canarygirl.com

May 3, 2007

All About Canarygirl

Filed under: Uncategorized — nikki @ 11:31 am

What can I say? My name is Nikki…aka…canarygirl.  I’m a stay at home mom of 4…2 girls and 2 boys…..My home is in the Canary Islands, Spain. I am passionate about cooking, and have fun photographing the results.   Being in the kitchen is such a great stress reliever, as well as a fantastic creative outlet.  It’s fun to get in there, get your hands dirty, and create something fabulous just for everyday.  Sure, sometimes things don’t always work out the way we’ve planned, but the best thing to do is just laugh about it and start again.  Sometimes our mistakes are actually a blessing, and something wonderful becomes of them.  Other times….not so much.  Cooking keeps me from losing my mind a lot of the time….it is the closest thing I have to relaxation in my daily life, so in combination with antidepressant drugs, I am also employing the cooking therapy approach to stress relief.  I have suffered with depression forever, and while there are ebbs and flows, it’s like some sort of shadow that is always lurking around the corner. I deal with it the best way I can. Which, I’ve found, is through laughter and food. And pictures of food. And funny pictures. So yeah. That’s about it. Me.

43 Comments »

  1. Nikki, what a great site, and a wonderful picture of you, too. The pictures you post here make me drool - they are just gorgeous.

    Comment by Lizzie — May 9, 2007 @ 5:19 pm

  2. One more comment from me - my favorite picture here is your pumpkin curry soup - that one REALLY makes me drool!

    Comment by Lizzie — May 9, 2007 @ 5:20 pm

  3. Thanks, Lizzie! I’m so happy you like it! That soup pic is one of my favorites, too. :)

    Comment by nikki — May 9, 2007 @ 6:22 pm

  4. Sweetie, everything looks fabulous. You look fab, the food looks fab..it’s a beautiful website in all aspects. I can’t wait to see more!

    Comment by Shannon — May 10, 2007 @ 5:18 pm

  5. Aw, Shan! Thank you! MUAC!!!!!

    Comment by nikki — May 10, 2007 @ 8:45 pm

  6. CG, followed you over here from Vox, and I love the way the site is laid out. Can’t wait to try more of your amazing recipes! Everything looks WONDERFUL :)

    Comment by Christi — May 13, 2007 @ 4:10 am

  7. Hi Christi! Thanks for stopping by! :) I’m so glad you like the site! :)

    Comment by nikki — May 13, 2007 @ 6:52 am

  8. Nikki,
    I’m not much of a cook, but after going thru your website I can’t wait to try some things!
    Do u know who?

    Love ya!

    Comment by Mary I — May 18, 2007 @ 11:51 am

  9. Auntie Maryyyyyy!!!!!!! Hi!!!! Love you, too…So glad you like the site! :D

    Comment by nikki — May 18, 2007 @ 12:02 pm

  10. Nikki, I am amazed!!! What a great job - everything looks wonderful! You are gorgeous too!

    Comment by Molli — May 25, 2007 @ 2:48 pm

  11. Awww, Molli! You are so sweet! Thank you! :D

    Comment by nikki — May 28, 2007 @ 6:19 am

  12. I guess cooking is a little like prozac for the soul. Great pics!

    Comment by Amanda — June 17, 2007 @ 9:29 am

  13. Hi Amanda! Yes! It totally is. :) And thank you! :)

    Comment by nikki — June 17, 2007 @ 7:02 pm

  14. I love your blog–the pictures and recipes are great-

    Comment by melanie — July 5, 2007 @ 7:17 pm

  15. Thank you so much, Melanie! :)

    Comment by nikki — July 10, 2007 @ 5:05 pm

  16. Hi Nikki: I just came upon your site. I love your pictures. I also have a “blog” type site that I started one year ago. If you visit you can see that I am a retired personal chef, teach cooking classes and am a Weight Watcher leader in California. I love sharing my expertise. Since you live in Spain, I would love to share recipes. My fathers family is from Spain. Anyway I would love to correspond. Thanks Suzanne

    Comment by Suzanne Krause — July 10, 2007 @ 7:36 pm

  17. Oops almost forgot, my blog site is http://web.mac.com/suzanneskitchen.

    Comment by Suzanne Krause — July 10, 2007 @ 7:37 pm

  18. Hi Suzanne! So pleased to meet you! :) Your site is great! I can see that we’ll enjoy sharing recipes. Where in Spain is your father’s family from if I may ask? I do have some Spanish recipes posted, but am constantly adding more. Thank you for your kind words, too… :)

    Comment by nikki — July 11, 2007 @ 9:13 am

  19. Hi Nikki!
    I’m so happy I stumbled upon your site. I was led here from a google image search for chocolate molten lava cakes…came across your chocolate coulant. I will be trying your recipe this weekend! (Also the fudge brownies this week when my Dad visits from South Africa!
    I love your site! I’m jealous of your location! (I’m in VA, outside of D.C). I’m passionate about food, & I’m going to create my own site as well to share recipes. You remind me a lot of myself :) I took find cooking therapeutic, hence why its so important in my life. Its funny tonight I mentioned to my Mother that cooking is my other form of antidepressants! I too deal with the shadows by cooking, and exploring food. =) Looking forward to you and your site !

    Comment by Colleen — October 12, 2007 @ 2:59 am

  20. Hi Colleen! :) I commented on the other post too, but I’ll say it again here: It’s nice to “meet” you! :) I hope you enjoy the recipe! That is one of my absolute favorites. I was in DC a couple of years ago with a group of friends…gorgeous! :) It sounds like we do have some things in common. :) Looking forward to getting to know you better. Have a great visit with your Dad! :)

    Comment by nikki — October 13, 2007 @ 9:27 am

  21. Heya Birdchick: Just wanted to drop by and say I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season. You really do a great job with the web site. I don’t know if you still have contact with any of the “others” but if you do, tell them I said hi.

    Comment by Mark — January 15, 2008 @ 4:07 pm

  22. hiya I am loving your web site - wow you are such a great cook and you have inspired me!!! Keep up the good work, I have made a few of your recipes and my boys loved them. You seem such a hands on and fun mum :-)
    Love Nicky

    Comment by Nicky Jones — January 16, 2008 @ 8:17 pm

  23. Mark! It’s so great to see you! Yes, we did have a lovely holiday, thanks! I hope you and your family had a great holiday as well, and I wish you only the best in the new year. :) I’ll be sure to pass on your salutations to the girls! Best, nikki aka birdchick

    Hi Nicky (great name! lol ;) )! Thank you so much for commenting, it really makes my day to hear that people enjoy the site and my recipes. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes! Best, nikki :)

    Comment by nikki — January 17, 2008 @ 8:52 am

  24. Hey there, lady! I’ve been meaning to stop by your webpage forever, seeing as I’ve tried countless recipes of yours that I picked up on the Recipe Exchange group on Vox. I love the page! Can I ask how you ended up in the Canary Islands? I have always wanted to go there.

    Comment by Kelly — January 23, 2008 @ 4:08 pm

  25. Hi Kelly! Thanks so much for commenting, and welcome to the neighborhood! :) I’m just thrilled you’ve enjoyed the recipes and the site! :) My hubs is from the Canary Islands…we met at University in Minnesota. The Canaries really are a little piece of paradise…each island is unique, and the climate is ideal. :) If you ever do wind up visiting, be sure to let me know! I’d be happy to point you towards the best places! :)

    Comment by nikki — January 24, 2008 @ 12:49 pm

  26. hi again!

    Tried the lentils soup today, all simmering now, have to wait a few hours till it is finished. The whole house smells already good though, and it is neough for the whole neighbourhood, lol.

    I am searching for a good recipe with the fish and liver combination. Any suggestion?

    greets liffey

    Comment by liffey — January 24, 2008 @ 1:28 pm

  27. Hi liffey! Let me know whether you like it or not! lol I hope you do! :) Fish and liver? I’m anti-offal (sorry! lol), so I can’t help you with the liver portion, but fish? Let me know what your tastes are, and I will definitely be able to help you out! :) You know…thinking about it…even though I don’t eat liver, I’m thinking that seared liver and fish with caramelized onions and garlic in some sort of balsamic reduction might be good (I’m mentally replacing the liver with a steak, lol)…add some tarragon or rosemary, cracked black pepper…..? What do you think?

    Comment by nikki — January 24, 2008 @ 4:14 pm

  28. Wow, you have a great blog, love all the photos! I was on the Left Over Queen, and she mentioned your blog, so I came to see :) It’s now in my list of Fav Blogs to read.

    Comment by Rachelle — January 25, 2008 @ 12:39 am

  29. Hi Rachelle! So nice to “meet” you! :) Thank you so much for the compliment! Jen has such a great site, doesn’t she? :)

    Comment by nikki — January 25, 2008 @ 3:58 pm

  30. hi nikki,

    those are a lot of tastes you suggest, thinking about it.
    liver and steak are not the same, lol!
    I didn’t like liver either but had served it in a reastaurant a few times and the combination was really good.

    the balsamic reduction, is that just balsamic or seazoning as well?

    have you ever tried redwine with framboise reduction, is in my mind all the time.

    greets

    liffey

    Comment by liffey — January 25, 2008 @ 6:27 pm

  31. Hi again, liffey! LOL I know that liver and steak aren’t the same…I was just trying to suggest flavors that might go well with the liver…red wine with raspberry sounds delicious! As far as the balsamic reduction, I’d first caramelize the onions and garlic in the pan with a bit of olive oil, then add the balsamic and perhaps a bit of beef consommé, and cook down…Best, nikki

    Comment by nikki — January 27, 2008 @ 8:00 pm

  32. My lentils soup was really nice, or your lentilssoup ofcourse :-)
    I dindn’t use liver in the end, changed the whole menu, maybe next time.
    the soup was a bit thick and really a lot, have some liters in the freezer at the mo!

    gr

    liffey

    Comment by liffey — February 15, 2008 @ 2:20 pm

  33. So glad you liked it, Liffey! :)

    Comment by nikki — February 16, 2008 @ 11:13 am

  34. You have delicious food on your blog, everything looks mouthwatering! And yes culinary arts makes wonders! It’s also a great stress-buster for me and a creative outlet as you say! One of the most beautiful gifts destined to human beings is cooking and baking!

    Comment by MariannaF — February 19, 2008 @ 4:30 pm

  35. Thank you so much, Marianna! I totally agree that cooking and baking is a gift—even more so, the eating of the fruits of our labors! hehe :D

    Comment by nikki — February 21, 2008 @ 12:30 pm

  36. Hey Nikki…the email button isn’t working at the moment for me …all these technical glitches :D Just wanted to send you a link for blooming onions for you to try next time :D http://www.recipelink.com/ch/2002/december/topsecretrestaurantrecipes2.html

    They show you how to make the dipping sauce and everything in this Copy Cat recipe :D

    Comment by Bellini Valli — February 26, 2008 @ 2:58 pm

  37. Thanks so much, Valli! :) Sorry about the broken link! :/

    Comment by nikki — February 27, 2008 @ 10:45 am

  38. Hello Nicolai, me encantan tus recetas. Tu libro es espectacular tanto por las recetas como por las fotografías. Yo también vivo en Las Palmas, espero algún día coincidir y tomar alguna cerveza ( supersol). Un Beso Mónic

    Comment by Mónica — February 27, 2008 @ 6:59 pm

  39. MOCALA!!!! Hola preciosidad! Eres lo más dulce…ya sabes que todo lo que ves por estas pájinas está a tu alcance. ;) A ver si vienen este finde y tomamos algo! TKiero mucho, Mónica. MUACA! :)

    Comment by nikki — February 29, 2008 @ 12:02 pm

  40. Hiya from a very cold MN!
    Just found your great blog while searching for Thermomix recipes. I just got back from Madrid with the Thermomix fever, and ordered one from rep in Canada. I’m eagerly awaiting its arrival this coming Monday.
    Great recipes and great pictures on your blog. Thanks for sharing!! Enjoy ‘my home’ (Spain) while I enjoy yours! (MN).
    Tomate una canya por mi! :-) Mary

    Comment by Mary in MN — March 9, 2008 @ 3:38 am

  41. Hi Mary! You are going to LOVE the Thermomix! I don’t post many recipes I make in there, at least *how* exactly it’s done on my site, since so few folks in the States have one, but if you’re interested in anything, just shoot me an email. Thank you so much for your kind compliments about the site. :) Y la caña está en la mano. ;) :D

    Comment by nikki — March 10, 2008 @ 4:29 pm

  42. This is the best site for spanish recipes that i have seen in a long time. The photos are great, and you have put a lot of time and effort into your site. Say hello to my mother-in-law she lives in Las Palmas and gave me her secret mojo recipe which is slightly different to the one you have, will try yours to compare! Also can’t wait to try your other recipes, will be returing again.

    Comment by yvette — April 3, 2008 @ 7:31 pm

  43. Yep cooking in the kitchen and taking pics, I love taking my Step by Step pics of recipes I make, is relaxing. Glad it is good therapy for you. I have commented on one of your recipes and hope you visit my site: http://www.grouprecipes.com/people/the goldminer.

    Have a great life and Happy Trails (a cowboy saying). JJ

    Comment by The Goldminer(JJ) — June 15, 2008 @ 9:26 pm

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