Sensual Gourmet: Kitchen Diaries

Cherry ice cream and Tru Blood

2010-07-24T20:21:00.003-04:00

The end of the first day of a very trying weekend ends with a Tru Blood Series II and a bowl of Stoney Creek Black Cherry ice cream.

More ice cream will be needed before the weekend is out.

jasmine

Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

2010-07-20T22:44:00.002-04:00

I've been transfixed by cookies lately. Not sure why but, lately, whenever I've needed a bit of a pick me up--emotional or simply an energy boost--I want a cookie. A couple of overpriced, over preserved and underbaked monstrosities later, I finally baked up a batch of peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies. The recipe? From the back of the teddy beared peanut butter jar, zhuzhed with 100g of dark chocolate chips.

jasmine

If it's Sunday, I must be baking

2009-08-02T14:43:00.002-04:00

The weather's still cool enough so I can do a morning of baking. Quite pleased...

Peanut Butter cupcakes
Cherry loaf
Pizza Bianca

jasmine

No dim sum for me

2009-07-31T20:45:00.000-04:00

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

Mummy's birthday cake

2009-07-29T23:51:00.001-04:00

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

I'm sure they thought they were being cutting edge

2009-07-23T21:30:00.002-04:00

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

PB and Chocolate cheesecake

2009-07-21T22:42:00.000-04:00

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

Sour cherries!

2009-07-16T22:48:00.001-04:00

Oh joy! Oh rapture!

A bucket of sour cherries is in my fridge.

Now to find a jam recipe.

jasmine

Orange blueberry cake

2009-07-15T22:46:00.001-04:00

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

Sins of the father

2009-07-13T22:42:00.002-04:00

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

Comfort and Restoration

2009-07-12T15:18:00.002-04:00

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

Pepper fry and rice

2009-07-10T15:15:00.002-04:00

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

Pizza for breakfast

2009-07-08T19:05:00.000-04:00

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

RIP, Martin

2009-07-07T20:43:00.002-04:00

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

Cherry Grunt and Pizza

2009-07-05T23:28:00.003-04:00

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

DB July Challenge and Catfish

2009-07-04T23:23:00.003-04:00

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

Mango shrimp curry and rice

2009-07-03T21:21:00.002-04:00

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

Newfoundland Fries

2009-07-01T18:38:00.001-04:00

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

KFC

2009-06-29T23:11:00.002-04:00

It makes no sense to me, but my father's favourite Canadian food is KFC. Yes. I know. I know that too. And that as well. Each family celebration (save for the big ones--Thanksgiving, Christmas, my mum's and my birthdays) we always get a bucket o' Kentucky duck in (or as we call it "chuckychucky"--when I was little I couldn't say "Kentucky"and it came out as "chuckychucky"). My parents are back from their trip. A bucket of chicken was bought. My tummy wonders why I'm punishing it.

KFC
Potato Salad (from the grocer's)
Bean Salad (from the grocer's)
Potato wedges (home made)

jasmine

Daring Bakers: I'm hosting

2009-06-27T00:00:00.003-04:00

I knew my time would come and it is now.

Read about what I and my lovely cohostess Annemarie of Ambrosia and Nectar set as our challenge here.

Quite the experience hosting these things. The usual lot of sparkly snowflakes and people who complain because there's an element they don't like (almonds, pastry, an inability to follow directions) but the overwhelming positive reactions to the challenge more than make up for that lot.

jasmine

Spinach omelet wrap

2009-06-24T20:34:00.002-04:00

Good gravy, what more can come my way?

In no mood to deal with cooking; thank goodness I have leftover fillings from the lasagne.

One beaten egg with some of the bacon-spinach filling. Squidgily cooked before laying it on the flax wrap with some cheddar...v satisfying.

jasmine

Veggie Lasagne

2009-06-21T13:47:00.002-04:00

I know I made pasta sheets for a previous DB challenge, but I'm lazy. Out came the box of whole wheat pasta sheets and the bechamel recipe from the challenge. One layer was spinach and bacon, the other sautéed mushrooms. A few spoons of the last of my canned tomatoes. Nummy.

jasmine

Unhappy tummy

2009-06-19T22:28:00.001-04:00

Why oh why do I eat from the office cafeteria?

When oh when will I learn my lesson?

jasmine

Heh...I can be mean when I want to...

2009-06-18T19:21:00.001-04:00

Sent a photo to The Swordsman illustrating the dinner he bailed out on this past Saturday.

Not the best bit of food porn...we'll see what the reaction is.

jasmine

The dinner that wasn't

2009-06-13T20:39:00.000-04:00

We tried to get together for supper, but it wasn't meant to be. The Swordsman is just too exhausted.

Oven bbqed chicken and corn pudding.
Peach cobbler

jasmine

Pot luck lunch

2009-06-04T19:00:00.005-04:00

Good gravy. If you are going to have the nerve to graze at a pot luck, you need to bring food...you don't even have to make it yourself--the grocery store has prepared salads and veggie platters. The basket of candy you keep at your desk is NOT a pot luck contribution.

Soba noodle salad with seared tofu (mine)
Greek salad
various cheeses, cured meat
various dips with breads
chicken pasta
chicken in a slow cooker
lots of chocolate desserts
rhubarb cobbler

jasmine

Roast dinner

2009-05-31T18:56:00.002-04:00

My hormones are at play. Opened up the freezer and took out the first piece of red meat I saw--a baby prime rib roast (less than 1kg). It's dainty size allowed me to pan sear the two main sides and then pop it into the oven. I don't think I'll do roasts "the usual way" again after this. This is the new usual way.

Peppercorn and garlic encrusted roast,
Chunky chips
Red wine and onion sauce
Broccolini

jasmine

Yes, it has been a while

2009-05-24T18:35:00.002-04:00

One would think that I'd be able to keep two blogs going at once...along with all the other things I do.

Apparently not.

Oh well.

There's no way I can get caught up in missed meals, so I'm starting this one ... again.

So here goes...

Chicken enchiladas.

I'd started out wanting something Moroccan or Provençale. But I think the TV programme I had running in the background took over and it turned into enchiladas. Have never made them before...quite easy and quite good.

They may appear on CA at some point.

j

Cold weather food

2009-01-11T18:24:00.002-05:00

It's not a particularly hard winter-not at all comparable to last year's January (at least not yet). But still, it's perfect slow cooking weather...pottering in the kitchen while doing some bulk cooking, Beelzebub's gaping maw turning out baked goods.

Chili
Cornbread muffins

jasmine

Gone Fishing

2009-01-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

Almost the exact opposite to yesterday. Found myself craving fish in a big way; the grocer's sushi counter sufficed. So very addicted to seaweed salad. Next to the sushi bar is the fish counter. They had lovely-looking catfish in the case and I bought some. Far too much (in quantity and cost)...have frozen three filets for later use.

Lunch:
California Roll with brown rice
Seaweed salad

Supper
Catfish fingers with garlic aioli

jasmine

Hormonal eating

2009-01-09T20:00:00.000-05:00

Truly. Seriously.

The mere fact I've entitled this post as I have, is the pudding for which the proof is evident that I have no scruples when it comes to talking of such issues. Desperately need salt and meat. Red meat. Something must die to make my gullet and internal chemistry happy.

Dinner:
The second half of last night's chicken parm sandwich, supplemented with
Spicy fries, slathered in gravy from the caf.

Supper:
Quarter pounder McValue Meal with root beer as the beverage of choice.

jasmine

I can't believe people can eat the whole thing

2009-01-08T22:28:00.001-05:00

Worked a bit later than usual and needed to be on an evening call, so no real time to cook. Stopped off at the grocery store adn picked up a chicken parm sandwich. Good Gawd it's HUGE. Could only get through half of it for supper. The rest will be kept for tomorrow's lunch

jasmine

Breakfast for supper

2009-01-06T20:12:00.001-05:00

Before she left, Mum left me uncurried spinach curry. Decided that I needed a break from New Year's leftovers and did up some eggs and toast for supper (and tomorrow's lunch).

Spinachy egg scramble
Hot, buttered toast with orange marmelade

jasmine

New Year's Feast

2009-01-01T14:19:00.002-05:00

Christmas is always Canadian food: the turkey, stuffing, gravy yaddayaddayadda. New Years is always Indian food. This year the menu was scaled back considerably...which is good because there's always too much food. Still, lots of leftovers.

Vegetable biryani
Spinach curry
Broccoli something (ew).
Fish (salty)
Butter chicken (which I made last night)
Pappadums
Apple crisp

jasmine

A Vatful of butter chicken

2008-12-31T23:45:00.002-05:00

Bonus points if you get the title.

It will take more than 17 months to have me looking forward to New Year's Eve. Thankfully, I busied myself with butter chicken.

A number of minor screw-ups. The chicken wasn't fully thawed, the wrong cuts were thawed, too much chicken, couldn't get the balance correct. Three and a half hours. Meh.

jasmine

Some nights only frozen processed pepperoni pizza will do

2008-12-28T21:07:00.000-05:00

And as usual, Beelzebub turned it into charcoal.

Meh.

jasmine

Turkey Pot Pie Extravaganza

2008-12-26T16:29:00.001-05:00

This is one of my little private traditions. Taking Christmas dinner leftovers and turning them into pot pies to be had on cold, tired winter nights.

'Nuff said.

jasmine

Christmas dinner

2008-12-25T20:58:00.002-05:00

After much backing and forthing as to venue, the family meal was here at the condo. Beelzebub is not to be trusted with anything as important as the holiday bird, so Mum took care of it (along with gravy and stuffing), tinned cranberry jelly along with my favourite corn fritters. I provided the rest. Three hours of merry-making between six of us....the menu:

Roast Turkey
Stuffing
Gravy
Corn fritters
Garlicky mash
Maple-glazed, Roasted Carrots and Parsnips spiced with cinnamon and cumin
Brussel sprouts with sausage
Little Penguin Chardonnay-Riesling
Egg nog with brandy
Chocolate Fruit cake, soused in Kalhua

Yes, some of us were a bit glooshy afterwards.

Supper was the traditional Chinese takeaway with the exbf...this year's installment included

Shrimp rolls
General Tsao's Chicken
Shanghai Noodles
Chicken Fried Rice
MooShoo Veggies

Good Lord, we're full.

Leftovers for a while

jasmine

Chicken and potatoes

2008-12-22T18:55:00.002-05:00

In the run up to Christmas, I'm depending upon easy...

Ovened shakey and bakey chicken with spiced potato wedges...lots of both...will have leftovers for a couple of days.

jasmine

Team Christmas lunch

2008-12-19T17:33:00.002-05:00

I love our Christmas lunch -- always at a half-decent restaurant, this year at a swanky-lite grill not too far from the office (which was good, given Snowmagedon, as Environment Canada deemed it).

Winter squash soup with bacon and creme fraiche
Tempura fish with frites, served with a slaw and a wasabi tartar
Coffees...no room for dessert.

jasmine

Company Christmas lunch

2008-12-18T17:30:00.002-05:00

There's only so much one can do when feeding the masses, but my friend in internal comms who organised the doo did a fabulous job...

Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes (with real potatoes)
Gravy
Cranberry sauce
Roasted carrots and parsnips
Rolls with butter
A flipping amazing cheesecake which was almost too good to be mass-produced

jasmine

Not quite breakfast for supper...

2008-12-15T16:28:00.003-05:00

...but but close enough.

Back bacon with mashed potatoes and spiced cabbage.

Thank goodness Mum had me over otherwise I'd probably not have eaten.

jasmine

A month's worth of Christmas baking in one weekend

2008-12-14T17:25:00.002-05:00

Ironically, Beelzebub mostly behaved himself.

Seven fruitcakes
7 dozen molasses snaps
5 dozen chocomint crinkles

jasmine

Morning after and evening after

2008-12-10T20:22:00.002-05:00

Breakfast at Over Easy with Ivonne, as blogged on CA.

Dinner...hot dogs.

jasmine

Pre-concert meal

2008-12-09T19:00:00.000-05:00

Trying to find someplace to eat near the ACC just before the concert, without a reservation wasn't as bad as it could have been. Only a 20 minute wait at Jack Aster's.

Crab and lobster dip (shared)
Open face steak sandwich with fried onions and French fries
half a pint of Guinness

The others had
Garlic bread
Peppercorn rotini
Grilled salmon on greens
pop
Stella

jasmine

Ladies who lunch

2008-12-07T18:00:00.001-05:00

Decided to have a friend over for lunch--has been ages since I last had someone over for a meal. Since she's vegetarian, I was able to step out of my comfort zone (meat) and not do what so many will do when feeding someone who isn't a carnivore (pasta).

Sweet potato chipotle soup
Bleu cheese streudel with pickled pears
Frisée with balsamic dressing
Apple pie

We were happy. At some point I'll get the photos up on CA

jasmine

Turns out election night nibblies are also debate nibblies

2008-10-15T20:55:00.001-04:00

Watching the US Presidential candidates debate. Put ditto marks for food from last night to this night.

jasmine

Election night vittles

2008-10-14T20:51:00.000-04:00

Okay...apart from the DB challenge had very little that could be thought of as food tonight.

Discovered sour cream and dill chips...very good...dipped in low fat, but high sugar, asiago and artichoke dip. Ice Cream with caramel sauce.

jasmine

Thanksgiving lunch

2008-10-12T20:48:00.002-04:00

A day early but it's better this way.

Full turkey lunch at my parents--turkey, stuffing, mash, corn, carrots, bean salad, cranberry jelly. Made a sweet potato pie for dessert.

Enough food for 10...there were four of us...lots of leftovers

jasmine

I should really count how many times I apologise for neglecting this blog

2008-10-05T18:46:00.000-04:00

Add a +1 to that tally.

For a project, which will be discussed later, I wound up making 4kg of potatoes au gratin. My big problem is that I just throw things together and don't really measure....but I needed to sort out exactly what I do and take extra care to make it replicatable. I think I succeeded.

To go with all those potatoes: porkchops in a satay-like sauce and braised broccolini with mushrooms.

jasmine

Jammy Saturday

2008-09-20T22:26:00.003-04:00

The last of the summer fruits have now been preserved. One litre of blueberry jam and 1.5 litres of strawberry. V. yummy.

Also v. tired. Didn't feel like cooking so grabbed a bruschetta from the market and added a few slices fo salami to it. Yum.

jasmine

Ike the spike

2008-09-15T20:17:00.003-04:00

Well, that' s what I'm calling it.

Air pressures brought on such a headache...not much of an appetite but I ate anyway--lunch was last night's leftovers and supper was half an spinach, bacon and mushroom omelet with cheese (the other half will be sandwich filling for tomorrow's lunch).

Caffeine with acetaminophen usually sorts out a bad headache...this one was a doozy...I kept to the one extra strength tablet, but had three medium coffees. Blah...felt sloshy all day.

jasmine

This really is the poor cousin blog, isn't it

2008-09-14T23:45:00.002-04:00

Gosh if I ever had a bloggy child that wound up in bloggy therapy about parental abandonment issues this one is the clear winner (or loser).

I'll try and do better.

Tonight's supper was a hodgepodge dinner...shrimp, carrots and bell peppers on rice stick noodles, sauced with a homemade peach-peanut sauce, doctored with ketchup, chillis and soy. Tastes much better than it sounds.

jasmine

Well...I won't be buying meat from that shop again.

2008-08-21T00:09:00.002-04:00

Decided to marinate and freeze some chicken wings for relatively easy suppers. Got the marinade done -- similar to the pork chops earlier this week. Opened the wing container (actually it was a bag--should have been my first clue) and it smelled like something that was freshly deposited in the cat box.

Just more proof that I should only buy dry goods and things like tin foil at that particular shop.

Sigh...

jasmine

Sunday lunch

2008-08-17T23:21:00.002-04:00

My parents are still quite pleased about the condo--proof is how they are more than willing to host a lunch at mine. Well, it only makes sense as there's a bit more room for a proper sit-down dinner.

Anyway, they had some family friends in from Toronto and we had lunch here. Mum asked that I take care of dessert--made the August DB challenge, along with blackout cake. She then asked me to take care of the meat--pork chops. Made a char siu-ish marinade that worked out quite well. Will tweak it for some chicken wings to be frozen in portion sizes. Also made curried courgette fritters and garlic aioli. Unfortunately the fritters didn't come out quite well enough and they absorbed a lot of oil, even though the oil was hot enough.

The rest of supper was a veggie biryani and green beans.

Repeat all the above for supper.

jasmine

Not hungry

2008-07-28T22:47:00.002-04:00

I just haven't felt like cooking or eating.

For the most part, I headed over to my parents' for supper, but I really didn't eat very much.

Still not in much of a mood, but I did make Michael's favourite ribs yesterday. They didn't turn out quite right.

jasmine

Scavenging

2008-07-18T19:44:00.000-04:00

Normally I'm pretty good about getting in the right amount of food in for meetings--just a few scraps left--a few cookies, maybe a couple of sandwich halves. Either people weren't hungry, the food was unappetising or a bit of both....well, it is industrial cafeteria food isn't it?

Anyway, a 3/4 day meeting over and a lot of food left over--took it back to my cube and sent out the "free food" call. Funnily enough people came and were disappointed...apparently they thought I'd brought in some home-made goodies and weren't impressed to see industrial caf food. A few people came, saw and left.

The thing is I hate waste. So I picked through the leftovers and brought home the more appetising bits:

Spinach salad with feta, strawberries and red onion
Butter croissants
Two sandwich halves
a box of cookies.

Too bad the baked goods have that horrible preservative taste.

jasmine

Lunch out

2008-07-17T21:59:00.003-04:00

It's been ages since I last had a decent restaurant lunch. That's not to say there aren't good restaurants around, it's just that I brown bag it 95 per cent of the time. The other five per cent I usually grab something on the go (caf fast food).

Had an account rep come out from Toronto to meet with me and my most marvellous manager. We decided to have lunch (the manager couldn't make it), so we went to a newish restaurant in the area--newish because it's only been around for about a year and a half...difficult to get into. Because it's not the standard roadhouse fare, all the office workers want to go there, so you can't just do an impromptu lunch...

Anyway...had a bison burger with southwest aioli and frites. VERY filling but very good. Squeezed in some dessert--an upside down lemon meringue pie: little blobbles of meringue topped with lemon curd, then with cream and then shortbread biscuits. Blueberries were hidden throughout. Was very happy...full, but happy.

jasmine

Dinner at friends'

2008-07-14T19:41:00.002-04:00

Tonight was a treat. Spent time with some old friends of mine and the exbf's--haven't seen them in a couple of years.

They provided supper: gazpacho, barbequed venison with potatoes and a tossed salad.

I provided dessert the strawberry cream cake I mentioned in the last post. My only booboo was putting it together on Sunday as opposed to today--the berries started bleeding. Oh well...still tasted yummy.

jasmine

Strawberry Cream Cake

2008-07-13T19:38:00.002-04:00

I've been pushing myself too hard and am now paying the price. Feel very tired and somewhat icky.

Lunch and supper were both found in the freezer...pizza slices.

That said I did some baking. Went over to the parents' and baked a couple of sponges and brought them home to make a strawberry cream cake.

You can see it here: Savour the Season: Strawberries

jasmine

Well, I needed a break...

2008-07-07T23:38:00.002-04:00

Okay, if you read Confessions of a Cardamom Addict (the caramel dipped, crispy rice coated apple of my foodblogging life) you know that I was busy with a post-a-day project leading up to Mmm...Canada: the savoury edition. I think I uploaded about three weeks worth of content in a week. As a result, this site took a bit of a hiatus (well, apart from the wonderful post by Gayleen).

Then I needed recovery time.

I did eat...but ironically not entirely well.

The post-a-day week had me relying upon fast food pretty much every night: Harveys a couple of times, Quiznos, McDonalds, KFC and other things I can't remember right now...oh wait there was a Viet take-away one night. And several unsuccessful attempts at getting Newfoundland fries.

Last night's supper was cooking from the next cookbook to be reviewed.

Tonight was supper via mummy. Roast beef with veggies and potatoes. Dessert was an apple crisp with ice cream.

At some point I'll post the grocery purchases...

jasmine

Mmm...Canada: Pizza, Feta, and the Original Kraft Dinner

2008-06-23T00:00:00.001-04:00

The search for Canada's national food identity has been going on for as long as I can remember. No less a public figure than Pierre Burton looked into it for the CBC and decided, in the end, that our national food was pizza. Everyone eats it. Everyone loves it. Maybe not everyone, he admitted, but he presented as evidence the Saskatoon phone book which, at that time, was not a huge tome and which contained seventeen pages devoted to pizza. If a mid-sized city in the middle of the prairies could be so devoted to Italian food, what better proof could there be that Canada was all about pepperoni?

What Burton didn't know was that Saskatoon pizza is unlike pizza anywhere else, because Saskatoon's Italian restaurants are unlike Italian restaurants anywhere else. I grew up in Saskatoon and was nearly ten years old by the time I realized that Italian restaurants are not typically named "Athena" and "Delphi", and they do not typically offer baklava for dessert. Saskatoon's Italian restaurants, by and large, are owned by Greek restauranteurs and offer frajolaki as well as extra large loaded pizzas. With feta, if you'd like.

Pizzas in Saskatoon are substantial propositions. You don't face them casually, or alone. Rather than with sauce, cheese, and the toppings scattered on… well, the top… Saskatoon pizza involves a full layer of everything you've ordered. A layer of ham. A layer of pepperoni. A layer of sautéed mushrooms and a layer of green pepper and on it goes, until you get to the top where a thick layer of pizza cheese pins everything down. These are slices, or squares, you lift with both hands. I'm not saying this is an ideal way to make pizza. It's not delicate, and it's certainly an invitation to a heart attack. I'm just saying this is how it was, and that Burton didn't know what he was saying, really, when he held Saskatoon's pizza obsession up as a typical thing.

Burton, though a northerner and a westerner by birth, had been in Toronto many years by the time he filed that report. He was surrounded by Italians who ran proper Italian restaurants. How was he to know that Saskatoon was quirky, and Greek?

But this is the question, again and again, that we face when we try to determine Canada's national anything. What part of Canada do you mean? And what will you find when you get there?

This country is huge. Only Russia is larger. We know this, but there are so few of us and we're so accustomed to connecting across our distances that we don't always grasp it. Saskatoon is farther from Toronto than Madrid is from Copenhagen, yet no one is trying to find a food that ties Madrid and Copenhagen together. Clearly, that would be ridiculous.

What's more, we think we know each other's communities, and tastes, and specialties, because we do know a little about them. Alberta beef. PEI potatoes. BC apples. Yes, those things exist, and they are flavours of their regions, but you see them for the broad strokes they are when you're having excellent Ethiopian food in Calgary. It gets complicated on the ground.

So, do we abandon the search for a flavour of Canada? You might think, based on what I've said so far, that I would recommend it. We're too large and too diverse a nation to capture that way. Oddly, though, I do think there's a flavour of Canada, and I think Saskatoon's Greek pizza is a hint to what it is.

When I think about Canada and food, I don't think of maple or salmon or buffalo sausage. I think of feta on pizza. I think of every holiday celebration at school, when I would load my plate with Cantonese sticky buns and Italian scalidi and Ukrainian holobchi and whatever else my friends' parents had cooked for us. I think about the neighbourhood I live in now, where I'll visit a Caribbean grocery store and a Portuguese bakery on my home from the 7-Eleven. And I think about how a friend of mine is supposed to be sending me some kick-ass bannock, and how she tries to convince me that moose is the best steak around.

To me, the flavour of Canada, savoury or sweet, is everything, and lots of it, sometimes in strange combinations. You can dip holobchi or satay in pretty much anything and see how it goes. You can get comfortable with all kinds of food, not in a self-conscious "I am an urban sophisticate" way, but in the way that you're comfortable with anything else you grew up with, including Kraft Dinner. Which, by the way, Canadians in Europe have shipped to them, because they can't get it there —not the real thing—and they can't live without it.

That's my Canadian food. It's everything. It's baklava after pizza. It's Kraft Dinner. It's leftover satay thrown into Kraft Dinner. It's whatever I'm having for lunch today, which will be whatever I'm in the mood for. And it will be good.

Gayleen Froese,
Alberta, Canada
www.gayleenfroese.com/blog

This week's grocery bill

2008-06-21T16:49:00.002-04:00

$2.76 4 tins black beans (on sale; saved $0.30 per 540ml tin)
$0.99 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley
$2.03 370g pluots (4)
$0.40 6g garlic bulb (1)
$2.66 1x425ml barbecue sauce (on sale; saved $1.66 per bottle)
$5.66 172g Cantonnier cheese
$4.31 120g Prestige goat cheese
$3.82 142g Manitoba Madagascar Green Peppercorn Cheddar
$6.65 785g boneless leg of lamb (on sale; saved $6.66)
$3.29 1 bag natcho chips
$2.59 1L homo milk
$ 1.84 500g organic vanilla yoghurt (on sale; saved $1.85)
$2.69 1 jar pickles
$0.99 1 bunches green onions
$2.49 1 punnet strawberries
$1.70 170g bananas
$4.38 200g sliced mozzarella
$7.99 400g turmeric
$2.99 15 g organic, dried curry leaves
$3.99 200g black mustard seeds
$4.99 200g chilli pepper powder
$2.99 400g golden raisins
$4.99 200g cumin seeds
$3.99 200g coriander seeds

jasmine

McDonalds night

2008-06-20T21:36:00.003-04:00

I can't remember the last time I ate at McDonalds. It was late and I was running around...plus someone brought ubersweet treats into work. I needed to balance out all the sugar with salt.

Tried the new angus burger...yeah...not doing that again. But I did have overly salted fries.

Dessert was a cherry turnover.

jasmine

Scampi

2008-06-16T21:33:00.003-04:00

Even though I've several servings of the chicken left, I had a huge craving for scampi. I'd never made it before, but I figured it was pretty simple.

Shelled and de-pooped shrimp sauteed in butter, olive oil, garlic, a few spoons of diced tomatoes, white wine and fresh parsley.

Served over pasta.

jasmine

Bacon-wrapped asparagus with oven barbecued chicken

2008-06-15T21:26:00.002-04:00

Thank goodness the weather has cooled down a bit. It's almost perfect chicken roasting weather.

At the last minute I decided to joint the chicken and powdere it down with rub. Popped the pieces in the oven and basted in chipotle barbecue sauce.

With it, I had:
- a warm potato salad--olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and rosemary (I think it's been a year since I last made it).
- bacon-wrapped roasted asparagus
- corn

Yummy yummy.

Dessert was this month's DB challenge dish.

jasmine

Grocery shopping

2008-06-13T19:47:00.002-04:00

I've been meaning to record my grocery bills for a while...

$2.89 One dozen XL eggs
$0.79 One head, Romaine Lettuce
$2.54 330g pluots (four)
$0.65 430g carrots (four)
$2.50 570g asparagus
$0.88 310g oranges (one)
$4.69 454g unsalted butter

Dinner: sausage on a bun; dessert will probably be ice cream...

jasmine

Summer Party

2008-06-12T19:44:00.000-04:00

Okay--didn't make this, but I ate it. Went to a summer shindig. For whatever reason, I expected traditional BBQ fare, but it was pretty much kitchen fare.

Taco/Fajita bar (both chicken and beef)
Canapés
Boconcini

Dessert table with
ice cream cake
butter tarts
Nanaimo bars
Fruit

Yummy...

jasmine

Cheap Ticket Tuesdays

2008-06-10T23:40:00.002-04:00

The economy must be bad if Cheap Ticket Tuesdays are back. Not the $2.50 I recall from my youth, but $4.20 is a better price than the usual $10.

After seeing the new Indiana Jones movie, the exbf and I headed out to Harveys and got burgers, fries, onion rings and pop.

I figure the evening cost us about $10 each. Not bad.

jasmine

June's Milk Calendar Recipe

2008-06-09T19:48:00.002-04:00

I made it.

I ate it.

I'll post about it on CA later.

jasmine

Well...harrumph

2008-06-07T19:32:00.003-04:00

I really need to read menus much more carefully before I order. Mind you, I had a headache and the reason I got takeaway was because I was tired and my head was throbbing.

Wanted the steamed rice wraps stuffed with pork and with bean sprouts and slices of Vietnamese sausage...got steamed rice wraps with bean sprouts and slices of Vietnamese sausage. Number 110 vs 111.

Meh.

jasmine

Sausage and potato bake

2008-05-29T18:21:00.002-04:00

Have been thinking of this all day...Incredibly simple and totally devoid of veggies. Oh well.

That said, my surrogate sister showed up with a box of ramps and rhubarb from her property along with her very own mapel syrup...am very excited to do things with them...

jasmine

Not cooking today

2008-05-28T19:04:00.002-04:00

Found some of the good Jamaican patties in the freezer. Unfortunately, I over nuked it and wound up with something very hard and burnt in places. Oh well. May need to nibble on something later...need something more...

Took half the Opéra to the office--they finished off for me.

jasmine

More cookbook reviewing

2008-05-27T23:30:00.000-04:00

I'm so behind in the current book. Made the requisite soup. V. good. Hope to have the review up int he next 10 days on CA.

Also finished the May DB challenge. It turned out quite nicely but OH SO SWEET.

jasmine

Hamburger day at Harvey's

2008-05-25T19:12:00.003-04:00

I guess last year's day was successful and they brought it back this year. Well, it was successful as far as I'm concerned--it reminded me that they exist and I've eaten there a few times in the past year. Well...it helps that the..ummm..skanky...one closed down several months ago. Hated going in there...so I stopped. There's a much nicer one about 10 minutes from my new place so it was a more pleasant experience.

Free hamburger (mine had lettuce, onions, relish, ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles and hot peppers), a small pop and then split a poutine.

Wow...that was a lot for lunch.

Still full. Had a scoop of banana-fudge ice cream for supper...had to have something.

jasmine

Cheater's Risotto

2008-05-24T22:51:00.002-04:00

I heard of a makeshift risotto a while back...super easy and no-stirring. It was also supposed to take about 3/4 the time of real risotto.

I tried it.

It took more time and just as much effort as real risotto.

It was horrible.

Won't be doing that again.

I still have two, maybe three servings left.

jasmine

Holiday eating

2008-05-19T19:02:00.002-04:00

Normally I love long weekends as it gives me a chance to do a lot of cookings--bulk cooking, meals that take a long time to prepare, cookies, cakes..

For some reason, I did very, very little real cooking this weekend.

Friday: poached egg with fried mushrooms, a slice of ham and a potato pancake with a toasted English muffin (all but the poached egg were leftovers).

Saturday: beef nachos--sauteed 500gs of ground beef with a chilli seasoning packet, then nuked it with cheese and onions on tortilla chips.

Sunday: put my back out mopping, so had some Buffalo wings that were in the freezer. Oh, also made the Victoria Sponge.

Today: Blueberry scones for tea with a new friend. Supper was chicken (in an experimental--buy yummy maple-Dijon-chili marinade), stir fried broccoli and carrots with rice.

jasmine

Breakfast for supper

2008-05-15T20:12:00.002-04:00

It's been ages since I had pancakes. The situation has been rectified. Unfortunately, I forgot to add melted butter to the batter. Surprisingly enough, it didn't impair the final product too badly (is that a good sign or a bad sign?).

Made some potato pancakes as well, as well as back bacon.

Very happy.

jasmine

Curry con Bolognese

2008-05-11T20:34:00.001-04:00

It started as chili and then turned into a curry and finished as a bolognese.

Not bad...may need to work on this...

jasmine

Cravings

2008-05-07T20:05:00.001-04:00

Ever since I was little I've disliked hot dogs. Sure, I ate them when offered, but I really dislike their taste and smell. Plus, well, my tum doesn't like them...

This week I had an odd craving for them. It makes no sense to me. Oh well, found some in my parents' freezer (I was NOT going to buy some). Made mac'n'cheese with weenie bits.

I still dislike hot dogs.

jasmine

Finally did it

2008-05-04T15:03:00.002-04:00

Decided to tackle Dories' Perfect Party Cake again, but "tested" it with AP, my regular cake and pastry flour and the Swans Down she uses.

Either I'm doing something wrong or there's something amiss in the recipe

jasmine

Winging it

2008-05-02T22:00:00.001-04:00

I think I've decided that Friday nights I have no interest in actually making food, just eating it. Or something that's reminiscent of food.

The cheapygrocers had a kilo of frozen, precooked Buffalo Wings for $10. Paired a half-dozen wings with carrot sticks...

Just what I needed.

jasmine

12-hour fast

2008-04-28T21:17:00.002-04:00

Argh...

Normally I'm NOT hungry, but if I know I'm not allowed to eat or drink I get hungry or thirsty...really hungry or thirsty.

The insurance company wants my vitals tomorrow morning before they say yea or nay to a new insurance policy. So...as fo 45 minutes ago, I've stopped eating and drinking...

My last meal? Fried eggs with bruschetta topping and chili sauce and toasted wholemeal bread with butter. Was still hungry afterwards...had a little mug of warm milk (always stops hunger) and two cookies.

jasmine

Stromboli

2008-04-27T22:56:00.004-04:00

I think...

I try hard not to waste food or buy more than I can eat before it goes off. Lately I've not been too successful, but I guess agflation has given me a little more of a boost to mend my ways.

Had a chunk of salami in the fridge that's due in a few days, so I decided on pizza. Unfortunately, my dough didn't turn out as well as it usually does--too much flour, I think--so I decided to roll up all the fillings --tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers and salami. Worked out really nicely--was a lot more filling than I expected...which is fine, I guess.

jasmine

DB challenge and penne quills

2008-04-26T23:35:00.002-04:00

Wasn't sure if I could participate, but I needed to take my mind off things so I rolled up my sleeves and completed this month's DB Challenge...which is good because it's "due" on the 27th...posted on Cardamom Addict.

Supper was hunter's stew kinda meal. Wholewheat penne quills sauced in bruschetta topping, hot pepper rings and some leftover chickpea and black bean salad. Not wonderful, but not horrid.

Sigh.

jasmine

For a reason that escapes my logic...

2008-04-22T22:20:00.004-04:00

...you mark your workaversary (and every other event) by bringing in your own treats...people don't bring them in for you, you have to provide them to others.

Highly unfair as there are several moochers...Doubly unfair for me as I get calls wondering why they weren't told I was bringing in (homemade) treats...my response should be "And who are you? Have we met?" since the calls usually come from people who desperately want to be on "the" list...

I guess I should consider it a compliment--kinda like being keeper of the guest list of "the" club or having a regular table at a swanky restaurant that so I can just bypass the queue and and start gnawing away at something....

Anyway...tomorrow is the workaversary (number seven). Made 10 dozen cookies--half are butterscotch pecan, the other half are Nutella chocolate chip. Recipes to be posted on Cardamom Addict later.

Oh, not all the cookies will go to the office...am holding back about 60 per cent....

jasmine

"It was piggie of me...but I do not regret it."

2008-04-20T19:28:00.002-04:00

I so wish I could really blog about the latest offering from a publisher before I put the review post up. Yeah, it's my rule and no one else's...so it's my own fault.

Okay...so you'll know this about the book: there's a jerk pork and a bean salad recipe. Also served the corn pudding, some fried onions and rice with them. Dessert is an apple crumble...or is it a crisp? Don't know the difference.

Anyway, from the exbf:

"You know, I really wanted seconds, so I got some. It was piggie of me, I know, but I do not regret it."

I guess dinner was a winner.

jasmine

Best laid plans

2008-04-19T21:56:00.002-04:00

Never try and cook while migraining. Nice weather brought bad air pressure.

Gave up on the original plan of jerk pork with bean salad and corn pudding (that will be tomorrow).

Made pizza (I can do the dough in my sleep). Also made the corn pudding as I realised I could do it for Taste of Yellow.

jasmine

Weird bug

2008-04-14T19:02:00.002-04:00

I feel as if I have the stomach flu. But am not...umm...releasing stomach (or other) contents. My body just aches. Am so tired. My eyes are burning and my throat is sore. Probably remnants of the boat load of stresses and the foul mood from the other day.

The exbf took pity on me and bought me some sweet and sour soup from the Chinese restaurant near my parents' place. It's very good...but not as spicy as I remember.

He's eating the left over chicken supper, btw...

jasmine

Sunday roasted chicken supper

2008-04-13T20:33:00.002-04:00

Decided to practise my chicken jointing skills today. It's been a while since I used them. Besides, the chicken cooks faster when its in pieces, as opposed to whole

Nothing too out there--salt, pepper and thyme. Placed the chicken over sliced fennel. Love fennel braised in chickenny goodness. The potatoes didn't fair very well...tossed them because they were really meally. Made some rice instead. Also some peas.

Dessert was the last offering of the latest cookbook to be reviewed. V good, but sweet....

jasmine

Too tired to cook

2008-04-10T22:53:00.002-04:00

Not exactly sure why, but I woke up at about 2am and didn't get back to sleep until 5:30...or 6:30am. Needless to say not enough sleep was had. I really shouldn't have been driving, but I did. Decided at the end of the day I shouldn't be cooking.

Dinner was Chinese takeaway...sweet & sour pork, those really thick noodles, broccoli beef and spring rolls.

jasmine

&(?%&*(?% mood

2008-04-08T18:51:00.003-04:00

GRRRRRR.

It's amazing what some people get away with.

I do believe in karma. I do believe in karma. I do believe in karma. I do believe in karma. I do believe in karma. I do believe in karma.

Would take solace in food, but alas, my comfort eating staples are lacking at the present time.

Made due with pizza, bacon-flavoured crips and a can of cola--not even the type I really like, but my dad left me a case before he left...and I normally don't keep any pop in the house.

GRRRRRR.

jasmine

Jambalaya-ish pasta

2008-04-06T19:45:00.002-04:00

I've finally gotten the horrid taste of the dairy calendar's jambalaya calendar off my tongue.

But I still have a bottle of cajun seasoning. Looked in my fridge and it was definitely time to use the last of the kielbasa, so decided to make a jambalaya-ish pasta.

Yellow and red capsicums
onions
kielbasa
garlic
the last of the jarred tomato sauce
hot pepper rings
spices

Much more succesful than the easy jambalaya
jasmine

Maple Syrup...

2008-04-05T16:38:00.002-04:00

Went off to the Maple Syrup festival yesterday. Didn't see as many syrup vendors as I usually do, probably because of the temps. Was able to get a couple of litres of Number Two, but absolutey none of the Number Three.

Not a veggie in sight--Breakfast was a large Timmies and a choco mint doughnut; Second breakfast was the pancake breakfast (oh YUMYUMYUM), lunch was a back bacon sandwich. Supper was a burger and bacon-flavoured crisps with cookies and cream ice cream for dessert.

jasmine

Rotini and cheese

2008-03-31T20:54:00.002-04:00

I don't know why, but I was struck with the idea of making macaroni and cheese for supper. I've made it from scratch once or twice, but it's not a staple in my kitchen. Unfortunately, when I think of it, my mind conjures up fluorescent a orange cheese-like substance whose origins are powdery. I know Canadians love the blue and yellow box, but I'm not a big fan.

Came home from work and rummaged through the fridge--I have lots of bleu cheese, but not a lot good melty cheese. Made the white sauce and tipped in a mixture of mozz and Guinness cheddar, along with a good spoon of grainy Dijon. Coated the rotini in it and baked it off for a little bit.

Remembered the leftover fried mushrooms from yesterday's roast beef supper and mixed them in, after baking the pasta. Nummy...

jasmine

Enough takeaway

2008-03-30T16:00:00.003-04:00

I've pretty much lived on takeaway since Friday.

Friday lunch was spent with two work friends at a very yummy dimsum buffet. Lots of goodies--nuclear orange chicken (or pork??), siu mai, black bean aubergines, noodoes, spring rools, broccoli, beef and onions. For supper, decided to head out with a friend. We saw the new Simon Pegg movie (Run, Fat Boy, Run) but as we wanted to see the early show, we ate in the food court. New York Fries with the works. It's been years since I had that. Not quite to my memory, but still okay.

Spent Saturday running about. At the end of my shopping (2pm) was so hungry, decided to pick up a sandwich from the grocer's. Not back--chicken caesar with periperi in a wrap. Wolfed it down before heading over to the parents' to do some baking.

Have totally given up on Beelzebub. Got a cookbook from Penguin for posting consideration and completed a cake and some muffins. I'd forgotten what it was like to bake in a reliable oven. Also reminded myself as to what cooking on a gas flame was like. Oh, I so want a gas oven. Slowly working towards it. By the time I was done, it was well past supper time. There isn't a lot of food over there, so on the way home picked up a burger, onion rings and a root beer float from the A&W.

Today will be differnt. Roast beef dinner. Will stud the meat with garlic, and pat the outside with dried mustard, black pepper and flour. Will serve with some carrots and peas and other lovely veg...

jasmine

I feel like chicken tonight

2008-03-27T20:00:00.002-04:00

Needed to supplement the remants of Easter supper, so took the lazy route and took out the chicken wings and had them with the cornbread, roasted potatoes and roasted veg. Oven-heavy, but Beelzebub seems to be okay with meats and casseroles and veggies than with the more delicate stuff.

jasmine

Yes, I have been eating

2008-03-23T22:43:00.002-04:00

Just not writing about it--too many other things on the go.

Let's see..

St. Patrick's day was beef and Guinness stew. I need to divide the recipe...there's only so much stew I can eat in a week.

Also did the March Milk Calendar recipe. Not as bad as the February one, but still, it could be better.

Apart from a few take-aways, can't remember what else I made, apart from this weekend.

Yesterday made a caramelised onion pizza with black olives, anchovies and roasted tomatoes.

Today combined Easter Supper with the exbf's birthday, so supper was his choice. His selection was ribs (quelle surprise). So, supper of chicken and ribs, cornbread and roasted potatoes (sweet and Yukon gold) with feta cheese. Dessert was apple crisp with pralines and cream ice cream.

jasmine

Snowstorm

2008-03-08T18:20:00.001-05:00

augh...

Snowstorm-induced migraine plagued me yesterday. Cannot remember what, if anything I ate. Feel better today, so did my baking--blueberry buttermilk muffins. Unfortunately, Beelebub is still tempermental, so the bottoms are all burnt. Blah.

Supper was meant to use up a couple of kilos of chicken thighs before they went off...wanted to drop them off in the parent's deep freeze, but the roads are just horrid. Made a recipe from Eat, Shrink and Be Merry, totally avoiding all the goodening of the dish keeping all the lovely fats in.

Have no idea what I'm going to do with all that chicken. Exbf ate some, Beanie will eat some...but still so much left over...

jasmine

Eating on the run

2008-03-06T22:16:00.002-05:00

Wound up heading into Toronto for an evening meeting-like thing. Ate half a ham and cheese on the way, in hopes that it would stave off the hunger pangs. By the time the session was over, was very hungry. Intended on meeting a very lovely and darling blogger for a snack, but alas work kept our darling puff of cream chained to her desk. Went home, eating the other half sandwich on the way...stopped off at McD's for something very greasy and oddly satisfying...

jasmine