Under the High Chair

Craving Chocolate Cream Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Fruit pies hold my heart, there's no question about it. I'll choose apple, pumpkin, or rhubarb over cream pies any day of the week, and when the summer fruit runs out, I pair cranberries and citrus in one of my favorite pies ever.

So it was odd that the desire for a chocolate cream pie struck the other day. Chalk it up to pregnancy cravings or something of the sort.

There was a recipe for milk chocolate pudding that I had bookmarked to try from In My Mother's Kitchen by Canadian cookbook author Trish Magwood. (I had the opportunity to meet Trish last August and have since been enjoying her beautiful, family-centered cookbook.)

I thought surely her pudding would be the perfect base for my pie - and it was. It thickened up perfectly and wasn't too cloying or sweet. I used dark chocolate instead of her suggested milk, and whisked in a few teaspoons of butter at the end, just to help the pudding thicken better when chilled.

It was perfect, nearly good enough to sway me from a lifelong love of fruit pies. And definitely good enough for you to try, so here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Chocolate Cream Pie

ingredients:

1 cookie crumb crust - graham or chocolate - in a 9-inch pie pan

for the filling:

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
4 oz (125 g) good-quality chocolate, chopped (milk or dark)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

for the topping:

1 cup 35% whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
chocolate shavings (optional)

Method:

In a 2-quart sauce pot over medium heat, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, salt and milk.
Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then boil for 2 minutes. Mixture will be thick.
Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate until chocolate melts and pudding is smooth. Whisk in butter.
Pour pudding into the 9-inch cookie crumb crust and smooth top with a spatula. Place a square of cling wrap directly on the surface of the pudding and place in the refrigerator. Chill for about 4 hours or overnight.

Whip cream to stiff peaks and add powdered sugar. Spoon evenly over chocolate pie and garnish with shaved chocolate. Serve chilled.

Yields: 1 -9 inch pie, about 8 servings.

Hello 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:14:00 +0000

We're 23 days into the new year and I finally feel like I've found my footing after the holidays.

Our Christmas break was a bit brutal as our household got slammed with sickness that left us housebound for the first week of 2012. Ear aches, flu, strep throat, pink eye - you name it, someone had it. Even the cats were sick, each of them making a trip to the vet for mysterious ailments. Good grief.

We were in survival mode, but fortunately Danny was home to pick up the slack, make pharmacy runs, administer the pills to the cats, and the eye drops to the kids. The man is a keeper.

On top of everything, I turned the corner into my third trimester, and with that milestone came a bundle of classic side effects. I'll spare you those details, save to say they spurred me into action. We have reason to believe this little girl may come earlier than intended (I'm 33 weeks now), so over the last few weeks I've given full rein to my nesting compulsions and preparations for baby are well underway.

There's a handmade cradle by my bed now, looking so inviting that both boys insisted they could still fit in it and would have tried, had I let them. A dresser drawer holds a handful of white infant garments, a few unisex items I saved from the boys. There's now a shelf just for baby in the bathroom, with some of my favorite baby skin care products from Graham Gardens, and teeny newborn diapers.

Despite being housebound and hoarse, Danny and I teamed up in the kitchen to get some meals in the freezer. While the snow fell, we sliced and diced our way to build a little storehouse of lasagna, lamb & lentil stew, chicken soup, coconut chicken curry, chili and more meals for those early weeks with baby.

Just knowing little things like that are in place give me peace of mind. Let this tiny one come early; we can't wait to meet her.

Oh and 2012? I'm ready for you too.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:56:00 +0000

That's probably the most overused blog post title in December, but since this quick update is really just a handful of iPhone photos strung together, it IS all about the visuals of the season.

Above is our buffet, with a few Pinterest-inspired centerpieces that were easy and affordable. How awesome is Pinterest for party planning and inspiration?!

And I love our simple twig tree, bare except for a few felt ornaments courtesy of Ikea.

Tourtiere happened this week, many of them. I even turned some of the pie crust and filling into hand pies for party appetizers. They also work pretty great for Noah's school lunches.

I got my Christmas present early. Ahh. A fantastic new Le Creuset flagship store opened at my local shopping mall. It's the first of its kind in Quebec and I was fortunate enough to be invited to the press opening.

Thanks to a gift certificate, I choose a new kettle - the 1.7L Whistling Tea Kettle in Cherry red, to leave with me. It already looks right at home in my kitchen. Then again, most anything from that store would...

Homemade mincemeat also was chopped, simmered, and jarred this week. Tarts soon followed and it finally feels like Christmas.

This year my annual cookie swap may have topped all proceeding events, with sponsors, press, a successful fundraiser, and, of course, stacks of beautiful homemade cookies. Here's the recap on Simple Bites, and if you're in the Montreal area, watch CTV news at 6 on Sunday, December 11 for the story.

The first snow came and went, and hasn't been seen since. If feels a little odd as we're December already, but getting into the winter coat and boots isn't so easy with a six-month-pregnant belly, so I'm not wishing for snow just yet.

One of the most fun holiday treats this year has to be these Peppermint Marshmallow Kisses. We've been popping them into hot cocoa and our mouths! Come to think of it, there isn't a single one left.

To make them for yourself, take my basic marshmallow recipe and replace the vanilla with 1 teaspoon peppermint extract. Add a few drops of red food coloring but do not mix it in. Fill a pipping bag with a #12 tip (or your favorite) and pipe kisses onto a greased parchment paper. Sprinkle with crushed candy cane and allow to set for at least 6 hours. Dust with powdered sugar and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without gingerbread. We devoted a recent PED day of Noah's to making, rolling and baking nearly 10 dozen cookies. It was epic fun and they did a great job.

Noah (now 6) and Mateo (4 in Feb) are both such pros in the kitchen now. I actually really relied on them for cutting and rolling the dough while I took care of baking and cooling the cookies.

The next day we worked on frosting, that sweet, sticky task. My basic recipe for both dough and royal icing can be found here. Shaina's also just posed a fun tutorial on the many variations of the gingerbread cookie.

Snow falling on trees; these won't last long.

Stockings have been hung, and my current obsession with cardinals leaked onto our personalized felt Christmas stockings. Notice the pink one for Baby Girl?

Lastly, Pumpkin Challah has been made and frozen for toasting on Christmas morning or perhaps lending itself to French Toast.

What is Christmas looking like in your home?

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (Recipe to Riches)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Getting the winning recipe from Recipe to Riches in my inbox on Monday mornings is always a fun little secret between me and a few other food bloggers. (Last time it was the Chicken & Bacon Skewers, remember?)

The show doesn't air until Wednesday, so as tempted as I am to tweet of photo of the baking process or the finished product, I have to sit on it for a few days.

It wasn't easy to keep quiet over this weeks winning recipe: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Created by Recipe to Riches contestant Sonya Walos, they took me out of my baking comfort zone with their preparation, but brought me right back as soon as I tasted them.

First up, a confession: these are my first ever gluten-free cookies, both to make or eat. They certainly won't be my last, and not just because I've got scads of potato starch and tapioca flour (say what?) kicking around now, but because they are genuinely delicious!

Sonya's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies won me over with their contrasting crunchy and soft textures, rich butterscotch flavor, and milk chocolate chips. The addition of coconut also gave them a lovely chewy texture. The best part? My kids loved them, so SCORE.

Want to make Sonya's cookies yourself? You can head over to the FN website to get the recipe (it should be posted soon!). Sure they required lots of unique ingredients, especially to one unfamiliar with GF baking, but it's always fun to expand one's horizons.

If you're not a baker but still want to taste these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, the product should also be on shelves this weekend at Loblaws across Canada, so you can pick up a box and see what a winning cookie tastes like.

The popular Food Network Canada show is over halfway finished, with the grand finale coming up soon, where Canada will vote and the winner will receive a whopping $250,000.

I think these Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies could have had a shot at the big prize, unfortunately Sonya has been disqualified from the competition. Get the full scoop on the Recipe to Riches Facebook page.

Missed the episode? It will be available online soon on the R to R video page.

Disclosure: Recipe to Riches is giving their official bloggers a $100 Loblaws gift cards to offset the time and money spent making the winning recipe and writing a blog post. The opinions expressed here are my own, of course!

More Business of Being Born (Giveaway!)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:03:00 +0000

**This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered -nearly 100 of you!- and I really hope you all get to see the film at some point.
Congratulations to the winner, Amber! Woot! Amber please contact me with your mailing address and we'll get your prize shipped out.**

I'm six months into my third pregnancy and at this point, 'baby talk' is an equally passionate subject as food. My girlfriends can attest to the fact that I could talk birth and babies for hours at a time.

The third time around is every bit as exciting for me as the first pregnancy and although I have less (far less) time for reading and research, it is still a priority.

Imagine my delight when a PR rep for Ricki Lake contacted me recently and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her latest documentary series, More Business of Being Born.

Like millions of other women, I had watched The Business of Being Born, Ricki's breakout documentary on the birthing crisis in America, and really enjoyed it. In fact, Danny and I had just recently watched it together and I gleaned even more from the film the second time around.

The timing couldn't have been better for me to be introduced to the film's follow-up series. It was as if all the research I was wishing I had time to do was already done for me and condensed into a tidy 4-DVD package. All I had to do was pop the corn and put my feet up.

I watched all four DVD's last weekend. I cried. I laughed. I took notes. I formulated questions for my doctor. I booked an appointment to interview a doula.

This film touched on so many topics that I needed to learn about. For the first time, the term VBAC is in my vocabulary, as Mateo (my second) was a breech baby and delivered by scheduled C-section. I am an advocate of natural birth (Noah was an all-natural, drug-free delivery) and sincerely hope to avoid surgery this time around. MBOBB answered a lot of my questions regarding VBAC's.

I'm incredibly thankful for this new, eye opening documentary on modern birth made by women for women.

Mateo and I, 2008.

Today 'More Business of Being Born' premieres in L.A. and around North America (find a screening) and I'm here to tell you that it is a MUST SEE for expecting parents or future parents.

I'm giving away More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set at the bottom of the post, but first, read a little about what each film contains!

DVD #1: Down on The Farm: Conversations with Legendary Midwife Ina May Gaskin

Follow Executive Producer Ricki Lake and Director Abby Epstein to The Farm Community in Summertown, Tennessee, where pioneer midwife Ina May Gaskin talks candidly about the latest birth trends and the art of midwifery. Gaskin, who was featured in the original The Business of Being Born, sparked Lake’s initial interest in natural birth and has continued to inspire the filmmaking duo’s advocacy efforts.

DVD #2 - Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth

Featuring celebrity moms Laila Ali, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Alyson Hannigan, Melissa Joan Hart, Kellie Martin, Alanis Morissette, Christy Turlington-Burns and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Special Deliveries is a collection of intimate birth stories from a diverse group of mothers. Whether they chose to deliver at a hospital, home or birthing center, these heartfelt and humorous testimonies speak to the lasting power of the birth experience.

True inspiration for any mother-to-be, this group of women trusted their bodies and intuitions, taking responsibility for their birth decisions even when things didn’t go according to plan. None of these courageous women has ever spoken on the record in such compelling detail, and, on this DVD, the filmmakers weave together their passionate narratives as a celebration of the journey to motherhood that will leave viewers with a renewed sense of amazement about the power of women.  

DVD # 3 - Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections

The most comprehensive and educational DVD in the series, Explore Your Options offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists,) the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States and Brazil.

Epstein and Lake talk to doulas about why their profession is currently booming and uncover why having a good doula can make-or-break the entire birth experience. They look at the ever-growing rates of inductions and c-sections, which have reached 50% in many US hospitals and more than 99% in some private hospitals in Brazil.

How “safe” are these cesarean surgeries, and what are the health implications for the mothers and babies? Explore Your Options examines the pros and cons of birth centers, described as a perfect middle ground between home and hospital.

DVD #4 - The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are

The VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) has become a hot-button issue in the modern maternity care system, as one in three new mothers will give birth via cesarean section. Are all of these mothers then forced to undergo a repeat cesarean the next time around? Epstein and Lake posed that question to dozens of experts, determining the surprising truth about VBACs.

Giveaway!

Thanks to our friends at MBOBB, I have the complete DVD set to giveaway.

Giveaway Prize: 1 copy of More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set (4 DVD's) Value: $59.99

To Enter the Giveaway: Leave a comment on this post. That's it.

** This giveaway is now closed. A big thank you to all who entered!**

Giveaway will end in one week, on November 15 at 11:59. Good luck to all!

Roasted Chicken & Bacon Skewers (Recipe to Riches feature)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Food-themed TV is the only television I tune in for, and even then, it's mostly watched online, commercial free. Last winter I gave 44 minutes of my week to Top Chef Canada and this fall it is Food Network Canada's fun new reality show, Recipe to Riches that's got me hooked.

In full disclosure*, my friend, the always-inspiring, Dana McCauley, is a judge on the show, so I'm not tuning in just to watch the hunky host Jesse Palmer. Honest!

While in Toronto recently for the Blissdom conference, I had dinner with Dana (at Pangaea, no less!) and she regaled us all with behind-the-scenes gossip from Recipe to Riches.

When the show aired three days later, of course I tuned in and a new weekly ritual was born. (Tip: If you want to catch up on Episodes 1 & 2 you can find them online.)

This week on Recipe to Riches, three contestants prepared appetizers and competed for the prize of $25K. New Brunswick native, John Grass swept the challenge with his Grilled Chicken Skewers.

I like to call them Spicy Chicken, Bacon and Havarti Skewers, and mine were roasted, not grilled. Basically, they rocked.

Bacon (I used thick-cut), Havarti cheese and thin slices of chicken are rolled up together, dusted with a sassy Cajun-like spice mix, and baked to a crisp. Talk about addicting.

These chicken skewers were created by a man, but hold plenty of appeal for all, especially this always-hungry pregnant mama. I can totally see them making an appearance over the upcoming holidays.

Noah even gave them the ultimate complement: "Mama, may I have these for my lunch tomorrow?" John Grass, I bet you weren't thinking 'school lunch' when you created these!

Head over to the Food Network's official Recipe to Riches recipe page to get the recipe for John Grass's winning appetizer recipe.

* Even fuller disclosure: Recipe to Riches is giving their official bloggers a $100 Loblaws gift cards to offset the time and money spent making the winning recipe and writing a blog post. The opinions expressed here are my own, of course!

Signs of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:24:00 +0000

I know that one of these mornings, very soon, I'm going to wake up and look out the window to see my raised garden beds dusted with snow, the tire swing hanging stiffly in the cold, and a quiet in the forest that only winter can bring.

It seems like just yesterday we were licking popsicles and tossing a Frisbee while barefoot in the grass, yet Fall has been sending her signals that summer has gone.

Here are a few of the signs from the past few weeks that clearly show Autumn is indeed here to stay.

This was the first sign. A new uniform, a new grade (1), and my heart broken all over again at loosing him every day.

An entire shelf in the refrigerator became devoted to homemade pickles. Pickles with garlic, with lemon, and a particularly successful batch of Bread & Butter.

Thanksgiving came and went, with its seasonal pies, turkey dinner and family-centered focus.

Fall produce and foliage made it's way to the sideboard in the dining room, replacing the summer flowers and bowl of tomatoes.

Apple picking - in shorts, no less. That may have been the last really warm day we had.

And after apple picking, then apple pie, this one made of entirely all-natural ingredients, conforming to our October Unprocessed eating exercise.

Pumpkins, all of them.

And finally, the beautiful changing color of the leaves in our back yard, and the crunchy carpet on the forest floor.

I'm ready to welcome winter, and hopefully usher in a quieter season for our household. It's been a busy summer.

Perhaps I'm looking forward to winter because I know it will bring me closer to meeting our little girl, due in March. Seems like the perfect motivation to help get through the colder days of the year.

Third Time's a Charm

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:44:00 +0000

Yesterday brought about the sweet, sweet discovery that I'm carrying a baby girl. She'll be joining big brothers, Noah and Mateo, in our growing brood and will probably rule the roost someday if she's half as charming as most little girls I know. I hope she likes cars and Legos, otherwise, we've got some catching up to do around the home as far as little girls are concerned.

When the technician gently shared the news with all of us - yes, my 20 week ultrasound was a family outing - an incredulous "Really?" exploded out of me in a sob that seemed to stem from my long past days as a six-year-old doll-loving girl. Although a healthy baby was our main desire, apparently, deep down, I ardently wanted a little girl. I was weeping on and off for at least an hour afterward.

We never expected a girl. A family of strapping boys was predicted and presumed as there hadn't been a girl fathered by a Bourque in over 4o years. Danny has seven brothers. They just don't do girls. Until now.

So Danny is walking very tall; I'm emotional, yet at peace; the boys are delighted. Noah reached for his sketchbook the minute we got home and documented the family news in the artwork photographed above.

We're feeling incredibly blessed, and are tremendously excited to meet this little flower.

Homesick

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:29:00 +0000

This photo puts both a smile on my face and a weight on my heart at the same time. It's my mother's Thanksgiving table set from last Monday. She told me she spent an hour putting it together.

I love the mismatched chairs, the light coming in, the antique water glasses, and colorful Denby dishes. Most of all I love that she is there in the kitchen, slicing homemade pies (made with fruit from her own plum tree) before the guests arrive.

I'm sad that I wasn't there. I can't remember the last time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. It's easily been ten years. Sure we celebrated the holiday here in Montreal (twice, actually), but there is nothing like being with your own family and knowing you are loved. Despite everything.

I love you, Mom. Don't ever change.

WW: Six Years Old

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:06:00 +0000

Five Years

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:29:00 +0000

The children have been asleep for a few hours, all the house lights are dark save for a lamp by my bed. My body has turned in for the night (this happens a lot earlier since I'm pregnant again), but I couldn't go to sleep without giving this date a nod.

Five years ago, with absolutely no idea what I was getting into, I started this blog. With a batch of (horribly photographed) mini lemon tarts, I began this journey as a food blogger.

Ironically, today Simple Bites subscribers topped 10,000 and monthly pageviews tipped 300,000. I don't often share hard and fast numbers, but both of those milestones - on today of all days - are rather pretty.

This won't be a long trip down memory lane recounting all the places food blogging has brought me and wonderful people I have met, because, well, although they are many, it really would take me all night.

Instead, I'd love to look ahead. What will the next five years hold? Well, we know there's a baby in there, right around March. A third child to toss my cooking under the high chair. Ah well, it was getting a little too clean under there.

There are also things that I'm not at liberty do discuss - don't you just hate that? I do. That small TV thing, which I've signed all sorts of NDA's for and we won't hear about until spring...There's also that somewhat larger print project-thing, which is still in progress and more or less 'hush-hush'... An upcoming, but-not-yet-announced speaking engagement at a pretty legit blogging conference...

Gee, what can we talk about? Bloggers without Borders. Now there's a blogging related project I'm proud about. My fantastic contributors on Simple Bites; love those ladies (and one man, obvi, as I'm married to him).

Well, public knowledge or not, there's plenty of exciting things happening, and they all stem from this little space that I started five years ago. I couldn't be happier.

Thank you to each and every one for reading, for following on Twitter, for joining me over at Simple Bites...FOR YOUR SUPPORT. A blog is nothing without readers, so the full credit, the true acknowledgment, goes out to you.

Merci.

Bloggers without Borders: A Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0000

UPDATE: I now have a BwoB fundraiser of my own! Head over to Simple Bites for a chance to win some gorgeous items from Le Creuset and help a good cause.

After months of dreaming, weeks of planning, days of coordinating, and hours upon hours of work, the vision of a non-profit organization for bloggers, by bloggers has become a reality for Bloggers without Borders founders, Maggy Keet and Erika Pineda-Ghanny.

You have to see it for yourself; go visit the beautiful new website, read about how the non-profit was started, and find out how you can help.

It is an honour to be working with Maggy and Erika in their endeavors to harness the good will of the blogging community for charity. You'll see the words 'Social Media Manager' next to my photo on the About Us page, which I think means -- I like to talk? Or something.

It also means I'm the voice behind our Twitter and Facebook accounts, so please, go give us some love and spread the word!

Now, our kick-off project is near and dear to my heart. You remember my post on A Pie for Mikey? Well, spearheaded by Shauna and supported by Bloggers without Borders, A Fund for Jennie has been launched.

Please take a moment to read about the project, and then either donate by clicking the button below, or from the options on the BwoB website.

Thank you! Don't forget to subscribe to the BwoB blog feed for regular updates!

A Birthday and My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 +0000

It's a cozy, sleepy Saturday afternoon. There's a massive pear crisp bubbling away in the oven and perfuming the house with smells of cinnamon and cardamom.

I've got a few minutes to myself before birthday party prep gets underway and I wanted to point you in the direction of my birthday festivities over on Simple Bites.

What started out as a list of current favorite things, scratched onto a notebook on my bedside table, turned into a full-fledged mega-giveaway.

Yes, in celebration of my birthday, I've listed my absolute favorite things (products, mind you, not like, people or places) and then proceed to give most of them away in what has quickly become my most popular giveaway, ever.

So if you like Le Creuset, stylish knives, fine chocolate, world class spices, natural beauty products or loose-leaf tea, head over to My Favorite Things giveaway on Simple Bites and leave a comment.

That's it!

Giveaway ends Monday at midnight. Good luck to all!

Goodbye July

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:03:00 +0000

It's August, which means were eating corn for dinner 5 nights a week, I'm making birthday plans, and Christmas merchandise has showed up at Costco.

July sped by in a blur of pool parties, potlucks, weddings, and long afternoons spent keeping cool. I dedicated a series to frozen treats over on Simple Bites and, for the most part we survived the heat wave.

We started the month with a perfect three-day camping trip, followed by a most memorable U2 concert under warm Montreal skies. Best. Show. Ever.

The month was punctuated by our baby news! It was a thrilling discovery, but one that plunged me into exhaustion so deep I felt --and still do-- that every day was Moving Day. ‘Moving day fatigue’ is the best way I can describe to Danny how my body feels in the morning as I lie pinned to the mattress.

Fortunately, he's been off work for the last 2 weeks and has gallantly risen every morning to prepare breakfast and coffee for us, and keep the kids quiet until I can rouse myself.

I think my strength is slowly returning; hopefully my appetite is not far behind.

So yes we are expecting again, anticipating the new arrival in early March. Danny is hoping for a leap year baby again, which could easily happen. I for one, won't truly relax until the first ultrasound and they tell me there's just one baby.

As twins run in my family, the chances of doubling the number of our children with this pregnancy is definitely a possibility. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that kind of an adventure!

Central Park

At the end of July, I hopped on a plane to Jersey for Big Summer Potluck. I cemented some online friendships, made new ones, laughed myself silly, and spent a day eating New York City. It was the best of times.

In an update on our urban homestead, our backyard project of the month was finally completed and I now have 4 raised garden beds. They terrace down the hill toward the forest, framed by a massive weeping willow. I love them.

I planted a little fall garden -- lettuce, spinach, watercress and arugula-- and little sprouts are already peeking up from the earth. My herb garden is thriving, thanks to bedding plants I was able to find at a local nursery.

Next year I will plant a complete garden; it's reassuring to know that as soon as the snow melts the spring I'll have a garden space ready to plant.

August holds some canning projects, a visit from long-time friends, my birthday, back to school for Noah, and at the end of the month, a trip out to Vancouver to film a little project for TV...

But that story is for a another post.

Goodbye July.

More on Cupcakes in Montreal

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Over the years I've eaten a lot of cupcakes around town, written a few posts about them, and kept my ear to the ground on the general cupcake scene.

People have both loved and hated what I've written, but the opinion is still mine to share, and I continue to do so.

Recently I had the opportunity to write an article for the popular Montreal food blog, Ici et Here. Curated by Jackson Wightman of Made Here, the Fait Ici blog (and many other online venues), Ici et Here is a blog about Montreal and the fascinating way food is woven into the fabric of life in this city.

It was my honour to contribute to the already stellar content of the blog, and I chose cupcakes as my topic. Perhaps to ruffle a few feathers. Perhaps to show that these mini confections still have a solid fan base in this town.

From the post:

"Alright, I know the cupcake is on more ‘out’ lists than Lady Gaga is on ‘in’ lists. Local Chowhounders label them as “pervasive”; food snobs scoff as they pass the (many) shops; heck, in merely mentioning on Twitter that I was writing about cupcakes, I received a snide @reply asking, “Are cupcakes still a thing?”

Granted, they really aren’t. The new sweet trend is macarons or pie, depending on whom you talk to, and the cupcake hype is a thing of the past. However, in or out, it’s my firm belief that they still hold court in the Montreal food scene."...

Head to Ici et Here to read the rest of the post and get my recommendations for the best cupcakes in town.

I had great fun contributing to Ici et Here. A big thanks to Jackson for the opportunity!

Chasseurs d'Epices: A Spicy Adventure Comes to TV

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:04:00 +0000

Local food & travel enthusiasts will not want to miss an exciting and unique new show that makes its debut tonight on ARTV.

Chasseurs d'Epices ('Spice Hunters' for the Anglos) follows renown Montreal spice master, Philippe de Vienne and his charming wife, Ethné, on their world travels in search of the best spices.

Last week I attended a small launch party and private screening of the show. Philippe cooked a feast for us and alongside the gracious hosts themselves, we watched the debut episode of Chasseurs d'Epices. Such fun!

Chasseurs d'Epices is like if your favourite travel show merged with your must-watch cooking show. The true personalities of our hosts shine through, making for a colourful, emotional and interesting ride. This series is going to go far.

Just take a peek:

Don't miss the first episode, airing tonight at 8 on ARTV. I'm only going to give one hint: Philippe and Ethné, wedding crashers extraordinaire.

You can also connect with Chasseurs d'Epices on Facebook.

Wordless Wednesday: Hola! A Mexico Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Roasted Shiitake Parmesan Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:06:00 +0000

OK, I have to admit, I lured you in with that title. While this addicting new appetizer recipe has indeed been developed, tested, and photographed by yours truly, I will not be posting the recipe. Call me a tease, but you'll have to buy Peko Peko to get it.

Wait, Peko-what?

Peko Peko: Family Friendly Japanese Recipes is a collection of nearly 60 Japanese and Japanese-inspired recipes published by Blurb, 100% of the profits of which will be donated to charity relief in Japan. I was fortunate to be one of the food bloggers who contributed a recipe to the cookbook.

Peko Peko: Family Friendly Japanese Recipes offers 120 full-color pages packed with gorgeous photography and 59 Japanese-inspired recipes contributed by 56 food writers, bloggers and photographers.

Peko Peko also includes an indispensable guide to over 50 Japanese ingredients, including suitable substitutions for the North American home cook. If you've never cooked Japanese food, don't worry, the detailed pantry section in the book that will give you the information you need to use those new ingredients with confidence.

It's been a amazing honour to be a small part of this project, spearheaded by three talented curators.

You can read more about Peko Peko (and see some photos from the book) over on Simple Bites and yesterday the Montreal Gazette was also kind enough to give it a mention in the Applause section. The word is spreading!

Of course, you can also go directly to Blurb to purchase the book, where all of the proceeds will go to the GlobalGiving Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Nobody involved in making the book will profit from Peko Peko, including Blurb. As a Peko Peko sponsor, the good folks at Blurb have agreed to waive their usual cut of book sales.

Thanks in advance for supporting our cause and happy cooking!

My New Favorite Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:50:00 +0000

Babble asked their Top Mom Food Bloggers for a recipe a few months ago and I sent in this Smoked Salmon, Endive, & Grapefruit Salad with Dill as I was infatuated with it at the time.

Turns out it's still a favorite and I've been keeping radishes, dill and lemons on hand just so I can satiate my cravings as often as needed. Half the time I leave out the smoked salmon and grapefruit, and go with crunchier vegetables such as celery, fennel and the aforementioned, radishes.

Top with a few Quick Pickled Red Onions and you have yourself a new favorite salad. Promise.

Its delicate spring colors will entice you, while its vibrant flavors win you for keeps. Perfect for brunch, a light lunch, or a dinner appetizer, this pretty salad is a great way to stretch smoked salmon and make raw vegetables the star of the meal.

Head over to Babble Food for the Smoked Salmon, Endive, & Grapefruit Salad recipe.

Dinner at Empire State South

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:28:00 +0000

Restaurant reviews are something that went out the window a looong time ago around here. I posted a few at the beginning and then realized that I strongly disliked writing reviews. I just wanted to enjoy my meal, not sweat the poor lighting for photos and hour long write up upon my return home. Non merci.

Plus, with two little children added to our family, our restaurant outings have slowed to a crawl. It's not exactly like I stay on top of the local restaurant scene. And I don't pretend to.

This past weekend, however, offered the chance for a dinner out on the town - in humid Atlanta, Georgia. Danny and I were in town for a mini second honeymoon and the Blogher Food conference - of course we wanted to eat Atlanta while we had the opportunity.

You can read my full BHF'11 recap on Simple Bites -I had a marvelous time- but over here we're going to talk about dinner.

Danny & Shaina

The destination? Empire State South. A Canadian chef's modern take on Southern food, served up in style, with plenty of love.

ESS proudly considers itself a farm-to-table restaurant, which reminded me a lot of our own Toque! and the scads of in-house charcuterie bordered on Au Pied du Cochon's style.

Needless to say, I felt quite at home at Empire State South.

My dining companions? Eight fabulous rock-star food bloggers. You just may recognize a few names here: Alice & her husband Rob, Sandy, Carrie, Amanda, Tara, Jenny, Lori, Shaina.
Along with Danny and I, we invaded the small-ish Empire State South and proceeded to ordered half the menu.

Thanks to Amanda, I've got food photos from the meal. I was too busy gabbing with the girls to work the camera and was happy to hand it over to the competent Amanda.

Amanda's first oyster! This ain't no New York cupcake - The girl is fearless.

Carrie & Jenny

Soft Poached Farm Egg anson mills grits, maitake, baby celery.

Strawberry Gazpacho, pickled shrimp, asparagus, marcona almonds.

Ramp Orecchiette, carrot puree, carrots, english peas, squash and benne.

Roasted Grouper, pea broth, young zucchini.

There are no photos of desserts to speak of, save this one, snapped with my iPhone.

We ordered eight plates, but they disappeared so fast. I was sitting next to Amanda and I don't know anyone who loves sweets more that that girl!

I knew that if I wanted a fighting chance at tasting dessert, I had to put the camera down. And so I did.

Alice, myself, Amanda

We sampled:

Coconut Cream Pie, almond brittle,
Fried strawberry pie, pickled strawberry, buttermilk ice cream
Coke soft serve ice cream, peanut funnel cake (pictured above)
Grasshopper Terrine, candied chocolate mint

Shaina and I have since been fantasizing over the strawberry pies.I think she's going to have a recipe coming soon. Hopefully just in time for our strawberry season.

Shaina & Lori

Consensus? We loved Empire State South. The entire evening was surreal. Fantastic food. Brilliant company. Inspiring conversation. I think it lasted about three hours, and is definitely going in the books as one of my most memorable dining experiences.

BwoB: An Update

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:06:00 +0000

Bloggers without Borders (BwoB) is a blogger-based charity whose mission is to help people—bloggers and readers alike—by harnessing the good will of the blogging community. Its founders are Maggy Keet of ThreeManyCooks, Erika Pineda-Ghanny of The Ivory Hut, Julie Van Rosendaal of Dinner with Julie, and Aimee Wimbush-Bourque of Simple Bites. BwoB officially launches in July 2011.

UPDATE!
Thanks to everyone who gave so generously, we've been able to donate over a thousand dollars each to both Kristan and Sheila and their causes.

You can read their updates here:
Kristan in Arkanasas.
Sheila for Joplin, MO.

* * *

It's been about 36 hours since we launched Bloggers without Borders and our fundraising efforts for tornado victims, so we thought it was time for a progress report. As of midnight, we had raised over $1,200 for tornado victims across the United States. We can't thank you enough for your quick and generous response.

After launching our Joplin campaign, another blogger with another need came to our attention. Kristan of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen lives 5 minutes from where another tornado hit in Arkansas. Fortunately, lives were spared, but her uncle---a father of four who doesn't have much insurance---lost the family business when his flooring store was flattened. Family homes were also severely damaged and the overall loss is heartbreaking.

Kristan's uncle's family store.

When she learned of Kristan's situation, Shelia, our Joplin recipient, generously offered to share half of the fundraising proceeds with Kristan's community. "There is so much need that we definitely need to spread the love," she said. Kristan will distribute her share of the funds to the most urgent of situations in the Etna/Denning, AR community. She will also give us an update on her blog and share how the money was allotted. Truly, this is bloggers helping bloggers.

As we watch the news and the updates that are coming from these tornado-stricken areas, we feel such deep sadness for these people who have lost everything. Many of you expressed the same sentiment but we no longer feel helpless or hopeless, because together as bloggers, we are actually doing something to help in a real and meaningful way.

Our goal is to raise at least $2,000 so that we can give each blogger and her community $1,000. Please help us reach that goal!

And for those who already have donated, thank you for your support. Your tweets and blog posts touch us, and they encourage us to forge ahead. There is much need, yes, but together we're making a difference.

With gratitude,

Bloggers without Borders

Want to spread the word? Want to help us raise money? E-mail us and we'll send you the code for the BwoB badge and donate button.

BwoB: Help for Joplin, MO

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Bloggers without Borders (BwoB) is a blogger-based charity whose mission is to help people—bloggers and readers alike—by harnessing the good will of the blogging community. Its founders are Maggy Keet of ThreeManyCooks, Erika Pineda-Ghanny of The Ivory Hut, and Aimee Wimbush-Bourque of Simple Bites. BwoB officially launches in July 2011.

____________________

Everyone around the country is deeply saddened by the tragedy that has taken place in Joplin, MO. And sadly, the tragedy has closely touched the life of our blogging friend, Sheila from Strawberry Cake. Her great aunt was killed when the nursing home she was living in was hit by the huge tornado that devastated the area. Other members of Sheila's family were hospitalized with injuries and have damaged homes.

Photo Credit: Tom Uhlenbrock, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

We know there are many bloggers out there who would like to help the people of Joplin—but, of course, we are not there. We don't know what the needs are. So we are raising money for Sheila's family and the people of Joplin. Rather than give it to a large aid organization, we're going to give it to Sheila so that she can distribute it to the people, organizations or local efforts that need help.

Once the money is collected and has been dispersed, Sheila will share with us what she did with the money—who it helped and how it helped—so that we can share that with you. You'll know right where your money went.

So please give $1, $5 or as much as your financial situation allows. This money will go to people directly affected by the disaster—given to the people who need it by someone from our own community.

Thank you for your support,

Maggy, Erika and Aimee
Bloggers without Borders
@bloggerswob

Want to spread the word? Want to help us raise money? E-mail us and we'll send you the code for the BwoB badge and donate button.

Wordless Wednesday: 9 Years Married. Us.

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Up, Up and Away

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 19 May 2011 03:01:00 +0000

Photo by Aimee Giese of Greeblemonkey

My menu plan for this week listed only three dinners, Mon-Wed. Tomorrow Danny and I jet down south for a little getaway that will combine work and play - with plenty of great food you can be sure.

I'm attending BlogHer Food, a major conference for food bloggers, in Atlanta, Georgia. Danny has some work-related meetings on Friday and will crash a few BlogHer parties with me. We'll also meet up with some very dear friends from years gone by who live in the vicinity.

Oh, Thursday is also our wedding anniversary (9 years!), so a trip without the kids is much deserved. I'm particularly excited about dinner reservations at Empire State South; hot new resto, hot chef - and dining with no kids!

Why a blogging conference?
It's a fair question. And one that I get a lot. So, um, like what do you do there?

Well, like any conference, it is a chance to hone your skills by taking in the many sessions all tailored to your particular niche. Yep, I said 'niche'. You hear that word a lot at a blogging conference.

It's also an opportunity to network, put faces to avatars, shake hands and exchange a business card. Nothing beats face time when a good part of one's job description is building community.

I also intend to share some laughs (none of this virtual 'Lol' stuff) with good friends I have made. I'm meeting a food blogging mentor (we're doing dinner. someone pinch me, please.) for the first time, and I'm also looking forward to connecting with a long list of individuals I've been crushing on for some time.

Did I mention parties? And swag?
OK, that's not why I'm going, but obviously, it's all part of the fun. In the shot above I was at the 2011 Blissdom conference, headed to a party, and looking pretty happy about it, no?

So that's the update. Now I've got some packing to do.

Backyard Chickens and Other Spring Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:25:00 +0000

Spring has sprung on our little semi-urban homestead and so have several much discussed outdoor projects. Our chicken coop has been built, five brown hens moved in, and egg production is in full swing.

We knew it would be a thrill to add feathered friends to our family, but could never have anticipated the extent of the boy's enthusiasm over the fowl.

Noah scampers out in a dressing gown and flip-flops each morning to lower the ramp from their loft, give them a scoop of feed and check for eggs. His toes curl up, withdrawing from the dew-drenched grass as he crosses the yard, and he arrives back at the breakfast table with bright eyes and rosy cheeks.

What a way to start the day. It makes me so happy.

The coop is low enough for both boys to handle most of the chores. The design is such that the coop is moved every couple of days to give the hens fresh greens to eat and ground to scratch. It is working very well for us.

Danny and I have decided that we're going to 'off' the birds in the late fall. We both have plenty of experience in this area. The only question is how much - if anything- we will tell the boys. More on that hot topic later.

A Garden of Our Own

After admiring my neighbour's garden all last summer (no time to put one in last year with birthing a blog, hosting a family reunion, and everything that comes with settling into a new home) we are determined to get our raised beds up and producing this spring.

Danny, ever a man of thorough action, has sourced us the wood pictured above and will be building four raised beds. Not, as it would appear, a log cabin.

The whine of his skilsaw eating into the logs last night sent me into a tizzy of excitement and I abandoned the post I was drafting to tap out a quick list of vegetables and herbs I will be planting.

And for now, I look out over the woodpile and dream of fresh parsley, baby beet and colorful chard.

Ah, Spring! She always brings exciting new possibilities.