our kid loves gorgonzola

$2,000 worth of mushrooms and some beautiful Barolo

2010-11-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

I spent a couple hours this week luxuriating in the aroma of a single plate of mushrooms -- valued at around $2,000.

These were, after all, fresh and white truffles -- and there is no imitation. Unlike the black truffles that can be mass produced around the world, these rare white truffles are only found a few months of the year, from a single village in a cloudy village of northern Italy -- hunted by particular breeds of very expensive and very trained dogs or pigs. They are valued by their weight, and the rarest are the largest, and the most prized.

They are the stuff of culinary legends -- and I was sitting next to seven or eight of them -- each bigger than my child's sturdy fists. I also had a couple of glasses of what many consider to be Italy's finest wines. It could have been worse!

I owe this amazing dinner to a special, very generous winery that imported these truffles at great expense so that a few of us could experience the magic of one of the greatest food and wine parings: the white truffle and the beautiful, leather and rose scented Barolo. We grated the truffles directly onto simple dishes and let them melt into the heat. The truffles acted like keys that opened up the wines, and the wines turned velvety and voluptuous in their presence. A decadent night -- to say the least!

Tarte Tatin Take Two

2010-10-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

Tarte Tatin is one of those recipes that seems like a disaster waiting to happen, and it feels fussy enough to just never quite make the list. But when you have two boys in the house that love carmel, and bags of apples still left from when we went crazy picking them a month ago, it seemed like a good idea today (and we have perhaps had just one too many apple crisps.) In the end, it may not have been as pretty as it could have been, but it was a hit in the house ... and not nearly as complicated as I remembered it. Our little guy dubbed it apple pizza, and ate his slice with his hands accordingly and with gusto.

Elk Tacos and other Street Food on the Danforth

2010-08-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

My thought is when you get the chance to eat elk tacos ... you eat elk tacos.

These versions were offered up by Globe Bistro during Taste of the Danforth in Toronto -- and very tasty, with tender ground meat and lots of lime.

Our little guy's favourite dish at the festival were the Greek Lamb Chops from Ella's Butcher -- there's something great about eating a salty, lemony lamb chop with your hands. As he said: "More meat!"

Weekday Paella

2010-07-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about slowly recovering from your partner living in another country for most of the year?

Coming home after a long day to something like this:

Finally ...

He brought this paella pan back in his luggage, along with another specifically for arroz al horno -- a variation of the paella, but mostly cooked in the oven. This paella is a classic -- mixed seafood like scallops, shrimp, and squid, with chunks of potato and bits of long beans.

Dim Sum: 2 Ways

2010-07-13T17:06:00.001-07:00

After years of wanting to enjoy dim sum again, we had the chance to have it twice in a row -- in two very different scenarios.

Scene one: (finally!) drop kid off at friend's house for a lunch and play date so that hubby and I could drive to to an 'avant garde' dim sum restaurant (more affordable thanks to Toronto's Summerlicious programs, when you can go out and get a three course lunch somewhere fancy for $25.) The rooms were quiet and elegant (although there were several families with children that came and went -- which was fine, especially since none of the kids were at our table and I didn't have to tell anyone myself to sit down or stop banging their fork. This is the kind of place where plates are crystal and geometric, where the champagne buckets glitter, and where we nibbled on 'steamed crystal shrimp dumplings' and duck confit in pinot noir sauce and deep fried creamy mango custard.

Scene two: Our neighbours a few doors down who have a kid just a bit younger invited us to join them for 'tea' at a dim sum place in the suburbs. As they are Chinese, we jumped at the opportunity and followed them in their car. This was one of those huge, noisy places with not a word of English to be found (heard or written) and we happily ordered away from the ladies stopping by with carts of everything, taking their advice on exactly how to eat some of the offerings -- a rice stew studded with mussels; sticky rice surrounding nuggets of meat, all wrapped in leaves; and even spicy steamed chicken feet. We had countless plates and lots of food left over and the total bill for four people plus two kids, after tax: $39.

Salad Therapy

2010-05-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

As much as I love good take-out, I almost never, ever, ever order a salad. The occasional exception was the Greek salad on the side with our gyros.

Tonight, though, running late after the daycare pick-up and after an hour and a half in traffic, on a fluke, I ended up at one of those 'raw' food places that makes zucchini pasta and the like. Rather stranded, I had to order something -- and the spinach chipotle soup was not going to be a hit with the hungry kid. So, rather than order the things that sounded risky, I ordered the salad, which seemed safe and had a remote chance of being pecked and picked on by the 3 year old.

And I got this beauty. And we ate it outside. And then we had cookies. Not a horrible way to end a long week.

Not that it matters, but here's the combination that I wouldn't have come up with myself: greens, grated beets, grated carrots, cranberries, fresh figs, avocados, dates, walnut, sunflower seeds, and a lemon vinaigrette (I think). Edible flower makes all the difference.

He's going to want ketchup on that ...

2010-04-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it's birthday cake planning time. A time I love, because it's the time that web searching uncovers things like this.

Do you have any carrots with cars on them?

2010-04-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

The older your kids get, the more complicated this discussion about branding gets.

Motivating kids is tricky. I caved in once, and bought an organic box of cereal with Elmo on the front. My son loved it, and stared at the box lovingly through many mornings. In fact, when that cereal ran out, I replaced the expensive cereal inside with plastic bags filled with similar, still organic, but less expensive cereal. Since it still came out of the same box, my son still ate it happily. This morning he was thrilled because he was eating the cereal I let him choose at the store the other day -- an organic cereal that had a gorilla on the front of the bag. It wasn't a particular branded character, but he loved the ide a of the gorrilla, and has been looking forward to it each morning.

Fresh vegetables are different, though. Shouldn't we be teaching kids that vegetables don't come in packages?

Still, could a bag of broccoli branded with Dora or Thomas on the cover make him more interested in the broccoli, more excited to eat them at dinner? Maybe it would be more effective if Dora spent more time eating broccoli on her show, rather than chasing after the ice cream truck. Then when we ate broccoli, our son could say: "just like Dora!" and not just stear at the carton the broccoli came in.

Then again, cookie monster was always my favourite. Didn't they put him on a diet and make him start eating salads?

Cooking for "Two"

2010-04-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

You know you have a two year old, when a cookbook with recipes including only four ingredients sounds AMAZING, and you then immediately buy two copies, one for you, and one as a gift for some similarly struggling soul. We've started making our way through the book, though, and while some of the recipes still involve cream of mushroom soup, or a "can of Ragu," I'm still happy that it has inspired me once again to be able to finish and actually complete a weekly meal plan.

We've made three 'recipes' and all three have been a hit with the two year old.

In the end, it's those easy basics you forget about, which so far include:

1) Pasta salad. Cook pasta. Throw in olives, crushed garlic, and whatever else -- a jar of artichokes, some sun dried tomatoes, fresh or roasted peppers. Vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil -- or some salad dressing from a jar. Serve however, cook ahead of time if you want. Pasta is easy, and we make a lot of it, but this is easiest. Why haven't I made this weekly all year?

2) Peanut sauce. Peanut butter, soy sauce, crushed garlic, and sesame oil. Mix together and simmer. Cook noodles -- pasta, egg noodles, or Asian noodles. Throw in chopped veggies into the boiling water for a few minutes ( I cheated and threw some of them into a pan in some peanut oil.) Not the best peanut sauce dish in the world, but if the kid will eat peppers, broccoli, tofu, and carrots, then I'll be happy to make it any day.

3) Huevos Rancheros. Black beans and salsa. Bring to a boil, crack some eggs into the mix, cover, and cook 5 minutes till set. Top with shredded cheese. Even though the kid isn't a fan of tomatoes or salsa, he likes this. Breakfast, lunch, OR dinner.

This week we are trying a broccoli salad with mandarin oranges, a 'crustless' spinach quiche, a quick maple baked salmon, a roast veggie sandwich with goat cheese, and a veggie casserole. Hoping to finish everything over the weekend, so that dinners will be taken care of the rest of the week!

Speaking of Spain ...

2010-04-01T06:08:00.001-07:00

Two notes about this particular recipe for a Spanish 'tortilla' -- one of our favourite snacks on our recent trip to Spain.

One, ... it can be made with potato chips!!! Now, that's a good idea.

Two ... um, how about serving it with ... Spanish wine??

Ceviche or Carpaccio?

2010-03-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

We ate huge amounts of seafood and beef in Chile -- often in their pure forms in Ceviche or Carpaccio.

A few examples of from the feasting:

Carpaccio with tiny egg and pistachios. The tomatoes in Chile are unbelievable -- better than Italy or Spain. Who knew?

Chilean oysters, small but sweet, served with a salsa of those amazing tomatoes, and paired with Chilean sparkling wine, of course.

We had countless versions of marinated mixed seafoods that usually included Chilean specialties including shrimp and razor clams.

Octopus at almost every meal, often topped with a purple sauce of black olives. Always very tender.

Chilean Cuisine

2010-03-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Just back from a work trip to Chile -- on what was to be our last day, the members of our group were shaken from our beds by the earthquake, and with the airport closed, we ended up having another week to become very familiar with the food and wines of the region.

Empanadas, the stuffed snack pastries, came in too many styles and forms to count -- tiny to huge. They can be stuffed simply with cheese, or outrageously with shrimp and scallops and lobster. In one of my favourite versions, they are stuffed with chunks of meat, olives, eggs, and potatoes and then baked to a dark brown glaze. Families order them at all times of the day, and eat them standing up on thin counters. What a fabulous idea for kids.

But I'll never forget these particular empanadas below. On afternoon of the earthquake we found ourselves, hungry, in a tiny town in a small, isolated village. We asked the owners of a restaurant if they could feed us. There was broken glass everywhere, and no water or electricity. The woman who owned the restaurant went into the kitchen and made these by hand, and cooked them in a wood oven. There was nothing else, except a few bottles of wine that hadn't broken and were graciously offered to us. The simple meal was an amazing gesture, and you could feel their kindness in the food.

Just wash them anyway

2010-02-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

It is one of those things you know, instinctively ... that feeling, as you throw those lovely greens directly from the plastic container onto your plate, that suspicious/guilty feeling that says: "I should not trust the term "prewashed." At last I can tell myself now I was right.

Crunchy bits

2010-02-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, the toddler probably would have enjoyed this bug dinner.

Teach them while they are young, right?

I once had bugs in my risotto ... but it was an accident -- I didn't notice the dead little bodies in the bag of rice. I picked them out at the time (but ate the risotto.)

Remember the bags of turnip sticks?

2010-01-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

Love this new blog with the simplest of ideas -- a teacher eats the same cafeteria school food her kids are expected to eat -- and takes a picture of each meal. The memories come flooding back. Haven't you had these conversations with your friends -- remember the soggy fried chicken??

I was a military brat, and so my family's income easily met all the requirements for 'free lunch' and 'free breakfast' programs -- both during the school year and into the summer when the government extended the program. I think there was a little time when we got away with bringing in our baloney sandwiches, but mostly, we ate school food. I never minded it -- I actually think some of our University food was worse (that was when the food made me cry.)

But you have to applaud someone who is trying on a very personal level to bring some awareness to the quality of the food we give out kids every day. One of the main reasons we have our son at his daycare was the quality of the food -- mostly organic, made from scratch, healthy, vegetarian, varied, and fresh. We're not going to get that lucky in public school unless things change, unless we can invest more dollars per day in our kids bodies.

Thanks for Chowhound for pointing out this blog ...

Deep Fried Deliciousness

2010-01-25T17:55:00.000-08:00

Ah, here's a little article that reminds me of (fondly) of both friends and fairs in Minnesota .... And it reminded me of a little treat we ordered at a great little place in Toronto, the Stockyards, where they make their own limemade, and where I couldn't resist ordering the smoked meat hash that came with a deep-fried fried egg. Really, can you blame me?

Cracking the Egg

2010-01-17T16:40:00.000-08:00

There are a few times I've had eggs that left me speechless -- or with enough memories to write about them.

On our honeymoon, in northern Italy, poached, with truffles, in a quiet dining room lined in polished chestnut, drinking a ten year old Barbera.

A few months after moving to Toronto, at one of the cities most famous restaurants, at a table adorned with roses, sitting with our dear friends, stuffed inside a ravioli, so that when you cut the pasta the yellow yolk ran out and bathed the plate and pork belly with its silky flavours.

And a few weeks ago, in Spain, in the first place we could duck into as the rain started whipping across the port, as my son played with his toy dinosaur. This egg was poached, crowning a ramekin of earthy beans speckled with salty ham.

My thought at the time? Genius. True genius. And the wine, a white Penedes, rare except for in the bars in that part of the world, was perfect.

Growing in the Garden

2010-01-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

In the next year or so, we plan on moving our sooner than we can believe it pre-schooler to a school where they teach the children how to grow food in the garden. We have to agree with Alissa Novoselick in her recent post in Salon that these school gardens create incredible learning opportunities.

Tapas and Toddlers

2010-01-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a few weeks in Europe with a two year old to completely erase your fear of public dining with kids. It's suddenly gone. In Spain, in the end, it just wasn't a big deal -- cafes, bars, restaurants -- families were welcome. You are as likely to eat out as you are to eat at home, and it was just the normal pulse of life. The latest we were out was around 11:30 pm, and there were several small children munching on croquettes and sipping hot chocolate. Now, reading articles like this debating the very presence of children in restaurants feels rather sad.

It helps that our kid has reached the age where he didn't need a booster seat or a high chair, or a changing table in the washroom. It helps that there was usually ham (lots of it) or sausage or chocolate available at each meal -- and wine for the adults.

And our little boy also grew up in those few weeks. In every single restaurant, the waiter simply put a wine glass of water in front of him. Surprisingly, there are lot less spills when you've got a toddler with a wine glass, rather than a plastic Ikea glass. There were no kid's menus -- we just asked for a plate and gave him some of our food or ordered a few tapas for him to munch on. He got used to using a knife to cut his own food.

We do tend to lean on the strict side -- perhaps overly so. in general, he has to stay in his chair, keep his voice down, not bang his fork -- the same rules we have at home. Still, on the days when it was warm enough to sit on the patio -- or if the restaurant offered heaters at their outdoor tables, we took that option -- letting him play in the square while we drank a cortado or cava. In fact, one of my favourite experiences was finding a little snack bar next to a great playground with an amazing view. I ordered wine, my husband ordered coffee, and my son hit the toys. Everyone was happy.

We did eat differently than before kid, of course -- we weren't going to any place with stars to its name (although I was tempted) and we weren't going to cocktail bars. We actually tried a 'casual dining' Spanish chain -- an 'all you can eat' place if you can believe they exist in Barcelona. We wouldn't have stepped in a chain like that without the kid, but they gave him a balloon, and us beer, and it was cheap and we didn't have to tackle grocery shopping on a rainy, cold night.

As a family, some of our favorite times on this trip were eating together -- a fact that still surprises me. Slicing up a king cake -- a lovely, moist king cake with a layer of almond paste in the middle and fresh candied fruits on top ... eating little baby sea eels that were the texture and shape of little pieces of pasta, tasting a 'strong' cheese gelato which was more salty than sweet .. figuring out that there was, in fact, cod stuffed in those cheesy baked potatoes -- these are the experiences that make us smile, and bring us all together.

We did do some cooking together, and the toddler was in the kitchen, nibbling on the almonds, helping salt the chicken and sprinkling the chorizo on top. He loved the Spanish version of Gorgonzola, the Cabrales. It was a little odd to pour him milk from tetra packs of milk that had never been refrigerated -- but that's just how it is there, and we all survived.

Now, of course, just the two of us are back home, very much missing his Dad. Our toddler hasn't eaten much for dinner since we got back home. I can't blame him. It hasn't been nearly the same.

Front Page Fries

2009-12-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

If this goes proposal goes through in Canada, maybe those bags of potato chips can proclaim, "Now, fights cancer too!" The note about the use of the enzyme in the U.S. does inspire one to do a little more research on acrylamide and asparaginase (like we needed one more thing to worry about before holiday parties.)

Bear Bolognese

2009-12-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

Be warned if you plan on eating Grizzly bear barbecue in Northern Canada. You have to love the title of the article ...

Sushi So Sweet

2009-12-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

I don't even know where to begin ...

Sushi Candy. Let it speak for itself.

Is it bad that I've never heard of Swedish Fish? Have I been missing out??

Surprise! (You're busted!)

2009-12-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

As sad as we are to be alone in Canada away from our family at Christmas ... we'll be totally munching on the Kinder Eggs that are banned in the U.S. If I can figure out how to open the darn toys inside. I still have one I haven't managed to figure out left over from Halloween ...

Bacon with a bow

2009-12-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

Living out of the country from all of our family, and so many friends, I'm a pretty big online shopper when it comes to presents -- it usually makes the most sense when it comes to shipping costs and I can't send homemade goodies across the border.

So, it makes me happy when I discover things like bacon jam. And check out the pairings below, like the bacon potato chips and bacon peanut brittles, the bacon caramels, and the chocolate covered bacon! Wow, don't you love the internet sometimes???

Of course, I'm sure you already all know about the www.republicofbacon.com site. I'll say no more.

Just think what oatmeal could do!

2009-12-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or is the marketing of cereal to children -- and their parents -- endlessly fascinating?

I'm late on this story -- the Cocoa Krispies cereal boxes that proudly proclaimed "Now helps support your child's IMMUNITY" are now being phased out.

Writer Marion Nestle, one of the critics quoted in the story, has a wonderful blog I always find valuable -- especially when it comes to the marketing of food to kids. She also writes a great blog for the Atlantic Monthly. Recent posts include her comments on chocolate milk in schools and school cafeteria food reform.

Sign of the Season

2009-12-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about it getting really, really cold.

Toronto Santa Clause Parade

2009-11-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

Worst combination of foods ever used in holiday imagery?

Best way to enhance your brand awareness at a children's christmas parade if you are a certain brand of nut that has been banned from nearly all daycares and schools?

Is it just me, or does this dazed elf seem to have had more than just cheese and crackers?

We didn't have to worry about snacks this year -- Christmas clowns (a concept those of us new to Canada still have some difficulty with) were happily distributing goodie bags filled with healthy, nutritious snacks like Sunny Delight (just read the ingredients in the label and tell me why Canola Oil is included), Pringles Honey Butter Flavour Baked Wheat Stix (flavoured with Sucralose AND sugar) and more candy canes than could be stuffed in multiple strollers and backpacks. Lots of naps were missed that day.

And: Only in Canada ... furry creatures playing hockey, an elegant moose in Burberry, and yes, lots and lots of beavers.

Day of the Dead

2009-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Day of the Dead Festival at Toronto's Harbourfront.

The toddler loved both the skeleton on the sign and the tacos.

Yes, you can be a cow for Halloween

2009-10-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

We spent the last few weekends visiting farms outside of the city. We have great farmer's markets in the city, but you learn very different things by walking through a farm. Its both frustrating and hopeful that a school like the one profiled in this article has resorted to taking kids on field trips to give urban kids some balance, and at least a taste of rural life and where our food comes from. I have often wondered why our house in the city is littered with puzzles of farm animals and books about life on the farm, rather than about rush hours on highways and union strikes that cut off city services. But we live and learn in the city every day, at least for now -- and that's why we need the books about the horses, cows, and chickens.

Things I never learned in University

2009-10-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

You should be able to click on the picture for more detail if you can't read this learning lesson ...

Warty Things and other joys of fall

2009-10-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

A trip away from the city let our toddler gaze at fields of pumpkins -- and even better, countless other kinds of winter squash.

We picked out green ones and white ones, lumpy ones, little ones, and heavy ones. He loves a book called 'The Littlest Pumpkin' right now, so he was thrilled. Still, I wanted to show him that these wonderful signs of fall didn't just have to become decoration for the front steps, thrown away on the first of November, but that we could make all sorts of delicious meals with them.

We cooked the first squash into pumpkin muffins and a pumpkin pie. The second went into an easy pot pie, tossed with mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and onions, all topped with a cheddar biscuit crust. We roasted the next, so that it can become a sauce for pasta. Now we have plans for stews and soups -- and all of this from about a $10 splurge on the side of the road.

While we plan, our harvest is indeed decorating the front steps. But our display is shrinking by the day. And maybe we'll have to carve a happy face into one of them.

Kitchen Therapy

2009-10-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

It was a rough week at work, but it was almost harder to accept that the weekend (the precious family time) was turning out to be at least as rough. I yelled. I cried. And on Sunday, when the toddler finally took his nap, I cooked.

I think Lynn Rossetto Kasper is one of my favourite people to read or listen to, and to get inspired by. Her food is intense and flavourful and buttery and real. For years, I've listened to her great public radio show The Splendid Table. On her website, you can register for a weekly email newsletter, and this week it suggested pasta with roasted butternut squash and greens. You toss the chopped squash with the greens, olive oil, salt, pepper, some brown sugar, sage, and basil, and then roast the whole thing before combining it with the pasta, cream, and Asiago.

This is the kind of dish you can't go wrong with, that can make even the most tense household relax for a few minutes. Even the toddler smiled when it came out of the oven -- and we all needed that.

Don't worry, be healthy ...

2009-10-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Ah, just as I was starting to feel guilty and overwhelmed about feeding my toddler, I read this article that made me feel better. It is all about McDonald's 'kiddie health blitz' and the 'Mom's Quality Correspondents' that travel around the US to teach parents "how to feed kids McDonald's without guilt."

Our toddler hasn't taken his first trip to the golden arches yet -- I'm sure he'll enjoy it when he does -- but we'll make no claims to it being good for him. And we aren't going there for the bagged apple slices.

In any case, at this point, our toddler views the few fries he has tasted as the 'too hot!' vehicle to transport the ketchup, and he would be just as happy using a spoon to get right down to business.

Not sure if the take-out (veggie) pad thai we ordered last night was much better for us than a burger, but it was tasty (and plenty salty), I didn't cook it, and he ate it.

Pizza Nights

2009-09-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Pizza nights are becoming pretty regular in our house.

I can get the dough for $3 at the market across the street, and then we can toss whatever we want on the pizza, throw it on the hot stone in the oven, and have dinner.

This weekend we tried goat cheese, onions, and artichoke hearts. It took 10 minutes to stretch out the dough and scatter with stuff, 15 minutes to cook, and a little less than that to devour.

Why, yes we do have lamb kidneys!

2009-09-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

While not the best picture, this is, I think, the best sign at my local market.

"Yes we do have lamb kidneys"

And it is double underlined.

How many people had to ask??

Miracles of a muffin mix

2009-09-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

Now that one of our toddler's parents has moved across the world, I have been tempted to start another blog, or stop this one, or change the theme: cooking and single parenting? But while this move seems unbearably long (nearly a year) it is still temporary -- in the long run. And this isn't single parenting, entirely -- he is still a committed long distance parent, and I have a friend (a vegetarian) who has moved in with us, a new housemate.

If food is a reflection of life, this first week was a bit of a disaster. Dinner was on the table late, and haphazard. Carrots tossed with leftover pasta? Yet, the toddler LIKED the meal I was embarrassed to serve. One night it was cheese (good cheese!), and bread, and olives, and yes (good) wine. And while I wish I could have cooked us a hot meal, this had its own charm.

And now it is our first quiet Saturday alone, my toddler and I. Eggs are boiling for an egg salad later in the week. A butternut squash is baking, to be thrown into a biscuit pot pie. Beans are simmering, which will go into a simple casserole with lots of sharp cheddar. A tomato sauce is simmering to be used on a home-made pizza. We munched on cold smoked salmon and toasted bread and butter for lunch. At one point I looked up and the toddler had grabbed the stick of butter from the table and was licking it wholeheartedly. So - it isn't all perfect. But it looks a lot better than it did a week ago.

Oh, and I made a dozen muffins last night. From a mix. I really had forgotten the joy of a muffin mix. All you have to do is add an egg, oil, and water?? And they come out all plump and without chunks of baking soda studding their moist interiors? They make the house smell like spices (even if it is almost midnight?) Now that we made the muffins, I think we're on a roll again.

I think I'm going to try the pancake mix tomorrow. I never did figure out how to make a good pancake.

And anything that involves whisking egg whites is out until our toddler's Dad comes back home.

Elmo Os

2009-09-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

I totally gave in and bought a box of cereal (it was organic! no preservatives! no artificial colours!) because Elmo was on the box. Decent sized box, tiny amount of cereal inside, but the idea will be to but generic cereal in the box when we are done with the real stuff. The toddler loves the box, he reads it, inspects it, points at it, talks to it ... and at this point, I'm willing to try (almost) anything to make breakfast a little smoother, even branding. Move over Cheerios -- I think we'll be eating Elmo O's for quite some time.

One sauce at a time

2009-09-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

Naptime and the house is quiet. I've bought three pints of plump red roma tomatoes at the farmer's market. I drop them into the boiling water and feeling the steam on my face. I watch the skins blister and then pluck them out, dropping them into a cool bath of waiting water. Slicing into their warm skin, which peels off and lies in discarded curls, I take the time to separate the seeds, some still sadly green, from the wet pulp. I chop an onion into small and then tiny pieces, the way I like them best, and they sizzle in the yellow olive oil before the juicy tomato chunks join them. I snip fresh oregano from the front garden, the only green thing that I planted this year that has grown, mostly because our neighbor waters the little joint front yard. I get distracted by the spider webs in the front yard, and finally grab a broom and sweep them away, watching the spiders, big and little, retreat into the bricks and leaves, before heading back into the quiet kitchen. It's just a tomato sauce, as basic as it gets, maybe a little too watery, but it's enough to get through another afternoon, and better with lots of parmesan. The toddler isn't too keen on tomatoes, but he likes the spaghetti -- it is long, and stringy and feels funny on your face, and best of all, when your mom isn't looking, you can dip it in your cup of milk.

Summer Succotash

2009-09-06T19:22:00.001-07:00

A sad day. Therapy was coming home, opening the window, letting the breeze in, and chopping fresh corn and summer squash. Later, too late, actually, without his Dad to remind me of when to start heading home and getting ready for dinner, I tossed these with little lima beans and some herbs from the garden. We ate this dinner tonight, just the two of us, and he spilled enough milk to motivate me to in fact find some sort of mercury-free sippy cup tomorrow. The toddler didn't like it as much as I'd hoped, but it had been a rough day, and I resorted to letting him watch one of his favourite youtube videos in exchange for eating three beans and three bites of corn. This isn't perfect, but, we're in survival mode right now. I did the dishes after he went to bed, which a good, solitary activity. Even better with a good scotch, actually.

Burgers are better anyway

2009-08-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Another new study out, this time attempting to show outrage at levels of sugar and saturated fat in foods marketed at babies ... like the cheese biscuits that actually had more saturated fat that a quarter pounder with cheese (in an equal weight piece, of course.) At this point, this would worry me more if I hadn't watched my toddler inhale huge pieces of chocolate birthday cake this weekend ... Actually, our toddler's favorite snack right now are banana chips -- which are much, much better than arriving somewhere with a mushy banana in your purse.

Daddy, Look! Dora Ice Cream!

2009-08-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

Speaking of the dairy aisle, Dave was grocery shopping with the toddler, home sick from daycare, when he heard this peep from the stroller:

"Daddy, Look! Dora Ice Cream!" This excitement coming from a kid who has never seen Dora (at least on a TV in his life -- that we know of.)

Hey, at least it's an excellent source of vitamin C!

Just give him a few years ... or months?

2009-08-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

A long weekend (Civic Holiday) gave us time to both braise a rabbit with red wine, bacon, and onions, and also a chance to stroll through the grocery store without the toddler. Such trips give us (individually) moments to spot memorable products such as this frozen treat.

Caribana 2009

2009-08-01T17:54:00.001-07:00

Fabulous Caribana parade today, held on Toronto's lakeshore ...

Have you ever seen a soy sauce umbrella?

In the end, what it's all about ...

Best product placement in the parade?

Move over, goat!

2009-07-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

With goat's milk yoghurt and milk becoming rather common even in basic big-box grocery stores, here's a new source for chocolate. If you can stomach that chocolate rice milk, then this could be pretty good ...

Next on our reading list

2009-07-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

We have a children's picture puzzle with all of the wine regions of France ... but now we need this Spanish children's book which has won the prize for 'best illustrated wine publication.'

Wine on a Wednesday

2009-07-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

Weekday dinners can be rushed. So we're trying to keep things simple.
The right wine, of course, can make any meal special. This week, for example, we had a quick omelette with some good Spanish ham, peppers, and herbs from the garden -- and drank it with a glorious Perrin Tavel Rose. The winery -- family owned for five generations -- doesn't use any chemical pesticides or fertilizers on the old vines. And the wine is one of those that screams both 'scrumptious' and high quality. Sometimes its a good option to save money and time on dinner, and buy and linger over better wine. Still remember the first Tavel I ever had ... almost ten years ago. Domaine la Mordoree. Good stuff.

How many pounds of crab does that make?

2009-07-10T10:52:00.001-07:00

I don't know what I like about this article more ... the longest sushi roll, of the silly boat regatta. Island chef planning longest sushi roll on record

Shared via AddThis

Three hugs for your favorite Os!

2009-07-09T11:42:00.001-07:00

In my new job, I'm slowly learning the unique challenges of working with food and wine at a national level -- in Canada. For instance, did you know that 'to cheer' really has no translation in French? This must be driving marketers of everyone's favorite toddler snack pretty crazy.

Adventures in Babysitting: Trevor Kitchen

2009-07-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

Remember what a great movie that was? Elisabeth Shoe at her best?

We did go out for dinner tonight, after another sweet friend offered to babysit for us after the baby went to sleep. We were giving Summerlicious another shot, this time at Trevor Kitchen and Bar -- because it is stumbling distance and always seemed to have a tasty menu posted in the window -- and it was another success story!

We were in a dark, cozy room lit by candles. We had a bottle of 2005 Navarra Tempranillo-Cabernet - smooth and intense at the same time; a wine that you couldn't ignore no matter what was brought to the table. Over smoky, seared scallops and earthy gnocchi brightened with tangy chevre, my partner and I gave each other a toast.

He had the duck confit; I had the suckling pig with white beans that seem to be enveloped in truffles and oil and salt. This was the kind of comfort food that we needed tonight. As we poured and sipped the wine, we talked about books, and regrets, and goals, and friends. Eventually the bottle was empty and we were left with dessert: a warm chocolate and caramel torte and a decadent strawberry tiramisu. As our conversation quieted, the discussions of the other tables drifted our way ... "He's just not happy selling his body" and "but none of us are doing anything really important!" We tried not to laugh, but we couldn't help grinning.

Saturday Splurge

2009-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

There's something nice about those relaxed Saturday mornings, when we all make waffles or pancakes and eat them in our pajamas. To me, this tradition is much more satisfying than dealing with long lines, greasy eggs, and bad cups of coffee that come with the typical 'brunch scene.' In this case, we made a yeasted batter that sits overnight, making it pretty simple to stagger out of bed and almost right to the table!

Suburban Snacking

2009-07-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

I've been working in the suburbs for three months now. Every so often, I leave the building and venture out by myself in an attempt to find real food. What do you know -- there are hidden gems in suburbia! For instance, I drove (no option to walk) to a little strip mall and walked the perimeter till I found a place that was completely packed. It turned out to be an Afghani Halal spot -- called Bamiyan Kabob. It came complete with Choppan Kabob, Chaplee Kabob, Tikka Kabob, Barg Kabob, Boulagnee firmee ... and an 'I Love Mohammed' sign. The meat I ordered was spiced and lemony and the bread was thick and salty. Families were crowded at the tables sharing roasted chicken and brown rice topped with raisins and almonds. It almost made the commute worth it.

Pot of Pinot, Please ...

2009-07-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

I don't know ... give me strong coffee, or good wine. But not at the same time.

Babies in bistros

2009-06-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Evidently, one of the cool things we are missing in Canada right now is Kids' Restaurant Week -- when really good restaurants welcome parents to bring the kids to experience fine dining, special early seating, kiddie cocktail menus, and all. This is a great idea (for families) and if more restaurants would look into these kinds of programs, we probably wouldn't need entire articles devoted to advice for nervous parents considering actually taking their children out to dinner.

Smart Move?

2009-06-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Evidently, marketing departments have determined that there is enough concern over synthetic dyes in candy to discontinue blue and green smarties. Those seeking that blue colour on their tongue, however, can still rely on Canadian M & Ms.

Wine Country with Kids

2009-06-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

Family visiting from out of town requested a trip to Niagara Falls and a winery or two. If we had planned a truly relaxing wine country trip, or even a tour, we probably would have considered a babysitter. With only one or two stops, though, we didn't think to much about bringing the baby -- as with most excursions with him, success depends on researching your planned location, getting the time right, and keeping it quick. By the time we got to the winery, the baby was napping peacefully in the car, so we took turns staying with him and letting him snooze in the parking lot surrounded by vineyards. I took this shot of icewine grapes from the car. If he had been awake, the winery offered wine tasting in the spacious and lovely outdoor patio. We actually missed this article on veneyards marketing themselves as family-friendly destinations.

Changing the Cafeteria

2009-06-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

I know you like these one person can really actually make a difference stories -- especially when its about food and your kids.

Cartoons and Chardonnay

2009-06-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

To the general asonishment of everyone in the industry, Disney enters the wine game. Maybe we'll get some Ratatouille Roquefort next. Despite the wine, still a great movie ...

Canadian Cocktails

2009-06-25T05:51:00.001-07:00

With the Heat Alert in full swing, and Canada Day approaching, at least there are lots of options for cold patriotic cocktails (made with maple liquor, of course.) Is anyone else disturbed by 'maple' and 'blue' in the same drink?

Iconic Cupcakes

2009-06-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Clearly Canadian Cupcakes ...

Luckily, our kids loves babysitters, too!

2009-06-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our anniversary last night with a dinner out, complete with a kind babysitter.

We decided to venture to a place we've been meaning to get to for years -- Le Select Bistro. It was lovely ... candles on the table, and Ella in the background, Champagne cocktails and pig's ear salad. Really, is there any better way to celebrate your seven year itch than sliced pig's ears?

We debated over the braised cocks' combs but ended up trying the escargot; I couldn't resist the duck confit and Dave was tempted by the beef cheeks. The wines by the glass ended up being lovely, actually -- a Pinot from Domaine de Brau that was actually earthy and minerally and an '05 Spanish blend by Bascula that had a wonderful dried fruit character. Armagnac ice cream, dessert wine ... for an hour or two, it felt like we were on vacation!

I'm actually looking forward to taking the baby here one day ... you have to check out this place's children's menu! It's got it all: Shirley Temples, smoked whitefish mousse, steak frites, and creme brulee ... of course, the babysitter watched the baby chow down on mushroom risotto at home, so he didn't fare too badly ...

Without the baby! Oyster martini?

2009-06-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

I finally had a chance to get out of the house for an evening to have drinks with a good friend that I haven't seen in way too long. So, bar hopping we went! While I had initially had my eye on a cucumber martini (currently one of the trendy cocktails in the city) I ended up ordering my very first oyster martini -- at Pure Spirits in the Distillery. After all, how many chances do you really have to try this particular combination?

Turns out, I don't need another chance. I didn't expect the fried oyster to be served room temperature ... and as you would expect, room temperature oysters aren't anything to write home about. But then again, maybe that's the point of the cocktail ... to wash it down!

Our waiter gave us plenty of time to chat in the old building. The crab cake is sprinkled with smoked sea salt -- a use for it I wouldn't have thought of and works really well -- and we tried some scallops ceviche, smoked salmon and a fresh crab meat salad. The bill wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny to have that break.

Food and Family

2009-06-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

There is a new documentary coming out this month on food production in North America. You can read transcripts of an interview with the film maker (or download the podcast, watch video clips or see related articles) on Now's website, or download the transcript. Of course, one of the things that hits close to home now is the story of the two year old boy who died after eating contaminated ground beef, and his mother, who is still trying to have a law (Kevin's Law) passed allowing the federal government to recall meat that has high levels of e coli or salmonella. Currently, only corporations can withdraw the meat, and the government cannot force them to do so.

"More birdies please!"

2009-06-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

Much of the time, if we've made an elaborate meat dish (like tonight's Osso Bucco, for instance) our toddler ignores it and will nibble the specks of carrots from the sauce, and ask for more peas. We are, for the moment, blessed with a two year old who claps if we cook him brussel sprouts, after all. He goes to a vegetarian daycare, and he likes his veggies -- which is great. Sometimes, though, he caves in ... like when we made these roasted quails that we topped with a simple honey, garlic, and cumin sauce. These little birds were fascinating to him, and he requested "More birdies please!"

And, tonight's Osso Bucco wasn't a total bust -- when it came to eating the marrow, he was licking his lips and grinning.

Misplaced marketing?

2009-06-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

Blurring the line between iconic cartoon brands and fine wines might be the wave of the future, especially if already approved by the FDA. What's next? Scoobie Syrah and Power Puff Girl Pinot Grigio? What wine says Betty Boop to you?

Does Cherry Count?

2009-06-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't had strawberry or raspberry yoghurt since I first read Fast Food Nation ... what, almost ten years ago?

So, reading the recent new bunch of articles on the FDA's recent updated regulations for food additives like Carmine have been more amusing than shocking.

Still, I have to applaud anything that gets people to start taking a deeper look at what they tend to carelessly consume. Now, to take a look at the other 28 ingredients listed on those yoghurt tubs!

What's wrong with blue raspberry?

2009-06-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

I used to love popsicles. So far, the toddler won't go near them ... too cold. We've made a few batches of homemade popsicles, with some fresh fruit and yoghurt ... but nothing fabulous. Not like this popsicle -- ahem, "ice-lolly". Of course, what this really makes you wonder is ... who would be on your fantasy popsicle? And would it be really be blueberry, pomagranite, or cranberry?

We did it again!

2009-06-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

One of our goals was to get out and enjoy the neighborhood -- and yet, we still found ourselves feeling stuck in the house, night after night. So, we braved the unknown again ... off on a sunny walk to a local patio! At 6:00 there was only one other table at Archeo, and the staff was still energetic, smiling and waving at the toddler -- who was still feeling charming, himself. We're learning ... order food for the baby instantly, before sitting down, and then, only then, look at the menus.

The toddler's grilled chicken, mushroom, and basil pizza arrived before we started on our wine -- a glass of Argentinean Torrontes (a lovely native grape somewhere between a Pinot Gris and a dry Riesling) and a fruity California Petite Sirah. The bread arrived crusty and warm. Pasta arrived dressed with chunks of tender lamb and olives that the toddler quickly demanded from my plate; he requested samples of the chipotle pulled pork sandwich with grilled pineapple, but the spices were fiery enough to discourage him. Service, surprisingly, was professional and pleasant, and we left smiling ... even the baby.

You know you are in Canada when ...

2009-06-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

... your toddler gets very, very excited when you make Moose cookies. Actually, I guess you know you are in Canada when you make Moose cookies at all.

Basil Stuffed Scallops

2009-06-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Friday night with one of those recipes that only takes a couple of minutes but reminds of you of those elegant meals you once used to enjoy ... we sliced scallops, stuffed them with a paste of basil, garlic, olive oil, and lemon, and then broiled them briefly. We drank it with a new favorite in the house -- the La Vieille Ferme Blanc -- a smooth, floral white that manages to taste serious without taking itself too seriously. Plus, the toddler likes the chickens on the label.

Father's Day Find: Bringing Home the Bacon

2009-05-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Every so often, Amazon recommends something utterly wonderful. Like this product, suggested as a great Father's Day Gift. Now, usually, everything is better with bacon. Except, perhaps, in this case. For maximum entertainment value, read the reviews. And the 'other products' offered by same company, such as the bacon flavored lib balm. And the reviews on those.

On the other hand, that ham butter we had in Spain was pretty amazing. Hmmm ... ham butter.

Beyond Poutine

2009-05-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

All we can say is ... "Take that, Sarah Palin" And here's another article about Canada's Governor General eating raw seal heart.

Braised Duck Legs

2009-05-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

The long holiday last weekend gave us more time to cook, which inspired a meal of long-braised duck legs and vegetables. We were organized enough to able to cook it during the day during the toddler's nap, and then warm it up for a simple and relaxing dinner.

Summer Firsts

2009-05-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

We look forward to summer's first treasures stumbled upon at the farmer's markets: tender fiddlehead ferns (just cooked in a little butter and sprinkled with sea salt); bright red rhubarb baked in a oatmeal crisp with lots of ginger and cinnamon; and finally, always the highlight -- the sweet ears of fragrant yellow corn that you can saute for just a minute and toss with cumin and tomatoes to garnish anything with (in this case, fresh Tilapia simply oven-baked.)

Baby Steps (in the right direction?)

2009-05-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to read about good food initiatives coming from the native land ... maybe we'll have a little hobby farm one day, after all!

Birthday Cake

2009-05-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

So, I'm starting to panic about the birthday cake for the almost two year old. Last year, we made a lovely apple cake from Cook's Illustrated -- three different types of apples, low sugar, moist, tasty. Not traditional, but everyone was happy. This year, though, with our suddenly expanding guest list and reduced time, I'm starting to worry. No time for the mashing apples. Hubby might make a carrot cake (they are wonderful) ... but with so many people, will we have time to make multiple cakes?

After searching in vain for simple fruit cakes, I reverted. I needed the cakes I grew up with, darn it. Does Family Circle have a website?? It does!

Enter: "birthday cake" ... and? ah, relief.

You have to like a publication with cake recipes that include: 1 box cake mix, 1 can frosting, and 1 bag chocolate chips.

The recipe I've pasted below, which involves marshmallow creme, is even better. Because ... it includes marshmallow creme! And you mix it with food coloring!

It made my night!

Here are the ingredients:

1 box lemon cake mix
1-1/2 cups marshmallow creme
3 cups powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
Yellow and red food color
1 cup prepared lemon curd
1 can (16 ounces) prepared white frosting

And here's just some of the marvelous diirections...

... Meanwhile, in bowl, blend marshmallow creme and 2 cups of the confectioners' sugar. Knead in remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Set aside 1/4 of "dough." Evenly knead yellow food coloring into larger dough piece, dusting with more sugar, if needed.... Roll yellow "dough" in large circle (about 12 inches). Drape yellow "dough" circle over cake, smoothing with hands (there will be a seam). ...

Can anyone top this? Please?

We went out (with the baby!)

2009-04-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

The camera battery is dead; neither of us has had the energy to charge them. A shame, really , since: we went out to eat and brought the baby!

Mostly we did this because having resumed a regular take-out night, while consuming said take-out, we looked at each other and said: maybe next week, instead of take-out, we should all go out! It felt like such a novel idea we had to do it. Ideally, we planned to go somewhere with a great patio -- but it was rainy and cold and the forecast said it would be rainy and cold tomorrow. We almost gave up.

What's a family living downtown to do?

There's an incredibly short list of 'child friendly but good food' places downtown. And the list shrinks when you are dealing with baby/toddler and not a kid that can read a menu. It shrinks further if you can't get to a spot by 5:00.

I spent an hour online searching for some guidance other than the few and far between posts on Chowhound which all typically recommend the same (tired) options. I found one new website which attempted to give families maps of Toronto neighborhoods of restaurants that offer changing tables, high chairs or stroller access (great idea, but the site was still incomplete and lacking real reviews.) When I went back to link to the site, I couldn't find it on basic search engines.

In any case, it took over an hour in the rain to drive back home from work; I had a fresh headache and I was met with a cranky husband and even crankier toddler. Husband wanted me to pick place, but wanted it to be fast, since the toddler was hungry, but 'nice' since if we were going out we should go all out. Yeah ...

So we ended up at a Toronto classic which the foodies love or often hate, which is generally known for its surly service but decent prices, its elegant atmosphere but very loud dining experiences. And, of course, in the critics' eye, if it's loud, it's "family friendly."

So we went to Terroni on Adelaide. As usual, the baby surpassed expectations (or maybe he was just in shock that we'd taken him out to dinner?) And, you know what? Despite the bad reviews and the full house, we really ended up ... enjoying ourselves!

1) Our waiter was really nice, very relaxed, seemed to like our child, his job, love his wine list, and seemed generally interested in helping us have a good time.

2) They brought the baby a high chair. But not any high chair. A padded leather high chair. It is a trendy downtown place, after all. Even the baby was impressed.

3) The wine list is great. It's probably not making the restaurant much money, and probably not appreciated by the average table, but it is full of obscure Italian varietals and regions and single vineyards and producers no one has ever heard of. Lots of choices in the $40 - $50 range. We bought a bottle from Molise, a Biferno Rosso from Gironia -- probably based on the Aglianico grape -- and a 2003! Lovely, rich, soft, smoky, spicy, fruity, juicy wine.

4) Our food was good! We had an orecchiette with shaved lamb that was tender and rich; and we ordered two pizzas that were salty and tangy and crisp and simple.

We were seated at one of the long wooden tables in the lower level (the old jail cells, I think) full of wine barrels. The baby was nibbling on slice of gorgonzola, walnut, pear and prosciutto pizza, gazing at the well-dressed crowd sipping wine -- and we were actually having a conversation (between reading board books to the baby). In the end, it felt good to be out together as a family. Not that I'd turn down a babysitter.

First Ribs of the Year

2009-04-16T18:17:00.001-07:00

Pay no attention to those dishes behind the curtain ...

Even more special than the first snow of the year for me is the first time when your partner says: I think I'm going to stay home and make ribs today. He brines, he rubs, he grills ... and I open some wine (California zinfandel, usually, for old times' sake). While I drink wine while reading Curious George to the toddler, I hear my whistling spouse make up a batch of buttermilk cornbread (from Alice Waters) and simmer some black eyed peas with collard greens. The only thing missing was the potato salad, but I guess that gives us something to look forward to -- that, and it being warm enough not only to cook outside, but to eat outside!

Any food that involves a dragon is cool ...

2009-04-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

At least, that's what we'd like to teach our son. With that in mind, we introduced the toddler to his first dragon roll today. Sushi has been problematic for me ever since reading Bottomfeeder -- tuna, for instance, is, sadly, completely out. The dragon roll is a good choice, though: the seafood involved is typically grilled eel and cooked crab meat (both generally sustainable choices.) These are combined with seaweed, crisp cucumber and ripe avocado (the green avocado slices are arranged to resemble the dragon's scales.) In summary: this is a meal any toddler should love (and ours, at least, did!) We picked these up at the little sushi place on the lower level of the St. Lawrence Market -- not great, but not bad, and very nice, really, for eating outside with your fingers on an almost-spring day. I'd love to hear your comments about kids and sushi ...

Barcelona Chicken

2009-04-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Another hit from Jamie Pruviance's Weber's Real Grilling book: Barcelona Chicken. You basically just make a rustic pesto, marinate, and grill. You use a whole bunch of fresh chopped basil, lots of olive oil, a splash of sherry vinegar, and then toss it all with salt, pepper, and garlic cloves. The kid can eat three or four legs at one sitting. We were going to pull out a Rioja, but since it was our first day hanging out in our back yard, we went with a fresh, clean little rose from Provence and couldn't have been happier. Well, we might have been happier if we were IN Barcelona, but sometimes you can only dream.

Even a toddler can understand what this stuff is made of!

2009-04-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

The ingredients in Aunt Jemima Original Syrup (what your pancakes deserve) are as follows:

CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, CELLULOSE GUM, CARAMEL COLOR, SALT, SODIUM BENZOATE AND SORBIC ACID (PRESERVATIVES), ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVORS, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE.

This is the stuff I grew up with and still have some fond memories of. As it would turn out, though, I moved to Minnesota, and met the man who would be my husband, and who would change my conception of maple syrup forever.

Ten years later, we brought our toddler to his first sugarbush festival. He's Canadian by birth, after all, and Canada produces about 85% of the world's maple syrup (did you know you can almost always find maple syrup flavored yoghurt here?)

We gleefully left the city to take a horse drawn wagon ride, taste fresh maple sap, inhale the smoke from the sap boiling in the iron kettle, step into a modern sugar shack, and finally: eat pancakes topped in syrup made from just one ingredient: maple sap. And I have to say -- it was good.

Slow Cooker lamb shanks and lentils

2009-04-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

I loved our slow cooker before the toddler -- but I think I love it more now. Think about it: chop up an onion and a carrot, throw in a cup of lentils and some lamb shanks, a couple of cloves of garlic and some bay leaves, maybe a rosemary sprig, some broth -- and leave the house by 8:30 knowing you are coming home to a house that smells good, a meal that the baby will love (we are lucky that way), and a dinner that matches perfectly with the Perrin Cairanne you've been waiting for a good excuse to open.

KFC couldn't pull this off

2009-04-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

A recent Saveur has a recipe for fried chicken livers. Come on, does that not look like the best thing you've read about making all week?

Variations on a Theme (and the theme is our daily bread)

2009-03-15T12:34:00.001-07:00

We continue to enjoy playing around with our infinite bread dough in the fridge (as previously discussed, taken from the very useful 'Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day' book.) One of the great things about the basic idea is that once you have a big batch of dough in the fridge, you can take it out and do whatever you want to with it. So, one day we made a regular loaf, another the baby and I we took out small pieces, rolled them out thin, and baked them on the pizza stone: fresh pita breads that we served up with some chunks of lamb we'd marinated in yoghurt, lemon, and spices. The next day, we actually made the dough into a pizza (Dave topped it with maple roasted squash, gorgonzola, and arugula.) Later in the week, along with a loaf of bread, Dave shaped some mini-loaves for home-made hamburger buns. Endless variations, no fuss. Looking forward to trying out the english muffins (just have to find the molds!) and the cinnamon rolls that Ann once posted on her blog The Tragic Optimist and I thought about all day!

Craving for Thai

2009-03-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Great reviews for Mengrai Gourmet Thai in Toronto are easy to find -- the foodies love it and praise it accordingly. We made plans for a (double!) date night -- but when two kids, two babysitters, and four parents are involved, the chances of making it out are tough. We didn't make it. So, we did the next best thing: Delivery!

I have to say, Mengrai wins my award for best dressed delivery driver. It seems our delivery person was in fact, our waiter, who showed up in a professional black uniform and thanked me by name for our order. Lovely.

This is a picture of the appetizer combo and the Veggie Cold Salad. It is really wrong to call such perfect creations part of a 'combo' but that's why the whole thing costs $4.95. Crisp spring rolls, decadent pop-in-your-mouth shrimp triangles, and best of all, those feathery taro yam rolls that look like they are coated in spun sugar. The veggie cold salad is the best way to eat salad, really -- all rolled up and bursting with fresh vegetables and that are studded with pungent basil and drizzled with a tangy sauce. The rest of the meal was great, too, especially the red curry lychee dish, which had a creamy thick, concentrated sauce and ripe, juicy whole lychees.

We'll make it there in person eventually, but it sure is nice to have the luxury of all of this glory dropped off to you in a paper bag. Oh, and the baby showed off his growing skill of chopsticks by stabbing his spring rolls to get them to his mouth. So we can call it an educational expense, too.

A Well Used Book

2009-03-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

It's in such bad shape, that we've tried to retire our Joy of Cooking a few times. We've attempted replacing it's place in the kitchen with more contemporary resources -- most recently Bittman's 'How to Cook Everything.' We have been trying to use every week for the last few months, with mixed results. So far, we have found it most helpful for new ideas -- we combined swiss chard with blood orange and shallots, for instance, and Dave finally was motivated to make a buttermilk pannacotta. I like the variations suggested most of the recipes (which sometimes include changing or omitting every major ingredient) and the lists throughout the book -- "9 flavor boosters for popcorn" or "10 additions to any mashed beans." Like Joy of Cooking, you can still find a chart showing which part of the cow makes the resulting cut of meat, and it weighs in at a respectable 1044 pages (compared to our Joy's 1136). Still, I don't think we can bury the Joy just yet. Take the topic of eggs. Bittman explains the difference among Omega-3 Enriched and Cage-Free and Free-Range, but does his index include: "eggcups, how to use" or "Dyed Easter Eggs" or or "eggnog"? No. For that combination of essentials, we still need our Joy of Cooking. This time, though, the duct tape might be enough!

Baking Bread

2009-02-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the inspiration of several friends and the puplic radio show The Splendid Table, we finally bought Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day. The basic idea is that you make up a large batch of no-knead dough, and then store it in the fridge, taking from it over the week. We've been making three or four loaves a week for the last two weeks, and it has been wonderful to have the smell of baking bread in the house again -- and you can't beat the french toast!

Lunch Date at Romagna Mia

2009-02-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

Regrettably, I think in times BC (before child), Dave and I didn't arrange a single lunch date during the work day. Our goal since I returned to work after a luxurious maternity leave was to meet up once a month for a quiet lunch (win/win situation, since daycare provides the babysitting!) Of course, despite how important it is, we failed to reach that goal -- this week, we managed to make it for a fifth time in ten months. It's a start, anyway, and at least the rarity makes each one that much more special!

It is often a challenge to weed out the overpriced restaurants in Toronto from those that are expensive, but possibly -- or unquestionably -- worth it. Winterlicous, those few cold weeks in February, when such restaurants (generally reluctantly) grant entry to the commoners for 'bargain' three course lunches and dinners, was extended this year.

We decided to take the opportunity to have lunch at a little Italian place that you can see if from our front steps, and that I could walk to from work: Romagna Mia. It's funny -- while Dave and I probably enjoy Italian food the most, we cook Italian at home so often, that the only Italian food we ever order at a restaurant is a pizza.

This restaurant is not new or trendy, but there are a lot of things to really like about it. How can you not feel fondness for a place whose logo is a goddess whose breasts flow with wine instead of milk? Linen tablecloths are topped with rustic cloth napkins adorned with roosters. There are countless grappas on the menu. The chef in the kitchen wears a huge white Chef's hat right out of Sesame Street. You can still order a plate of $12 homemade pasta for dinner (even without the Winterlicous menu.) Finally, the $20 Winterlicous menu was offering the Strozzapretti, one of our all-favorite pasta shape names: "the priest chokers."

Antipasti

Insalata Tre Colori con Peperoni Arrostiti e Marinati
Arugula, escarole and radicchio tossed with roasted bell peppers.

Bresaola con Rucola e Parmigiano-Reggiano
Thinly sliced, housemade, air-dried cured beef,
arugula and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano with a lemon vinaigrette.

Zuppa di Farro e Fagioli
Italian style 'bean' soup.

Primi

Risotto alla Zucca
Risotto with squash and caramelized butter.

Strozzapreti alla Romagnola
Handmade pasta sautéed with sausage ragout,
swiss chard and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Salmone Grigliato con Patate Schiacciate
Grilled salmon with potatoes served with a lemon sauce.

Dolci

Bonet al Piemontese
Piedmont style pudding.

Cassata all`Italiana
Housemade ice cream cake with caramelized hazelnuts,
pistachios and candied fruit with chocolate sauce.

Tiramisu
Mascarpone mousse atop ladyfingers dipped in espresso coffee.

We ordered a carafe of wine, and then did something that worries me a little. We each ordered exactly the same thing, for all three courses. Year ago, this would have been unimaginable. Does this mean we have become too much alike? Does it mean we have actually become more wise, and have learned to order what we really want, even if the other person ordered it first? Does it mean we are more selfish, and don't plan to share what we have ordered so that we can taste more things? Only more lunches out will reveal the answers ...

Duck Breast w/ Cassis Sauce

2009-02-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why it is that when we make duck I'm motivated to take a picture ... I didn't even think twice about the honey mustard chicken breasts we made last night. Maybe it's the fact that you slice it and fan it. Any food you 'fan' just feels more artful. Maybe its that thick layer of fat that gets all crispy on the outside? Or the fact you just wouldn't serve a duck breast without some sort of sauce you've given a little thought to. In any case, here's a quick Tuesday night duck breast recipe -- sear the duck on it's fatty side for 4 or 5 minutes till brown and crispy, then on the other side for 2 or 3 minutes, than throw in a 350 oven for 5 minutes or so. In about 2 tablespoons of the duck fat now in your pan, brown some shallots, throw in a handful of cassis, the same amount of balsamic vinegar, and a few spoonfulls of blackcurrant jam. Cook on med a few minutes, slice up your duck, spoon over your sauce, and you've got a tasty main course that even the baby would love. We served this with a juicy Mendocino Zinfandel from Edmeades, which was fresh and vibrant and bright -- not sticky, not overwhelming. Dave later admitted his plan had been to do the duck with a blueberry sauce and wild rice -- I'd already gotten started by the time he'd made it home.

Impressive yet Intimate

2009-02-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

"Impressive yet Intimate" is, in fact, Ottawa's actual ad campaign. The campaign also includes: "urban yet unspoiled" and "cultured yet comfortable." Still probably better than the ads before these -- the slogan was: "surprising contrasts."

We had a wonderful trip to Ottawa. We strolled through the market admiring the cheese shops and Italian grocers, the butchers, bakeries, coffee shops, and pubs. We couldn't resist the chance to finally try beaver tails -- a fried pastry -- either topped simply (brown sugar and a little lemon) or more extravagantly (chocolate, maple butter, and walnuts, anyone?)

We were also able to sample some of Canada's finest lobster -- our first time actually cooking live lobster! We experimentally tried it two ways -- one we halved (scooping out the innards before cooking) while the other we left mostly whole (we ended up agreeing that the halved were the way to go -- less messy to eat at the table.)

While the lobsters were a hit with everyone -- (now we know the baby doesn't have a shellfish allergy!), the kids were also pretty impressed with the periwinkles (the cute little sea snails) from Quebec. The moms and dads were able to drink the seafood down with some Sparr Cremant d' Alsace -- a very, very spicy drink that was just way too spicy for the kids. Our hosts treated us to decadent gelato from a neighborhood find -- we had our choice from a long list of flavours -- including pistachio, hazelnut, chocolate, lemon, and coffee!

Even the bowling is different up here

2009-01-29T08:50:00.000-08:00

Every so often, I'll be reading the paper, and a story will remind me that I am, in fact, living in Canada. This, one, for instance. Did you know that Canadians can bowl with only five pins? I am very excited to try out this particularly Canadian form of entertainment! It's been years since we've been bowling! We do miss the Bryant Lake Bowl!

The King of Mushrooms and other Gourmet Bribes

2009-01-28T18:16:00.000-08:00

There's a stall at the St Lawrence Market on Saturdays that sells all kinds of mushrooms. We finally decided to splurge just a bit and try a few out. I don't think we've ever bought a King Mushroom before -- they grow to 6 inches or so, and are said to have the meaty texture of an abalone. The baby, as you can see, was pretty interested in it. It reminded me, once it was cut up, of an eggplant, with a milder, more savory flavor. We also grabbed a handful of delicate, spongy, oyster mushrooms. There were some other, lovely specimens available, including some interesting looking black trumpet mushrooms that would probably have been out of our budget. We took the King Mushroom, the oyster mushrooms, and some dried crimini mushrooms and put them all together in a rich winter risotto that we drizzled in truffle oil.

Actual conversation with our 19 month old:

Us: "OK, have one more bite of rice, and we'll put a little more truffle oil on the rest of your rice."
Baby: Eats a bite. Looks expectantly at truffle oil.
Us: "OK, you ate it. Here's some more truffle oil." Drizzle truffle oil on baby's food.
Baby: Content, eats another bite.

I think we are in trouble.

There are some strange animals up here, too.

2009-01-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

Bought a few Canada Post stamps to send to the U.S., which featured images of Miga. Who is Miga? Why, the back of the stamp package explains that Miga is a young sea bear that is part rare white bear, and part killer whale. And she's one of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic mascots. Of course. And she likes both surfing and snowboarding. Yes, only in Canada.

Life is Short List: Eat a 7 course dessert tasting menu

2009-01-20T06:34:00.000-08:00

Currently, Amuse Bouche Restaurant in Toronto is listing on their website a:
"Three dessert degustation 22
Five dessert degustation 28
Seven dessert degustation 40"

Life is short. Wouldn't it be great to spend $40 on a seven course dessert tasting menu? That would be a Sunday splurge! Haven't eaten here yet, but have worked with some of the staff, and they are very nice folks. It's on the list!

From their website, desserts include:

La creme brulee d'Amuse-Bouche"
Amuse-Bouche's creme brulee
10

Pomme et Poire: Petit gateau aux pommes et sa mousse a la praline, macaron a la gelee de poire, fondant au chocolat au lait et son caviar au calvados, glace au reglisse
Apple and pear: Apple and praline cake, pear jelly macaron, milk chocolate mousse, calvados caviar, licorice ice cream
14

Caramel: Panna cotta a la citrouille et sa gelee au the caramel, carre de gianduja a la nougatine, 'sticky toffee pudding', glace aux graines de sesame
Caramel: Pumpkin panna cotta, caramel tea jelly, gianduja and nougatine square, sticky toffee pudding, sesame ice cream
12

Le trio de tartes traditionnelles: Tarte au chocolat et a l'orange; tarte Portuguese aux oeufs; Tarte bourdaloue aux
poires caramelisees, glace gingembre au vinaigre de peche
Traditional tart trio: Chocolate and orange tart; Portuguese custard tart; caramelized pear and almond tart, ginger and peach vinegar ice cream
12

Chocolat: Omlette Norvegienne au chocolat flambe, parfait chocolat au miel croustillant, financier au chocolate blanc, glace au marrons
Chocolate: Flambeed baked Alaska, chocolate and crispy honey parfait, white chocolate financier, chestnut ice cream
15

Stout Braised Shortribs

2009-01-18T18:14:00.001-08:00

We celebrated the return of short ribs (after a mysterious shortage of them at our favorite local buthers) by marinating them in stout and lime, and then slow cooking them till tender with fingerling potatoes, carrots, and onions. We drank this with a nice oatmeal stout from St Ambroise, one of our favorite Canadian breweries.

Our Daily Bread

2009-01-13T18:14:00.000-08:00

We generally try really hard to cook well on a lean budget -- some weeks with more enthusiasm and energy (not about the food, but the budgeting) than others. We've found it good strategies to throw in a Saturday splurge (a chocolate truffle or two from our favorite chocolatier, for instance) and an occasional take-out night, but we usually cook. We've tried to stick to naturally grown meats, ethically sourced seafood, and organically raised vegetables -- or at least local ones. Both decisions make it that more challenging to stick to your budget -- and there is also the time crunch: dinner has to be on the table by 6:30, or you have a baby melt-down. We can give the baby leftovers a few days a week, but we do want to make a habit of sitting down together for dinner. So, the pressure is on. Last week I was debating whether or not to buy a boneless turkey breast at one of our favourite butchers. Since it was naturally raised, it would be expensive -- around $24 for just over 3 lbs. On the other hand, that is probably less per pound than chicken breasts, and we knew the baby would like it. I bought it, finally, when I convinced myself I could make it stretch. The first night we roasted it with lemon zest and sage, and made an apple cider and brandy sauce for the whole thing. The second day we were able to have roast turkey sandwiches for lunch with the cooked meat, and the third day I threw the remaining meat into a small ceramic casserole with carrots, onions, peas, and a creamy sauce, and covered the whole thing with a biscuit dough, and we had a decent pot pie. This week we had a couple financial setbacks, so we knew we needed to be especially strict with our groceries. Here's what we did: Saturday we made a Thai curry with left-over veggies from the week before, a green curry we had on hand, coconut milk, and rice. We threw in one cut-up pork chop and left one for another day. Sunday we soaked chickpeas then stewed them up with a can of tomatoes (Eden organics is the only brand of canned tomatoes I trust anymore), garlic, ginger, coriander and 4 chicken thighs. Monday we cooked dried lentils in coconut milk with Carola potatoes and curry powder, and served it up with yoghurt, chutney, and pita bread. Today we used up left-over chickpeas in a soup with some carrots, onions, and pasta. Now, though, it's almost tomorrow. And I have no idea what's for dinner. Anyone have any suggestions?

New Year's Day: Sicilian Smelts!

2009-01-03T18:26:00.001-08:00

These are supposed to be a traditional Sicilian New Year's Dish ... so, why not? We've pretty much banned tuna and cod in the house, and are searching for ways to eat more of the school fish like these. Plus, the pound of them cost $5, and the baby loves them! He'll eat 4 or 5 fish for a snack! In this recipe, you fry the smelts whole, and then let them marinate for a few days in white wine, golen raisins, fennel slices, red and green peppers, lemon, and spices. They are served room temperature -- the flesh is firm and sweet, and everything tastes bright and fresh.

New Year's Eve Dinner 2009

2009-01-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

The menu:

Scallop Seviche marinated with grapefruit, limes, red onions, and peppers

Duck breast with a cognac pomegranite glaze, saffron rice garnished with pine nuts, and asparagus (sauteed with some really great mustard)

Finally, some runny, creamy Epoisses - a strong, salty, wonderfully stinky washed rind cheese from Burgundy.

All drunk with a 1998 Gaston Chiquet Vintage Champagne -- a decent find! Not only was it a 10 year old Champagne, (and, as Dave said, "if it comes in a box, it's probably good!," but I knew I recognized the name -- and couldn't place it. Sure enough, it is a Terry Theise Champagne (an American importer of Austrian and German wines, and Champagne and one of my wine heroes). Terry describes the house as only he could: "it always surprises me to rediscover just how focused and precise they are, as if the prose of E.B. White were rendered in the form of Champagne. They taste effortless, tactful, yet attractive ... these are sensually gorgeous, hedonistic wines that everyone can cozy up to." Gorgeous golden color, all sorts of mineral and yeasty flavours, great, long, focused finish.

We were asleep before midnight, of course, but Happy New Year to everyone!

Heading Home, No Fireworks

2008-12-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

We're headed for a plane home for a few days for Christmas. We checked the regulations for what we can take in our luggage, mostly because I was thinking about taking a new knitting project I finally started. While my knitting needles may be allowed onto the flight, we did learn that these things, are in fact, prohibited in carry-on luggage:

Box cutters
Axe Picks
Meat Cleavers
Swords
Sabers
Baseball Bats
Bows & Arrows
Cattle Prods
Hammers
Brass Knuckles
Throwing Stars
Fireworks

Ewenity Cheeses -- and some great lamb, too!

2008-12-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

Absolutely loving the sheep's milk cheeses from Ewenity Dairy Co-Operative -- we've picked them up every Saturday for the last three weeks. The cheese maker, Elisabeth,of Best Baa farms, is there each weekend, and has made the entire shopping experience exceptional -- she's extremely passionate and articulate, and will tell you the difference between four different rounds of cheese -- all from the same batch. She'll explain which one is ripe for tonight, for tomorrow, or for next week, and give you tastes of everything. H We've tasted the 'Sheep in the Meadow' a creamy round rolled in rosemary and thyme, the 'Ewenity' which is a semi-hard cheese, salty and full of flavour, and the Mouton Rouge, a buttery raw milk cheese. We also bought the fabulous sour cream, which is thick and tangy. We've also bought the lamb from Best Baa Farms, the meat it tasty and tender; the baby loves it. To stick to the budget, we've limited ourselves to the stew meat and kabobs, but we are looking forward to splurging on some nicer cuts soon.

Our New Street

2008-12-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

Here's our little street, tucked away in the big city. You can see our townhouse in the middle of the row on the left side -- between the red & white cars. Last week, Dave went to our first required housing Co-op meeting (of course it was right during my final.) The Co-op will reimburse us for a babysitter for the meetings, which is great. It was the 'annual finance meeting' so filled with budgeting -- some of the apartments and co-ops will be getting kitchen renovations, all are getting new toilets, some are getting new carpeting. I caught the tail end of it, which had turned into a chance for members to vent about the lack of attendance at meetings and participation in Co-op projects. One of the main ideas behind the Co-op is that you become a member, not just a 'renter' and that you will somehow contribute to the community -- and go to meetings. We're actually looking forward to it -- helping to organize some activities, working on the gardens, getting to knowing the people in our community. Each week, a little weekly newsletter gets delivered to the door with that week's announcements, notices, and whatever else people want included. Cheesy, yes, but kind of nice.