tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1278213425898636002024-03-13T11:40:59.121-04:00Buttered UpJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-24191210094075010142017-03-12T08:38:00.000-04:002017-03-12T08:43:06.139-04:00Compost Cookies with Neal Brother's BBQ chips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9JqosWtPL4/WMIFKwhy8bI/AAAAAAAAEXo/GCXxROVu6vwi-XrTyyEkgh55hlY5bjf6ACLcB/s1600/01B_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9JqosWtPL4/WMIFKwhy8bI/AAAAAAAAEXo/GCXxROVu6vwi-XrTyyEkgh55hlY5bjf6ACLcB/s1600/01B_0344.JPG" width="725"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve never
been much of a chip eater. I’ll eat it at parties or if my friends and I order
nachos at a restaurant, but I rarely buy a bag of chips because they’re too
addictive. I cannot allow myself to eat just a few and it's worst if there are 5
flavors, I’ll want to try them all. My fingers uncontrollably reach for the
chip bowl bringing pristine crisps to my lips, their crackly sensation is like
crack to me, absolutely irresistible, not to mention how their salty, sweet,
spicy coating blows up all the dopamine neurotransmitter synapses from my
tongue to my brain telling me to </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">EATMOREEATMORE!!</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
The struggle is real, I’m sure you can relate and that’s why I don’t buy chips
lest I go all Hulk-like on them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And somehow
when it comes to cookies or chocolate, I can exercise some self-control. Nonetheless,
when <a href="https://www.nealbrothersfoods.com/" target="_blank">Neal Brothers</a> contacted me to offer samples of their latest flavours, I
could not decline. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CrxOL8NVJ4/WMVAWqGre0I/AAAAAAAAEYA/aVyBTVQUgFUgYmA2DG8HZoNAm_dJ1tQ3ACLcB/s1600/NB%2BMaple%2BBacon.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CrxOL8NVJ4/WMVAWqGre0I/AAAAAAAAEYA/aVyBTVQUgFUgYmA2DG8HZoNAm_dJ1tQ3ACLcB/s1600/NB%2BMaple%2BBacon.PNG" width="600"></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So that’s how
I ended up combining one of my favourite foods (ie. Cookies) with chips. I
chose the popular Compost Cookies recipe from Cristina Tosi of Momofuku’s Milk
Bar and for the potato chips, used Neal Brothers's sweet and salty BBQ kettle
chips. When I threw the chips into the batter, I loved hearing them crunch and break
apart, a sign of good things to come. The cookies contain a combination of milk
chocolate, butterscotch chips, coffee grounds, rolled oats and chips, the idea
behind it is to use up leftover ingredients that’s been hanging out in your
pantry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-driZL2TkRcQ/WMH6-mva6jI/AAAAAAAAEXA/EDOLWQPoV2oGS9PCiqLvlk-3iHJYG85OgCLcB/s1600/01B_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="680" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-driZL2TkRcQ/WMH6-mva6jI/AAAAAAAAEXA/EDOLWQPoV2oGS9PCiqLvlk-3iHJYG85OgCLcB/s1600/01B_0323.JPG" width="450"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve made
cookies from Milk Bar <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2015/04/momofukus-blueberry-and-cream-cookies.html" target="_blank">before</a>, and though I enjoyed those cookies, I like these
Compost Cookies more. The sweet and salty flavours work well here and I
love the idea of using up whatever you have in your kitchen, it makes them
unique and memorable. Neal Brother’s kettle chips are a great compliment to
these cookies, the chips are delicious on their own, they’re sweet, salty, and
lip-smackingly good, and yet their flavors are not overpowering. And as a
bonus, their thick texture doesn’t disintegrate into the batter so you still
get hints of BBQ in each cookie.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrTbP6im3l8/WMVA54H2mVI/AAAAAAAAEYE/ArxW_ysll7QKTPsu0ZRZrPPocm2hDsfnQCLcB/s1600/NB_Chips_Srirachup%2Bcr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrTbP6im3l8/WMVA54H2mVI/AAAAAAAAEYE/ArxW_ysll7QKTPsu0ZRZrPPocm2hDsfnQCLcB/s320/NB_Chips_Srirachup%2Bcr.jpg" width="219"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love that Neal Brothers's chips are all natural and organic. I've tried other chips from them and they're all bold in flavor yet not overwhelming. I will definitely buy other products from them, like </span>their Srirachup Chips or Honey Mustard Pretzel Nibblers!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My dad was
skeptical about the addition of chips in these cookies, but he was so
pleasantly surprised at how they turned out he polished off two in immediate
succession and managed to mumble “</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">MMMHMHMHMHHHMMM!</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">” So yeah, I guess they’re
pretty good. Thanks to Neal Brothers for the chips!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT0Ie9qAxWg/WMIFoT7cTLI/AAAAAAAAEXs/9cCMum1yAhwBTHPWSJS02J-7gMrA2o9xQCLcB/s1600/01B_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT0Ie9qAxWg/WMIFoT7cTLI/AAAAAAAAEXs/9cCMum1yAhwBTHPWSJS02J-7gMrA2o9xQCLcB/s1600/01B_0347.JPG" width="450"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2017/03/compost-cookies-with-neal-brothers-bbq.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-14757024988280877572017-02-03T18:29:00.001-05:002017-02-03T18:29:13.594-05:00Nicaragua<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nElXEmo8VTE/Vv0m3ntAx5I/AAAAAAAAEPM/eT6HEEX8XlsUKHwcTCVBwLrXADue9CSYg/s1600/01B_8317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nElXEmo8VTE/Vv0m3ntAx5I/AAAAAAAAEPM/eT6HEEX8XlsUKHwcTCVBwLrXADue9CSYg/s1600/01B_8317.jpg" width="725" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DG0W8ti8xtY/Vv0nU92In8I/AAAAAAAAEPQ/b3SmtBJVAgc1Cn8YLtTzm8jaZKk8F3_Kg/s1600/01B_7966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DG0W8ti8xtY/Vv0nU92In8I/AAAAAAAAEPQ/b3SmtBJVAgc1Cn8YLtTzm8jaZKk8F3_Kg/s1600/01B_7966.jpg" width="725" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg-V90C0e04/Vv0pgIJNtTI/AAAAAAAAEP8/46I0zqwtzoAdX7gIfJGpbX3_I6UFuf77g/s1600/01B_7938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg-V90C0e04/Vv0pgIJNtTI/AAAAAAAAEP8/46I0zqwtzoAdX7gIfJGpbX3_I6UFuf77g/s1600/01B_7938.jpg" width="725" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqa3Ab5jc9I/Vv0pi6e3DII/AAAAAAAAEQA/VgFSyazOnFQOlRotGv1Qn2c6pXyh9trdw/s1600/01B_7993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqa3Ab5jc9I/Vv0pi6e3DII/AAAAAAAAEQA/VgFSyazOnFQOlRotGv1Qn2c6pXyh9trdw/s1600/01B_7993.jpg" width="715" /></a></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L-QpuGOGLBc/Vv0n56NJUqI/AAAAAAAAEPc/5k4F01B9um096GecauMga9_JhOb87SrxA/s1600/01B_8005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L-QpuGOGLBc/Vv0n56NJUqI/AAAAAAAAEPc/5k4F01B9um096GecauMga9_JhOb87SrxA/s1600/01B_8005.jpg" width="725" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SofBQS-VIG8/Vv0p9MNrTrI/AAAAAAAAEQE/DzDXQGkSNA84sPZLlIaGplsLcQQm046jg/s1600/01B_7928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SofBQS-VIG8/Vv0p9MNrTrI/AAAAAAAAEQE/DzDXQGkSNA84sPZLlIaGplsLcQQm046jg/s1600/01B_7928.jpg" width="725" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dikuwQKuF30/Vv0oL5fSUrI/AAAAAAAAEPk/6e0TONzHn_QlZ173KFNWe6o5qxfvdV-PQ/s1600/01B_8439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dikuwQKuF30/Vv0oL5fSUrI/AAAAAAAAEPk/6e0TONzHn_QlZ173KFNWe6o5qxfvdV-PQ/s1600/01B_8439.jpg" width="725" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BuDRmY3oTVA/Vv0ooVose-I/AAAAAAAAEPs/HFEmwDHQ2egD4ExEVcnh1cLurVE4EJHvg/s1600/01B_8139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BuDRmY3oTVA/Vv0ooVose-I/AAAAAAAAEPs/HFEmwDHQ2egD4ExEVcnh1cLurVE4EJHvg/s1600/01B_8139.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JrZM58qLvJE/Vv1GNnHRXeI/AAAAAAAAERY/M75aroBe7MgBXu61faIWsh75w7tHpYytw/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JrZM58qLvJE/Vv1GNnHRXeI/AAAAAAAAERY/M75aroBe7MgBXu61faIWsh75w7tHpYytw/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" width="720" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know right? Nicaragua is simply beautiful and I miss it everyday. But first, sorry for being on a 2 year long hiatus. I haven’t been motivated nor inspired to update this blog. I haven’t even baked as much because I’m just not in the mood. So if you’re still reading this, thank you for sticking around.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">T<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">his post is long overdue, but I wanted to share with you my backpacking trip through Nicaragua last year. I went solo because I couldn’t find friends to go with me and I was impatient and didn’t want to wait around for travel companions. I couldn’t have been more terrified to go days before my departure, but when I arrived in the capital, Managua, I was overcome with excitement, shock and a big sense of achievement, that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach disappeared.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoFn2sbd4Bc/Vv1EAXj6X4I/AAAAAAAAEQ4/yVZYuSBitFordEs55ioK-51rbyiEbGHsQ/s1600/01B_7903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoFn2sbd4Bc/Vv1EAXj6X4I/AAAAAAAAEQ4/yVZYuSBitFordEs55ioK-51rbyiEbGHsQ/s1600/01B_7903.jpg" width="450" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On my way to my first pueblo, Leon, I took in the sights and smells of the country, there was an old man sitting on a plastic chair in the middle of a the busy street watching the traffic zip by, there were people crammed into local school buses chugging along the highway. The majestic sight of Momotobo, solidified that I was for sure in Central America, miles from home. As I watched the view change from city to farmland, all I could think was I made it, I was here, alone, with nothing more than a backpack and my camera.<br /><br /> The main thing I wanted to do in Leon was volcano boarding. I did this through my hostel, </span><a href="http://www.bigfoothostelleon.com/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Big Foot</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. You hike an hour up Cerro Negro carrying a wooden board, enduring strong winds that grew stronger the higher up we climbed. I tried not to think about being blow away like a kite and just focused on getting to the top. The view though, was spectacular. Seeing miles of greenery plus more volcanoes in the distance with clouds floating by was simply beautiful.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JrA9jwUwDo8/Vv1BDH4mc2I/AAAAAAAAEQg/X0ETLk3TwzQ6aJrT-yW6CjI0soRi0lrXQ/s1600/01B_7906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JrA9jwUwDo8/Vv1BDH4mc2I/AAAAAAAAEQg/X0ETLk3TwzQ6aJrT-yW6CjI0soRi0lrXQ/s1600/01B_7906.jpg" width="725" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WgzyESIL9Bo/Vv1BCPIa1mI/AAAAAAAAEQc/3Xw0EuxClZkGOZh4l2GUINtOLMnZSvwpw/s1600/01B_7912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WgzyESIL9Bo/Vv1BCPIa1mI/AAAAAAAAEQc/3Xw0EuxClZkGOZh4l2GUINtOLMnZSvwpw/s1600/01B_7912.jpg" width="725" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JrA9jwUwDo8/Vv1BDH4mc2I/AAAAAAAAEQg/X0ETLk3TwzQ6aJrT-yW6CjI0soRi0lrXQ/s1600/01B_7906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mx6at3lraX0/Vv1BFINUCMI/AAAAAAAAEQk/rlrtwLzBPL4pVZauO_a_uNJsmfnzdGdJg/s1600/01B_7924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mx6at3lraX0/Vv1BFINUCMI/AAAAAAAAEQk/rlrtwLzBPL4pVZauO_a_uNJsmfnzdGdJg/s1600/01B_7924.jpg" width="450" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we got ready to descent, you put on these sexy jumpsuits that make you look like you just escaped prison, cover up your face, strap on googles, so now you look like a mad scientist prisoner escaper bandit. Sit snuggly on the board, hold onto the straps and shivy your bum to the top of the volcano, count to 3 and pray that you don’t fall off your board or tumble sideways. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I zoomed down the volcano barely able to see anything through my scratched up googles, but whoa, what a rush! I made it down 38km/h and there I was thinking I was going twice as fast. I didn’t fall nor scratch up my face so I was elated. We watched the rest of the group zip/tumble down the volcano in pairs, it was a fun day and kick started my trip perfectly. I spent the rest of my days in Leon exploring the town, hanging out at this cathedral for hours, soaking up the sun and people watching.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v17L1U6q57M/Vv1BPaMnpTI/AAAAAAAAEQo/YgN1aSmeUm494AI3OCrlStvEj1N7IYPQQ/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v17L1U6q57M/Vv1BPaMnpTI/AAAAAAAAEQo/YgN1aSmeUm494AI3OCrlStvEj1N7IYPQQ/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" width="450" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KKfyBgen250/Vv1ECC3ZSsI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/qBDqqS45X30sfXgSHQrIYACig2so74pFA/s1600/01B_7961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KKfyBgen250/Vv1ECC3ZSsI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/qBDqqS45X30sfXgSHQrIYACig2so74pFA/s1600/01B_7961.jpg" width="450" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7bVyDIC6qc/Vv1EEBC_MFI/AAAAAAAAERA/GzPGltqc9vc07ztjRMuGdFt3CT6otzXcQ/s1600/01B_8000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7bVyDIC6qc/Vv1EEBC_MFI/AAAAAAAAERA/GzPGltqc9vc07ztjRMuGdFt3CT6otzXcQ/s1600/01B_8000.jpg" width="725" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFlebsEyGm0/Vv1EF5VVi1I/AAAAAAAAERE/P6NsDI5JK_Q5Xy9GcxsrNJH063MXcRCZw/s1600/01B_7987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFlebsEyGm0/Vv1EF5VVi1I/AAAAAAAAERE/P6NsDI5JK_Q5Xy9GcxsrNJH063MXcRCZw/s1600/01B_7987.jpg" width="725" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My second stop was Ometepe. I had friends raving about the volcano island so I put this place on my itinerary. Let’s just say Ometepe took my breath away, from the moment the ferry left the dock and Volcano Concepcion slowly grew closer, I was taken aback by its imposing grace. Volcano Maderas on the other side was equally stunning, covered by thick forest and clouds drifting by like something out of a postcard. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I stayed at </span><a href="http://fincamystica.com/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finca Mystica</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and I highly recommend staying there if you can. There’s something truly special about it. The owners and moved there from the States a decade ago, building private cabins and a large dorm, hiring locals to work in the kitchen and around the farm, and the food and drinks are always delicious and fresh.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPm68TChxiI/Vv1GOgR4vUI/AAAAAAAAERc/QiW_T0yL08UUau4ir_gFY5Hqvv_w78aJQ/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPm68TChxiI/Vv1GOgR4vUI/AAAAAAAAERc/QiW_T0yL08UUau4ir_gFY5Hqvv_w78aJQ/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" width="480" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I bonded with a few other travelers (Canadians too!) and went on adventures together everyday, like hiking Maderas which took a total of 7 hours (no big deal, just equivalent to an average work day!), renting scooters to explore the island, and dive bombing into Ojo de Agua (a mineral pool). At dinner, we feasted on big plates of chicken skewers, quesadillas or fresh sole. We drank our weight in cocktails (the passionfruit juices blended with ice and rum are to die for) and had the best time talking while watching the sun set over the lake.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KynJaYpjt3o/Vv1GT3UROdI/AAAAAAAAERg/anQ4wuus8DI2kmAenx5EovHAsXmXLLP7w/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG" width="700" /><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R3YXk8LlXrg/Vv1IrWDZH6I/AAAAAAAAESA/Y2AmkF9a7P0hD3vnnQyDPgO3Psyurq3Jw/s1600/01B_8023.jpg" width="720" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5642HByOWM/Vv1GjZg_GwI/AAAAAAAAERs/aKtTiyJa6OQ4uyIjRrgy256ncDhpdMFJg/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5642HByOWM/Vv1GjZg_GwI/AAAAAAAAERs/aKtTiyJa6OQ4uyIjRrgy256ncDhpdMFJg/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" width="450" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXSeq1R349M/V8hu7qAN4RI/AAAAAAAAET0/f9GreZbH5eISMiE2zGtiKw47J6JtPjddgCLcB/s1600/01B_8046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXSeq1R349M/V8hu7qAN4RI/AAAAAAAAET0/f9GreZbH5eISMiE2zGtiKw47J6JtPjddgCLcB/s1600/01B_8046.jpg" width="450" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEnJSmogxBc/Vv1K9-9OCUI/AAAAAAAAESQ/bKelJOSGHVAg3YT27wu8UfhI1zWhZmgZw/s1600/01B_8086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEnJSmogxBc/Vv1K9-9OCUI/AAAAAAAAESQ/bKelJOSGHVAg3YT27wu8UfhI1zWhZmgZw/s1600/01B_8086.jpg" width="720" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzIqJVEyhFM/Vv1K_cSqIuI/AAAAAAAAESU/8IKN9e6Uao8BQZSwWgQwwtLxyk1LMU8xA/s1600/01B_8115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzIqJVEyhFM/Vv1K_cSqIuI/AAAAAAAAESU/8IKN9e6Uao8BQZSwWgQwwtLxyk1LMU8xA/s1600/01B_8115.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVR0AXUY-4o/Vv1LAwHmAAI/AAAAAAAAESY/wX26aroD2MwJTnshyRVVICMLzkBfoZFEw/s1600/01B_8152.jpg" imageanc160="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVR0AXUY-4o/Vv1LAwHmAAI/AAAAAAAAESY/wX26aroD2MwJTnshyRVVICMLzkBfoZFEw/s1600/01B_8152.jpg" width="720" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My third stop was San Juan del Sur, I had high expectations but my experience was disappointing. It was too touristy, expensive and too much of a party scene for me. I had dinner with a friend I met in Costa Rica then moved on to a pueblo a few hours away. I heard from locals that playa Popoyo was beautiful and if I had time, I should go. So after a little research, I hopped on the bus and found my way to this small beach town north of San Juan. This beach still remains one of my fondest memories of this trip, it was spontaneous (which I’m not usually during travel), the hostel I stayed at was super chill, the beach was peaceful and offered stunning views of the sunset, plus I had the coolest surf teacher ever.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I took 4 surf classes and on my last day graduated from a long board to a smaller board. Surfing is no easy sport, I had some bad wipe outs plus skin rashes and scrapes to prove it but I love a good challenge and being in the ocean with my teacher while we waited for a wave was both exhilarating and chill at the same time. It’s hard to describe it but surfing gives me this feeling that I don't have anywhere else. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzgm_ktGf54/V8hptRSu6rI/AAAAAAAAETU/aakkFhvF_GkQumsY-h_Gk0PZjEJlGb68wCLcB/s1600/01B_8239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="670" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzgm_ktGf54/V8hptRSu6rI/AAAAAAAAETU/aakkFhvF_GkQumsY-h_Gk0PZjEJlGb68wCLcB/s1600/01B_8239.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7Cg3SYv1Kg/V8hptTyt5eI/AAAAAAAAETk/h3PR27gMVOg9LhaV11Ziy4K-OBw5FUeaACEw/s1600/01B_8306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7Cg3SYv1Kg/V8hptTyt5eI/AAAAAAAAETk/h3PR27gMVOg9LhaV11Ziy4K-OBw5FUeaACEw/s1600/01B_8306.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_6TYKjpFLrw/V8hyDplZt-I/AAAAAAAAEUA/EN4mKhk9v-sMjDFxylljoral_-QQ0G5mwCLcB/s1600/01B_8351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_6TYKjpFLrw/V8hyDplZt-I/AAAAAAAAEUA/EN4mKhk9v-sMjDFxylljoral_-QQ0G5mwCLcB/s1600/01B_8351.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ax5KIDX5zQs/V8hptxdQilI/AAAAAAAAETc/FDOKzzpXxCYXv5LYJ6b35KlrV7LIaAIPwCLcB/s1600/01B_8421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ax5KIDX5zQs/V8hptxdQilI/AAAAAAAAETc/FDOKzzpXxCYXv5LYJ6b35KlrV7LIaAIPwCLcB/s1600/01B_8421.jpg" width="720" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I’m at work daydreaming about Nicaragua, my mind often wanders to this beach and the brief time I spent there. I don’t usually travel the same country more than once, but I would visit Nicaragua again and definitely spend more time in Popoyo surfing and just chilling on the beach.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To say this trip was life changing sounds like an exaggeration, perhaps, but it’s definitely changed how I see myself, how I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">behave, how I want to spend my money (travel more!), and it’s helped me reconsider my life goals. Again, sorry for being away for so long! </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="670" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZLCHU33XJE/V8hpIs8WmNI/AAAAAAAAETM/sDUiG4WCZSobGjPP4Mqoo-gGTmjGpzK8wCLcB/s1600/01B_8463.jpg" width="450" /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-69338347566578911392015-06-01T21:25:00.001-04:002015-06-03T07:40:14.639-04:00Coconut Dream Bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkJdazlnvmc/VW0EalUiP7I/AAAAAAAAEOM/usj7_Ap87hI/s1600/01B_6210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkJdazlnvmc/VW0EalUiP7I/AAAAAAAAEOM/usj7_Ap87hI/s1600/01B_6210.jpg" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With the warmer weather upon us, all I can think about is kicking back with an icy pina colada on a beach. I can almost feel the salty air whipping through my hair, the sand rubbing between my bare toes, and the ice cubes clinking against the glass in my cocktail...I've been playing a lot of tennis outside and there's nothing more refreshing than a cold drink after a sweaty match.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The scent of coconut brings me back to lazy summer days. These bars make great treats to bring to a picnic with your friends, to a barbeque, or why not take them to that dreamy beach with a pina colada in hand? </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IiSqmhSgmw/VW0FT7PlZ7I/AAAAAAAAEOc/qdd4yuLBwSw/s1600/01B_6250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IiSqmhSgmw/VW0FT7PlZ7I/AAAAAAAAEOc/qdd4yuLBwSw/s1600/01B_6250.jpg" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These bars smelled remarkably good, I replaced some of the all-purpose flour in the original recipe with coconut flour. When I mixed the batter, I couldn't get over how aromatic the coconut flour was. Coconut flour is also gluten-free for those looking for avoiding gluten in their diet and it's higher in fibre than all-purpose flour (for more info on coconut flour and it's benefits, visit <a href="https://nuts.com/cookingbaking/flours/coconut-gluten-free.html">Nuts.com</a>)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The bottom layer of these bars is a shortbread topped with a sticky coconut mixture. These bars are best the day they are made, the next day I found the shortbread had absorbed the moisture from the top layer and didn't retain its crisp texture anymore. Regardless, the filling is not too sweet, it's chewy and marries well with the buttery shortbread. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLT_PC5LD6E/VW0FvPO5ruI/AAAAAAAAEOk/W_d68VNzOIc/s1600/01B_6222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLT_PC5LD6E/VW0FvPO5ruI/AAAAAAAAEOk/W_d68VNzOIc/s1600/01B_6222.jpg" width="720"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2015/06/coconut-dream-bars.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-37753588386394497672015-04-06T21:26:00.000-04:002015-04-06T21:26:17.391-04:00Momofuku's Blueberry and Cream Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwmXRw9yaYI/VSAzMn9mVTI/AAAAAAAAEMI/bRff9KQkDtQ/s1600/01B_5578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwmXRw9yaYI/VSAzMn9mVTI/AAAAAAAAEMI/bRff9KQkDtQ/s1600/01B_5578.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About a month ago I went to<a href="http://momofuku.com/toronto/daisho/" target="_blank"> Momofuku's Daisho</a> on University Avenue here in Toronto. My bestie and I had made reservations weeks before, talking on the phone about what we would order and how excited we were and again. Sadly, after our meal, we decided it didn't meet our expectations and agreed the food was overpriced. On the plus side, we still had a great time together.<br><br>We didn't visit the <a href="http://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2013/07/19/momofukus_milk_bar_opening_in_toronto_today.html" target="_blank">Milk Bar</a>, though I've read plenty about it and have bookmarked recipes for the popular <a href="http://www.oprah.com/food/Compost-Cookies-Recipe" target="_blank">Compost Cookies</a> and <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/crack-pie" target="_blank">Crack Pie</a>. I did however, make these blueberry and cream cookies. Isn't that fun to say aloud? Blueberry and cream cookies. Its name practically beckons for you to try them. </span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UUWOKY5hb9M/VSA3j_0ptWI/AAAAAAAAEMs/d_SuluZbOyI/s1600/01B_5528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UUWOKY5hb9M/VSA3j_0ptWI/AAAAAAAAEMs/d_SuluZbOyI/s1600/01B_5528.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>
</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are buttery, chewy and crispy cookies dotted with dried blueberries and "milk crumbs". I just happen to have an old bag of dried blueberries kicking around in my pantry, I rarely use them because they taste are too sweet, almost medicinal if you eat them alone. But thrown into the cookie batter and left in the fridge overnight for the flavours to meld, the butter sort of tames the sweetness. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The "cream" component of the cookies are homemade milk crumbs, a combination of milk powder, butter, salt and flour. I love this concoction, it's addictive and any leftover crumbs could be sprinkled on top of ice cream. These are best fresh out of the oven, the edges are crisp and the middle has that chewy denseness that I really enjoy. I saved some for a friend who ate three in one sitting, the best nonverbal compliment any baker could receive.</span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br></span></div>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2015/04/momofukus-blueberry-and-cream-cookies.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-84131014433285769672015-03-22T17:26:00.001-04:002015-03-22T17:26:30.155-04:00Chocolate Buckwheat Granola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVjHnYzBmI0/VQ8q4Ri_qLI/AAAAAAAAELQ/S7O4lbSLd90/s1600/01B_4883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVjHnYzBmI0/VQ8q4Ri_qLI/AAAAAAAAELQ/S7O4lbSLd90/s1600/01B_4883.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>There is a story from my childhood my parents love to retell over and over again. I don't mind hearing it, I always end up laughing at my childish behaviours anyway. So I used to take gymnastic classes when I was around 4-5 years old. Back then, we didn't have a car yet and it was our first winter in Canada as new immigrants from Hong Kong. You can imagine how much of an adjustment it is to go from a humid city to a place that gets walloped with snow and polar vortex and whatever the cruel Canadian winters can throw on you. <br><br>Based on my parents' account, they carried me from home to the community centre in the cold, hiking through thick snow as more of the white stuff continued to fall. They remember it was like -15 degrees, despite being bundled up in layers of clothing, it was cold enough to feel your bones hurt. When we finally made it to the gym, I refused to take my class. I didn't have a legitmate excuse, I was just being a stubborn brat and threw a tandrum, bawling when they tried to take off my puffy coat and coaxing me to go play. I relented and continued to cry. They were <i>pissed</i>. They didn't walk all this way in the brutal cold for nothing.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_pfaphEfzo/VQ8q27iSzUI/AAAAAAAAELA/x1SowDb5lkg/s1600/01B_4890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_pfaphEfzo/VQ8q27iSzUI/AAAAAAAAELA/x1SowDb5lkg/s1600/01B_4890.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I find this story hilarious, I really was that stubborn (and still am sometimes). This year has been a harsh winter and I've been thinking about this story a lot. I was in <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2015/03/costa-rica.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica</a> for 9 days. It took me almost just as long to get over my stomach flu when I got back. But <i>rejoice!</i> I have my appetite again and have been eating my favourite foods again, including this granola. I eat it almost everyday with plain yogurt. It's crunchy, nutty and the addition of chocolate makes it even better.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>It's full of rolled oats, buckwheat, sunflower and chia seeds, shredded coconut, and chocolate and peanut butter. I do prefer another granola I've made before, likening the sweetness. Still, this granola makes for a quick breakfast or snack and also gifts if you're the giving away type of person.</span><br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2015/03/chocolate-buckwheat-granola.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-53072304291942019502015-03-01T19:49:00.000-05:002015-03-01T19:49:20.523-05:00Costa Rica<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7y4kAxbjoYw/VPI4vyuORQI/AAAAAAAAEG0/ws2aNdSR3Xk/s1600/01B_5450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7y4kAxbjoYw/VPI4vyuORQI/AAAAAAAAEG0/ws2aNdSR3Xk/s1600/01B_5450.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vWrBUldEC7M/VPI5bhF9KMI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/1PnqtY2wVCA/s1600/01B_5355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vWrBUldEC7M/VPI5bhF9KMI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/1PnqtY2wVCA/s1600/01B_5355.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YAs0ObIDb-w/VPI4wZKJtYI/AAAAAAAAEG4/CkFdXd4Aml0/s1600/01B_5079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YAs0ObIDb-w/VPI4wZKJtYI/AAAAAAAAEG4/CkFdXd4Aml0/s1600/01B_5079.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To say Costa Rica was the best trip of my life is a superlative, and it comes close. In many ways, it was a very enriching and fulfilling experience. What made it so fun and memorable were the activities, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the people I met, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sharing these moments with my best friend, and finally, what I learned. I did a lot of things that I wasn’t planning to do, like whitewater rafting (I nearly drowned), bungee jumping (just testing my luck ykno), and though surfing was on my bucket list, I didn’t expect to ride the waves and manage to make a few turns. It was spectacular.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bAgOv0P8P00/VPI5b9k17QI/AAAAAAAAEHY/ED5lJ5gB06E/s1600/01B_5318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bAgOv0P8P00/VPI5b9k17QI/AAAAAAAAEHY/ED5lJ5gB06E/s1600/01B_5318.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efsmOO6bWeU/VPI5bN-S_oI/AAAAAAAAEHM/7t4xPTveaF0/s1600/01B_5422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efsmOO6bWeU/VPI5bN-S_oI/AAAAAAAAEHM/7t4xPTveaF0/s1600/01B_5422.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjMRY5ZxxEY/VPI5g3rgbZI/AAAAAAAAEHk/5xugLe7SNmk/s1600/01B_5471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjMRY5ZxxEY/VPI5g3rgbZI/AAAAAAAAEHk/5xugLe7SNmk/s1600/01B_5471.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-len3iC7fEUk/VPI5hY78EtI/AAAAAAAAEHs/RNUq0Jx3HD4/s1600/01B_5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-len3iC7fEUk/VPI5hY78EtI/AAAAAAAAEHs/RNUq0Jx3HD4/s1600/01B_5487.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL9WnyxgsIs/VPI5g-GDqlI/AAAAAAAAEHo/MbkYwCw0st0/s1600/01B_5510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL9WnyxgsIs/VPI5g-GDqlI/AAAAAAAAEHo/MbkYwCw0st0/s1600/01B_5510.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
I’m lucky enough to have been able to travel at least once a year, but this trip was unlike my other trips because of the endless discoveries. Since I’ve been back home, I keep daydreaming of visiting Central America again, meeting fellow travelers who have an equal thirst of adventure. I yearn to share a few beers with the locals and broaden my Spanglish to more than just No hablo espanol! Pura vida! Gracias! I want to hike mountains, swim in waterfalls, eat the freshest tomatoes I’ve had in years. This trip made me realize how much I love adventure, it stretched my comfort level and I can’t wait to push more personal boundaries. </span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5__NWFcyshM/VPJDaSAY6kI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/vWAJUKMey5E/s1600/Mauricio%2Band%2BGuy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5__NWFcyshM/VPJDaSAY6kI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/vWAJUKMey5E/s1600/Mauricio%2Band%2BGuy.jpg" height="610" width="820" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NoJ_tp877Mw/VPM1mUOJ82I/AAAAAAAAEJw/6v_R-VVep8s/s1600/Diego%2Band%2BLau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NoJ_tp877Mw/VPM1mUOJ82I/AAAAAAAAEJw/6v_R-VVep8s/s1600/Diego%2Band%2BLau.jpg" height="610" width="820" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My best friend, Hayley and I make excellent travelling buddies. We’ve been to <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2014/06/california.html">Cali</a> last year and knew we would get along on this trip. Visiting Costa Rica with her definitely made the trip ten times better. We went to La Fortuna, Monteverde and then Santa Teresa for 9 days and wish we could have stayed longer.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uiNCe_W3oQ/VPMz35OhoXI/AAAAAAAAEJk/TvUIZQcL0sc/s1600/Vinnie%2Band%2BClint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uiNCe_W3oQ/VPMz35OhoXI/AAAAAAAAEJk/TvUIZQcL0sc/s1600/Vinnie%2Band%2BClint.jpg" height="610" width="820" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nw-eyAehm88/VPM26uynYaI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/MbpmVj8nE78/s1600/Kara%2Band%2BMike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nw-eyAehm88/VPM26uynYaI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/MbpmVj8nE78/s1600/Kara%2Band%2BMike.jpg" height="610" width="820" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We keep talking about returning to Santa Teresa. The beautiful sandy beach, the warm salty water, not to mention the ubiquitous tanned and hot men practically begs for another trip south. The beach has such a chill vibe, it was hard to leave. It doesn’t hurt that we also had some of the best meals ever there. I didn’t carry my camera with me when we went out to eat, but <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BurgerRancho">Burger Rancho</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HabaneroBeachfrontMexican">Habernero</a>, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g635538-d3337504-Reviews-Pizza_Tomate-Santa_Teresa_Province_of_Puntarenas.html">Pizza Tomate</a>, just to name a few, were a few of the most delicious restaurants we went to.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'd go back in a heartbeat. What a beautiful country. For more pictures, click </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/missyjane20/sets/72157650943733322/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">here.</a></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-41065350731409913652014-12-29T20:32:00.000-05:002014-12-29T20:32:29.977-05:00Apple Pound Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1FhpoXfZr8/VKH6jccyqmI/AAAAAAAAEFA/HruLs42V5Rw/s1600/01B_4472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1FhpoXfZr8/VKH6jccyqmI/AAAAAAAAEFA/HruLs42V5Rw/s1600/01B_4472.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I must have a thing for pound cakes. I've made <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2012/05/olive-oil-pound-cake.html" target="_blank">this</a> <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2014/04/mini-pistachio-pound-cakes.html" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2011/11/marble-cake.html" target="_blank">this</a> and they always come out divine. I could live off the scent of butter and sugar working it's magic in the oven, the comingling of different ingredients. I made this weeks ago but never got around to posting it, so here it is. Happy holidays and happy new year friends!</span><br>
<br>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QaOpRofGUDo/VKH7sI50XXI/AAAAAAAAEFU/AGmYtkXBFRM/s1600/01B_4496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QaOpRofGUDo/VKH7sI50XXI/AAAAAAAAEFU/AGmYtkXBFRM/s1600/01B_4496.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a><br>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJgCE91QkFs/VKH7s_aszcI/AAAAAAAAEFc/pdTRgbaCPKY/s1600/01B_4505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJgCE91QkFs/VKH7s_aszcI/AAAAAAAAEFc/pdTRgbaCPKY/s1600/01B_4505.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/12/apple-pound-cake.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-82189778558848231672014-11-22T17:01:00.000-05:002014-11-22T17:01:16.714-05:00Beer, Mustard, and Cheddar Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m8eLmDyr4UA/VGpvazfRfsI/AAAAAAAAEEI/y5qYLuL2q2I/s1600/01B_4201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m8eLmDyr4UA/VGpvazfRfsI/AAAAAAAAEEI/y5qYLuL2q2I/s1600/01B_4201.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is probably not the best way to begin a post, but I was recently hit hard with Norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that put me out for a few days. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom and my smartest move on the whole weekend leaving the garbage can at my bedside. I even took a day off work, something I haven't done in two years. In my sleepy, feverish state, I tried to recall what I could have possibly eaten that could have caused such a violent reaction, only when I shared horror stories with my coworker did I realize I must have picked up the virus from work. </span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BjIbg7LKcjM/VHD-7WWnPdI/AAAAAAAAEEg/81tc64PIu1U/s1600/01B_4209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BjIbg7LKcjM/VHD-7WWnPdI/AAAAAAAAEEg/81tc64PIu1U/s1600/01B_4209.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I recovered in bed, lamenting over my sore back, I even thought of summoning up the energy to bake something sweet. That was wishful thinking. Maybe later this week when I'm feeling 110% better. Instead, I have this beautiful bread to share. It's got a load of heat that will linger in your mouth, so be sure to have some water nearby (I love spicy food, so this bread is right up my alley). It's messy to make and the beer isn't pronounced, but it's totally worth the fluffy, cheesy goodness. Now that my appetite has returned, I could go for another slice of this toasted with a slather of butter.</span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RGwdKlc5sQ8/VHD-8ugSoxI/AAAAAAAAEEo/MEUQjeNjGWs/s1600/01B_4227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RGwdKlc5sQ8/VHD-8ugSoxI/AAAAAAAAEEo/MEUQjeNjGWs/s1600/01B_4227.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br></u></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u></u></b></span><br>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/11/beer-mustard-and-cheddar-bread.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-37747846786831761172014-11-15T18:20:00.000-05:002014-11-15T18:46:26.829-05:00Rosemary Shortbread Bars with Dark Chocolate <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udXxNlear8U/VF-NVBiRBwI/AAAAAAAAEDE/IUi7keU0rAs/s1600/01B_4005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udXxNlear8U/VF-NVBiRBwI/AAAAAAAAEDE/IUi7keU0rAs/s1600/01B_4005.jpg" height="480" width="720"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1f71yAEEio/VF-N3CXkx-I/AAAAAAAAEDM/kgvP_jthRKE/s1600/01B_4007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1f71yAEEio/VF-N3CXkx-I/AAAAAAAAEDM/kgvP_jthRKE/s1600/01B_4007.jpg" height="480" width="720"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I made these for my birthday and they turned out to be I suppose, a happy accident. I wanted to make two batches of brownies of the same recipe, one batch that used natural cocoa powder while the other used Dutch-processed cocoa powder. I’ve always used the latter but after reading Alice Medrich <a href="http://food52.com/blog/9470-dutch-process-vs-natural-cocoa-powder-when-to-use-them" target="_blank">rhapsodize</a> about natural cocoa powder I wanted to try it. Unfortunately, my mind was so focused on turning 27 and my<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2014/11/coconut-cake-with-chocolate-cloud.html" target="_blank"> quarter-life crisis</a> (does that exist?) that I forgot to add eggs into the first batch of brownies. By the time I realized my mistake, the pan was already in the oven. FML. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>
</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXfnYfTGuXU/VGfYidOsVqI/AAAAAAAAEDc/abuhJz5DLkw/s1600/01B_3994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXfnYfTGuXU/VGfYidOsVqI/AAAAAAAAEDc/abuhJz5DLkw/s1600/01B_3994.jpg" height="680" width="450"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, here is the two layer shortbread and chocolate bar. The bottom is a crumbly rosemary shortbread, it hits all the right buttery notes and the herb isn’t overwhelming and resonates throughout the cookie. The chocolate layer on top turned out like a thick chocolate wafer. It’s barely sweet and compliments the shortbread nicely; the chocolate flavour was strong too, just enough to satisfy my chocolate craving. The chocolate layer tends to separate from the shortbread after I've cut and divided the pan, but its still delicious and everyone I gave these away to as gifts raved about them.<br><br>I still have about a cup of natural cocoa powder left over, I’m saving it to use in another chocolate worthy dessert. Any suggestions? Also, this reminds me of this <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2012/01/rosemary-olive-oil-cake.html" target="_blank">Rosemary and Chocolate Olive Oil Cake</a> and the delicious combination of chocolate and herbs.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/11/rosemary-shortbread-bars-with-dark.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-22741702358158060572014-11-02T20:26:00.000-05:002014-11-04T21:03:58.107-05:00Baked Eggs in Stewed Tomatoes with Caramelized Leeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJSdVEklbC4/VFbYYeuSn3I/AAAAAAAAECs/nyDSavqCZJQ/s1600/01B_4150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJSdVEklbC4/VFbYYeuSn3I/AAAAAAAAECs/nyDSavqCZJQ/s1600/01B_4150.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I feel like a kid in a Disney store when I visit a gourmet food store. I browse up and down each aisle, touching everything that intrigues me, smelling the fresh fruits and vegetables, ogling over coconut ice cream donned in pretty packaging, imaging how it would feel running my dessert spoon over the smooth, white cream. I don't necessary buy much, but in the odd time that I do, I go home with a box of fancy tea or a chocolate bar that I haven't tried yet. </span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--VhPgdbiRrQ/VFbUIiXBnoI/AAAAAAAAECA/n5AhYnnIX_E/s1600/01B_4017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--VhPgdbiRrQ/VFbUIiXBnoI/AAAAAAAAECA/n5AhYnnIX_E/s1600/01B_4017.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>A few weeks ago, I got a chance to check out Chef Mark McEwan's grocery store, <a href="http://mcewan.mcewangroup.ca/" target="_blank">McEwan</a> at Shops on Don Mills. It was <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ubm42uCmWV/?modal=true" target="_blank">fantastic</a> and I spent more than an hour there, I even texted my friend and food-lover, Lisa, in all-caps, "OMGTHIS PLACEISAMAZING!" I kept thinking of scenes from Top Chef Canada, when contestants would scramble around the store looking for ingredients, and I must admit, it was pretty cool to stand in the same spot as those talented chefs. There was a dizzying array of glistening meats, fish and fresh produce along the perimeter of the store, a selection of fine cheeses and charcuterie and ready-made sandwiches and hot meals to purchase for a quick meal. The towering display of chocolate and fruity tarts keep beckoning my name too. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1hoiDY6Ayg/VFbUQJ58NjI/AAAAAAAAECI/YOPkZl0psvY/s1600/01B_4049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1hoiDY6Ayg/VFbUQJ58NjI/AAAAAAAAECI/YOPkZl0psvY/s1600/01B_4049.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtjTWKlYbug/VFbURW8WlBI/AAAAAAAAECQ/CkTAX60HF88/s1600/01B_4060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtjTWKlYbug/VFbURW8WlBI/AAAAAAAAECQ/CkTAX60HF88/s1600/01B_4060.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Along the back wall of the store was a variety of McEwan's Own food products made in-store including pizza sauce, pizzas, pies, and soups. I went home with jars of stewed tomatoes seasoned with olive oil, sea salt and bay leaves. My assignment was to feature McEwan's Own food products in a seasonal dish. I decided on these baked eggs, having made something similar years ago and really enjoying them (save for the part when I burnt my tongue). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4uz7_JVdM14/VFbUpOBX_lI/AAAAAAAAECY/5u_6_EnNydE/s1600/01B_4074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4uz7_JVdM14/VFbUpOBX_lI/AAAAAAAAECY/5u_6_EnNydE/s1600/01B_4074.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This dish is easy peasy and can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. You start by slowly cooking the leeks in butter, allowing it to soften until it smells like onion heaven. Butter your ramekins, pour in dollops of the stewed tomatoes, leaving some room to add more ingredients, throw in the leeks, crack an egg into the tomatoes. It takes about 15 minutes to bake the eggs and meanwhile, you can make the garlic Parmesan toasts, which is basically rubbing some raw garlic on thick, crusty bread, sprinkling fresh Parmesan cheese over it and then broiling it until the cheese melts and begins to bubble. <br><br>I love having bread that serves as both food and a vehicle to pick up thick chunky sauces or soups. The bread is buttery and salty, contrasting nicely with the sweet tomatoes. It's warm and comforting too, which is exactly what I need now that winter is just around the corner.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://mcewan.mcewangroup.ca/" target="_blank">McEwan</a> is located at 38 Karl Fraser Road Toronto, M3C 0H7. T: 416-444-6262. </span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMcEwanGroup" target="_blank">The McEwan Group</a> for the fun grocery experience! </span></i></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<div>
</div></div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/11/baked-eggs-in-stewed-tomatoes-with.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-3893700070295925522014-10-26T15:59:00.000-04:002014-11-03T21:54:04.333-05:00Coconut Cake with Chocolate Cloud Frosting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNZk8CLkabY/VEQ99UTbiQI/AAAAAAAAEBM/By08a4599FM/s1600/01B_3874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNZk8CLkabY/VEQ99UTbiQI/AAAAAAAAEBM/By08a4599FM/s1600/01B_3874.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What happens if you're not ready to turn 27? When you feel like your life isn't where you imagined it to be in your youth? I didn't have concrete 5 or 10 year goals, but in my head, I had hoped to make decent progress in life. But then again, what defines someone as successful? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's subjective. One person's success might not mean the same thing to someone else. But I can't help but compare myself to my peers. Some friends I've grown up with are now married, popping out babies, or devoted mothers, and/or own a home. I don't have any of those things. I don't even have a dog (something I hope to change next year--hey look, an attainable goal!). I know that those things don't define you and everyone's timeline is different, but how does that reflect about you?</span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjLejVkVwNE/VEQ-b5WkAqI/AAAAAAAAEBU/PbPwF5lqbqc/s1600/01B_3877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjLejVkVwNE/VEQ-b5WkAqI/AAAAAAAAEBU/PbPwF5lqbqc/s1600/01B_3877.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel like I haven't traveled enough, I want to eat and drink my way through Italy, stuff my face with platters of fresh pasta made by nonnas with wrinkled hands and sip homemade limonello followed by pistachio gelato. I want to visit New Orleans and blues dance with a hot stranger on the street with a saxophonist crooning in the background. I haven't read enough books! I want to lie on the beach in Santorini and read food memoirs. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to own my own house and paint the bathroom a brilliant shade of pale turquoise to remind me of the Caribbean ocean, hang up a ton of photos I've taken of my friends and family to show off to my friends and family. I want a bright and open kitchen with grayish white marble countertops and host dinner parties like I used to during my Montreal days. I want to have a golden retriever and call him Brinkley (named after Tom Hank's dog in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPA8v06EsIY" target="_blank">You've Got Mail</a>) and throw frisbees for him to catch and bring back to me. That's only a tiny glimpse of the many things I want to do. I feel like I'm running out of time. Is it just me? Is this what a quarter-life crisis feels like?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbLgZDJL1u4/VEQ_CIQ7_MI/AAAAAAAAEBo/AcBMeZ3vBj8/s1600/01B_3882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbLgZDJL1u4/VEQ_CIQ7_MI/AAAAAAAAEBo/AcBMeZ3vBj8/s1600/01B_3882.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, I made this layer cake for one of my best friend's birthday. I made the cake layers and froze it for a week since I knew there wouldn't be time to make it before her party. I whipped up the frosting which was definitely <i>THE</i> most decadent, buttery, and creamy frosting I've ever made. Other frostings I've made lean towards the sugary side or have sandier texture and who don't the words "<i>Cloud Frosting"</i> just beckon your name? The frosting has a high butter to sugar ratio which makes it uber smooth. I'd prefer a stronger chocolate flavour, but that didn't stop the compliments from flowing at the party. </span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he cake is absolutely <i>amaZING</i>. It's moist and the flavour marries well with the frosting, there's just enough shredded coconut to give it some nibbly texture too. I put plenty of kosher salt in the frosting too because I can't resist that sweet and salty combination. There were no leftovers which made us sad, but I suppose it goes to show just how delicious it was. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/11/coconut-cake-with-chocolate-cloud.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-9854645280039651512014-09-06T11:02:00.000-04:002014-09-06T11:02:11.570-04:00Raspberry Crumble Tart with Speculoos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hCqQHLxrlY/VAUDs8XM82I/AAAAAAAAD-A/QjVqxWX3v2g/s1600/01B_3009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hCqQHLxrlY/VAUDs8XM82I/AAAAAAAAD-A/QjVqxWX3v2g/s1600/01B_3009.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday it was 41⁰C. <i>41!!</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It was sweltering hot and I loved it but then it made me absolutely </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dread </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">winter. Sorry I couldn't help it, I had to bring up that horrid word. I'm not excited at all for my thick puffy coat, or having to scrape ice off my car, or those awful bitterly cold gusts of wind numbing my face. I'm only mildly excited to make butternut squash soup and wear cozy sweaters and leather boots. Please please please weather-people, make winter short and bearable this year. </span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZXPP7vV0vc/VAscEvU6lsI/AAAAAAAAD_I/WgBMidZKf-Q/s1600/01B_2889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZXPP7vV0vc/VAscEvU6lsI/AAAAAAAAD_I/WgBMidZKf-Q/s1600/01B_2889.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C_mWk3-4100/VAsbZyq7VwI/AAAAAAAAD-g/fcQ_xDr8Azc/s1600/01B_2904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C_mWk3-4100/VAsbZyq7VwI/AAAAAAAAD-g/fcQ_xDr8Azc/s1600/01B_2904.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwXWwnXLGP8/VAsb34fui6I/AAAAAAAAD-w/y_Ch1VcV9Ss/s1600/01B_2941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwXWwnXLGP8/VAsb34fui6I/AAAAAAAAD-w/y_Ch1VcV9Ss/s1600/01B_2941.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>In an ode to summer, I made this tart. The recipe caught my eye right away, it seemed easy enough, no pastry dough required, the tart layer is the same as the crumble topping. I wanted to bake using summer fruits before they all disappear. I also tweaked the recipe just slightly to make it my own: I browned the butter before mixing it into the cookie base and spread a layer of Speculoos to compliment the tart base before adding the raspberries on top (I bet Nutella would be a delicious substitute/addition too). </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The tart comes together easily, the hardest part for me was evenly pressing the cookie base to the tart pan and ensuring the sides also had a good layer of dough. This takes a certain level of patience that I don't normally have, but I kept telling myself I wanted to make it look good, so I kept pressing on (pun intended).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uXok9Skp_co/VAsbNKsbFFI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/swW4ytxJadA/s1600/01B_2968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uXok9Skp_co/VAsbNKsbFFI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/swW4ytxJadA/s1600/01B_2968.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>The tart is a beautiful tart to look at and to eat. The browned butter really sings in the tart base, giving the whole thing a lovely caramelized flavour. The tart also has sandy texture from a mixture of brown and white sugars, reminiscent of a raw shortbread cookie. After I finished wolfing down my first slice of tart, I carefully cut pieces from the remaining tart sides to nibble on it...and then I kept picking at the crumble topping for a solid 5 minutes before I shamefully decided to stop. The cookie base was the perfect vehicle for the sweet raspberries. I'd reuse the tart base for another recipe, like a chocolate ganache or a lemon curd filling.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, as the recipe warned that this is best eaten within the first couple of hours after it's done. The tart bottom soaks up the raspberry juices, making it soggy. I ate it the next day, it wasn't so bad and tastes even better with some thick Greek yogurt. Mmm...summer!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFCBzKneDP8/VAsb32GwkfI/AAAAAAAAD-o/zoFl1FFHaPw/s1600/01B_2985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFCBzKneDP8/VAsb32GwkfI/AAAAAAAAD-o/zoFl1FFHaPw/s1600/01B_2985.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F2WeKt8U2Qg/VAsb303ok0I/AAAAAAAAD-s/1WivCDgDEOI/s1600/01B_3013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F2WeKt8U2Qg/VAsb303ok0I/AAAAAAAAD-s/1WivCDgDEOI/s1600/01B_3013.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w0wZFxWWm7U/VAscmlZu2XI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/7qRVwPyiRQM/s1600/01B_2981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w0wZFxWWm7U/VAscmlZu2XI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/7qRVwPyiRQM/s1600/01B_2981.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
</div></div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/09/raspberry-crumble-tart-with-speculoos.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-10124019890443050282014-09-01T20:40:00.000-04:002014-10-17T18:18:22.956-04:00White Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats with Peanuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RaYBVQDNdY/VCn-kRvCWmI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/aPH-553JKdQ/s1600/01B_3773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RaYBVQDNdY/VCn-kRvCWmI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/aPH-553JKdQ/s1600/01B_3773.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I drafted another post a while ago but couldn't bring myself to hit publish. I broke up with my boyfriend in a while ago and the things I had written were still too raw and I wasn't ready to share them. I'm constantly trying to busy myself, the evenings are filled with tennis dates or hours at the gym, weekends are spent with mom and friends, and recently, I ate and drank my way through Montreal, coming home with Fairmount bagels stuffed into my luggage, permeating my clothes with their sweet yeasty fragrance.<br><br>Finally, more than a month later, I've found peace and forgiveness. I was staring at old pictures I took of Jacques and felt strong enough to contemplate his kind brown eyes, his crow's feet, that smile that always made me feel safe, his deep chuckle that I could never get sick of. Some days I miss him terribly.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JguL4MYrv8/VCoAEiBfYwI/AAAAAAAAEAc/T_gqoXUBjjE/s1600/01B_3725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JguL4MYrv8/VCoAEiBfYwI/AAAAAAAAEAc/T_gqoXUBjjE/s1600/01B_3725.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We weren't engaged but had plans to get married in a few years, we were <i>that</i> couple. We had started a list of potential wedding songs, bookmarked pictures of our dream home, daydreamed taking time off work and travelling together. It's difficult to go from that level of intimacy to constant fighting, crying, more fighting, and finally, breaking up. There were a few fleeting moments were I felt certain that what we were going through was just a rough patch, something all couples go through, but our unresolved differences were too significant to ignore. I've never been good at talking about my feelings and I recognize my fault for not asking what I wanted and needed from our relationship sooner. At least I'm learning from my mistakes and trying to be a better partner in my future relationships. I guess that's important right?</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bpYT_zBrGE/VCtiw2ZvPgI/AAAAAAAAEAs/uTVYcH0jE9E/s1600/01B_3754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bpYT_zBrGE/VCtiw2ZvPgI/AAAAAAAAEAs/uTVYcH0jE9E/s1600/01B_3754.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzSuFa9u3R0/VCti0bgez5I/AAAAAAAAEA4/hdgGmdE_DpI/s1600/01B_3765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzSuFa9u3R0/VCti0bgez5I/AAAAAAAAEA4/hdgGmdE_DpI/s1600/01B_3765.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Heartbreak aside, let's talk about rice krispies. I've had a jumbo box of the snap, crackle and pop sitting on my kitchen counter for at least half a year (surprisingly not stale yet!) and was browsing through <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/" target="_blank">David Lebovitz's</a> site when I came upon this recipe. It's super easy and can quickly satisfy any sugar craving. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The white chocolate adds sweetness and sophistication to the treats, the peanuts add a nutty crunch and the salt counters the sugar just right. I ate two large squares in quick succession while watching Blue Bloods with mom and sneaked a few bites for breakfast the next morning. I brought these to work and they were gone by the end of the day. They are a sure crowd-pleaser.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/10/white-chocolate-rice-krispie-treats.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-48714280869258663582014-08-28T22:04:00.000-04:002014-08-28T22:04:01.890-04:00Strawberry Pop Tarts with Fresita Icing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-28fm7HSidGY/U-62QtWVyAI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/TmyZhDQgFkw/s1600/01B_2707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-28fm7HSidGY/U-62QtWVyAI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/TmyZhDQgFkw/s1600/01B_2707.jpg" height="483" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I grew up mostly in Shanghai, where imported food from the States back then was considered in my mind, a treasured thing. My family rarely shopped at the Supercity Market where a majority of their products were imported, they preferred to go to the local supermarket to buy food instead. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I brought lunch to school, I cringed at my leftovers from the night before (rice, rice, meat, rice, veg, rice, rice—what a bore and yet I still eat the same lunches these days). I envied my classmates that ate pastrami sandwiches and sipped on juice boxes covered with colourful animal cartoons. The best part of lunch time though was near the end, when they shared their treats. Sometimes it was pop tarts, or Rice Krispie treats, or Fruit-by-the-Foot, or my personal favourite, Fruit Gushers. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>
It was important to sit within arms length to these friends so I could get the first piece. They were always so generous, passing out their treat as if their house was made of candy. As we stuck out our tongues to compare whose mouth had undergone the most serious colour transformation caused by the Fruit-by-the-Foot, I always wondered in awe who in their right mind would give away these sweets? I’d keep it all to myself. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5wbJUJeSIs/U-62RFbLupI/AAAAAAAAD6g/31Zr-RmdKss/s1600/01B_2755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5wbJUJeSIs/U-62RFbLupI/AAAAAAAAD6g/31Zr-RmdKss/s1600/01B_2755.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometime in middle school, I happened to get my hands on my first box of pop tarts. I had studied the bright blue box from side to side and top to bottom, reading the ingredients, admiring the logo, I was so amused at the packaging as if it were a shiny new toy. I tore open the top flap and grabbed a pop tart, wrapped in its thin silver package, ripped the silvery wrapper to reveal the most beautiful pop tart. I licked the chocolate glaze, savored that strange powdery chocolate flavour and inside the pastry was a pudding-like chocolate filling. It was freaking awesome. </span><br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTEgHKhWZN8/U-62Qy44vxI/AAAAAAAAD6c/7gTRHEJTZ1A/s1600/01B_2799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTEgHKhWZN8/U-62Qy44vxI/AAAAAAAAD6c/7gTRHEJTZ1A/s1600/01B_2799.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I haven't had pop tarts again since after moving back to Canada for school, the baker in me scoffs at buying precooked pastries when I can make them at home. <em>See?</em> I can make little tarts too! They're not quite picture-perfect, since I prefer the ‘rustic’ look and didn’t spend the time to meticulously measure out the pastry dough to ensure each rectangle was the exact size, but don't judge a <strike>book</strike> pop tart by its cover, they are heavenly. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The combination of sticky jam with shortbread-like pastry is addictive, they are especially good warm from the oven. Also, the pastry really does shine here. It’s buttery, flaky, and surprising easy to make (which is a big deal compared to my many horrid experiences making pastry dough from scratch). </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AE5_XJbtEYs/U_6CFHgjOuI/AAAAAAAAD8E/-z7DzCPJkas/s1600/01B_2851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AE5_XJbtEYs/U_6CFHgjOuI/AAAAAAAAD8E/-z7DzCPJkas/s1600/01B_2851.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I used <a href="http://www.fresita.com/" target="_blank">Fresita</a> wine in the icing on these pop tarts too. The wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Moscatel and is mixed with fresh strawberries. The sparkling wine is a little dry but has a strong fruit flavour to give just enough sweetness. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fresita is refreshing on its own and tastes amazing chilled, I sipped on few glasses while sunbathing on the patio. The wine also goes well with desserts and is delicious with these strawberry pop tarts. I love that I can hold my Fresita in one hand and a pop tart in the other, no plate required. I would imagine the Fresita would be a good base for making sangria, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can find Fresita at the LCBO. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/08/strawberry-pop-tarts-with-fresita-icing.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-69791674781611734002014-07-31T20:36:00.000-04:002014-08-03T17:49:07.250-04:00Toronto Festival of Beer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2SVZV9h8sc/U9rdaqEft5I/AAAAAAAAD30/olW1P20f_Yg/s1600/beer+doub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2SVZV9h8sc/U9rdaqEft5I/AAAAAAAAD30/olW1P20f_Yg/s1600/beer+doub.jpg" height="570" width="760" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you, like me, was once a painfully shy girl who cringed at the thought of making new friends in a crowd of thousands of people, you will have no trouble finding plenty of new buddies at the <a href="http://beerfestival.ca/" target="_blank">Toronto Festival of Beer</a>. I had a blast on Saturday with my friend Lisa (creator behind<a href="http://confessionsofadietitian.com/" target="_blank"> Confessions of a Dietitian</a>) meandering through dozens of tents in search of the best tasting beers, talking to beer reps, not to mention finding some food to soak up all the booze. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LtMBbv-41tU/U9VW08YnKeI/AAAAAAAAD1c/nR1Gqe_uiI0/s1600/01B_2308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LtMBbv-41tU/U9VW08YnKeI/AAAAAAAAD1c/nR1Gqe_uiI0/s1600/01B_2308.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was early afternoon when we made it to the festival grounds and had to make sure it wasn’t Frosh week. There was dance music blaring, adults wearing custom-made hats designed from <a href="http://www.steamwhistle.ca/" target="_blank">Steam Whistle</a> beer cartons in various shapes like a pirate’s ship, a palm tree, and antlers. There were men with sparkly mardis gras beads around their necks and beer stickers all over their shirts and the ones who didn’t have stickers all over their shirts, donned clothing that had paid some sort of tribute to beer. It was wild and we loved it. Tickets to the festival were sold out on Saturday, so you can imagine how busy it was.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhecoHQqGw4/U9VdP-fhaDI/AAAAAAAAD1s/fsBhND5uElQ/s1600/beer+shirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhecoHQqGw4/U9VdP-fhaDI/AAAAAAAAD1s/fsBhND5uElQ/s1600/beer+shirts.jpg" height="590" width="730" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After walking around, we found our way to <a href="http://www.rocklobsterfood.com/" target="_blank">Rock Lobster’s</a> booth also known as the “Lobster Shack” and right next to them was a team representing one my of my favourite beers, <a href="https://twitter.com/SamuelAdamsCA" target="_blank">Sam Adams</a>. I’m no stranger to either; I've been to Rock Lobster a few times and could sit all day stuffing my face with fresh seafood. Sam Adams Boston Lager was one of the first beers I fell in love with since I began to appreciate the golden liquor, we go <i>way</i> back.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHBq2Pfk9XM/U9VUW0qDdII/AAAAAAAAD1Q/Fbp-HPpmwWk/s1600/01B_2309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHBq2Pfk9XM/U9VUW0qDdII/AAAAAAAAD1Q/Fbp-HPpmwWk/s1600/01B_2309.jpg" height="500" width="750" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />We ordered the Sam Adams <a href="https://www.samueladams.com/craft-beers/summer-ale" target="_blank">Summer Ale</a> and <a href="https://www.samueladams.com/craft-beers/latitude-48-ipa" target="_blank">Latitude 48 IPA</a> to try. I’ve had the summer ale before and love how easy it goes down, its crisp citrus flavor complements the lobster roll we ordered. The lobster meat was tender yet juicy, we couldn’t help making a mess on the table. The Latitude 48 IPA had a beautiful amber color and a hint of sweetness with a strong bitter finish, it contrasted the sweet lobster tacos nicely. I could have had 10 more tacos but I wanted to leave room to sample more beer. It’s a tough life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgBQ7HfORJw/U9z6rTfXDVI/AAAAAAAAD4g/MWCCKySi7fM/s1600/DSC_5079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgBQ7HfORJw/U9z6rTfXDVI/AAAAAAAAD4g/MWCCKySi7fM/s1600/DSC_5079.jpg" height="480" width="730" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tme2tM8jj-Q/U9z6BzX2DkI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/fXlimY08qJo/s1600/DSC_5094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tme2tM8jj-Q/U9z6BzX2DkI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/fXlimY08qJo/s1600/DSC_5094.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgA-kcC8kWs/U9z4q5DHNOI/AAAAAAAAD4E/_udec-sl9rI/s1600/DSC_5060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgA-kcC8kWs/U9z4q5DHNOI/AAAAAAAAD4E/_udec-sl9rI/s1600/DSC_5060.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4sLVQ0-ttc/U9z4rDXhvRI/AAAAAAAAD4I/dxwaZLzcWg4/s1600/DSC_5082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4sLVQ0-ttc/U9z4rDXhvRI/AAAAAAAAD4I/dxwaZLzcWg4/s1600/DSC_5082.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1KYl_Lwo34/U9V-KN4-nyI/AAAAAAAAD20/PyvXK8zAQCE/s1600/beer+reps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1KYl_Lwo34/U9V-KN4-nyI/AAAAAAAAD20/PyvXK8zAQCE/s1600/beer+reps.jpg" height="580" width="760" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />We spent a good 4 hours at the festival, eating <a href="http://www.porchettaco.com/" target="_blank">Porchetta and Co</a> sandwiches stuffed with cracklings and homemade mustard plus roasted potatoes doused in lemon crème fraiche (<i>amazing!!</i>). We watched a food demo by <a href="http://www.tedreader.com/" target="_blank">Ted Reader</a> who grilled a mean, thick steak that was age dried for 42 days. We also tried so many beers I lost count. Some memorable ones included the Raspberry Ale from <a href="http://gib.ca/" target="_blank">Granville Island</a> (another of my favourite breweries), the <a href="http://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/fruli">Fruli</a> (on tap!!), and <a href="http://www.melvillescraftlager.com/real-beer/ginger-beer/" target="_blank">Melville’s</a> ginger beer.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6teA-ZmJhuU/U9V7f3PkMgI/AAAAAAAAD2M/C7uTFYzJNHE/s1600/01B_2383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6teA-ZmJhuU/U9V7f3PkMgI/AAAAAAAAD2M/C7uTFYzJNHE/s1600/01B_2383.jpg" height="480" width="750" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51OUUN1X71g/U9V8U1y02qI/AAAAAAAAD2U/sAdZhwvoCQI/s1600/porchetta+and+co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51OUUN1X71g/U9V8U1y02qI/AAAAAAAAD2U/sAdZhwvoCQI/s1600/porchetta+and+co.jpg" height="590" width="760" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nj4j6xtbqBM/U9rcKN7_pYI/AAAAAAAAD3o/Q7VRuC_XgwA/s1600/beer+profs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nj4j6xtbqBM/U9rcKN7_pYI/AAAAAAAAD3o/Q7VRuC_XgwA/s1600/beer+profs.jpg" height="570" width="760" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The best part of the festival aside from drinking was meeting fellow beer enthusiasts. I’m sure the constant consumption of liquid courage had something to do with it, but everyone was very friendly. We even met </span><a href="https://twitter.com/RockLobsterFood" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Matt Pettit</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of Rock Lobster! There was a group of guys dressed in their own cultural attire, including one dude who's been going to the festival for 10 years. One guy came all the way from Burlington too. There were a ton of beers to try, sadly, I didn’t get a chance to sample the watermelon cider I spotted. Guess I’ll have to go back again next year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Big thanks to Toronto's Festival of Beer for the kind invite to attend and cover the event!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8IrJTD-uP6Q/U9V9YVoTzMI/AAAAAAAAD2c/iBX1ORVF8tA/s1600/01B_2323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8IrJTD-uP6Q/U9V9YVoTzMI/AAAAAAAAD2c/iBX1ORVF8tA/s1600/01B_2323.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gex-kvr5Xis/U9V9vfdraqI/AAAAAAAAD2k/yzFLbBfHvjw/s1600/01B_2336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gex-kvr5Xis/U9V9vfdraqI/AAAAAAAAD2k/yzFLbBfHvjw/s1600/01B_2336.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdZquynEuWI/U9rafBuIFRI/AAAAAAAAD3c/W-LJpkfm06U/s1600/01B_2343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdZquynEuWI/U9rafBuIFRI/AAAAAAAAD3c/W-LJpkfm06U/s1600/01B_2343.jpg" height="490" width="730" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-89074138122417721152014-06-09T22:19:00.003-04:002014-06-09T22:19:50.753-04:00California<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKcaT0ZY0oo/U5OPHlBkdCI/AAAAAAAADvc/VHR1vzcNUJ0/s1600/IMG_0437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKcaT0ZY0oo/U5OPHlBkdCI/AAAAAAAADvc/VHR1vzcNUJ0/s1600/IMG_0437.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNVCeGLBg1E/U5PHcoaj4nI/AAAAAAAADzM/ptoGwLUHTUE/s1600/IMG_0440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNVCeGLBg1E/U5PHcoaj4nI/AAAAAAAADzM/ptoGwLUHTUE/s1600/IMG_0440.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCFSkyqxcEs/U5OPNWmwP1I/AAAAAAAADvo/YOK4SVQWd4I/s1600/IMG_0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCFSkyqxcEs/U5OPNWmwP1I/AAAAAAAADvo/YOK4SVQWd4I/s1600/IMG_0560.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FpMABkVxyAw/U5OP3MGQ-5I/AAAAAAAADvw/PKv-xbsKjNM/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FpMABkVxyAw/U5OP3MGQ-5I/AAAAAAAADvw/PKv-xbsKjNM/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>California.</i> How to describe one of the best trips in my life? When my friends ask me how my vacation was, I frequently respond, "Amazing! Awesome!", when really, I want to scream, "OMFG it was beauuuutiful! I want to move there." There were so many unforgetable moments shared with my travel companion (who is also my bestie), we were sad to leave. We were there for 11 days, hung out in San Francisco for a few days, Napa for a night, down to LA for for three days before driving back to San Francisco for our last night. Here are some of my favourite things of the trip:</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkps49ckPmM/U5OPHmHZidI/AAAAAAAADvY/U2jcRgYq0fI/s1600/IMG_0535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkps49ckPmM/U5OPHmHZidI/AAAAAAAADvY/U2jcRgYq0fI/s1600/IMG_0535.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Driving down Highway 1 in a Mustang convertible.</i> I had seen pictures of Big Sur and the Pacific coast, but I had never expected it to be even more beautiful in 'real life'. The mountains, the azure sky, the clouds hovering over the mountains, the blue ocean and the waves crashing onto the rugged shore, it was like a painting come to life. These photos don't do it justice. Hayley and I were giddy with excitement once we passed Carmel and finally saw the glistening water. While we were doing research for our trip, we knew we wanted a convertible, because what better way to drive through California than showing off in a car with the wind blowing through (making a mess) in our hair? (By the way, we stopped by <a href="http://www.glenoaksbigsur.com/roadhouse.html" target="_blank">Big Sur Redhouse</a> for lunch, I had <i>amazzzing</i> kale salad)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcvKAMaRAHA/U5OQIgKYRMI/AAAAAAAADv4/M7grCH7weGQ/s1600/IMG_0542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcvKAMaRAHA/U5OQIgKYRMI/AAAAAAAADv4/M7grCH7weGQ/s1600/IMG_0542.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRaEN3g94K4/U5OQeLv-99I/AAAAAAAADwA/P4rjUsegsmE/s1600/IMG_0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRaEN3g94K4/U5OQeLv-99I/AAAAAAAADwA/P4rjUsegsmE/s1600/IMG_0632.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODxwsYxPJgM/U5OQpjFLB9I/AAAAAAAADwI/nCUMkSWh7rY/s1600/IMG_0514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODxwsYxPJgM/U5OQpjFLB9I/AAAAAAAADwI/nCUMkSWh7rY/s1600/IMG_0514.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Exploring San Francisco.</i> I've been to California before when I was younger with my parents and though there's nothing bad about travelling with my family, it's nice to have more flexibility when traveling with a friend. We woke up whenever we wanted, ate whatever we wanted. With my parents, my dad usually decides on our schedule. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hayley and I rolled out of bed when our circadian rhythm said so, and walked everywhere: Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, <a href="https://flic.kr/p/nAh51Y" target="_blank">Lombard Street</a>, the Mission, <a href="http://www.ghirardellisq.com/" target="_blank">Ghirardelli Square</a>, Golden Gate Park, the Marina, Ferry Building, <a href="http://www.presidio.gov/explore/Pages/crissy-field.aspx" target="_blank">Crissy Field</a>. On our first Friday night, we had dinner at <a href="http://www.thehse.com/" target="_blank">The House</a>, picked up cheap wine at a convenience store, went dancing in SoMa, and drank some more at <a href="http://terroirsf.com/" target="_blank">Terrior.</a> The following night we went to a drag show at <a href="http://www.auntcharlieslounge.com/" target="_blank">Aunt Charlie's</a>, both nights were equally memorable for years to come. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx-_itJtqxk/U5ORKR9vvYI/AAAAAAAADwQ/DXhLMdlZlgY/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx-_itJtqxk/U5ORKR9vvYI/AAAAAAAADwQ/DXhLMdlZlgY/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R8Kw3u5LhT0/U5ORNXFUDRI/AAAAAAAADwc/Yi9Dv3vYAQE/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R8Kw3u5LhT0/U5ORNXFUDRI/AAAAAAAADwc/Yi9Dv3vYAQE/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_moZpd2jQWQ/U5ORNK3aeKI/AAAAAAAADwY/FMVLW0mXAsY/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_moZpd2jQWQ/U5ORNK3aeKI/AAAAAAAADwY/FMVLW0mXAsY/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JhH8T9aR5BU/U5ORP0pHvEI/AAAAAAAADwo/TeVK4HPlXIw/s1600/IMG_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JhH8T9aR5BU/U5ORP0pHvEI/AAAAAAAADwo/TeVK4HPlXIw/s1600/IMG_0181.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6BTw7bT7As/U5ORYWJsYgI/AAAAAAAADw4/rXHHnOABZq4/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6BTw7bT7As/U5ORYWJsYgI/AAAAAAAADw4/rXHHnOABZq4/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gOpLZeNY2Y/U5ORVR2FcFI/AAAAAAAADww/7sC9tbPnx7w/s1600/IMG_0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gOpLZeNY2Y/U5ORVR2FcFI/AAAAAAAADww/7sC9tbPnx7w/s1600/IMG_0324.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cxBvlS44DdA/U5ORYloi9BI/AAAAAAAADw8/TNG1fPONIpQ/s1600/IMG_0328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cxBvlS44DdA/U5ORYloi9BI/AAAAAAAADw8/TNG1fPONIpQ/s1600/IMG_0328.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QZOCaIJW6Ck/U5ORavQYK2I/AAAAAAAADxI/Ut3Xn9nxHCI/s1600/IMG_0330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QZOCaIJW6Ck/U5ORavQYK2I/AAAAAAAADxI/Ut3Xn9nxHCI/s1600/IMG_0330.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9f4JwUxHrog/U5ORcQKg8CI/AAAAAAAADxQ/3U2h13o-VFI/s1600/IMG_0366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9f4JwUxHrog/U5ORcQKg8CI/AAAAAAAADxQ/3U2h13o-VFI/s1600/IMG_0366.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The beaches.</i> We went to three beaches in LA: Venice beach is a nice to chill and people-watch, Santa Monica is in a beautiful area, we walked along the pier and did some shopping. Huntington was our favourite though. We stayed with a friend and after a long night of partying, we were tired and quite frankly, hungover. Sunbathing at the beach makes for a good cure. I felt refreshed after a brief nap and jumped into the cold ocean for a swim. We were blessed with good weather, it was chilly in the morning and at night, but it was otherwise, gorgeous everyday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNiRubLURqA/U5OTpyvb2-I/AAAAAAAADyc/cgpXLNTSoGQ/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNiRubLURqA/U5OTpyvb2-I/AAAAAAAADyc/cgpXLNTSoGQ/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9qVLJFlep9o/U5OTsZrNFxI/AAAAAAAADyk/aAl21HMOmeA/s1600/IMG_0662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9qVLJFlep9o/U5OTsZrNFxI/AAAAAAAADyk/aAl21HMOmeA/s1600/IMG_0662.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YdSFSMr5D8/U5OTv82P-aI/AAAAAAAADys/zNdAHkp0pN4/s1600/IMG_0676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YdSFSMr5D8/U5OTv82P-aI/AAAAAAAADys/zNdAHkp0pN4/s1600/IMG_0676.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VZyMr52bPo/U5OTzRL1DxI/AAAAAAAADy0/h-XHgBwBW5I/s1600/IMG_0703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VZyMr52bPo/U5OTzRL1DxI/AAAAAAAADy0/h-XHgBwBW5I/s1600/IMG_0703.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E9334E0MGw/U5OTzsgl0FI/AAAAAAAADy4/mCl2tS5YWu4/s1600/IMG_0716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E9334E0MGw/U5OTzsgl0FI/AAAAAAAADy4/mCl2tS5YWu4/s1600/IMG_0716.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8v9pjiOW1ps/U5OTkS3X-II/AAAAAAAADyM/UdQaV5g1zn0/s1600/IMG_0129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8v9pjiOW1ps/U5OTkS3X-II/AAAAAAAADyM/UdQaV5g1zn0/s1600/IMG_0129.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axlFzrBeQpg/U5OToqFtIzI/AAAAAAAADyU/FdMUXgIfojc/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axlFzrBeQpg/U5OToqFtIzI/AAAAAAAADyU/FdMUXgIfojc/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Save for a few meals, we ate very well too. We treated ourselves to a fancy schmancy meal at <a href="http://www.angelerestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Angele</a> in Napa. We also had a lovely brunch at <a href="http://www.sweetmaplesf.com/Sweet_Maple/Sweet_Maple_the_Best_Breakfast_and_Lunch_San_Francisco_California_Bay_Area.html" target="_blank">Sweet Maple</a> in SF and shared the the popular<a href="http://bkarmstrong.blogspot.ca/2013/01/millionaires-bacon.html" target="_blank"> Millionare's Bacon</a>. We had decent fish tacos at <a href="http://www.calletacos.com/" target="_blank">Calle Taco</a> in Hollywood and some of the most <a href="http://www.octopusrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">delicious</a> sushi at Long Beach. I brought back dark chocolate from <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/" target="_blank">Trader Joe's</a>, white pineapple balasmic vinegar and traditional balasmic vinegar from <a href="http://www.lucerooliveoil.com/" target="_blank">Lucero</a> in Napa (both were thick and syrupy, I can't wait to try them drizzled on vanilla ice cream). </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3Dfh7Zf--s/U5OSjTV8i1I/AAAAAAAADxc/g-72Yj3wg8w/s1600/IMG_0174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3Dfh7Zf--s/U5OSjTV8i1I/AAAAAAAADxc/g-72Yj3wg8w/s1600/IMG_0174.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w7RUFbia0sc/U5OSmRGWRoI/AAAAAAAADxs/oGu-cmMGnrw/s1600/IMG_0284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w7RUFbia0sc/U5OSmRGWRoI/AAAAAAAADxs/oGu-cmMGnrw/s1600/IMG_0284.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXmxlRLVkF4/U5OSmr7201I/AAAAAAAADxk/wVP1s4xHNY0/s1600/IMG_0285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXmxlRLVkF4/U5OSmr7201I/AAAAAAAADxk/wVP1s4xHNY0/s1600/IMG_0285.jpg" height="480" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now all I can think about is my next big trip. What do you think of Spain, Portugal, and France next year? I'd love to watch the French Open at <a href="http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/" target="_blank">Roland Garros</a>, that's always been a dream of mine. Besides, Paris is always a good idea. More pictures <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/missyjane20/sets/72157644634518712/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-91965132235559170042014-05-02T10:00:00.000-04:002014-05-02T10:00:02.990-04:00Mussels Steamed in Beer with Fennel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPW1IBwAnbk/U2GqzM1ssSI/AAAAAAAADsc/MxX1Hr3J9_U/s1600/IMG_0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPW1IBwAnbk/U2GqzM1ssSI/AAAAAAAADsc/MxX1Hr3J9_U/s1600/IMG_0428.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>I have an agreement with my boyfriend that for every beer we open together, I get the first sip. On our first date, we shared a beer at the Beaches Jazz Fest and he said, “the first sip of beer is always the best.” Since then I’ve taken the first sips of all the beers we’ve had, and that’s a lot of beer. One of my favourites is Sam Adams, in fact, I wouldn’t even share it, I’d make sure that we each have our own beer to drink. Good thing it's at the LCBO we can easily split a six-pack.</span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nCaBDTIGCw/U2Gq8XppCPI/AAAAAAAADsw/aszLlJ2Gy0E/s1600/IMG_0385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nCaBDTIGCw/U2Gq8XppCPI/AAAAAAAADsw/aszLlJ2Gy0E/s1600/IMG_0385.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eKD_9GMhzuA/U2Gq-32jCPI/AAAAAAAADtA/cOQW1IzQbKQ/s1600/IMG_0393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eKD_9GMhzuA/U2Gq-32jCPI/AAAAAAAADtA/cOQW1IzQbKQ/s1600/IMG_0393.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>Mussels in beer have always been a special dish to me. Maybe it reminds me of a summer when I visited Montreal, a city that awoke my taste buds and bolstered my deep-seated interest to cook and bake. There was a restaurant that served mussels in beer with fresh cut fries, a classic Belgian dish. It was delicious, I wanted to slurp up the briny juices from my bowl. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gfGxR-jPGQ/U2Gq6B1g8OI/AAAAAAAADso/q8IBoEsxiwE/s1600/IMG_0376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gfGxR-jPGQ/U2Gq6B1g8OI/AAAAAAAADso/q8IBoEsxiwE/s1600/IMG_0376.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sUGXRycb94/U2GrB7E2FoI/AAAAAAAADtI/8B6o10Acrzg/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sUGXRycb94/U2GrB7E2FoI/AAAAAAAADtI/8B6o10Acrzg/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This dish can be made in less than 20 minutes. All you need to do is chop up fennel and onions, toss them into a pot with butter until softened, add the cleaned mussels, pour over the Sam Adams, and let it steam for about 5-8 minutes and <i>viola!</i> Dinner! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ad-l4WEMhhw/U2GrDQJ75QI/AAAAAAAADtQ/-fZmSU6qvzY/s1600/IMG_0454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ad-l4WEMhhw/U2GrDQJ75QI/AAAAAAAADtQ/-fZmSU6qvzY/s1600/IMG_0454.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
My home smelled like hot butter, seafood and malt. Mom and I had these for dinner the other day, there was plenty of bread to mop up the salty juices. The mussels were plump and juicy, the fennel and onions had absorbed the hoppy flavours of the beer, the acidity from the lemon brings it all together. It was a beautiful meal, especially with a cold bottle of Sam Adams.<br>
<br>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>“This post is sponsored by Branding &
Buzzing"</i></span></div>
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/05/mussels-steamed-in-beer-with-fennel.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-80823254028190557432014-04-24T19:02:00.003-04:002014-04-24T19:02:52.060-04:00Mini Pistachio Pound Cakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l_XEsVeKdqw/U1PSksa0l6I/AAAAAAAADq4/WjLF8KL6pKM/s1600/IMG_0175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l_XEsVeKdqw/U1PSksa0l6I/AAAAAAAADq4/WjLF8KL6pKM/s1600/IMG_0175.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, it what has seemed like dinosaur ages, spring has arrived! I forgot what it felt like to have the sun on my face. I forgot what it felt like not to wear boots, a heavy down jacket, mittens and bitter cold gusts of wind hurting my face. Hey, I can drive with the windows down and not risk getting pneumonia. It’s a miracle! <br><br>Another thing to be excited about, my countdown to my vacation: T-7 days! I’m heading to California with one of my best friends for 11 days. We’re going to San Jose, San Francisco, Napa, and then LA. Also part of our itinerary: tons of eating, drinking, dancing, picture-taking, tanning, and repeat it all over again. We’ve been planning this for more than half a year and we’re absolutely stoked! We made reservations for <a href="http://www.angelerestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Angele</a> and <a href="http://www.bartartine.com/" target="_blank">Tartine. </a>Omg!Can’tfreakingwait.</span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3EAcBF2AT8/U1PhV3NM7uI/AAAAAAAADrI/ni0TWki4NpQ/s1600/IMG_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3EAcBF2AT8/U1PhV3NM7uI/AAAAAAAADrI/ni0TWki4NpQ/s1600/IMG_0134.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2247Rl1CdTU/U1Pi7ymZ5iI/AAAAAAAADrk/-Dmu9UvAnpA/s1600/IMG_0225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2247Rl1CdTU/U1Pi7ymZ5iI/AAAAAAAADrk/-Dmu9UvAnpA/s1600/IMG_0225.jpg" height="480" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve
been good at keeping up my workout routine, swimming a few days a week along
with high-intensity interval training. I’ve been eating fairly healthy, lots of
fruit and vegetables and my protein shakes in the morning (except on weekends
when I just can’t refuse beer and pizza). My motivation is California, I keep
daydreaming about frolicking on the beach, running like a madwoman and diving
into the ocean. But that hasn't kept me from baking.</span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<a href="http://orangette.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Orange</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://orangette.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">tte</a> shared this recipe and it caught my attention right away</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(she has a <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Delancey-Man-Woman-Restaurant-Marriage/dp/1451655096" target="_blank">new book</a> coming out, I've already pre-ordered it, can't wait!).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I looked up other
pistachio-worthy desserts, like a chocolate pistachio tart or pistachio sables, but I kept coming back to this pound cake. </span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUQW6MrbU0A/U1Pm4rki2QI/AAAAAAAADsM/I9Uk83WX_KM/s1600/pistachios2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUQW6MrbU0A/U1Pm4rki2QI/AAAAAAAADsM/I9Uk83WX_KM/s1600/pistachios2.jpg" height="600" style="cursor: move;" width="680"></a></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These
cakes are dense and dotted with pistachios inside and out. The nuts give a
beautiful floral flavor and with plenty of citrus, they make for an excellent
snack. The top of the cakes have a lovely shell, similar to the crusty muffin tops that I love so much. I ate these for breakfast with a smear of apricot jam. I gave them away to my coworker who texted me the next day raving about them. I<i> love</i> compliments.</span></span></div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q2b7-fEKivE/U1Pim0Rp3tI/AAAAAAAADrc/3o_EIir961o/s1600/IMG_0198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q2b7-fEKivE/U1Pim0Rp3tI/AAAAAAAADrc/3o_EIir961o/s1600/IMG_0198.jpg" height="680" width="450"></a></div>
<br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/04/mini-pistachio-pound-cakes.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-89427460259796873342014-03-29T15:17:00.000-04:002014-03-29T15:19:19.621-04:00Peanut Butter Sandies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zbv-6W2b4zk/Uy9lSvGLTJI/AAAAAAAADpo/eJojEgK5oS4/s1600/IMG_0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zbv-6W2b4zk/Uy9lSvGLTJI/AAAAAAAADpo/eJojEgK5oS4/s1600/IMG_0086.jpg" height="680" width="450"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If
you asked my boyfriend, Jacques what his favourite cookies were, he’d say “Peanut
Butter Cookies!” with the enthusiasm of a six year old. He’s very good at dropping hints for what I should make for my next baking
project. It was his birthday last week so instead of making them alone, I thought
it would be more fun to </span><s style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">boss him around</s><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> make it together.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyRc2Ks1MWc/UzcXUBzM6XI/AAAAAAAADqo/O5VPGQ2F3NE/s1600/IMG_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyRc2Ks1MWc/UzcXUBzM6XI/AAAAAAAADqo/O5VPGQ2F3NE/s1600/IMG_0069.jpg" height="460" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of the peanut butter cookies </span><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2013/01/peanut-butter-cookies-with-marshmallows.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">I've had</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> are crisp and dry, not that it’s a bad
thing, but they’re predictable. These cookies on the other hand, will </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">blow your mind</i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Dense and buttery, they are reminiscent of shortbread. The marriage of brown and
granulated sugars gives it a sandy texture and the peanut butter adds a wallop of flavour. Not to mention the sprinkle of salt
on top makes them freakingly irresistible. For those who live for sweet and salty desserts, these are for you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kQ19hF3TTM/UzNTn2GZz_I/AAAAAAAADqI/tZgZo98QDgc/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kQ19hF3TTM/UzNTn2GZz_I/AAAAAAAADqI/tZgZo98QDgc/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" height="460" width="720"></a></div>
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/03/peanut-butter-sandies.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-78313231950802803702014-03-12T18:18:00.000-04:002014-03-21T21:42:31.786-04:00Coconut Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88yraOFNjHQ/Uxs628Ixd1I/AAAAAAAADn4/NZxe7f8o7w8/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88yraOFNjHQ/Uxs628Ixd1I/AAAAAAAADn4/NZxe7f8o7w8/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg" height="460" width="720"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I feel guilty for how much I've ignored my blog. My dad came to visit from overseas so I was busy spending time with him. My parents taught Jacques, my boyfriend, how to play <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enyVPMH3FzE" target="_blank">mahjong</a> (not the computer game) the real deal, using tiles engraved with various shapes and colours. A week later, I went to see Kings of Leon in concert with my girlfriends (featuring <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ZeDn-hHGE" target="_blank">Gary Clark Jr.</a>, who is frequently on repeat on my Ipod) and spent the following days belting out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWkYu-hYTZs" target="_blank">this song.</a></span><br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0iAO3Vy88rY/UyDyOhOstUI/AAAAAAAADpY/S1A-iSbIHdc/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0iAO3Vy88rY/UyDyOhOstUI/AAAAAAAADpY/S1A-iSbIHdc/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg" height="460" width="720"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>I haven’t baked much lately, but I did cook for my family. I made lasagna and layered fresh pasta sheets with white sauce and meat sauce simmered with plenty of wine and topped with mozzarella so that after 30 minutes of oven time, the edges were crispy and just a couple of minutes away from being burnt. It was perfect. The insides were squidgy and the flavours melded together. What a difference fresh pasta makes! Lasagna-epiphany never felt so good!<br><br>On another night, I made <a href="http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chocolate-raspberry-pavlova-200" target="_blank">pavlovas</a>, something I've been meaning to make for a year or so. I folded in dark chocolate chunks into whipped egg whites and sugar and before serving, laid slices of fresh pears and generous scoops of ice cream. We all dived into them, quiet and eager to stuff our faces with crisp and pillowy goodness. <br><br>I also went to a Fabulicious lunch. It’s an event where wineries in the Niagara area get to show off their culinary talents with meals at a set price. My mom and Jacques arrived at <a href="http://www.peller.com/" target="_blank">Peller Estates</a> an hour late but they were thankfully accommodating. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RjNmf_3XfYo/UyDidzkKDhI/AAAAAAAADoc/1wzSdt5iFUg/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RjNmf_3XfYo/UyDidzkKDhI/AAAAAAAADoc/1wzSdt5iFUg/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" height="460" width="720"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P18rS9Ml41k/UyDicRhfH7I/AAAAAAAADoU/h_2xZwGtR1M/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P18rS9Ml41k/UyDicRhfH7I/AAAAAAAADoU/h_2xZwGtR1M/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" height="460" width="720"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was arugula salad with quail, pan-fried salmon with curried butternut squash, wild boar panini, duck confit with truffled fettuccine carbonara </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and of course, the best part was when we shared our desserts: sticky toffee pudding with oatmeal ice cream, cranberry and apple crumble, and the best one of all: chocolate cream pie with macerated cherries. I wish I had worn my stretchy pants.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmX_L6IAuzI/UyDv5G4clZI/AAAAAAAADpE/aT-Up40OSro/s1600/peller2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmX_L6IAuzI/UyDv5G4clZI/AAAAAAAADpE/aT-Up40OSro/s1600/peller2-2.jpg" height="630" width="770"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As if all</span> that food wasn't enough, I still felt like eating something sweet. I wanted to make something simple, with the preparation done in less than 20 minutes. I had my eye on this recipe from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/03/coconut-bread/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen</a> in a while and it looked doable for my lazy mood. You really can't go wrong with the mixture of toasted coconut, sugar, browned butter, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. This bread can be mixed by hand and comes together easily, I reduced the amount of sugar a little and it turned out fine. Like<a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/" target="_blank"> Deb </a>describes, it has a drier crumb than banana bread and is just as good. You can add nuts, grate citrus fruit into the batter, add chocolate chips, whatever suits your fancy. I like it plain, toasted with <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2011/10/speculoos-cookies.html" target="_blank">Speculoos. </a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DrMLHqY7CeQ/UyDxphgrTeI/AAAAAAAADpQ/M8aJOHb6bcY/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DrMLHqY7CeQ/UyDxphgrTeI/AAAAAAAADpQ/M8aJOHb6bcY/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" height="680" width="445"></a></div>
<br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/03/coconut-bread.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-72892475736429675032014-02-12T21:23:00.000-05:002014-03-04T22:12:36.289-05:00Chocolate Pecan Torte (again)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiWbjmAJOwU/UvwizN5uI6I/AAAAAAAADm4/9sotg-rczZY/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiWbjmAJOwU/UvwizN5uI6I/AAAAAAAADm4/9sotg-rczZY/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" height="680" width="445"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made a mistake. I baked something, took pictures of it while standing over the table and getting really <i>really</i> excited to share it with you, only to realize days later when I was getting ready to blog it, that I had already done it in <a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2012/12/chocolate-pecan-torte.html" target="_blank">2012</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's no big deal, besides, it's a delicious idea for Valentine's Day if you're into that sort of thing. If not, it's still a fabulous cake to share with your friends and family, it's full of chocolate and still delicately sweet. My parents loved it, we each had a slice with a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream while watching tv. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y8ZCJtMlc0/UvwqU_p7lwI/AAAAAAAADns/6jpw2IFRdb8/s1600/sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y8ZCJtMlc0/UvwqU_p7lwI/AAAAAAAADns/6jpw2IFRdb8/s1600/sample.jpg" height="580" width="730"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></u></b><br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/02/chocolate-pecan-torte-again.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-77377836321856968622014-01-19T20:02:00.002-05:002014-01-21T22:05:03.180-05:00Alice Medrich's Ginger Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDaWp5tzNZI/UtcqupNja4I/AAAAAAAADlo/13RxdCmMAuY/s1600/IMG_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDaWp5tzNZI/UtcqupNja4I/AAAAAAAADlo/13RxdCmMAuY/s1600/IMG_0340.jpg" height="680" width="445"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">I’ve
been ignoring my blog. I’ve been procrastinating this post for the longest
time. I’ve typed up many drafts, then stoped mid-sentence and decided what I’m
typing is stupid and no one is remotely interested in my shopping adventures in
<a href="http://flic.kr/p/ipU3na" target="_blank">New York City</a> or the fact that I failed as a food blogger and only went to <i>two</i> (!!!) bakeries in one of the
greatest cities of the world (though I did have an amazzzing ogre-sized </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://bouchonbakery.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">chocolate chip cookie</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> and a <a href="http://www.pret.com/us" target="_blank">salted pecan butter cookie</a>). </span><br>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOLBjMFPj6k/Utx39EnznyI/AAAAAAAADmM/O5l5a94YGSs/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOLBjMFPj6k/Utx39EnznyI/AAAAAAAADmM/O5l5a94YGSs/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" height="475" width="710"></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">I
haven’t been motivated to do anything. I even have pictures from an ice cream circa November 2013 that I haven’t bothered with. I blame work, it’s exhausting mentally and
physically. I can barely keeping my eyes open Monday to Friday (sometimes
Saturdays too), when I finally come home after my 90 minute commute, I just
want to pass out in my bed, pull the covers over my head and sleep till the
next day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh4VTD4RZy8/Uth6mjp15yI/AAAAAAAADl0/PqLZzudhFhU/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh4VTD4RZy8/Uth6mjp15yI/AAAAAAAADl0/PqLZzudhFhU/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" height="475" width="710"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L-nNbiwc0eo/Ut8zlDYdNbI/AAAAAAAADmc/US6QQWVEOjY/s1600/IMG_0333-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L-nNbiwc0eo/Ut8zlDYdNbI/AAAAAAAADmc/US6QQWVEOjY/s1600/IMG_0333-2.jpg" height="475" width="710"></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Thank
god for cookies. There's no going wrong with butter and sugar, and the magic that happens when you
blend them together with some flour with fresh ginger and add a
large pinch of cinnamon. These cookies are soft and chewy on the inside,
without the crystallized ginger, they are mildly spicy and go well
with a glass of milk in one hand. My friend had a birthday party and as usual,
I baked. I gave her a batch of these cookies wrapped in tissue paper with a
homemade card tucked into it. I saved a few for myself to get through
the cold winter days. I’m advocating cookies increase work
morale and productivity. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2014/01/alice-medrichs-ginger-cookies.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-50744153958977138262013-12-01T18:40:00.004-05:002014-03-26T17:56:38.201-04:00Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnFPzAwnFqw/Upe7OROPDtI/AAAAAAAADkw/r3f2whcPjyg/s1600/IMG_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnFPzAwnFqw/Upe7OROPDtI/AAAAAAAADkw/r3f2whcPjyg/s1600/IMG_0028.jpg" height="445" width="680"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made these cheesecake squares for a birthday party a few weeks ago. I don’t like showing up to a party empty-handed. Cake makes perfect conversation-starters, especially if you're shy around a new group of people and love being showered with compliments. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Besides, who doesn’t like to celebrate their birthday with a little sweet treat? </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These bars are delicately sweet, the filling is velvety smooth and rich, it sits on top a thick graham cracker crust flavoured with a hint of cinnamon. I prefer cheesecake with a thicker crust for some textural contract to the cream cheese and these seal the deal. Also, you might have noticed the flaky sea salt, everyone at the party loved it. The combination of salty and sweet never gets old. </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy December!</i><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6Y5ybUipnw/UpfAuHKZ4cI/AAAAAAAADlA/NURzxzYvFdE/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6Y5ybUipnw/UpfAuHKZ4cI/AAAAAAAADlA/NURzxzYvFdE/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" height="445" width="680"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br>
<a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2013/12/duche-de-leche-cheesecake-bars.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-78676216436587620012013-11-24T10:58:00.001-05:002014-01-19T20:24:19.879-05:00Neiman Marcus $250 Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ks-jSQXrZ_U/UpIfWoimGpI/AAAAAAAADkY/7Sakb4PZsOE/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="670" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ks-jSQXrZ_U/UpIfWoimGpI/AAAAAAAADkY/7Sakb4PZsOE/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg" width="450"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>I had a craving for chocolate chip cookies. I knew exactly what kind I wanted: thick, chunky, cookies riddled with generous pieces of dark chocolate and a little sea salt on top to off set the sweetness. The kind that of cookies that makes you lick your lips right before biting into them, the kind that is so full of chocolate, it melts between your fingers. Finally, I made these and <i>viola</i>, my cravings were settled. <br><br>I picked up work at another nursing home a few months ago. The staff are great, I'm finally starting to learn people's names (though my eyes still linger over their name tags when in doubt) and the best part, the commute is the shortest compared to my other nursing homes. I brought a box of these cookies to work and everyone loved them. I offered them bright and early at 7am to my coworkers, word spread like wild fire and they came barging into the office for more. Are these the <a href="http://leitesculinaria.com/87503/recipes-neiman-marcus-cookies.html">legendary</a> cookies with the legendary hyperbolic title? My coworkers certain think so. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GVIBziQDlGg/UpIf_JiOXpI/AAAAAAAADkg/FcEGsPR_8y8/s1600/IMG_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GVIBziQDlGg/UpIf_JiOXpI/AAAAAAAADkg/FcEGsPR_8y8/s1600/IMG_0079.jpg" width="450"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;">These
cookies are </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17px;">similar</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;"> to the NY Times version I blogged about </span><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2010/12/consummate-chocolate-chip-cookies.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;"> and the whole wheat version </span><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.ca/2011/08/whole-wheat-chocolate-chunk-cookies.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;">, the
main difference is the use of oat flour in this recipe, which gives it an extra
textural mouthfeel. There's also grated chocolate, for extra chocolatelyness, which is never a bad thing. I used the NY times tip in leaving the dough overnight in
the fridge which improves the flavour and is highly recommended.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yk1waSOkr6k/UpIahRGpMrI/AAAAAAAADkA/X3N3-__gi00/s1600/IMG_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="670" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yk1waSOkr6k/UpIahRGpMrI/AAAAAAAADkA/X3N3-__gi00/s1600/IMG_0108.jpg" width="450"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2013/11/neiman-marcus-250-cookies.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127821342589863600.post-71461181530444132572013-11-09T19:42:00.000-05:002013-11-09T21:06:56.506-05:00Eggplant Tarte Tatin with Black Pepper Caramel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDgb1WBwKNY/Un6PkHHM_-I/AAAAAAAADi8/5hienW4WWMw/s1600/IMG_0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="680" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDgb1WBwKNY/Un6PkHHM_-I/AAAAAAAADi8/5hienW4WWMw/s1600/IMG_0207.jpg" width="450"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eggplants were one of those foods I despised as a child. My face twisted in disgust when I saw that my parents had ordered them at a restaurant, they looked like fat worms slouched over each other, lurking in a dish smothered in some sort of gooey sauce. I hated their weird silky texture and imagined how easily they could slip down my throat, latch onto my esophagus and multiply by the dozens. <i>Ugh.</i> I begged my parents not to scoop any for me (along with onions and cooked carrots, my other childhood food aversions).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br><br>Then as I grew older, I started to enjoy the purple vegetable. I don’t exactly remember the turning point, but suddenly stopped dreading the sight of them when we dined out. I actually liked their slipperiness, how they slithered in my mouth bursting with a salty, chili sauce riddled with ground pork. That’s still my favourite way to eat them, especially with a bowl of rice soak up all the garlicky sauce. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD_QAeFW-d8/Un6QIL_VYPI/AAAAAAAADjE/4d_rr1CW9m0/s1600/IMG_0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD_QAeFW-d8/Un6QIL_VYPI/AAAAAAAADjE/4d_rr1CW9m0/s1600/IMG_0154.jpg" width="680"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve never had them in a sweet dish and I think we can agree, eggplant rarely comes in a dessert form, but thanks to my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/eat_well_now">Claudia</a> who sent me this recipe, here we are with eggplant tarte tatin. Does that sound heavenly? It tastes <i>awesome</i> by the way. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The vegetable is shredded then sliced into thick matchsticks, boiled with butter and sugar until golden. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The eggplant turns into luxurious pieces, reminding me of ripe pears but still retaining that familiar peppery bite. Blackened bits of eggplant clung to edges of the tart, which I picked at uncontrollably. The puff pastry is a superb vehicle for holding the eggplant candy (Ha! Never thought I’d use those words together) and besides, everyone loves flaky crusts.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who would have thought </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">caramelizing vegetables, let alone the humble eggplant, would transform it into a toffee-like substance? These could totally count as your serving of daily vegetables. </span><br>
<div>
<br>
<div>
</div></div><a href="http://butteredup.blogspot.com/2013/11/eggplant-tarte-tatin-with-black-pepper.html#more">Recipe here!</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05755375282554898239noreply@blogger.com0