We just had spring break a few weeks ago and I realized something. As my daughters have gotten older, they have begun to speak in a different language. Yes, TikTok plays a role in that lol but also, the fact that they are teenagers is the biggest culprit. Sometimes I would hear them whispering and I tried to get in on the joke? Story? Lament? I don’t know because everything went quiet when I was in the room. Like there was a barrier between Mom conversations and Sister conversations. I remember I used to speak that language, teenage language, I think lol. I mean my therapist asked me what I used as a coping strategy as a teenager and I held up my hands like a W and said, “whatever.” Apparently “whatever” is NOT a healthy coping mechanism by the way BAHAHAHA. If I was able to ask my Mom, I bet she would understand how I’m feeling. I will turn 47 years old this week. In some ways, I can’t even remember what it was like to be 13 or even 17 lol. It’s funny, because when I think about where some random item is, my first image is always where it would be on 14 Costello Dr. which was my childhood home lol. That’s right, I can’t remember why I went into the kitchen, or what it was like to be 17 but I can remember where we kept the Vicks VapoRub when I was 9 years old lol. I went to the dentist the other day and she took out that pick thingy that looks like a corkscrew lol and I had a very distinct image of my Mom coming at me with that tool after opening up the medicine cabinet and taking it out of the shot glass that was holding it. My parents were young parents lol. The things that stick with you lol. I still watched the Paralympics this year and saw the 51 year old from France, Cécile Hernandez who has MS, win GOLD in the Snowboard Cross. When I see stuff like that I think, “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” LOL.
47 isn’t a “special: birthday. It’s just 47. But I am grateful for those 47 years, what they have taught me and what I accomplished. I am tired but I am excited for the next 47. Bring it on!
For my birthday I wanted to share some of my favourite Canadian self care items and a hilarious book that I read about getting older.
Three Ships is the skin care routine that I recently started. This company is women owned and operated out of Toronto Ontario. They are dermatologist tested, sustainably sourced, vegan, animal cruelty free, and allergen free. I got a 3 week trial of all their products and so far I am loving how they make my skin feel. The cream is velvety and perfect for my sensitive skin.
Switching shampoo and conditioner has been a struggle. I have tried a ton of different Canadian brands but have finally found one that I really like. Attitude. Attitude is a 100% Canadian brand started in Quebec and uses Conscience Chemistry to combine clean ingredients with innovation. I love their Super Leaves shampoo and conditioner set, it smells fresh, leaves my hair silky (even the stubborn grays) and comes in beautiful metal pump bottles which is perfect for my hands and NO PLASTIC!!
Candles. Years ago Ninja bought me a whole box of candles for Christmas and I refuse to burn them because I didn’t want to use them. Since Covid and my diagnosis, Ninja and I have been talking about burning the candles. Not necessarily waiting to savour the things we really want, but taking that trip now, lighting the candle now, eating that chocolate now because who knows what tomorrow will bring. Some of the candles that I love come from The 6th Scent Candle, S&M Soap Co., Moodgie, Rural Candles, Canvas Candle Co.
The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs 🇨🇦 About Female Friendship Bahahaha this is a madcapped caper gone wild. This is a book of mixed messages and what can happen when you don’t have communication in your relationships lol. This book is centred around 4 married couples who are best friends. The 4 husbands made a bad business deal a few years earlier and lost all their retirement savings. One of the husbands figures out a way to scam the casino and steal millions of dollars and the 4 husbands spend years trying to regain their lost retirement funds. After 1 of the men dies, the 3 husbands left begin to believe their friend was murdered because of their theft. When his widow receives a large insurance settlement, the 3 wives begin thinking that if their husbands were to die, they too would finally have their retirement savings replaced. When the husbands AND the wives go to the same person in hopes of hiring a hitman, the communication wires get crossed again and hilarity ensues. It was crazy to me that they even came up with the scheme. It was funny how Hank kept on seeing things that weren’t there because of his guilt. I loved Hector and Brenda lol as they are #couplegoals Just when the wives decide they made a mistake, things literally blow up in front of them. It’s so funny that they use movie and tv shows for their study of becoming criminals lol. The plot kept evolving as each set of spouses figured things out and it made it all the more funny. Even the reasons their marriages were rocky were funny because if there was trust like Hector and Brenda, none of this would have happened. Padma and her mother’s matchmaker were another aspect of the story that added to the hilarity. Overall, I found this book to be funny, smart, and had a great message about love and communication… Kind of lol. I loved the ending and was totally satisfied that all the loose ends were tied up.
We LOVE Mexican food. When I asked HBear what she wanted on the menu this month she said, Chicken Enchiladas. I went on the blog to print my recipe and realized, I haven’t put our easy chicken enchilada recipe ON the blog!! Duh! So here it is! The easiest but most delicious recipe ever! Basically, all you need is shredded cheese, a rotisserie chicken and a can of good enchilada sauce and you are set!
When I think Mexican dessert, I think, Choco Taco! LOL After that, I think of churros. Deep fried dough dipped in cinnamon and sugar? Yes please! I hate using my deep fryer at home though so I found this Churro Bars recipe that was just as good, without the frying! This easy dessert bar is made with 2 layers of cookie dough, cinnamon, sugar and drizzled with dulce leche. I should have made a double batch because I devoured these bars as soon as they came out of the oven.
Last week I shared that Ninja and I used to go to my Sis’s work and he would order a Club Sandwich, his favourite restaurant order. I however loved getting the sizzling fajitas. That’s what it was called in the menu and that’s how I like them, SIZZLING! These Chicken Fajitas are easy and they sizzle! We love them topped with fresh Pico de Gallo.
I am embarrassed to admit it but I have never had Tres Leche Cake, I have heard of it and know what it is, cake made with 3 types of milk. However, I have never had it. I still haven’t though because instead of trying the original recipe we tried this Chocolate Tres Leches Cake instead. This was a very chocolatey and a very moist cake. We decided NOT to top the whole cake with whip cream but chose to dress each piece as we ate it. I hate deflated whip cream. I just bought a can of chocolate whip for this yummy cake but you could make a whole batch of whip cream to frost it if you would prefer. You could also use regular whip cream and chocolate shavings for garnish. We didn’t bother with garnish because this was a weeknight/lunch dessert that didn’t last long!
The Murmur of Bees By Sofía Segovia A book where the narrator is not the main character. This was such a beautiful book. Honestly, it took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I wanted to write down lines from the book just to remember them lol. It is narrated by an unknown narrator (at first) that is looking back and telling the story of his family. It is a story of spirituality, a little magic, revolution, and getting through a world changed by a pandemic completely out of human control. There are a lot of different storylines in this book spanning decades, but surrounding the Morales family in Linares, Mexico beginning in the early 1900s. I loved the strong matriarch, Beatrix and her equally quiet but strong husband, Francisco. She explains what it feels like to be a mother extremely well. Especially during her time with her daughters during the pandemic, the Spanish flu that hits their farm in October 1918. Simonopio, what a character. I love his insight and third sense premonitions. I loved hearing the story from him even though it wasn’t through his own words. Anselmo is the epitome of someone that will never be happy with what they have, never find gratitude and always have jealousy for what others have worked for or been given. The book begins to change about halfway through. That is when Francisco Morales plants an orange orchard, and when the narrator of our story, Francisco Jr is born. While the words flow beautifully, the book didn’t flow as well. The time jumps happen all the time and it’s hard to keep track. I’m not sure if it’s because of the language translation that gets lost in translation or the writing style. Also, because the person that wrote, this is writing about her home, she knows the background of the names she throws out, but the reader doesn’t. I spent a lot of time Googling everything that wasn’t said. While I loved the character driven story of the Morales family, I was very interested in the story of Mexico that wasn’t told within the pages.
Chicken Enchiladas
4
servings15
minutes30
minutesIngredients
2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 can red enchilada sauce
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
8 flour tortillas
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish: cilantro, chopped and sour cream
Directions
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add oil. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until soft and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the shredded chicken to the skillet along with the cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for another 3-5 minutes until well combined and heated throughout.
Pour a small amount of red enchilada sauce into the bottom of a greased baking dish (about 1/4 cup).
Take a flour tortilla, place a spoonful of the chicken mixture in the centre, sprinkle with a handful of shredded cheese, and roll tightly. Place seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat until all tortillas are filled.
Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top of the rolled enchiladas and sprinkle with the rest of the shredded cheese.
Cover the dish with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes. Remove the foil in the last 5-10 minutes.
Let the enchiladas rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with a dollop of sour cream.
Churro Bars
9
bars10
minutes20-25
minutesIngredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
- Cinnamon Sugar
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Garnish: 1/4 cup dulce de leche
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x9 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Do not overmix.
Combine the cinnamon sugar ingredients, ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, together.
Divide the dough in half. Press one half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
Sprinkle about half of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough in the pan. Carefully spread the second half of the dough over the cinnamon sugar layer, pressing it down gently to cover the sugar.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
As soon as the bars come out of the oven, while they are still warm, sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top.
Let the bars cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut it into bars. Drizzle the dulce de leche generously over the churro bars.
Chicken Fajitas
4
servings15
minutes15
minutesIngredients
3-4 chicken breasts, sliced into ¼" thick slices
1 batch fajita seasoning mix (recipe below)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1-2 limes
½ orange bell pepper, sliced
½ red bell pepper, sliced
½ yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
12 flour tortillas
- Fajita Seasoning Mix
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
Mix the fajita seasoning in a small bowl with the cornstarch.
Add ¼ cup of the oil and the juice of 1 lime and whisk to combine.
Place chicken in a bowl, add ⅔ of the fajita seasoning marinade and toss to coat the chicken well. Set aside.
Add the veggies to the remaining ⅓ of the marinade and toss the vegetables until well coated. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetables. Cook until the onion softens, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil and cook the chicken until browned, 4-5 minutes each side. Add the veggies back to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and give the dish a squeeze of lime.
Serve with warm flour tortillas, pico de gallo, and lime wedges.
Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
1
cake10
minutes4
hours35
minutesIngredients
1 package chocolate cake mix
1¼ cups chocolate milk
½ cup canola oil
3 eggs
1 can sweetened condensed milk
¾ cup half-and-half
¾ cup evaporated milk
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
Garnish: chocolate whip cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch pan.
In a large bowl, beat cake mix, chocolate milk, canola oil, and eggs until well combined (about 2 minutes). Pour into the greased pan.
Bake for 34-36 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes.
Poke holes all over the top of the cake with a fork.
In a medium bowl, whisk sweetened condensed milk, half and half, evaporated milk, and 3 tablespoons cocoa powder until cocoa powder is fully mixed into the milks. Pour this evenly over the cake. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Add chocolate whipped cream over the cake before serving and shave chocolate on top if you want.
Thank you to A Pinch of Joy, My Wee Abode, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, and Crazy Little Lovebirds for featuring my March Reads and Spring Salads post at their Busy Monday, Tuesday Turn About, Full Plate Thursday and Crazy Little Lovebirds Link Parties last week.
I had a good energy week so I got a ton done around the house. I also went out for coffee with a gf, did yoga, got some new books and worked. HBear went to the OC campus tour, went to her final dress fitting, and played tennis with SBean. It’s been sunny and the buds are opening and the yard work has begun.
16 thoughts on “It’s My Birthday & Treats for Cinco de Mayo”
Happy birthday! We had chicken fajitas tonight and I am going to have to add churro bars to our “must try” recipe list.
Thank you! I already baked another pan of those churro bars because I ate the whole first batch lol so easy and so darn good! Enjoy 🙂
You forgot to brown the onions and peppers, raw stuff doesn’t go well in fajitas
Step 5 is when you add the onions and peppers to the pan and brown them nicely. These fajitas sizzle in the cast iron!
I had my son respond to a text for me and said to type LOL and he told me mom. that’s what 40 year olds write! I told him that I was proud of being 50 and to leave it in. I don’t mind dating myself with what I write!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Haha I’m a big fan of emojis which apparently makes me old 😂. Thank for stopping by, I love all your fashion posts with great tips 😊
Yummy. We love Mexican food too. I always making enchildas, fajitas with rice and beans. The churro bars look tasty. I am happy to feature your yummy recipes at Love Your Creativity.
The churro bar was definitely my favourite! Lol thank you so much for featuring me, we’ll see you again next week!
I love that quote by President Monson. 🙂 Such good perspective! I love Mexican food, too. Your churro bars look so good. I don’t mind a tres leches cake, but I think your chocolate version looks so much better! 🙂 Happy birthday! Visiting from the Sweet Tea & Friends linkup.
It’s a wonderful quote. I love quotes because there’s always someone out there that has said what I’m feeling, way better than me lol. The cake just tasted like a very moist chocolate cake, not that I’m complaining lol!
Happy Birthday! The Murmur of Bees sounds really interesting and different. I sometimes find translated books a little different to read. I’m liking your recipes too and you’ve reminded me that we haven’t had enchiladas in a long time. The cake looks lovely.
I have a friend who is Mexican and I asked him about the translation. He tried reading the book in English and ended up finishing it through the audiobook in Spanish. He said this was a difficult translation, but I honestly found so much beauty in this book. I hope you enjoy it.
Happy Birthday to you! I hope you had a great day.
The Murmur of Bees sounds really good.
You’ve been busy with your recipes they sound delish.
Thanks bunches for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
Hey Kristin just popping back over to let you know I just got The Murmur of Bees on Kindle Unlimited. Can’t wait to read this. I appreciate your recommendation.
Oh, that’s great! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it Enjoy!
Ps: Thanks so much for sharing with Bookish Bliss Musings & More Quarterly Link Up.