Congrats D&G

Congratulations are in order for Di and Gerwyn on their engagement and the purchase of their new home. Luckily they kept our pact by not moving out to the 905's (no offense Mae and Glenn) and instead trading in the downtown condo for a beautiful brick home in Leslieville. We were lucky enough to take a sneak peak and we were full of excitement and awe as we moved from one room to another. I can already picture the Christmas tree in the living room, the wonderful smell of food coming from their huge kitchen and the football party G would have in their cozy basement. Such an exciting time in their lives. A house. A wedding. And a... Well, you know what they say. Things happen in 3's.

Cheap Date

We've been meaning to take advantage of the matinees available at the AMC theaters just down the street at Dundas Square. Since my baking course was postponed until next week, we took advantage of the day and watched an 1100 am showing of Julie & Julia. We were not only excited about the measly $12 we spent (for two people!) but we were also surprised to find some extra tickets for free popcorn and a drink. Bonus! This morning we went back to AMC to watch Norm's movie pick, the Hangover (go figure). It was a hilarious movie that had us in stiches all the way through. Looks like we have re-discovered the joy of movies and at such a great price!

Great Wolf Lodge

Do you ever feel the need to be a kid again? To have no worries in the world. To just eat, sleep and play. We did just that at Great Wolf Lodge with the company of some of our favourite little friends. Catching the waves in the wave pool, racing in the lazy river, playing basketball in the little kiddie area, racing down the water slides, and sneaking off with Norm to ride on the Niagara Rapids tube ride. I did not want the weekend to end.

Do you remember being on vacation with your family and wanting to eat 'out' but your parents/relatives would bring everything from home including the kitchen sink? Well, i hate to admit it but we are now those parents. We brought empanadas, siopao, tocino, longanisa, palabok and of course a rice cooker! It wasn't at all that we were trying to save money. It's simply because our food is better.

Before our drive home, we found a community centre where the kids can play and where the boys can nap. Trae gave the green light for the kids to wet their feet but before we knew it, the kids were soaking wet from head to toe. Leave it to the filipino kids to run around the splash pad in regular clothes. I think the kids had just as much fun here as they did at GWL.

Ah, to be a kid again. A filipino one.

Welcome Baby Eric

Baby Eric surprised all of us by coming into this world 3.5 weeks early. This gorgeous little boy weighed in a 5.6 lbs and despite his premature entrance to this world is doing amazingly well. Congrats Ev & Stu. We look forward to sharing this new adventure with you.

Remembering you...

I remember the times when you would call us and talk to us for hours - always asking such intelligent questions and leaving us questioning ourselves. I remember hanging out upstairs on our rooftop patio and taking pictures of you holding the CN Tower. I remember our trip to Centre Island and how you were content with just hanging out with us instead of going on the rides. I remember you always hiding from the sun because you didn't want to get dark. I remember your love for nicely packaged snacks, most especially pocky. You never ate them. You considered them art but everytime I would come over you would offer some to me. I remember your adoration for your little sister from the moment she was born and always showcasing her new antics as she got older. I remember your determination in school and how proud we were of you. I remember when your grandparents were here to visit and instead of hanging out at the hotel, you chose to come home with me and to protect me as I walked home that night. But what I miss most is your smile. It didn't matter what kind of day you were having, you always smiled and greeted us with a kiss and a hug. You were always so courteous of your elders - even though you said I was more like a "friend" because i looked so young. There's not a day that passes by without me thinking of you but this day is special. Today is your birthday and we miss you so.

Surprise!

Mae, Di, Sally and myself were busy putting together a surprise shower for Ev & Stu. We all know how sharp Ev is so to be sure she would not have any suspicions we told her it was a surprise birthday party for Glenn and for a little humour we added that it was an 80s themed party. Not only did Ev make transformer cupcakes for Glenn and came bearing gifts but she also came dressed in the 80s with her homemade t-shirt with a whole bunch of pins and Stuart was a hit with his David Bowie t-shirt and a mullet hair-do. Mission accomplished. Our guests were treated to a culinary treat: Di's kalbi, salmon on a cedar plank, chicken souvlaki, pasta, salad and lots of dessert. I took the opportunity to expand my cupcake repertoire with tiramisu, carrot and chocolate chip cupcakes and Sally provided guests with a ice cream sundae bar. I am so happy that the party went smooth and that Ev was truly surprised. Today little Eric surprised all of us by coming earlier than expected. Ev went into labour Sunday morning and gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 6:25 pm. Congratulations to the new parents!

CNE

There were so many new things to see at the Ex this year. We watched the professional surfers on the FlowRider as I ate the infamous tornado potato. Norm did not have his speedos otherwise he said he would have showcased some of his many talents - belly flopping is a favourite. The food building had some new additions such as Webers and a UK booth that housed the Marks & Spencers shrimp chips! That's right ladies, get them while you can! We did not stay too long this time. Just a visit to the food building and a walk up the midway. It was a busy night with the $1.75 entrance fee. We plan on revisiting the EX sometime this week so we can eat those now expensive Tiny Tom doughnuts ($5/dozen!) and so I can challenge Norm to whack-a-mole.

Harbourfront

Everyone should make a trip down to the Harbourfront before the summer comes to an end. It was a beautiful day on Saturday and it was even sweeter near the lake. Ella enjoyed walking on the boardwalk, chasing the birds, eating ice cream, watching the boats, sticking her feet in the water and doing some art work at one of the exhibits. Meanwhile, Kuya Freddie had food on his mind as he followed his nose to the smell of street meat and grilled calamari, ice cream for dessert and coconut juice to wash it all down. Norm spent the day working as he is trying to beat his month end deadline but he found some time to join us for dinner at Wah Sing. In my opinion, that's always a perfect way to end the day.

My rooftop patio

When the weather is this beautiful who wants to stay indoors? There are a million things to do around the city but sometimes you just want to simply enjoy the weather.  I recently rediscovered my rooftop patio - oh how i love it up there.  We have a beautiful 180 degree view of our city that faces south towards the lake.  I had a day off on Friday and it was spent reading a book upstairs. It was perfect. No work. No phone calls. Just me and my book. We only have a few more weeks before the end of summer so that's where I'll be if you're trying to find me.  

Harper's Baptism

A summer full of weddings, baptisms, showers and BBQs...it's neverending.  It was not in our plan to make it to South Carolina for Harper's baptism but Norm and I decided last minute to drive down to Buffalo, hop on a plane and make an appearance.  We're glad we did because we had a chance to spend time with family as we prepared cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, fruit pizza and even my 12 year old cousin Josh contributed by preparing a beautiful fruit tray. The reception was a success.  They had two food stations:  filipino and southern.  I went straight for the southern station and filled up on shrimp with grits, sweet potato hash and fried green tomatoes. Usually my trips to South Carolina consist of shopping but instead I traded it for a trip to the beach. It was perfect.  Norm was happy. And besides, I managed to sneak in some shopping in Buffalo on our way home...

Cupcakes galore!

I spent most of Thursday morning baking cupcakes.  I was a little nervous not just because it was my biggest order, but because it was for Sally's wedding.  We didn't actually sit down and discuss all the details.  Their only request was to make them vanilla and Sally wanted me to incorporate their monogram.  Everything else was up to me.  Where do I go from here?
As you can see, my designs are fairly simply.  I piped pink flowers and added silver balls to the white cupcakes.  To the pink cupcakes I made white chocolate disks and added their monogram.  
My finished product.  I added fresh pink roses and white orchids to add some freshness.  To top it off, I had bobbleheads of Sally & Ron!  Special thanks to Ev for her cupcake stand, to Charissa for the cupcake boxes, and to Norm for his help.  A special thanks to Sally & Ron for allowing me the honour of making their cupcake wedding cake!  

Mr & Mrs Padua

Brian & Bernice definitely know how to throw a party.  The wedding party introductions was amazingly different and very much a B&B production.  Anthony & the rest of the Neil McNeil boys created an awesome video of the brotherly romance (aka "bromance") that these guys share.  Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gys7kedId0  It was an awesome night with my Dame girls, including my girl Diana. As the house music played I could see old house moves come back to life.  I tried to bust out my old TriUnity moves but I quickly realized that I was getting too old.  I couldn't slide the way I used to but I sang my heart out as I danced in one spot.  It was a great wedding and a wonderful reunion.

Congrats B&B!

Mr & Mrs Soriano

On July 17, 2009 Sally became a Soriano!  Sally is definitely the toughest gal I know (besides myself) and she proved it by walking and dancing the whole day & night with a broken ankle! Nothing stops this girl. If anything, it makes her stronger.  But behind her tough demeanor, I recently discovered her sweet, sensitive side.  At the end of her speech she thanked her husband and poured her heart out in front of all their guests.  This is not the Sally I know but it is certainly something that I can get used to. I hope the two of you continue your outwardly affection towards each other. Love is definitely in the air...and it's contagious!

Congrats Mr & Mrs Soriano!  Have fun in Italy!

Zoe July 13, 2003 - July 9, 2009

Zoe Licious Umali Barrientos born on July 13, 2003 third youngest of a litter of 13.  Zoe was a big part of the Barrientos family.  She will never refuse a snack no matter how big or small. Often found perched beside Seyla awaiting any loose pieces of chicaron.  Loved to lick any salty surface. She is known to 'sleep around' but especially loved to sleep in the perfect space between Great-Grandma's bow legs or on Timmy's beer belly.  Wins over the hearts of all - especially with her sweet demeanor and gentle kisses.  She will be missed by big brother Cisco, parents Cecile & Vic, best friend Seyla, Godparents Mel, Norm, Tim, Lou, Fran, Trae, Paul & Cha,   Grandparents Nitz & Virgilio, Great-grandparents Purita & Tim and the whole Barrientos clan.  Zoe will remain always in our hearts.  May you rest in dog Heaven. 

Roadtrip 2009

Roadtrip!

Norm and I usually kick off the summer with an anniversary trip so this year we packed our Subaru and took the streets of Montreal, the rolling hills of Vermont and the seaside city of Boston.  Here are some highlights of our trip:

Montreal

We stayed in a boutique hotel called Saint Sulpice in old Montreal.  Our suite was as big as our condo and we were steps away from the old Montreal square and behind us was Notre Dame cathedral.  For dinner, we found a beautiful Italian restaurant called Da Emma which was off the beaten path, about a 15 minute walk from the square.  Normally you would need reservations but Norm used his charm and managed to get a table after sitting at the bar enjoying a much deserved drink to kick off our vacay. The food was absolutely incredible and the atmosphere was perfect.  It was located in the basement of a building and although I was a little worried as I walked down the stairs, it was a pleasant surprise to see a restaurant so alive and full of people (mostly Italians) who share the same love as we do:  food!  The next day we visited Jean Talon market where we enjoyed merguez sandwiches - lamb sausages in a french bagette.  Very tasty and it was the perfect snack to tide us over to our next stop...Vermont.

Vermont

What a beautiful, green state!  The highways were lined with little green mountains.  I say 'little' because it does not compare to the rockies in the west coast, but still they were a pretty sight and i can only imagine what the fall foliage would look like.  Our first stop was Burlington, Vemont.  If you sneeze, you'll miss the main square - which was closed off to cars and offers visitors a selection of shops and restaurants. An hour away is a little town called Warren, Vermont - home of Sugarbush ski resort and the town of 'covered bridges'.  Unfortunately the rain would not stop so we had to forego our hiking, zip trekking, and waterhole swimming plans.  Instead we woke up early, had a wonderful breakfast at a local cafe and headed south east to Boston.

Boston

I was glad to turn the wheel over to Norm right before the Mass turnpike.  I'm not a fan of tunnels so imagine driving in one?  Here we stayed at the Fairmont Battery Wharf at the north end of the city.  It was walking distance to Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, little Italy and of course, the Barking Crab.  Norm was excited to revisit this place and was so pleased with the lobster that we came back on our second night for another round of lobster and sangria.  We took the the Duck tour that takes us around the city and ends up in the water (similar to TO's Hippo tour).  If you ever visit Boston, I highly recommend the Duck tour as it was a great history lesson and the best way to see the city both on land and on water.  I also want to mention another great find - Mike's pastry.  There was a long line up that was out the door so naturally what would you do?  Get in line!  I wasn't sure what I was lined up for but I knew it was something good.  As it turns out, they had the best cannoli's you can find in Boston!  Sweet ricotta cream creations - with the perfect cookie shell.  We revisited Mike's pastry for breakfast, lunch, snack and a late night dessert. 

The trip home was a long haul but i managed to find some "rest stops" - conveniently located at the outlet malls. All in all, it was a great trip - especially since we made frequent stops to visit different places.  Personally, i would rather fly.  Norm, however, loves the freedom of driving. I guess it's not so bad as long as we get to stop, shop and explore along the way.  

Sally

Only 2 more weeks to go until Sally gets hitched.  Here are some pics of the fun we had over the last couple of weeks.  Yes, the cougars were loose in the city of Toronto - but it was fun and well worth the aching feet and pounding headache the next day.  Looking forward to your big day Sal!  

Sally's Pre-wedding Adventures

Welcome to the family

Congratulations to Paul & Charissa who got married on June 13th, 2009.  I know you have been waiting patiently for me to post pictures so here they are!  Enjoy!

Charissa & Paul tie the knot!

Carrot Cake

Norm and Mikey had a slice of carrot cake before I had a chance to take a picture.  Although Norm thought that the carrots were real, they were actually made from almond paste.   Carrot cake is one of my favs and I can't wait to refine the recipe to my liking.  The cake itself was light but the icing needs to be a tad sweeter.  Once I perfect it, I'll be sure to save you a slice Ev!

Hello Kitty

These cupcakes were a special request from one of my biggest cupcake fans.  Marianne celebrated her 5th birthday with a Hello Kitty theme.  I was a little nervous making these cupcakes because I had the idea all planned out in my head, but as we all know, not everything goes as planned.  This was my first time using fondant. It was fairly easy to use and very forgiving.  I tried to incorporate kitty's whiskers but I decided against it because it looked like a scary kitty.  In the end, I think Marianne was happy with the end result and that's all that matters.  Happy Birthday!

Magic Oven

Di & I decided to check out Magic Oven to try out their wheat-free, gluten-free pizza & pasta. I tried the "Euporia Magic" pizza which had herb tomato sauce, grilled chicken, spinach, mushrooms, red peppers, caramelized onions and organic mozzarella all on a gluten-free rice flour crust. It was...well, what you expect a gluten free pizza to be. The toppings were great but the rice flour crust tasted like cardboard. I guess nothing can compare to a "real" pizza. It was also very expensive but I guess that is also a given for organic mozzarella cheese and preservative-free chicken breast. Di, on the other hand, gave the pasta a try. She quite enjoyed the pasta as she is on Day 6 of a wheat & sugar free diet. Our bill was a tad expensive but I guess we can take their menu ideas and recreate them at home. Good luck Di. I know how hard it is for you to give up bread. I heart bread, too!

Hayden's Birthday Weekend

Friday night was spent at Mega Fun with 14 kiddies.  Five year olds have a ton of energy and we were exhausted after only 2 hours of supervising.  Thank goodness we took a break for pizza and cupcakes.  Hazel helped me make Sponge Bob cupcakes.  They were a hit!  The party continued with a Sunday afternoon barbeque. The weather was wonderful and the steaks were delish!  What a great way to end a week.  Pictured here are clown cupcakes that I made for the Hayden's family birthday celebration.  I made them for the kids but the adults went nuts for them! I guess there's a kid in all of us no matter what age.

Zoo time

On Saturday we headed over to the zoo with the family.  It was a beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky but at 5pm it suddenly became dark and windy.  We were in "Africa" which was a fairly long walk away from the exits so the rain eventually caught up to us.  The trails leading to the exit was surrounded by tall skinny trees so the howling of the wind and the falling trees freaked us out and hurried us along faster than normal.  As you can imagine with a mass exodus we waited another 30 minutes inching ever so slowly for our turn to exit the parking lot.  The evening was spent at our place as we relaxed and we were entertained by Ella.

Mikey's Danceoff

A lot of memories came flooding back when we went to Notre Dame for Mikey's Danceoff Competition. We walked up and down the hallways and laughed at our old graduation pictures. We even said hello to an old teacher who apparently remembered us (yeah right). The Danceoff consisted of 13 groups representing different schools. We were thrilled and beamed with pride when they announced that Mikey's group one 1st Place. Awesome job, Mike!

Random Pics at Edward's Gardens

Enjoying the beautiful weather 

The future Mr & Mrs

Mr & Mrs Cantillas

Seyla & Ella found a tree to climb

Grandma & her apo enjoying a day at Edward's Garden

A Harry Rosen ad. 

55 Days to go

Saturday afternoon was spent at Casa Manila for Paul & Charissa's wedding shower/meet the family gathering.  There was a Bob Marley impersonator who kicked off the karaoke with No woman no cry.  Norm is not one to sing in public but thankfully he had some practice the night before (with the help of Patron).  It was also a day I realized that the Dancing Queen can not only dance but she can sing, too! Thankfully we have some key performers (Ate Car & Kuya Boyet) who never fail to represent. We continued the beautiful day at Edwards Gardens where we took Grandma for a spin up and down bridges.  Seyla and Ella enjoyed skipping rocks on the stream, climbing a tree and chasing ducks.  This is just the beginning of summer days ahead. And only 55 days to go until the wedding...

Thinking of you with Love

We thought of you with love today,

but that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday,

and days before that too.

We think of you in silence,

we often speak your name.

All we have are memories,

and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake,

with which we will never part.

God has you in His keeping,

we have you in our hearts.

It broke our hearts to lose you.

But you didn`t go alone.

For a part of us went with you...

the day God called you Home.

~Author Unknown

Thanks Pampered Chef

Thank you Pampered Chef for my pie accessories.  I did not use the pie stoneware since I am transporting this and fear that I might not get it back...so I will save it for Easter! One thing is for sure, there's nothing better than the smell of fresh apple pie.  Off I go to visit the Grandparents...

Field Trip

Our acupuncturist recommended that we start replacing our Greens+ with Wheatgrass juice so she sent us on a road trip to Stouffville - home of Life Up North.  We called the night before to check their hours of operation and told Tom, owner of Dynamic Greens, that we would be there at 9 am. It was raining in Toronto but snowing in Stouffville. Thank goodness we still have our snow tires on. To my surprise, Dynamic Greens is located on a farm. Tom & his wife graciously opened their home to us.  It was like we were old friends coming over to visit. After an hour chat with him we drove down to the farm and admired his Irish Wolfhounds, all 8 of them.  They greeted us with a very warm (and loud) reception. I love dogs but it was a little overwhelming since they were as tall as me.  Tom then threw me some egg holders and led us to the chicken coop where we gathered some fresh (warm) eggs. It was like a field trip to the farm!  I was not prepared for such an experience.  Picture me standing in the middle of a chicken coop with skinny jeans and a trench coat.  It was quite a sight. I didn't want to disturb the chickens as they sat on their eggs so Tom was nice enough to shoo them away so that we can collect our fresh farmed eggs. I don't think he does this with all of this clients. We showed interest in his dogs and mentioned we didn't know what an Irish Wolfhound was so he was eager to show them to us.  In the end, we went away with a 40 day supply of wheat grass juice (which was tastier than Greens+), a dozen eggs, and my first farm experience!

Since we were in the area, we went to see Rachel's lovely new house.  I worked my reverse psychology and my godson finally warmed up to me. He even called me "Ninang" and got hugs and kisses when we left.  What a perfect start to the weekend...

Dinner for 4

Charissa & Paul came over for dinner last night. We missed WND this week so I guess I felt the urge to cook, and so i did.  We started off with hot pepper jelly turnovers. I discovered the recipe in my Williams Sonoma Appetizer cookbook and since Saadia raves about her cookbook, I decided to give it a try.  For our main we had grouper in a tomato basil sauce with some cheese empanadas from Kensington market.  I don't think I've tried grouper before but I heart any white fish.  The cheese empanadas from Kensington market are always a fan favourite - good find Di! For dessert I attempted an Angel Food cake and failed miserably. I guess there's always a first for everything. Can't wait to learn the techniques when I start my Art of Cakes class.  

Sorry no pics, my camera was not charged (imagine that!).

Energy

Forgive me blogger buddies for my absence.  It has taken 3 weeks for me to dig myself out of sick mode.  I went back to work after a week of bed rest but I could not find my usual energy. Grandma and Grandpa often check on me to see how I'm feeling, leaving messages on our voicemail on a daily basis.  We swung by their place Friday evening (after a Lin Garden reunion with the cousins) just so they see that I'm okay.  But still, they have forbidden me to bake until I am 110% well again.  On that note, I am due to start The Art of Cakes in a few weeks but I do have a project underway.  Sally has asked me to make her wedding cupcakes and I happily obliged.  How exciting!  I am using a few people at work as guinea pigs as I sample some cupcake recipes.  So far, so good.  Yesterday morning we woke up and as usual Norm asked me how my 'energy levels' were.  I woke up with a headache but he dragged me out of bed anyway and we drove over the border.  He knows that shopping will always cheer me up and although the headache did not go away, I managed to buy a pair of shoes, clothes, and two bags full of Target junk.  As expected, I woke up with a spring in my step on this beautiful morning. I think I'll start by bringing my energy to the gym and bake for the Grands this afternoon.

Sick

Norm jinxed me. The other day he said "Mel, you never get sick". This was true. A few days later, I developed a fever and a full blown flu. I went to the Doctor yesterday to confirm Norm's findings and he said I had all the classic signs of the flu and he ordered me to go home and have a pity party for myself.  Normally I would be rejoicing at having a week off work but it has been a rough couple of days at home.  My head hurts, my throat is sore, I'm hot, I'm cold, I have no appetite, I'm hungry, I'm emotional and I'm clingy.  I'm trying to keep my germs to myself but when I sneeze it does not have too far to travel given our small space.  Norm thinks he's invincible. He's rejoicing at the fact that he got the flu shot.  Funny how he's a big supporter of the flu shot, even wrote an article in the Hospital News, and lectures his care-coordinators and patients about the importance of the flu shot. But here's his wife, totally against the flu shot, and is now caring for her because she got the flu.  Lesson learned.  Next year I'll get the shot. 

Uncle Jessie

As Francis said at the viewing, "What kind of gathering would this be if he did not go up to the mike and say a few things about Uncle Jessie".  On that note, this Blog is dedicated to Uncle Jess. During family events Uncle Jessie would always lead the prayer before our meals.  Usually at this time everyone is famished and the smell of the food tantalizing our nostrils was torture. We would patiently wait and listen to Uncle Jess say grace that was sometimes accompanied with some form of music.  Just when we think it is over, Uncle would sneak in an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.  At the end of the prayer, he would always get a big AMEN as everyone rushed to the food table. Uncle always took his time in prayer and taught us to be patient.  

When Norm was doing home visits in Scarborough, his favourite place to take a break was in Uncle Jessie's backyard. It was meticiously clean, very neat and had zen like qualities. Norm would often go there unannounced and sometimes unnoticed. Thank you Uncle Jess for welcoming and creating the best outside office anyone can ask for.

Uncle Jessie will be missed by all. But as the saying goes, just look in the eyes of his children and grandchildren and there you will find him.  

Rest in peace Uncle.

Croissants

I absolutely love croissants. It's my whole reason for taking the Breakfast Breads course. Norm and I often try out different bakeries and test out their chocolate croissants.  So far the best one yet is from Thuet but it also comes with a hefty price tag.  Now that I know how to make these beautiful creations, we no longer have to wander the streets of TO.  But then again, now that I know how much butter goes in, I haven't made any since. I guess sometimes it's best not to know. Ignorance is bliss.

French Toast Party

Since taking baking courses at George Brown, a small fan club started to develop.  A friend even hangs out in front of George Brown in hopes of getting a taste of a fresh baked something.  My biggest fan is definitely Norm but trailing behind him is Grandpa.  One day he asked me how to make french toast so I gave him the recipe and the following Sunday we went there with our whole kitchen in a bag.  We had a french toast party with the Grands that also included some fresh baked danishes and Grandpa's fav cinnamon buns! And so the story goes:  everyday before working at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, Grandpa would stroll the streets of downtown and stop by a cinnamon bun shop.  He says it's one of his favourites along with a homemade apple pie and tea biscuits.  Grandpa's grandpa often baked these favourites and so I can only imagine the memories that came back with even just the smell of a fresh baked something. 

Breakfast Breads

I successfully graduated from Baking Arts I and continued on to Breakfast Breads with my cooking partner, Saadia.  So far we learned how to make brioche, cinnamon buns and croissants.   This class is very different from the 'beginner' class.  Chef is very strict and has rigid time lines.  I guess it's good discipline for those going into the industry but most of us do this for fun and don't need the army like environment.  Luckily she has a nice assistant who does not hesitate to help out where needed.  Pictured here is our chelsea bun.  It was oooey, gooey, good.  A little birdy (Grandma) told Grandpa all about it so I had to bake one especially for him.  The look on his face after his first bite, and after his third cinnamon bun, made waking up every Saturday morning worth it.

Another Kris Kringle

We finally put our Christmas tree away but not before having yet another Kris Kringle with my high school buddies.  Brian took us back in time and played some old reggae and classic house music.  It took everything in me to not get up and bust some TriUnity moves.  I did, however, do a little Notre Dame cheer as requested by my fans.  Gosh, it's been so long. Luckily I did not attempt the 'russian' otherwise I am sure I would be in the hospital with a torn something or other. Anyway, just wanted to thank my Kris Kringle for my Indigo gift card.  And thanks for waiting for me to come back so I can celebrate Christmas with ya'll!

Baby Harper

Congrats to cousins April & John who had a baby girl on January 2, 2009.  My little cousin April and I grew up together in South Carolina. I know, she's no longer little (although she's still shorter than me) but I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of her.  I know she will make an amazing mother and I hope to be a wonderful Aunt, even though I'm far away. I cannot wait to meet little Harper Haralson.  Hopefully I can take a trip out to Houston for a quick visit.

Kris Kringle

It seems that Christmas is never ending. I guess that is partly the reason why my Christmas tree is still up. Friday night we gathered together for our annual gift exchange - white elephant, so you can imagine the stealing and dirty looks everyone was giving each other.  In the end, I think everyone ended up happy.  I got a recycled wine bottle cheese platter.  Thanks Di! Instead of cooking, we ordered Chinese food. Everything was delicious and now I'm back to where I started. I guess I'll have to Spin that much harder.

Old Friends

When ever I go home, I always try to meet up with my old friends. This is Bobbie Jo, my BFF in 5th grade.  We were inseparable.  I would attend all her soft ball games, we would take hours getting ready for school dances, we would buy the same outfits but in different colours and she told me all she learned in sex ed class when my Grandpa refused to let me go.  It's been more than 20 years and yet it seems just like yesterday.  

Go Tigers!

We decided to start the new year in Jacksonville, FL for the Gator Bowl:  Clemson Tigers vs Nebraska Huskers.  I'm not really a football fan but the excitement is contagious when you're surrounded by 70,000 screaming fans.  Our tailgating experience was interesting. Parked beside us was a family of 6 all crammed in an old Chevy. Imagine three big Americans in the front seat, and three in the back. As they got out, they quickly set up their folding chairs and started eating fried chicken.  It was just as I'd picture it but even better. The game itself was an emotional roller coaster as the teams took turns in the lead.  In the end, the Tigers were defeated but the orange sea of fans still sang loudly as the Clemson band played the school song.  After the game we had a quick bite to eat and headed four hours north back to South Carolina.  

Orlando, FL

After a quaint little Christmas in SC, we drove south to Florida for a mini vacay.  Since we've been to the Disney parks before, we decided to forego the long Disney lineups and instead enjoyed our vacation home that was equipped with an inground pool.   As predicted, Norm was the first one to jump in the pool followed by my uncle.  Soon there were a couple of us in our pajamas who were pushed in the pool, myself included.  The option to heat the pool was available at $35 a day but the weather was so nice that it was not needed.  No wonder Canadians flock to Florida during the winter season.  New Years Eve was fun as we played cards and drank champagne as we rang in the new year. I look forward to 2009.

Greenville, SC

Yesterday we made the 3 hour trek to Greenville, SC where cousins Brian & Kate live.  It's a booming town full of young professionals and where a number of big companies are setting up shop.  My cousin works for GE which is partly the reason for his move to Greenville.  It's also 45 minutes away from Clemson, their alma mater, making football games easily accessible.  Upon our arrival, they wanted to take us out to Lieu's, their favourite chinese bistro.  We ate until we were 110% full and then headed downtown to an ice-cream shop called Spill the Beans.  It's a quaint little town with cute shops and restos.  I think it's a little too small townish for me but knowing Norm, this is exactly the type of town he would move to.  Here you can get a big house (2000 sq ft) for $150,000.  It's tempting. Really tempting.

Tang, la!

When my cousins and I were little our Grandpa taught us how to play cards and even bet money. The name of the game is Tang but I've heard some other families call it other names.  It usually happens after dinner when someone would yell out "Tang, la!" and everyone would scrounge around for change and bring it to the game table.  Prior to dealing our 5 cards each, we would bet 10 cents each for the lowest spade and 25 cents for the lowest black pair. Back then, that was a lot of money - especially for us kids.  Eventually we would add on and bet on the lowest diamond, red pair or even zebra (red and black pair).  There was never any clear winners but we always had cheaters. Grandpa, for example, would hide the Ace of Spades and none of us clued in every time he won the lowest spade bet.  My brother and his sidekick Brian were always quick to take our coins when we weren't looking or come up short when paying the winner.  But we all cheated when our Grandma would drift off to sleep and slowly her fan of cards would fall for all to see. Last night was no different. As always, it was a loud and rowdy game with rule makers and rule breakers, some of us were short changed, and for some reason my Aunt always won the spade bet. Hmmm, I'm on to you Auntie!  Sunday afternoon we will be going to my Uncle's house for lunch so I will save my change in case someone yells out, "Tang, la!" 

Okra Grill

A visit to the Charleston would not be complete without a visit to Okra Grill. It's a small, simple restaurant without any frills but people flock here because of the good old southern food they have to offer.  We all ordered separate dishes but as usual we changed it to family style and traded and tasted each other's food.  Hush puppies (deep fried corn meal) are my favourite and I was glad these did not disappoint. Okra is also a must (hence the name of the resto) so you can have it deep fried and coated with a light batter or simmered in a tomato sauce. Collard greens are also a southern staple and is usually cooked in butter.  Norm and I shared a seafood dish that had shrimp, fish and crab cakes but I was quick to try my Aunt's sweet, butter deep fried chicken and Ann's country, fried steak smothered with gravy. As you can see, it's a restaurant that one should not frequent often but it's definitely a winner if you are craving good old, southern cooking. 

A Southern Christmas

We managed to escape the winter wonderland and ventured south for Christmas.  It's been awhile since I've been home so I've forgotten the traditions that take place during this time of year.  Misa de Gallo was always something I attended when I was little. I'm not sure what misa de gallo means but basically we gather together a couple of times before Christmas to pray and sing carols.  I guess it's also a social event but it's nice because it reminds us what Christmas should be about. On Christmas Eve we attended midnight mass, something we had not done in years but realize now how important it is. Our family took up a whole row so as you can probably guess peace be with you was a little complicated. Here in the south when you say the Our Father, everyone holds hands - even strangers.  After mass we got home and had our midnight Christmas dinner which consisted of sushi and sashimi, chicken rice soup (arroz caldo), chicken salad and salmon with caper dips with pita, eggrolls and fruit.  It was supposed to be a light snack but we ate way too much and konked out by 4 am but still managed to wake up at 10:30 to prepare for Christmas dinner.  But first things first -  a visit to see Auntie, Grandma and Grandpa were mandatory, especially at Christmas.  It was while I was standing there looking at their stones that I realized just how much I missed them, again especially at Christmas.  As soon as we got back, I went straight to work.  I must say, the seafood casserole turned our amazing and it was a huge hit (thanks Dancing Queen).  For dinner we had turkey, ham and roast beef with all the fixins' and for dessert, my almost famous apple pie. It was a perfect southern Christmas.  Oh, and did i mention that it was 32 degrees celsius today?  

Merry Christmas to all.  

And to all a good night.

Christmas Whirlwind

I try to get enough sleep in November to last me through the holiday season but every year it's never enough.  I'm exhausted and we haven't yet made it to Christmas.  Work alone had 5 Christmas parties plus I had to finish up on work before the Christmas closure at my downtown office. Thankfully Saadia volunteered to cook a lovely Christmas dinner for our WND crew.   We were hoping to visit our godchildren before our departure but mother nature had other plans.  The news called it 'snowmageddon' but what do you expect when you live in Canada? Many scrambled to find a way home, and many of my coworkers were frustrated with the cancelled GO trains/buses. It was a mass exodus to leave the city but some stayed behind in hopes that the snow would stop and the streets plowed.  As for me, I was home in a flash. Living 4 subway stops from home is great! By dinner time, Norm and I walked the city streets and although the snow had given us a break, the temperature dropped to friggin freezing!  We enjoyed the snow nonetheless. It was fresh, untouched and sparkly. It almost looked fake. Apparently another snow storm is heading our way.  We were scheduled to leave tomorrow morning but we switched it to Monday afternoon.  Although I would love to be in sunny South Carolina, I would rather ride out these storms.   For now, I'm going to enjoy my Christmas weekend with Norm.  Maybe Mother Nature is trying to tell us to slow down and enjoy time with our families.  How about making a snowman together? Or baking Christmas cookies? Tonight we're enjoying a roast beef dinner, wine and Love Actually.  It's just what I needed.  It's perfect.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the WND crew.

Sally has been voted off the island.

Welcome Saads!

Black Forest Cake

I don't normally fancy black forest cake but I quite enjoyed this one.  We started off with a making a Devil's food cake (chocolate cake) which we divided in three layers.  In between the layers we added cherry jam and cream.  The hardest part was masking the cake without looking like a lopsided mountain. The highlight of making this cake was decorating it with rosettes, shredded chocolate shavings, chocolate sprinkles, and running a decorating comb along the side.  All this with cherries on top!

69th Wedding Anniversary

On Sunday, November 16th Grandma & Grandpa celebrated 69 years of marriage.  Grandma says the secret to a successful marriage is to always love and respect each other.  Sounds pretty simple, huh? I think with that you need patience, understanding, the ability to grow with each other and good sense of humour.  Norm, we have 63 years to go...

My weakness

Shortbread with a jam filling dipped in chocolate.  Deadly.

Mary Ann's Favourite Birthday

Gosh I have a lot of blogging to do.  Bear with me as I recount everything that has taken place since my last blog.  This pic was taken at Mae's place for her Favourite's birthday. She decided to be different by serving steak and chicken sandwiches and for dessert she had So Good and Tiramisu which are all her favourites.  In return, we gave Mae our favourite things which included:  iTunes card, Everyday Food magazine, Shopper's Drug Mart gift cards, shrimp chips and cookies from UK, angel food scented candle, more snacks, DVDs and i don't recall the rest but I'm sure Sally will remind me.  Yet another fun favourites birthday. There's never a dull moment at Mae's house.  We can always count on her boys to entertain us.  

Crocombouche

Our cooking class called for eclairs but Chef decided that he wanted to show us how to make crocombouche!  It was a lot of work to make the profiteroles, stuff them with sweet custard or cream, arrange them in a pyramid and decorate with spun sugar but in the end, it was beautiful and better yet, it was delicious.