tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17082301209486826792024-03-14T06:43:38.601-04:00Dom's Hungry(ramblings of a hungry woman)Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-27093949804753094132011-11-11T23:52:00.004-05:002011-11-11T23:57:19.147-05:00COMING SOON...I moved two weeks ago and we* still don't have the internet. As a result, my blog posts have been rather sporadic. Ah, who am I kidding? I gave up on this things ages ago--just kidding!<br /><br />I will be back to semi-regular posting once we have regular access to the internet and I can post to my heart's content. There have been quite a few changes though, ones that I will definitely share upon my return next week. One thing that hasn't changed? My migraines. They're back with a vengeance. Boo.<br /><br />See you all soon!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*I'm referring to my boyfriend, Sean, and I. After 10 years together, we finally thought it would be a good time to start living together, in a lovely condo near the city.</span>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-35215872813497571102011-06-28T19:52:00.005-04:002011-06-29T00:02:34.927-04:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSIE!I've known her since grade 5. She became my best friend and partner-in-crime when it came to big summer music festivals. We grew apart in the latter years of high school and university, but Facebook brought us back together. We became baking buddies, later allowing Sean to join our baking club. I can't believe I've known her since I was 10.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJslWOpAuNF-6mm0bT8fgIRIuET-No8GvUtfqMGKdp1rmHCqPPHZ9o8OIGrqEIhYNDoTSAdpl_ECqxxv4wadJYWEL752Bl1NnsX2tJB-6xvGy1f7YAssELrsvQjDk9ofElsrmsMyN-Rn4/s1600/Image+075.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJslWOpAuNF-6mm0bT8fgIRIuET-No8GvUtfqMGKdp1rmHCqPPHZ9o8OIGrqEIhYNDoTSAdpl_ECqxxv4wadJYWEL752Bl1NnsX2tJB-6xvGy1f7YAssELrsvQjDk9ofElsrmsMyN-Rn4/s400/Image+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623476716097949266" border="0" /></a>I wanted to make something super fantastic for Jessie's birthday. I thought about cupcakes but then remembered a cake I had seen online a few weeks ago. Immediately I knew it would be epic enough for Jessie's golden (or champagne) birthday. I debated whether I should turn the cake into cupcakes since a) they're easier to transport and make (in theory anyway). The cake itself would be a surprise since Jessie had no idea I was baking for her birthday. Here's the unveiling:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZ9TsSjxMu0cCdUochyphenhyphenx2_p8t2DqUViGS65s62Yn6H_fMWC0i_GH_0nT5837D_tRXBqdXSwN03B-uhFnaQzLWj067KXHwo-fCOuCfqHQgNy3HihzGqfmaJnkaoSMzvgC33JnGjzpINJyE/s1600/Image+056.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZ9TsSjxMu0cCdUochyphenhyphenx2_p8t2DqUViGS65s62Yn6H_fMWC0i_GH_0nT5837D_tRXBqdXSwN03B-uhFnaQzLWj067KXHwo-fCOuCfqHQgNy3HihzGqfmaJnkaoSMzvgC33JnGjzpINJyE/s400/Image+056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623482572442932530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2ZnINkwmwKpkoZkQcBtCxAUoJMHzLj1JJiRCj7eBB2F3DX1_jmd7778UAWAt_QFICJN2fu7nfNNKCpfAx33ZHli47bqflmwuxNKOShta8vwEWKkALmlCf6GBpwmv8QBvO0kYV01WGZdI/s1600/Image+057.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2ZnINkwmwKpkoZkQcBtCxAUoJMHzLj1JJiRCj7eBB2F3DX1_jmd7778UAWAt_QFICJN2fu7nfNNKCpfAx33ZHli47bqflmwuxNKOShta8vwEWKkALmlCf6GBpwmv8QBvO0kYV01WGZdI/s400/Image+057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623483957914589890" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCxm2lWO_LJiQAUfkAaD3zqoxLDwuv7PwHidiWkNcAB1TF0sIf-R5PwS_HYmhOM_bgODL95JRMGSrF9m_x4-5GO0iTX3fawUsl1EG4vCiE-wo0JO5sgxU1-qvTHU_ujjMDhWOcVwOQnYy/s1600/Image+058.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCxm2lWO_LJiQAUfkAaD3zqoxLDwuv7PwHidiWkNcAB1TF0sIf-R5PwS_HYmhOM_bgODL95JRMGSrF9m_x4-5GO0iTX3fawUsl1EG4vCiE-wo0JO5sgxU1-qvTHU_ujjMDhWOcVwOQnYy/s400/Image+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623484532266831554" border="0" /></a>My favourite layer and therefore my favourite layer, green:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjM7czUU6z8OVrFh60IBGnnstW6HIJeQ5ovAfeddFdwYDd875mXiPiM9ZGgz4WUdf686ikqDWncg02PUnAtlollllQFSO17DN6RiXhV0P4PixmAijJs8ZFGYJRoZ6eiO0KfSF5ZvufHbo/s1600/Image+069.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjM7czUU6z8OVrFh60IBGnnstW6HIJeQ5ovAfeddFdwYDd875mXiPiM9ZGgz4WUdf686ikqDWncg02PUnAtlollllQFSO17DN6RiXhV0P4PixmAijJs8ZFGYJRoZ6eiO0KfSF5ZvufHbo/s400/Image+069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623486118601879490" border="0" /></a>And here's the inside of the rainbow cake:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Cve1c9I2k-VMCvm7Ru_PBpkhNdQ012VZkLhgmXmyAgrFfXbbmZoIoDAYbvhzzeHHMJaiGjfItCVMbhSQSrdKA3FfeudxVd-6OeZzzzf9Y2GCOyfi1GvIVkkRIIyeWr3yDRxQhYVlkZm8/s1600/Image+072.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Cve1c9I2k-VMCvm7Ru_PBpkhNdQ012VZkLhgmXmyAgrFfXbbmZoIoDAYbvhzzeHHMJaiGjfItCVMbhSQSrdKA3FfeudxVd-6OeZzzzf9Y2GCOyfi1GvIVkkRIIyeWr3yDRxQhYVlkZm8/s400/Image+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623486893527099490" border="0" /></a>Happy birthday Jessie. I hope your golden (or champagne) birthday is your best ever!<br /><br />PS: I hope you liked your rainbow cake; the only rainbow cake I will ever make. I wouldn't even make another one for Sean--unless he asked REALLY nicely.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-92086397778534830762011-05-28T22:50:00.005-04:002011-06-11T22:20:28.842-04:00NEW PLAY THINGI got me a new toy and it's pretty darn fantastic. If you follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/DomsHungry">Twitter</a> you'll know that my enthusiasm for my new toy started a couple of weeks ago. I had a random photo shoot to do and it was the perfect opportunity for me to use my dad's Nikon D7000. I had a week to figure it all out (the manual is thick and thorough) and when the day came, I was a little nervous. Everything turned out great though--especially this random shot of Sean. If you enlarge this photo you'll see the little fibers along the edges of his sweater. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHjkjuf3V22gBaJfku-178u35TcYn1vpVRGjX_3Ah12beS0yZ9vKJTNzekLr1b7PhqVzXJ3khd7uc_YgCVdMoOZcwXA8_2ipuVHYnlT9J3d48uXrh4MyUnVBQW48uq_LH59Lo5AkQyaY3/s1600/Image+086.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHjkjuf3V22gBaJfku-178u35TcYn1vpVRGjX_3Ah12beS0yZ9vKJTNzekLr1b7PhqVzXJ3khd7uc_YgCVdMoOZcwXA8_2ipuVHYnlT9J3d48uXrh4MyUnVBQW48uq_LH59Lo5AkQyaY3/s400/Image+086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611965646979900498" border="0" /></a>It was a complete out-of-the-blue shot and is probably one of my faves using the D7000. It's incredible, absolutely incredible and I never thought I'd say that about a digital SLR.<br /><br />I've always been a hardcore fan of film photography, even being reluctant to switch to digital during my last couple of years of photography study, but this camera has me thinking otherwise. Since then I've taken a bunch of random photos and the best part? My dad hasn't asked for his camera back. SCORE!Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-25979275795749793752011-05-21T23:16:00.013-04:002011-06-11T22:18:46.504-04:00MISSION BROWNIES: COMPLETEIt took me a while to settle on my third brownie recipe. I wasn't content to "give it a go" with just any brownie recipe so I let Google do the work for me. I wanted a brownie that reminded me of my childhood. I wanted a brownie that tasted like the one you make from a box; with that perfect crusty top (and edges) but chewy and fudgy in the center and dotted with walnuts. After an hour or two of deliberation, I finally decided to give <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/">Brown Eyed Baker</a> a chance. Titled <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/03/09/chewy-brownies/">"Chewy Brownies"</a> with a recipe from Cook's Illustrated (the publication of America's Test Kitchen), how could I go wrong?<br /><br />I immediately dove into brownie-making mode. I started with the chocolate and was then halfway through step #2 when I realized we only had three eggs in the house when the recipe called for four (two whole eggs and two yolks). With only three eggs, what was I to do? I wasn't about to go and ask the neighbours (I haven't spoken to one side in oh, a decade and the other side I've never spoken to since they moved in). It's not that I'm not friendly, I'm just usually rushing to work or rushing into the house when I see them. I decided to hope for the best and go ahead with my version using two whole eggs and one egg yolk. I was a little bit apprehensive; was this going to ruin the chewy, "from a box-mix" texture I had been searching for?<br /><br />I motored along and after 30 minutes, my brownies were done. A toothpick had yielded moist crumbs and now it was time to wait. Hmph. Time to wait? I wanted my chewy brownies now!<br /><br />I think eating 5 squares in a day is proof enough that they're amazing. Still not convinced? Check out this photo:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QZzPN-gHmT9meWZloVI0FoYXk1ITB8MU-ViPMI2_ZganFRen-aogHVkP86HAc1SFsCm9ovzlLSaXkSwWjNYXJRuvCW-uRMUpGE2HDR4i9JyNey5ZvDPy2N3SN34GjU3ENcSMgfe0-vgE/s1600/Image+002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QZzPN-gHmT9meWZloVI0FoYXk1ITB8MU-ViPMI2_ZganFRen-aogHVkP86HAc1SFsCm9ovzlLSaXkSwWjNYXJRuvCW-uRMUpGE2HDR4i9JyNey5ZvDPy2N3SN34GjU3ENcSMgfe0-vgE/s320/Image+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612279622684197298" border="0" /></a>A crusty, crackled top reveals the most chewiest, fudgiest, walnut-filled brownies I have had since the box mix kind. I suggest cutting the 9x13" rectangle into 24 squares so you can ration your brownies but since I had five the first day, these brownies aren't going to last very long.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP7eanleJHHap9bEke0xNTWzgVHFiiwBGmOxZFwIKplLrnK_DnEVZ2fjaO-QWdhZ7Dyjk_1cjaL6NqB1r0wvSBKHQmFv8HWtqW7bt9pUViVVQ0z2Z1i8y27VxKtQ8q_fiyU5OiGngMQf7/s1600/Image+001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP7eanleJHHap9bEke0xNTWzgVHFiiwBGmOxZFwIKplLrnK_DnEVZ2fjaO-QWdhZ7Dyjk_1cjaL6NqB1r0wvSBKHQmFv8HWtqW7bt9pUViVVQ0z2Z1i8y27VxKtQ8q_fiyU5OiGngMQf7/s400/Image+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612280638384997298" border="0" /></a>The addition of chopped walnuts was a superb addition on my part. It's fudgy and chewy and crunchy when you get a bite of those nuts. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkSHw3Ufbxo0Twz6mj_LL2RWhwKRQI1w503vssl_CaVQIRdqZTZnXVNiwB7NN_jV4p6Dof5Dy-MMob-jlFkOrv3Z3y6FqL7TqoehB5s05WE2oVhw5B9nuuegoiXQb6SvhEp6iq4br-hWI/s1600/Image+004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkSHw3Ufbxo0Twz6mj_LL2RWhwKRQI1w503vssl_CaVQIRdqZTZnXVNiwB7NN_jV4p6Dof5Dy-MMob-jlFkOrv3Z3y6FqL7TqoehB5s05WE2oVhw5B9nuuegoiXQb6SvhEp6iq4br-hWI/s320/Image+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612275961401371378" border="0" /></a>I'll leave you with this one photo and if that doesn't convince you to make these brownies, you must be blind.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xmvD9z0cg0F2hQbhexJw8KnsfmPjo5e7UofVxj9sD1g1f3HS0kGuQwel1HbEbiM7SBbg6w6bcm8BmG0keUZJFaqh8_4gSSRwCZrEhtWieY-2NWXdD_SA-rtYCoKQK_jXQtkBVDMUTYUL/s1600/Image+003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xmvD9z0cg0F2hQbhexJw8KnsfmPjo5e7UofVxj9sD1g1f3HS0kGuQwel1HbEbiM7SBbg6w6bcm8BmG0keUZJFaqh8_4gSSRwCZrEhtWieY-2NWXdD_SA-rtYCoKQK_jXQtkBVDMUTYUL/s320/Image+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612276646196325794" border="0" /></a>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-45376933713052375852011-05-09T21:41:00.006-04:002011-05-09T22:44:53.484-04:00ON A MISSION FOR BROWNIESI've been craving brownies for weeks now. Chocolatey, chewy, gooey brownies. About a week ago I made <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/343865/coconut-swirl-brownies">Coconut Swirl Brownies</a> courtesy of Martha, but they were more cakey than chewy and despite being a hardcore fan of anything-coconut, I just wasn't feeling it. The chewy chocolate brownie craving had not been fulfilled and so this evening, I tried my hand at Martha's Double Chocolate Brownies. Her headnote made promises of fudgy brownies on the basis that so many other people had raved about them. I followed the recipe to a tee and patiently waited for the brownies to bake. (I ate a Fuji apple with almond butter to bide my time.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw964HrnQFJeapcqTlf7MWt98-PDQhmQDot3V8pgIbGUe-ENiH9G1bHPZyDtRtZDwut-wtgBFJrwoWHrVqUD1-ZmHnW-0vXC_804FHnku-V3N6fDCDjxXhfEgLId923JD9O6rXgR_luyGU/s1600/Image+296.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw964HrnQFJeapcqTlf7MWt98-PDQhmQDot3V8pgIbGUe-ENiH9G1bHPZyDtRtZDwut-wtgBFJrwoWHrVqUD1-ZmHnW-0vXC_804FHnku-V3N6fDCDjxXhfEgLId923JD9O6rXgR_luyGU/s320/Image+296.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604904582705263314" border="0" /></a>After 25 minutes my brownies were done. In fact, despite the 35 minutes suggested in Martha's Cookies book, I thought my brownies were overdone; a toothpick came out totally clean--not a good sign for a fudgy brownie. I waited the 15 minutes before I took them out of the pan and then another 30 minutes before I cut them into squares. Okay so it was really more like five minutes but didn't I tell you I'd been craving brownies for three weeks?!<br /><br />The result? Not a fudgy brownie. My brownies were overdone :( They were more cakey than fudgy and I still have not conquered my brownie craving. Don't get me wrong, they taste great--especially with the addition of chopped walnuts--but they're just not chewy. (I didn't include the recipe in the above link because the recipe on the website and the recipe in the Cookies book differ in quantities and ingredients.)<br /><br />I want a brownie that reminds me of those infamous <a href="http://www.devlasschuur.nl/userfiles/Image/homestyle-two-bite-brownies.jpg">Two-Bite Brownies</a>. I want a brownie that results in a texture reminiscent of the ones you make from a box--except I want to bake them from scratch.<br /><br />Is a recipe for the ultimate chewy brownie really that hard to come by nowadays? In order to make my brownies more palatable, I ate it with a couple of small scoops of honey lavender ice cream and extra chopped walnuts. I don't know what it is about lavender, but I just can't get enough--even when it's scooped on top of a brownie square.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDlAecF0gWIf14ht8vmR4RysdDcbNyqnuCIWaBw5HqdbcwsyF42aEkIq72J68DJJypVbFcp6UAwcNpiJxLzxU7Clg8i6IxWsLp_fKLQuA1NOVUsHwdrll6tbIrXy0pfSPXxC0gnfuem2Z/s1600/Image+305.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDlAecF0gWIf14ht8vmR4RysdDcbNyqnuCIWaBw5HqdbcwsyF42aEkIq72J68DJJypVbFcp6UAwcNpiJxLzxU7Clg8i6IxWsLp_fKLQuA1NOVUsHwdrll6tbIrXy0pfSPXxC0gnfuem2Z/s320/Image+305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604904587644881634" border="0" /></a>Even though the combination of chocolate, lavender and honey sounded a little weird in my head, I'll tell you this: it was incredible. Plate-licking good in fact but you'd really have to like lavender in order to do that. I stopped myself just a little short to show you to devoured evidence:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVRTcV1e5C0G3f5bLXtlfKWLSPvU18Q6zbwj0PBhw8YnWlwVZSHe4km8edoch8YPAZRQk0Z4cReIr8EWoAUxqN2dsOcxAPEx3T-kET5wM8g22EUVPDAIQ7Y1RjNrrMGCSiN7tCJEL9Muv/s1600/Image+312.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVRTcV1e5C0G3f5bLXtlfKWLSPvU18Q6zbwj0PBhw8YnWlwVZSHe4km8edoch8YPAZRQk0Z4cReIr8EWoAUxqN2dsOcxAPEx3T-kET5wM8g22EUVPDAIQ7Y1RjNrrMGCSiN7tCJEL9Muv/s320/Image+312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604904593364178498" border="0" /></a><br />And I'll end with that, continuing my search for the ultimate chewy brownie recipe. I'll see if <a href="http://www.google.ca/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=ultimate+chewy+brownie+recipe&aq=0&aqi=g1g-v2&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=b6cf6853cd91f763">Google</a> can help me out on this one.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-55430404706390366272011-05-04T20:25:00.006-04:002011-05-09T22:51:38.823-04:00IF LIFE WERE PERFECT...<ul><li>I'd wake up to a cup of Starbucks' Awake tea latte--grande and half sweet, of course. </li></ul><ul><li>I'd never have another migraine.</li></ul><ul><li>I'd be living in a cool apartment downtown with the Mr.--though that's his unofficial title.</li></ul><ul><li>I'd own a bakery somewhere in the 'burbs.</li></ul><ul><li>I'd have a dog...ah heck, three dogs: a Shiba Inu, a Chow Chow and a whatever-Sean-wants, which changes weekly. Right now we're thinking Tibetan Mastiff.</li></ul><ul><li>I wouldn't eat mini Reese's peanut butter cups with the lining still on.</li></ul><ul><li>I wouldn't crave chocolate as much as I do now.</li></ul><ul><li>Someone would make me brownies instead of me having to make them for myself.</li></ul><ul><li>Sigh...since life is not perfect, I am now off to make <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/343865/coconut-swirl-brownies">coconut swirl brownies</a> (recipe courtesy of Martha).</li></ul>*an hour later*<br /><br />Here's my chocolate craving come to life:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjy-EncvlSjfCEQtzr9GHoxyeYpxVBfet-XGsu-a_JH5jjH2bF2_028I2I4lKWXgRm23-tql5DWCJdGr9O1ZH1OUkLsoo5plb9r2NEEt-0H6bvSz3JsIRKx4ijCtxoPyRtLrcEfHnMPVZ/s1600/Image+294.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjy-EncvlSjfCEQtzr9GHoxyeYpxVBfet-XGsu-a_JH5jjH2bF2_028I2I4lKWXgRm23-tql5DWCJdGr9O1ZH1OUkLsoo5plb9r2NEEt-0H6bvSz3JsIRKx4ijCtxoPyRtLrcEfHnMPVZ/s320/Image+294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604914320107285410" border="0" /></a>Excuse the lighting as I typically bake at night, usually starting around 8 or 9. Anyway, these brownies weren't all that great. Yes, they contained copious amounts of chocolate and yes, they included coconut too (which I am all "balls to the wall" about, but they just weren't chewy! They're your classic cakey brownies, which, if I were a fan of cakes, I'd be all over. But I'm not so I wasn't.<br /><br />The search for chocolate brownies continues...Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-50874896223283422882011-04-07T20:45:00.011-04:002011-04-10T12:32:24.405-04:00CONFESSIONS...I still haven't blogged about the scallop and leek dish I made about a month ago. The scallops which cost me a whopping $8 each! I won't get into the nitty gritty except to say that the Whole Foods seafood guy did a good job of distracting me ;)<br /><br />I'm three halos away from completing my Nine Inch Nails collection. I just need Halo 4, 15 and 27, the latter of which I'm pretty sure I already owned but somehow lost--along with my Justin Timberlake self-titled CD. Why I have the case and not the CD, I have no idea.<br /><br />One of my goals for 2011 has been achieved:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHJXu5TnhS6wu4iU51od1u8YS10HEBqzcJ36uCVrjOh5ac1X53Zrbj3_2lZDUrJzy_qqEq7ev7Rt15nkVPMWi71E9k4LUFeIQJPjU2aGFel-TKhyyeBJ6dS7d6VS_KWcqQ5iGedkIMXso/s1600/Image+1745.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHJXu5TnhS6wu4iU51od1u8YS10HEBqzcJ36uCVrjOh5ac1X53Zrbj3_2lZDUrJzy_qqEq7ev7Rt15nkVPMWi71E9k4LUFeIQJPjU2aGFel-TKhyyeBJ6dS7d6VS_KWcqQ5iGedkIMXso/s320/Image+1745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593633445283850690" border="0" /></a>I finally made a balloon animal! After a VERY failed attempt--before, during and after which Sean probably thought I was completely certifiable--I decided that I was going to try again with balloons purchased at a grocery store instead of a dollar store. An extra 75 cents should do the trick, right? Well they did! Do not underestimate good quality balloons. I made that balloon dog all by myself and yes, I was quite pleased with myself. In fact, so much so that my high-pitched squealing was a bit too much for my dad's old-man ears.<br /><br />Jenna's recipes are probably the only ones I'll make more than one a week. They really are that good. Just check out her recipe for <a href="http://eatliverun.com/a-certain-pumpkin-baked-good/">pumpkin whoopie pies</a> and more recently, these <a href="http://eatliverun.com/double-banana-chocolate-chip-breakfast-bars/">double banana chocolate chip breakfast bars</a>:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrlW9fdST4RqHneU1kVVQ-fRq1z3eWVAUdIxyNga-W7OuZ4g0O3CQxS4noSD7WdWxv-rivn7-LUsUB4sbbZIVK1a4LezBILFiHSrkuOn7dENn9mznvc2-J3n5fu8sZEE-U3MUAMEFiXr9/s1600/Image+1763.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrlW9fdST4RqHneU1kVVQ-fRq1z3eWVAUdIxyNga-W7OuZ4g0O3CQxS4noSD7WdWxv-rivn7-LUsUB4sbbZIVK1a4LezBILFiHSrkuOn7dENn9mznvc2-J3n5fu8sZEE-U3MUAMEFiXr9/s320/Image+1763.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593993505678546322" border="0" /></a>Sometimes it's dangerous to have a fully-stocked baking pantry. Seriously.<br /><br />Out of our four cats, we have one who totally acts like a baby (wants to be cradled, meows until you pick him up, etc) and I kinda like it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu_l9W1CNQ6aWEaL_PDVlwv3Zh3p9Hf54tH73Agr0161uKU42OGRQev6c2Dgwa6dObnqzxQ2_9iklKGOtxDz18Z-wNMoEM7Y2XVaCzmlZBO2K-Coal_BkN8ihAR3dde_Wb0raAfi4zv3_/s1600/Image+446.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu_l9W1CNQ6aWEaL_PDVlwv3Zh3p9Hf54tH73Agr0161uKU42OGRQev6c2Dgwa6dObnqzxQ2_9iklKGOtxDz18Z-wNMoEM7Y2XVaCzmlZBO2K-Coal_BkN8ihAR3dde_Wb0raAfi4zv3_/s200/Image+446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593632081947631314" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4tyYBHeLiSxoDutEuij4u1sHSud24Bo4feQ1uvOy7H7RgnLrn5xqwF1W71uRiKKeKZPo0ZqRF6lmN9v2wPFhiyYdQOwOJnVCgDsEfv4kVBX55sl3uiMwyon0L8oGqyY8XIbr-38QSJe6/s1600/Image+447.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4tyYBHeLiSxoDutEuij4u1sHSud24Bo4feQ1uvOy7H7RgnLrn5xqwF1W71uRiKKeKZPo0ZqRF6lmN9v2wPFhiyYdQOwOJnVCgDsEfv4kVBX55sl3uiMwyon0L8oGqyY8XIbr-38QSJe6/s200/Image+447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593632073736375522" border="0" /></a><br /></div>It absolutely melts my heart when he gets up on my desk when I'm sitting in front of my laptop and gives me eskimo kisses with his wet nose.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-20469680720771304592011-03-31T09:29:00.003-04:002011-03-31T09:43:54.364-04:00TIME TO DOWNSIZE...Just a couple weeks ago, my purse contained:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT0Tis2ayKTvz2yfYkmbm7NXYaCem3Td7YVYrqxUp3csQeNj-2mZb4QL0zmfzw-jNZS7XAet1XNbrKZotH2MwctEgRYphqcPogzGq6KO2YsWJtJADeJs2XpuRvIyhfSqFqbRUnZtFFN2D/s1600/Image+1730.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT0Tis2ayKTvz2yfYkmbm7NXYaCem3Td7YVYrqxUp3csQeNj-2mZb4QL0zmfzw-jNZS7XAet1XNbrKZotH2MwctEgRYphqcPogzGq6KO2YsWJtJADeJs2XpuRvIyhfSqFqbRUnZtFFN2D/s400/Image+1730.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590238832110580786" border="0" /></a><ol><li>Practically empty bottle of water</li><li>Makeup case</li><li>Anna Sui mascara</li><li>Tylenol Extra Strength</li><li>Mail polish (from the Beiber collection--oi vey!)</li><li>Pouch full of essentials (meds, lip balm, subway tokens (??), glasses cleaner, tea bags, Tide Pen, etc)</li><li>Hand cream</li><li>Apple</li><li>Loose foundation</li><li>Receipt</li><li>Hand balm</li><li>Pen</li><li>Banana</li><li>Coin purse</li><li>Prescription meds</li><li>Wallet</li><li>Starbucks coupons (that didn't work at the Starbucks I went to, WTF?!)</li><li>Face primer</li><li>Dark chocolate with bergamot (best $5 I ever spent)</li><li>Lip gloss</li><li>Microwaveable popcorn</li><li>Face cream</li><li>iPhone</li><li>Pack of tissues</li></ol>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-10565181184764970932011-03-28T18:49:00.003-04:002011-05-09T22:57:13.449-04:00DEAR HAIR...Thanks for growing out faster than I had anticipated after I got all antsy and decided to get some bangs earlier than I should have. I regretted the decision very shortly after it was made (read: a couple of days) and started growing "them things above" and now the rest of you below are a lot longer than before.<br /><br />However, I'd really appreciate it if you could grow about, oh, eight more inches overnight so I can rock this totally awesome look:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hil-262NfEwlKHs858pL2czS9umFWa-5OWe_5_5626YHNpxPCIt7ehnigtzvWfNBojoC42imp1aHFyGXI6Jw3UbSsVWtk4tlx4lS9YTkRJ9j7MgfybAF-4zqhBvpGB4lUbRzj5eQfgmh/s1600/Image+314.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hil-262NfEwlKHs858pL2czS9umFWa-5OWe_5_5626YHNpxPCIt7ehnigtzvWfNBojoC42imp1aHFyGXI6Jw3UbSsVWtk4tlx4lS9YTkRJ9j7MgfybAF-4zqhBvpGB4lUbRzj5eQfgmh/s400/Image+314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604915558879437858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Taken from this month's</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.louloumagazine.com/"> Loulou Magazine</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, the hair--done by John Donato of Donato Salon & Spa--is a look I've been coveting for years but never had the guts to attempt. Now that I'm 28, I figure I only have my late 20s to rock this look so it's kind of now or never.)</span></span><br /><br />Kthxbai,<br />DomDominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-3062084101526720612011-03-28T00:16:00.007-04:002011-03-31T00:08:56.123-04:00HELLO AGAINThis is what I've been up to...<br /><br />Sean and I went to a Toronto Raptors game a couple weeks back. It was my first ever basketball game and I had so much fun! We got tickets from a family friend and boy am I glad we did because we're poor and would never have been able to afford those awesome seats! I could even see everything on the court because there were two much shorter kids in front of me. Score! Or "winning" as some people are now saying. Oh, but the best part of the game, is this:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60GnYecmdP6XnDq9VU3ZVa70lzF_XKWarvfPKm0Y3mfgZSuuHp_xpXDEqacgrqTgP0vW7jxtJ9lH3Fl2olerjXloiBBVjGuD3_jyH18NdMP5E2Bm6NzgQnCO8Mt7Wl0kZYhlOt2UykAl3/s1600/Image+1643.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60GnYecmdP6XnDq9VU3ZVa70lzF_XKWarvfPKm0Y3mfgZSuuHp_xpXDEqacgrqTgP0vW7jxtJ9lH3Fl2olerjXloiBBVjGuD3_jyH18NdMP5E2Bm6NzgQnCO8Mt7Wl0kZYhlOt2UykAl3/s400/Image+1643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588983762907705282" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkTesYJC_gg8a0HsRJw5Oql6Zcf-nxdAJgkQzB9UxTdZeiiPzc1Yxk6t-KO4zz15yVowT4WC5BTmpYxzd4welXnAncO_x6K4HbIok3STBihb-RuA_4Lo-C6oc4UPJ-eKvANT3uaHcqjcn/s1600/Image+1644.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkTesYJC_gg8a0HsRJw5Oql6Zcf-nxdAJgkQzB9UxTdZeiiPzc1Yxk6t-KO4zz15yVowT4WC5BTmpYxzd4welXnAncO_x6K4HbIok3STBihb-RuA_4Lo-C6oc4UPJ-eKvANT3uaHcqjcn/s400/Image+1644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588983769002046866" border="0" /></a>Despite the fact that I don't look crazy excited, I've been wanting a foam finger for just about forever! I picked one up after the game. It was pretty fun poking Sean in the nose, in the cheek, in the bum...just about everywhere possible--until he got mad and threatened to take it away :(<br /><br />I fell asleep twice while attempting to watch this:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwStJuZrQaz4JLGeM1X_2aYWkQlFp_I1Q1Bg2G01NU4fIjBbi2x9kmQJcRhIaUVJIC7NhvSFFEN6X4-SmBUDjncXc9FVx1-8EaD4ne3sa0aC7T_db7CJyDF64MdZxt4Puh-JKm0LcLUmK/s1600/Image+1645.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwStJuZrQaz4JLGeM1X_2aYWkQlFp_I1Q1Bg2G01NU4fIjBbi2x9kmQJcRhIaUVJIC7NhvSFFEN6X4-SmBUDjncXc9FVx1-8EaD4ne3sa0aC7T_db7CJyDF64MdZxt4Puh-JKm0LcLUmK/s400/Image+1645.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588980914580439570" border="0" /></a>You're right if you guessed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088323/">The NeverEnding Story</a>. Unfortunately I started coming down with a cold during the first attempt and the cold was in full force during the second attempt. Sean decided to go ahead and watch the rest of the movie during our second attempt. He realized another attempt with me was futile. (I told Sean that we are totally naming our cream Chow Chow Falcor. He said we could only if I watched the movie without falling asleep.)<br /><br />Little known fact: I bake when I'm stressed out. This past week has been really stressful so not only did I bake <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/02/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookie-muffins/">Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Muffins</a> from <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/">How Sweet It is</a>, I also baked <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/318628/tories-cherry-chocolate-chunk-cookies">Torie's Cherry Chocolate-Chunk cookies</a> from Martha's website. They both turned out fab:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitryeF13saz-a_HNrnZVX4cWo7ncy8p_ZOD_nf1d87sQYoCFEU2RZggyGoJmrJ64bRq2kdbLbdrxZkNbuGwujZ-nS9Ta5dM1qBPr00lLZrpzAvAnCmAYdlQGiQE9BlDMzfqljV_cJ5hT3-/s1600/Image+1649.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitryeF13saz-a_HNrnZVX4cWo7ncy8p_ZOD_nf1d87sQYoCFEU2RZggyGoJmrJ64bRq2kdbLbdrxZkNbuGwujZ-nS9Ta5dM1qBPr00lLZrpzAvAnCmAYdlQGiQE9BlDMzfqljV_cJ5hT3-/s400/Image+1649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588980903309873282" border="0" /></a>It was a relaxing afternoon baking muffins and cookies. And because I was then stress-free (sort of), I decided to eat two muffins and four (or so) cookies. I lost count after the fourth one.<br /><br />Tylenol Cold is my best friend. I'm pretty sure I blogged about this a year or so ago but really, this is my one go-to when I have a cold. I tried the Echinacea tea and the whole "feed a cold" thing but it didn't work. Absolutely nothing worked until I popped the magic, blue nighttime pill and then another yellow daytime pill in the morning. I don't even get colds that often--I usually contract them from co-workers--but nothing works like Tylenol Cold. Tylenol should make me their spokesperson.<br /><br />Dinner earlier tonight was roast organic chicken leg with spicy green beans and white rice. My stomach didn't like something about it and decided to expel it. After my stomach settled itself, I decided to make Spaghetti with Lemon and Olive Oil--but with fettuccine. It wasn't pretty but it sure was tasty:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zMiYNis7F5qg03CYmxFwzP-QSq9qTWNpbJSgIi-P8mntnaHdYDnaxcgjcqKyKamaOpHcveI17EzZDwl935JVk4XGAvdh-sVz-MHyT_teEJvTMmCgpztep-Ngg7NRBx-qhZJvM23A56yn/s1600/Image+1654.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zMiYNis7F5qg03CYmxFwzP-QSq9qTWNpbJSgIi-P8mntnaHdYDnaxcgjcqKyKamaOpHcveI17EzZDwl935JVk4XGAvdh-sVz-MHyT_teEJvTMmCgpztep-Ngg7NRBx-qhZJvM23A56yn/s400/Image+1654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588980896021032882" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know if I ever mentioned that Sean and I went to Corey and Bree's house to make caramel apples back in October, a couple weeks before Halloween. This is Sean attempting to eat his caramel apple and it makes me smile:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2d4Zrv5bg2bM79uMZvZY036-3WbuKTYc6D9-PpbdP_rpurS06TJHpmjhWXVEMCLEv78pxYF7rAdXkQouFPmPx8HMHvvCshyenZfh3C8yjNM1zvRitky04Xv4uTVZ3-LolImHMN-LSaoi/s1600/Image+1309.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2d4Zrv5bg2bM79uMZvZY036-3WbuKTYc6D9-PpbdP_rpurS06TJHpmjhWXVEMCLEv78pxYF7rAdXkQouFPmPx8HMHvvCshyenZfh3C8yjNM1zvRitky04Xv4uTVZ3-LolImHMN-LSaoi/s400/Image+1309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588985347395056354" border="0" /></a><br />This is me when I was oh....two and a half, I think? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZCbZSbkcsUQZJUsZIyS4BNuuowHKJlO4w7s8DvswVjolWuqHY5Ns0itK-IDuu6ARhYJ59VYzNxAqXLc68mlBbneHul54Zx7-tZ5zOWsXTSDFfhkRpk_xpcVRCSoqxv3iJmcCq7iXHTdx/s1600/Image+162.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZCbZSbkcsUQZJUsZIyS4BNuuowHKJlO4w7s8DvswVjolWuqHY5Ns0itK-IDuu6ARhYJ59VYzNxAqXLc68mlBbneHul54Zx7-tZ5zOWsXTSDFfhkRpk_xpcVRCSoqxv3iJmcCq7iXHTdx/s400/Image+162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588987791277260802" border="0" /></a>My parents loved to dress me up in pink and red. Like LOVED! I think their morning conversations were like this (but in French): <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom: What should we dress Dominique in today?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Dad: Pink dress and red tights?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Mom: What about red dress and pink tights?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Dad: Nah, we did that yesterday.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Mom: Oh yeah, let's switch it up today.</span></span><br />They'll still tell you that pink and red are a match made in heaven.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-24690881466140632192011-03-27T13:28:00.007-04:002011-04-07T20:44:30.906-04:00THANK GOODNESS FOR NO BANANASSomeone ate the two really ripe bananas that I was going to use to make muffins earlier this afternoon. A little stumped, I walked right back up to my room, sat in front of my laptop and contemplated my next step. I browsed through my bookmarked "muffins" folder and nixed all the ones involved healthy ingredients like ripe bananas and applesauce, and then came across these <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/02/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookie-muffins/">Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Muffins</a> from <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/">How Sweet It Is</a>. Could it have been a sign? Did someone eat my ripe naners on purpose; so that I could fulfill my life-long dream of baking these muffins that taste like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies? I scanned the ingredients list, knew that I had all of them on hand and got to work. (Seriously, what good baker doesn't have 2lbs of butter lying around at room temperature on a Sunday afternoon?)<br /><br />I quickly got to work, mixing all my ingredients together:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5XzyDxrAm92L3mqdQfJl0PH18Cp7JOVEda9WrIov-xwSpwQiHZynOWi907yFVnf1qcXEv7Lad9jG5FNQDYf55DWb05h8AxhAdHQZ0YtELgGz1WCnzczejYpwLWq4o5m4_O33NqB40us0/s1600/Image+1754.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5XzyDxrAm92L3mqdQfJl0PH18Cp7JOVEda9WrIov-xwSpwQiHZynOWi907yFVnf1qcXEv7Lad9jG5FNQDYf55DWb05h8AxhAdHQZ0YtELgGz1WCnzczejYpwLWq4o5m4_O33NqB40us0/s400/Image+1754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590367337415257874" border="0" /></a>Less than 30 minutes later (including baking time!), I had 16 muffins that smelled like something my grandma would have made me. Or, maybe. Actually, I'm pretty sure my grandma baked no such thing as it was my grandfather who did the cooking in that household and I don't actually ever recall him making anything other than savory food, but whatever. I digress. Check out my muffins:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nj32DzA_pAC_mlsv_5H6NR0zJZlEzMxgFoDvT1yLuZPU-uN-ev0L2ThqxHLU0dbf8y773FvJ9Mwdbe4kX3235JYT9BrWgMeBY5pAD1WDLzwt1VQF4_0rDscNkRVT2rFZDDi0cgLJyHwc/s1600/Image+1766.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nj32DzA_pAC_mlsv_5H6NR0zJZlEzMxgFoDvT1yLuZPU-uN-ev0L2ThqxHLU0dbf8y773FvJ9Mwdbe4kX3235JYT9BrWgMeBY5pAD1WDLzwt1VQF4_0rDscNkRVT2rFZDDi0cgLJyHwc/s400/Image+1766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590367300551579890" border="0" /></a>Complete with a delicious, crunchy layer of turbinado sugar. There's nothing butter than a baked good with a hefty, I mean, healthy layer of turbinado sugar:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0DYt0j3ubGthuEogCDu9boC_Lz1Axh6hz3EBx6eDSNJpUufDv0GJRh28fGzLxV9EFrYdgFjTPM_gIyfrRD5EKnQ4AV4Qwz6TahuHkDM-tE-WhGY-2Bz0CqfXhqCBHK77ZFEganQ15Hl0/s1600/Image+1756.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0DYt0j3ubGthuEogCDu9boC_Lz1Axh6hz3EBx6eDSNJpUufDv0GJRh28fGzLxV9EFrYdgFjTPM_gIyfrRD5EKnQ4AV4Qwz6TahuHkDM-tE-WhGY-2Bz0CqfXhqCBHK77ZFEganQ15Hl0/s400/Image+1756.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590367324874258178" border="0" /></a>I ate two or three before deciding it was time to leave the kitchen and immerse myself in other activities in fear of devouring every single one of those muffins. The next day I decided it was time to take Jessica's advice and enjoy said muffin with a pat of butter:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNBN-Dj8X4U6YIb4gZwtxtX0ZNcgXfQrv98dW3ZQ-TI8APXWtcyvq9pV-pg5GKrC1lR6vg-r0pGIhWERSLxgOR3qsj1KtF7wFN2k4ASc_oGkfYpqzXZPj4s0jDCUO-b1ZdlbVWuzq78jp/s1600/Image+1787.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNBN-Dj8X4U6YIb4gZwtxtX0ZNcgXfQrv98dW3ZQ-TI8APXWtcyvq9pV-pg5GKrC1lR6vg-r0pGIhWERSLxgOR3qsj1KtF7wFN2k4ASc_oGkfYpqzXZPj4s0jDCUO-b1ZdlbVWuzq78jp/s400/Image+1787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590367292299376770" border="0" /></a>I am so glad I did. Reheated in the microwave for 15 minutes and with a pat of butter, it was the most delicious thing I've probably eaten in a week. Maybe since that seared scallop and leek dish I have yet to blog about.<br /><strong></strong>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-35686422566840654702011-03-06T18:57:00.003-05:002011-03-31T00:05:11.037-04:00OBSESSIONS...+ <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stassen Jasmine Green Tea.</span> After searching high and low for over a year (possibly two years) for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stassen-Pure-Jasmine-Green-Tea/dp/B0000CNTZI">Stassen Jasmine Green Tea</a>, I finally found it at Foody Mart when I totally wasn't looking. I had even checked Foody Mart for Stassen's tea before but couldn't find it. Anyway, I totally bought a box (of 100 bags) and then went and bought another box the next day (just in case). This tea is anything but subtle and I love it, despite having a major hate-on for anything jasmine-scented--especially perfume. The trick is to brew it for a short period of time and the tea bag can be used twice, which means it's only half the cost (I paid $5 for my entire 100 bag box, not the insane price on Amazon).<br /><br />+ <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deflated double chocolate meringue cookies.</span> I made meringues and decreased the amount of sugar that was mentioned in the recipe with the intention of decreasing the sweetness. What resulted was this:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBretQqiREj9NGg3Ek7APYr8akj_EZhyIVnnwbapexND5aas4GdtCRZpPJJ48OBJ3Ul3nOhsNZJ2jy1sIkdDE1T8p6USu-01afqZcwb0RCrgnO4yWE2z3DVRDwAzKCZ4T2r6GBluC-T5j/s1600/Image+1633.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBretQqiREj9NGg3Ek7APYr8akj_EZhyIVnnwbapexND5aas4GdtCRZpPJJ48OBJ3Ul3nOhsNZJ2jy1sIkdDE1T8p6USu-01afqZcwb0RCrgnO4yWE2z3DVRDwAzKCZ4T2r6GBluC-T5j/s400/Image+1633.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581127771656325106" border="0" /></a>But it turns out that these meringue cookies taste just like chewy chocolate chip cookies and they're gluten-free! It's "winner, winner, chicken dinner" for anyone who follows a gluten-free diet. The trick is to pull them straight from the oven after 18 minutes. Plus, at 30 calories a pop, you won't feel guilty after you shove the fourth one into your mouth. The giraffes totally approve. I really need to post that recipe.<br /><br />+ OPI's Teenage Dream nail polish from the Katy Perry collection. This came out in...ummm...early-January, I think? Anyway, I got my hands on it a week after that and then it was sold out for ages! I recently got a back-up bottle and managed to snag a couple extra bottles for some co-workers and I absolutely love this crazy sparkly, pink polish. It's totally work-appropriate--at my workplace anyway.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-63931540589204193842011-02-25T18:48:00.017-05:002011-02-28T20:56:16.879-05:00RESTAURANT REVIEW: WINDSOR ARMS (HIGH TEA)Happy birthday to me! Earlier this afternoon, I celebrated my birthday with an afternoon high tea at the Windsor Arms hotel. I was accompanied by none other than Jessie and Sean, two of my funniest dining companions. Our reservation was not until 1pm, but of course, we were 30 minutes early so we sat in the car opening four birthday cards from Sean and some presents: tickets to the Sleigh Bells concert in May (wahoo!) and money (for a future camera purchase, double wahoo).<br /><br />Upon entering the Windsor Arms tea room, we were given a choice of tables and I chose to sit at a table near the windows (better for photo-taking). Jessie and I chose to sit on the booth seats which were plush but a little too low; Sean sat in one the chairs which looked really comfy. Our room was bright and airy, with gold-framed paintings on the wall (none of which I remembered to take a photo of). In the corner there was a display of hats which Jessie and I found quite amusing:<br /><br />Along with our individual tea, we each opted for the full tea which includes scones:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4IxDeareFS-FjyGH5t5aB9ZHmZevEyH67oKm4t7AX8q9HlbUI26DgO1K6VUsyZHm8OHTuMIpPm0e-XV_Tq_EMPqjJog7J87BpzP2KYJNKhzscKuG3W58wdKYzdMjCh2p8P-C6yjh49NQ/s1600/Image+1571.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4IxDeareFS-FjyGH5t5aB9ZHmZevEyH67oKm4t7AX8q9HlbUI26DgO1K6VUsyZHm8OHTuMIpPm0e-XV_Tq_EMPqjJog7J87BpzP2KYJNKhzscKuG3W58wdKYzdMjCh2p8P-C6yjh49NQ/s320/Image+1571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577867136728806162" border="0" /></a>sandwiches:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5ISv_6BHc1qDYno4TS8M-l9JzukfQB1VhDrFI2qtFmb_urHgl2rrgBXR6x5bdH_tWkhCuzQz9I7yfvM76qBMz7YkCm7otqmKSMDqJMb7GyAeN1xCfDomzV3kLKOAz_h31QRZGHQKlySf/s1600/Image+1574.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5ISv_6BHc1qDYno4TS8M-l9JzukfQB1VhDrFI2qtFmb_urHgl2rrgBXR6x5bdH_tWkhCuzQz9I7yfvM76qBMz7YkCm7otqmKSMDqJMb7GyAeN1xCfDomzV3kLKOAz_h31QRZGHQKlySf/s320/Image+1574.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577867140359417442" border="0" /></a>and petit fours:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjRSTuY7I8ATc82G4qEoZmEBxQSx6oismwm5QOYGn2OOp2wckLPG5ZxbO7fKz-9YphBmhNRWyEK9B8B7zDlXqBlyemcP6jLaFt_x9BO0RpofwjhDdi1WMN8UgV1SuF1lyAbHQF7Tj91oD/s1600/Image+1575.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjRSTuY7I8ATc82G4qEoZmEBxQSx6oismwm5QOYGn2OOp2wckLPG5ZxbO7fKz-9YphBmhNRWyEK9B8B7zDlXqBlyemcP6jLaFt_x9BO0RpofwjhDdi1WMN8UgV1SuF1lyAbHQF7Tj91oD/s320/Image+1575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577867147883345794" border="0" /></a>Our meal began with a mini goat cheese and caramelized shallot quiche:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eGkZJeU7b6ZD0M068tae_LSRxcAnrvGZDiqg5V4LuWOfDDbtXIAsehh3_sLUD4gddgyfjNVQf1vRi29WR-4F7guJ91Lk4VKaZgcNubvDRThFvxZ_rxbTzhWIYQ2fcoO5C_fo2e-YgmF5/s1600/Image+1570.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eGkZJeU7b6ZD0M068tae_LSRxcAnrvGZDiqg5V4LuWOfDDbtXIAsehh3_sLUD4gddgyfjNVQf1vRi29WR-4F7guJ91Lk4VKaZgcNubvDRThFvxZ_rxbTzhWIYQ2fcoO5C_fo2e-YgmF5/s200/Image+1570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577802306995034210" border="0" /></a><br /></div>This was a really great way to start the meal. The caramelized shallot really made the quiche and I'm not even a fan of quiches (from an overload of them back in Switzerland with Jessie in 2001).<br /><br />Scones included raisin and plain, served alongside devon cream and strawberry and raspberry jam. Check out the mini jams:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo5L5zQcM2BoXVrJdrROujQwomt7U4sD_ZRVSxeXzKBbrKVZB_hHAFvOGz_Hdurq-t2a6wsfNP_UIsrnAlFXV8asNx-irD6ML3O0chE3KyaFIwnYTvRrrPhjNbmOgcPHvem2a6NwJPXTd/s1600/Image+1584.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo5L5zQcM2BoXVrJdrROujQwomt7U4sD_ZRVSxeXzKBbrKVZB_hHAFvOGz_Hdurq-t2a6wsfNP_UIsrnAlFXV8asNx-irD6ML3O0chE3KyaFIwnYTvRrrPhjNbmOgcPHvem2a6NwJPXTd/s200/Image+1584.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577864220679057794" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iv9c49dn_5mrGiTqJAokeMMmhPCKoC-RGuELDRyi5PM8m0L-y2HCvG8z9VA3SPw7ZWf_caK43WUnTTXuWB-lAk9Gj2oEKKSQYebfsbmajqWAEOSaeaiIm-5Tfb_CaIAOr5QtZwhH2XJH/s1600/Image+1583.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iv9c49dn_5mrGiTqJAokeMMmhPCKoC-RGuELDRyi5PM8m0L-y2HCvG8z9VA3SPw7ZWf_caK43WUnTTXuWB-lAk9Gj2oEKKSQYebfsbmajqWAEOSaeaiIm-5Tfb_CaIAOr5QtZwhH2XJH/s200/Image+1583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577864212156635890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our assorted of finger sandwiches included cucumber with sundried tomato paste and dill cream cheese:<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxTXksD5KKF1ETpxHu3lRHYXZEO0O5ZA8xyXmNKeaHjx_NIxCaHx8s0_DRAWfUvdXAEoYOgBp0oyITEzWT3HuDfn2X_nmBvL1cPD85Bk-FNwchH4HU8GkDcG_vXVBSz_714trstes0SZF/s1600/Image+1590.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxTXksD5KKF1ETpxHu3lRHYXZEO0O5ZA8xyXmNKeaHjx_NIxCaHx8s0_DRAWfUvdXAEoYOgBp0oyITEzWT3HuDfn2X_nmBvL1cPD85Bk-FNwchH4HU8GkDcG_vXVBSz_714trstes0SZF/s200/Image+1590.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577792092195741778" border="0" /></a><br /></div>smoked salmon and wasabi sour cream with salmon caviar:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNmtFymZMzLBIiqi0Z0oUBe5llOvrFzdi3KpYauHn0qjIiOuU2E9jjuE5dHNPYZyXXC0W7F5N5LUAgUhK287-NVjxC4mdF1XBvRlQVkrAq3E-NqHBuPEh2j1RCP8cF_j6-9chYANXi2Z1/s1600/Image+1597.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNmtFymZMzLBIiqi0Z0oUBe5llOvrFzdi3KpYauHn0qjIiOuU2E9jjuE5dHNPYZyXXC0W7F5N5LUAgUhK287-NVjxC4mdF1XBvRlQVkrAq3E-NqHBuPEh2j1RCP8cF_j6-9chYANXi2Z1/s200/Image+1597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577792103628343810" border="0" /></a><br /></div>and grilled chicken, grany smith apples, citrus mayonnaise and greek yogurt and chives which I don't have a close-up photo of because I never ate of them (non-organic chicken). I'll try and snag one from Jessie's iPhone.<br /><br />Here's another shot of our assortment of petits fours (courtesy of Sean):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTAE11Awkbtx_rVTZZu-6SCvt7uR9tMLK1p4K12ldORWR60b-4M0DMv0la1dOYStFf59IGK9kvaODTcaA0Ivpyag1DNvs6MNiiHNJOtzDrYdnU1nLeW1BPvWT5S9X__RPQ4MJrX4tBKX_/s1600/Image+1579.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTAE11Awkbtx_rVTZZu-6SCvt7uR9tMLK1p4K12ldORWR60b-4M0DMv0la1dOYStFf59IGK9kvaODTcaA0Ivpyag1DNvs6MNiiHNJOtzDrYdnU1nLeW1BPvWT5S9X__RPQ4MJrX4tBKX_/s320/Image+1579.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577865833705504114" border="0" /></a>Individually, they were (as described to us by our server) a dark chocolate fudge (for Jessie):<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc-wLEGH-5XHRkFq_bMhyNx-uHvqgB5qbAdE2SEYfMY2nFBx5TsdbkFhMvXcddY7tSFvsXXSHUZYzYwWBW8H638qvN6GRzUgP4bczxBia82cNrIk_Kv3gWH__Zl7ILATWP9nt9yZpgUI5/s1600/Image+1600.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc-wLEGH-5XHRkFq_bMhyNx-uHvqgB5qbAdE2SEYfMY2nFBx5TsdbkFhMvXcddY7tSFvsXXSHUZYzYwWBW8H638qvN6GRzUgP4bczxBia82cNrIk_Kv3gWH__Zl7ILATWP9nt9yZpgUI5/s200/Image+1600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577796558291818194" border="0" /></a><br /></div>a raspberry or strawberry mousse in a dark chocolate tea cup (it was raspberry and delightful, obvi mine):<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn38eRoeIndaMPv6wNJZ9199oEqLKLw_WUCwbTdevTFd2buVPUj2PdgL2pfLxYIPKmHlEyk63R1zkQmt0sFBIqlR48WOJeG5pX-P1rBgOPnToS6BsIvJyRU9ai34-3mniGw0jzWusoKIyc/s1600/Image+1599.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn38eRoeIndaMPv6wNJZ9199oEqLKLw_WUCwbTdevTFd2buVPUj2PdgL2pfLxYIPKmHlEyk63R1zkQmt0sFBIqlR48WOJeG5pX-P1rBgOPnToS6BsIvJyRU9ai34-3mniGw0jzWusoKIyc/s200/Image+1599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577796565140695730" border="0" /></a><br /></div>an Opera cake ("they just call it Opera cake" for Sean)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqErqYVtFSlnJP2B2TFUNvTRIdEebPN6UlrLHB604EYJI4wyjlHpYlTWgumKMRhpBoEitCMNrE3eRqfm_AMVNN8_EeyZuiCe1xsg4c6NJOGzdlUz4bGUgwCL54OE6rsKC4Pgy2Omk2Spdc/s1600/Image+1602.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqErqYVtFSlnJP2B2TFUNvTRIdEebPN6UlrLHB604EYJI4wyjlHpYlTWgumKMRhpBoEitCMNrE3eRqfm_AMVNN8_EeyZuiCe1xsg4c6NJOGzdlUz4bGUgwCL54OE6rsKC4Pgy2Omk2Spdc/s200/Image+1602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577796552012661842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">a blood orange mousse with sponge at the bottom and blueberries (mine):<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6feViKM8FQNOuJjhG9WmtT6QXbKo_95F4fjqQYds30J4kW9PGlziz3tk612qZHVoRaAfa6U867UrPvNy4Ytr-YR1Bv8_AD8lowHEg-GSjkEd_8H3gemvWZGrbm3NKiaieR1XbBsIWSQZK/s1600/Image+1603.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6feViKM8FQNOuJjhG9WmtT6QXbKo_95F4fjqQYds30J4kW9PGlziz3tk612qZHVoRaAfa6U867UrPvNy4Ytr-YR1Bv8_AD8lowHEg-GSjkEd_8H3gemvWZGrbm3NKiaieR1XbBsIWSQZK/s200/Image+1603.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577796543595063314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">a lemon meringue tart (check out that awesome toasted meringue for Sean):<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rPxfbUcm7PLNSbpSbI0NIkBrTKS2mbvoQt6lncoYY2dMiRv4ODCJfEMkTssmcuPp-G2LRdaeITSb1-fJHMjgJlbBELyJXO-EFHGf-5PyKwATZrKF_FcKli3ICtKFl5vlKB-6VN-jiWAJ/s1600/Image+1608.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rPxfbUcm7PLNSbpSbI0NIkBrTKS2mbvoQt6lncoYY2dMiRv4ODCJfEMkTssmcuPp-G2LRdaeITSb1-fJHMjgJlbBELyJXO-EFHGf-5PyKwATZrKF_FcKli3ICtKFl5vlKB-6VN-jiWAJ/s200/Image+1608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577794676008209986" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWACVMAOBto_-L1QZpivqa6-BuEGC_ZohFq2h2UDL24KVmm4oQn5VnPJENJWqzWWny1dZh2P99RjocuPfVxHU-E-PiWcQyZ8aVulzy_iR6W8D2ym9Uzgc5AJ07bkCBed6LxE_9MJewkx7/s1600/Image+1607.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWACVMAOBto_-L1QZpivqa6-BuEGC_ZohFq2h2UDL24KVmm4oQn5VnPJENJWqzWWny1dZh2P99RjocuPfVxHU-E-PiWcQyZ8aVulzy_iR6W8D2ym9Uzgc5AJ07bkCBed6LxE_9MJewkx7/s200/Image+1607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577794680540726002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">and a white chocolate something (that's pretty much all our server said; Jessie had a hard time figuring it out but it came with a cherry with gold leaf and had a hard, crisp texture on the bottom.):<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzzk5KRL2eiRt1_6F0nyQN2tg1hIo-PKf0UieRi5-JyENK0m28AbOXjkvkvJfg_tTqgjGSz4HV1byLi2v8cijF3sEj5IZEdNpq82rmX805iKrq264u264sBq2afMcLh_3l68hVJHXy_dB/s1600/Image+1604.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzzk5KRL2eiRt1_6F0nyQN2tg1hIo-PKf0UieRi5-JyENK0m28AbOXjkvkvJfg_tTqgjGSz4HV1byLi2v8cijF3sEj5IZEdNpq82rmX805iKrq264u264sBq2afMcLh_3l68hVJHXy_dB/s200/Image+1604.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577794691553305970" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUdqwYcXeHVCW7XcZ-bRqZgI-Dyu1G7oPpXvu2iYNYSEKkU5Uv5r1rPr7uK9zrQUCA9-Q5UNcf9HQHBqKiI0i4Ja6HcYN4wsjKD-RXfH3ID1pz1n_L96Z9GbYW4d_wGoNRsrugRLOYO40/s1600/Image+1605.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUdqwYcXeHVCW7XcZ-bRqZgI-Dyu1G7oPpXvu2iYNYSEKkU5Uv5r1rPr7uK9zrQUCA9-Q5UNcf9HQHBqKiI0i4Ja6HcYN4wsjKD-RXfH3ID1pz1n_L96Z9GbYW4d_wGoNRsrugRLOYO40/s200/Image+1605.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577794668956369426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The presentation on this one was amazing. I wish I liked white chocolate so I could have tasted it but I find white chocolate too sweet. I even find milk chocolate too sweet sometimes. Oh well, c'est la vie.</span><br /></div>Then we also had strawberries and cream:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlQr1vCNdStSdjhaIGJEnNqUI8KeGG3mVHl41qXpdV4V3NBuGeKD-0E0kXYdH50zPxHOSTD3PjlA53ftiKPz1ZMaXdPiRL-RKKDkLv-GQOV36lVoOEWDBO1l5ZN0_eTlTpKDhjyEpLD0U/s1600/Image+1610.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlQr1vCNdStSdjhaIGJEnNqUI8KeGG3mVHl41qXpdV4V3NBuGeKD-0E0kXYdH50zPxHOSTD3PjlA53ftiKPz1ZMaXdPiRL-RKKDkLv-GQOV36lVoOEWDBO1l5ZN0_eTlTpKDhjyEpLD0U/s320/Image+1610.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577804933313567250" border="0" /></a>At first glance, it didn't seem like a lot of food but it was. I didn't finish one of my scones and by the time I got around to eating my strawberries and cream, I felt like someone was forcing me to eat it. It was a little bit sad. I had the face that I always have when I can't eat but feel like I have to finish it. I ended up just having a taste of the cream (it looked like ice cream, I had to try it) and finishing off my berries.<br /><br />Oh yeah, about the tea. Jessie chose the Black Velvet which includes <span style="font-style: italic;">ginseng, peppermint, licorice and black tea</span> while Sean chose the Chai Arms which includes <span style="font-style: italic;">ceylon, cardamom, cinnamon, glove, ginger and black pepper</span>. I chose the Tibetan Tiger which includes <span style="font-style: italic;">black tea with vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch and caramel</span> (though I don't remember reading the description of the last two). Our teas came in fancy tea pots:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN9A0U7Uhd8sS8VsvXJq7aEMV4JuL07ulcLBaj8jxRD0RpIbojN1emdCG-tem8DeZQto8Z1tx9uEAVbRZYofjvLm9kopOuLDtF0Brh0g4_IcDWjHzWaQmKi69RfiwzJvIxaG1DM8UQVsV/s1600/Image+1573.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN9A0U7Uhd8sS8VsvXJq7aEMV4JuL07ulcLBaj8jxRD0RpIbojN1emdCG-tem8DeZQto8Z1tx9uEAVbRZYofjvLm9kopOuLDtF0Brh0g4_IcDWjHzWaQmKi69RfiwzJvIxaG1DM8UQVsV/s200/Image+1573.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577788193346605762" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tw1lBPbUMKpn97n2ryJIsSfRf29wT87HTwKtU0bgsJPNX23nvbPsU5Q5OnZyZvc_fNRJKxOx_Vk79pqjckyxTmAZtJdSWRcvI79CyWVzQYaluhAs5APF6uA9CYadmBLM9XAH5xwxtRJZ/s1600/Image+1572.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tw1lBPbUMKpn97n2ryJIsSfRf29wT87HTwKtU0bgsJPNX23nvbPsU5Q5OnZyZvc_fNRJKxOx_Vk79pqjckyxTmAZtJdSWRcvI79CyWVzQYaluhAs5APF6uA9CYadmBLM9XAH5xwxtRJZ/s200/Image+1572.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577788181849210546" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOq0xIzAdO6irzWFMSyo6ku9lkKrWHxT2xbkBj3b6KTtQ8aqexkaHZJ45AK09yqzBYOSM6Gg2QcGXizOINJAIShgx3oR2k4zYEM51hKm9KvmU8EeJtXh706MaTq8m563SdC59zKHG_quw/s1600/Image+1569.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOq0xIzAdO6irzWFMSyo6ku9lkKrWHxT2xbkBj3b6KTtQ8aqexkaHZJ45AK09yqzBYOSM6Gg2QcGXizOINJAIShgx3oR2k4zYEM51hKm9KvmU8EeJtXh706MaTq8m563SdC59zKHG_quw/s200/Image+1569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577788174447551970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />===<br /><br />High tea at the Windsor Arms was definitely a memorable experience. At $30 per person it wasn't terribly expensive but it is cheaper Monday-Friday. During the weekend it's $8 extra and higher during the holidays, I believe. There's also a sherry or sparkling wine option for an added $5. I'm not partial to either (sulphites = migraines) but it would have been a fun option, especially during a celebration of sorts. There was two other parties celebrating birthdays and the server brought out other chocolate petit fours for each party to enjoy along with a candle while singing "Happy Birthday." I would have enjoyed it but honestly, I had consumed so much food already that the thought of more wasn't going to leave me with the most pleasant of birthday memories.<br /><br />Here are some fun photos throughout our afternoon lunch...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sipping our tea:</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjgrr_ltoap_pUJzNiBp0vaHvzdZ_pZ1C6eVk-1lrUpgpMM9TyoI-CgOLB90JLpZZXrc6TOyvqZ5ZPSY6VSYIWP3pnUUgZ1EHHXtjOODd0pvOqthcOQaPQYGfQ-OVQWzpEiOyJA79uL2P/s1600/Image+1578.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjgrr_ltoap_pUJzNiBp0vaHvzdZ_pZ1C6eVk-1lrUpgpMM9TyoI-CgOLB90JLpZZXrc6TOyvqZ5ZPSY6VSYIWP3pnUUgZ1EHHXtjOODd0pvOqthcOQaPQYGfQ-OVQWzpEiOyJA79uL2P/s200/Image+1578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577811076085022514" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH1wPglgN5VvRyhx1CQaZY7C5a_AuHLrbmRWy-0ZeNjfRMvKAWUVmPj6Vz2vCU-Ir9W1DWV4pvzUTtVskkg6GA2BFOCOtieQ4_MKf2nOkjDVEQ1BuEJcJ7QKZVo79Se974dmpboNEZZXn/s1600/Image+1577.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH1wPglgN5VvRyhx1CQaZY7C5a_AuHLrbmRWy-0ZeNjfRMvKAWUVmPj6Vz2vCU-Ir9W1DWV4pvzUTtVskkg6GA2BFOCOtieQ4_MKf2nOkjDVEQ1BuEJcJ7QKZVo79Se974dmpboNEZZXn/s200/Image+1577.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577811088453740498" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdTjlYZj4lcVlAd8SMoWRYgzdBu1DCzSyfNZvGTo7kEphyiy6qjoQsUhgXzbGXTOcygNGkB2EL9trVcgPnXWoWCyy-fkWqpR0kQwEn-m1UR7e18ktemsaPk9uy91xUc3sVzQOx8H3tHIc/s1600/Image+1576.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdTjlYZj4lcVlAd8SMoWRYgzdBu1DCzSyfNZvGTo7kEphyiy6qjoQsUhgXzbGXTOcygNGkB2EL9trVcgPnXWoWCyy-fkWqpR0kQwEn-m1UR7e18ktemsaPk9uy91xUc3sVzQOx8H3tHIc/s200/Image+1576.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577811094952127922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sean being the server:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF3HKi5fTF-jfIC6pzIr99mLj2X3M1cpmx2P4vZkLrYXGBpzz0QbXpLK4jxD9Wa8kUzRjGmCwiWs8mE84QeExfrN3SdC_CIPrDEd6tRDmkk9tCn4_IY6_Y6-x3Oq9Hx5n9jwMwQ4I33VK/s1600/Image+1585.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF3HKi5fTF-jfIC6pzIr99mLj2X3M1cpmx2P4vZkLrYXGBpzz0QbXpLK4jxD9Wa8kUzRjGmCwiWs8mE84QeExfrN3SdC_CIPrDEd6tRDmkk9tCn4_IY6_Y6-x3Oq9Hx5n9jwMwQ4I33VK/s200/Image+1585.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577812297148378754" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzUvyW_XtwW9WMgHa5F7N4QQwONLCo3lACNSDJtpq2JOUrlJJgK7FHmgl6QqtFAVFdVLBX5n76IYyswmGwYQIUDy1nmRt2-KR6S4neE3YHtSuN_JS6CWRlcLkEG5b7CcMTmqsni5c8RgT/s1600/Image+1594.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzUvyW_XtwW9WMgHa5F7N4QQwONLCo3lACNSDJtpq2JOUrlJJgK7FHmgl6QqtFAVFdVLBX5n76IYyswmGwYQIUDy1nmRt2-KR6S4neE3YHtSuN_JS6CWRlcLkEG5b7CcMTmqsni5c8RgT/s200/Image+1594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577812289316269650" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;">Sean and Jessie enjoying their scones:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KXjMX_6SnPTQzPWu9VGSRTn29hB06Rc03y3mhFC5ADtcSVb9BS7Wk1CyGBYH8KdIfDsutGGfyLUCXJtYAEgWUe2CK7EoEmGfifExJsHV_WsA9CuHaI0O8ZWpyluv8U9Mky6iHUoLaIBV/s1600/Image+1587.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KXjMX_6SnPTQzPWu9VGSRTn29hB06Rc03y3mhFC5ADtcSVb9BS7Wk1CyGBYH8KdIfDsutGGfyLUCXJtYAEgWUe2CK7EoEmGfifExJsHV_WsA9CuHaI0O8ZWpyluv8U9Mky6iHUoLaIBV/s200/Image+1587.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577861574743154482" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvd7as_ZEBFOtlm3D0u_jAzL4usEvj0HRr9QmFMm20Y-i-orDg7wxvTIQLYOL50Spk963qdavsoJMSF_xsoBFwFP6ITqscvJOnZdzUE3HJjTMjC9UIw0_3VZ9QPtEbAEYORwtmXKJRsuw/s1600/Image+1589.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvd7as_ZEBFOtlm3D0u_jAzL4usEvj0HRr9QmFMm20Y-i-orDg7wxvTIQLYOL50Spk963qdavsoJMSF_xsoBFwFP6ITqscvJOnZdzUE3HJjTMjC9UIw0_3VZ9QPtEbAEYORwtmXKJRsuw/s200/Image+1589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577861556621145698" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;">Before and after scone-eating:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckPXTWRcsHuVMFO5MTemtxLNZ3BOZPkQf2Y7iOy3xQHTwviK0z9SKJzfo1zMMLTz2pfi34P-jVx7ixRcaPvoiVT1trwdUEZq8C7Q0CVv4uPKaUyBD0x-BFienfvpBHPlMPxRj2WfZMW6E/s1600/Image+1586.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckPXTWRcsHuVMFO5MTemtxLNZ3BOZPkQf2Y7iOy3xQHTwviK0z9SKJzfo1zMMLTz2pfi34P-jVx7ixRcaPvoiVT1trwdUEZq8C7Q0CVv4uPKaUyBD0x-BFienfvpBHPlMPxRj2WfZMW6E/s200/Image+1586.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577861551504432002" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUuRHAsBD56vFt4_58jfzuXA5KwPeDTej9GjcR2EsM8S46bKXIAp3pzfCdInrkB0C4e897gmbuTc2ZgkZHSx3_2WjCTb35I_0QQQqwFob00zAGRQoFHjoTVlvrfbroYy9MCfGfcMmzPSM/s1600/Image+1588.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUuRHAsBD56vFt4_58jfzuXA5KwPeDTej9GjcR2EsM8S46bKXIAp3pzfCdInrkB0C4e897gmbuTc2ZgkZHSx3_2WjCTb35I_0QQQqwFob00zAGRQoFHjoTVlvrfbroYy9MCfGfcMmzPSM/s200/Image+1588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577861542267040690" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div><p></p>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-25603487868928043322011-02-24T13:40:00.010-05:002011-04-07T20:34:04.331-04:00RESTAURANT REVIEW: LAI TOH HEENGroupon's are a wonderful thing. If you're not familiar with the <a href="http://www.groupon.com/">Groupon</a> system, or one of the many similar systems (such as <a href="http://livingsocial.com/deals/">LivingSocial</a> or DealFind), this is how it works: you sign up to receive a daily deal for restaurants, spas, manis and pedis, car detailing packages and more. When Groupon became first available in Toronto, I immediately signed up and was offered a whole slew of amazing restaurants. I also signed up for LivingSocial shortly thereafter.<br /><br />Sean and I have been able to eat at some pretty awesome places including <a href="http://www.chippys.ca/">Chippy's Fish & Chips</a> (which we enjoyed at a theatre while watching Black Swan, no joke), and <a href="http://www.laitohheen.com/">Lai Toh Heen</a>, which we've now visisted twice.<br /><br />A sister restaurant to the very famous <a href="http://www.laiwahheen.com/">Lai Wah Heen</a>, Lai Toh Heen offers the same elegant, upscale dim sum fare, as well as innovative Chinese food that Sean and I were very excited to try out upon our second visit. We perused the menu quite meticulously--a Chef's Tasting Menu? Oh we're coming back for that, when our wallets aren't so thin--but from the appetizer section we knew exactly what we were getting: the <span style="font-style: italic;">pan-seared foie-gras glazed with ice wine plum sauce, on a bed of shredded duckling in sesame and peanut dressing ($18)</span>:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAxL0j2toKj0KEEtndc1pE07RZeZHIxxm3zx3-cJ7MA_Z2Nz5ASoRuCtpvFUFuV2q8XX4i36sAlwmFqTco3WKK7dFXM7FT3VelhsSBHnX1wffE1SjPWAUY8t0xMCvbId-RZUuO9QzpYcQ/s1600/Image+1539.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAxL0j2toKj0KEEtndc1pE07RZeZHIxxm3zx3-cJ7MA_Z2Nz5ASoRuCtpvFUFuV2q8XX4i36sAlwmFqTco3WKK7dFXM7FT3VelhsSBHnX1wffE1SjPWAUY8t0xMCvbId-RZUuO9QzpYcQ/s320/Image+1539.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577338170082391058" border="0" /></a>Now my only other foie-gras experience was from The Hoof Cafe (the French toasted with a slab of foie gras that Sean ordered and I had a bite of) and to be honest, it wasn't a taste I thought I'd let my tongue experience ever again. I kind of thought to myself, this is what we force-feed ducks for? I'm not a vegan, not even a vegetarian, nor do I ever preach about the benefits of eating grass-fed, organic and/or local, but I just didn't really get it. What was there to like about foie gras? Lai Toh Heen made me bite my tongue. This foie gras, however small it was (and believe me, that $26 appetizer really could have been meant for one), was amazing. It melted in my mouth and the combination of ingredients made it really tasty.<br /><br />Next, we decided to order the <span style="font-style: italic;">oolong tea smoked duck breast slices with pickled turnip and seaweed</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> ($20)</span>:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpfR7lNo3sdeLdqVf0kVEhP4y9OkbWt4E-J3XNE98zCqtzz4BQISls8hyphenhyphenfO4QnU6qrvjDkn6vrI7Ue-FI8fGvzAPiNa0OBVLwRjt3AZumY9AQY7X6pS6tn-m6UtOT4ClBQKPE2gB90VZf/s1600/Image+1541.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpfR7lNo3sdeLdqVf0kVEhP4y9OkbWt4E-J3XNE98zCqtzz4BQISls8hyphenhyphenfO4QnU6qrvjDkn6vrI7Ue-FI8fGvzAPiNa0OBVLwRjt3AZumY9AQY7X6pS6tn-m6UtOT4ClBQKPE2gB90VZf/s320/Image+1541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577338167559838434" border="0" /></a>I was surprised to see that this dish also came with pickled carrot slices which, along with turnip, are two of my favourite pickled vegetables. If your only experience with duck is the roasted kind you get at those Chinese take-out places--the ones full of grease and fat--I definitely urge you to try the duck from Lai Toh Heen. This duck was not fatty or greasy at all and had the pleasant aroma of the oolong tea. The pickled vegetables gave each bite a nice crunchy texture and the seaweed salad alongside the dish had a wonderful taste as well. Mmm...seaweed.<br /><br />Our third course was <span style="font-style: italic;">stir-fried french green bean & fresh lily bulbs with Chinese wine and ginger ($16)</span>:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv__xzxA4VLN4sBUuKnWhCzeE-iOl5koz7bSW6QiMinUH1dZ9ZUHkFLUGIlSKC2_5qDoWsnL51iOiLD9Jjb-qVyuOvgEL9jvZKhLYi0BfCZXOtH5jiINxANtzTTa3KSRZe2QcRHDdEyDGc/s1600/Image+1542.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv__xzxA4VLN4sBUuKnWhCzeE-iOl5koz7bSW6QiMinUH1dZ9ZUHkFLUGIlSKC2_5qDoWsnL51iOiLD9Jjb-qVyuOvgEL9jvZKhLYi0BfCZXOtH5jiINxANtzTTa3KSRZe2QcRHDdEyDGc/s320/Image+1542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577338159794075634" border="0" /></a>The beans were not covered in oil as you find in many regular, cheaper Chinese restaurants. The fresh lily bulbs were also very interesting. They had a very mild onion-y taste that lingered for just a second before vanishing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0LWxNCwPQ6pv8uOAvJV1KmML4snie_empEAE_BNBTiwvgcmQKmQIUZZudULx7fj5Rr9bQgbpppJ_cQJY4ZfBT2U38QEuAloTZ_m9pDdLobd5vJlE6cwmpqy2pzSZeR_KQpXOYlGL3wsL/s1600/Image+1543.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0LWxNCwPQ6pv8uOAvJV1KmML4snie_empEAE_BNBTiwvgcmQKmQIUZZudULx7fj5Rr9bQgbpppJ_cQJY4ZfBT2U38QEuAloTZ_m9pDdLobd5vJlE6cwmpqy2pzSZeR_KQpXOYlGL3wsL/s320/Image+1543.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577336808874279106" border="0" /></a>My date:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mLyAhwMROeBSGh6m8SYIYHMbQiOJ28kxSzVK7GXIgv46zJNyKhPAA6n8PvuI0N1uwONGaXl1H6mbxPb1pBQk2s7k8mQ1ahmt7oAGua6yfwJ2nZZxSwJ8Fqv58M3t-YAyCiphBfye_VWC/s1600/Image+1545.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mLyAhwMROeBSGh6m8SYIYHMbQiOJ28kxSzVK7GXIgv46zJNyKhPAA6n8PvuI0N1uwONGaXl1H6mbxPb1pBQk2s7k8mQ1ahmt7oAGua6yfwJ2nZZxSwJ8Fqv58M3t-YAyCiphBfye_VWC/s320/Image+1545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577336800438152994" border="0" /></a>Me:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXhaUn27HXgHuWtafC7kLBxOfs13y-qtyNQopgigyOSTd4XLGzL-Mv10CWBeAx43Lk5grv4h7Cx2vOeyG5syvHP0uG2o4-DQKQf3vwSWM8YsEEwDlPvWsgHswI0T5MCTIygrPTGGp1EGM/s1600/Image+1546.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXhaUn27HXgHuWtafC7kLBxOfs13y-qtyNQopgigyOSTd4XLGzL-Mv10CWBeAx43Lk5grv4h7Cx2vOeyG5syvHP0uG2o4-DQKQf3vwSWM8YsEEwDlPvWsgHswI0T5MCTIygrPTGGp1EGM/s320/Image+1546.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577336796041058930" border="0" /></a>The reason I look so yellow:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4p4-RS-Fu7je0Jbka3oCI8UPV0qzriHSJXEHgd_SKQQY8-0WrC1qy_iQ1WCyT-BjjnzdqieBuDFfnMAVJVYoX0UsyHDx4NXdbCssJDvwsWhh14rVF2EgNvrnYMdbv9Ywh474CrTFta04/s1600/Image+1547.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4p4-RS-Fu7je0Jbka3oCI8UPV0qzriHSJXEHgd_SKQQY8-0WrC1qy_iQ1WCyT-BjjnzdqieBuDFfnMAVJVYoX0UsyHDx4NXdbCssJDvwsWhh14rVF2EgNvrnYMdbv9Ywh474CrTFta04/s320/Image+1547.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577336794939150114" border="0" /></a>A strip of translucent yellow surrounding the bar where we were seated.<br /><br />Sean and I don't typically have dessert at restaurants because the options usually include the usual fare, but Sean was delighted at the thought of one particular dessert at Lai Toh Heen. I present to you the <span style="font-style: italic;">double-boiled papaya bowl with snow fungus and almond cream ($12)</span>:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNatpPS0l6sXBmSKMneDq2ykC74d59vGglHozv72Ywnghd8R-xvETU7HcZndpBfK8hs7fmiJWTn1P8dfnNzyu26-O1B0y0bWxfXihzaxlZoC_1lR9qcqEhO9hKxFsFkVTIUy6jjFlwZq2/s1600/Image+1550.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNatpPS0l6sXBmSKMneDq2ykC74d59vGglHozv72Ywnghd8R-xvETU7HcZndpBfK8hs7fmiJWTn1P8dfnNzyu26-O1B0y0bWxfXihzaxlZoC_1lR9qcqEhO9hKxFsFkVTIUy6jjFlwZq2/s320/Image+1550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577334050984962322" border="0" /></a>Our waiter told us that the dessert takes 20 minutes to prepare but Sean was quite excited and I didn't mind waiting. (We're not sure if he told us to warn us or to make us choose something else on the dessert menu, har har har.) The almond cream is actually more like a soup and the taste is very reminiscent of almond jelly. I have no idea what the papaya tasted like after being double-boiled but since papayas usually make me want to "upchuck," I'm going to hazard a guess that Sean really liked it and I would not have. For my dessert, I settled on the <span style="font-style: italic;">chilled mango pudding ($5)</span>:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZYt32yM4U3HUB25A0oOFBmXfeosUjuWfLF9Al9F-uNWfLhHE6G7OGjRe73cPmhCjjLvzjgyHYMgbr8aNY2cvlV84BTl_nCiy7urKxDXG-Ne13rZc6HHGgga0VrcYKEZMKAsCD52q9UDQ/s1600/Image+1548.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZYt32yM4U3HUB25A0oOFBmXfeosUjuWfLF9Al9F-uNWfLhHE6G7OGjRe73cPmhCjjLvzjgyHYMgbr8aNY2cvlV84BTl_nCiy7urKxDXG-Ne13rZc6HHGgga0VrcYKEZMKAsCD52q9UDQ/s320/Image+1548.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577334071088327442" border="0" /></a>Sean eating his dessert reminded me of a person eating a soft-boiled egg in the morning:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD0Rkc4Tt7X2hlzGC4YmclTdFSabN8ZB52-MI0cwcM3Fw2cMKRliYcvHBvptb8MbmlCXR6s18USVRFCh-46pZdZJ8JbsgSEg-3ZdJPQ5mPSmYm9OuHYEYKJQPcawUOKrr6qkZd0wKqyyz/s1600/Image+1551.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD0Rkc4Tt7X2hlzGC4YmclTdFSabN8ZB52-MI0cwcM3Fw2cMKRliYcvHBvptb8MbmlCXR6s18USVRFCh-46pZdZJ8JbsgSEg-3ZdJPQ5mPSmYm9OuHYEYKJQPcawUOKrr6qkZd0wKqyyz/s320/Image+1551.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577334041744210386" border="0" /></a>Served alongside some fragrant white rice, our main dishes were plentiful and delicious. Though they seemed very simple in description, they were complex upon both our palates in taste and texture. Sean said that Lai Toh Heen is probably his favourite upscale Chinese restaurant because though the description of their food might seem simple, the flavours are so complex, you just want to let them marinate in your mouth. Okay, okay so he didn't <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly </span>say that last part but it was something along those lines. I would definitely recommend Lai Toh Heen to anyone seeking out a new innovative Chinese restaurant. It's even worth the price to try out at least once. Sean and I are quite excited to be able to go back someday for their Chef's Tasting Menu. Our dinner was just lovely.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoYFml35eOI3UdqRgrUVwvPTUQNpOVx1-h79IKu0Q8e0XQdt3Ym1bQ_cF7jWsQk61SjZUxxSQJQSj_ZxaXCET4w8fWcfnR4D5L05z5WCHyKzRvm95KJhoas4n1j3y8pHLCqX8R1xR7Eju/s1600/Image+1552.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoYFml35eOI3UdqRgrUVwvPTUQNpOVx1-h79IKu0Q8e0XQdt3Ym1bQ_cF7jWsQk61SjZUxxSQJQSj_ZxaXCET4w8fWcfnR4D5L05z5WCHyKzRvm95KJhoas4n1j3y8pHLCqX8R1xR7Eju/s320/Image+1552.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577334034415028082" border="0" /></a>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-65475737507772965862011-02-24T11:29:00.004-05:002011-03-31T00:06:01.558-04:00CONFESSIONS...I got bangs about a week and a half ago and ever since then, I've regretted it. The rest of my hair isn't long enough for the look I was going for. Now I'm waiting (impatiently) for my bangs to grow out.<br /><br />Today is the last day of my entire life that I'll be 27 and I'm spending it at home with a migraine. I guess it beats working but I'm in my bedroom with the windows completely covered with my curtains and it's dark and kind of depressing. I wish I could enjoy the sunlight--if there is any.<br /><br />I'm craving cookies like crazy and I almost never crave sweets. I can't figure out whether or not I want a crunchy cookie (like some biscotti) or a chewy cookie (like a chewy chocolate chip).<br /><br />I know I'm not getting a puppy for my birthday and deep down, it kind of saddens me.<br /><br />I had a dream about one of my co-workers finishing off a large-size <a href="http://vitacoco.com/">Vita Coco</a> coconut water and throwing it in the garbage. My first thought was "where the heck did he get that from?!" (since they don't carry the large size at <a href="http://www.mcewanfoods.com/">McEwan</a> and no longer carry Vita Coco at <a href="http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/toronto/">Whole Foods in Toronto</a>) and not "hey, you can recycle that packaging." To say I'm obsessed with Vita Coco is something of an understatement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moral of this post:</span> wait for the rest of your hair to grow out before you get bangs cut.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-29891364056446787782011-02-12T12:59:00.000-05:002011-02-19T14:45:47.607-05:00EPIC CAKE: 6-LAYER CHOCOLATE AND PBThere's a cake I had been wanting to make forever. I first saw it on the blog, <a href="http://christopherandtia.blogspot.com/">Christopher and Tia.</a> It was gluten-free and vegan and since Corey's girlfriend follows a gluten-free diet, I figured "hey, I could make this cake for Bryanne!" But of course, I was always waiting for the perfect time to make this cake and that day finally arrived, the weekend after Halloween. Sean offered to help me make this epic six-layer chocolate and peanut butter cake.<br /><br />Here's the recipe and process, it all its photo-glory:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Layer #1 - Brownie</span><br />I cheated and used a gluten-free brownie mix from Bulk Barn since I'm a gluten-free baking novice:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjJBJUcg9-vNU1Vx7lMkt_n0yNiAy0DRkxgcLcgqxM5teZLox85MJFJtEC1a8xYPp1KgJO16zfVKPPfcaJ5ZO_STIu289UF-fr10pU6SiymPkALcPWQw9CBeRFminR7w0UX1B5Jqv6Ls9/s1600/Image+0001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjJBJUcg9-vNU1Vx7lMkt_n0yNiAy0DRkxgcLcgqxM5teZLox85MJFJtEC1a8xYPp1KgJO16zfVKPPfcaJ5ZO_STIu289UF-fr10pU6SiymPkALcPWQw9CBeRFminR7w0UX1B5Jqv6Ls9/s320/Image+0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570270299085714290" border="0" /></a>Sean mixed all the ingredients together:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk022ha07r9RR5kAgzU_AtA4y0BavqE8qtgIioSMDBymkagV52ARX9i-h1ZNy8wOkZbAaEBkMLJt7VOjJSrzNREhHPLZzU-5mTVmon0GUW0TsRFmMmaDEIiK35hCHZ4r853BZKcvrruqvf/s1600/Image+1361.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk022ha07r9RR5kAgzU_AtA4y0BavqE8qtgIioSMDBymkagV52ARX9i-h1ZNy8wOkZbAaEBkMLJt7VOjJSrzNREhHPLZzU-5mTVmon0GUW0TsRFmMmaDEIiK35hCHZ4r853BZKcvrruqvf/s320/Image+1361.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570270307158726658" border="0" /></a>He's really big compared to that little tiny hand mixer:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUV8oIo4EjtsLX-hdieVKAk25BuYCmWV5FYCtG3_6r92QxHVBw6s7KaVlLlF7R8Ye3OghL5LGWL_OmNbuw5qTGMnBKM7gIIL-iX4aVzmLANYOMEa9Jexsam4LauVeSYl4bvMyIgYdKFOd/s1600/Image+1362.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUV8oIo4EjtsLX-hdieVKAk25BuYCmWV5FYCtG3_6r92QxHVBw6s7KaVlLlF7R8Ye3OghL5LGWL_OmNbuw5qTGMnBKM7gIIL-iX4aVzmLANYOMEa9Jexsam4LauVeSYl4bvMyIgYdKFOd/s320/Image+1362.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570270311193030130" border="0" /></a>Next, spread brownie batter into a springform pan:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7nAqdsHbmaj-_LAZbI01ESm8Po61TzhsDIlwK4CaFC4NCk7cd_pD242Js3PP6greb0eNWewRQNkuLgTl9QzN_T6nVoRC5UyMpdtQQYxYDQt6IDG86_0HUiRHtatrDimQMoB-SlM5ZT2h/s1600/Image+1363.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7nAqdsHbmaj-_LAZbI01ESm8Po61TzhsDIlwK4CaFC4NCk7cd_pD242Js3PP6greb0eNWewRQNkuLgTl9QzN_T6nVoRC5UyMpdtQQYxYDQt6IDG86_0HUiRHtatrDimQMoB-SlM5ZT2h/s320/Image+1363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570270317305505090" border="0" /></a>Here I go:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBlu3ZZONDfUS0zJHvustFGAOJ3JqGh7M5inaRi-Q_hZdIp5fbi1Y_zBJZ-By1d5Ufv-o0_8440tbsdmX14kQMWGJEPgFM6ThzkHm1GjjFxgg-cWiDlv6g6Au8_Ucs1J-A3FUYksbenla/s1600/Image+1364.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBlu3ZZONDfUS0zJHvustFGAOJ3JqGh7M5inaRi-Q_hZdIp5fbi1Y_zBJZ-By1d5Ufv-o0_8440tbsdmX14kQMWGJEPgFM6ThzkHm1GjjFxgg-cWiDlv6g6Au8_Ucs1J-A3FUYksbenla/s320/Image+1364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570299147290507970" border="0" /></a>The gluten-free brownie mix was really "springy":<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMeTUP5vso5LFMTZlQFlorHxRcFlnzu7BQJrEXZukABPIDjv3_px4D8hMCb8eul86hYiSDYlmiIMTzBV_LJoq0SxUU10EObVQmQCIHT5F-TzQwQaDpgCQalwhr4lN0sn6sO7OYNLw8twp/s1600/Image+1367.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMeTUP5vso5LFMTZlQFlorHxRcFlnzu7BQJrEXZukABPIDjv3_px4D8hMCb8eul86hYiSDYlmiIMTzBV_LJoq0SxUU10EObVQmQCIHT5F-TzQwQaDpgCQalwhr4lN0sn6sO7OYNLw8twp/s320/Image+1367.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570299142938269810" border="0" /></a>Bake for 20-25 minutes and the brownie layer should come out looking like this:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah7kSqfh7PEeLLnsdVOQn1Xat3CQYJzI7drMFAidqCITkGOYvGYzlLDQjpG1YWLprxhwhvf2gjBLaIK4ALVRWlM6Uf0rFYj2rBD3xEQEN1Ls3WsilyPnN94rjByepvg9GaZRsJN_ATu9T/s1600/Image+1369.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah7kSqfh7PEeLLnsdVOQn1Xat3CQYJzI7drMFAidqCITkGOYvGYzlLDQjpG1YWLprxhwhvf2gjBLaIK4ALVRWlM6Uf0rFYj2rBD3xEQEN1Ls3WsilyPnN94rjByepvg9GaZRsJN_ATu9T/s320/Image+1369.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570299132614895794" border="0" /></a>If you use your leftover brownie mix to make regular brownies and add chocolate chips and mini marshmallows to the mix before making, this is what they'll look like:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQdg6fOslgTs1euj8podfTv8Iw19pMHg-PcnGuGwGfh16P-ag87rN4T-t3FL-LnAg_gICuatGhovlAItaEj3Hk229p-zJRjcGDwpDGToZYx3j87Wo9BjXQHUtLRHnRJpHcjtMuy2UjpE0/s1600/Image+1370.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQdg6fOslgTs1euj8podfTv8Iw19pMHg-PcnGuGwGfh16P-ag87rN4T-t3FL-LnAg_gICuatGhovlAItaEj3Hk229p-zJRjcGDwpDGToZYx3j87Wo9BjXQHUtLRHnRJpHcjtMuy2UjpE0/s320/Image+1370.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570299119909736034" border="0" /></a>(though they tasted pretty darn good)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Layer #2 - Chocolate and peanut butter rice crispies</span><br />Get out your mise en place! This was a rare mise en place baking adventure. Here I have rice crispies, creamy peanut butter and chocolate chips:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5N6oTuB6unGlNEIYZ2DvY36xTw3RLXmZN6s2jSlKsq8W3ljqVwAOPSgEajjkwC6nQq69-cTwTuOhEu1ylPWmKPWSBuWpskWUsiOjpZZyDoAu25UgwpwV0fv3502NjZsHqIDlDQOn2yY3D/s1600/Image+1372.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5N6oTuB6unGlNEIYZ2DvY36xTw3RLXmZN6s2jSlKsq8W3ljqVwAOPSgEajjkwC6nQq69-cTwTuOhEu1ylPWmKPWSBuWpskWUsiOjpZZyDoAu25UgwpwV0fv3502NjZsHqIDlDQOn2yY3D/s320/Image+1372.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570291817712239554" border="0" /></a>Start by melting the PB and chocolate chips together in the microwave in 30-second intervals:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCPsIEvvtXr-mzGijqmH4HrG4snEl_ecw5swBwJ25jL_zT_gNeDDnJvktLfWa8PZAyk6CseTleKwe_Z6UNTwQxGxv4e8BH7gdoYA4tV8cpxKmjfQC_KsPaMkDkAwm6IFPicL_yQ7K5g7F/s1600/Image+1375.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCPsIEvvtXr-mzGijqmH4HrG4snEl_ecw5swBwJ25jL_zT_gNeDDnJvktLfWa8PZAyk6CseTleKwe_Z6UNTwQxGxv4e8BH7gdoYA4tV8cpxKmjfQC_KsPaMkDkAwm6IFPicL_yQ7K5g7F/s320/Image+1375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570291810818180450" border="0" /></a>Photo glitch:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MxgF9WerW-1MFrxC8bPx3i36N3lCmkiYWdLDi-4usR5lQSa75La9TpcvgmMjMC4pTwVgdV9Q_0Zn4z-hIgT6d__kGUzdCUswOn89FXdR6wu-yAJUG3RScODIPKzicxiL8GSXSqEfPy6H/s1600/Image+1376.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MxgF9WerW-1MFrxC8bPx3i36N3lCmkiYWdLDi-4usR5lQSa75La9TpcvgmMjMC4pTwVgdV9Q_0Zn4z-hIgT6d__kGUzdCUswOn89FXdR6wu-yAJUG3RScODIPKzicxiL8GSXSqEfPy6H/s320/Image+1376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570291806897908242" border="0" /></a>Stir until melted and well combined:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3B0AbkY9eR7xcInLQqWya7W8N_rpQ9tT_HucBYsH_KMaUO86MzoFCOpUBMovTC7hkRLJlSKCQBCefPuIAbpnp1t8l6nFdH_YEFASyi-srBjlD_8FJbB0CP4WbINyM8KWEfoiPtfFVenA/s1600/Image+1377.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3B0AbkY9eR7xcInLQqWya7W8N_rpQ9tT_HucBYsH_KMaUO86MzoFCOpUBMovTC7hkRLJlSKCQBCefPuIAbpnp1t8l6nFdH_YEFASyi-srBjlD_8FJbB0CP4WbINyM8KWEfoiPtfFVenA/s320/Image+1377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570291799756911778" border="0" /></a>Next pour the melted chocolate and PB mixture over the rice crispies:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mI-4n7ngXu0nDKP-Oimrruu1f1KbJjSqdIdgWgk-SuSb3M7GKvOZmJNLwhgsTEgWzvze1-slh_QcnlBbGUUvLMfPiZv5p6vAoaPhpkliH7gxRKiW4VK_O1mY13iRkxGuHjkPmpZv2SVR/s1600/Image+1385.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mI-4n7ngXu0nDKP-Oimrruu1f1KbJjSqdIdgWgk-SuSb3M7GKvOZmJNLwhgsTEgWzvze1-slh_QcnlBbGUUvLMfPiZv5p6vAoaPhpkliH7gxRKiW4VK_O1mY13iRkxGuHjkPmpZv2SVR/s320/Image+1385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570288951753983938" border="0" /></a>Stir!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jneP73t7RQbzjoY0LSXhE9K4vVUsUxwIBW-gAf7fvVEcn6TdKkD0uo73ztYvUSUE2AOzU3gzwGPOhi9jkZckZbKgchrVB57hElbGO2ADwxDWPXSRv6pPL4szqo9KQoBxYWV0noSl4yoz/s1600/Image+1388.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jneP73t7RQbzjoY0LSXhE9K4vVUsUxwIBW-gAf7fvVEcn6TdKkD0uo73ztYvUSUE2AOzU3gzwGPOhi9jkZckZbKgchrVB57hElbGO2ADwxDWPXSRv6pPL4szqo9KQoBxYWV0noSl4yoz/s320/Image+1388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570288941589777458" border="0" /></a>Then spread onto the cooled brownie layer:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvo93UaC_ji8HjBrs_KIcqYVhN9MPIL6b4-c8dpDFQxm0yHfclZKBDHu-38Ra8x0mJepqjeKvRkTqfbInWqbvkT_eTqKoZT2ct7_cqv5wjG5blLdMaWvSiMMTF7orej1udBV9gWNKVAQ1/s1600/Image+1392.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvo93UaC_ji8HjBrs_KIcqYVhN9MPIL6b4-c8dpDFQxm0yHfclZKBDHu-38Ra8x0mJepqjeKvRkTqfbInWqbvkT_eTqKoZT2ct7_cqv5wjG5blLdMaWvSiMMTF7orej1udBV9gWNKVAQ1/s320/Image+1392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570288927974878066" border="0" /></a>Ta-da! Then stick this in the freezer<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzqxtUnBDe2oMOQRc4HEUMDCwd4n2tulLh57mMrmOOkYw4b6R1JtDSNhV12CPY8F9s2lYGglJNCPyw4Z51-oC4H-K2r8Gzzppbugq_kSkVOI1l0RT68oNWY3IkBZIX7GF3gXpil04f8Kx/s1600/Image+1393.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzqxtUnBDe2oMOQRc4HEUMDCwd4n2tulLh57mMrmOOkYw4b6R1JtDSNhV12CPY8F9s2lYGglJNCPyw4Z51-oC4H-K2r8Gzzppbugq_kSkVOI1l0RT68oNWY3IkBZIX7GF3gXpil04f8Kx/s320/Image+1393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570285079467006530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Layer #3 - Chocolate Mousse </span><br />Gather your ingredients for the chocolate "mousse" (tofu, chocolate chips, vanilla extract):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxVgUZxceNdZVNTzdU3pyA6hX5-M9NWhXSLuhNVhD9fem_YsooCwXKYvni-7EFYSlhWECjwvV5RDFkAhjBIbkqvR7ZXGUr0gcqaKWA5IAJBtxKPhehugFFwgbR-R0dQzEiYkPymzJATCs/s1600/Image+1384.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxVgUZxceNdZVNTzdU3pyA6hX5-M9NWhXSLuhNVhD9fem_YsooCwXKYvni-7EFYSlhWECjwvV5RDFkAhjBIbkqvR7ZXGUr0gcqaKWA5IAJBtxKPhehugFFwgbR-R0dQzEiYkPymzJATCs/s320/Image+1384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570288959969718162" border="0" /></a>Begin by melting the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv061QjvkD3fSYOhEgJF1ynP01wK2w4M0btbjLhiqzyE9487akGYfBOSYL7pbZ9qb5egf-fgl4pA-qLpIWldrTNhxAOV3GVb09s1imSem2OLQy3GqS9q1Q92uMLA0iW54BY6Otv04ivdK/s1600/Image+1395.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv061QjvkD3fSYOhEgJF1ynP01wK2w4M0btbjLhiqzyE9487akGYfBOSYL7pbZ9qb5egf-fgl4pA-qLpIWldrTNhxAOV3GVb09s1imSem2OLQy3GqS9q1Q92uMLA0iW54BY6Otv04ivdK/s320/Image+1395.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570285069785265842" border="0" /></a>Then beat in the vanilla and entire block of tofu. Whip until smooth and thick:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz09yvZXKrrn7NSOC2CqGMmztoRleLZT1XEZ2OU0HAuoFZHzrLO4sts8we7J_DOpJzmhv-E6Z5nVRfFDVbwnkU4mV8AUIzqZ50BBd76zAPnhSM-3JtEH5-ZKrIir-WBvdIm_y5eNgzp4q/s1600/Image+1396.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz09yvZXKrrn7NSOC2CqGMmztoRleLZT1XEZ2OU0HAuoFZHzrLO4sts8we7J_DOpJzmhv-E6Z5nVRfFDVbwnkU4mV8AUIzqZ50BBd76zAPnhSM-3JtEH5-ZKrIir-WBvdIm_y5eNgzp4q/s320/Image+1396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570285060810890450" border="0" /></a>Then spread on top of cooled chocolate and PB rice crispie layer. Stick in freezer to cool:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b6tq06WnAL6FM5ssPyeH2iqkroOwAtH0kECylLsv2N6m4fsVmuKSuvJAH-Wbdr-rlqoKbc7YtqrmXRBA2s5Nvt5qH3_-umIbcg4wN3b_ZPJOJR_dBlg8Xs0cXNfSt5UKPHQU1TJnXJRW/s1600/Image+1397.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b6tq06WnAL6FM5ssPyeH2iqkroOwAtH0kECylLsv2N6m4fsVmuKSuvJAH-Wbdr-rlqoKbc7YtqrmXRBA2s5Nvt5qH3_-umIbcg4wN3b_ZPJOJR_dBlg8Xs0cXNfSt5UKPHQU1TJnXJRW/s320/Image+1397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570285052478127042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Layer #4 - Peanut butter mousse</span><br />Repeat chocolate mousse steps but with peanut butter instead of chocolate chips. You may be covered in melted chocolate and PB at this point. It's okay...there are worse things to be covered in. Spread on top of cooled chocolate mousse layer:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvT4I7roHwvrWvk10pFqsvchcDPScMgKSAZXd0-RMlT3n9RAwYJCV24jU41U-RnDQ5XhVR3gt37yi5w_xmTDjlMMr-L6FR4SvqdDH0GVIM1_Y6onGFHtdNPltA1zawEsTAxfzP4k6g4jD/s1600/Image+1398.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvT4I7roHwvrWvk10pFqsvchcDPScMgKSAZXd0-RMlT3n9RAwYJCV24jU41U-RnDQ5XhVR3gt37yi5w_xmTDjlMMr-L6FR4SvqdDH0GVIM1_Y6onGFHtdNPltA1zawEsTAxfzP4k6g4jD/s320/Image+1398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570283207268516386" border="0" /></a>Start chopping some roasted salted peanuts:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbt6M7v1_20MJx23z5PNQ4MpDoHs8yX-Lm6ylEFiOzWWF8MztkwRT5hpuvMYm4VaGkD91w8KaVoDjMlnCYGSWc1kGM6AIY-jOvypgWJ9lgTICr7frrRGbUnIVsa6scmK4FOFOxV94yMK8/s1600/Image+1401.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbt6M7v1_20MJx23z5PNQ4MpDoHs8yX-Lm6ylEFiOzWWF8MztkwRT5hpuvMYm4VaGkD91w8KaVoDjMlnCYGSWc1kGM6AIY-jOvypgWJ9lgTICr7frrRGbUnIVsa6scmK4FOFOxV94yMK8/s320/Image+1401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570283199508880738" border="0" /></a>Look at the concentration on my face:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpF185Hbf5hyphenhyphen6gnQklvyx3C8g-A4f5O68oVCD8gnMSgAZOeXD_m_6KoPIOvlimsu6Ecrv7SH-9ZsJBUe73g2pBf5V-wADOuBkNSmv0LRVOh_rWlzRlIfPrAN3M34z5jsrp0SqSr2ola5l/s1600/Image+1402.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpF185Hbf5hyphenhyphen6gnQklvyx3C8g-A4f5O68oVCD8gnMSgAZOeXD_m_6KoPIOvlimsu6Ecrv7SH-9ZsJBUe73g2pBf5V-wADOuBkNSmv0LRVOh_rWlzRlIfPrAN3M34z5jsrp0SqSr2ola5l/s320/Image+1402.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570283192323353570" border="0" /></a>Chopping brought to you by Farberware:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeKYX5XcDP2abNb5tkpBux3j1wvFsdc109BMzSK-R00yvobzPyK1Hb2yAH5TsLe8e0rlJXVTsjBFJz5WEGVChx0mOgCo_PoHKuH-bWZzQfcxRhQELHhVAjqClqXaM8PUhEYlWocXUvWDk/s1600/Image+1403.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeKYX5XcDP2abNb5tkpBux3j1wvFsdc109BMzSK-R00yvobzPyK1Hb2yAH5TsLe8e0rlJXVTsjBFJz5WEGVChx0mOgCo_PoHKuH-bWZzQfcxRhQELHhVAjqClqXaM8PUhEYlWocXUvWDk/s320/Image+1403.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570283191052939506" border="0" /></a>Here is your five-layer cake out of the freezer:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxIsehvvd5B1KJDNnmzx-n3teUuxXs1WEZtKWb_jttBqnQD7PHEz7g4Ve8m0HDMJeWER4hUtlzAHCRj3jq32KF0w5qsOEPtae_DB7J0nvciwVDgOmVNrGMhGY0OxDS9RDF_PqK6fI2S1t/s1600/Image+1405.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxIsehvvd5B1KJDNnmzx-n3teUuxXs1WEZtKWb_jttBqnQD7PHEz7g4Ve8m0HDMJeWER4hUtlzAHCRj3jq32KF0w5qsOEPtae_DB7J0nvciwVDgOmVNrGMhGY0OxDS9RDF_PqK6fI2S1t/s320/Image+1405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570279415799369074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Layer #5 & #6 - Chocolate ganache and peanut sprinkles</span><br />Make chocolate ganache by melting more chocolate chips with soy creamer. Sean and I couldn't find soy creamer in his town so we had to use heavy cream (making our cake no longer vegan). Heat the cream and then pour on top of chocolate. Let sit for a minute or so and then stir to combine. Set cake on top of something (we used an upside-down cake pan) and then pour chocolate ganache on top and all over sides. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRc-LeT_K56NCt5TzEaDWuigZ5FqQc2CcECznP-45FvjA6Pnohw07zMnhqMqPXKys0sOwPG2J3HzzNNb_iXXuo3JKSajDUVJZegTnt2kucA7ZMD1fvN6uJpxZ0JhgYJ9FKQT7cIvYV7NAI/s1600/Image+1407.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRc-LeT_K56NCt5TzEaDWuigZ5FqQc2CcECznP-45FvjA6Pnohw07zMnhqMqPXKys0sOwPG2J3HzzNNb_iXXuo3JKSajDUVJZegTnt2kucA7ZMD1fvN6uJpxZ0JhgYJ9FKQT7cIvYV7NAI/s320/Image+1407.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570279405735467778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTE:</span> It is KEY that your cake is set at this point, especially your peanut butter mousse layer, otherwise everything will kind of slide around like ours did a bit. I had to salvage everything with a spatula. Immediately sprinkle chopped peanuts on top:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7uwM9cSM3NsnEooIXOYwN_G0GRgR21HVBHOyKe5TvgieAEBfyqDvXQCnH8BpuXJHyyoNacLSaFGGQhWZP-NTcywQhllnkgW57jSxbWZaS_tukqqmLWx5NQou2h8U-zyblAJeIGPV4x3K/s1600/Image+1408.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7uwM9cSM3NsnEooIXOYwN_G0GRgR21HVBHOyKe5TvgieAEBfyqDvXQCnH8BpuXJHyyoNacLSaFGGQhWZP-NTcywQhllnkgW57jSxbWZaS_tukqqmLWx5NQou2h8U-zyblAJeIGPV4x3K/s320/Image+1408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570279399728991698" border="0" /></a>Transport to friend's house and serve:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyplsHLtL_-2AS-LNJJqkovusa7OMisG36eIOTHUfm8LMVlNt_1Clf6in-4gKplj3PjKRuJBjsn6nVbL62OAjxJAoW6LYmLeQhhQ-CtUz5aKzKEU18yBtUqiOJEr2bFDPQ6rxD8AXywlua/s1600/Image+1412.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyplsHLtL_-2AS-LNJJqkovusa7OMisG36eIOTHUfm8LMVlNt_1Clf6in-4gKplj3PjKRuJBjsn6nVbL62OAjxJAoW6LYmLeQhhQ-CtUz5aKzKEU18yBtUqiOJEr2bFDPQ6rxD8AXywlua/s320/Image+1412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570276445486894050" border="0" /></a>Six layers of gluten-free cake:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qELyxokIc2WbLDbMEXcExCbDcLvE7U4M12pG-v4fRuMdcaEbdYXCFKYdn1fJAG-vRYoqgFFyRyI_j6wcdyIw1KniB6Cvk3SDTNbYvlHS7OU6_6vRc97oTvzC8E8NVXDh42BDNlH58iGE/s1600/Image+1416.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qELyxokIc2WbLDbMEXcExCbDcLvE7U4M12pG-v4fRuMdcaEbdYXCFKYdn1fJAG-vRYoqgFFyRyI_j6wcdyIw1KniB6Cvk3SDTNbYvlHS7OU6_6vRc97oTvzC8E8NVXDh42BDNlH58iGE/s320/Image+1416.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570276444811664658" border="0" /></a>Chocolate and peanut butter smorgasbord:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHfFCkalDMv3eCLj5X4fFYIkbN8nZ5gKvGp4fgcBW6cK1DlSZdHgBwHMFKW5qgCkmTzJqjupCpCJqTpiHHmAq57uANf6WOPmL838ZnDDNsGmDTWcu_VEX-lNkrPbPT9oMYW1tNoCaM5I-/s1600/Image+1418.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHfFCkalDMv3eCLj5X4fFYIkbN8nZ5gKvGp4fgcBW6cK1DlSZdHgBwHMFKW5qgCkmTzJqjupCpCJqTpiHHmAq57uANf6WOPmL838ZnDDNsGmDTWcu_VEX-lNkrPbPT9oMYW1tNoCaM5I-/s320/Image+1418.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570276428243131186" border="0" /></a>If you want to make this cake, which I highly recommend if you're a chocolate or peanut butter fanatic, here's the <a href="http://christopherandtia.blogspot.com/2010/07/6-layer-peanut-butter-chocolate-cake.html">linky</a> to check it out. And if you're serving it to a crowd who isn't gluten intolerant or vegan, don't even bother telling them because they won't notice a thing!<br /><br />Oh and don't forget to take silly pictures of you and your "helper" and your cake before you cut into it! Our first attempt:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzY68lHfWXquM3ANOut_hQkQtse3QfXeEkb7-FHbDTCvF_O_YbxTrCWMdvqOYivbNW_Tq-cL5Off1o4GI-9kw6JrYtgRDUZzk4IJXnkHNW01GyhPaK78yL-4LMfauKB-MJ31i5d0xhdEN/s1600/Image+1413.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzY68lHfWXquM3ANOut_hQkQtse3QfXeEkb7-FHbDTCvF_O_YbxTrCWMdvqOYivbNW_Tq-cL5Off1o4GI-9kw6JrYtgRDUZzk4IJXnkHNW01GyhPaK78yL-4LMfauKB-MJ31i5d0xhdEN/s320/Image+1413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575487100254262226" border="0" /></a>Second attempt:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGG_3_JFz1IMRoZ_Ool0wff600js_RGUf6-aaHyyT4GcbrVJrIjnlucoaNWTMvewPahdNCtFPtIx1OrdWvmD7bcK4aOZ-eImyJQ4a9ZFmEcEyZlP_FL6N8s_KE0wQDrDi2xqYYVshd97J/s1600/Image+1414.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGG_3_JFz1IMRoZ_Ool0wff600js_RGUf6-aaHyyT4GcbrVJrIjnlucoaNWTMvewPahdNCtFPtIx1OrdWvmD7bcK4aOZ-eImyJQ4a9ZFmEcEyZlP_FL6N8s_KE0wQDrDi2xqYYVshd97J/s320/Image+1414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575487106936998050" border="0" /></a>Can I offer you a piece?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPPx3mFDqZW5ItDq48dLsAOY8zsF5iOhnDeIVobe6mUf9AJD0uD_5zRmzqbU_ngkYN-5LSce3RgHuE62QQxfl_L9-IyCDUtOVyB-2cyTNE363P49waopmIJX7Ll8kBn8aj7XA9rpS_1TD/s1600/Image+1412.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPPx3mFDqZW5ItDq48dLsAOY8zsF5iOhnDeIVobe6mUf9AJD0uD_5zRmzqbU_ngkYN-5LSce3RgHuE62QQxfl_L9-IyCDUtOVyB-2cyTNE363P49waopmIJX7Ll8kBn8aj7XA9rpS_1TD/s320/Image+1412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575487085260317970" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82xmXOCBOGJNROk4LzPwWi4FQWcNWEqEGTmCJ5Hn_zAyBPUSvecuIevjQOpcJYKsuRiibeiJmqL7lRp1VcMMosU5wUFf7oaUnDXUqJ3yxeoQWrJNGc5Sw9MBu7n84t-18HVZxzCQCmMcN/s1600/Image+1411.jpg"><br /></a>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-45799666811928929052011-02-10T23:31:00.010-05:002011-02-19T14:46:38.173-05:00GOOD FOOD + GOOD FRIENDS = GOOD FUNJessie, Sean and I had reservations last night at <a href="http://www.trevorkitchenandbar.com/">Trevor Kitchen and Bar</a> during Winterlicious. Your town must have something similar, a week or two when restaurants in the city offer a prix fixe menu of their tastiest selections. Toronto has a Summerlicious and a Winterlicious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqsGMWOfkYBRKl506qgEXjLCu-5vjhtDa0JlcUjORiOgjBEVFv4Nn7_XY5MlPXq7cCOZH9DNWd_o-62RUHIvMINnkxJqF7cZ1oG7iKmRUgALoUC-wyWSuYcfmhY9jnuUgX5bkJXQPbNWF/s1600/Image+1523.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqsGMWOfkYBRKl506qgEXjLCu-5vjhtDa0JlcUjORiOgjBEVFv4Nn7_XY5MlPXq7cCOZH9DNWd_o-62RUHIvMINnkxJqF7cZ1oG7iKmRUgALoUC-wyWSuYcfmhY9jnuUgX5bkJXQPbNWF/s320/Image+1523.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572289097451969746" border="0" /></a>Earlier in the month Sean and I had had brunch at <a href="http://www.ago.net/frank">Frank Restaurant</a> (at the AGO). I didn't take any photos that day because I had an appointment with a neurologist later that day and was more concerned with my daily migraines than carrying around a camera (ie: I forgot to bring a camera). To start, Sean had the tamarind glazed beef brochette with coconut chilli chutney while I had the gingered beet and carrot soup with (crisp) heirloom carrot ribbons. Bread, butter and rock salt was a plenty. Sean's appetizer was the winner. Sean's main was the grilled cheese with spiced apple-cranberry chutney on raisin egg bread, along with fries and lemon mayonnaise while mine was the lamb meat loaf with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed rapini. Again, I deemed Sean the winner. Dessert was our last option and I opted for the chai-spiced rice pudding brulee (along with a couple of pistachio biscotti) while Sean had an apple berry crumble (or something like that). I was finally a winner! But the best part of my meal wasn't just the dessert because I had the most fabulous cocktail: the Midsummer Night's Dream, a cocktail consisting of a mint gin and honey lavender lemonade concoction. It isn't listed on the Frank menu and I'm pretty sure it's a special in collaboration with their <a href="http://www.ago.net/maharaja-exhibition">Maharaja exhibit</a>, but it was amazing. All my favourite flavours in one cocktail and they complimented each other so well. Immediately after having a sip, I told Sean that we could come back any time and just have a "liquid lunch."<br /><br />But of course, back to Trevor Kitchen and Bar. First off, the atmosphere is really nice. It wasn't too dark or loud and for a Wednesday night, albeit during Winterlicious, it was busy! The three of us arrived terribly early (traffic was light) but we didn't have to wait long before we were seated. Like! I started the night off with a cocktail (of course!) and Sean decided to have a couple wines with his plates. The menu options at TK&B were quite extensive. Typically most restaurants offer three options for each course (appetizer, entree and dessert) but Trevor gave us a plethora of options. I had a hard time choosing:<br /><br />Appetizer photo fail:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytrFw0H3uKP7EP6MSwtMnvGwJ_DJPn5Odrif5gGETSB-oaNtjDDg62USIxXMx-zHexgjkLF31iJL41sREKJfpdvvUqWydGFTYRAfR6mwY_aUtoCqOoL20KjfJh4OGShCl7yH1OPvF_oni/s1600/Image+1505.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytrFw0H3uKP7EP6MSwtMnvGwJ_DJPn5Odrif5gGETSB-oaNtjDDg62USIxXMx-zHexgjkLF31iJL41sREKJfpdvvUqWydGFTYRAfR6mwY_aUtoCqOoL20KjfJh4OGShCl7yH1OPvF_oni/s320/Image+1505.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575481124045413874" border="0" /></a>Entree:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm7EFYbhPr5nenAhN-8yQ2u_ehu1azS_WY8zTYzJTW5WtClkHoN5iIJhno0PncljN3hdlLYOLowd2QzTfQNgng1i4IcWsGK-84UsUOx8Q13anKeMQTD8rbRk4jh606ks36nLDMAEqGLUP/s1600/Image+1506.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm7EFYbhPr5nenAhN-8yQ2u_ehu1azS_WY8zTYzJTW5WtClkHoN5iIJhno0PncljN3hdlLYOLowd2QzTfQNgng1i4IcWsGK-84UsUOx8Q13anKeMQTD8rbRk4jh606ks36nLDMAEqGLUP/s320/Image+1506.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575481119987354434" border="0" /></a>Dessert:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RnMjMB2EHPSWnKShyphenhyphenXL48o7-xVZpElgsjjr0mPxfeKy_qBLuz1I7yuNB6x86fMTGLd-AQRHR4h-Elj_rPgflwxVMn1-6tI5mGVf4jO6suS3idnSu4dRyGgZyBpd0tUfojWJDATxIachI/s1600/Image+1507.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RnMjMB2EHPSWnKShyphenhyphenXL48o7-xVZpElgsjjr0mPxfeKy_qBLuz1I7yuNB6x86fMTGLd-AQRHR4h-Elj_rPgflwxVMn1-6tI5mGVf4jO6suS3idnSu4dRyGgZyBpd0tUfojWJDATxIachI/s320/Image+1507.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575481110389860850" border="0" /></a> For our appetizers Jessie ordered the mac & cheese while Sean ordered the corned beef tongue reuben, which was like a deconstructed reuben. I ordered the sea diver scallop and pork belly. It was a toss up between Sean and I. I equally liked his appetizer as well as mine. I don't have any photos because my camera decided to be fussy. I will ask Jessie for hers and upload them here eventually.<br /><br />For our mains, I chose the cavatelli in parsnip and sage cream with wild mushrooms (also came with spinach and grape tomatoes):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtDT9q-1J14ZF2BdVCfoMYkSzTAofjcXRGl9F2mSfys9J5OCfQAr-IYl3R18bY3M09hlJ5kPuY-ZmYPlXJWMAaxNgRgxIYQ1o1E3XOf2xbNNA9Z0CmdjsZCksNX2XkBHzQoHPO7rJ3MME/s1600/Image+1512.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtDT9q-1J14ZF2BdVCfoMYkSzTAofjcXRGl9F2mSfys9J5OCfQAr-IYl3R18bY3M09hlJ5kPuY-ZmYPlXJWMAaxNgRgxIYQ1o1E3XOf2xbNNA9Z0CmdjsZCksNX2XkBHzQoHPO7rJ3MME/s320/Image+1512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575476365820990370" border="0" /></a> I was going to get the pork shank but this is where to number of options was too overwhelming and I just chose the first thing I remembered when our waitress came back to our table. I should have asked for the pork shank but I was still happy with my meal. It was a huge portion. Actually, all of our portions were huge.<br />Sean chose the port braised beef cheeks with sunchoke risotto and horseradish cream:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAZW6yKW5UfLIw5UpW3dMUZ-ZTMKp3qkl3chM8m1u1LjXdPxQQl9-Qanq1IEBWzOcb6vfZDQnx19-wJIzFdawLu3yp_m4Y4R07XpTVmRMZX-sWc9Xw-t593faK9JOkOvJSFMoskLTZq3E/s1600/Image+1513.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAZW6yKW5UfLIw5UpW3dMUZ-ZTMKp3qkl3chM8m1u1LjXdPxQQl9-Qanq1IEBWzOcb6vfZDQnx19-wJIzFdawLu3yp_m4Y4R07XpTVmRMZX-sWc9Xw-t593faK9JOkOvJSFMoskLTZq3E/s320/Image+1513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575476359527295378" border="0" /></a>And Jessie chose the cripsy chicken confit with cheddar pierogi, sweet potato and buttermilk gravy:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqkHDg5SXiV3WZOz-vFZwek29axKn5KqkyDghHW8DRbvDblFOrcD5TrLr5x558M0ZAGFdiMTKutnF9MV0gMUD6alHa0ervo8uKx3I04-ZEdmXSnJTYf-XblJ-It7bvCdONcBQtcvwg7ph/s1600/Image+1514.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqkHDg5SXiV3WZOz-vFZwek29axKn5KqkyDghHW8DRbvDblFOrcD5TrLr5x558M0ZAGFdiMTKutnF9MV0gMUD6alHa0ervo8uKx3I04-ZEdmXSnJTYf-XblJ-It7bvCdONcBQtcvwg7ph/s320/Image+1514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575476357172050434" border="0" /></a>Everyone's main looked ridiculous good. Sean's was ridiculously delicious. He used our remaining bread to wipe his plate clean. I had a good laugh but that bread was to die for; there's really nothing better than fresh bread and salted butter. Or butter and rock salt. Mmm...rock salt.<br /><br />Photos of us...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Jessie's sad because her boyfriend was too far away to make it for dinner:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7wXeqnWoQ-rtKgHQXMwPIxOw8NeGwsMi4eiq6Qg5YzIxBVQ8Yd0PG3FTdOWrAPzJfAJSZnS_ff4wkOrWUJMt4pHgPHlOS5v3c7KZxEgwf8o7v1TdoNQvybVoOHILwDxLGf9icM3qE8uA/s1600/Image+1515.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7wXeqnWoQ-rtKgHQXMwPIxOw8NeGwsMi4eiq6Qg5YzIxBVQ8Yd0PG3FTdOWrAPzJfAJSZnS_ff4wkOrWUJMt4pHgPHlOS5v3c7KZxEgwf8o7v1TdoNQvybVoOHILwDxLGf9icM3qE8uA/s320/Image+1515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575476346202805778" border="0" /></a>Sean and I attempt to take a proper photo:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH2yJO-J8sna1Ksvhp5DyHyh7iRiL4RWRfmxv-DfElQBWV8wsTC5jl3-Z9o-u2Rg38JrkGLwEj30Vu9a9Bvm99UjtQeh02SLjVxK13Q19Pu__9fkMz-mbNEKFlG0JjrnK9W0MXaG1kstw/s1600/Image+1516.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH2yJO-J8sna1Ksvhp5DyHyh7iRiL4RWRfmxv-DfElQBWV8wsTC5jl3-Z9o-u2Rg38JrkGLwEj30Vu9a9Bvm99UjtQeh02SLjVxK13Q19Pu__9fkMz-mbNEKFlG0JjrnK9W0MXaG1kstw/s320/Image+1516.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572292897460511378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Aj13hH3c6p5RI8UnQE4YRTzn0RBazN2h2vnZPMifWzI-KC63cNsgVFmHVXHwpTLzNUmvJSc86esJFY7IjwVuGXrwV14mPB8-NKzjrFSFkjXO2hOtq3uYNs_32G6LqCG6el6lGuQSTjb/s1600/Image+1517.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Aj13hH3c6p5RI8UnQE4YRTzn0RBazN2h2vnZPMifWzI-KC63cNsgVFmHVXHwpTLzNUmvJSc86esJFY7IjwVuGXrwV14mPB8-NKzjrFSFkjXO2hOtq3uYNs_32G6LqCG6el6lGuQSTjb/s320/Image+1517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572292886939107394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Jessie picture-taking fail:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LJwl9-XhUXbfFqKh2SxruYysV1ljNmr7kX6zJl03NShxzkU0Tgf2qayI6PkAD4GOPkGzHqVt7weny4LgY9u7magJd2c2AfRlmwzBkIGe4Tyg8XDSivSfM-beiPDDiKkmKR6cHHw8fJje/s1600/Image+1518.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LJwl9-XhUXbfFqKh2SxruYysV1ljNmr7kX6zJl03NShxzkU0Tgf2qayI6PkAD4GOPkGzHqVt7weny4LgY9u7magJd2c2AfRlmwzBkIGe4Tyg8XDSivSfM-beiPDDiKkmKR6cHHw8fJje/s320/Image+1518.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572292882055873682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Fourth attempt = good enough:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieihh1NPxretiCcpvz1UGz5lST85Yfb-fJ0Is4O7szHMjJ_zwpDDgfbnHVjWIP6viXyzDnoUwnxn-M2a0LnHOssWt6GI98ZYWLLMCI0zNybYiBRY_Hhm3DByb8ihAjWVjGDCxJjGJbiDw/s1600/Image+1519.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieihh1NPxretiCcpvz1UGz5lST85Yfb-fJ0Is4O7szHMjJ_zwpDDgfbnHVjWIP6viXyzDnoUwnxn-M2a0LnHOssWt6GI98ZYWLLMCI0zNybYiBRY_Hhm3DByb8ihAjWVjGDCxJjGJbiDw/s320/Image+1519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572292878941371730" border="0" /></a>For dessert I chose the classic creme brulee, which came with 3 small cookies on the side (chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate chunk):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ve_fY4TGPyVcph4Tq9XlA9iZvkkli-UCmk-qq2ucTe4Ed71itdq7upHDnS-6bYBe1ukp95sCLd93PsWBROh6NzaFVyja41Gy273tFcWYSdlmOQPyCuc7BOlqvv1Y45tryUHqYO_vf0A7/s1600/Image+1520.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ve_fY4TGPyVcph4Tq9XlA9iZvkkli-UCmk-qq2ucTe4Ed71itdq7upHDnS-6bYBe1ukp95sCLd93PsWBROh6NzaFVyja41Gy273tFcWYSdlmOQPyCuc7BOlqvv1Y45tryUHqYO_vf0A7/s320/Image+1520.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572289116384926690" border="0" /></a>While Jessie and Sean both chose the cookies and cream tiramisu:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHUg5pecM5PaxeqlZbriaTzE8Mndhu_aWQfkw_9ust-Iej1nUkYGxTZ2Z3U4lEXfYmQijsvutg3Lo_wXGAPr6k1fiaG1BCxCCUR0P_NV_Yj5ZztlUprUGVQhY7uq4du6A55mourkMlQM6/s1600/Image+1521.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHUg5pecM5PaxeqlZbriaTzE8Mndhu_aWQfkw_9ust-Iej1nUkYGxTZ2Z3U4lEXfYmQijsvutg3Lo_wXGAPr6k1fiaG1BCxCCUR0P_NV_Yj5ZztlUprUGVQhY7uq4du6A55mourkMlQM6/s320/Image+1521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572289111124043586" border="0" /></a><br />Everything at TK&B was great. The service was attentive and informative. The food was delicious and the plates were more than generous (I couldn't finish my main) and really, who doesn't love cotton candy when their bill arrives!? Granted, a lot of diners didn't finish their cotton candy so I gave them evil stares as they walked out the restaurant. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_I6SLM564v5j6IdOeOYv4QZJG6l784OMsshAMEbJGClFxvVVG9h0NGn6Ni8iBRZW6RmAT0MLBQPOanx7q_fsY-iVOOQ6AgvpeVGh7NZ54aWAHFputh7IipSNE7aTIxVkGz0GFbkDcmGL/s1600/Image+1522.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_I6SLM564v5j6IdOeOYv4QZJG6l784OMsshAMEbJGClFxvVVG9h0NGn6Ni8iBRZW6RmAT0MLBQPOanx7q_fsY-iVOOQ6AgvpeVGh7NZ54aWAHFputh7IipSNE7aTIxVkGz0GFbkDcmGL/s320/Image+1522.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572289103110762706" border="0" /></a>I implore you to check out their <a href="http://www.trevorkitchenandbar.com/menus.php">menu</a> and drop by for some fabulous eats. Oh, my only gripe with the restaurant is that their washrooms are freezing (!!!) and they need to fix their washroom doors. I almost got stuck in two separate "stalls" twice. Thank goodness Jessie was there to kick the door in for me to get out.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-65612414516389131152011-02-06T11:03:00.007-05:002011-02-06T12:18:20.771-05:00RECIPE: NUTELLA & BANANA OATMEALI had a post all ready about my epic six-layer chocolate and peanut butter cake, but then yesterday was National Nutella Day (as well as Sean's half-birthday) and I just had to celebrate. I've missed every other NND in the past so being home all day (mainly because I was feeling lazy), I felt like yesterday was a NND not to be missed!<br /><br />Nutella and I have quite the history. When I was really young, I would make myself Nutella sandwiches (Nutella spread inbetween slices of sliced white bread) but every single time I ate those sandwiches, I would get a nose bleed soon after. I knew I wasn't allergic to chocolate and I wasn't allergic to nuts either, so I had no clue why Nutella had this affect on me. I could no longer eat Nutella. I'd watch and sigh as my brothers ate Nutella sandwiches. I'd think about having one and sometimes make one for myself as an afternoon snack, but the same thing always happened, that darned nose bleed. I've ungrown that stage, thank goodness, but it did last a pretty long time.<br /><br />For 2011's NND, I immediately knew what I was going to make: <a href="http://eatliverun.com/quick-and-easy-nutella-hot-chocolate/">Nutella hot chocolate</a> from <a href="http://eatliverun.com/">Eat, Live, Run</a>. Two ingredients were all I needed and what I had on hand. I waited until the perfect moment to make it (right after the sun had set) and enjoyed my cup while waiting for my fondant flowers to dry:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIIaBLPffGT5KKTSjTUnjhm26xte0biIQlvfKoACRclvmBVkAu_HHC850SAwux6HI5y1Ovv8rdW-9dGw-ylcdo5PcTOvQ25-U6s10tAx7kTs7Fk8HRVCEGHhM5fvjeBmlWPZJDbl495jG/s1600/Image+237.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIIaBLPffGT5KKTSjTUnjhm26xte0biIQlvfKoACRclvmBVkAu_HHC850SAwux6HI5y1Ovv8rdW-9dGw-ylcdo5PcTOvQ25-U6s10tAx7kTs7Fk8HRVCEGHhM5fvjeBmlWPZJDbl495jG/s320/Image+237.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570625893288961602" border="0" /></a>But then this morning I woke up and decided that Nutella shouldn't just be celebrated on one day and that I would in fact, make this National Nutella weekend by making Nutella & Banana Oatmeal! Sounds good, right? Well it tasted even better!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxQvsNUt9aeH215lx9I9qz7ct9jKLBVQREuoXLerPsI8qeewBqh0s1PnwWYgJG5PnwRiesknJd2qnLiA7RfOKUqLLwaJq4IBCRClOATdQTPxKsD2DWkCZoUyvUgJ1OsHKuVwgL7gTFPkI/s1600/Image+217.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxQvsNUt9aeH215lx9I9qz7ct9jKLBVQREuoXLerPsI8qeewBqh0s1PnwWYgJG5PnwRiesknJd2qnLiA7RfOKUqLLwaJq4IBCRClOATdQTPxKsD2DWkCZoUyvUgJ1OsHKuVwgL7gTFPkI/s320/Image+217.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570619565939595922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">NUTELLA & BANANA OATMEAL</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients:</span><br />1/3 cup rolled oats<br />1 recipe of Nutella hot chocolate, cooled (see first link above for recipe, the recipe makes 1 cup)<br />1 teaspoon chia seeds<br />1 teaspoon psyllium husks<br />1 ripe banana, chopped<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Toppings:</span> sliced strawberries, choped hazelnuts, drizzled Nutella, etc<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Directions:</span><br /><ol><li>Place rolled oats and Nutella hot chocolate in a small pot. Cook on medium-high. (I always start my stove at high and then reduce the heat when it starts to boil.)</li><li>Add chia seeds and psyllium husks and continue to stir.</li><li>The seeds and husks will thicken the oatmeal. At this point, add your bananas and stir some more until your desired consistency is reached. I like my oatmeal is a little on the thinner, rather than thicker side. If it gets too thick and gloopy, I just tend to stir it around in my bowl and not eat it. If yours gets too thick when you're stirring, just add more milk.</li><li>Serve in bowl and top with your favourite toppings.<br /></li></ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-wTaOXGDfCX3rWhVdfHaETQlelQ8MfsrT6peLCkJXO4mjgdYat6Ez_MLOtlQTNpXausxYe5YOt2AoZVcAJmWt_oxqnAYgMd0Uo1v1MMJrxj42JJpZtK4t1cBFGhdyC38M-0lEKANgnL_/s1600/Image+221.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-wTaOXGDfCX3rWhVdfHaETQlelQ8MfsrT6peLCkJXO4mjgdYat6Ez_MLOtlQTNpXausxYe5YOt2AoZVcAJmWt_oxqnAYgMd0Uo1v1MMJrxj42JJpZtK4t1cBFGhdyC38M-0lEKANgnL_/s320/Image+221.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570619562129910338" border="0" /></a>My parents had just bought some strawberries the day before and I was dying to dig into 'em. I have no clue where these berries are coming from--probably California, because they are pretty sweet for February.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA_8Hh-W6y9t07IV0Q71R0M3ZBCLh05rjw7L4jAvDFPJNSRGMqWoK6Nm7S7QY7hj1RWYKwDa6Wy0223aUNqxzs8PvW7dEYuDnu_4C8HmS3In9i_pwKnbF4vnPeaj0sBeZ9Z8y9P1DcNqF/s1600/Image+223.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA_8Hh-W6y9t07IV0Q71R0M3ZBCLh05rjw7L4jAvDFPJNSRGMqWoK6Nm7S7QY7hj1RWYKwDa6Wy0223aUNqxzs8PvW7dEYuDnu_4C8HmS3In9i_pwKnbF4vnPeaj0sBeZ9Z8y9P1DcNqF/s320/Image+223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570619557911746642" border="0" /></a>Now if that doesn't sound like the most enticing oatmeal for a Nutella fanatic, I don't know what is. I, myself, thought it was pretty darn tasty:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIs4a8oCoApXhuIwW2i2XWHNK5VclLxtAnTmOFzvnKwy4Et6WiBM8UL3qJ12P6N2aL8Dy7qJwC7BF-S64Dvnv4NHWtHyFMnoAf75SstBeQjGVX0lzD2979VkheyRnM-tKVUgx5ze4SB8c/s1600/Image+224.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIs4a8oCoApXhuIwW2i2XWHNK5VclLxtAnTmOFzvnKwy4Et6WiBM8UL3qJ12P6N2aL8Dy7qJwC7BF-S64Dvnv4NHWtHyFMnoAf75SstBeQjGVX0lzD2979VkheyRnM-tKVUgx5ze4SB8c/s320/Image+224.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570619552545464818" border="0" /></a>Breakfast? Check.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-33534107467468019372011-02-05T12:57:00.003-05:002011-02-06T13:04:39.151-05:00CONFESSIONS...<ul><li>I convinced my dad in the summer of 2009 that we needed (yes, needed) a juicer. I also convinced him that we needed the <a href="http://www.breville.ca/juicing/die-cast-juice-fountain-elite.html">Breville Juice Fountain Elite</a>. I used the juicer a lot that summer. I used it zero times last year.</li></ul><ul><li>I'm your typical Type-A personality except for my bedroom: it's a sty. Clothes are in neatly folded piles all over the place (waiting to be put into drawers or hung in the closet), countless magazines sit in piles on my desk and under my bedside table. There are bags and bags and bags of clothes and misc. items to donate--I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Everything seems to be in its place, there's just a lot of everything. After 27 (almost 28) years, I've seemed to accumulate a lot of stuff that I really need to get rid of.</li></ul><ul><li>I'm sentimental. It's hard for me to get rid of anything. I usually wait until I'm "in a mood" and then I get rid of everything.</li></ul><ul><li>I'm too scared to shower at night because I have to blowdry my hair at night (it's a flat-mess in the morning if I don't) but I'm too scared to do so because I'm afraid that the creatures from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Descent</span></a> are coming to get me. There, I said it! I've become a morning shower-er become of this insane phobia.</li></ul><ul><li>I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom except that Sean and I are not having kids. I really like the idea of cooking and baking and cleaning. In a way, I find it therapeutic. Instead, he's going to be a teacher and I'm going to use his earnings to start up my bakery. Score!</li></ul><ul><li>I recently re-watched every single episode of <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238784/">Gilmore Girls</a> on DVD (even the boring episodes where Rory decides to take time off from Yale) and was sad when I was finished watching the last episode. Oh, but then I was also mad because I remembered the stupid ending.</li></ul><ul><li>Ever since that pistachio biscotti from Frank Restaurant on Thursday, cookies are all I've been thinking about. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This week is our annual Valentine's Day bake sale and I can't figure out what to bake. Do I go with double chocolate fudge cupcakes filled with dulce de leche, topped with Baileys dark chocolate ganache? Or do I make something new like heart-shaped red velvet whoopie pies or red velvet cheesecake brownies? Or make a co-worker favourite like chocolate crinkle cookies? Ugh, decisions, decisions...</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN05pQZCmvs88P89lrSpg5aGaHNv63EkjwMhRRem7cfx3WZ-71i6JwiJLaKsSs2ujrA6yIiYXqBmbI8JgbvZz6biv7lR24eyD6Y8MoQtQLdMBh7xErnMUclr7ZepUBTrwq-MjWOaQI_pa/s1600/Image+122.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN05pQZCmvs88P89lrSpg5aGaHNv63EkjwMhRRem7cfx3WZ-71i6JwiJLaKsSs2ujrA6yIiYXqBmbI8JgbvZz6biv7lR24eyD6Y8MoQtQLdMBh7xErnMUclr7ZepUBTrwq-MjWOaQI_pa/s400/Image+122.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570264039737497554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(double chocolate fudge cupcake with rosewater buttercream)</span><br />OR<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFth0J5sJtyHdJalmwLOpQOwQWSKyuU_9Y83aWwZQObR9pRFowhyg8QkT85X18FDbU4A8jHcIK9sMXF6cmmGwRWC-kf2hfSqCLDGn1rAiU6oHez-hay7mheRXXQjzt28U2zOk_885TOZA/s1600/Image+157.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFth0J5sJtyHdJalmwLOpQOwQWSKyuU_9Y83aWwZQObR9pRFowhyg8QkT85X18FDbU4A8jHcIK9sMXF6cmmGwRWC-kf2hfSqCLDGn1rAiU6oHez-hay7mheRXXQjzt28U2zOk_885TOZA/s400/Image+157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570638793877630306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(co-worker fave: chocolate crinkle cookie)</span><br /></div>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-5363614797746306912011-02-05T12:23:00.000-05:002011-02-05T12:33:09.367-05:00CURRENTLY1. Obsessed with Sleigh Bells' <span style="font-style: italic;">Treats</span> album. If you haven't heard it, you absolutely have it. It's listed under alternative in iTunes but considered "noise pop" by some critics. Whatevs, it's awesome. Must be listened to at maximum volume. MUST.<br /><br />2. Obsessed with earl grey tea. The stronger the bergamot, the better. I can't believe I used to hate earl grey. I wouldn't drink it even if someone else made it/offered it to me. Now I just can't get enough. I'm in the middle of making my own lavender earl grey. I hope it works.<br /><br />3. Wishing for my hair to grow out faster so that I can get some blunt bangs cut in. I miss my bangs from the summer of 2007, despite having several customers (back in my part-time retail days) think I was in high school. I was a year out of university by then, yeesh!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXdRcX_akeMOL_rdQz3H_PyQ8aK76QLHp3xD3dV0VM96lm39jqGSNMsEeu1UPBt8EuzwBL_8lbxHfWR_DDsaczoZp83jv1jYMKtaIw4WJtTxmZr_n6m45T8Dus18DyaWp0GAjm0cYKPCq/s1600/IMG_0054.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXdRcX_akeMOL_rdQz3H_PyQ8aK76QLHp3xD3dV0VM96lm39jqGSNMsEeu1UPBt8EuzwBL_8lbxHfWR_DDsaczoZp83jv1jYMKtaIw4WJtTxmZr_n6m45T8Dus18DyaWp0GAjm0cYKPCq/s320/IMG_0054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565253662618716066" border="0" /></a>4. Wanting to cut my own bangs but stopping myself <span style="font-style: italic;">just </span>short of doing so.<br /><br />5. Wishing it was warmer in my bedroom. The space heater has been on full blast for the past five and a half hours and the thermometer only reads 14C. Sacre bleu!<br /><br />6. Anticipating Winterlicious 2011. Already went to Frank at the AGO and Trevor Kitchen and Bar is this Wednesday with Jessie and Sean. (The Midsummer Night's Dream cocktail at Frank is to-die-for and addictive. I could have had a liquid lunch with those.)<br /><br />8. Obsessing over scone recipes from <a href="http://alicesteacup.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Alice's Tea Cup</span></a>. The amount of times I've made scones from the cookbook should probably be embarrassing but I'm going to admit it anyway: 8. Not including the 2 that Sean and Jessie made a few Tuesdays ago when I was attempting gluten-free lavender earl grey scones. So far I've made the Turtle scones, Mixed Berry scones, Lavender Earl Grey scones x (once gluten-free) and two variations: blueberry banana and blueberry peach. I should probably be somewhat ashamed since this has all happened in less than two weeks but I'm not. These scones are perfection:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXeOkJ1pODquieKwyh6BsBFJcDQuqVqTKCp270Kx2F9i8cubVWkQM7QtxYPPgnAtBdgrVd9n8ae8qP_IZi0e2kO_W8QtnSoD_2rsTB-eXB6VoYf7mlcNTG772YY3hkj0fRAfhHZAUXWoI/s1600/Image+215.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXeOkJ1pODquieKwyh6BsBFJcDQuqVqTKCp270Kx2F9i8cubVWkQM7QtxYPPgnAtBdgrVd9n8ae8qP_IZi0e2kO_W8QtnSoD_2rsTB-eXB6VoYf7mlcNTG772YY3hkj0fRAfhHZAUXWoI/s400/Image+215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565251673611430882" border="0" /></a>9. Trying to figure out how to access the photos from my memory card. My laptop refuses to read my memory card at the moment. They're incompatible. It is making me frustrated.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-62612349535322319912010-12-03T21:41:00.003-05:002010-12-03T21:49:01.720-05:00FUNNY STORY ALERT!I spend most of my day logging samples for microbiological and chemical testing--sometimes, but rarely for quality control (there's someone else for that). The majority of the samples we receive are food-related though there are the occasional pharmaceutical samples.<br /><br />Most of the time I find it faster and easier to log by samples by grabbing a whole slew of sample request sheets, logging them all at once and then stickering the samples and sending them down to the micro or chem lab.<br /><br />One day we received samples for milk chocolate chips. I had to log them for a nutritional analysis--you know, the label you see on back of a package, that's what my company is responsible for. Anyway, I logged them under the "snacks" category because obviously they were milk chocolate-covered potato chips. Right, right?<br /><br />Not so much.<br /><br />They were actually milk chocolate chips...the ones you find in milk chocolate chip cookies. Duh! I had to cancel the sample I logged and re-log the sample under the correct category--clearly not "snacks" though some would consume them as snacks. I don't know what the hell I was thinking but I found it hysterical and I knew it would only be funny to me, Sean and my foodie friends. I knew that no one at work would have any idea what I was talking about--and think I was totally crazy.<br /><br />Anyway, that's the funny story of the month. Actually, last month since I totally missed out on November. Now I'm off to have a taste of Asher's Milk Chocolate Smothered Potato Chips. I'll report back when I can.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-13731412390736003272010-11-18T23:57:00.003-05:002010-11-19T00:04:23.426-05:00I'M NOT DEAD...YETI'm still here. I know it's been more than a month since my last post. To tell you that so much has happened is beyond an understatement. There was Halloween, my dad's birthday, a trip to the ER, four separate attempts at rush tickets for Wicked (the results to come) and lots of baking* and cooking. Most of it was documented--the baking and cooking aspects, not the trip to the ER--although I suppose it would have wasted some more time but my thoughts weren't on that while I sat in the waiting area contemplating my high blood pressure. Crikey, I'm only 27!<br /><br />Several posts are forthcoming...during the weekend. Thank goodness I didn't enter the Foodbuzz Project Food Blog. I probably would have had to quit my job just to keep up with the weekly challenges.<br /><br />*The baking involved cupcakes, cookies and a fantastic six-layer chocolate and peanut butter cake that was gluten-free and <span style="font-style: italic;">almost </span>vegan. Where the hell is one supposed to purchase soy creamer in the Markham-Stouffville area?!Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-13300023236052894792010-10-24T13:27:00.008-04:002010-11-20T18:38:37.871-05:00RECIPE: ANGELA'S PUMPKIN CHIA SPELT SCUFFINSOne of my closest friend's dog died a little less than a month ago and Sean and I decided to go over and cheer her up. Not wanting to go over empty-handed, Sean and I opted to make her cookies but since she's on the Weight Watchers diet (and doing a mighty good job), I had to find a recipe that would suit the WW points scale but also be delicious.<br /><br />Enter <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2009/10/24/pumpkin-chia-spelt-scuffins/">Pumpkin Chia Spelt Scuffins</a> by Angela from <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/">Oh She Glows</a>. What the heck is a scuffin? Well, I kind of wondered the same thing but then continued reading and found out that it's a mix between a scone and a muffin. I followed Angela's recipe with my substitutions in italics below:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jcL8mv_0gsrk9IXBZO-k8ji05oTTooZxuC0p9c66fBY3nalqHygbZ2NxhtI_OUJvQ6xmzj8J6gjXEQHV7cxda1xfYoFjP1opkNL4cNGCIYMG6o6L-2cKgSYFkhy42httErcqhb5eEGok/s1600/Image+038.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jcL8mv_0gsrk9IXBZO-k8ji05oTTooZxuC0p9c66fBY3nalqHygbZ2NxhtI_OUJvQ6xmzj8J6gjXEQHV7cxda1xfYoFjP1opkNL4cNGCIYMG6o6L-2cKgSYFkhy42httErcqhb5eEGok/s400/Image+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541776300331810770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">PUMPKIN CHIA SPELT SCUFFINS</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients:</span><br /><ul><li>2 1/2 cups whole grain spelt flour<span style="font-style: italic;"> (I used whole wheat as I didn't have any spelt on-hand)</span><br /></li><li>1 t baking powder</li><li>1 t baking soda </li><li>2 t cinnamon </li><li>1/2 t nutmeg </li><li>1/2 t ground cloves</li><li>1/2 t fine grain sea salt </li><li>1/2 cup Earth Balance vegan buttery spread</li><li>1/4 cup agave nectar</li><li>1/2 cup organic cane sugar (I used white granulated since I didn't have any cane sugar) </li><li>1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin </li><li>1 flax egg (1 T ground flax + 3 T warm water, mixed) </li><li>1 t vanilla </li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Directions:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(straight from Angela's website)</span><br />Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk flax egg in a small bowl and set aside. In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients (spelt, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves). Set aside. In a different bowl mix the butter, sugar and agave until smooth. I melted my butter a bit in the microwave for 15 seconds first as I find the Earth Balance is easier to work with when melted slightly. Now add pumpkin, flax egg, and vanilla. Beat well. Carefully mix in dry ingredients being sure not to overmix. Spelt is broken down very quickly when mixed and you can end up with a tough batter if you overmix it. But relax it will turn out regardless! <img src="http://ohsheglows.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="wp-smiley" /> The batter will be very moist and sticky, but don’t worry. Drop the batter onto the baking sheet. I wet my fingers to slightly shape the scuffins. Pop a stick in the end if preferred to have your scuffin on a stick! I got my sticks at Bulk Barn. Sprinkle with chia seeds for a spooky, yet nutritious, effect for Halloween! You can also have fun decorating little pumpkin faces on them (great for kids!). Bake for 17 minutes or until the scuffins slightly bounce back when touched. Handle the scuffins on a stick very carefully because they are delicate. I found that I improved this by making <u>smaller</u> scuffins on a stick- then they weren’t as heavy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveyUMKWqmsoPc4XsaFliUU1Ec0GV2FoIekkVCejvS_9_8NxDzVc3NUJFAJ88v5fPswSSxZS6dwjnh4rtFVJFm0WJm1CQusRx6_pZ_LkpWyGeieSyrUPyJRn9g_Vw6QBqerljUBcuJww8O/s1600/Image+046.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveyUMKWqmsoPc4XsaFliUU1Ec0GV2FoIekkVCejvS_9_8NxDzVc3NUJFAJ88v5fPswSSxZS6dwjnh4rtFVJFm0WJm1CQusRx6_pZ_LkpWyGeieSyrUPyJRn9g_Vw6QBqerljUBcuJww8O/s320/Image+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541775390951737138" border="0" /></a>Believe it or not, these cookies are only 1 point on the WW point scale. My friend was not only really happy to have some company to cheer her up and not only happy to receive cookies (Sean made a cookie containing coconut and white chocolate), but really happy to find out that these cookies were only 1 WW point. Score!<br /><br />I've made these once again since that first time and made the following substitutions according to what I had on-hand:<br /><br /><ul><li>2 1/2 cups whole grain spelt flour<span style="font-style: italic;"> (I used whole wheat as I didn't have </span><span style="font-style: italic;">any spelt on-hand)</span><br /></li><li>1 t baking powder</li><li>1 t baking soda </li><li>2 t cinnamon </li><li>1/2 t nutmeg </li><li>1/2 t ground cloves</li><li>1/2 t fine grain sea salt </li><li>1/2 cup Earth Balance vegan buttery spread <span style="font-style: italic;">(I used butter as I was out of EB and the calorie count actually turns out to be very similar)</span></li><li>1/4 cup agave nectar</li><li>1/2 cup organic cane sugar </li><li>1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin </li><li>1 flax egg (1 T ground flax + 3 T warm water, mixed) </li><li>1 t vanilla </li></ul> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9RvYOHEpI0BkBLJdLm07T3vqGFz1PaUtsM5aPzekNtwljWqVECSkrmH6Zna8u_O6V9r7ID9_N9plGYiQNQzjQ176qfj3eGWzuw0rJn48p155J5giUBihFMbdoWajLkwUE-TQ_z9LRUso/s1600/Image+048.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9RvYOHEpI0BkBLJdLm07T3vqGFz1PaUtsM5aPzekNtwljWqVECSkrmH6Zna8u_O6V9r7ID9_N9plGYiQNQzjQ176qfj3eGWzuw0rJn48p155J5giUBihFMbdoWajLkwUE-TQ_z9LRUso/s320/Image+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541775377292194738" border="0" /></a>The second round of baking these cookies turned out to be better than the first. I don't know if it was the use of cane sugar or butter but the cookies were less dense than the first batch. They were addictive, crazy addictive.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-3690450332144546412010-10-11T14:12:00.006-04:002010-10-11T14:55:32.388-04:00MONTREAL: SMOKE MEAT PETE'SI think I'll spend October recapping most of September. Why the heck not? I don't have any upcoming cupcake orders so it seems like my October will be free to post as I wish.<br /><br />My trip to Montreal with Sean was more than a month ago but the memories are still there. The food memories, of course. What else would I be talking about? Our first food stop was none other than Smoke Meat Pete's, which Sean and I both consider to be better than Schwartz's Deli in terms of food, service and environment.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNUICaLZPXAOGRv1oHeeEH1q-w5Mc-0BQOUrePN1LrfWFwsPGF2jxtaLhcFbtAhThqWPBsU3nx3_1iadoDe8u4IXCxKR29XtrodFEroawd0JkHsHanrQ7xfU7_EA4GWL4iA2CGxzYx9fg/s1600/Image+815.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNUICaLZPXAOGRv1oHeeEH1q-w5Mc-0BQOUrePN1LrfWFwsPGF2jxtaLhcFbtAhThqWPBsU3nx3_1iadoDe8u4IXCxKR29XtrodFEroawd0JkHsHanrQ7xfU7_EA4GWL4iA2CGxzYx9fg/s400/Image+815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526864019881987922" border="0" /></a>For the first time ever, Sean and I checked out the menu though I somehow neglected to take a photo of it. Though there were a plethora of things to munch on, Sean and I stuck to the Pete's Special which included a smoked meat sandwich with fries, coleslaw, a pickle and a drink. Here's what that looks like in photo form:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqUcs2wZolPxX06b0lqV80yECX6GuW0Zxwzu8y_ZbjJi_vXBHdb_P7AXryzdLOFXy47QwM-dXeuo5_Ke2nbRVJVecA0jb7d6zZTzjQJk0MbS4pWbwRrbFBMQSIzWuKpXUGYPm-sxLHqGH/s1600/Image+816.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqUcs2wZolPxX06b0lqV80yECX6GuW0Zxwzu8y_ZbjJi_vXBHdb_P7AXryzdLOFXy47QwM-dXeuo5_Ke2nbRVJVecA0jb7d6zZTzjQJk0MbS4pWbwRrbFBMQSIzWuKpXUGYPm-sxLHqGH/s400/Image+816.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526855005238362018" border="0" /></a>And here's the sandwich up close:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKEBbieOHA2RPzfUD-jH-ABtw45xv45I_Qc8IzH82gDv0xpKeNc_13PcPUaaoDlUmqI41joh3vTURAis3AMmZpUi9PhmOqk3GHIzrWJ9wmn46LUYhyphenhyphen-O6imWGdeYZNWX3RWglJlz9ji2j/s1600/Image+817.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKEBbieOHA2RPzfUD-jH-ABtw45xv45I_Qc8IzH82gDv0xpKeNc_13PcPUaaoDlUmqI41joh3vTURAis3AMmZpUi9PhmOqk3GHIzrWJ9wmn46LUYhyphenhyphen-O6imWGdeYZNWX3RWglJlz9ji2j/s400/Image+817.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526855003899966466" border="0" /></a>Yum!! Unfortunately I couldn't finish the entire thing. As much as my tastebuds wanted me too, I decided to play it safe and let Sean finish off the last bit of my sandwich and fries. It was hard to do so but I knew that my stomach would thank me later. Plus, being in a city I wasn't too familiar with, I didn't want to have to do any last-minute washroom hunts.<br /><br />This is the Dairy Queen across the street from SMP:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2PP6YdQJTxsGxuJGIHOWjN06HkhM4GyOCLo4NdLXwJOAXMSzRQYiIUGhbtEw0DwOSHp2tpCxQAgI53PrI1zZ5NSWzhS-kOpja753qIKiyVvjepi9U1cp10NpH4wVj9XGgsBNQZm76Iu4/s1600/Image+818.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2PP6YdQJTxsGxuJGIHOWjN06HkhM4GyOCLo4NdLXwJOAXMSzRQYiIUGhbtEw0DwOSHp2tpCxQAgI53PrI1zZ5NSWzhS-kOpja753qIKiyVvjepi9U1cp10NpH4wVj9XGgsBNQZm76Iu4/s400/Image+818.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526854993303668786" border="0" /></a> It's a small jaunt to the DQ and had I not been so full of smoked meat and Montreal French fry goodness, I totally would have jumped at the chance to venture into this terribly old DQ and order up something cold and creamy. I love this DQ. It's just so ghetto-fabulous! <span style="font-style: italic;">(This is actually the view from the road. You can see SMP in the background...with the green awning.)</span><br /><br />Then we hit the road for our hotel--Novotel Downtown Montreal, here we come!Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708230120948682679.post-21536965325033905592010-10-10T18:28:00.005-04:002010-10-10T23:25:05.945-04:00RECIPE: ANGELA'S HOCKEY NUTS IN CANADAYou have to make Angela's nuts. You'll fall in love with Angela's nuts. It's actually a recipe adapted from Union Square Cafe. You can find the original recipe <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=7039143">here</a> but you can find <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2010/09/30/hockey-nuts-in-canada/">Angela's version</a>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIsbcIJ7LwR2KwEpvdKTUOQTBas12rAKx2c7A7osUFLqGpoIoEp6fkt3717guZfzzs1Vjqf8MbSw7Z2vZpC6MZP4rNu6DontbMYojbfSJ9_Al8p39OXpQtNPRY6xST0mg_em0W58T2daH/s1600/Image+1272.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIsbcIJ7LwR2KwEpvdKTUOQTBas12rAKx2c7A7osUFLqGpoIoEp6fkt3717guZfzzs1Vjqf8MbSw7Z2vZpC6MZP4rNu6DontbMYojbfSJ9_Al8p39OXpQtNPRY6xST0mg_em0W58T2daH/s400/Image+1272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526592043061305490" border="0" /></a>Here's a recap of Angela's version:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients:</span><br /><br />- 2 1/4 cups mixed unsalted nuts (I used 1/2 cup peanuts, 1/2 cup cashews, 1/2 cup walnuts, and 3/4 cup almonds) <span style="font-style: italic;">(I used this ratio of nuts)</span><br />- 2 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves<span style="font-style: italic;"> (I used dried since that's all I had on-hand)</span><br />- small pinch cayenne pepper<br />- 1-2 Tbsp <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucanat">Sucanat</a> (or brown sugar) <span style="font-style: italic;">(I used 2 Tbsp brown sugar)</span><br />- 1 Tbsp maple syrup, to taste (optional) <span style="font-style: italic;">(I totally used maple syrup...I love it)</span><br />- 1.5 tsp sea salt<span style="font-style: italic;"> (I used pink Himalayan salt since it was nearby)</span><br />- 2 Tbsp <a href="http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/#/products/">Earth Balance</a> butter <p><strong>Directions</strong>: Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread nuts onto the baking sheet and toast for about 10-12 minutes. Remove nuts and let cool for about 5 mins. or so. While cooling, mix the sauce ingredients (rosemary, cayenne, Sucanat, maple syrup, sea salt, <u>1 tbsp</u> of Earth Balance butter). Now, dump nuts into a large bowl and stir in 1 tbsp of melted Earth Balance butter. Add sauce and mix well. Pour nuts back onto baking sheet and bake for another 10-12 minutes until golden. Cool for about 20 minutes and serve warm. Makes 2 1/4- 2 1/2 cups.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG-R3BwwndAeqsz9LhbDEu5VAIp2t-RfChpxj56JDzidHntdNmzCpl0ge3yB6Fc6B-LLeZpSgl6GfgChWgOKWel_W2dNgWpIV1ExIDq88KCxNZjFcTpZYPfrcj4yi5IXaSYNMiq6iAvYL/s1600/Image+1271.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG-R3BwwndAeqsz9LhbDEu5VAIp2t-RfChpxj56JDzidHntdNmzCpl0ge3yB6Fc6B-LLeZpSgl6GfgChWgOKWel_W2dNgWpIV1ExIDq88KCxNZjFcTpZYPfrcj4yi5IXaSYNMiq6iAvYL/s400/Image+1271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526592051854872578" border="0" /></a></p>===<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygG5ooHHp3XZYn1RawMJCbkDWcD15Kjc2Ph6Yw7Kjc70J6JSqW_ac8dBMJHbQcCwkbOUGgLdONS34xQYFH3UdHpuj3GRAyF8QOBKNeLfafYDYfL0D2HX9aVdDpcZ1pao8szVcNFGvDKSI/s1600/Image+1273.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygG5ooHHp3XZYn1RawMJCbkDWcD15Kjc2Ph6Yw7Kjc70J6JSqW_ac8dBMJHbQcCwkbOUGgLdONS34xQYFH3UdHpuj3GRAyF8QOBKNeLfafYDYfL0D2HX9aVdDpcZ1pao8szVcNFGvDKSI/s400/Image+1273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526592034451415810" border="0" /></a>This IS a highly addictive snack. In fact, I didn't even bother waiting for the nuts to cool and did a little quality control on some hot-out-of-the-oven almonds. Yum, yum! It was some really good stuff and then I proceeded to sit on my hands for the remaining 19 minutes until the nuts had cooled down.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgtupwd92KhZXwUKNxcQMChr4fpms9I0qKXElfAzDgofctlTAkkHDYccLZJKAGQaD6gz4r277yMu6v84kWL4b92j4YEbrkDHKYYl-N50Wk_1gy9yGYGjCRqHX3xXEQY21maZlCgK7aoQP/s1600/Image+1277.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgtupwd92KhZXwUKNxcQMChr4fpms9I0qKXElfAzDgofctlTAkkHDYccLZJKAGQaD6gz4r277yMu6v84kWL4b92j4YEbrkDHKYYl-N50Wk_1gy9yGYGjCRqHX3xXEQY21maZlCgK7aoQP/s400/Image+1277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526592023976007474" border="0" /></a>Then I proceeded to eat almost every single nut in the little glass above. It was a little bit of insanity but I managed to stop myself and then had to transfer the nuts into a Bernadin 500mL mason jar with the remaining placed into a tightly shut container. I'm sure how long they'll in their containers but I don't think it'll really matter. They're great snacking items.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734691850135673980noreply@blogger.com0