zoku quick pop maker

I was clicking around as usual on my twitter account and I found the Zoku Quick Pop Maker! I watched the video on the William Sonoma website and it's pretty awesome!

Customized popsicles in only 7 minutes! Time for bacon-apple popsicles!!!!!

Image from: williamsonoma.com

cheeseburger cupcakes!

I've been using twitter lately, and it's great because it introduces me to lots of new and awesome things.

Just recently I blogged about Sweet Things which I found through one of the people I follow on twitter, and tonight I found another awesome link at cheeseburgercupcake!

She has a "how-to" on her page and I cannot wait to try it out (maybe next weekend). I've seen hamburger cakes (via Sweet Things), but since I'm not as skilled of a baker & cake decorator these cupcakes seem more like something I might be able to pull off. Wouldn't these make the perfect dessert at a bar-b-q?

Image taken from: cheeseburgercupcake.wordpress.com

8-layer dip

Me & Dave have to bring something to a potluck and we chose appetizers, only to realize afterwards that we have no idea what to bring. So after racking our brains a bit, I decided to try making a 8-layer dip like the one I used to buy from Costco.

Layers (from bottom to top)
1. refried beans
2. guacomole
3. salsa
4. sour cream/cream cheese mixture
5. tomatoes
6. lettuce
7. shredded cheese
8. chopped green onions

I'm not sure about the layer ordering right now, but I guess it doesn't matter as it all mixes up anyways.

I wonder if it's too summery an appetizer to bring....

kettle corn popcorn

I had another opprotunity to try (a.k.a. stuffing my face with) kettle corn popcorn. I didn't like it the first time I tried it, but this time around I fell in love with it.

I ran out to buy some today and although they didn't have the brand my friend was stocking at Superstore, i picked up a different brand which is shown in the picture. It's oh-so-good I can't stop eating it!

According to Wikipedia:
"Kettle corn is a sweet-and-salty variety of popcorn that adds granulated sugar, salt, and oil. The flavor of kettle corn is less sweet than caramel corn. It is a lighter sweetness that contrasts subtly with its saltiness."

I love that sweet 'n salty yumminess!

Image via: popcornindiana.com

sweetthings.ca

As an fan of Food Network's show "Ace of Cakes", I was enthralled when I found Sweet Things which is based out of Toronto! I happened to click to the site by chance through 1 of the people I follow on twitter - I love finding awesome sites through chance curiosity.

I love all the cakes on her page and her blog! They are adorable! I wish I could make such wonderful looking yummy pieces!

Check out her website at: sweetthings.ca
Check out her blog at: sweetthings-toronto.blogspot.com

She mentions various cake decorating courses she's taken at George Brown and the Bonnie Gordon School. I'm tempted to take a couple of courses, but....I have to learn how to bake a decent cake first I think.

smores to you

My friend gave me & Dave this cute little tree ornament to commemorate our first Christmas together as a married couple and it's perfect for the foodies in both of us.

It's a smores couple! haha. At first I thought they were 2 snowmen, but then I noticed the chocolate and graham cracker they were standing on.

I can't wait to put this on our future tree.

brick toast - trial 1

I am actually having trouble finding powdered milk NOT in bulk quantities at my local grocery stores. Dave suggested I try Bulk Barn, but the 1 near our house is closed for renovations, so I decided to try the eaglebrand.ca brick toast recipe.

Ingredients:
1 loaf unsliced white bread
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Preparation:
1. Line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Slice bread into l ½” (4cm) slices. You should get approximately 8-10 pieces. Place on baking sheet. Score each piece from top to bottom with an X. Spoon 1 tbsp (15mL) condensed milk over bread. Let sit 5-10 minutes.
3. Place under broiler and broil for 1 minute or until bread starts to get golden. Watch it carefully as it can burn quickly. Serve immediately.

I burned one of the slices a bit, but all in all it turned out very good. Success!

I can now enjoy the loveliness of brick toast IN BED!

au pied de cochon

We ate at the famous Au Pied de Cochon, and I must say it was probably the best food I`ve ever tasted. This was my first time trying froi gras and it definitely lived up to the hype.

I would recommend anyone (that likes meat) visiting or living in the Montreal area try out this restaurant if they haven`t already.

Here are some details about the restaurant -

Restaurant:Au Pied de Cochon
Location:536 Duluth Est, Montréal

What we ordered:
- the daily special: gnocchi in duck confit
- Duck in a can
- Tatare
- some drinks, including Pied de Cochon beer



The meal started off amazingly with the gnocchi dish (pictured above). It tasted very very fresh and the duck consume was to die for. After the appetizer I already knew this was to be one of the best meals I have ever had in my life.





I was really dissappointed in myself for ordering the Tatare and not the duck in the can. The duck in a can comes as the name states - in a can & the server opens the can on the spot and pours all the goodness onto your plate. Luckily I was able to steal some wonderful morsels of duck off of Dave`s plate. I am usually very skeptical of duck, as Chicnese restaurants usually win hands down int he duck preparation department, but I must say that this was absolutely the best duck I have ever had. The delictable duck flavour was so incredibly and wonderfully powerful. I`m drooling just thinking about it. I was seriously considering calling my dish a write off and ordering a whole other meal. Don`t get me wrong, the Tatare was fine, but definitely nothing compared to the duck in a can.

brick toast

I've been searching on the internet for possible recipes for this Bubble Tea joint-favourite. So far I've found:

Via eaglebrand.ca

Ingredients:
1 loaf unsliced white bread
1 can (300 mL) Regular or Low Fat Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk

Preparation:
1. Line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Slice bread into l ½” (4cm) slices. You should get approximately 8-10 pieces. Place on baking sheet. Score each piece from top to bottom with an X. Spoon 1 tbsp (15mL) condensed milk over bread. Let sit 5-10 minutes.
3. Place under broiler and broil for 1 minute or until bread starts to get golden. Watch it carefully as it can burn quickly. Serve immediately.


Via chowhound.chow.com

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of non-fat powered milk
1/3 cup of granulated sugar, dial down for less sugary result.
1/3 cup of salted butter (Margarine is actually a better substitute as it melts much faster)
1/2 egg yolk
2 slices of 1″-thick brick toast.

Preparation:
1. Preheat toaster oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Score the toast in a pound sign (#), marking the large toast slice into 9 squares. Make the incisions deep to allow better butter penetration.
3. Mix remaining ingredients in bowl with spatula, resulting in bechamel-esque paste below.
4. Split mixture evening into two portions, and spread evenly onto toast. Be sure to cover the edges so the tip of the crust won’t burn. Place into toaster oven for 6-7 minutes, or remove when sugary mix is lightly browned.

I can`t wait to try both recipes!

things i want to do in 2010

- make brick toast at home -- Done successfully
- learn to make pasta (inspiration from CinnamonKittin) -- Failed attempt 1
- eat healthier
- reduce my potato chip intake
- reduce my Coca-Cola intake
- eat at least 1 serving of fruit per day
- eat at least 1 serving of vegetables per day