I’ve saved this recipe from Canadian Living since November 1993. There is a reason for that. Not because I’m a hoarder but because it’s a delicious recipe.

Simple as that. I came home from work, grabbed a few ingredients and before you know it – I had banana bread in the oven. The only negative thing about this recipe is that it takes a full hour to bake. That’s right – a full hour.

The good news: it’s worth it.

Here’s what you need:

Bakers Banana Bread (from Canadian Living, Nov 1993).

INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

8 squares Baker’s Semi Sweet Chocolate (I used 5 squares…coarsely chopped)

Topping: 1/2 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I’ve never done this step but go ahead!!)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir eggs, banana, oil and milk until well blended. (I use my Kitchen Aid).

Add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Stir till moistened.

Stir in chocolate chunks.

Pour into greased 9×5 loaf pan.

Combine topping and sprinkle on top of batter (as I said earlier – I never make the topping)

Bake for 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted comes out clean.

FINAL PRODUCT:

Cool for 10 minutes.

I’ve been a fan of the Original Moosewood cookbook by Mollie Katzen since 1990. I’m such a fan that I even went to the Moosewood restaurant in Ithica, NY about 10 years ago.

I’m also a huge fan of stocking up my freezer with soups. One could say, I’m slightly obsessed, however nothing beats having the convenience of just grabbing a soup from your freezer, defrosting it and starting off your meal with a delicious, hot bowl of soup.

Not to mention just about all soups freeze well.

Here’s a favorite recipe: Best Split Pea Soup ( from Moosewood cookbook by Mollie Katzen).

Before you start: Please note that you need a few hours (3 hours) for the split peas to simmer. You have been warned!!

STEP ONE:

3 cups dry green split peas

about 7 cups of water

1 bay leaf

2 tsp salt.

Instructions: Simmer, covered – for hours. (seriously). This is what the beans look like after simmering for a few hours.

STEP TWO:

1 cup minced onion

3 cloves crushed garlic cloves

1 cup minced celery

2 cups sliced carrots

1 cup thinly sliced potato

Instructions: saute in 2 tablespoons of oil (add water if necessary)

STEP THREE:

Add the tender vegetables to the split beans and just before serving add:

1/4 cup dry red wine

1/4 tsp mustard

1/4 tsp thyme

a few drops of sesame oil.

3 tablespoons vinegar (I use red wine vinegar)

1 cup chopped tomatoes (I missed this step)

1/4 cup fresh parsley

FINAL RESULT:

Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy.

 

It’s that time of year to enjoy some hot chocolate. So I put together a list of a few places and off I went.

First on the list was Jet Fuel Coffee Shop  (519 Parliament St)

Can’t say I was impressed: it was watery. I would go back for their coffee though in a heart beat.

Second stop was The Grind House (281 Augusta) in Kensington Market. I ordered their chili hot chocolate and thought it was  simply divine. Not to sweet, not to chocolately, not to spicy. It was well balanced and perfect (in my humble opinion)

Third stop was MoRoCo Chocolat ( 99 Yorkville Ave) in Yorkville. This white hot chocolate was certainly pretty but man oh man was it sweet. Not to mention a small cup (12 oz) was over $7. I know they use REAL chocolate and I know they are in Yorkville but still…..I was kind of shocked.

 

Fourth and final stop was Aroma Espresso (went to the Forest Hill location at 383 Spadina) Love the fact that they put a huge chunk of white chocolate in the bottom of the cup and then add steamed milk in order to produce the perfect cup of white hot chocolate.

Here’s proof of the white chocolate that they use:

I am now looking forward to my next crawl! I think it’s time to do a ________ crawl.

PS really meant to go to Soma (443 King St. W) but never made it. Who knows there might be a hot chocolate crawl part 2. Ya never know.

 

Last week I went to check out “Bond Martini Thursdays” at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. How could I refuse? Martinis AND the James Bond exhibit…what a great combination.  I was so going to this event!!

Bond Martini Thursdays is on now till  Jan 17th. If you order a special Bond inspired martini from a participating restaurant then you receive 20% off admission to Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style.  Sounds like the perfect date (except I needed a date…oops did I just say that?).

I started off the evening with a MONEY PENNY Martini. It was exactly what I needed on a Thursday nite after a long day at work.

While sipping on my martini, I had the opportunity to nibble on some Bond inspired appetizers that Chef Bangerter  had created for this special evening. Could not stop eating these eggs topped with caviar!

After completing my martini and inhaling a lot of amazing appetizers, I headed into the exhibit. I’m a Bond fan so I knew that this exhibit would speak to me and it did.

The fashion section, the travel section, and the weapon section were all highlights for me. Not to mention the photo exhibit of all the actors who had the privilege of playing James Bond (um..eye candy). I probably spend a few extra minutes at this section. LOL No photography was allowed so I have no photos to share with you except the entrance.

This is definitely a GNO (great night out).

For More Info:

TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St East. (416) 968 3456

Bond Martini Thursdays…click here for participating restuuarants.

The exhibit is free for TIFF members.

Tickets on sale here.

 

I’ve been getting my hair straightened for “occasions” over the last 10 years. Anytime I had  a wedding to go to, or a bar mitzva, or a party…I seem to have been booking an appointment to get my hair “smoothed out”.  I love the feel of having straight hair and try not to wash my hair for 3-4  days after getting my hair straightened so I can enjoy it to the max!!

In mid September, I had my hair straightened and took the following photo.

It’s such a different look than this photo that I took earlier in September.

During the month of September I complimented two friends about their STRAIGHT hair. Both women told me they had a keratin treatment and now have straight hair for 5 months. I was impressed.

One  of those women told me to call  Natural Solutions at the Promenade Mall and to book an appointment with Massimo. I did just that.

Here’s what happend:

They shampooed my hair using a special keratin shampoo.

My hair was then dried.

My hair was then flat ironed. (a lot!!)

Two hours later, I left the salon with STICK STRAIGHT HAIR and was told not to get it wet for 48 hours and not to put it in clips or a pony tail.

After 48 hours I washed my hair, went to bed and woke up with PRETTY STRAIGHT HAIR. I flat ironed it a bit and bingo – straight hair.

Now l look like this and will continue to look like this for the next 5 months.

WHY DID I NOT DO THIS A LONG TIME AGO? that’s the big question!!

For more info:

Natural Solutions, 1 Promenade Circle, Promenade Mall (near Sears)

(905) 889-3300

I’m a huge sushi fan..infact on my chowhound profile, I had to answer this question: I wish I could eat_______everyday. My answer…..SUSHI.

Therefore this salad appeals to me on my different levels. I discovered it in a local school cookbook called Gatherings which was a school project put on by the parents of Netivot HaTorah Day School in 2003.

I would definitely serve gingered sushi salad with a piece of salmon and asparagus! #justsayin’

Here’s what you need:

GINGERED SUSHI SALAD

1 1/2 cups sushi rice, uncooked

1 3/4 cold water

DRESSING

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

1/2 tsp garlic, minced

1/4 tsp wasabi powder

SALAD

1 carrot, peeled and grated

1/2 red pepper julienned

1/4 cup red onion

2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted ( I used a mixture of white and black sesame seeds)

2 tablespoons, pickled ginger, diced

1 sheet nori cut in pieces

DIRECTIONS:

Cook sushi rice as directed on package.

In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients. Slowly add the dressing to the hot rice, tossing gently. Add carrot, red pepper, onion, sesame seeds, ginger and nori. Toss and sprinkle with reserved nori. (which I forgot to buy).

Many thanks to the USA Rice Federation  and Faye Clack Communications for inviting me to some fabulous events this past month and inspiring me to bring out my beloved rice cooker more often. Stay tuned for more posts about this delicious, healthy, ancient grain!!

Happy Cooking

 

I have a feeling a LOT of people wisely stayed home on Monday Oct 29th. I knew when I got in from work last nite that I was going NOWHERE and that I had lots of time to create a “comfort-food” type of meal for myself.

This was my idea of the perfect meal on a wet and windy misterable night:

 

What’s On my Plate:

-vegetable soup (home made – of course) from my freezer (of course)

-a toasted Oakrun Family Bakery Savory English Muffin with roasted grape tomoatos and roasted organic garlic. Sprinkled with dried thyme for additional flavor.

It was the perfect meal and exactly what I was craving, despite the fact that I’m on a no-carb diet (I can cheat every once in a while right?).

The Oakrun Family Bakery has introduced 3 different types of savoury english muffins: Jalapeno & Salsa, Sundried Tomato and Basil and Toasted Onion & Smoked Black Pepper. I have nibbled all three and love of all them. I’m all over anything that is flavoruful.

Please look at for these Savoury English Muffins at Metro, Highland Farms, Longos, Loblaws, Loblaws Superstores, Zehrs, Food Basics, Fortinos and ValuMart.

As the saying goes “try it – you will like it”!!

PS. what did you have last nite for dinner? do you crave comfort food when the weather is miserable too?

 

 

Did you know that October is World Egg Month! Too get me “egg-cited”  about this event, the Egg Farmers of Ontario “cre-egg-ted” a challenge to put my own spin on making some devilled eggs. They provided me with a beautiful basket of goodies and as always I went on the internet searching for an unusual Devilled Egg recipe. Finally after a lot of clicking I found this recipe.

Naturally I didn’t follow the exact recipe (one day I will learn..LOL). To be super honest – I forgot to make the green onion oil HOWEVER I certainly enjoyed the end results. (as always).

The recipe is taken from the a website called: www.Momofukufor2.com

Green Onion Oil Devilled Egg Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

4 hard boiled eggs, peeled, chilled and cut in half

1/2 bunch of green onions, thinly sliced (about 3/4 to 1 cup)

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 small shallot, minced
1 small knob of ginger, minced
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste
sriracha (optional)

Make the green onion oil by heating up the canola oil in a small pot over high heat. When the oil is shimmery and hot, add the green onions, garlic, shallot, and ginger. Be careful, the water content will cause the oil to bubble. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the sesame oil. Salt to taste.

Remove the yolks from the eggs and place in a bowl. Mash with a fork until the yolks are crumbly. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the green onion oil. Stir and taste.

If you need more green onion oil in there, by all means, add it! Fill your egg halves and top with freshly ground pepper and a squirt of sriracha, if using. Enjoy!

FINAL RESULT:

Thanks to the Egg Farmers of Ontario, I’m now the proud owner of this FREAKIN” GENIUS egg storage container by Rubbermaid. Why have I not owned one of these before?

Happy World Egg Month!!

I was invited last week to check out the newly re-branded  Quail (a Firkin Pub). I’m familiar with the chain and have been to a few locations over the years. Specifically the Firkin at Yonge/Sheppard and the Bull & Firkin at Yonge/Eglinton. I could tell from the invitation that they really thought this thru.

I was right.

No more dark, gloomy space…instead there’s an inviting British inspired lounge area in the back.

They’ve also added some signature cocktails to their line up.

The menu now has a few additional “British Inspired” items like a delicious fish taco that had a mean batter on it (but in a good way). I would certainly order this again.

The evening was a ton of fun that included great food and great drinks as well as fun manicures from Pinky’s. Notice the British Flag on her nail?? PS..this is not my hand but the lovely hand of @ValTorontoGal from Im Charming You.

But for me – the best best (best) part of the nite was the fact that they served MOLSON 67. SCORE. Seriously, I have dropped a size due to my  no carb diet that I have been on since June and this beer has saved me.

So grab some friends and check out The Quail. Cheers!!

The Quail : 1055 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON 416 962 0782

I thought it would be fun to squeeze in one more trip to Buffalo before it snows. We went on Sunday – just like a working day – we left at 8 a.m and we were home by 5 p.m. It was perfect.

We hit Target first (of course) and then we hit Wegmans. (of course). Plus we managed a quick quick trip to the Outlet Mall (i.e we were there for less than an hour)

Here’s a few highlights!!

a) Dum Dums: Basically they are lollipops that come in a variety of cool flavors….rootbeer, mystery flavor, cotton candy, mango, watermelon, blue raspberry, strawberry shortcake, banana split etc. After reading their (fun) website, I discovered they are family owned private company that has been making candy since 1906!!

b) Chex: I started of buying 1 bag, then 2, then 3 and now I’m up to 4. Sadly the flavor I wanted (chocolate)…WAS ALL SOLD OUT. Can u believe? I was not happy. As you can see, I am now trying a new flavour.

3. We love the Bauble water bottles so much that we decided to buy the water jug. We needed one. Not sure if you can find these here. Anyone know?

4. M&M Dark Chocolate Mint and Hershey Kisses in Pumpkin: HEAVEN. Kicking myself that I didn’t buy more

I used my Wegmans card with pride and knew that my $100 worth of groceries was money well spent.

I’m already looking forward to my next trip as I bought ONE pair of jeans at Target that I’m loving and of course I’m saying to myself “Why didn’t I buy more”.