The Countdown has Begun!

The countdown to Paris has begun- it seems like forever since the trip was originally cancelled because of the Iceland volcanic eruption (yes, I still hate Iceland).

Our apartment is about 3 blocks east and 1 block north of the Champs d'Elysees. I didn't know, until recently, that you can actually go up inside the Arc de Triomphe - didn't do that in 1985, but will this time! I've mapped out several day trips, most of which are centered around food in some way :)

Penny McKinlay, a local writer, wrote an article about me and the story of Wild Serendipity. If you'd care to peruse, it's on her blog.

I've just placed my first order with The Better Bread Box, run by Carmen Dyck and Keith Jorgenson (who are also vendors at the Saskatoon Farmer's Market - business name "Fruition").

This week's selection features peach and blueberry baking (fruity muffins, granola, granola bars or fruit crisp), and hearty sandwich or artisan bread.

There are several pick-up locations in the, or the orders can be delivered for a nominal fee.

Check it out - fresh, local baking for $20 without messin' up your own kithen! :)

Call for frost tonight (-3 deg C) - Fall is definitely around the corner......

Happy Birthday to MEEEEE! and a New Product

This week marked my 43rd birthday, and I spent most of it making scones. I truly do apparently love what I do, because my personal tradition is to never work on my birthday. And I didn't even feel bad about it. I did, however, ensure that I frequented eating establishments that we do not normally go to with our boys. It was E.E. Burritos for lunch - Horchata (I love saying that word), which is kind of like cinnamon rice pudding in beverage form, if you've never had it, and a chicken enchilada - love their enchilada sauce! I had the song "Horchata" by Vampire Weekend running through my head the whole time - check it out on YouTube

For dinner it was Amigo's - chicken chimichanga (yep, it was a mexican-themed kind of day).

The highpoint was the cake, shown above, created by my lovely friend and kitchen-mate, Sherry Sawatzky of Sliced Decadence. For the base she made my favourite, maple pecan (with extra maple) and for the topper, my second favourite, chai. The mehndi design was inspired by a wedding cake she recently did - also, I was supposed to have received a permanent mehndi tattoo on my left hand/arm. Long story as to why that never happened. It goes without saying - the cake was fabulous.

This week I also introduced a new product to my Farmer's Market booth. Cathy Langdon, from In Our Handz, sold focaccia and cheesecakes at her booth at the Saskatoon Farmer's Market. She is launching her new business as a private practice dietician - the Food Mentor Knowing she would not have time to do both, she kindly asked me if I would be interested in taking on her focaccia product. I was happy to take it on, as it complemented my current product line, which also included European flatbread pizzas. It is sold by the pan (baked, ready to warm up) and slices, ready-to-eat, at the Market. It is made using a traditional Ciabatta dough - it is a fairly labour-intensive process, beginning the night before and much of the following day. The result is a dense and chewy texture - the flavous will be varied, and as always, ever-changing.