French Cooking: Making Macarons

Coeur de Pirate - Berceuse

Okay, who doesn't love these fabulous French treats? Macarons are not only tasty, but they must be the daintiest, prettiest petite pastries ever! My aunt from Paris just arrived, bringing me a lovely cloth book bag, and now I'm on a Paris kick. If you are in the Toronto area, there will be a great "How to Make Macarons" class hosted by the lovely lady behind eat.live.travel.write. this coming September. She has a great post on her adventures of making these finicky pastries, complete with fabulous pictures. She shares some useful tips and techniques to making the perfect macaron and the places where she learned to make macarons in Paris!Her first class is on September 30th at La Dolci in Toronto. How I wish I could go! She's also hosting a giveaway, the prize being a free spot in her class! Check it out!

All pictures from eat.live.travel.write.

Oreos and Chocolate Chips

My cousin recently posted this picture on Facebook and now my mouth is watering to try one of these "double" cookies! I feel like it could be either incredibly delicious or extremely gross (I'm leaning towards the former), but I'm willing to risk my taste buds... and my hips!

December Treats

Hello! I wanted to share pictures of my Friday of winter goodness in Vancouver. You should all come for a visit! The mountains are incredible and if you are a "foodie," this is the city for you! Before my aunt flew back to the tropics, we spent the day skiing.

Up, up the mountain we go!The sun's reflection is big and bright on English Bay. So high up the North Shore, we can see Downtown and Stanley park with the Pacific Ocean to the west...

Looking to the southeast...

The Rockies to the north...

Freshly groomed, powdery snow...
Then it was off to the German Christmas Market in Vancouver. I apologize for the bad quality photos: my camera battery died and I only had my cell phone!
The craving for sugar and chocolate kicks in after a full day of being on the slopes...
Baked apples with cinnamon, brown sugar, walnuts and vanilla sauce!

Posts from the Past

I'm sitting in front of my window writing... and watching snowflakes fall (absolutely magical). Image source: weheartitWe're back to -3 degrees. Not warm but warmer than the -9 I woke up to yesterday morning! I'm writing yet another paper today. So far this semester I have written about Qian Xuan (Chinese Literati artist), La Mezquita in Cordoba and early Islamic calligraphy/art, and now I am writing about First Nations artist, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, the creator of Haida manga. I should really get to it! So here are a few posts from the past that I really enjoyed writing and hope you enjoy reading!

Vosges Chocolate ~haut chocolate! In the mood for something sweet?

A beautiful place, which I hope to see for myself one day: Il Salviatino

A very fresh scent: CLEAN

The Galway Girl in Whistler Village This is the ski town I'll be spending time with my family during Christmas holidays.

Here's a little classic Gene Kelly for you to brighten your day. Moses Supposes... (Just click the "view on YouTube" link that appears)
Curious about the inspiration for my paper? Watch Flight of the Hummingbird, a Haida Manga animation.

Le Pain Quotidien

Home sweet home! After two very long flights --the first was only 2 hours long but my neighbour talked to me the ENTIRE time (it was a 6am flight) and the second flight was a 10 hour flight next to a rather... rotund fellow who took over the arms rest and a little of the space in my chair-- I finally made it home! It's so nice to sit and sort through photos. Here are a few from a restaurant on the Gran Via, Madrid... It was fabulous and super delicious! Le Pain Quotidien is a mix of organic French and Spanish flavours (at least in their Spain locations).Belgian hot chocolate...Jamón Iberico with Brie cheese and sun-dried tomatoes...I was pretty camera happy in here :P

Chocolat

Speaking of chocolate, have you ever watched the film Chocolat? I love that movie. And I love the set design, especially of the chocolaterie. It looks so rich and simply delicious. The set designer for this film was a genius!
I loved watching the transformation...She worked steadily away to move from the mess and disrepair...
To this...
With mouthwatering displays like this...You can see more at Hooked on Houses

Chocolate Wedding Favours

Hello lovelies! I'm about to pick the chick-flick of the evening but first: a tasty idea for a wedding favour (or party favour if there's no wedding in the near future, that you know of!). I blogged early on about my love for Vosges Haut-Chocolat. You can find the most interesting and exotic flavours! Well, according to a New York Magazine Shopping page, Mini Exotic Candy Bars by Vosges would make great wedding favours! Yummm!P.S. I found the boots pictured in the previous post! It was difficult to leave the store without them but I'm afraid my budget helped me win that little battle! That and limited amount of weight allowed for my suitcase :P

P.P.S. I had to eat some Malteasers after looking at all the pictures of chocolate!

The Lollipop Shoes

Do books completely suck you in?

I remember seeing an antique book stand somewhere in Madrid last year. All I know is that I was walking with my cousin and it was near the royal palace... or Plaza Mayor. I thought I took a picture but that seems to have disappeared too! It would be nice to find it again...

Right now, however, the next book on my list to read is called The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris. It is the sequel to Chocolat (one of my favourite movies). I can't wait to read about Vianne and her chocolaterie!

Oh! Happy 24th Anniversary to my parents!!

Sticky Fingers Gourmet Apples

Yesterday I had a major sweet tooth/sugar pinkie incident! I had vanilla ice cream with one waffle. But I really wish I had one of the apples from Sticky Fingers Gourmet Apples! Being based in New York, a Sticky Fingers gourmet apple would be one of these most expensive candied apples I could buy (airfare, taxi, accommodations, etc). My aunt brought one back once and it was so good! A sour granny smith with caramel and Oreo coatings? Yummmmmm!!!
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup AppleToffee Crunch AppleKrackel Apple
Smores Fireside Apple
Almond Joy Apple

Shannon and Omer

I just found out that Shannon and Omer got married! These two lovely people introduced me to swing dancing. It was a favourite high school pastime of mine and my good friends. The photos are absolutely gorgeous. And the really amazing thing is that they planned and pulled off this wedding in 7 weeks!!! Pretty incredible coordinating don't you think? The photos say it all:
A ceremony at the Stanley Theatre...With vintage touches...
Tables were labelled by cities rather than numbers...
Mmmm! Chocolate cupcakes...
Photographs by Tracy Heppner Photography and Studio Jeanie