It's been a busy week! I have today off from work so I have decided that I am going to make a veg version of French Onion Soup. Now, I have to warn you that I am not a huge fan of onions. I use them while cooking a dish but I would never put them on a salad or in a sandwich and I would never, ever, eat a dish completely devoted to the onion. So why on earth would I make French Onion Soup? Well the glorious "thaw" (temperatures at -2 instead of -21 degrees) is over as of this morning. My hands were like blocks (well cubes because that sounds more ladylike) of ice after taking the dog out and while that could be blamed on a lack of mittens and my desire to take my coffee outside it is still cold! So when I was thinking about dinner I want something comforting, cozy, and relatively light. I came across a French Onion Soup recipe and the picture looked so delicious I decided to make a vegetarian version of it.
I will let you know how it goes in a few hours! After all, it is only ten in the morning on a Saturday and we have yet to eat breakfast!
1.29.2011
1.21.2011
If I Could Eat This Everyday
See? I made it back here again safe and sound...the blog has not been abandoned! This morning I dragged the boy to breakfast. Wait, you may be thinking "Why on earth does she have to drag a boy to breakfast? Do they not usually gravitate towards these things?" but sadly, yes, I had to force him to breakfast.
It may have been the fact that I woke up at 8 o'clock on my day off and on a day when his classes don't start until noon but I was full of energy and ready to go! It could have also been the fact that I took him out of his element. Normally, we go to Sunset Grill a short walk away. Don't get me wrong, it's a great little greasy diner that has become a landmark in Toronto. However, since going vegetarian there is little there that I can eat....and pancakes from a boxed batter is not what I like to go out for breakfast for. Portions are big and the price small but it lacks quality.
So, this morning I brought him to one of my favourite places, Lady Marmalade. It features organic free-range eggs, huge portions, and inventive dishes with a Mexican influence. They are more than happy to sub in scrambled tofu for eggs, avocado for sausage, or miso gravy on their breakfast poutine. Their french toast is basically bread pudding...and pudding for breakfast? You cannot go wrong! Some flavours that they feature include: Apple and Cinnamon, Strawberry Vanilla, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana. Not to mention their bread is sourced from St. John's Bakery, an organization that provides job opportunities to less fortunate individuals. I also love the decor, mismatched formica tables and retro chairs reminiscent of your great aunt's kitchen.
Enough of my raving! Here is what the boy ate
Eggs Benedict on a wholewheat English muffin, homefries and salad with a miso dressing
If I could eat this deliciousness every morning for the rest of my life I would be the most satisfied (and probably overweight) woman around. And here is my Huevos Migas..although they were not eggy as I substituted scrambled tofu for the egg. The dish is filled with brown rice, scrambled tofu with avocado, tomatoes, and chili, house guacamole (and not the overly mayonaisey nasty guacamole that a lot of restaurants serve), perfectly cooked black beans, and house made tortilla chips, topped with a drizzle cilantro-lime infused sour cream, fresh cilantro and green onions.
It was love people.
It may have been the fact that I woke up at 8 o'clock on my day off and on a day when his classes don't start until noon but I was full of energy and ready to go! It could have also been the fact that I took him out of his element. Normally, we go to Sunset Grill a short walk away. Don't get me wrong, it's a great little greasy diner that has become a landmark in Toronto. However, since going vegetarian there is little there that I can eat....and pancakes from a boxed batter is not what I like to go out for breakfast for. Portions are big and the price small but it lacks quality.
So, this morning I brought him to one of my favourite places, Lady Marmalade. It features organic free-range eggs, huge portions, and inventive dishes with a Mexican influence. They are more than happy to sub in scrambled tofu for eggs, avocado for sausage, or miso gravy on their breakfast poutine. Their french toast is basically bread pudding...and pudding for breakfast? You cannot go wrong! Some flavours that they feature include: Apple and Cinnamon, Strawberry Vanilla, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana. Not to mention their bread is sourced from St. John's Bakery, an organization that provides job opportunities to less fortunate individuals. I also love the decor, mismatched formica tables and retro chairs reminiscent of your great aunt's kitchen.
Enough of my raving! Here is what the boy ate
Eggs Benedict on a wholewheat English muffin, homefries and salad with a miso dressingIf I could eat this deliciousness every morning for the rest of my life I would be the most satisfied (and probably overweight) woman around. And here is my Huevos Migas..although they were not eggy as I substituted scrambled tofu for the egg. The dish is filled with brown rice, scrambled tofu with avocado, tomatoes, and chili, house guacamole (and not the overly mayonaisey nasty guacamole that a lot of restaurants serve), perfectly cooked black beans, and house made tortilla chips, topped with a drizzle cilantro-lime infused sour cream, fresh cilantro and green onions.
It was love people.
1.20.2011
The "I am sorry for not blogging for two months" and "My most recent leap into the Unknown"
I've been bad. Shameful, actually, with keeping up with my blog. I left it. Abandoned it in cyberspace. I promise that this will not happen again!
The last two months have been rather eventful. We moved! In to a great apartment; five houses from the beach and with loads more space! We did some painting but I have yet to add my own touches to the place. Christmas and New Years came and went and now all of a sudden we are half-way through January...could someone please tell me where the month has gone? Towards the end of December I made a decision and perhaps it was not as "life altering" as it seemed to be while I was making it but nevertheless it did change things quite a bit.
Five years, two programs, and a sizable dollar amount later I decided that I hated, I repeat hated my program at school. Hate is a strong word and I know it so maybe it was a strong disdain for it, an "Omigosh why do I have to wake up in the morning and get my butt to class" feeling, an "I will hate what I am doing for the rest of my life" feeling. It could also have been my forty hour work week and 9 classes but I will never know because I decided not to go back.
Instead I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of acting.
Acting.
The chances of succeeding a pretty slim, but the idea of living in a box as a failed actor actually seemed more appealing than finishing my program. I don't want to look back thirty years from now and regret not trying it.
A few weeks prior to making this decision I was reading an article in Self Magazine. It said that you should do one thing a day that terrifies you. For some reason this stuck with me all day. What had I done in the last two years that had really scared me? That had got my heart pumping and blood rushing? Nothing. Zilch. I actually had switched to my current program in school (Hospitality Business Degree from a BA) because business is generally a more practical degree one where you will get a job upon graduating. So really, that huge change a year and a half ago was nothing more than a step back.
So I decided to scare myself, get some guts or grow a pair (sorry Mum!) and go hog wild. I am scared and I know that it may have been a crazy decision that will later be blamed on a quarter life crisis. But right now, it gives me butterflies and makes me happy and that ladies and gents, is what your life should be all about: doing what makes you happy.
I enrolled in my first acting class in four years today. I searched for a photographer and booked my head-shots for three weeks from now. My classes start in a month. I am excited and for the first time in a long time: terrified!
The last two months have been rather eventful. We moved! In to a great apartment; five houses from the beach and with loads more space! We did some painting but I have yet to add my own touches to the place. Christmas and New Years came and went and now all of a sudden we are half-way through January...could someone please tell me where the month has gone? Towards the end of December I made a decision and perhaps it was not as "life altering" as it seemed to be while I was making it but nevertheless it did change things quite a bit.
Five years, two programs, and a sizable dollar amount later I decided that I hated, I repeat hated my program at school. Hate is a strong word and I know it so maybe it was a strong disdain for it, an "Omigosh why do I have to wake up in the morning and get my butt to class" feeling, an "I will hate what I am doing for the rest of my life" feeling. It could also have been my forty hour work week and 9 classes but I will never know because I decided not to go back.
Instead I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of acting.
Acting.
The chances of succeeding a pretty slim, but the idea of living in a box as a failed actor actually seemed more appealing than finishing my program. I don't want to look back thirty years from now and regret not trying it.
A few weeks prior to making this decision I was reading an article in Self Magazine. It said that you should do one thing a day that terrifies you. For some reason this stuck with me all day. What had I done in the last two years that had really scared me? That had got my heart pumping and blood rushing? Nothing. Zilch. I actually had switched to my current program in school (Hospitality Business Degree from a BA) because business is generally a more practical degree one where you will get a job upon graduating. So really, that huge change a year and a half ago was nothing more than a step back.
So I decided to scare myself, get some guts or grow a pair (sorry Mum!) and go hog wild. I am scared and I know that it may have been a crazy decision that will later be blamed on a quarter life crisis. But right now, it gives me butterflies and makes me happy and that ladies and gents, is what your life should be all about: doing what makes you happy.
I enrolled in my first acting class in four years today. I searched for a photographer and booked my head-shots for three weeks from now. My classes start in a month. I am excited and for the first time in a long time: terrified!
11.06.2010
The Birthday Party That I Want
My birthday is about a year away and while it won't be a huge milestone I would love to have something like this "Up" themed birthday party that I found on Hostess with the Mostest blog. Now the party is for a seven year old and I assure you that I am far from that but I loved the whimsical theme! It was photographed and created by Wendy Updegraff Photography and it is adorable. Check it out!
The party was an outdoor movie night complete with popcorn, Stewart's soda and a great cake!
The Up characters were printed off the Disney website
I love the sprinkles, flags and even the signage. The attention to detail is amazing!
The cake is a dream and I would love to be able to create something like this!
Each guest received their own adventure book
The movie screen was made from a sheet and silk fabric. The fairy lights in the trees are a great touch as well
And here's the kicker: A balloon wreath. I should only hope that I will be this creative and meticulous for my children's birthday parties...sigh.
The party was an outdoor movie night complete with popcorn, Stewart's soda and a great cake!
The Up characters were printed off the Disney website
I love the sprinkles, flags and even the signage. The attention to detail is amazing!
The cake is a dream and I would love to be able to create something like this!
Each guest received their own adventure book
The movie screen was made from a sheet and silk fabric. The fairy lights in the trees are a great touch as well
And here's the kicker: A balloon wreath. I should only hope that I will be this creative and meticulous for my children's birthday parties...sigh.
11.05.2010
Dinner Sans Le Garcon
J.S is working late tonight and I had a craving for eggplant. Why eggplant? I can't answer that. It's versatile as it can prepared so many different ways: roasted, grilled, broiled, pureed or barbecued. They are meaty and delicious and I haven't had a craving for a vegetable like the way I did today in a long time...not since I wanted asparagus and ate it for about a week straight. I have not wanted it since.
J.S hates eggplant. And I know "hate" is a strong word (as my Mum likes to remind me regularly) but his dislike for it is very strong, ever since I forced him to try eggplant Parmesan last winter. So because he was working I decided to indulge in my craving and he had tuna sandwiches...any type of sandwich and he's happy.
I bought them, rushed home because...surprise! Canadian winter has officially hit and then I stood staring at them on the counter for a bit. I had no idea what to do with them. What I came up with was delicious, addictive, and so simple. I almost ate the entire dish. Almost. Um, there is a slight chance I may finish it by the end of the evening.
I used homemade tomato sauce that I made about a month before I decided to eat as local as possible hence the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pepper and sea salt. I posted the recipe below. Any thick tomato sauce will do the trick. If you are using jarred sauce I recommend Neal Brothers its organic, Canadian and apparently a family member of mine dated one of them...not that it affects their food whatsoever!
Broiled Eggplant with Chickpeas, Roasted Tomato Sauce and Goat Cheese serves two
1 small to medium size eggplant sliced into 1/2'' slices
1 cup of Roasted Tomato Sauce recipe below
1 cup of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) that have been soaked overnight or canned
1 tablespoon of crumbled goat cheese
A few fresh basil leaves
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay eggplant on cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove eggplant and turn each piece over, turn on broiler and place the tray back in the oven for another 3 minutes. Remove the tray and turn the oven back to 350 degrees. Place the eggplant in a 9x9 glass dish and cover with 3/4 of the tomato sauce, layer the chickpeas on top, followed by another layer of tomato sauce and the goat cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese turns golden. Serve and sprinkle with basil.
This would be great served with quinoa, polenta,barley, a green salad or a hearty loaf of bread.
J.S hates eggplant. And I know "hate" is a strong word (as my Mum likes to remind me regularly) but his dislike for it is very strong, ever since I forced him to try eggplant Parmesan last winter. So because he was working I decided to indulge in my craving and he had tuna sandwiches...any type of sandwich and he's happy.
I bought them, rushed home because...surprise! Canadian winter has officially hit and then I stood staring at them on the counter for a bit. I had no idea what to do with them. What I came up with was delicious, addictive, and so simple. I almost ate the entire dish. Almost. Um, there is a slight chance I may finish it by the end of the evening.
.JPG) |
| Broiled Eggplant with Chickpeas, Roasted Tomato Sauce&Goat Cheese |
Broiled Eggplant with Chickpeas, Roasted Tomato Sauce and Goat Cheese serves two
1 small to medium size eggplant sliced into 1/2'' slices
1 cup of Roasted Tomato Sauce recipe below
1 cup of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) that have been soaked overnight or canned
1 tablespoon of crumbled goat cheese
A few fresh basil leaves
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay eggplant on cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove eggplant and turn each piece over, turn on broiler and place the tray back in the oven for another 3 minutes. Remove the tray and turn the oven back to 350 degrees. Place the eggplant in a 9x9 glass dish and cover with 3/4 of the tomato sauce, layer the chickpeas on top, followed by another layer of tomato sauce and the goat cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese turns golden. Serve and sprinkle with basil.
This would be great served with quinoa, polenta,barley, a green salad or a hearty loaf of bread.
Roasted Tomato Sauce makes approximately two yummy cups
3lbs of tomatoes preferably organic and local
2 heads of garlic
1/2 of olive oil
1 small bunch of basil torn into small pieces
1 teaspoon aged balsamic vinegar
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Slice tomatoes in half and place on a large cookie tray. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper. Wrap the heads of garlic in aluminum foil and place on tray with tomatoes. Roast for two hours. In a blender or food processor puree the tomatoes, the rest of the olive oil, the basil and balsamic vinegar together. Open the garlic packets and gently squeeze the roasted garlic in to the blender and puree. Season to taste. This keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or freeze for winter!
11.04.2010
Market Fresh
I hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween and enjoyed an array of candy. Unfortunately I did not as candy isn't "local"...sigh...truthfully I didn't miss it much.
Saturday morning J.S and I went to Brickworks Farmer's Market located in the Don Valley in Toronto. I have lived in this city for over ten years and I had yet to venture there. I love, love, loved it! A collection of historic brick buildings that was once a brick factory it is nestled amongst the Don River Valley. It was amazing to be in an area that is so old but still see the Toronto skyline. It was a rather frosty morning as J.S commented "We can see our breath!" and he wasn't very happy that I made him forego his ritual Starbucks in order to catch the bus on time but the coffee we found there was amazing! It was from The Merchants of Green Coffee and they literally roasted the beans in front of us. The beans are from a sustainable coop called the Montes de Oro, it was the first coffee I have had in over a month but it was so worth it. Aside from the coffee we went for a walk around the grounds and picked up farm-fresh eggs, beets, potatoes, leeks, royal gala apples, kale, and goat cheese. J.S also had a locally made hotdog with beet ketchup and horseradish mustard that he said was out of this world...although for a guy that requested kraft dinner and hotdogs for lunch I sometimes wonder.
Saturday morning J.S and I went to Brickworks Farmer's Market located in the Don Valley in Toronto. I have lived in this city for over ten years and I had yet to venture there. I love, love, loved it! A collection of historic brick buildings that was once a brick factory it is nestled amongst the Don River Valley. It was amazing to be in an area that is so old but still see the Toronto skyline. It was a rather frosty morning as J.S commented "We can see our breath!" and he wasn't very happy that I made him forego his ritual Starbucks in order to catch the bus on time but the coffee we found there was amazing! It was from The Merchants of Green Coffee and they literally roasted the beans in front of us. The beans are from a sustainable coop called the Montes de Oro, it was the first coffee I have had in over a month but it was so worth it. Aside from the coffee we went for a walk around the grounds and picked up farm-fresh eggs, beets, potatoes, leeks, royal gala apples, kale, and goat cheese. J.S also had a locally made hotdog with beet ketchup and horseradish mustard that he said was out of this world...although for a guy that requested kraft dinner and hotdogs for lunch I sometimes wonder.
10.30.2010
Green Goddess
Thursday night I went out to Fresh on Bloor with Andrea (checkout her blog The Sane Spot) to have a delicious veg meal. Of the three locations in Toronto I had only been to the one on Spadina a few years ago so it was great to check out this one especially with my new diet. We opted to have the fixed prix menu: a choice of fruit smoothie or vegetable juice, an appetizer, a main and dessert for $21. I opted for the The Pink Dolphin (raspberries, mango and banana), Curried Avocado Dosas, The Green Goddess Bowl and a Chocolate Chip Cookie for dessert. I basically rolled outta there. Literally. I had about four bites of my Green Goddess Bowl and had to take the rest to go but it made an excellent brunch on Friday morning.
It was a great meal and while a lot of the ingredients: mango, banana, brown rice, tahini, ginger, chocolate, oats and flour are not local I have decided to give myself a little leeway. If I go out for dinner or I am invited to eat someone's house I will try to eat locally and as organic as possible but I know I can't promise it. I mean I already feel like an inconvenience being a vegetarian and going to someone's house to eat so I cannot demand local stuff as well. While I am out dining I cannot tour the kitchen or read labels so I will try my best.
This was my oh-so-delicious bowl of goodness! Baby bok choy, kale, broccoli, and seaweed on top of brown rice, topped with sunflower seeds, tahini, and grilled tempeh.
It was a great meal and while a lot of the ingredients: mango, banana, brown rice, tahini, ginger, chocolate, oats and flour are not local I have decided to give myself a little leeway. If I go out for dinner or I am invited to eat someone's house I will try to eat locally and as organic as possible but I know I can't promise it. I mean I already feel like an inconvenience being a vegetarian and going to someone's house to eat so I cannot demand local stuff as well. While I am out dining I cannot tour the kitchen or read labels so I will try my best.
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| Green Goddess Bowl |
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| Ms. Andrea enjoying her Buddha Bowl |
I have a super busy weekend ahead of me with papers and beginning to pack for our move at the end of November. So I will try to write about my Brickworks Farmer's Market experience but I can't promise anything! I am hoping I will find some yummy things to cook with!
What are your plans for the weekend? Anyone have any good moving tips?
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