I had a chat not long ago, with the owner of Pantry Foods about salads, and he mentioned that he rarely makes a salad in a bowl. He said
“the the dressing always sinks to the bottom and when you display it on a platter it’s visually more attractive”

After that discussion I decided to try serving salads on a platter. It was a perfect opportunity for me to use this beautiful Umbra Platter I got as a gift from my cousins.

Salad idea #1: Basic Green Salad

Ingredients: Bibb Lettuce , Corn shoots that I found at Natures Emporium, mini corn, carrots, zucchini.

Here’s what the corn shoots looked like, when I bought them at the store. How pretty is that?

Salad idea #2 Spinach Salad

Ingredients: Spinach, red onion, toasted almonds, mushrooms, hard boiled eggs

Salad idea #3 Morrocon Inspired Salad

Ingredients: Lettuce, oranges, dates, marcona almonds, pomegranate seeds

Other salad that I could make using this platter include:

Nicoise: black olives, tuna, red onion, lettuce, hard boiled eggs.

Israeli: cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, couscous, chick peas

I have to admit, I really enjoyed preparing these salads and then eating them too!! Due to my love for making salads, it has prevented me from eating salads in restaurants. I rarely go to Freshii or Fresh..even though everyone tells me that their salads are fabulous.

I use to go to a restaurant at Bayview Village for their famous salad bar but for some reason I stopped going there too.

I guess I really like to go to restaurants to eat food I can’t make at home. Anyone else agree?

My Bucket List for 2012. Drum Roll..Please.

1. Drive a Volt. I mean how cool would it be to drive a full performance and full speed electric car? Seriously, I want to drive this car not just because it’s cool but because it’s the right thing to do. My next car will not be a gas guzzling car – repeat – will not be a gas guzzling car.

2. Try the Coconut Cream Pie at Scaramouche. It’s about time I order this famous pie. Reservations have been made in early January with four foodie friends. One piece of pie and 4 forks. So technically this will soon be OFF my bucket list. Hooray for me.

3. Try Rowing. I have always wanted to try this sport. I even called the Mississauga Rowing Club but never made it out there last summer. This summer…will be different.

4. Make Risotto. My friend @TheBumpercrop told me she would be happy to help me out as I have “fear of risotto”. LOL

5. Visit Detroit. I have never been before and again it’s time for me to “eat my way thru Trader Joe’s“.

6. Go to a Concert. I’m pathetic. ..have been to only 3 concerts in my life. Bay City Rollers (stop laughing. Please.), Rod Stewart and Dire Straights (in Israel). I think it’s time to change this.

7. Camp out on Island Spirits. Last year I stayed in their eco cabin but this year I want to try camping on this spectacular island.

8. Participate in another half marathon AND a sprint triathlon. Last year, I only did a half marathon but I really miss the challenge of doing a triathlon. See how happy I am in the photo?

9. Use RCI. I have 3 weeks to use and haven’t used it for years. All my weeks have disappeared into Time Share Heaven and I need to fix this.

10. Watch TV more often. Would like to watch tv shows that I hear about all the time and never watch i.e Modern Family, True Blood, and Dexter.

I visit my parents every 6-8 weeks in Ottawa and every time I visit I continue to discover great food. Sometimes I even divert from food and stumble across something else. (keep reading).

Last weekend my visit was really really quick i.e I arrived on Friday at 4 p.m. and left on Sunday at 11. No time for a tweet up – however I did have a bit of time to have a coffee with two food bloggers…@AMWATERS in the morning and @FoodiePrints in the afternoon. There is no question that every minute I am in Ottawa  – is a productive minute. LOL

@AMWATERS (who has a great blog – If Music is The Food of Love, Play On) suggested we meet at Le Michel-Ange, Coffee-Warehouse-Roasting. Thankfully I had GPS to find it – as it’s tucked away in the middle of nowhere. But oh-what-a-gem of a spot. I really really liked the atmosphere…cool art, bean bag chairs, interesting nooks and crannys, comfy couches etc. As for the coffee – I am always too busy chatting to notice if my latte was good or not. I even ordered a pumpkin truffle  (made by Clove Chocolatiers) as I’m sure I never had this flavor before. It was a perfect breakfast – coffee and a truffle combined with a discussion about FOOD.

In the afternoon I met @FoodiePrints (who also has a great blog called FoodiePrints) at Planet Coffee in the  Byward Market. I have been there once before and I’m always impressed how busy this place is and the size of their baked goods in their display.

On Sunday, I ran to Rideau Bakery to get fresh rye bread. (3 loaves – thank you very much). On my last visit I only bought one and when I got back to Toronto and had a slice, I said “what was I thinking only to get one loaf?”. Here’s some history on Rideau Bakery. It’s a 80 year old, family run – kosher bakery and their rye bread is the BEST. Really – the best. When I got home, I popped it into the freezer so I can enjoy a slice (or two) every week for weeks!!

Then I ran to the Landsdowne Farmers Market. I had never been when the market is indoors and I was thrilled that I went. The building is BEAUTIFUL and the market has some new winter vendors that’s not there in the summer.

I stumbled across Egyptian Onions. Never seen this before, have you?

In between running to visit my dad, having coffee, visiting relatives…I also took a minute to visit a new Art Gallery that recently opened in Westboro called Michael Gennis Gallery.

I am so glad I dropped by. The art is stunning, the space is stunning and to be honest,…there isn’t much not to like. Michael Gennis (who own the Gallery) was a neighbor that I havent seen in decades so it was a real treat to see beautiful art as well as catch up with an old neighbor.

I ended off the trip with a taste of Saskatoon Berry Pie from Farm Boy. Not a bad way to end a great weekend in Ottawa.

As you know, I’m a food sales rep and every day I visit 10 (or more) grocery stores. However I am genuinely interested in grocery stores and will drive 1.5 hours on a a regular basis to visit Tops and Wegmans in Buffalo. I’d rather go to a grocery store than to the outlet mall. Go figger.

As a result of my passion for food (and grocery stores)..I was thrilled to be invited to a food bloggers media tour when Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens opened.

Here’s a list of reasons why you should visit this Loblaws:

1) IT’S ENORMOUS. You have never seen anything a grocery store this SIZE before. Ever.  It’s 85,000 square feet. …yes, 85,000 square feet.

2) They have supported local businesses. I love the fact that ACE Bakery is right there baking from scratch every day. Tea Emporium is also there with tea experts to help you pick the just the right tea.

3) There is a wall of cheese. That’s right – an 18 foot wall of cheese.  This store carries more than 400 varieties of cheese. Holy Cheese!!

4) Joe Fresh has 8,500 square feet. OMG – heaven for people like me who love Joe Fresh.

5) T&T has a sushi bar there where customers can watch the sushi being made while sitting at the bar.

6) There is a huge commitment to organic fruits and vegetables as well as local produce (when available).

7) There is free WiFi

8. There is one hour of free parking with any purchase of $18 or more (before taxes)

9) There is an LCBO, and a Presidents Choice  Cooking School (which you can rent out for a private function).

10) The Sculpture: There is a 3 dimensional sculpture created from reclaimed stadium chairs in the shape of a Maple Leaf.

Hope you get a chance to visit this outstanding Loblaws one day soon. I’m sure you will leave impressed.

Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens

60 Carlton Street

(415) 593 6154

Hours: Monday – Sunday 7 a.m to 11 p.m

Let’s talk about soup. Every one loves soup right? Seriously, have you ever met someone who doesn’t like soup?

I’ve been enjoying a variety of soups from the Moosewood cookbooks for the last two decades. In particular:

• Split Pea
• Russian Cabbage Borsht
• Creamy Squash (New Recipes From Moosewood)
• Armenian Lentil
• Potato Leek (New Recipes from Moosewood)
• Minestrone

However sometimes (only sometimes) I’m short on time and want to make a soup that’s really quick. Guess what? I found a soup that takes NO TIME at all and its delicious. Once again, I found it on the internet (thanks to FoodLoversWebsite)

Here’s the recipe for Spicy Tomato Soup (which I modified a lot cause I bought the wrong can of tomatoes)

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 cups minced onion

3-4 cloves of garlic cloves

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp dill

lots of ground black pepper

12 oz crushed tomato concentrate (I bought canned diced tomatoes by accident)

2 cups water

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon of mayo or sourcream (I used milk)

2 medium sized tomatoes, diced

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat olive oil and butter in a saucepan.

2.Add onion, garlic, salt, dill, black pepper and stir till onions are translucent (about 6-8 minutes)

3. Add canned tomatoes, water and honey

4. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes.

Because I screwed up buying the wrong tomatoes, I then took a sieve and separated the tomato chunks from the liquid.

Then I took the solids, whizzed it in the Cuisinart while slowly adding the liquids. To make it creamy – I added a touch of milk.

I love soup. In fact my freezer is full of soups at the moment. I crave soup during the winter – don’t you? What’s your favourite soup? Would love to know.

I was lucky enough to obtain a ticket to the Cuisinart Warehouse house sale before it opened to the general public. I had never been before and thought that this would be a great opportunity to “check it out”. I was also super curious to see the selection and the prices.

I got into my van, and off I went to 100 Conair  Parkway in Woodbridge ON. This was a trek, but in the end I discovered it was worth the trek. Let’s go into some detail, shall we?

1. SIZE OF THE BUILDING.

It’s enormous. It’s probably the biggest space I have seen for a sample sale and trust me I have been to a few over the years. The manager I spoke to, told me that they have 20 cashiers on hand and that even if there’s a line up – they are efficient. (i.e TONS of staff). Cuisinart has been doing this for years and years.

2. PRODUCT SELECTION

You name it – Cuisinart makes it: toaster ovens, juicers, plate sets, bread makers, coffee make, deep fryers, mini choppers, knive sets, ice cream makers, rice cooker & steamer, food processor, roasters, pots and pans, blenders. Plus Connair has a selection of products at the sale too: trimmers, hair dryers, heating pads, clothes steamers, irons etc.

3. PRICE

Here’s a few photo’s that will convince you that the Cuisinart Sale is worth the drive. Whether you are looking for something for yourself or to give away as a gift (housewarming, engagement, wedding, christmas, etc).

I came home with: a deep fryer (my waistline is in HUGE trouble), a knive set ($25 with the butchers block), 2 juicers ($15) and a few other knick knacks from Connair. I could have bought WAY more i.e I had my eye on the pots and pans( $60) and another ice cream maker as a gift.

The sale will continue FRIDAY DEC 2 from 9 to 9 and SAT. DEC 3 from 9 to 6 at 100 Connair Parkway in Woodbridge. GO GO GO. You wont be disappointed.

PS stay tuned for a blog post about the deep fryer. What do you think I should make?

Once again, I went to an event as a result of a tweet I saw on twitter between @redhunttravel and @InnisGunnCanada.  The event was an Innis & Gunn Beer Dinner at Fynns Temple Bar. (489 King West). What’s not to like?  I was SO going to this event.

Here was the menu that was presented by Chef Patrick Narain:

One: Mulligatawny Soup and a Mango Chutney Crostini

Two: Dark Chocolate Chicken Wings served with a Roasted Corn, Jicama and Mango Salad

Three: Tender Lamb Stew with Root Vegetables, wrapped in an Arugula Boxty

Four: Cranberry Bread Pudding topped with El Dorado Rum Custard

The above dishes were paired with the following beers (note: I did not eat at this event – I was strictly interested in the beer)

-Innis & Gunn Original

-Innis & Gunn Rum Cask

-Innis & Gunn Spiced Rum – a new beer for me to taste

-Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2011 – another new beer for me to taste

-Innis & Gunn Highland Cask – yet another new beer for me to taste. (which is why I wanted to attend this event).

Each beer was described ….color, nose, palate, finish and food suggestion. Naturally I enjoyed all of them (in moderation of course, I’m not even sure I consumed 8 oz in total last nite). There is something so unique about this beer – I must admit, I really do like it.

As a result of last nites great event, I ran to the LCBO to buy 3 gift packs. I can’t think of a better gift for my beer loving friends.

Cheers!!

P.S A special thank you to the team at Innis & Gunn for accommodating me as a last minute guest.

Recently I was having guests over for dinner and thought that I would make chocolate pudding for dessert. I’ve made chocolate pudding before and it’s always a hit. I even remember making it in “home economics” a thousand years ago – in fact it’s the only thing i remember making in that class!!

I searched online (of course ) for a recipe and after reading thru a few recipes  I found  “the winner” (as I call it). Its from overthehillandonaroll. By the way – this blog has some kick-ass photos and recipes. Worth taking a peek at (in my humble opinion).

Here is the recipe…which by the way, will not take more than 10 minutes to prepare.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa (I bought Ghirardelli –  spent a few extra $$ but thought it would make a difference)

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups whole milk

4 large egg yolks

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whisk egg, sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan.

2. Whisk in milk, taking care to dissolve the cornstarch.

3. Whisk in egg yolks.

4. Put the saucepan over medium heat and whisk constantly (and I mean constantly) till the first large bubble spurts. This takes about 8 minutes.

5. Reduce heat to low, and whisk one more minute.

6. Remove from heat and immediately pour thru a sieve into a bowl.

7. Add butter, vanilla and bittersweet chocolate and stir till smooth

8. Place plastic wrap onto the surface so that a film doesnt appear, chill for 3 hours (or up to 3 days).

Before serving, shave a few sprinkles of chocolate on top or add real whipped cream for additional “wow factor”.

Hope you get a chance to try this recipe soon.  It’s so EASY and so GOOD.

GO FOR IT – try it – you will like it!!

Not only do I collect china but I collect postcards too.  I’m guessing that this collection started when my mom became a travel agent back in the early 1970’s and went on a lot of trips. (I think those days are long gone for travel agents). Plus my best friend in grade school and high school, travelled 4 times a year with her family. That’s a lot of postcards just from her (and I’m ever so grateful).  So between my mom and my best friend – I started to collect postcards.

Naturally my grandparents sent me some postcards too as did a few other friends who knew about my postcard collection.

Here’s one of my favorite postcards. There is a line in this postcard that says “I thought you would like to take it to SHOW AND TELL NEXT WEDNESDAY”

Isn’t that hysterical!! Disclosure:  Im 47 years old…which means that I’ve kept this postcard for a long long time! (by the way – I am NOT  A HOARDER)

I also love this postcard that just has exclamation marks. Clearly my friend was bored of writing me postcards about the same thing i.e The weather is great, you would like it here, blah blah blah.

Every once in a while I pull out this basket of postcards and will look at the stamps, the varieties of countries, the photos, and the dates. I wish I could frame these postcards but its hard to do coz I like to look at both sides of the postcard!!

Now that everyone is always sending emails and texts – I still ask friends/family to send postcards. There is something special about these little cards that I enjoy. Can’t put my finger on it – but I like collecting them.

What do you collect? I know from the comments on my previous post – that many of you collect china too!! But what else do you collect? My friends’ parents collect menus of restaurants that they have visited  while travelling. They are then framed and displayed on a big wall. I LOVE THAT IDEA. It’s brilliant.

Hope you leave more comments about what else you collect.

Hi. My Name Is Vicky and I collect CHINA. Here’s how it started.

I grew up in a house with a lot of china – my mother loves having different sets of dishes.  You could say she has a collection!! There’s a set for brunch, a set for formal dinners, a set for every day, a set for special holidays, a set for no specific reason etc etc.

Guess who is in the same situation these days? that’s right…me!  I have  a collection of 6 different sets as well. Despite the fact that I just moved from a house to an apartment, I could not part with one set. They all have some form of meaning to me, not to mention, I really do hope that I will USE them and they won’t just sit in the cupboard.

Here’s some details about the 6 sets of china I own:

1.  This set is called Black Onyx  from Ainsley  (now discontinued)) and was purchased 21 years ago. Back then it was a FORTUNE (let me repeat – a fortune). I use this set mostly for formal holiday meals and I’m proud to say that 21 years later – the entire set is in perfect condition.

2. This next collection consists of 12 different tea cups with matching saucers. I can’t even remember the last time I used it but I know it’s been YEARS. However I love the “look” and I love the IDEA of having tea on a Sunday afternoon. (with 11 friends of course)

3. This set was buried so deep, I didnt even know I had it till I moved. No joke.

4. This set I bought at Target just before I moved and it’s now my every day set. However I have been using these dishes for Friday nite dinners as I’m really enjoying a more contemporary look. Do you know what I mean?

5. This set I inherited from my grandmother. I couldnt part with it. Again, I havent used it for YEARS but it’s meaningful and it’s going nowhere. I also inherited another set of dishes from my grandmother that I use every year during Passover. This means that I have 6 different sets of dishes. This is a problem!!

You are probably asking “where oh where does she store all these china sets”? Here is the answer: I have an entire shelf dedicated to china in my ONE hallway cupboard. I invested in those “china storage containers” and believe it or not – they are all labelled. Plus I have one box of china in the storage unit that came with the apartment.

Is there anyone out there with the same type of china collection?? I should start a club – “The China Diaries” as each set of china has a story!!

ps I also collect postcards…..stay tuned.