 for the machine. Gas refills range from $19.99 - 34.99 (depending on if you keep or exchange container). Glass bottles are available for $17.99, but only compatible with top 2 models. Free shipping in Canada, but returning gas 'carbonators' is at own expense.

Homemade device - This is where my brother would use the term 'gerry-rig'. This looks a little complex.. a CO2 tank! That seems much more intense than a cartridge system. Where would I put it?! http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Soda-Water-%26-Home-Carbonation---Pays-For-Itsel/

Strangely, I couldn't find many other products, but perhaps I didn't look hard enough. Does anyone else make carbonated water at home?

Appliance Overload?

Can you have too many appliances on your counter?

I'm not really one of those people who has to have an empty counter. For me, convenience is more important than clean lines and a stylish kitchen. The appliances I use regularly need to be close at hand, otherwise, it just takes me that much longer and I don't like that.

However, over Christmas, I acquired several more appliances.

I finally bought a new toaster. My old one had spent the past 8 1/2 years with me, since I moved out of my parent's home and into my university dorm to be exact. (Shhh, don't tell the rez police. It could have started a fire.) It was a $10, 2-slice special. It still worked, but I was ready for something new. I used a Christmas gift card and upgraded to a sleek, silver 4-slice model from Black and Decker.

My brother's GF also gave me a used breadmaker, because I'd commented I wanted one. Her grandma, "a hoarder of good things", had 3. I have already made a loaf of bread and pizza dough 4 times in it.

The dilemma? My "appliance corner" was already crowded. As you may have noticed in this photo:

Despite the crowding, the small toaster fit on the stove, and I could leave my coffee maker, kettle and George Foreman grill on the counter, without interfering with my workspace or the tool turnabout.

Not so much now. The toaster is now twice as big and doesn't fit on the stove, and the breadmaker takes up the entire corner. Only the kettle and George Foreman fit well in my cupboards, but I use them more than the breadmaker. What to do?! Is it too much if every one of these guys stays on my counter?

Make Over My Kitchen? Yes, Please!

I entered the Home Hardware Dream Kitchen Makeover this weekend. You may be familiar with the contest. Anna Olson has been promoting it on TV for weeks now.

I am not sure if I've staked my claim to Home Hardware in the past, but I prefer it over Home Depot. There is a convenience factor; there is a store around the corner. My store is definitely not a big box store. The selection is limited, but that doesn't bother me, because they're helpful. It's a novel concept. A DIY store that has knowledgeable people to assist.

Nothing drives me crazier than asking for an opinion or help and getting "I don't know." Even worse, is when you can see the associate is frantically looking for the information to appear out of the air, in order to provide what might, by some meager attempt, seem like advice. My questions aren't even hard! I'm only doing minor maintenance and repair. The Home Hardware folks have never let me down with their assistance.

Naturally, all this talk about helpful 'Home'owners has me thinking about the kitchen they could install for this homegirl.  A little dreaming never hurts right?


If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. I love white kitchens. I love these snazzy drawer organizers too. This would take care of the hideous mess of a spice cupboard I have today.

I would be more likely to choose the Stratford-style cabinets. This style has that cottage-like look I absolutely love. 

Here's a similar style, a la Ikea.  Oooohh and that sink...

I would opt for chalkboard paint on a pantry door, however, just to mix it up a little. 

For my sink, I love this Moen faucet with the pull down wand and Granitek double sink.


How about this beautiful corner buffet from Home Furniture? Wouldn't it be beautiful, loaded with cobalt blue china? I guess it's extraneous I don't have a corner to put it in.

Or perhaps, this distressed buffet and a rustic brown harvest table? Home Furniture has some beautiful pieces. They have an exhibit at the International Plowing Match & Rural Expo every fall, and I usually have to stop myself from drooling on the kitchen sets!

 

Check out this set, saved in my 'Inspiration Binder' from their catalog a few years back. Mmmm. Love.

Now all I need is Home Hardware to pick my entry, and my sad kitchen can be transformed!

Savvy Homegirl's Canning Adventure - Tomato Sauce

From the very begginning of spring, I planned to make tomato sauce with my garden tomatos. I love homemade tomato sauce, and putting this away for winter only made sense.

Since I've never canned, I checked out some recipes recommended for doing so. Secretly, I thought I'd be making a grand Bolognese, until I read it's better to limit the recipe to tomatos and spices, because other vegetables will alter the pH. I experimented with a few recipes, making a few small batches, before finding this super yummy recipe at Canadian Gardening.

It makes a HUGE batch, and I didn't have near enough tomatoes for the full recipe. I ended up quartering it, using fresh basil and parsley, and it turned out absolutely delish. I cooked the sauce on Sunday then put it in the fridge to can this week.

Despite getting home late from work, I was determined to can the sauce last night. Like I said, it wasn't a huge batch, and I only had about 3-4 pint jars worth to do. I didn't own a canner, but I thought for small jars, I could likely get away with using a stockpot on my stove.

This is where I wished had learned by now to do my research BEFORE I start a project, instead of simultaneously. With the sauce reheating reheated on the stove, my lids sitting in hot water in the sink and jars hot in the dishwasher, I turned my stockpot water on to boil and prepared to spoon my sauce into my jars.

Then I realized it. I didn't have a rack to keep the jars off the bottom of the pot. Did this matter? Do I need a rack? What if the jars sit on the bottom? I couldn't find a website advising a rack WASN'T needed, and I couldn't find anything to substitute for a rack. Panic set in. I turned all the burners off, grabbed my keys and headed to the only place I could think of that would have a rack at 9:30 PM. Wal-Mart. ick.

The whole drive to the store and back, a little voice repeatedly told me how stupid it was that I didn't do more research on this BEFORE starting the process (for a second time). Planning to just by a rack that could sit in the bottom of my pot, I ended up with an entire canner. At $16.97, I decided to go for it.

Arriving back home, I poured 4 inches of water in my new canner, put the glass jars back in hot water, pulled one out, dropped a 1 Tbsp of lemon juice in the jar and started spooning in the tomato sauce. At that point, I began questioning my IQ for a second time. The 'pop lids' were too big. I bought the size too big. I bought them Sunday! Why didn't I check this out before tonight?!

Thoroughly defeated, I put an old lid on one of the jars and put it in the freezer. I poured the remainder of the sauce back in my bowl and returned the bowl to the fridge. So now I have enough for 2 bottles of sauce. Yes, TWO. I bought a canner for 2 jars of tomato sauce. They're not even quart jars, they're pints. I think I'm going to have to make a lot more tomato sauce to justify this purchase.

Especially, since my mom told me after I could've heated up my jars, poured the hot sauce into them, put the seal on and it would've sealed on its own. Of course, your seals have to fit first... All my research also said NOT to do this, because you always run the risk of the jars spoiling if they're not sterilized or the food isn't hot enough.

So, for the second night in a row, I put my sauce back on the stove tonight to heat up. It was overkill, but I put the water canner on also, heated my jars in hot water in the sink, poured in my sauce, put the lids on and put them in the canner. They sealed in ten minutes. 2 jars in a 6-jar canner is totally overkill, but all in all, it was a good practice run for a bigger batch next time.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

First, I have to say I have a cold. A sore throat, stuffed up, cloudy-brained head cold in the summer. How crummy is that? The answer: Very.

I'm certain air conditioning is not helping it, so I've been turning it off and sleeping with my windows open. It's so humid though, I feel like the heavy air is crushing my brain even more! Ick!

Okay, let's get back on track, shall we?

Is it just me or does anyone else seem to have the next coming of the fruit flies going on in your kitchen right now? I've been taking out my garbage more often, keeping fruit and dirty dishes off the counter, and I still seem overrun by the little guys.

I have finally managed to wrestle back control of my kitchen counter this week after I discovered this tip in MaryJanesFarm magazine (a post in itself no less):

"To get rid of fruit flies, just place a small dish containing 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing liquid on your counter."

If you want to experience the definition of "white on rice", you need to try this in your own kitchen.

Like hypnosis, the fruit flies immediately started flying into the dish. I've emptied and refilled the dish daily, and by dinner there are always more who have succumbed. I certainly understand why the vinegar works. Every time I walk into the kitchen, I have to remind myself I DON'T have a rotting bowl of fruit on my counter. If I can smell it, I am sure it is even stronger for the flies and once they get in the dish, the dish soap makes it impossible to fly back out.

Slightly tragic? Yes, maybe. Fruit fly problem? Not anymore.

You can check out more organic home care solutions and more at Home Safe Home on MaryJanesFarm.

Country Touches in My Bland Kitchen

It struck me with great satisfaction the other day how things in life just 'come together'.

Over the past few years, I've recognized unmistakably that I'm drawn to rustic, cottage styles. While I like the clean lines and colour coordination of modern styles, when it comes down to actual decor, I find myself gravitating towards white paneling, cobalt blue china, antiqued furniture and barn board.

Despite not having a grand budget to transform my little home immediately, I noticed how it's starting to take on a charm of its own. I use the word "charm" quite loosely, but I have noticed a few little nooks and crannies take on the rustic, cottage fashion I've come to adore. This little kitchen corner is but one example.

A couple blue and white plates found at Value Village, some cookbooks, and a colander doubling as a fruit bowl have turned this corner from cluttered to charming. I've found I now make more effort to clean off this area of the counter, because I enjoy seeing this decor so much more. It's like I'm a little kid again, and I've just rearranged my room and promised my mom I'll keep it clean because the change is so intriguing. I'm sure it will wear off, but for now, I'm enjoying this small level of organization!

If I Ever Do a Giveaway...

If I ever have a following large enough to do a giveaway, this will be the first one!! I am relaxing at my aunt's house in Grand Bend for a couple of days with my mother, kind of like a mini-holiday, and my aunt has a Hamilton Beach Brew Station coffee maker. Sooooo cool!

Brew the coffee, press the button and voila! Your cup is full! I love it!

On the coffee maker front, I have actually been sans-coffee perk for several months now, since my carafe cracked in the sink one day. Keeping my eyes open for a carafe at Value Village and garage sales, I am still resorting to Instant Coffee, because I haven't been able to find a new carafe and I don't believe I NEED a new coffee maker right now. Holding out for a new carafe might have paid off though, because my aunt unloaded a box of leftover garage sale items (read: not sold junk) to me. Included in the box? A new carafe! The test will be on when I get home to see if it fits my coffee perk. I will also be sure to snap some shots of some of the other goodies for you.. seriously, there's a few mugs that are so ugly they're worth it!

Do you have any favourite kitchen gadgets or appliances?