Thursday, August 28, 2008

what a peach!



A happy shopping trip indeed...

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Oh so gloriously juicy, it's time again for the chin-dribbling, sticky-handed days of the peach.



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Betcha can't eat just one!

Monday, August 25, 2008

happy days #3

A few things seen and heard today...

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A lovely day for bubbles.


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Now if only I had a dog...

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So refreshing, the original juice box!


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This sign was about 12 x 12 feet, a good rival to Carrie's break-up Post It!


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A Barcelona park bench, who knew?


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We decided to hop on a boat and take a little ride around the lake...


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Knotty.


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Ahhh, a bit of wind in the sails...


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Planes, kayaks and automobiles.


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A good day to be a pirate.


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Our trip included a bar...


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...and kitchen!


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The view from here...


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Good curtains.


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This almost doesn't look like Toronto.


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I liked the artwork...that is one huge burger!


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An installation piece in the flowerbeds...

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...I thought it was quite pretty and sad at the same time.


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Name that brick! Another memorial/installation piece.


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And a beautiful rosy sunset to top it all off. Good night!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

lazy meal

A quick, light dinner for me tonight. My week started off with a bang - in the form of a staff meal named Porktine, yes that's poutine smothered in pulled pork, soo good - and I've been craving veggies ever since.


I do love those soft boiled eggs....

Sunday, August 17, 2008

risk!

A few scenes from a past weekend filled with eggs benny, champers and a bit of world domination....

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Charge!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

i heart pukkola!

I go through these phases where I alternate between bounding out the door in the morning, gobbling down an espresso/coffee/cold cheese pizza/last night's chinese takeout noodles (yes, working in a kitchen does make your diet rather beige...) and then rather self-consciously decide, usually on a sunday (the one day I don't have to work, hooray) that it's high time I eat some real food, something feel-good, something vaguely healthy dammit!

It's on those days that I turn to my own instant version of the tried and true hippy dippy greatness that Jamie Oliver so sweetly calls pukkola...it's basically a loose recipe for bircher-style muesli, where rolled oats and dried fruits are soaked overnight in milk with a grated apple, and right before serving, topped with more fresh fruits.

Although I do like the pudding-like creaminess that the soaking gives the grains, I have to be honest and admit that I don't always have the wherewithal to plan my breakfasts, so I often go with my own version...

(my quickie adaptation of) Jamie's Pukkola

8 large handfuls of rolled oats
2 large handfuls of ground bran
1 handful of chopped dried apricots
1 handful of chopped dried dates
1 handful of crushed walnuts
1 handful of almonds, hazelnuts or brazil nuts

*I added some sunflower seeds and dried cranberries too...(I love "recipes" like this where you can add all your favourite things.)

Fresh fruits or berries; strawberries, blueberries and sliced bananas are my faves
Cold, cold milk

Combine all the dry ingredients. Will keep very well in an airtight plastic or glass container.

To serve, scoop a few spoonfuls of your muesli mix into your favourite bowl, add enough cold milk to cover and sprinkle liberally with cut fruit and berries. Or, you could sprinkle the muesli onto creamy yogurt and top it off with bananas, blueberries and honey....soooo good!


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Pukkola, before. I was really lazy this time and didn't do the overnight soak, but even with a quick splash of milk (almond for me, yummy), it's still delicious.


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All of my favourite dried fruits; cranberries, apricots and dates.


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I couldn't decide between blueberries and raspberries, so both it is!

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Berries, they rock.

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I feel healthier just looking at this. (Does that make up for the poutine I had for dinner last night?)


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I hope you give this recipe a try, whether it's the full deal, or my quickie version; it really is amazing. Enjoy!

Monday, August 4, 2008

happy days #2

Another fun day, out and about town...

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First stop, a walk through Kensington Market; it's car-free day, so be prepared for the friendly crowds!


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I can't remember the last time I truly strolled. Isn't that such a great word?


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New favourite (non-boozy, but with definite possibilities) drink for a hot day - fresh watermelon and lime slushies. Sooo refreshing!


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Checking out the pie possibilities at Wanda's Pie in the Sky...we went with strawberry-rhubarb, our "contribution" to J's bbq later that evening.


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Watch what happens when you leave a pile of colourful chalk pieces on the ground...

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...collective street art!

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Fun buskers, too.

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He went from "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to Jackson 5...very versatile!

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Dulce de leche cake and chorizo? Yes, please!


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Cutest kid ever.

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I was thinking of Amelie and one of her "likes", dipping a hand into dried lentils...

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Jolie laide.

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I like the facial expressions!

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Lots of local stone fruit now in season.

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Bbq inspiration...

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Next stop, chinatown, where we picked up some freshly pressed sugarcane juice. (We later discovered that sugarcane, lime, Tanqueray and tonic is a very, very tasty beverage.)

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Cat nap.

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Next stop, T's baby shower!

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Strawberry jello and pink cuppy cakes for the lovely mommy.

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Onto J's bbq...this would be the "after" portion, post sangria-salsa-shrimp-skewer-ice-cream-sandwiches-oysters....a real feast!


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...there's always room for pie!