Apple Cheddar Tart

I'm distressed.

I cannot find my camera anywhere!

It's gone....I mean I know it's somewhere in the apartment but I haven't the foggiest idea wher it could be. I looked in all of the usual spots - the desk, by the window, hidden under cushions on the couch - but it's vanished into thin air!

This means I can't take pictures of the things I've been baking/making

AND I've been putting off my Martha October issue review because the pictures in the magazine are different from the ones on the website.

I'm starting to go a little mental....

WHERE ELSE COULD IT BE!?

On a less stressful note, I got my hair done (highlights touched up and some glazing of the roots) this morning! And then walked for 15 minutes to Topcuts and got myself a snazzy $15 haircut. I took off a good 2-3 inches too! I'm happy with it. All I would change is the layering...which the kind woman at Topcuts did none of. So my hair is kind of thick and unruly at the ends where it usually is nicely layered. But $15 compared to like $60 for a haircut makes my bank account happy.

I also decided I would sort of pamper myself a bit today, seeing as I have a LOT of school work to try and do in the next few hours. I did my toenails a bright pink and redid my nails in a softer, more nude pink. I feel much lovelier on this gloomy day.

Last night, I tried out a recipe from Everyday Food (but my own version which takes literally 5 minute to prep and maybe 25 mins in the oven) . It's so fast and easy and it's really good.

Apple Cheddar Tart

(Picture stolen from http://dishdivajaz.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/img_7054.jpg)

To make this delicious tart:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out thawed puff pastry into a rectangle and place it on a lightly greased baking sheet.

2. Core 2 apples and cut them into rings, so that the hole where the core was is in the center. Arrange them on the puff pastry.

*OR if you want to be fancier, using a biscuit cutter or cookie cutter, cut out circles from the puff pastry. Place apple ring on the puff pastry circle and then tuck the edges up over top of the apple (like in the picture above). You may need to seal this with a bit of egg wash.

3. Grate marble or cheddar cheese and sprinkle over top of the apples and puff pastry. Put into the oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the puff pastry has started to brown. Remove from oven, let cool slightly and cut into desired sized peices. Eat while still warm.

There's a few peices of this leftover from last night in the fridge and it's still pretty good cold. But definitely much better when it's straight outta the oven.

I'm off to make some black bottom coconut squares and some madeleines.

I'm going to bring them in to placement on Tuesday and impress my co-workers.

:)

Whadda suck up.

"Good Things" for October (2010)

It's October!

Where did September go? It seems like only yesterday that I was getting ready to head back to school.

Time flies when you really don't have much free timeto spare, apparently.

But it's once again the weekend, the glorious, glorious weekend. And this time I don't have to get up at 5:30 am with my stomach in knots to head downtown for a brisk 21 km run at 7:30 in the morning.

Hurray!

Though don't get me wrong, I would GLADLY do a half marathon again. It's just nice to know that the only thing I have to wake up early to do this weekend is to get my hair done tomorrow.

There really is nothing quite like having someone massage your scalp with deliciously scented shampoos and conditioners. I'm pretty excited.

Moving on...

It's October so that means it's time for this months Good Things!

Jamie's Good Things for October

1. Big, Big, Big Scarves

(Photo from blog.yokooblog.com/)

I want.

How cozy does this look?

A large scarf that you could take a nap in is probably one of my favourite things about the fall and the chilly weather.

2. Peak Frean Lifestyle Vanilla Bean Latte Cookies

I bought these cookies for the first time ever on Monday because they were on sale and then an additional 50% off the sale price. These cookies are DELICIOUS!

And at 140 calories for 3 cookies they're practically good for you.

If you're looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth and you don't want to splurge too much then go and find these cookies or any one of the other awesome flavours they come in!

(Lime Coconut? Blueberry Brown Sugar? Dark Chocolate with hint of Cherry? Berry Green Tea? Can you really say no thanks to those!?)

3. The Event

Having been a huuuuge Lostie and having said goodbye to it recently, I was lost (ba-doom-ch) thinking about what show would replace it in my heart.

Sure I have Glee and Modern Family to keep me laughing (did everyone else laugh out loud at the great lines that Brittany S. Pierce had? And did everyone swoon over hunkiness incarnate John Stamos? The man is beautiful and, confession, sometimes I listen to his version of the Beach Boy's Forever on repeat). But I need a mysterious drama to keep me trying to figure out what's going on.

This show is it, ladies and gentlemen. If you loved Lost then give The Event a try! If you aren't trying to peice together the peices and anxiously waiting for the next episode after watching the first, then I'll give you a full money back guarantee.

4. Pumpkin Seeds

Don't even think about throwing away what you scoop out of your pumpkins later this month.

Clean the goo off of the seeds and place them on a baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Add salt, pepper, any spice you should so choose. Bake them at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes or until they start to brown. Then snack on them 'til your heart's content.


5. Breast Cancer Awareness

As many of you know, this weekend is the Walk/Run for the Cure.
I'm proud to support my Aunt who is walking in honour of the hundreds of thousands of women who have been affected by this disease, some of which she knows and has known personally.
If you can't take part in the worthwhile event, then please donate.
Visit http://www.cbcf.org/en-US/home.aspx or http://www.areyourunning.ca/ for more details
To everyone who has already donated: You're doing wonderful things!


Well, I'm back to watching episode 2 of The Event!
Have a fun Friday everyone :)

Cake Pops for October

If you love baking, especially cute baking, and you love blogs, then you've probably heard of Bakerella.

Check out her site to learn more about her and see all of the fun things she bakes!

What she's most famous for, though, are her

Cake Pops

(Photo from Bakerella.com)

The cupcake cake pops were the first ones she made and started the craze.

I want to make some of my own for Thanksgiving and for Halloween. Stealing ideas straight from the Queen of cake pops herself, I want to attempt these:

(Photo from Bakerella.com)

Monsters!

They look to me what I imagine a love child between Mike and Sully from Monsters, Inc would look like.

(Photo from Bakerella.com)

Turkeys!

These look complicated though and I have a different way I want to make turkey cupcakes - from my Costco cupcake book.

(Photo from Bakerella.com)

Any one of these cute Halloween characters would make me happy!

Maybe not the werewolf (aka Chewy) or the witch as they look like they require a bit more skill than the others.


That's it!

I hope these give you some ideas for your own October holiday baking - they certainly gave me some inspiration to head into the kitchen in the next few weeks!

It's Official: I'm a (Half) Marathon Runner!

After a very un-restful night's sleep (nerves), I woke up this morning at 5:35 am with an entire conservatory of butterflies in my stomach.

Leaving the house with my mom at 6:15, we parked and made our way to the starting corrals of the

Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon!

I ran the half in 2 hours and 11 minutes!

It was brutal at times, exhilarating at others.

I was nervous I would go too fast and not pace myself, leaving me too fatigued to finish strong or finish at all. I followed behind the 2:15 pace bunny for awhile...until I witnessed him blow a snot rocket onto the side of the road. At that point I figured I'd make my own pace and go at a speed I was comfortable maintaining.

Since the course was a loop out west and then back east along lakeshore (and then continuing east and looping back west again for the marathoners), I was curious as to how far I would get before the uber-marathoners started coming back east.

I saw the first runner as I hit the 7 k marker.

Which was also located very close to the 17 k marker on the other side.

The man ran 17 k in the time it took me to run 7!

I got goosebumps watching them run by. Their paces are ridiculous! I'm pretty sure their comfortable pace is my sprint.

There were a few times too when the road curved just right, and all you could see ahead was a road full of runners. Almost 22,000 people ran this morning. Insane!

I didn't hit a wall (I was convinced I would), but there were a few times I shot some envious looks at the people walking. I refused to stop running even at the water stations. I slowed down, sure, but not enough to prevent me from spilling more on myself than I drank. I also nearly choked myself at one water station, trying to take a bigger gulp than I should have while maintaining my pace. Oops.

My body held up pretty well through to the 12 k turn-around and then it was a mental fight to stop thinking about how much my feet, ankles, knees, and hips ached. They seemed to cycle through, pain wise, so I survived. Now though is another story. I look like a hobbled old woman when I walk.

The last km was the hardest. It felt the longest and I was very aware of how tired I was. I pushed through and even managed to speed up through the last 500 m. I saw my mom screaming my name and it gave me the boost I needed to boot it into high gear and cross the finish line.

Then I grabbed my finisher's medal, a stylish emergency blanket (which was actually very appreciated as I was freeeeeeezing afterward), and went to meet up with my mom, dad, and sister.

I feel amazing. Apart from the stiff joints.

I accomplished something I have always wanted to do and can cross it off my list of things to do before I die.

I can't wait to do it again!

I got an email from my beloved Williams-Sonoma and have found a covet-worthy thanksgiving baking item:

It's a mold for little cakes in the shape of (I think...) pumpkins, acorns, etc. Adorable.


I also want to buy pie weights (but from Winners cause they're a bit cheaper) so I can experiment with making mittens that you warm up in the microwave.


Well, I have to stop procrastinating and get back to the two assignments I have due this week.
Yuck.


I ran a half-marathon !!!

Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Apples & Sage

Appologies for the lack of posts recently...I'm back in school and placement full time so my time is unfortunately not as free as it once was. And it's only going to get worse because I haven't even started back to my fall work schedule yet.

My placement is going really well so far. I'm in a social services office (social assistance, employment placement and referals, job training workshops, etc) and I've discovered that it's something that really appeals to me.

I got to sit in on an employment placement workshops, I sat in on an info session facilitated by a public health nurse for an amazing initiative called Investing in Families, and today I sat in on an initial intake interview for social assistance. It's amazing that there actually are systems in place to provide resources to the people in our communities who need it.

I can definitely see myself becoming a part of this field later on.

John and I, after an entire weekend apart and a less-than-pleasant Monday night (due to stupid stupid circumstances), went out for dinner last night. Nothing fancy - Jack Astor's - but a much needed date night. It's easy to forget what a great partner you've got when you forget to do fun and exciting things together.

If I can offer up any advice to keeping a long-term relationship fun it is this: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF DATES!

As promised, I will do my review of this month's Martha (LOTS of great Halloween ideas!) but I've been slowly going through it while mainly focusing on finishing all those pesky nursing readings for my classes.

Never fear, I've got tomorrow eeeevening and the weekend to write it up and also to pre-write some posts for the week!

As I mentioned previously, I made a pork-on-pork dream come true at my parents place last weekend.

It was delicious.

Bacon makes the meat so tender and bacon in and of itself is so good.

Here's the recipe from the Autumn 2010 Food & Drink from the LCBO

Enjoy!

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin with Apples & Sage

(photo from LCBO website, recipe by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)

YOU WILL NEED:

2 large pork tenderloins,total about 2 lbs (about 1 kg)
10 fresh sage leaves, very finely chopped,or 1 tsp (5 mL) dried rubbed sage
2 to 3 large garlic cloves, minced
¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
¼ tsp (1 mL) freshly groundblack pepper
9 to 10 slices thick-cut bacon
Kitchen twine
3 to 4 large apples such asCortland or Spy
1 large cooking onion
2 tbsp (25 mL) all-purpose flour
1½ cups (375 mL) chicken broth or stock


1. If any silver skin on loins is present, cut away and discard. Sprinkle sage, garlic, salt and pepper all over loins. Place loins closely together lengthwise, with thick ends meeting thin ends, to even out roast thickness.
2. Lay out slices of bacon snugly together on a cutting board, forming a rectangle. Place loins across bacon so bacon ends emerge from each side. Beginning at one end, lift a bacon end up over loins at a 45° angle. Then, alternating sides, continue lifting bacon ends down the length of roast forming a chevron pattern of bacon on top.
3. Cut five 12-inch (30-cm) lengths of twine and one 30-inch (75-cm) length. Place 5 shorter lengths of twine under loins widthwise. Working out from roast centre, firmly (but not causing deep indents to form) tie up each piece of twine, spacing evenly apart. Then tie up roast lengthwise with longer piece of twine. Trim twine ends; discard. (Roast can be prepared, covered and refrigerated for up to half a day. Add 10 to 15 minutes to roasting time.)
4. When ready to roast, preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Lightly brown roast on all sides, about 15 minutes in total. Transfer to a baking pan lined with a rack. Place in oven; set time for 30 minutes. Check and continue roasting until a meat thermometer reads 145°F (63°C). Remove from oven: transfer to cutting board. Cover roast with foil; let rest 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, peel core and slice apples. Thinly slice onion.
6. Drain most of fat from frying pan; place back over medium heat. Add onion; cook 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in flour; cook 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth; add apple slices. Bring to a boil; simmer, covered, 5 to 10 minutes or until apples are tender and sauce is lightly thickened. Add more broth if too thick; keep covered and hot.
7. To slice pork roast, snip off lengthwise string. Then slice about ¾ inch (2 cm) thick, removing crosswise strings as they are encountered. Place a few saucy apples on each warm serving plate, top with a couple of slices of roast and drizzle with more sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes and a steamed julienne of carrot and kohlrabi.

Molasses Spiced Apple Loaf

I mentioned yesterday that I was going to try experimenting with the apples I bought rather than go the route of the standard (but delicious) apple pie.

I remembered that I'd made a batch of Martha's chewy molasses cookies last autumn and those delectable cookies kept creeping back into my thoughts.

I wondered if it would work if I used the recipe but turned it into a loaf and added some of the freshly picked apples.

Verdict? Delicious.

If you like gingerbread, this is a perfect autumn recipe to enjoy with a mug of hot apple cider.

Jamie (and Martha)'s Molasses Spiced Apple Loaf

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Skin 1 large apple and cut into 2-3 cm thick slices. In a bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter (softened) with 1 cup sugar. Add 1 egg and 1/4 cup molasses, stirring to combine after each addition.
2. Add in 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp nutmeg, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix until combined.
3. Pour half of the batter into a greased loaf pan and with wet fingers press down. Place the slices of apple all over the batter then add the remaining batter, pressing down with wet fingers. Sprinkle 4 tbsp sugar over the surface.
4. Bake for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and using a knife, poke holes in the loaf lengthwise where you expect to make cuts later on. Put back in the oven and bake for another 15 or 20 minutes until the top is firm and a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean (almost clean is acceptable too as the loaf will firm up as it cools). Let loaf cool and then cut using the knife holes as a guide. Serve and enjoy!

If you're looking for another recipe to use your apples is, I'll have a great dinner one for you tomorrow.

Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with apples

Pork on pork. Proof that everything really does taste better wrapped in bacon.

P.S. The October issue of MSL is here so expect a review soon!

AND I've subscribed to Everyday Food so I may have some extra recipe recommendations :)

A Perfect Day at Chudleigh's Apple Farm

I woke up early (too early, actually) this morning and headed over to my Terry Fox Run location. After some group stretching we headed out on the course for the 10 k. There was also a 5 k course and it was kind of confusing when we came to the turn off for the 5 k. The whole run, being a community event, wasn't very well marked in terms of where to turn, etc so I had to keep pace with at least one other person who looked like they knew where they were going. The course was uphill, downhill, across busy streets, and through beautiful shaded paths. It was a nice run, all in all, until I hit that 9th km.

Uphill.

For at least 500 m.

Or it felt like it was uphill for much longer than it should have been!

Hills are not what you want to see when you've been running for the better part of an hour and can't wait to see the finish line.

Hills or not, it was a perfect day for an early morning run and I hope we get similar conditions next Sunday for the half marathon.

My mom and sister came out to the finish to cheer me on and snap some flattering pictures:

"You looked like a beautiful and sweaty gazelle." - My mom.

It makes me feel like I can run another full race when I see your face in the crowd mom :) Thanks for coming out for the last 3 races!

Please be ready to piggy-back me home next Sunday. Or hire a big goon to drag me off the streets of Toronto.

After breakfast and a shower I got together with some friends and headed out to Chudleigh's Apple Farm!

We were supposed to go yesterday but thank goodness we waited until today! The weather was amazing and the apple's were ripe for the picking.

I like my friends because even when I'm the 5th wheel they never make me feel that way :)



Hay ride passed the revered Honeycrisp apples (tasty and humongous!)


Late summer sunlight through the apple trees.

Corn roast!

How could we pass it up?

Probably the best corn I've had in awhile.

Slathered with butter and sprinkled with a hint of salt, it was well worth the line up and the $2.36.

I also bought a bag of apples (gala, honeycrisp, macintosh, spartan, and kerr - which may be the CUTEST apples I've ever seen. They look like plums on the trees) and a jug of apple cider for John who's been working all weekend.

I think tomorrow I'm going to experiment with an apple loaf-bread.....

it could be disasterous or it could be amazing.

One week until the half marathon!

Very excited and very very nervous......