Our Fourth Annual Holiday Get Together

The evening started out with some cheese and toasts... some cheese was stinky, I didn't care for it, but the rest of the crowd sure did :)

 this year I whipped out the welcome cocktail... a cranberry-orange gold flecked martini...

 eventually we sat down to dinner, almost everyone had a lobster trio to start. From left to right, lobster and avocado tacos, lobster mac and cheese,and lobster croquettes with sun-dried tomato sauce and deep fried capers... fried capers are deliciously salty :)

 I had avocado and tomato tacos on greens with a sprinkle of fried capers...

 for main 6 mushroom and truffle stuffed chicken breasts on a puree of Jerusalem artichoke, roasted salsify and asparagus... with a drizzle of red wine port reduction...

 1 halibut with sun-dried tomato paste and the same veggies as above

 for moi veggies as above, soy marinated oven roasted sweet potato, and miso-chili marinated tofu cube

 then a finale of sticky toffee pudding with an injection of bourbon for those who wished it, whipped cream, and a brûléed fig...

 for moi a few more brûléed figs on top of a almond-poppy seed paste that my mom made for Christmas dinner...

as always food was outstanding, as was the company... Jay is already contemplating dinner for next year :)

lazy holiday dinner

We had some family time, but we also had just us time. A super lazy day spent in pj's :) For dinner a bottle of bubbly and take out from Cafe 668

 some steamed brown rice

 pan fried veggie dumplings with red wine dipping sauce...

 Rice paper stuffed with lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumbers, green chives, peanuts, and vermicelli noodles, spiked with spicy and sweet sauce.

 Vegetarian Pho - rice noodle soup cooked vegetarian style. It came in two parts: a container of stuff for the soup...

 and the broth itself...

 

Spicy fried coconut tofu...

 and Hot n’ Sour Vermicelli  soup...

yum it was delish... all vegan... plenty of leftovers for the next day :)

Happy Holidays!!!

The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

Jay made these for me one day... and I think they are the most delicious cookies ever... Jay was generous enough to share the recipe :)

Home-style Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp baking soda
1⁄4 cup unrefined sugar
1⁄4 tsp sea salt
1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup
1⁄4 tsp black strap molasses
1 - 1 1⁄2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1⁄4 cup organic canola oil (a little generous 1/4 cup)
1⁄3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips

- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
- In a bowl, sift in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Add the sugar and salt, and stir until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the maple syrup with the molasses and vanilla, then stir in the oil until well combined.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry, along with the chocolate chips, and stir through until just combined (do not over mix).
- Place large spoonfuls or 2oz ice cream scoop of the batter on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten a little.
- Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until just golden (if you bake for much longer, they will dry out).
- Let cool on the sheet for no more than 1 minute (again, to prevent drying), then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Makes 12 2oz  cookies.

pizza for dinner

We like to make our own.

List of ingredients used:
- dough (store bought)
- sun dried tomato pesto (Jay's own)
- thinly sliced Japanese eggplant
- small thinly sliced potatoes
- roasted tomatoes (store bought)
- shredded oyster mushrooms
- cooked green asparagus (store bought)
- sliced white onion
- salt and pepper
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Once the pizza was baked we topped it with some fresh dill... one of my all time fave herbs... it was delicious while hot for dinner... and even better cold next day for lunch :)

soup for dinner

I craved it he made it. It was so filling and delicious...

What he used to make it... 
1 red onion (diced)
4 celery stalk (4 diced)
1 red bell pepper (diced)
piece of fresh ginger (minced)
4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 red chillie pepper (sliced)
1 tbsp mild curry powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground corrianced
vegetable oil to sautee all of the above
2 cups of red lentils
1 med sweet potato
2 youkon gold potatoes
1.5 lt vegetable stock
salt and pepper
before serving stir in 1/2 bunch of fresh chopped cilantro

Served with some soft, chewy baguette... so filling

I topped mine with Sriracha

asian veggies and dumplings

easy breezy dinner one night last week... some sauteed asian veggies with baked and pan-fired store bought dumplings... it was delish

 the perfect dipping sauce for dumplings is equal parts Sriracha and mustard... pictured below we tried it with orange-ginger mustard... it was good, but the mustard was a bit strong...

 so we had a backup made with the classing yellow French's... this is simply delish, it was served to us a few years back at a restaurant, we couldn't believe how good this combo is...

tealish - Oh Christmas Tea

We bought this at the One of a Kind Show along with two other flavors (which will be posted in due time)... there is a tealish store on Queen St. W. in Toronto... I might visit, once I run out...

the scent of this tea is heavenly... it's Christmas in tea form...

 just looking at these ingredients I can smell it: black tea, apple pieces, cinnamon, coriander seeds, orange slices, cardamom, pink peppercorns, cloves, flavor...

 it steeps to a beautiful amber color... I drink it plain, this has so much flavor it does not need any sugar...

Tangled Garden - Radiant Raspberry Jam

One of a Kind Show is great.. So many great vendors and new finds... this is one of them... This vendor has so many different jams, jellies, and other products... Plenty to taste. Once I tasted their raspberry jam, I had to get myself a jar... this is absolutely delicious... It has hints of rose, which I adore... maybe I should have gotten myself two jars...

 the ingredient list is pretty great...

 look how delish...

 on soft, soft warm bread... with a bit of vegan butter and my delicious jam... yum

earthenware wine cups

We picked these up at One of a Kind Show last weekend. We were intrigued, and both of us have a bit of a love affair with wine.

This is the way wine is supposed to be drunk... As our ancestors did in the olden days, in unglazed earthenware pots. These cups absorb acid from wine, allowing the rich full flavor of your favorite red or white to emerge.

The difference between our cups and those from the days of old, is probably the more refined shape and the fact that the rim is glazed, which feels nicer on your lips when sipping.

But is the claim real?... yes... the wine tastes absolutely different... definitely smoother. The glasses are seasoned with the wine you drink in them... wash only with water, no dishwasher, no stacking, dry up-right.

After the first glass, our glasses became stained, on the outside. The wine does color them. But since they are ours, we have only two... we don't mind... and quite enjoy the new flavors of old favorites.

If you're interested in these cups, the company's name is Earth Works Pottery, and they are located in Burlington, Ontario... they also have a website - LINK

my favorite sandwich...

my favorite sandwich is avocado and tomato... I love it, can't get enough of it. When I can't find the perfect avocado in stores, I get a bit sad... I like to eat this sandwich at least once a week...

Last week Jay made dinner, soup and mini sandwiches... my mini sandwiches... I ate way more than my share... I couldn't stop myself... they were so adorably delicious...

Jay: What do you want for dinner baby?
Me: Mmmm I don't know yet, I'll think about it for a bit.
Jay: Let me know, I'll go shopping.
Me: We have purple potatoes and kale at home… Go from there :)
Jay: Ok..

And this is what he created… He calls it "Off the Board Vegetable Soup"... you may be wondering why... Well each Saturday my sister and I go to a local farmers market for our veggies, and groceries in general. When I get home, as I put my weekly haul away, I write down on our kitchen board what I brought. As the week progresses and we use stuff up, we erase the items from the board, so when Saturday rolls around I know what I have, what needs to be used up, and what I need to purchase...

This soup was made at the end of the week... with the veggies listed on the board...

Jay also wrote up a recipe for it... so here it is... enjoy, if you decide to make your own version of Off the Board Vegetable Soup:)

Off the Board Vegetable Soup

Prep time – 20 min
Cook time - 1hr
Yield
-4 LT

5x Carrots diced
3 Celery stalks diced
1 Onion diced
1lb Purple potatoes cut in 1/2
3 Leeks sliced
3 Garlic cloves chopped
1 bunch Green Kale washed sliced
1 small Can cherry tomatoes
1Tbs Olive oil
1lt organic vegetable stock
2 Tbs Sundried tomato paste
1 can of creamed corn

- Wash all the ingredients
- Chop all the vegetables the same size so they cook evenly
- Heat olive oil in a 6lt stock pot
- Add every thing but the Kale, potatoes and sundried tomato paste to the pot sauté for a minute or two
- Add the stock, tomatoes and some salt and pepper
- Let it cook for about 30 min at a low boil
- At this time the Kale, sundried tomato paste and the cream corn can go in turn the heat to low and let cook (simmer) for another 30 min
- Taste for salt and pepper

Latte and Cider at Balzac's

I love seasonal drinks. Two of my favorites are at Balzac's coffee shop.

The first one is hot apple cider. A staple for fall in my cup. I usually pick up a jug every single weekend at the farmer's market, warm and sip with the occasional addition of a shot of vodka in the evenings at home. No vodka at Balzac's, but it was still delicious.

The second is their Toasted Almond Latte, made with almond syrup and almond milk... sweet and  satisfying.

Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill

a couple of weeks ago we were in the Distillery District... walking around made us a bit peckish... we skipped lunch but it was too early for dinner... so we decided on a 'snack'... we went to Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill...

 we both used to enjoy oysters at one time... now it's only one of us...

 a glass of white for moi and a pint of Maudite for Jay...

 he enjoyed the whole list... a couple of times :)

 dips for oysters... the top orange one... was chili based, and it was delicious... my fave

 Jay shared some fries with me...

 and I enjoyed a plate of greens with orange-raspberry dressing... yum

 first dozen...

 something new...

 Anthony... oyster shucker extraordinaire...

 second dozen...

 I miss them... but not enough to eat them...