The recipe for “Baked Apple Roses”  seems to be all over the internet these days.

I mean, the recipe was  e-v-e-r-y-where: on my facebook feed, on Pinterest, etc etc.

“Baked Apple Roses” appealed to me for these three reasons:

1. It didn’t require a lot of ingredients

2. It looked simple to assemble

3. The final results looked gorgeous

Here’s what you need to make this fast and simple dessert.

Ingredients:

-2 apples

-juice from half a lemon

-1 sheet of PC Butter Puff Pastry (my new fave)

-3 tbsp. Peach or Apricot Jam/Preserves mixed with a bit of water

Instructions: (taken from Tip Hero)

1. Preheat Oven to 375 degrees

– Put apple slices in microwave safe bowl. Fill bowl with a bit of water and juice from half a lemon. Use enough water to make sure apple slices are covered by water. Microwave for 3 minutes. This will soften the apple slices and make them more pliable for rolling up. (AN IMPORTANT STEP)

– Next. grab a sheet of puff pastry. Flour your board and roll out the puff pastry enough to make 4 strips at 3 inches wide. (I actually took out a measuring tape for this step. Seriously)

– In a bowl mix your favorite fruit preserves with a couple tablespoons of water. Then spoon out the preserves in the center of the strip of puff pastry.

– Next place the apple slices long ways halfway on the strip. Keep adding slices until you reach the end. Then fold the puff pastry over the bottom of the apple slices. (sorry for the crappy photo but it’s winter and I can’t always cook/bake before 4:30 pm. #foodbloggerproblems)

– Roll up the puff pastry and place in a greased muffin tin.

– Bake the apple roses for 35-45 minutes.

– Pull out of oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

FINAL RESULT!!

They didn’t come out exactly like the ones I’ve seen on Pinterest or Tip Hero (my new obsession), however I was pretty happy with the results!!

Happy Baking.

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I had the opportunity to visit the PC Insiders Collection Boutique last week, which is located at 363 King St. W (at the corner of Blue Jays Way and King St. W).  I had been following the hashtag #PCInsidersBoutique on Instagram so I had an idea what I was visiting but it was SO much better to experience it.

Here’s 5 Reasons You Should Visit the PC Insiders Boutique:

1. There are 4 rooms and one room is nicer than the other.  I actually heard that they’ve been decorating the space since August. There’s 4 rooms in total with a theme of Dine, Brunch, Mingle and Gift.

This “Gift” Room put a smile on my face in a nano-second.

2. You will be treated to yummy samples.  Specifically you will sample the PC® Insiders Collection™ line of products!!

The Boutique features more than 70 new and innovative products that have been launched for the holiday season.  Here’s an example of some of the treats you will sample:

Black Forest Stuffed French Toast made with PC® The Decadent® Chocolate Cherry Loaf and the indulgent PC® Poutine Pie, along with new treats like PC® Speculoos Cookie Butter. You won’t be left disappointed.

3. It’s FREE. #sweet

4. It’s a fun activity to put you in the mood for the holidays.

5. You will go home with a gift!!

So head on over to 363 King St. W (corner of King St. W and Blue Jays Way) to experience the PC® Insiders Collection™ line of products in person at the President’s Choice® Insiders Collection™ Boutique. Please note that the Boutique closes on Dec 18th. So Hurry!!

For more information:

Website: www.pc.ca, www.loblaws.ca

Facebook: President’s Choice

Twitter & Instagram: @PresChoice #PCInsidersCollection

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The other night I dined at 70 Down Restaurant and Lounge, which opened only 3 months ago. They are located at 70 Yorkville – which gave me the perfect opportunity to shop a bit before dining. Always a great combo!

My meal started off with the perfect cocktail that was refreshing and perfectly balanced!!

As soon as I saw the ingredients I knew I had to order it. I was not disappointed. It was so perfect that I had to use all my willpower not to order a second one.

70 Down has positioned itself as “Mediterranean Middle Eastern meets Modern Tapas” .  I kind of like that idea so we embraced it and started off the meal with Moosear (shallot pressed yogurt with Himalayan salt, dressed with micro arugula and thyme leaves). I must admit – I fell in love with this creamy goodness.

We also ordered  Turshy which is the cutest assortment of pickled cucumber gherkins, carrots, eggplant, cauliflower and garlic, garnished with a chili. Another great dish.

The meal continued with Bolani which is a crispy dough crust stuffed with smashed potato and caramelized onion. I was delighted to see that it came accompanied with more of the Moosear (that yummy pressed yogurt).

One of my favorite dishes of the evening was a simple charcoal broiled tomatoes. So simple and so good.

The waitress suggested we try her favourite dish which was The Moroccan Fish Tacos. I can see what it was her favourite.

Believe or not, we tried one more dish called Bontu. Who knew that beef and onion dumplings topped with a tomato beef sauce and topped with yoghurt, garlic and mint COULD BE SO GOOD. I MEAN – REALLY REALLY GOOD. (sorry to use caps and shout but I wanted to make a point. Forgive me?).

We finished the evening with Bistrani – a saffron pistachio ice cream with sprinkled with good quality pistachios. It was the perfect way to end the evening.

70 Down is an incredible place to EAT as well as a happening lounge on the weekend. I was more than impressed with the management and Chef Jimmy who took the time to chat with us about their passion for food.

Already looking forward to my next visit!!

For more information:

Website: www.70down.ca

Address: 70 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto

Phone: 416 323 3696

Twitter and Instagram: @70Down

Disclosure: The meal was complimentary however all opinions are my own.

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I love Egg Nog, but it’s not exactly the healthiest beverage. Therefore I found a few alternatives to help me with my obsession during the holiday season!

Here’s what was in my fridge last week: (used the past tense seeing as it’s all in my tummy now)

a) Harmony Premium Organic Egg Nog: Notice how I bought the small bottle? It was a hard decision but my waistline knows it was the right decision. This is not your average egg nog. Its ORGANIC and it’s local and it’s delicious. Add some Kraken Black Spiced Rum and your in business!! PS the one litre bottle of Harmony Egg Nog makes a great hostess gift over the next few weeks #justsayin’

b) So Delicious Chocolate Mint Coconut Beverage: This drink satisfies all my cravings for mint and chocolate. I finished it off in no time at all seeing as it’s great for my waistline. Full disclosure: sometimes it didn’t even make it into a glass. Bonus: I don’t need a lactose pill!! 

c) Earth’s Own Almond Fresh Noel Nog – This drink was light and refreshing. Once again I kept returning to the fridge for more!

Sadly all three beverages are only available during the holiday season so make sure you stock up!

Cheers for now,

Momwhoruns who runs for Egg Nog!!

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When I was a kid, I had a Barbie™ (or two) and I swear I have a Sun Tanned Barbie somewhere in a box in my storage unit. I also grew up with a message that “I Could Be Anything”. It was repeated to me over and over again, (at a very young age) that if I received good grades, I could attend a University overseas.

I was also active in a youth organization and again the message that “I Could Be Anything” helped me decide to run for International President when I was 17.  (I lost – in the event you want to know the outcome of that election).

I liked this message and took it seriously.  One summer, when I was a university student I wanted to see what it would be like to be a “cook”. So I worked in a hotel kitchen for free!! Yes – I could be anything. However I decided after 3 weeks that it was not going to be a life long profession.

When I found out that Barbie™ is encouraging little ones to be anything they want, with her new campaign: You Can Be Anything!…I knew that I wanted to share this important campaign!!

 With over 155 careers and counting, there isn’t a plastic ceiling Barbie hasn’t broken. From Mermaid to Movie Star, Pet Vet to Police Officer, Fashionista to Fairy Princess, there are countless choices for your little ones to let their imagination soar.

There’s no such thing as too wild a dream, too big a hope or too fantastic a wish when it comes to Barbie and the tradition continues this fall, as we bring this to life with the new “You Can be Anything” campaign!

Please look out for it and discuss with your kids that they “Can Be Anything”. It’s really true and it’s a really important message.

For more information:

Website: www.barbie.ca

Twitter: #YouCanBeAnything

Disclosure: I was compensated for this blog post however all opinions are my own.

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Oats & Ivy has you covered when it comes to health food and convenience!! They know that their customers have busy lives and have limited time to prepare healthy food, so they take care of that for you. Sweet eh?

It’s easy to find Oats & Ivy due to the bike cart (which is sponsored by Thorium Power Canada) that was located right in front of this take out kitchen and juice bar!

They take their cooking very (very) seriously and make everything from scratch. That’s right – the almond milk is made fresh daily and they even ferment their own sriracha. Their menu includes sandwiches, soups, lunch boxes and treats.

I’m impressed with this statement that I found on their well-designed website : “Quality is king in our kitchen! From free-run eggs to organic apples, grass-fed whey protein to hand-harvested sea salt, fair-trade coffee beans to compostable packaging. We use the best because you deserve the best!”

At the media event, we made delicious egg free, dairy free and wheat free cookies. If you want the recipe, please ask!! Happy to share.

Hope you get a chance to visit Oat & Ivy in the near future.

For more Information:

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It’s no secret that I love oysters. In fact, you will find me at the oyster bar at any event where oysters are served. While everyone else is grabbing drinks, I’m wolfing down oyster after oyster till I actually have to apologize. #truestory.

Therefore when I received an email inviting me to visit the Pearl Diver, I immediately said; YES.

When I walked into the restaurant, I quickly realized that it use to be the Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill. The space is still welcoming and cozy.

I started off my evening with an appetizers of calamari. The combination of a sesame and panko crust really made a difference.

I couldn’t resist ordering this appetizer too: Chicken Liver and Oyster Pate with Blackbird Toast. It was beyond good. Seriously.

Of course, I had to order a selection of oysters too!! Naturally I loved all of them. The oysters were tasty, fresh, plump and perfect!! How’s that for a description?

I also tried the mussels which were bathed in a coconut cream, ginger, chilli, garlic, lemongrass and cilantro sauce. #totallyum

Plus I HAD to try the dessert. One could say I tried four food groups that night…seafood, seafood, seafood and dessert. LOL.

I’m already planning my next visit as they offer 100 oysters for $100 every Thursday.  Im SO doing this!! (with others of course. LOL).

For more information:

Website: www.peardiver.com

Address: 100 Adelaide St. East, (416) 366-7827

Hours: Mon to Wed : Noon to 12am, Thurs & Fri: Noon to 1am., Sat: 4pm to 1am, Sun: 11am to 12am

Twitter and Instagram: @PearlDiverTO

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There are a few events coming up in December that will bring a smile to my face and this is one of them.

Starting on November 8th, a life sized Holiday Gingerbread Village is opening at the Loblaws® Maple Leaf Gardens (60 Carlton) to bring the magic of the holidays alive.

The village will be open every weekend from November 28 until December 20 from 10 AM to 6 PM and on December 22^nd and 23^rd from 10 AM to 6 PM, with activities for the whole family. For a charitable donation of just $5 to President’s Choice® Children’s Charity, you can decorate a cookie and get a photo with Santa.

Of course, I went down to the Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens store to check out this spectacular Gingerbread Village. This particular wall with all sorts of candy on it certainly did capture my attention!!

It’s not a secret that I’m Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas but I have no problem enjoying everything about this holiday – the decor, the candy canes, the gingerbread homes, and the eggnog too!! (love the stuff).

Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens and President’s Choice have done an exceptional job at this time of year. The store looks gorgeous!! By the way – don’t forget that there’s free parking underground when you purchase $20 worth of groceries.

Next week you will see another blog post about the PC Insiders Collection Boutique. (that’s code for “make sure you read next weeks blog post” K?).

Stay tuned for more events that will take place in December!!

Disclosure: I was compensated for this blog post however all opinions are my own.

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I’ve been off the radar for the last 30 days….no blog posts, no events, no movies, no parties, and very little facebook posts or tweets. My life has changed as my dad passed away on October 28th. I know my blog isn’t a ‘Personal Blog” but I feel like I need to write about my dad and how fortunate I was to have a dad like him.

I truly had a wonderful childhood and was raised by an amazing mom and dad who taught me how to enjoy life. People often wonder where I get my “sense of adventure”. Well – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My parents worked hard but spent Sundays roaming around the country side going to every fair outside Ottawa, known to man kind (Carp, Navan and Perth to name just a few). We went to Provincial Parks for picnics and to swim, and to local parks to attend Greek Festivals and Rib Festivals. Not to mention, every winter we went to visit some Ice Fishing Competition!

Ive often blogged how I go to the Maple Syrup Festival every year. Again – it’s because my dad took us every year to this Festival for pancakes and maple syrup and I wanted to give my kids that same type of experience!!

Yes – life was not boring in the Gosewich family.

My dad owned a sports store called Ritchie’s  Sport Shop for 45 years and this store was also a major part of my life. I would get on a bus every Saturday (like clockwork) with a friend and visit his store to flirt with the cute staff and visit my dad. Ok – I shopped too!!

His store received PLENTY of media as he was right downtown as well as an independent retailer. Not to mention he was well liked. When he turned 70 I put together this collage of the press clippings that my mom saved over the years.

When I went away to university, my dad wrote me many letters and I was fortunate to keep many of them and read them to him this past year. Those letters are so special and SO funny. For a quiet man that stood 6 ft 4 – he certainly had a great sense of humour. See that press clipping on the right? Well that’s the soap opera column (Feb 22, 1985) so I could keep up with my soap operas while attending Tel Aviv University. My dad was so thoughtful!!

Friends often ask me, “How did I become such a foodie”. I always reply that it was my dad who introduced me to great food. For some reason, it was my dad who did the grocery shopping. He would often come back with unusual fruit or rye bread (with the seeds of course) or some Laura Secord Bark for my mom. He exposed me to oysters at a young age, sushi in the early 1980’s, and kumquats when I was a teenager!

My trips to Ottawa won’t be the same anymore. My mom and my sister and I will miss his presence. However I have many (many) happy memories and he will always be remembered.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog post!!

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I haven’t been blogging since October 20th but I promise to explain why, when I return to the blogosphere in December.

In the meantime, I’m fortunate to have my blogger friend Elise Burton attend a few events and act as a guest blogger for Momwhoruns!

Here’s her blog post about a recent event she attended at All the Best Fine Foods:

I was lucky enough to attend All The Best Fine Food’s Holiday Cocktail event this evening and it was a lovely way to usher in the holiday season. So many beautiful things to see, smell, eat and drink – it’s hard to know where to begin.

One of my first loves is, and always will be, cookbooks. All The Best has curated a great collection of books from both world famous chefs and local authors that will capture the imagination of both the experienced cook and the novice.

There were dozens of delicious looking hors d’oeuvres being passed but without a doubt, my favourite bite was the antipasto skewer that featured a cube of 3 year old aged Cheddar, a chunk of stellar dill pickle from the folks at Mighty Fine Brine and a piece of delicious Spanish salumi imported by Fermin.

One of the evening’s real treats was getting to meet David H. Chow, a talented chocolatier who is really better described as an artist. His featured products were just gorgeous. They combined the finest quality chocolate with both traditional ingredients – hazelnuts, caramel, peanut butter – and non-traditional ingredients – pink peppercorns, buckwheat honey and freeze-dried mango. Yum.

I left this event with endless ideas and inspiration for gifts, decor, cocktails and recipes for the holiday season. Thank you All The Best Fine Foods.

For more information:

All the Best Fine Foods: 1101 Yonge St, Toronto, ON (416) 928-3330

Twitter: @AllTheBestFF

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