Peachy Keen.
I have to apologize for a serious lack of yummy posts in the past few weeks. I have been busying myself with preparations to visit Ontario in less than two weeks. It's been almost two years since I've visited my family and friends and I can't be more excited!
What makes this trip extra special is that I'll be maid of honour and dessert caterer for my friend, Lisa's wedding. Lots and lots of cupcakes. Three different flavours. Three different cakes. Three different fillings. Three different frostings. And adorable toppers and baking cups to tie them all together. I'm having dreams about cupcakes to say the very least. Don't worry, I'll keep you all up to date as the deliciousness unfolds!
For now, let's switch gears. I thought it was fate when I saw these Ontario peaches at the store begging me to buy them. It seemed only right that I get a little Ontario preview and share it with all of you. There's nothing better than a fresh Ontario peach, fuzzy and bursting with bright flavour.
I've been on such a peach kick lately. Peaches in my yogurt, peaches in my hand, peaches and whipped cream, peach smoothies, peaches in my mouth. Then suddenly I remembered, oh yeah I have a food blog don't I? So why not share some of the peachy goodness with all of you?
Here is the first of a few peach installments to come. Honey Peach Smoothies!
A World of Cake.
I was fortunate enough to recently receive the lovely cookbook, A World of Cake by Krystina Castella. It's quickly becoming one of my favourite cookbooks with its big beautiful photos and scores of recipes for, you guessed it, cake.
A World of Cake reads like a cherished family recipe book with a detailed story behind every recipe and how each has been adapted and passed down for generations. It reminds us that we're all apart of a global family with traditions and cuisine that have been influenced by cultures all over the world. While flipping through it's glossy pages you quickly realize how similar and unique we all are.
You get a glimpse inside the kitchens of Japan, Brazil, Germany, Kenya and nearly every other country you can think of. After a long browse I decided to make this Ugandan Peanut Cake with it's intriguing combination of peanut, honey and cinnamon as an example of the multitude of incredible recipes you can discover in this book.
You want a copy? Sure you do!
It’s Not You, It’s Me.
Dear Exercise Bike,
I haven't been avoiding you. No really. I might use you as a coat rack from time to time. I might even have let your seat collect dust. It's a really uncomfortable seat by the way. You should look into that.
I know. I know. I told you I was going to ride you everyday. I promised you. I promised me. So I'm not the most motivated person in the world. You knew that getting into this relationship.
Don't look at me like that. I've been busy, ok? Those four seasons of Mad Men aren't going to watch themselves. Cookies need baking. Dough needs kneading. Hair needs washing. You know how it is.
Maybe we need to take a break. We obviously want different things. You're a fitness enthusiast. I'm a sucker for cinnamon buns. You like action films. I like chick flicks. You like to wake up with the sun. I roll out of bed around ten.
It's not you, it's me. We just need some time apart. I think it'll be good for us.
Tell you what, after the holidays if you're still into me we'll give this another shot. In the meantime just focus on yourself. I'll eat these Sesame Cookies with half a pound of butter and you can fix that seat of yours.
Take care.
Your friend,
Lindsey
Turn That Frown Upside Down.
There are some things in the world that are better when turned upside down. It's just a fact.
Frowns for example. You saw that one coming right?
Bats too. When they're upside down they're sleeping instead of flying around in your hair giving you rabies.
Our cat Misty. She loves to lay on her back and look at you funny with her little paws all pulled up and cute. When she's right side up she's kind of a jerk.
A squeeze bottle of honey. Preferably open while upside down over my greedy mouth.
Cake. That's pretty obvious right?
It's peach season. Did you know? Peaches are my favourite fruit. Figures I'd choose a fruit with one of the shortest growing seasons in Canada. I'm sure you can tell I like honey.
I'll stop insulting your intelligence and just get to the point.
It was only a matter of time until I combined two of my very favourite things. Honey and peach. Together at last. And what a lovely cake they made.
Honey for My Honey.
Just bear with me here and allow me to put my serious hat on for a few minutes. If you don't want to read on about a gooey love story and how ridiculously giddy it makes me then I'd suggest you stop now or skip ahead to the cake part. I won't tell. Promise.
A year ago today I had bangs and actually pulled it off nicely. A year ago today I lived three provinces away in a basement apartment where I hid my cat from my landlords. A year ago today I spent more of my free time on the phone than other people spend breathing or blinking. A year ago today I was a bundle of nerves waiting patiently for the love of my life to walk through my door.
We hadn't even met in person and I loved him more than life itself. Naive? Of course. True. Certainly.
Today I've grown out my hair and it doesn't even annoy me. Today I'm sure I have more laugh lines and I don't even care because of how they were gained. Today I woke up next to the man that is my match in every way. Today is our one year anniversary and I couldn't be happier.
Because he holds the truck door for me every time. Because of how safe I feel in his arms. Because of his amazing daughter. Because of how we finish each others sentences. Because of the way he laughs when we do the fist bump explosion. Because of the way his hand fits into mine. I made this Honey Lemon Pound Cake for my Lee, my honey. I love you.
Happy Accident.
Have you ever really taken the time to think about all the good things in life and how they never would have existed without the influence of some bad things? It's kind of mind boggling actually. I guess that's the balance of life, or karma, or the universe working itself out. Whatever you want to call it, it happens.
This is going to sound silly but it's all true. My wonderful boyfriend, Lee and I, for example, never would have met if it weren't for some random chance encounter on an online video game. That's right. We're nerds. When we met, which was years ago, we lived a grand total of 3,373 km apart. I was in Ontario and he was three provinces away in Alberta. Needless to say, we endured some hardships before we were finally able to be together like we are today.
Happy together. Happy accident. I feel so lucky to have somehow found the love of my life through the random chaos of life. It was not without struggle, but our relationship is stronger for it.
You must be wondering what this all has to do with those delicious cookies up there. That's what you're really here for. I can tell. Well that's a happy accident too. See my original recipe for these cookies calls for corn syrup and shortening, but I don't have either of those so I improvised. I used honey and butter instead and I am so glad I did. The honey gave them a warm, flowery sweetness and the butter made them soft and chewy.
Baking, like life, seems scary with all the precise measurements and specific ingredients, but it's important to remember there's always room to play. You never know what you might end up with. Warm chewy cookies or ooey gooey love.
The Pros and Cons of Food Blogging.
Sure it seems glamourous with all the chocolate, lemon curd and brown butter, but I'm here today to expose to you the hidden reality of food blogging. I present the pros and cons. It's a delicate balance maintained only by the most unbalanced of people.
Pro: There's always an impressive supply of tasty treats in the house to satisfy your cravings.
Con: You tend to have to exercise more to compensate for said cravings.
Pro: You have an overwhelming urge to make everything pretty and who doesn't like to be surrounded by pretty things?
Con: Another urge that seems to go hand and hand with this one is the need to photograph all the pretty things before they leave your kitchen or, at least, before it enters your mouth. Just ignore the obsessive lady in the apron with the camera securely attached to her face and wait patiently for your cookie.
Pro: Your Kitchen Aid mixer gets quite a lot of use and, I mean let's face it, inspires a sense of childish glee whenever you turn it on. I seriously squealed the first time it creamed butter and sugar together.
Con: You need to do at least two loads of dishes everyday. I have a tiny dishwasher, but I suppose I should be grateful I have one at all.
Pro: You always have a chance to try new things and experiment in the kitchen.
Con: Sometimes those new things become unsuccessful things and your experiments go awry.
Be assured that these Honey Roasted Peanut Butter Cookies were not one of those. They turned out quite thin and crispy which would normally not be preferable, but the satisfying crunch surprise of the candied honey roasted peanuts was a unique way to reinvent a trusted family recipe.
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