Brunch Date with My Papa

First, I should start by saying that I love my dad to bits. Some of my absolute favourite childhood memories involve him. I wasn't a very girly daughter, so luckily for him it was easy to please my older brother and I, cause he got to do "boy things". For years, he was my softball coach, and I was his little all-star shortstop. We shared summers of softball tournaments, team pool parties, and post-game baskets of fries & gravy. I had an incredible childhood, cause I have the most amazing family... and my father... well he's a man of few words, but nothing means more to him than his family. He's got hands like leather cause he's the hardest working person I know (they don't call him "John the Plumber" for nothing)... and his heart is made of pure gold. God, I love that man! 

So, to celebrate Father's Day, papa John requested for a quiet and small brunch date. We opted fora a family style menu at Origin, with all sorts of delicious courses. It was a perfect afternoon.

Posted on June 17, 2013 and filed under food, everyday.

Saturday Hangs

It's rare that I have a free Saturday, or a whole day for Sonny and I to spend together. We woke up, had coffee together, gathered the dogs and took a stroll through the city-- to the Trinity Bellwoods Yard Sale, then over to Kensington, and back home through the tree-lined streets. It was a sunshiny, easy going day. I liked it.

and here's a vine wrap-up of our day :)

Posted on June 17, 2013 and filed under everyday.

Birthdays + BBQs

Last week was little bro's birthday, so like the last 23 years, we celebrated by having a bbq in the backyard. Everyone comes to kick off the summer- aunts, uncles, cousins, new babies, and dogs. It's a great time, with good food and lots of laughs.  

Here are some highlights of the day: 

Last years' birthday bbq can be seen here

Posted on June 14, 2013 and filed under everyday.

In The Kitchen | Tiramisu

I finally learned how to make Tiramisu- my ultimate, most favourite dessert. My brother's birthday bbq was the following day, so we made him a cake. With over 30 years experience of making this cake of magic, my mother still whips out her old and worn, handwritten recipe book, to ensure absolute perfection. I got yelled at a lot, but only because I'm slow, messy, and take too many pictures... it's not very fun for my mother to watch me almost ruin her dessert with too much this, not enough that, and uneven spreading of the filling.

Blah, blah, blah... it's was delicious.

INGREDIENTS:

1 double pack of pavesini (aka lady finger cookies)

4 eggs, separated

4 tablespoons of sugar

1/2 kilo of mascarpone cheese (not the cheap kind cause apparently it won't taste the same)

espresso coffee and brandy to taste

 

STRICT DIRECTIONS (and i'm gonna write it word for word from the book, cause it's funnier the way they wrote it... probably back in '79):

Mix egg yolks + sugar with mixer until pale yellow, then add cheese

Beat egg whites until stiff, then mix in with yolk mix

Dip pavesini in brandy + coffee mixture

One layer pavesini, then one layer of cream cheese mixture (this step had a star must be real important)

Alternate. If you wish, make half of cheese mixture chocolate, by adding cocoa (half chocolate and half white)

Finish with white layer. To decorate, sprinkle with chocolate shavings (oops, i used cocoa powder) 

i made a personal size one for sonny and i to devour with our evening coffees

i made a personal size one for sonny and i to devour with our evening coffees

Posted on June 13, 2013 and filed under food.