​Timing a job change is wickedly tricky. Between the handover tasks and countless farewell conversations about the office, I consolidated several other actions within the same span of a week. Truth be told: It maximized efficiency at the cost of sanity.

Besides my grand cookie venture and Pecan Frangipane Tart with Oat Crust over the weekend, I revisited the household's beloved Marbled Banana Bread for the first time in a while. Dare I say, it was even more delicious than the previous round.

My days in the office were limited. On a hectic Tuesday, one of the most senior staff members invited me out for coffee. I turned down her offer of % Arabica, instead leading her towards the comparatively cost-effective choice of To Go Coffee. My pick lay with a Pear Jasmine Latte, while hers a Hawthorn Berry Tea. Allow me to confirm that the espresso-containing concoction was noticeably better than its abnormally cloying matcha rendition.

​I departed the office early that afternoon after snagging a slice of cake. Prior to my last day, it was pivotal to maximize my remaining benefits allowance where possible.

The next day, I opted to return to CoCo to claim my complimentary beverage. ​It was only natural to select the priciest option on the menu: Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea (plus an extra topping of pudding).

​Aligning my last day with the last work day of the week automatically defaulted to fewer people in the office. Nevertheless, those that considered me close enough of a friend or coworker physically presented themselves for my send-off. I hadn't expected anything greater than a few messages, thus was rather shocked to receive gifts and even a card!

The team member with which I had worked closely offered a farewell lunch as his treat. Cong Caphe was the obvious choice due to its proximity and our shared desire to sample their Banh Mi and Coconut Smoothie lineup.

​When I had attempted a visit during their grand opening weekend, a treacherous lineup had extended through the door. This time around, the interior was peaceful, allowing for admiration of the interior decor. Similar to the original downtown location on Elm, the suburban location continued to embrace wooden furniture with floral seats and a comprehensive army green throughout. Gazing towards the ceiling, I appreciated that the ducts and piping had also been colour-coordinated for cohesiveness, rather than leaving the components as is to be wholly disjointed in theme.

Seven years ago, I attended the wedding of my Birthday Buddy's sibling. Now, on a gusty April day, it was her turn to walk down the aisle.

​Heading towards Burlington harbour, the weather was an unthinkable mix of rain, hail, snow, sun, and wind. Canadian springs tend to be unpredictable, but to experience three seasons over the span of one hour was unthinkable.

​Leading up to the occasion, my head of faded, straw-like strands were restored with a fresh round of purple dye and hydrating treatment. A dusty pink, floor-sweeping gown made its debut, as did a pair of white strappy heels that I had hurriedly purchased just two days in advance upon realizing an absence of appropriate footwear in my shoe closet.

We - or rather, I - arrived just in time for the ceremony. In the absence of on-site parking, my browsing partner missed the vow exchange, creeping in quietly towards the midway mark.

After a round of photos with the newlywed couple, we filed into the hallway, gradually making our way towards the bar and reception area. Along the corridor were hidden doors: one for the coat check and another for the bathrooms. Nearby kitchen access would facilitate delivery of hors d'oeuvres to the bar area.

We queued for the photobooth first, then meandered over for drinks. Offerings were varied and splendid, ranging from classic cocktails to craft beer to wine from Cave Springs. I pointed towards the Chardonnay without a moment's hesitation, while my browsing partner sought a virgin Margarita. 

​It was an intimate wedding, with the attendee count hovering around fifty. Most of the attendees were already long-time friends. It was amusing that I knew most of them by name or face, and them me, yet our paths hadn't crossed prior to this day.

Due to my perpetual lack of punctuality, I had rushed into the hotel to ensure arrival by the ceremony start time, consequently neglecting admiration of the hotel atmosphere. Featuring large windows, a carpeted stairwell, and a dangling, bulb-shaped chandelier, The Pearle was a truly breathtaking venue. (It was merely a shame that my browsing partner had not taken the opportunity to capture any images of my elaborate ensemble!)

​We filed into the reception hall just before 5 PM. A sea salt-speckled brownie cookie and handwritten name card welcomed each guest into their seat. 

With time, Pecan Pie has become one of my signature creations. Mastery had not come easy, though I'm glad to declare that a lunch hour at home was all I needed to achieve a splendid slice of fresh pie. Having a pre-shaped pie crust in the freezer helped of course.

I had forgotten the whiskey this time around, but at long last achieved the desired crust thickness without much shrinkage. Par-baking the crust from frozen definitely assisted with preserving integrity.

My schedule permitted participation in a Monday evening Zumba class. I arrived early, hoping to use the empty studio for warm-up and practice. The instructor turned around, seemingly shocked to see someone in the same space. She noted that, while I could use the space in her presence, I should not use the room alone, as I could be liable for any missing equipment.

Her stern remarks had me slightly taken back, causing me to approach the start of her class with caution. However, her attitude transformed entirely when the music started. Embodying high-energy Latin fundamentals with toning exercises woven in between, I was impressed with the challenging but cheerful session. It was precisely what I hoped for: a fun, sweat-filled Zumba session.

​Heading to the office enabled me to inform colleagues about my impending departure. As anticipated, the wretched scrap of feculence had not initiated any communication with neither the immediate nor extended team, let alone handover procedures! Consequently, due diligence was enacted on my part.

​The remaining mall lunch walks are now numbered.

Although I revel in conducting errands during off-peak hours with complimentary underground parking, the shift from a sleepy, suburban setting towards a busier, grimier urban centre is necessary for personal growth (and sanity).

1) Ma Lai Goh/馬拉糕 (Round 4)
​
A variation of 馬拉糕 strictly using Taiwanese black sugar resulted from an impromptu decision to create and a general impatience to wait for slab cane sugar to dissolve over low heat. With a significant increase in surface area, I deduced that black sugar would dissolve more readily to form a sugar syrup, thus reducing the lengthiest step of active labour. Furthermore, the output product could potentially garner a darker hue (compared to past trials) and enhanced robustness.

The advantages of calling in sick were abundant. My stress levels decreased dramatically, for starters, and the ability to use my time as saw fit was reinstated. When Wednesday evening rolled around, I declared an unwillingness to return to work. Wouldn't it be fabulous to continue earning money while living life? Alas, any and all contractual PTO arrangements are to the benefit of the employer.

Referencing Papa Fung's recipe once again, it was confirmed that making a dry caramel is not for the impatient. Despite directions to dissolve the sugar over low heat, I naturally increased to medium-high heat when there was seemingly no change to the powdery, white granules. Having confirmed the significance of using hot water as opposed to room temp, I was careful to maintain the warmth of the water before combining with the dry caramel in two additions. In any case, the sugar crystals had hardened on the bottom of the saucepot. Warming the mixture on low to medium heat succeeded in easing most of the fragments back to a state of fluidity. In future iterations though, I believe I'll simply resort to forming a wet caramel for the sakes of sanity and ease.

Approximately double the amount of vanilla extract had been mistakenly added to the batter. That said, I do not believe the extra tablespoon of liquid would impact the consistency greatly. After baking for 30 minutes, I cautiously probed the cake all over. The centre began to sink and darken when the cake was removed from the oven, indicating an excess of moisture, however the tester consistently returned clean.

​I allowed the cake to cool to room temperature before transferring to a wire rack. After the round had cooled completely, I sliced into it with grand expectations. A wave of dismay resulted from the hue difference in the cross-section; the distinctly underbaked centre summoned bewilderment. It was unthinkable that a custardy, uncooked centre would emerge when the cake tester had returned clean in several locations! Alongside a beautiful honeycomb structure, a crispy crust had settled nicely on the surface. I couldn't comprehend the outcome whatsoever.

At first, the round was slid into my countertop convection oven in an attempt to salvage it. After baking at 350 F for 7 mins though, the top began to darken. While the centre remained gooey, the rest of the cake would scorch if allowed to continue baking. Consequently, the cake was portioned and the centremost section of each wedge was returned to the oven to cook fully. Laying the slices flat, akin to baking rusks, enabled the pieces to finish cooking with a uniform, crunchy edge.

​Regardless of the various mishaps that have taken place to date, the prominent honeycomb structure persists in each iteration. For future attempts, I shall not hesitate to commence with a wet caramel and turn towards my intuition for doneness.

2) Pecan & Sesame Hoddeok

Recent talks surrounding Korean snacks led me to crave hoddeok. My last encounter with the comforting street snack was in Seoul, and before that the sweltering summer of 2024. Despite being aware of my extreme fondness for hoddeok, my browsing partner has never once sampled the treat, for, in the wild, hoddeok is often prepared with peanuts or exposed to cross-contamination involving peanuts.

​Rebooting four-year-old attempts at homemade hoddeok wasn't entirely due to allergen concerns. With every reminder of the toasty, delectable qualities of the brown sugar pancake, I began to yearn for it a tad more earnestly. Frankly, the filling is ever customizable: my first attempt saw a mix of black and white sesame seeds, while my second toasted, chopped walnuts. Toasted sesame seeds were superior to the soft nut, in my opinion. For the current attempt, I resolved to use a mix of sesame seeds and pecans, the nut variety on rotation in my pantry.

A) Dough

I'll be honest: I didn't review Maangchi's original recipe before preparing my own version. Blooming the yeast in advance did not constitute part of her formula. Furthermore, against my better decision, I had not measured the quantity of water to be added, but merely continued to add liquid until a wet dough was formed.

Ingredients:

• 4 g sugar
• 2 tsp yeast
• Water

Yield: 9 ginormous dough balls, which ought have been further divided into 12 portions

The day commenced with a bloodwork appointment, followed by a Timmies run. My browsing partner was enlisted as the day's chauffeur, giving rise to unexpected escapes from the parking lot (which meant I had to wait in place) and irritable behaviour when rushed. While the sequence of planned activities flowed flawlessly in my mind, it inadvertently gave rise to a constant sense of urgency - an element that I neither mind nor dislike.

​Within the first half of the approximate hour-long drive to Markham, a BLT Artisan Sandwich and Peach Lemonade Quencher was enjoyed from the passenger seat.

The motivation behind the mid-week day off was an appointment at The Grand Medical Aesthetic Clinic. Booked approximately one month ago, the session would mark the first of a series of pricey laser treatments.
I had assumed the aesthetic clinic to be located within New Kennedy Square, but was proven wrong when Google Maps uttered its despicable wrong turn notification sound. After looping around the block, it was learned that GMA Clinic was located off a dead-end side street at the rear of New Kennedy and accessible only via Hwy 7 eastbound.

GMA Clinic occupied the unit closest to the entrance of the commercial plaza. Upon entering, I was warmly welcomed into the space and greeted by the lady who had conducted my virtual consultation. Before commencing treatment, I was required to complete a series of forms corresponding to each treatment. Washrooms were also utilized during this time; much to my horror, the unisex facilities (Yes, there were male clients as well.) were not maintained well despite the prices of their services. A spider was spotted crawling along the edge of the cabinets, there were water stains and dust in the corner, the toilet seat was spotty, and rustiness was forming along the caulking of the tiles.

My technician introduced herself before guiding me towards the treatment room. Unknown to me at the time of appointment booking, the numbing cream required 20-30 minutes to take effect. The lower limit of 20 minutes was to ensure coverage for the first treatment of Yellowbeam, however the technician adhered to the upper limit of 30 minutes as to enable continued numbing effects for both Yellowbeam and Picosure treatments. The mandatory downtime extended the total appointment time to well beyond the reserved hour. This process was unexpected, for Ocean Clinic in Gangnam moved extremely quickly with seemingly no downtime whatsoever. While the Korean numbing cream was likely more potent, the rushed procedure had likely attributed to a comparatively painful turnout. Application of GMA's version resulted in a tingling sensation followed by numbing. My upper lip persisted a bid uncomfortable, akin to when anesthesia had been injected for removal of wisdom teeth.

A playlist titled "Pop Sings" played throughout the treatment. It comprised of well-known tunes that were, interestingly, not performed by the original artist. Navigating between the Yellowbeam and Picosure lasers was a swift process. Yellowbeam was largely painless, but concentrated flashes of Picosure could be felt even with the numbing cream. For the full face Picosure segment, the technician handed me a tube to adjust the direction of cool air being blown towards my face during treatment.

The session concluded with a soothing sheet mask and thorough application of moisturizer and sunscreen. Within the first few minutes afterwards, my skin flared up in red patches. I requested a mask from the front desk before departing, as I wasn't particularly keen on debuting such a wild appearance in public. ​For future visits, I ought arrive with a mask, visor, headband, and wide-necked top in tow.

My browsing partner came to pick me up after provision of a ten minute notice. We headed to Markville, with me dodging any and all sun exposure with an umbrella positioned closely to my face. Within an hour, my skin calmed down significantly. My freckles became darker and my cheeks ached, but the experience didn't come even remotely close to the excruciating nature of mole removal at Ocean Clinic.

What does the average person do over long weekends? I can't envision road trips or short vacations being a feasible option, for the addition of 1-2 extra days hardly accounts for catching up on lost time throughout the week.
In my case, there is not only an outstanding task list carried forward from last year, but new items that have resulted from an imminent change in routine.

My long weekend was spent at home in a relatively sedentary manner, navigating between floors only for the preparation of food. Considering the climbing cost of gas and required budget realignment though, the outcome wasn't wholly negative. I enjoyed a Black Sesame Latte, bibigo Pork & Vegetable Dumplings from Costco, snuggles with my CoCo Plushie (which I could have procured at the VIP price!!), and various beers from my haul.

1) Black Sesame Tangyuan Cake

While sipping on my Black Sesame Latte, I debated the possibility of a tangyuan cake. Such a creation would comprise of ginger syrup-soaked sponge, black sesame cream, and a glutinous rice flour (mochi) casing. With a desire to attempt Sunday Baking's latest Black Sesame Bonbons, any leftover black sesame ganache could be repurposed into the cream filling, I reckoned.

A) Ginger Syrup

The soaking liquid for the sponge would adopt the traditional yellow rock sugar 糖水 with mild hints of ginger.

Ingredients:

• 245 g water
• 82 g yellow rock sugar
• 9 g ginger, sliced

B) Sponge

I took to Sunday Baking's No Butter Victoria Sponge again. Out of fear of overmixing though, I had missed several small pockets of flour. These flaky white patches, albeit infrequent and likely undetectable after the brushing of syrup, glared back at me in the cross-section. Aside from an amateurish appearance, failure to distribute the baking powder evenly had resulted in uneven rise: the cake wasn't as tall as I had envisioned and large voids had emerged around the centre.

C) Black Sesame Cream

After filling the handful of successful of white chocolate bonbon shells, Sunday Baking's Black Sesame Ganache filling was adapted for use in the cake.

The modified quantities for the Black Sesame Ganache are as follows:

• 215 g white chocolate couverture
• 90 g heavy cream
• 45 g black sesame paste

The Black Sesame Cream combined 250 g of heavy cream with the (unfortunately unmeasured) leftover ganache.

• Leftover ganache
• 250 g heavy cream

Given that the quantity had resulted in an abundance of cream, it is advised to reduce the heavy cream by 40-50%. It is further noted that the potency of black sesame decreased drastically due to the high proportion of cream.

By virtue of presentation of my Matcha Layer Brownies, I quietly made the office aware of my participation in the Aprons in Action campaign. Unfortunately, the nestling of my banner next to the treats was too subtle to be noticed. (I later learned that printing a larger poster and tacking it near the sink also didn't help my case!)

​I accompanied a coworker towards Sea Shanty Fish & Chips over lunch. The request for a Full Size order of signature Fish & Chips came as a surprise to me, for the pub offering deviated drastically from the components typically found in the colleague's packed lunch. But of course, the average person does not seek out what can be constructed at home when dining out.

​Visually quite impressive, the haddock fillet had been lightly battered, exhibiting a golden glow and obvious, airy crunch.

​While heading towards Walmart afterwards, an uncanny encounter was made: I crossed paths with one of my first year elective classmates! About 13-14 years have passed since that time, yet we recognized each other without hesitation. Astounding was the coincidental timing of it all, but even more so was how both of us retained the contact details of the other in our phones. Unexpectedly crossing paths after all these years reminded me fondly of the early years of adulthood, as well as the abundance of growth that had taken place in that duration. She relayed to me an imminent wedding and her move to the west side of the GTA. Naturally, we resolved to catch up one day.

​Back in the office, a partially eaten box of donuts was offered to the kitchen. Adjacent to a trio of somewhat melty Chocolate Dips was the newly launched Ryan Reynolds Maple Butter Glazed Donut. Another member of staff hovered nearby, curious about the creation. We opted to split the donut in half for sampling - a wise choice, given its abhorrent sweetness. A Blackberry Yuzu Lemonade Quencher - with no presence of yuzu whatsoever, mind you - was inadequate in combatting the cloying qualities.

Fatigue crept up over the course of the day, prompting a trip to Costco instead of heading home for exercise. The decision was deemed appropriate, for it enabled relief from pre-long weekend crowds.