Things you should know about me
Me with the ponytails in Banff, Alberta
- While this blog is called Profiteroles & Ponytails, I rarely make profiteroles or complicated desserts and dishes. This is largely due to my two ponytails (ages 7 and 4) and full-time job in downtown Toronto.
- Inspired from a one-day course at the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School in Paris and armed with my new copy of The Best Ever French Cooking Course Cookbook, I made profiteroles for the first time for a dinner party I hosted for a few girlfriends, more than 13 years ago. My interest in cooking has continued to grow from there.
- I believe that food brings people together, shaping our memories and traditions in an understated yet powerful way. While we remember the conversations, the laughter, the warmth… a good meal is always there smiling in the background, likely holding hands with a good bottle of wine.
- I like to cheat…when cooking of course! If there is a short cut, I am very likely to take it, given that I spend so much of my life stretched for time. (Think bottled roasted peppers, prepared mayo, and spaghetti sauce in a jar.) Although I do believe that some things are worth the extra effort. (Think flavoured butters, homemade granola and real mac & cheese.)
- I am a big fan of dashes, splashes, handfuls, sprinkles, and glugs. Don’t be alarmed—I never use these measurements when baking. Precision is a must when it comes to baking, so I leave my dashes and splashes on the shelf where they belong when I bake.
- I have to come clean. My girls don’t always wear ponytails—one wears a pony every day and the other will only wear one when she feels like it.
- My favourite part of blogging is all the interesting people that I meet along the way. Thanks for dropping by!
So thrilled to see you doing this, friend! And I will never forget that profiterole night!
Thanks so much Jennifer. I just wish we could do it again…if only we all lived in the same city!
Nice blog. Hmm, all of a sudden I’m hungry!
Thanks. My friend Carolyn wants me to work on an ap that will allow visitors to taste the pictures. If I could just find the right programmer….
Barbie! I remember those profiteroles! What a great memory 🙂 I love that you are doing this! I will confess that blogging is hard work, eh? Nicely done! xo
A great memory for me too Erica. I miss those days…. You are definitely right on that point. I wish there were more hours in the day. Hope all is well with your family. Say hi to Scott and your ponytails for me!
My rendition of your chili was a HUGE success! Because one of my guests can’t have wheat products, I wasn’t able to try the full recipe with the topping BUT I will make this recipe again in its entirety! Everyone loved the flavours and the addition of stuffed olives with spicy aji peppers gave it a little extra bite. The sweet flavours of the red peppers and spices really make this chili a winner!
Just stumbled onto your blog. Love it! I’ve got two ponytails myself, I call mine the two sassy gals. :). My gals are older however and they’ve kept me busy. Looking forward to browsing your recipes!
Thanks so much for dropping by Karista. I’m heading over to your blog to learn more about your two sassy gals!
Thank you for reading and the “Like” of my post.
My pleasure!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my Cape Cod photographs! I’m far better behind a camera than I’d ever be in the kitchen, but definitely follow your style on the splash, dash, pinch of this, that and the other front;) Have a wonderful day!
My pleasure Jennifer. Your photographs are beautiful. When it comes to cooking, anything goes really. The main thing is to have fun and enjoy the fruits of your labour with friends and family!
Hi Barb, I just nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. 🙂 Here’s the link: http://karistaskitchen.com/2012/08/10/strawberries-romanoff-and-two-very-belated-thank-yous/
Hi Barb!
Stef passed me the link to your blog – I love it! I’m enjoying my mat leave with my ‘ponytail’ (well, one day!) Daisy and I look forward to trying some of your recipes!
Thanks and take care,
Alison
So nice to “see” you here Alison! Thanks for dropping by. Daisy is such a lovely name for a ponytail — I can’t wait to see some pictures of the kiddies when you are back to work. We miss you!
Food and family is a perfect combination! Lovely to meet you… and thanks for visiting my blog!
Thanks so much. Looking forward to learning more about your part of the world through your blog.
I’ve nominated you for the Super Sweet Award. You can find out more details and see my comment about your blog here: http://lifethroughthekitchenwindow.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/super-sweet-blog-award/ . I enjoy your blog and was happy to tell others about it!
Thanks so much Marlene. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. I’m heading over to your blog now.
What a fun blog you have, and happy to have found it!
Thank you so much. I will be sure to pop over and visit your blog soon!
Hi there, thanks for visiting my blog. It led me to yours and I must say I really like your blog and love the recipes you have posted. I look forward to reading more. -Anne
Glad that we’ve connected Anne. Always fun to get to another foodie who shares a passion for experimenting in the kitchen.
Hi Barb,
Thank you for stopping by our blog and commenting on my post on Prosecco.
Congratulations on your very nice blog: I am grateful that your comment made me find it. Being (also) a photographer, I appreciate the photos that you published to illustrate your posts: did you take them yourself? Great job!
All the best
Thanks Stefano! Yes, I take the photos myself — although I feel like I have a lot to learn as I find that the quality of photos out there in the blogsphere is very high. Great to have you drop by for a visit!
Love your blog! It feels very warm and genuine and the food posts all look delicious! 🙂 So glad to be following!
What a lovely comment! Thanks so much. Glad to be connected as I’m looking forward to following your blog too. Your squash and chickpea soup is on my list of things to make!
Aw, wonderful 🙂 Glad to be connected with you too!!
Adorable little ones:) Looking forward to following your ponytailed culinary tales:)
I think they are adorable too (when they are well-behaved), but don’t all moms feel that way? Nice to connect with you!
I nominated you for a liebster award! Come check it out!
x
http://scrambledmegs.com/2012/11/08/my-liebster-award-nomination/
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much for visiting my humble blog! Your cooking style seems similar to mine (when I can be bothered that is 🙂 )
Nice to know tha we have something in common. Looking forward to following your photography adventures!
Hi, I completely agree about food bringing people together, I believe that food is love. I also agree about the dashes, splashes etc I cook that way too! Congratulations on the blogging award!
Great food tastes even better when it is enjoyed with good friends, doesn’t it? Here’s to the dashes and splashes that keep life interesting! Thanks for dropping by!
Have I told you that I love your blog? Probably ;). But just in case, I thought I’d let you know that because I do, I have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award (see http://missmarzipan.com/2012/11/16/very-inspiring-blogger-award-aka-happy-dancing-on-the-inside/). I truly wish you all the best! xx
I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award at this link: http://daisyandthefox.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/the-sunshine-awards/
congratulations! you deserve it! 🙂
Gotta love a foodie! … and thanks for visiting my little corner of the world.
Thanks! You have a very interesting blog!
Thanks …. no single focus, just all over the map of topics.
Hi! I love your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster Award! Please check: http://suckitupnotin.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/i-got-a-liebster-award/
Thank you so very much for the award! It means a lot. I will pop over to your blog later today as I am heading off to work shortly.
I really enjoy your blog and have nominated it for the Liebster award! 🙂
congratulations – you deserve it!
Daisy and the Fox
LOL we nominated her on the same day 😀
You’ve both made my day!
What a lovely surprize! I’m delighted to receive this award from you. I’m afraid I’m quite behind in my award follow up, but I hope to catch up over the holidays!
Hi Barb, I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
http://unihomemaker.com/2012/12/05/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
All the best,
Anne
Wow, I’m overwhelmed! It’s an honour. Thanks Anne!
Hi! Me again! Just stopping by to say I really enjoyed following you in 2012 and have nominated you for a Super Sweet Blogging Award. If you’re interested in accepting, pop by http://missmarzipan.com/2012/12/31/100th-post-today-with-belated-yet-grateful-responses-to-18-award-nominations/ for more details. If not, no worries :)- I gave you a nice shout-out in any case… and I wish you a very happy 2013! xx
Hi guys. Thanks very much for following my humble efforts and I look forward to doing the same with you. 🙂
Love your blog– I have two girls too but they are grown and out on their own. But occasionally they do wear ponytails! Thanks for the sense of fun and practicality in your recipes!
I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – congratulations! 🙂
Happy New Year!
Daisy and the Fox
I love the dashes and splashes paragraph. I failed to post a recipe today as it was exclusively splashes and approximations (which I didn’t write down), and I wouldn’t be able to make again! And I always admire people who manage to cook, be moms-dads, work full-time, and blog all at once! I am glad I discovered your blog, and am looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2013!
I am looking forward to following your blog too! Life is hectic for everyone…so I think that those of us that blog do so because we really enjoy it! I find it keeps me organized and pushes me to constantly try new things, which I might not do otherwise. The good part is that we all have to eat, so it does accomplish two things at once…don’t you find? Here’s to dashes and splashes!
Yes, the blog is definitely a good way of making different things, and also of keeping track of what I enjoyed cooking and eating most!
Thanks for following my blog, it helped me find yours, look forward to your future posts – and catching up on those already published! Tracey
I have nominated you and your blog for the Versatile Blog Award. Follow the link to except: http://savorthefood.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/something-to-proudly-display/
Chef Randall
Savorthefood.wordpress.com
Thanks Randall. I’m just catching up after a very busy patch at work. I’ll drop by to accept the award tomorrow. Thanks again!
Absolutely love your blog!!
Thanks for following my blog 🙂
Lovely blog! You have the two cutest little Pontails I can think of, the’re gorgeous!
Greetings to Toronto
from Bonn, Rhine Valley
Dina
I love your blog and recipes! You and your family are gorgeous 🙂 xoxox
Congratulations, Barb! You have been awarded: Super Sweet Bloggers Award
I do not expect any action to be taken, or for you to generate a post, unless you wish to pass it on.
Your blog has been awarded at:
http://faestwistandtango.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/awards-february-2013/
Enjoy! 😀 Fae.
Hi! I like so many things about your blog: the photographs are striking; content is great; you h be the funniest subject headings; and I share your mad passion for collecting plates and vintage dishes . Very happy to find your blog!
Thank you so much for your kind comments. Collecting plates and vintage dishes is a wonderful passion, isn’t it? I like that you get to share the dishes with guests and that they remind you of happy memories when you use them. I was happy to find your blog as well!
Love your blog and the name! And I really love the photo of your girls taken from the back, with their ponytails. Thanks for visiting!
I’ve recently switched my food blog over to be self-hosted which I hope will make it more user-friendly in the future. As a result, if you were following Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen via email, WordPress, or using RSS feeds through Google Reader or some other way, you are no longer subscribed. If you wish to continue receiving future posts from my blog you will need to re-subscribe. Sorry for the inconvenience, Teresa.
Hey, just to let you know I nominated you for a beautiful blogger award 🙂 Find details here: http://louslabyrinth.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/beautiful-blogger-award/
xoxox
Hello lovely. Just letting you know that I’ve nominated you for the ‘Best Moment’ award on my blog. I didn’t even know it existed til a few days ago… but you immediately came to mind! Thanks again for your beautiful, honest writing. Check out your nomination here: http://laurasmess.me/2013/03/15/awards-and-acknowledgements/
I am a big fan of dashes, splashes, handfuls, sprinkles, and glugs too. Great to meet you here 🙂
Adorable!
Hi, I nominated you for a Liebster Award, check out my blog post called “Liebster Award” at http://www.more-sprinkles.com
Thank you very much for the award! I will pop by shortly to see your post.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I love your blog name. “Profiteroles” is such a great word to say. 🙂
Hi! What a wonderful blog you have here! Thanks a lot for visiting my blog, especially because now I get to follow yours 🙂
Really cute blog name. And really cute girls!
Very, very cute blog!
Congratulations Barb! You have been awarded: Versatile Blogger Award
I do not expect any action to be taken, or for you to generate a post (unless you wish to pass on the award nominations). Nevertheless, your blog has been awarded at:
http://fae-magazine.com/2013/05/29/awards-may-2013/
Enjoy the Award! 😀 Fae.
Hi! I’m a writer for GourmetFoodStore.com, and we’d like to feature one of your posts on an upcoming article. Is there an email we can use to contact you? Thank you, and your blog is wonderful, Albertina
Hi! I just stumbled across your blog and I’m glad because I already found a few recipes I crave to try! They are original and exciting! Can’t wait to start! If only I didn’t have to work and study, I would just cook and bake and blog about it… Hmm… 🙂
Adorable girls, it’s great to have found your blog!
Thank you. I will drop by to visit your blog too in the next couple of days.