I live close to a Real Canadian Superstore and I am ever so grateful. I love being able to buy Joe Fresh, PC products for my house, and buy groceries ALL at the same time. (probably in that order too). Infact, I always seem to enter the store on the RIGHT so I can make the important purchases first.

Infact, they  recently renovated the Superstore at Dufferin/Steeles and I think the new layout, lighting, shelving units etc. makes a huge difference.

While strolling thru the aisles last week, I noticed an (electronic) ORANGE JUICE MACHINE for $7.99.  I figured that at that price, why shouldn’t I own one?

Then I went to the produce department to get oranges. I noticed they had a bag of oranges that would be suitable for orange juice AND

there was a bag next to them called PINK NAVEL ORANGES. . So I scooped up TWO big bags of oranges.

When I got home, I took out my lovely new juice maker and bingo – in no time at all, there was a cup of orange juice. It cleaned easily and

I couldnt stop thinking “why have I not ever owned this machine before?”. Silly Me.

I also sliced up a pink navel orange. WOW…the color was gorgeous (pink with orange undertones) and it certainly had a distinct sweet flavor to them.

You would notice the difference between the two oranges instantly.

Lesson Learned: a) invest in an orange juice maker. It’s worth it. b) try the pink navel oranges. You will love them.

Happy Grocery Shopping!!

The other day I  received an invitation to go to the opening of Briscola Trattoria and I was delighted to accept. I  knew that Charles Khabouth, who is the founder and CEO of  the hospitality empire INK and  and Toufik Sarwa, the owner of Amber in Yorkville, would collaborate and develop, yet another successful venture.

I was not disappointed. The space is cozy and very inviting. I liked the whole layout….the intimate booths, the communal wood tables, and the interesting light fixtures too. (I noticed..LOL).

As for the food: I’m in love with the deep fried olives.

Not only did I enjoy all the appetizers, I enjoyed a few glasses of wine..(which means that I maxed out at two) and chatted with the lovely @geekigirl @christinallison @racboutique and @theFlist.

Always fun to meet new and old twitter friends at events. Plus it’s great to be able to support new restaurants too.

I really hope you get a chance to visit Briscola Trattoria soon.  They are located at 501 College Street and open 6 days a week. For further info please click here: Briscola

I grew up in a family that loved apples. I grew up eating McIntosh, Granny Smith, Empire, Cortland and even Russet apples.

My love for apples continues…it’s a quick healthy snack and apples can be turned into healthy desserts too. (keep reading)

Recently I became aware that the McIntosh Apple is celebrating it’s 200th anniversary in style!!

The Ontario Apple Growers will be hosting the  Winter Apple Ball! This event  is going to take place on Monday Feb 21 from 11 – 2 at the Westin Harbour Castle in the Metropolitan Ballroom.

For further info click on the link. All the info about this fabulous event will be there.

In honour of the McIntosh Apples’ birthday, I decided to make baked apples for dessert tonite.

I think my family is kinda tired of yoghurt and blueberies with sprinkled granola.

Here’s how simple the recipe is:

INGREDIENTS:

Apples (I used McIntosh but I’m sure this would work with other varieties. Infact other varieties might work better)

butter or margarine (a few tablespoons)

cup brown sugar (a few tablespoons)

cinnamon

pecans and walnuts (optional)

(sorry I didn’t measure…I grew up in a kitchen that didn’t measure anything. My mom is awesome though).

RECIPE:

1. Core apples (simple..well kinda. LOL) I have a apple corer to assist with this step.

2. Mix the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon (nuts are optional)

3. Stuff the apples with the mixture.

4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes

VOILA…a dessert that barely took 5 minutes of preparation, required barely any ingredients and is YUMMY.

If you notice in the photos, there’s little bits of orange sticking out. A few years ago, I brought back from Israel, dried orange peel from an incredible store called Eden Teva. I’ve been storing it in my freezer and every once in a while I add it to a few dishes that I make for color and flavor.

Happy 200th Anniversary to the McIntosh Apple!!

I met some cousins at  Starbucks in the summer  and as she paid for the coffee, I noticed she had a STARBUCKS GOLD CARD. I immediately asked  “whats that?” She replied “I received it last year in the mail”. Then I fired away some questions: what does she receive for owning a gold card?  how was she selected? can I take a photo of her with her card? etc etc.

She answered that she has been buying Starbucks cards for along time and that “someone” must be tracking her loyalty and how much money she is spending.

I really thought the GOLD CARD was cool. I mean, seriously…. how many people have you met with a Starbucks Gold Card.

I should mention, that my dear cousin lives part time in Florida and that this program does not exist in Canada yet. Last time I spoke to the publicists for Starbucks in Canada they told me that there was  a small pilot-test being held out West.

Let’s cross our fingers that GOLD CARDS will make their way to major cities throughout Canada.

Me-likey-gold-cards.

The last time I had a GOLD CARD was in 1980 for  a club called Tobascos in Hull. For those who are reading this in Ottawa, I am POSITIVE that this is bringing back memories!!

As you know I’m a sales rep , and while visiting accounts on Eglinton Avenue West, I noticed a new store . So  I took a few minutes from my job to walk in. (shhh don’t tell my boss OK?)

Two Moms Baked Goods, had a location on Bathurst, but recently decided to open a retail store (Smart move. Me. Thinks). The facility  is nut free and kosher (dairy)!! Two Moms Baked Goods also develops and sells SafeSnacks which are nutritious and nut free snacks that’s sold at many schools, camps, hospitals and stores across the country.

As I walked thru the store, I sampled a biscotti (or two) and it was delicious. I also took pictures (does that surprise you?)

Last year, my daughter went to a birthday party at their old location as the birthday girl had a peanut allergy. This was the perfect place to host a birthday party for her. The girls baked their own cookies and when it was time for pick up…..you could tell that everyone had a great time!! (ie PROUD smiles and white boxes to show off what they had baked).

I love the entrepreneurial spirit of these 2 moms!! They also offer a range of baking classes  as well as programs on PD days.

So next time you are looking to an order a nut free birthday cake or bring cookies to the school…you know who to call. Right?

Two Moms Baked Goods,  970 Eglinton Avenue West, (416) 783 -7200 or send them an email to info@twomomsbakedgoods.com

This recipe could NOT be easier.

All you need is two ingredients – whipped cream (the real stuff not the one in the can) and the cheapest chocolate cookies you can find.

First Step: Whip the whipped cream

(you don’t need a photo, right?)

Second Step: Place a dollop of whipped cream in a serving dish. I like these miniature martini glasses for this recipe but you could use anything.

Third Step: Break up a chocolate chip cookie (you could experiment and break up two cookies too) and place it on top of the whipped cream

Fourth Step: Add another dollop of whipped cream. Then grate chocolate for an “added touch”

Voila.

The End.

(ps your family/guests will LOVE this dessert. Promise)

Last week I was invited to attend the GE Cafe Chefs Series at Evergreen Brick Works. It took me less than 5 seconds to reply “please add my name to your guest list. I would be delighted to attend”.

So what is the GE Cafe Series? It’s a series of interactive workshops (from Jan 11 – May 17th on Tuesdays, bi-weekly) that brings you together with Ontario food growers, farmers, producers, chefs, writers, activists and restaurateurs. Basically….this means, that this is “totally up my alley”!!

I attended the first workshop of the series, which was called “Onwards to Prince Edward County” featuring Chef Jamie Kennedy (executive chef, Gilead Cafe & Bistro) and Rebecca LeHeup (executive director, Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance)

Naturally I am eager to talk to you about what I ate that evening: So lets begin.

Passed Hors d’Ouevres

-marinated pickel roll up

-curried sweet potato croquettes with raita

Menu

-sunchoke soup with chips

-yellow perch with hillier soubise and crunchy shallots

-potatoe gnocchi with root vegetables

-apple strudel with nutmeg ice cream and golden plum puree.

Every dish was superb..and every plate was returned clean. (always a good sign that your guests enjoyed their food).

Rebecca chatted with Chef as he presented each dish and we learned a lot about his suppliers and his fondness for Prince Edward County.

We were also treated to several (I lost count) glasses of wine from Rosehall Run Vineyards. Dan Sullivan explained each wine as they were being poured and again we learned more about the grapes, the region, etc.

The three hours zipped by as we were always busy – eating, listening, drinking, and raising our hands with questions like “can we have the recipe.!!”

Evergreen Brick Works has a great line up of workshops in the future: Preserving, Cooking for Food Allergies, Heirloom Varieties and more. If you click on the the Evergreen website you will learn more details about this fantastic series.

Congratulations to everyone who organized this awesome workshop!!

I blogged about coffee this week, so I thought it would only be fair to talk about tea as well. Naturally I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out!!

This year, I received a dinner gift that I totally fell in love with. It’s a tea tumbler called “Liquid Solutions Tea-Zer”. I started to grate fresh ginger, placed it in the removable strainer, I added boiling water and bingo: beautiful fragrant ginger tea.

My uncle told me try chopped  lemongrass and I tried it but returned back to the fresh ginger.

I even experimented between normal ginger and organic ginger. The organic ginger won by a long shot.

Once in a while, I will stop at DAVIDsTea. I think they have done a great job with their store concept, their packaging, merchandising etc.

(can you tell I once owned a store?).

I am a sucker for tea thats called “read my lips”!!

The store is so fresh looking and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. There is nothing not to like.

Their winter line up of teas include: baked apple, organic electric lemon, organic cloud nine and choloclate chili chai.

YUM.

Raise you hand if you are a tea drinker or even an occasional tea drinker like me!!

I have a coffee every day? Do you? I have a coffee card for Tim Hortons, Second Cup and Starbucks and I use them regularly. I love independent coffee shops too. Some of my favortites include: Manic, Sam James, Ezras Pound, Jimmys and Dark Horse Espresso Bar.

Coffee is my chance:

-sit down for a minute and read a book or a newspaper

-to meet a friend and catch up

Unlike the photo to the left…I just have a normal black coffee!! No special lattes.

I seriously think about what it would be like NOT to have a coffee every day. Not sure I could do it. Could you? Lately I have been grating ginger into boiling water and I am completely enjoying it. However I still have this NEED to have a coffee.

I’m known sometimes as the “friend who delivers coffee” as I often drop off coffee to friends who cant get out of the house cause they are sick, or their kids are sick, or they are in mourning over a loss, or just had a baby etc.  It’s a small act of kindness but  I love knowing this small gesture makes a difference in their day.

So as I write this..I’m wondering when Tim Hortons is starting their Roll up and Win campaign. I’m already looking forward to it.  Wonder if this year, I might win a bit more often. Wishful thinking. I know.

If you ever want to do a “coffee crawl”…here’s the information for those independent coffee shops listed above:

Manic Coffee…426 College

Sam James Coffee Bar...297 Harbord St.

Dark Horse Espresso…215 Spadina or 682 Queen East (thanks @climbguy)

Ezras Pound…238 Dupont St. or 913 Dundas St. West

Jimmy’s Coffee…107 Portland St.

Aroma...500 Bloor West, Promenade Shopping Centre, Yonge/Eglinton and more…

Tell me about your coffee habits. Are you loyal to one chain? do you have a coffee a day? do you only make coffee at home? do you ever go to independent coffee stores?

I read a blog entry by a fellow foodie about Cake Pops and was inspired immediately to give it a try. Click on the link to see the blog entry by  boneats. (her post was on Dec 3rd..you will have to scroll down a bit)..then the rest of my blog entry will make sense to you.

Her blog entry made it sound so simple (please note: I’m not blaming her.  All I needed was:

1. Betty Crocker Cake Mix (any flavor)
2. Betty Crocker Frosting (any flavor)
3. popsicle sticks (well not really, they are more like lollipop sticks. Available at Bulk Barn
4. chocolate melts and sprinkles (also from Bulk Barn)

• So I made the cake. (easy).
• I put the cake after it had cooled into the Cuisinart to make cake crumbs. (easy)
• I added the frosting to the cake crumbs (easy).
• I made little balls. .not SO  easy…my hands were a gloppy mess. It was not a pretty site. However the tray looks lovely.

• I put the cake balls into the fridge to cool..(easy).

I melted the chocolate melts on a double broiler and this is where the disaster took place.

We took the cake balls, inserted the stick, and then dipped…but it did not come out  smooth. By the time we did a second coat, the chocolate had hardened and I was cursing. I was not happy. Then when I went to put on the sprinkles, they didnt adhere so easily either. I was not happy.

I managed to make a few successful cake pops and then gave up.

I emailed a young woman in our neighborhood who has taken some professional baking courses for some advice and she emailed me this website that has an instructional video by bakerella!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpIifr0VOxY

If any one else makes these cake balls (in your spare time of course), can you let me know how it turns out.

I will attempt to try this again..(Im determined). I will read more about tempering chocolate and try to get it right so that my cake pops look like those from the websites: boneats and bakerella

PS I was telling this story at an event today, only to find out that bakeralla was at Williams-Sonomo recently. GRRR. ..wish I would have known. I would love to meet her.

Happy Baking!!