STRANGE FOOD

These probably look strange... but they were really good! I wanted something out of the ordinary, so I gave a recipe from Isa's Veganomicon a go. I know I've ragged on her in the past for the failure of her recipes in my incapable hands. But these quinoa/white bean balls worked out alright. I served them with a red wine/mushroom sauce, which was pretty much the same damn gravy I make all the time. I love it.

FINNISH SWEET BUNS

On my birthday this year, Emilia and I decided we should have champagne and cinnamon rolls. Her mum gave her a sweet little cookbook with her recipes in it. Within it was a recipe for some Finnish rolls that had both cinnamon AND cardamom. They rose oddly, but still tasted great, although rather, uh, well done... mmmm

GOOD WEEKENDS LOOK LIKE THIS

Man alive, this was a good weekend. Three of my favourite things.. following one of my favourite activities - hitting up one of the many Farmers Markets! It was Bermondsey this time. The vendors are always friendly and generally I can find everything I'm looking for.

These chocolate chip pumpkin cookies are probably THE best cookies I've ever eaten. My mum made them for us as kids during halloween. Usually they had smarties in them. I have since veganized the recipe, which is too precious for me to share, sorry!

PROJECT FOOD

When I'm intensely working, I generally don't think about what I throw together. Majority of the time I don't even notice what goes down. I really liked this dish though. It was so easy, just squash, grilled red peppers peppers and some fresh spinach. I added some toasted squash seeds because they're tasty (albeit soggy by the end).


There has also been a few times where I've really been into cabbage. Mostly salads, then I started making sweet + sour stir-fried cabbage (mmmm..). This was just another simple tamari/vinegarette coleslaw that I brainlessly pulled together.

FESTIVE FOOD

When I returned from Scotland during my last visit there in December, just before heading back to Canada for Christmas, I decided to make a bit of a pre-holiday dinner with my friend Hussain. Since we had gone to Edinburgh together the previous spring, I wanted to make something Scottish.. although I'm not certain how Scottish Colcannon is, perhaps more Irish? Anyway this was the dinner we made. Tofu/veggie pattie things with Colcannon + red wine/mushroom gravy. It went down well!

TRUFFLES

Returning to Canada always seems to be a good time for food experimentation. Possibly because I get bored there too easily. Over Christmas I made my second batch of truffles. I tried 2 variations, some with coconut milk, others using tofutti cream cheese. The ones with pistachios were decadent, as where the ones with kahlua inside. Fun fun.

STRESS CAKE

I had a bit of a love affair with coffee cake for awhile. I seem to go through food fixation phases quite a lot. This particular cake was the result of a stressful project that was utterly hopeless. Devouring this walnutty pleasantly spiced coffee accompaniment somehow made the project flailing okay. It also gave me another opportunity to play with the piping kit!

RED VELVET CUPCAKES (sprinkles mandatory)

This is one of my favourite photos. I went through a big red velvet cupcake phase after my homegirl Cindy and I made a batch at her apartment in Toronto. They taste best with Almond milk for SUPREMO moistness (and fun star sprinkles!).

LONG LOST TREATS

I am terrible at updating this site, I realize this. I guess I never thought anyone really bothered with it. I'm going to do my best to get back into blogging. It's been so long since I've posted many of these foods that I've forgotten exactly what they are.

I'm pretty sure these muffins were straight up almond + chocolate chip. Might have some dried cherries in there also. I know that was a pretty killer combo (cherry & almond).


These, I felt like I must master since moving to England. Sultana scones! Simple recipe, which I failed at making a few times before I really got somewhere. Essentially, it's butter mixed with flour/baking powder? a bit of sugar and a splash of milk. The key is to rub a little milk on the top of them before baking. They taste especially nice sliced in half and topped with jam.

I definitely understand why I end up with photos of a solitary baked good. Generally they are so irresistable that I end up eating most of the batch before they've had time to cool. In this particular situation, it's the chocolate addiction that leds me to polishing these off prior to setting properly in the fridge.

My mum has been making these Sweet Marie treats as long as I can remember. Chocolates, peanuts + goodness = BLISS.

CINNAMON BUNS

I really miss having a bread machine. These were a breeze to make back then. OK, they aren't really that hard now (just some kneading here and there). But still haven't been quite the same. They obviously didn't last long, as evidenced by the pan in the last picture. Mmmm.. I adore cream cheese icing.

MY FIRST PIE!

Yeah, it doesn't look like much, but there was effort in making the crust from scratch. From what I recall it had oats, nuts, molasses, some dried fruit possibly? It was a little bland, but the apple and peach flavours certainly complimented each other. I will try the lattice type next pie challenge!

BAKING BREAD

I haven't included my sourdough attempt (well, the second - the first was a complete disaster). I am relentless, as anyone who knows me is aware of my affinity for this type of bread. I wouldn't call it a success, but it was an improvement, making it beyond the starter killing stage. Here's the process.