cookbook collection, originally uploaded by mintyfresh.

Almost every year I decide, on a whim, to tackle some sort of unrealistic-yet-fantastic project that will take at least 50% more time than I assume, requires some superhuman effort, and that I will procrastinate about until the day before the shipping deadline.

This year was no exception.

But this year, I made a cookbook. A 106 page cookbook (!), complete with recipes I’ve adapted and created over the years along with family favourites and photos I’ve taken myself of EVERYTHING, in the dark evenings and weekend mornings of October and November.

I sent multiple copies to print for MANY people without ever proofing a real-live-printed-bound copy and this decision (and time constraint!) almost drove me to drink, I was so nervous about the end result.

But I didn’t need to be. They’re beautiful. Thanks, blurb.

A few favourite pinterest finds. With the holiday break coming up, I’m thinking about making elaborate, entertaining things that will (inevitably) take HOURS and be gone within minutes.

Source: runningwithtweezers.com via robyn Source: blogs.babble.com via robyn Source: 101cookbooks.com via robyn Source: flickr.com via robyn

Source: i-heart-baking.blogspot.com via robyn Source: bravetart.com via robyn Source: biggirlssmallkitchen.com via robyn Source: thekitchn.com via robyn

The holiday madness officially hit a few weeks ago, with holiday card-printing classes to teach, a few crazy (crazy!) projects up my sleeve along with visiting family (Hi mom!) a trip to Ottawa and the overall general chaos that seems to be my life (seriously, I need to learn how to relax, but I don’t know where to start. Is there a to-do list I could reference?).

So instead of a real update, some highlights:

• There have been some moderately insane photoshoots in my kitchen these last few weeks. Turns out my fridge has EXCELLENT light.
• Caramels. ’tis the season. The fridge is full of 35% cream, and the cupboards are bursting with vanilla beans and sea salt. And like always, the recipe is a secret. Sort-of.
• While in Ottawa I ate at the delightful back lane cafe, where they greeted me by my twitter handle. Slightly creepy in that internet-life meets real-life way, but awesome. Also, they have burrata. Win!
• Also in Ottawa, Exposure Gallery for Yule! The extraordinarily fantastic Dwayne Brown had some pieces in this show. As someone who collects tiny things like this, I kind of want them all.
• Cats! I have been rocking the SPCA with adorable cat photoshoots and profile-writing for these last few weeks. Moderately lonely cats stuck in cages have developed a fondness for my camera. Certain lenses are covered in nose prints, and that’s ok by me.
• We went to Cookies Unite. I ate boudin soup. It felt astoundingly like the offal dinner, more like a test of stamina than “YUM!”. My year in weird foods? Complete. I’m going back to eating salad and vegetables.