31 July 2009

No dim sum for me

Was supposed to head out for dim sum with the extended team but last minute stuff kept us in. Ordered in Swiss Chalet for lunch instead. Never have luck there--every time I've had their chicken, it's been raw in the centre. Had the 1/3 rack of ribs dinner instead. Surprisingly good.

jasmine

29 July 2009

Mummy's birthday cake

Good gravy. I'm actually making a Black Forest gateau. Not that it's really my choice--is Mum's favourite cake and as it's her birthday tomorrow, I really don't have much of a choice. Thank goodness I have 5" spring forms. So a little mini-cake for her.

Dinner: A&W (after almost 2.5 hrs in line at the VIA station, trying to buy tickets, there's no way I'd be cooking)

jasmine

23 July 2009

I'm sure they thought they were being cutting edge

Lunch plans changed and I wound up eating at the caf. The beef and brie panini sounded like a good idea...if I'd known it would also include a sweet raspberry vinaigrette and some really questionable relish, I'd have opted for something else...

jasmine

21 July 2009

PB and Chocolate cheesecake

Doctored the spring DB cheesecake recipe to make absolutely delicious peanut butter cheesecakes with Oreo crust. Oh my word, it was good. Very rich, but good. They will show up at Cardamom Addict in the future.

jasmine

16 July 2009

Sour cherries!

Oh joy! Oh rapture!

A bucket of sour cherries is in my fridge.

Now to find a jam recipe.

jasmine

15 July 2009

Orange blueberry cake

I should call it "clean out the fridge" cake as it used soured milk and blueberries that should have been eaten a few days ago. Played around with ingredients--not too bad, a bit oily, but I'll revisit.


jasmine

13 July 2009

Sins of the father

Given all the lovely food my mother has made over the years, why on Earth do they consider Kentucky Duck a special treat?

Again, they opted for it. The shop they went to didn't fry it long enough as the coating still tasted raw (the chicken was cooked, though).

Yuch.

jasmine

12 July 2009

Comfort and Restoration

Crumb.

I hate July. If I could irradicate it from the calendar, I would be so much happier. I think.

I wrote and uploaded my tribute to Martin Streek, tying it into the Comfort and Restoration series. Not my best set of words, by far. The theme, of course, is loss. I know there's much to be written about food and loss, but after nearly two years, I'm still not ready to do it justice.

I thought I could pull something together that could easily bring in food--I knew the dish (mashed potatoes)--but it just didn't come out that way.


jasmine

10 July 2009

Pepper fry and rice

This is the food I love. Fast and unadorned. In another life and origination it would simply be a pepper steak and rice. In Kerala, it's a pepper fry.

Beef pepper fry
Rice

jasmine

08 July 2009

Pizza for breakfast

Sometimes students have the right idea. That pizza I made on Sunday is a fabulous breakfast. Still need to tweak it, but really...nummynummynummy.



jasmine

07 July 2009

RIP, Martin

Nothing about food today.

Martin Streek died yesterday; found out this afternoon.

In a bit of shock as I spent many hours with him on the car radio on my drive home in my commuting days...I can still hear his baritone over the crowds during his Live To Air at The Kingdom/Sound Academy/Velvet Underground, not to mention the Thursday 30...

RIP, the spirit of radio will never be the same.


jasmine

05 July 2009

Cherry Grunt and Pizza

Made a special treat for Annemarie, and posted it here. I find it odd, this practise of creating and posting a dish in honour of someone who will probably never eat that particular instance. I've done it a few times now. It sort of feels like being a tease (which I'm getting practised at with a certain friend, I suppose), but it's not meant to be...

Speaking of whom...he suggested Guinness Chocolate ice cream as a flavour (well he didn't...he said he likes beer and chocolate)...translated it, slightly improving upon David Leibowitz's recipe. Sent the photo over...he's impressed...or he's being polite. Regardless, I am happy I have a tub of it in my freezer.

Anyway, Annemarie and I connected via gTalk today. Got caught up with the man situation...I'm back to 0...I think. I say I think because who knows what's really going on. Except that one would like to be a "friend with with benefits"--sans friendship (I think). For a smart boy, this one doesn't let the brain that got him his Masters do the thinking.

Tried a new recipe for pizza dough today. I quite like it--focaccia-like. I need a new pan, though...poured the dough onto a pan lined with tin foil. After baking it was a bugger to pry the silvery leaves off the back of he pie.


Pizza with hot salami, onions, bell peppers an mushrooms.
Cherry Grunt

jasmine

04 July 2009

DB July Challenge and Catfish

This is the earliest I've ever completed a DB challenge. Not thrilled with the results...I've screwed up in pretty much every element. I'm taking full responsiblity for it's failure (except for one bit). No matter. It's photographed and the end results are going to Christine's...her kids like the main bit of it...and they'll eat anything (I think).

Am working out an oven fish dish with catfish. Easy...but not quite there yet. Served it with oven fries. Didn't have any tartar sauce (and didn't feel like making mayo), so doctored some chip dip...well...a disaster as a fish sauce, but not bad with the fries. Meh

Dinner:
Baked catfish
Oven fries
Doctored dip

jasmine

03 July 2009

Mango shrimp curry and rice

Went over to the parents for supper...as I will most nights, now that they are back. The usual hubub of the house is returned...which is comforting.

I missed her cooking

Mango shrimp curry
Rice
Beans

jasmine

01 July 2009

Newfoundland Fries

The Newfoundland Fries shop is never open when I drive by. Ever.

I wonder how it stays in business.

When they were in their old location there were lots of cars and a line up of fans waiting to get in. But I guess now that they went upscale--out of a trailer and into...a bigger trailer, closer to civilisation...they can afford to not be open.

But they were open today. James and I went in and got supper there. I think he was ripped off--he ordered a large NF fries and ordered small. No discernable difference in volume or weight...he paid 50 per cent more than I. I'm not impressed.

The fries, however were oddly patriotic I suppose...given they originated from the last province to join Confederation, in a hotly contested vote.


Newfoundland fries.
Rolaids

jasmine