a peek inside the fishbowl

My most recent piece for SavvyMom was about a local company called Mobile Beauty. I had the opportunity to meet the Carolyn (owner, founder, and esthetician for 20+ years) and try out MB services for myself.

I can’t believe that she’s been flying under my radar for so long. This is a great service for anyone who needs in-home mani/pedi/brow waxing.  She has a masseuse on staff as well. (!)

There are too many delightful and different ways this kind of service would come in handy. Imagine:

• You are breastfeeding and can’t figure out how you’re going to juggle a feeding and a manicure at the same time
• You’re looking for a special gift for your BFF, who is pregnant and wants pretty toes before she goes into labour. (I bet she can’t reach her toes either! Ha. Doubly perfect.)
• The idea of schlepping your weary self to your downtown salon makes you feel woozy
• You have children and no childcare
• You have wonky hours
• Your toes/eyebrows/nails have been terribly neglected you’re too embarrassed to see ANYONE much less face a manicurist SOMEWHERE IN PUBLIC.
• You want to get together with other moms, drink wine/coffee/bevvy of choice and have someone MAKE YOU FEEL NORMAL AGAIN.

Wouldn’t this be a great thing to do for a playdate or an lieu of a girls night out?

Carolyn and I talked a lot about what basic beauty services can do for a person’s self-esteem. She is genuinely passionate about helping making women look great and feel great too.

I know that if I look sloppy, I feel sloppy. Of course Carolyn is totally professional and would never actually tell you that you look like a mess (for which I was grateful).

As I mentioned in the article, she brings everything she needs to your place. All you need is a chair and a pair of willing toes (or eyebrows, or whatever). You just need to book a minimum number of services. See her website for more info about that.

Guess what? Carolyn has kindly agreed to give all SavvyMoms 15% off mani/pedi services until November 1, 2009. Just mention you read it here or over at SavvyMom and you can have beauty on your doorstep too.

Two local charities have joined together for the second year to put on a joint fundraiser. The Huntington Society and Christmas Exchange are holding the 2nd Annual Caring & Sharing Charity Auction September 29 at The Hellenic Banquet Centre with Honourary Chair Senator Mike Duffy, and well known philanthropist Dave Smith as the auctioneer.

There are lots of great auction items including family passes to museums, gift baskets, and tickets to the NAC. Some of the items, like a trip for two to L.A., a Young and the Restless VIP Set Tour (including round trip airfare), or a Sunday Brunch for six with Gay Cook and Grete Hale at their historic Ottawa home, are really unique and not available anywhere else.

Personally I am drawn to these ones:

With this two night stay including breakfast for two at Loews Hotel with a fantastic room overlooking the St. Lawerence River and the Plains of Abraham, you’ll be able to experience the beauty and history of Old Quebec in Quebec City like never before!
Value: $459.00

Take in the spooky history of Ottawa or Kingston with two adult passes to any of the haunted walks provided by Haunted Walks Inc.
Value: $30.00
Donated by: Haunted Walks Inc.

With one family pass (2 adults and 2 juniors OR two children) to the Aventure Lafleche Cave and Aerial Park, you’ll be able to spend a day doing something the whole family will enjoy!
Value: $137.00
Donated by: Aventure Lafleche

Over 100 auction items have already been received and more are being included every day. To view more auction items visit www.CaringAndSharing.ca.It could be the answer to the hard-to-shop-for person on your holiday list. Ticket price, which includes hors d’oeuvres, a three course dinner with wine, live and silent auctions is $100 with a $50 per person donation tax receipt.

When people ask me about Canadian cuisine (not that they DO, but if they DID) I give them poutine. And smoked salmon. And pea soup. And caribou steaks. And beaver tails. And BUTTER TARTS.

Canadian readers have probably eaten a butter tart or two in their lifetime, but not everyone knows about butter tarts. (!)

Butter tarts are like pecan pie without the pecans, made in smallish individual servings that are about the size of a donut. Butter tarts have been traced back to pioneer days. That’s how long we’ve been enjoying this delicious pastry!

This is a recipe for butter tart squares. There’s no fiddling with individual pastry shells, which is great for me because I’m terrible at pastry and am an impatient and inexperienced pastry baker. In this recipe, the crust is a layer of buttery goodness (OH THE BUTTER) which holds it all together. It is killer simple.

Gooey. Delectable. Easy. And it feeds a crowd. It is perfect for this time of year.

Anyway, I’m sorry I don’t really have a photo.

I cannot walk past a tray of these and not eat one. Or two. It is dangerous. On a diet? You’re in double danger. The great thing about making butter tarts in “square” format is that you can cut these as small (YOU CHEAPSKATE!) or as large (YOU GLUTTON!) as you like.

If you cut them smallish you’re more likely to eat more of them and think that you’re getting away with something.

I haven’t made these myself. I’ve just eaten them. I requested the recipe from my MIL knowing that some of you would love to try these too.

Andrea’s MIL’s Butter Tart Squares

First, the “crust”:

• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 2 cups of flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• pinch of salt

Next, the filling:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup raisins

Make the crust: Cut butter into dry ingredients with pastry blender or fork until crumbly. Press firmly into an ungreased 9″ x 13″ (23 x 33 cm) pan.

Make the filling: Melt butter; add eggs and remaining ingredients. Mix and pour evenly over crust. Bake at 350°F (180C) for 30-35 minutes. Cut when cool.

I think this would make a great Thanksgiving dessert, or something you can whip up for a bake sale. It makes a LOT of squares.

Let me know if you try this recipe. You won’t regret you did!

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(That is, unless you are trying to abstain from sweets and carbs in which case, yes, you may just regret making these.)