Wordless Wednesday: 10th Wedding Anniverary

I love you to the moon and back.

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary DaddyO.

Summer Kick-Off : VH Grill to Thrill *Giveaway*

Who doesn't love to barbeque??  While some may only bbq during the warmth of summer, we're often found digging out our bbq in the winter too!  Nothing beats the grill!

Honestly, I am not our household griller.  DaddyO loves his bbq, so I am more than happy to let him do the cooking on these nights.  If I had one bbq grilling tip to share with you it would be to let your hubby do it, lol.  I know this may not always be the case, but hey... if the man likes to bbq, why say no?

VH Sauces offer up many unique flavours to help make your bbq experience tasty and a success.  Try using an international sauce choice like Hoisin, Korean BBQ or Tandoori to liven things up!  We decided to marinate and grill flank steak with VH's Tandoori Sauce, served with a VH Pineapple Sauce inspired salsa from the 'Canadian Living Special Summer Cookbook Edition' we were provided. (Pick up your copy at Walmart, Loblaws, Safeway, Sobey's, Metro, Shopper's Drug Mart, & Co-op Stores.  Or, find it in the VH Facebook group here.)

Tip: PAM Grilling Spray is a great way to keep the flavour but cut the fat!  Use on a grilling basket (holds small items on the grill)  to ensure the veggies don't stick and you'll have easy clean-up!  You can also spray directly on the grill,  tongs and skewers to keep your foods from sticking.  100% Canola oil.

Tandoori Flank Steak with Pineapple Salsa

Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lb (675 gr) flank steak
• 1 jar (341 mL) VH_® Tandoori Sauce
• 1 cup (250 mL) canned pineapple chunks, drained (reserve juice)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) VH_® Pineapple Sauce
• ½ cup (125 mL) red pepper, finely diced
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) green oni0ns, finely sliced
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) plus 1 tsp (5 mL) lime juice
• PAM^® Grilling Spray

Directions

1. Marinate flank steak in 3/4 cup (180 mL) of VH_® Tandoori sauce, 2 tbsp (30 mL) pineapple juice and 3 tbsp (45 mL) lime juice for 6 hrs.
2. Stir together pineapple chunks, VH_® Pineapple sauce, red pepper, green onions and remaining lime juice, set aside.
3. Wipe excess marinade from beef and discard. Spray grill with PAM^® and heat to medium-high. Sear meat on both sides, then move meat to a cooler spot on the grill to finish cooking with indirect heat. While cooking, baste steak with ½ cup of VH_® Tandoori sauce.
4. Cook to desired doneness, about 20 minutes for medium. Remove from heat, cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice thinly and serve with remaining sauce and salsa.

Tips:

• Flank steak is best cooked to medium-rare or medium to retain its tenderness. To help save time, allow the meat to marinate over-night in your fridge.

We really enjoyed the VH Tandoori sauce and did not find it too spicy at all.  I liked the warmth it added to the taste of our meat that you would not normally get from a regular bbq sauce.  The kids really loved the VH Pineapple salsa!  This fruity side dish was a clear winner and will definitely be served again and again! 

*Giveaway:  Open to Canadian Residents only.  Ends Thursday, June 28th at 9pm MST.  Once notified, the winner will have 48hrs to respond or another winner will be chosen. While you may enter the VH Thrill To Grill contest across multiple blogs, you may only win one prize.*

Mandatory Entry:      To kick-off your summer, 'Peek Thru Our Window' is giving you a chance to host your own bbq and to try out these VH Sauces for yourself!  Visit the VH Grill To Thrill recipe site HERE and tell us in the comments section of this post which recipe you'd love to grill up for your guests and WIN a $50 Loblaws gift card (and affiliate stores).

Extra Entries: Please leave a new comment for each entry.

~ Become a follower of 'Peek Thru Our Window' with Google Friend Connect (you can find it in the right hand sidebar).

~ Follow 'Peek Thru Our Window' on Facebook.

~ Follow 'Mixtress SamiJoe' on Twitter. (leave your handle name in the comment too!)

~ Tweet this (up to once per day and you must leave the Twitter link in the comments of this post each day too!) :

Get grill happy with @VHSauces !  #WIN a $50 Loblaws G.C http://bit.ly/MQxI0N #Grill2Thrill #BBQ #Summer Ends Thurs. June 28 @ 9pm MST. 

Good Luck and Happy Grilling!

*Disclosure: I am participating in the VH Grill To Thrill Blog Tour by Mom Central Canada on behalf of VH.  I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion.  As always, the opinions expressed on this blog are our own.*

Wordless Wednesday ~ Hoopla

I have always dreamt of having my own basketball hoop. No schoolyard to hike to... just shoot baskets, at my leisure, in my driveway. To do a good old-fashioned schoolyard style hoop, it was gonna take some diggin'. Thankfully, DaddyO likes to dig.

Lookout!  There's a Beebo in the hole!

The post setting in cement.

Stay tuned for the final touches...

Summer Kick-Off : Cool Treats from Minute Maid

This summer, Minute Maid and the Canadian Living test kitchen are helping Canadian families enjoy deliciously cool summer tastes!  With 16 flavours of punches and juices available, the flavour options/combinations are endless!

Test drive these fun and yummy recipes!

Berry Swirl Pops

Ingredients:

·         1 can 295mL Minute Maid® Berry Punch frozen concentrate 

·         1 cup Frozen mixed berries

·         1/2 cup Water

·         2 cups Vanilla yogurt (We used Greek yogurt!)

 

Directions:

·         In blender, purée together berry punch frozen concentrate, mixed berries and water until smooth.

·         Pour into each ice-pop mould, starting with berry mixture, alternately spoon in berry mixture and yogurt, making 3 layers of berry mixture and 2 layers of yogurt.

·         Using tip of knife or skewer, make 1 or 2 swirls. Insert stick into centre.

·         Freeze until solid.

SUMMER FUN TIP: Don’t have ice-pop moulds? No worries.  Just use 5-oz (148 mL) disposable paper cups and wooden ice-pop sticks to make these tasty summertime treats.

If popsicles aren't your fancy, how about some punch for a backyard party or host the most awesome Lemonade stand on the block!

Sparkling Grape Lemonade

Ingredients:

·         1 can 295mL Minute Maid® Grape Punch frozen concentrate, thawed (undiluted)

·         1 can 295mL Minute Maid® Lemonade frozen concentrate, thawed (undiluted)

·         3 cups Sprite® Sparkling Beverage

·         2 cups Water

·         Ice cubes or ice ring

Directions: In punch bowl or large pitcher, stir together grape punch and lemonade frozen concentrates, Sprite® and water; mix well. Fill with ice cubes or add ice ring to keep cold.

SUMMER FUN TIP: Jazz up your lemonade and use frozen grapes as ice cubes.

Entertaining this summer can be easy and tasty!  With Minute Maid juices & punches to help you along, the sky is the limit!

*Peek Thru Our Window received some coupons to give these summer treats a whirl!  As always, the opinions expressed are our own. Enjoy!*

Wordful Wednesday : Change of Plans

We were supposed to go tin-boating on Lake Minnewanka last weekend (near Banff), but with a heavy rainfall warning (and possible flooding) we decided to stay on land. 

 Good thing we did too...that rain turned to snow!

Beautiful for sure, but it's June eh?

We of course found other things to do...

Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada

Not only is this an interesting learning experience,

but the building itself is glorious.

 

St. Jame's Gate Olde Irish Pub

The place I eat fish or enjoy a Guinness.

Neither can be out done elsewhere.

While we did miss out on our boating adventure, we were able to spend time together as a family.  And these days, that is all that matters.

Full, Fast and Furious: Bow Falls, Banff Alberta

Every few years, the combination of mountain snow run-off and spring rainfall wreaks havoc on Alberta's river systems.   As the river surges and increases in speed, we are reminded of natures great powers and an old saying,

"The River Always Wins."

We may also have a spring surge of babies born next March... just sayin'!  (Happens every year following!)

Picture #1 - Bow Falls, Banff Alberta

Inset picture taken on May 5, 2012. We walked down the rocks riverside and watched a deer cross.

Main picture taken on June 9, 2012. The river is very full and may overflow its banks. 

Video:

June 9, 2012- Bow Falls, Banff Alberta

Full, fast and furious!

Stay safe riverside!

BOGS: The Go-Everywhere Boot!

"Rain boots, while purposeful, are certainly not fashionable. Though if you call them 'Wellies' they sound fancier.   The latex boot is not very supportive and your foot often swishes around inside.  I am not a fan." 

-Rain boots according to SamiJoe.-

But BOGS 'Wellington' style boot kicks that statement to the curb!  These boots are waterproof, stylish and comfortable.  Check out  'The Rider' in action:

"The 'Rider' Emboss is Bogs' take on the fashionable and comfortable waterproof Wellington boot. Durable hand-lasted rubber over a four way stretch inner bootie. Waterproof Neo-Tech insulation and a fleece lining for warmth. Contoured with EVA sockliner. Aegis anti-microbial odor protection.  Comfort rated from temperate to sub-zero conditions."

Living in Calgary, we are well known for receiving four seasons worth of weather all in the same day.  No reason why our gear shouldn't be all-season too!   Whatever the adventure, BOGS are ready to play.  Recently, we explored Mother Nature for the day river-side.  The water was pure glacial run-off and is not swimmable.  (Read: Ridiculously freezing.)   Since I had my 'Riders' in the car, I decided to go for a river walk.

Feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge.

In a regular pair of rain boots, I would have felt the icy water temperature.

BOGS kept my feet totally dry and warm!

I decided to take some pictures while river walking, but DaddyO made me perch on a rock for fear I might have another camera incident.  The BOGS are waterproof, the camera is not.

(I still maintain that I was trying to be really,

really careful when I sanded that camera in San Diego!)

BOGS make boots in all styles, for all kinds.  Some have handles for easier pulling on (especially handy for the kids), and some have neat patterns to give your boots uniqueness.   Their treads are mud-worthy and won't find you falling on your backside trying to navigate terrain.  Worth every penny for their user friendliness and durability, BOGS will make you a fan in no time.

Check out their website HERE for more BOGS styles.

You can also find them on Facebook HERE.

If you want a boot that you'll have for years, BOGS are it.  I'm having so much fun in mine!

*I was provided with a lovely pair of BOGS Riders for the purpose of this review. As always, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

Wordless Wednesday ~ A Dandy Day!

I'd be a sneezying mess,

in this unsightly part of our field.

Beebo is in heaven and Dandelions have never looked so good!