Heaven in a Strip Mall

For our Tuesday Toodle yesterday we decided to tour the Bernard Callebaut factory. Hubby's cousin was visiting from the Okanagan and had spent most of her money shopping the previous day. What little girls wouldn't want to visit a chocolate factory? What Mama wouldn't?

Bernard Callebaut was a sensory delight. When you walk into the retail store you are overwhelmed with the sheer amount of chocolate selection - bars, dozens of chocolates, cowboy hats, chips, cocoa, and even a giant chocolate inukshuk. But what you really notice is the heavy air conditioning. I was worried it would wake the baby, but I think the scent lulled her to sleep. Oh, the scent. You really don't get the full effect until you go downstairs to the manufacturing facility. I would have been lulled to sheer indulgent relaxation if it weren't for the fascination of the chocolate making process.

We stared through the windows at the staff working on Christmas treats already. There were logs on the moulding rack - this wheeled contraption that turns the moulds as they spin around, in some kind of crazy orbit. There was one woman patiently adding a white chocolate drizzle to a gilberte. For the few moments we turned away from the manufacturing we could read about how the cocoa bean turns into the chocolate we so love.

As fascinating as it was to watch the chocolates being made, we grew impatient to try chocolate. Well, the 11 year old and I grew impatient, the Monster was anxious to ride the "alligator" back upstairs, and the baby slept. Upstairs we bought baking chocolate, tried a few chocolate treats, and shared a sample of luscious white chocolate soft serve. The Monster had a few toddler-sized bites of a dark chocolate fish before Mama took it away to enjoy later.

Now, you would think that a trip to a chocolate factory was good enough. Generally, it would be, but I had heard rumours of a great bakery in the same building. Unfortunately, the Manuel Latruwe is undergoing renovations. We'll have to go back again in a few months.

Fortunately, a French treat recently opened next door. L'Epicerie imports French products and serves deli sandwichs made from duck pate or the tastiest ham (carved off the leg in front of you). They have cheeses, olives, and a market cart of fresh produce. The Monster found the sample table and ate more than her fair share of cornichons and black olives. I bought some Puy lentils and olives to take home. We also decided on a ham sandwich on black olive bread to enjoy at home with chocolate for dessert, of course.

Sources:
Bernard Callebaut
Manuel Latruwe
L'Epicerie - 403.514.0555

Teaching a Girl

What a treat I had yesterday. Hubby's cousin was staying with us for a few days at the end of of her solo vacation. At 11 she was into shopping and babysitting. Thankfully she got her shopping out of the way with the other cousins. So while my girls were napping yesterday we decided to make her a pillowcase to take home. She knew how to sew, in general terms. I knew how to make a pillowcase, in general terms.

I did have a pillow pattern to start from. First she scavanged my stash for her favourites. She definitely has a good eye. She picked the floral and the stripe separately and they aren't even from the same line. When there wasn't enough of the floral according to the pattern, we adapted, with happy results.

Only once before have I sewn with someone with little sewing experience. You really forget how many of the terms you take for granted. Simple things like pressure foot or needle down. But once we got that sorted out, she did a great job - sewing the whole thing by herself.

And now I have some experience with pillowcases so I can get one together for the Monster.

History and Inspiration

Brownsville, Halifax, Brooklyn, Austin, Manhattan, Brandon, New Orleans, and Phoenix.

Bread, soup, potatoes, chocolate, cupcakes, cookies, BBQ, smoking, tarts, seafood, and berries.

Chinese, Arab, Cretan, Italian, Thai, Caribbean, Spanish, Ukrainian, Cuban, and French.

We were cleaning out our teak hutch on the weekend in order to put new legs on it. Hubby emptied the contents - all my cookbooks - on the dining room table. In theory that would be a good time to review and purge. In theory. Instead, I reviewed and reminded myself of some enjoyable reads, vacations, and inspiring recipes that have never been tried.

My collection of cookbooks includes souvenirs from cities visited (both by us and others), gifts from speaking engagements, birthday and Christmas presents, impulse buys from the grocery store and one of my favourite stores, and a growing assortment of community cookbooks. I am one of those weird people who actually reads cookbooks. I try to stay away from celebrity cookbooks, but that is getting harder and harder. Hence the growing collection of community cookbooks. My collection serves as a history of where I've been and want to go - in the world and in my cooking.

Don't get me started on my magazines...

Quilter's Pride

The Monster loves her 'naps', as she calls her blankets. Yes, I have a blankie kid. Unfortunately for me, a quilter, her 'naps' are either crocheted or woven. She has 3 quilts and has never shown any interest in them. But her Eye Spy that I made for her 1st birthday has been hanging over the back of the couch for a few weeks now. Hubby has been using it late at night while he watches TV. Well, the other day she took notice and now she loves to snuggle under it while we read stories. I nearly cried. I pointed out that it was her quilt and she now likes to tell us that fact, repeatedly. It's the first time the toddler cry of, "MINE!" doesn't bother me.

The quilt is also fulfilling its purpose of playing Eye Spy With My Little Eye. She will point out the strawberries, the dolphins, and the bumblee-bees all the time. Such sweet fun.

My apologies for the break. Both E and I are fighting another cold. I'm exhausted. And of course I'm not resting. Rather, Hubby and I have been trying to get some stuff done around the house, I've been shopping for a dreaded family portrait (2 months post-partum and I have to record that for posterity - ouch), and we've had visitors. I'm hoping that next week I can get back to some more sewing. And some more sleep.

In the meantime, I decided to add a new feature to the blog. Colour studies will appear on the side-bar. I'm starting with green. Just photos of some fun green things. Enjoy.