::everything is best in three's

... or any arrangement of odd numbers that is. it is one of the easiest rules of composition- one i learned in high school art class but felt that surely it had been natural instinct to me all along. i just like three the best; simple, yet powerful.

i was feeling in a bit of a creative mood this afternoon and went on a bit of a still life rampage... just thought i would share a few of my favs.

i love the shade of periwinkle blue:: and the blurr ; )

















hot chocolate? yes please! especially when the rule of three's would require me to have three marshmellows! {yes, i did take precious time out of life to make a heart on the marshmellow out of chocolate sauce-- that stuff is hard to work with!}









oh, and on a random side note... it has been 4 months since our post about making grape juice, so kyle & i have been greedily consuming the delicious treat this week after a long wait {sharing with some of our friends of course! ; ) }











::well i'm off to enjoy the last of my hot chocolate... nighty nite!

Infinity Yumm's for this Curry Recipe

Since gaining a love & interest in cooking I have begun labelling recipes I try out according to 'yumms'. 1 yumm says 'that was good- i'll probably try it again sometime, but maybe make a few changes', 2 yumms says ' that was delicious- definitely something I would make again!' and 3 yumms, which is the highest, says 'wow! I loved every bite- this is a recipe to make regularily' (which says something cause I like to try so many different recipes that I rarely make the same thing twice in a months time).

Now that you know the background information on my food ratings, there is a second background history you must understand before I unveil the meaning behind this post's title.

Since returning from India I have been actively seeking for THE perfect curry recipe... meaning Kyle has had to endure through roughly 15 or more different curries since we have been married. Now, it is not that the past 15 have not been good-- or 1 or 2 yumms-- it is just that I have had a certain one in mind since I tasted it in India, and none have been able to recreate it.

However, last night I found it. As I was making the recipe I had a feeling that it would be THE ONE. I went ahead and altered a few things in the recipe (manly to make it spicier)... and it turned out amazing-- just as I had recalled.

So for the first time ever, I give this recipe infinity yumms because I know that I will be making this regularly for the rest of my life!

Here is the recipe (with my alterations):: it is a MUST try

Coconut Chicken Curry

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 large red onion, chopped
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP olive oil (I used coconut oil and it worked wonderfully, but this would be fine as well)
1 (400ml/ 14oz) can coconut milk
1 TBSP corn starch
3 TBSP fresh basil (or 2 tsp dried basil)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger

**serve over thai coconut rice (recipe below)

Directions:
CUT CHICKEN into 1 inch pieces. Place chick in a medium bowl. In a small blow stir together the curry powder, salt, black pepper & chili powder. Sprinkle mixture over chicken & rub evenly to coat. Cover & chill for 1-2 hours to allow spices to penetrate meat.

IN A LARGE nonstick WOK or skillet, cook & stir onion, garlic, & peppers in hot oil over medium-high heat for 2 min. Remove onion mixture from WOK. Add 1/2 chicken to WOK. Cook & stir 3-4 minutes until no longer pink (you may need to add more oil). Remove from WOK, repeat with 2nd half of chicken.

COMBINE coco milk & cornstarch. Carefully add to WOK. Cook & stir until slightly thickened & bubbly. Return chicken & onion mixture to WOK. Stir in basil & ginger. Cook & stire about 2 minutes or more until heated through. Serve over rice!


Thai Coconut Rice
{i use a rice cooker & cook according to it's directions using 1/2 water it calls for and substituting the other half with coconut milk-- using seasoning like normal. the following is directions for on the stove.}

ingredients:
2 3/4 cups water
2 cups white long grain; jasmine; or sticky rice
3 TBSP Clubhouse Thai seasoning
1 cup Coconut milk (comes in a can)

directions:
COMBINE all ingredients in sauce pan. Bring to boil on medium heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff rice with fork. Makes 6 cups.



ENJOY!

Jackie & Shane :: Engagement

Jackie & Shane are Engaged!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting some engagement pictures for this fun-filled couple. Even if it meant tromping through the snow, this couple was up for anything I suggested-- making it a really great experience for me!

To check out more pictures from the shoot visit their gallery on my website::
www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com




Thanks you two for an awesome morning!

Christmas Break in Review

Kyle and I had an excellent Christmas Break this year, with the opportunity to visit both our families. Although this meant for a busy break and lots of travel time we both thought it to be a huge blessing to spend our first Christmas as newly-weds amongst our families.

I have to admit I did a terrible job documenting our time through photos:: luckily my mom picked up the slack in Ontario and our sister Erin {as well as our mom via her iPhone} did like-wise in Georgia! (check out Erin's blog for her posts of our Christmas holiday:: Click Here for Erin's Blog)

Here is a little photo recap::

Mom had planned a surprise for the family which took us, along with the Robertson Family to Toronto where we skated at the Nathan Phillips Square











Check out Kyle's Early Christmas Present:: Hockey Skates!

We were able to stick around long enough for the Beaver Tails Shack to open up before taking off for the next part of the surprise:: Kyle's first taste of the deep fried, sugary, cinnamon-y wonderful-ness!

The 'Crystal Tree' at the Eaton Center. I was expecting the actual tree to be one big crystal, this one looked like a gigantic version of mom's tree at home which is also decorated in silver.

Last on the list was a visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village for a Christmas Candle Light tour where we saw people create decorations out of tin, tasted turkish ''delights'' {although I wouldn't necessarily call them delightful in the least}, learned how much work went into print publishing, and heard an array of beautiful music-- my favourite being the music of the cellist.

Two days before Christmas Kyle, Alex, Jordyn and I all decorated this yummy looking gingerbread house:: it only looked like this for the few moments after it was done while I insisted on taking a few pictures of it before the candy pieces began to mysteriously disappear. {I took no part in the sad disfigurement of the ginger house ; )}

Christmas morning! Kyle & I in our Canadian Olympic gear which we both love

Hippopotamus {without noodles on his back} likes to drink Soda Pop:: We gave him to Al for Christmas

The whole gang with Nana & Papa before heading to the airport:: Loving my new hair cut from my wonderful Aunt Dana

Off to Georgia for 2nd Christmas!!! {PLLLEEASE check out Erin's blog... as I said before I did a terrible job at taking picture this Christmas!}

The four of us {Kyle, Me, Erin, & Carly} on a hike with the family in Sweetwater Park:: it was a beautiful afternoon for a hike!

Playing a really fun game with the fam:: this was one of the challenges to see who could last the longest holding a chopstick between their nose and upper lip. It's harder then it looks and really works your lip muscles!

Finally a taste of the infamous Birthday Cake Icecream from Coldstone that Kyle always talks about after an early morning at an REI Garage sale. It was definitely "Gotta Have It" good.

Thank you Bell & Chupp Families for an unforgettable Christmas! We miss you all!