Drinking With My Mom in Vegas. (a whole different blog post)

A few weeks ago, I was visiting Ottawa and stumbled upon a copy of  Fifty Shades of Grey in my moms’ room. I wasn’t exactly surprised seeing as I remember my mom buying Cosmopolitan and People magazine on a regular basis when I was a kid. She’s still VERY IN THE KNOW. Can you tell?

We had a conversation that went like this:

Me: Hey Mom…., um, noticed you had a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey in your bathroom. Did you read it?

73 year old mother: I not only read Fifty Shades of Grey but I read the entire trilogy.

Me: How did you hear about this book? Did all your friends read it?

73 year old mother: No..I was too embarased to tell them I read it. But they know now.

Me: How long did it take you to read the trilogy?

73 year old mother: A DAY!!!!

Me: What did you think?

73 year old mother: I have experienced sex but not much of the stuff in the book. Let’s just say it was a learning experience for me as I was reading these books.

Me: Did you tell Dad?

73 year old mother: NO. I don’t want to cause him to jump out of the wheel chair.

I asked her if I could borrow the book and she agreed but I’m SLOWLY getting thru it. I’m not flipping the pages as fast as I thought but then again, I am only on chapter 3.  I’m sure I would be reading it faster if I was on holiday.

Back to my mom..She’s cool eh? Wonder what she will be reading next!!

My mom went to Israel recently for an epic two week trip to visit some relatives that live in Ra’anana.  Over the last few years, I have asked her to bring me FOOD ITEMS from her travels and not handbags, belts, scarves etc. I’m really a foodie and she understands!!

This is what she shlepped in her luggage. (Thanks Mom).

1. Curry Flavored Sesame Seeds and Garlic Flavored Sesame Seeds.

Will be sprinkling these seeds on EVERYTHING

Too funny – I had the wasabi flavored sesame seeds in my freezer from my last trip to Israel!!. Im thrilled to see that this company has expanded their line. Last nite, I made the most delicious piece of terriyaki salmon and added the garlic flavored sesame seeds for added texture and flavor.

2. A Roll of Paper Towels (from Nikol)

Can Someone Please Make These Paper Towels in Canada? Pretty Please.

We actually fought over this item as she said “I only brought back ONE and I want it”. I begged her to unroll it and give me a quarter of the roll – which she agreed to. Now I should explain that this is not just ANY paper towel. It looks like a paper towel but it’s not. Its a cross between a paper towel AND a jcloth. Once its wet – it acts like a jcloth. How brilliant.

I have friends who are visiting Israel as I type this blog entry, and I’m hoping they squeeze a few rolls into their luggage. At least it doesnt add a lot of weight, right?

3. World Of Nuts – Cholent Mix

I make cholent every Friday and one day hope to blog about my special vegetarian recipe!! I usually buy a few bags of mixed beans and add them to the crock pock. I guess this offers me the convenience of having all the beans in ONE bag. Will find out on Friday.

4. Asian Home Gourmet – Spice Paste for Thai Tom  Yum Soup

Again, I bought these packets on my last trip to Israel only to find out that you can buy them at No Frills or Kosher City. (oops)  Not sure yet if this particular soup is available but I will soon find out.

5. Pomegranate Sauce

Im going to have a lot of fun with this sauce and intend on using it in a salmon dish.

Receiving “food gifts” makes me really happy. However I know I’m not going to be happy when I run out!! Good to know that I have friends who regularly go to Israel!!

If you like lemons, and are searching for  a healthy “treat” then this recipe from  Rose Reisman Brings Home Light Cooking is the answer!! It’s super easy to make and its also pretty healthy with only 3 g of fat per half slice. Not to mention, the loaf freezes beautifully.

I also want to share my love for this gadget that I picked up by the cash register. (can you say Impulse Buy?) at Kitchen Stuff Plus. It not only helps me squeeze lemons and limes but it measures the quantity for me – all in one GIZMO. Cant remember how much I paid for it – but whatever it is – it’s making me happy!! Oh how I love gadgets that make me happy.

Loving This Gadget!!

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf  (from Rose Reisman,  Brings Home Light  Cooking)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup soft margarine

1 egg

2 tsp grated lemon rind

3 tbsp lemon juice

1/3 cup 2% milk

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/3 cup 2% yogurt or light sour cream (I always use yogurt).

METHOD:

1. Preaheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In a large bowl or food processor, beat together sugar, margarine, egg, lemon rind and juice, mixing well. Add milk, mixing well

3. Combine flour, poppy seeds, baking powder and baking soda. Add to bowl, alternatively with yogurt mixing until incorporated. Do not overmix.

4. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Happy Baking!!

The last time I went to the Toronto Jewish Film Festival was to see a documentary called “The Shvitz”. I loved the film but for some reason never went back to the Jewish Film Festival. Tonite, I googled to find out when that movie was made and it was 1993. That’s right…1993.  So you could say, it was about time I returned to the Festival.

Well I certainly made up for lost time as I saw 5 movies in 48 hours. All of a sudden I became one of those “festival goers” – who studies the guide, circles the films that I wanted to see and becomes obsessed reading reviews.

See What I Mean?

Here’s what I saw. (funny…usually I write, Here’s What I Ate). LOL.

I saw 5 movies in 2 days..which meant I was pretty busy running to the Bloor Cinema (which is stunning by the way) and the Sheppard Centre.

4 out of 5 tickets. Proof that I kept busy.

Salsa in Tel Aviv, Israel 2011, Spanish, Hebrew, Director: Jorge Weller.

I really enjoyed this movie. It had great characters, beautiful scenes of Israel and a funny story.  Not to mention I had a slight crush on the main actor who was beyond handsome. It was a great way for me to get introduced to the Israeli Film Festival. Total Score.

How To Re-Establish a Vodka Empire, UK 2011, Director: Dan Edelstyn

A well executed documentary that revealed a humorous and fascinating journey. The audience has a chance to witness this young filmmaker as he tries to revive a village in Ukraine by rebranding and distributing vodka back in London.

Off White Lies, Israel, France, Hebrew Director: Maya Kenig

A drama that focuses on the relationship between a young 13 year old girl who has come to live with her estranged father in Israel. It was probably my least favorite movie out of the 5 movies I saw but I still enjoyed it.

Deaf Jam, USA 2011, Director Judy Lieff

This was the best movie I saw. I left this movie inspired, moved and in total awe of the cast and the vision of the director. I would see this movie again in a heart beat. I really hope that this film becomes available on DVD one day soon. What was it about? It was about ASL (American Sign Language) poetry and some amazing students and teachers.

Polish Bar, USA 2010, Director Ben Berkowitz

A fantastic drama about a young adult struggling to make it big as a DJ. Great acting and a strong story which made for a very entertaining film.

Sadly I wont be able to see any more movies on Sunday as I won’t be in the city. Otherwise I would be going to more!! If you get a chance, take a peek at the schedule and catch a film There’s still plenty of films to see. You won’t be disappointed.

Guess who will be going to the Toronto Jewish Film Festival next year? ME!!

I was tired of making tuna burgers and salmon burgers and was searching the internet (for a change) for a corn cake recipe. I’ve made corn fritters before but I can’t say they were much of a hit. The corn cake recipe, I found on the Betty Crocker website uses Bisquick, and I think this makes a huge difference. I’m thrilled with the results. Bye bye corn fritters – hello corn cakes!!

The recipe suggested serving the corn cakes with a sour cream chive dressing but I was in the mood for something spicy so I grabbed the Sriracha bottle I had in the fridge and it was perfect.

Also I noticed that perhaps I didn’t chop up my vegetables fine enough…which is SO typical of my “rush rush rush” style of cooking. Nevertheless – I was thrilled with the results.

MINI CORN CAKES 

INGREDIENTS

 1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1/3 cup chopped green onions (really really fine)

1/3 cup chopped celery (really really fine)

1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper (really really fine)

1 cup soft white bread crumbs (I used panko bread crumbs- I figured “why not”)

1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix

1 tteaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

2 eggs, slightly beaten 

1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

TOPPING

1/2 cup chive-and-onion sour cream

 METHOD

1. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, celery and bell pepper; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

will chop the veggies a little smaller next time

2. In medium bowl, stir vegetable mixture and remaining ingredients except oil and sour cream until well blended.

This recipe couldnt be easier

3.  In same skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium heat. Cooking 8 corn cakes at a time, drop corn mixture into oil by tablespoonfuls, spreading each into 1 1/2-inch round. Cook 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds on each side, carefully turning once, until golden brown. Cook remaining corn cakes, using 2 teaspoons oil for each batch of 8 corn cakes. Serve with sour cream.

FINAL PRODUCT

Will be making these again.

Hope you like this recipe as much as I did. I think it would be a great side dish along with a piece of salmon and roasted root vegetables. What do you think?

Happy Cooking.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

 

Would love to explore more food markets!!

Last week, I appeared on a Food Network Show called “Ice Cold Cash“.  Not only was it a fun experience to participate in this quiz show, but I also WON $1200!! It’s not every day that I win $$….infact I have never won any $$$ because I have never bought a lottery ticket or a raffle ticket. (Fact).

I have set this money aside so I can TRAVEL AND EAT (or should it be EAT AND TRAVEL?)….whatever…you know what I mean!! I am still in “the thinking stage” and have not done any research but here’s my list of where I would potentially spend my prize money. Note: this list is not in any particular order. Plus…Chicago, New York or Las Vegas are not on this list as I have been to these cities numerous times and would like to go somewhere I have never been to. Does that make sense?

1. Barcelona, Spain: I hear this city is spectacular if you are a foodie. I’ve seen photos of the markets and think I would make a b-line from the airport to the market.

2. East Coast of Canada: I have never been to the East Coast and dream of taking Via Rail so I could get on/off the train and explore different restaurants in a variety of different cities.

3.  San Francisco: I went years and years ago (pre-food-obsession) and know that there is some great markets and restaurants in this city.

4. The Far East: $1200 won’t cut it eh? Shame.

By the way, I know $1200 is not a tremendous amount of money but I would be travelling during the off season and would not be eating in 3 star Michelin restaurants. Plus I’m happy to hunt for internet deals that would offer air and hotel.

So what do you think of this list? Where would YOU go if you won $1200 and wanted to travel and eat?  All I know is that the money is just sitting there in the bank waiting to be used and my stomach is waiting to have new experiences.

I am  really nervous about running the Toronto Marathon this Sunday. Let me rephrase that – I AM FREAKING. I have every doubt, fear, and have zero confidence at the moment. This happens to me before every race so I should be use to it. But I’m not. I have done 3 half marathons and before each race, I am a wreck. Go figure.

I seriously did not think I was going to register today, but I am going to. I decided last nite (nothing like waiting to the last minute) after reading some positive comments from my facebook friends. I seem to always resister the day of the expo, but that’s because I want to see what the weather is like (ok ok..I’m a bit of a princess). Guess what? It’s going to be 16 degrees and sunny on Sunday. Talk about “Perfect Conditions”.

So let’s review why I am so nervous:

1. I have only been training on a treadmill.. It’s weird – I know. I did not go out for a run once outdoors.

2. My longest run has only been 9 miles. I am hoping praying, that the rest is all mental.

3. I am registering late, so it will cost me $105 to participate. This is a problem, as I can think of a few restaurants I could go to with this money.

4. I am SLOW…REALLY SLOW. In fact with each race, I get slower and slower  - so why am I doing this? (don’t answer).

I have resolved to do the following things to help me on Sunday:

1. I am NOT going to wear a watch. I am just going to shuffle my way thru the 21 km and just enjoy the moment.

2. I am going to celebrate  this accomplishment and go to Poutini’s on Sunday nite. It’s about the only thing I will be able to afford!!

3. I am going to try and repeat this mantra throughout the race “one step at a time…one step at a time” and “you can do this…you can do this”.

Happy to hear from any of my readers with words of encouragement. These comments really do help me.

P.S. after this race…I am going to cross train for the next few months and get ready for a Sprint Triathlon. I didn’t do one last year and I really missed it. I know I will go thru the same “pre-race” jitters but for some reason I am less of a wreck. Except for the swim part. Stay tuned for a similar blog post.

Wish me luck.

Every time I go to Ottawa..I can’ t seem to stop eating. There’s always something new to try and always something I want to bring back to Toronto.

I started off my trip with a tweet up at a new restaurant called Pressed. I had read about it on other blogs (naturally) and thought it would be an ideal spot for a tweet up. Sadly I scheduled a tweet up on a night that the Senators were playing (oops) but I discovered that not EVERYONE watches the hockey game.

I loved the casual atmosphere of this restaurant and was impressed that they even put a few tables together for the tweet up!! Nice touch. I ordered the Margherita sandwich which was described on the menu as: fresh mozarella, basil, smoked tomato, and black olive tapenade.

Now, this could have been an ordinary sandwich but when I bit into the sandwich, I soon discovered that this WASN”T an ordinary sandwich.The addition of the SMOKED tomato made a huge difference!!  It was an amazing sandwich. Their investment to buy a smoker paid off. WOW..why don’t more places offer this smokey goodness?

The Smoker!!

My foodie adventures continued at Mugena which has been around for 17 years. I’ve probably passed it a hundred times but never once had eaten there.  Thanks to my foodie friend @sforzely who recommended this gem of a place that serves Caribbean food. When I walked in, I knew I scored as the place was full of Caribbean customers. While pouring over the menu, I didn’t see any vegetarian options but they were more than accomodating to make me a potato roti. I instantly fell in love with the soft dough and the filling. Next time I will order even more of the mango chutney. My taste buds really enjoy that sour sweet condiment.

will be back for another one!!

I also stopped in to chat with Michael Sutherland from Michaels Dolce who highly recommended that I try the Chai Raisin Loaf from True Loaf. WOW…this bread is so unique and has such a different flavor profile. It’s in my freezer to help me from eating the whole loaf!! True Loaf has been around since 2009 and often sells out so I called first and got there before 1 p.m!!

Great Choice!!

What else did I bring back besides bread? Oh yeah – some  of  Michaels Dolces’ Jam!! I’m so excited to sample his unique jam (think Rhubarb Pepper made with Ontario Rhubarb) that I am going to host a Jam Party so I can share the bread AND the jam. Who wants to join me?

Jam Party Anyone?

Pressed: 750 Gladstone Ottawa ON (613) 680-9294

Mugena: 911 Richmond St. Ottawa ON (613) 722-8228

True Loaf: 573 Gladstone, Ottawa ON (613) 680-4178

It’s not a secret that I like adore cheese. I’m not sure I have ever come across a cheese I did not like. I like grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese platters, and fondue too. Needless to say I was over the moon when I met Chef Corbin at the Wine and Cheese show (back in March) who told me that The Melting Pot was opening in late April in Richmond Hill. It did not take me long to whip out my iPhone to enter  the necessary information!!

Finally the end of April arrived, and I went to the opening. I could not have been happier (except I failed to bring a guest – what was I thinking?). I sat at the bar though and coincidentally sat beside Damon Allen.

The atmosphere is contemporary and features plenty of private booths. I have no doubt that this place will be packed on Valentines Day!! It’s also the perfect place for a group of friends to go out or for a couple to celebrate an occasion.

I started off my meal with a drink that looked like this:

Then I ordered something I adore but rarely find on a menu.

LOVE this!

Then came the highlight of the evening…the FONDUE (or as @SharonDV tweeted “FON-DO”.)

Fondue=Happiness

I selected the “Fiesta Cheese Fondue” which is described as “aged cheddar cheese pairs with lager beer, jalapeno peppers and salsa, made as spicy as you like”.  I was not disappointed with my choice. Other varieties of fondue included: Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue, Cheddar Cheese Fondue, Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue and Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue. I’m pretty sure that THEY would all be perfect!!

The Chocolate Fondue Selection on the menu is awesome (um…need a birthday party idea for your 10 year old?) Items such as Bananas Foster, Flaming Turtle, Cookies’n Cream Marshmallow Dream, Chocolate S’mores, Ying& Yang, …WILL MAKE ANYONE HAPPY. I mean seriously…you can’t go wrong.

By the way, The Melting Pot is a franchise in the United States and this is their first location in Canada. Welcome to Canada!!

The Melting Pot

125-135 York Blvd, Richmond Hill, ON

(905) 764-7770

It’s Spring(well at least sometimes it feels like Spring) and I’m in the mood to cook with bright green vegetables!! This recipe is based on a standard pesto recipe but instead of JUST using basil, the recipe includes a cup of green peas. I was intrigued so I tried it. You will notice that it’s  slightly sweeter and has a different texture. I think it’s a keeper. (not all recipes are keepers by the way).

GREEN PEA PESTO (from AllRecipes.com)