On the 25th someone said to me “only one month till Christmas!” Eee gads – it’s started already! Has the holiday season crept up and are you frantically trying to get everything done, already? Or are you like me and just sweating about how to get stuff done knowing you have no time for it at the present? Well I have decided to help out in the food arena at least. I will be appearing on CH-TV’s At Home and City TV’s Breakfast Television on Wednesday with time saving cooking ideas for the busy holiday season. (more…)
Parental public relations
I am still reeling from the public relations gaffe of yesterday—not the pretend bomb at the ROM in Toronto (the “art” student should be studying life from inside the forensic system for a while as a thank-you for wrecking a charity gala), or the Australian firm that instructed its Santas to say “Ha ha ha” instead of “Ho ho ho” this year, but the situation I found myself in yesterday—three kids sick for almost a week and three report cards delivered home the day before interviews. Three kids, three different schools, all with parent-teacher interviews on November 29 afternoon and evening. Given even two days of notice, I might have been able to organize some semblance of order. As it was I feel asleep with a pillow over my face, fully clothed, as I was turning down the covers for Luka. No worry, I did wake up an hour later and stopped the partying of three kids looking at a PD day today, Friday. Will the fun ever end?
Ah, the first weekend in December
It is here, the weekend that Christmas really starts. And, as I mentioned, (more…)
This is the cave where Ruth ages her cheeses, where the true magic takes place. A cheese may receive a different wash, a few 
Ruth Klahsen, artisan cheese maker of Montforte dairy invited me to make My six-year-old Luka is the light of my life—alongside the equally brilliant balls of fire Tessa and Graydon, of course.
Luka is going through the stage where he doesn’t want to “give kisses” to anyone or anything but Angel the cat, the bunnies, and select stuffed animals.
No pressure.
I can live for a certain amount of time without my six-year-old’s kisses.
The saying of “I love you” has predictably taken on a little more significance.
“I love you,” I say.
“I know that,” he says, followed a beat later by, “I love you too.”
So, last night, about an hour and a half (more…)
What features obscene amounts of chocolate and couture fashion? The third annual Cadbury Chocolate Couture Collection Fashion Show at the Carlu! Chocolate you say? Couture you say? Fashion you say? How does this all come together? Well - you take a bunch of top designers (the likes of Franco Mirabelli), the chocolatier Jen Stone, a couple of sewing machines, a whole whack of chocolate and a lot of imagination and you end up with a collection of whimsical and extravagant outfits and gowns on a runway. (more…)
Finally I did something on the weekend other than cook and clean and run kids all over the city (all of which I still did, of course). I went to my first-ever cookie exchange. Yes, I had read about them in Canadian Living magazine, and I’m sure there must have been one in the hundreds of Martha’s mags that I have in the basement, but I’d never attended one. And it’s not for lack of baking. We have been baking and decorating “fancy” cookies since my daughter was three and I wanted to come up with a type of cookie she could really participate in. Those pictures of toddlers with flour all over their heads, faces, hair, arms and fronts may be cute but they made me cringe. I did not, and do not, like the thought of little kids hands, no matter how scrubbed, anywhere near something that might be ingested by anyone but themselves. Do I sound a little freaky?!?
I have a sister that lives in Connecticut so this past weekend I spent my time having a second Thanksgiving with our American friends. As much as I love a Canadian Thanksgiving, I have to say the Americans truly make their holiday spectacular from the Macy’s Day parade, to the all-day football games to the 30 people gatherings and the over the top thanksgiving spreads. The one I went to featured two turkeys (more…)
Thank You!
Such beautiful photos! After running photo contests for years, and being both surprised and horrified at what came in, I can say honestly that this one was a breeze. Excellent shots, good guesses on the resolution, and with snow and ice all over the dead leaves here, a welcome sight. Next time, I will give a little more notice and an incentive of some kind. I know a lot of readers are occasional readers, and that tons and tons of those never think to reply, but that’s OK. As you read and become more familiar, I just know you’re going to want to say hi!
On with the pics! (more…)
In the test kitchen we are always being sent products to give a whirl, see what we think and inspire ideas. This week Shasha Bread Company dropped off a couple of loaves of bread (the Athletes Multigrain is a new product) and a stash of their ginger snaps.
I sincerely hope all of you have tried ShaSha’s ginger snaps - they should be listed up there with back-bacon and butter tarts as a Canadian culinary gem. (more…)
