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Out & About #679 | Week #37 Quarantine Update Feat. Breath of Pineapple Bun Scones

11/28/2020

The first snowfall of the season arrived earlier than past years, wherein parched, cracking skin and green Christmases were inevitable.

It was but a fleeting scene of all white though, for the rapid surge in temperatures eradicated the snowy masses over the course of three days. I remained within my humble abode in the meantime, primarily due to workload, but also due to my reluctance to summon winter boots at this early stage.

Seemingly an eternity of a homebody state, I proceeded with consumption of leftovers, Highballer Pumpkin Ale - totally not a treat, mind you - purposing the remainder of my couvertures into a silky chocolate mousse.

In hindsight, I should have adopted a more conservative approach to the 2.5 kg bag, as the objective of inventory replenishment largely went unaccomplished on Black Friday. Prices were far from reasonable, and when they were, they were sold out.

Quite honestly, I had dreaded nothing more than the return of yet another Monday, especially after a Sunday of endless edits and a late night technical travesty that terminated in tears. The release of GOT7's Breath impressively erased that uneasiness. I breathed a slow sigh of relief, unaware I had been stifling one the entire time.

Thank you Youngjae. Thank you GOT7. At the most pivotal times, where I find myself wallowing in tremendous doubt, anxiety, and frustration, thank you for providing a safe haven for faith restoration.

Creations of the week were many and included:

1) Pickled Cucumbers Two Ways (not pictured and unsuccessful)

2) Tzatziki Cucumber Salad, in which forgotten removal of cores resulted in a watery, but nonetheless delicious, mess.

3) Tomato, Potato, and Pork Soup

The combination was a classic Chinese soup similar to the likes of the Malaysian ABC soup - not that I have ever referred to it as such.

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Out & About #678 | POLAR Drive at Pearson Airport

11/27/2020

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Tradition and flexibility can go hand-in-hand. There's no reason why they shouldn't.
As far as celebrations are concerned, does it really matter that the exact same route isn't being taken to reach the same objective? Thinking rationally, a specific occurrence is a result of a plethora of factors, beyond the handful that are visible to the naked eye. Matter is constantless, so embrace the change and all that accompanies it.

Christmas festivities were cancelled this year due to the obvious reason that COVID-19 remains rampant in our community, as well as the entirety of the GTHA. For the first time in five years, I won't be making my annual trip to the Toronto Christmas Market, nor will my schedule be brimming with long overdue hangouts. My holiday itinerary is anticipated to be comparatively less hectic than other years, and, truthfully, for the sake of humanity, so should yours.

Outsourcing festive entertainment with those in one's immediate household isn't a challenging task though. Building off innovation and a smidgen of unconfined creativity, POLAR was born. The multi-level parking building on Viscount Road was re-purposed into a drive-thru light exhibit, open for scheduled visits on a per-vehicle basis. The lockdown status of Toronto and Peel Region had not hindered the event's operation, though it was assumed that those riding in the same vehicle belonged to one household. Driver's licences were not verified, only proof of purchase.

Absolutely enthralled at the opportunity to temporarily escape work and my all-too-familiar indoor surroundings, I had taken to purchasing Early Bird Tickets two weeks prior. Multiple email reminders filled my inbox leading up to the day of, inclusive of protocol/conduct reminders and the absence of on-site bathrooms.

Our visit was scheduled for POLAR's first day of operation. Upon exiting the highway, illuminated tunnels were visible from underneath the Hwy 409 bridge on Viscount Road. Signage was present as soon as the Google Maps navigation terminated.
Cars would file into the area, tickets would be checked, and visitors would be directed to four different queues. There, one would reside for nearly twenty minutes before being directed to a winding, single-file line to enter the premises. Our timed ticket had been specified for the period of 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, thus we joined the lineup at 5:45 PM, precisely making the fifteen-minute buffer suggested in the FAQ. It was later discovered that the time stamp barely mattered. "Everyone is just coming in and lining up." we were told by one of the staff members.

By the 6:10 PM mark, enough suspense had been sustained. We gradually inched closer to the gate, where 90.9 POLAR FM was activated and warning signs for attendees to remain within their vehicle at all times emerged. Around 6:20 PM, we entered the parking garage, cheering from the comfort of our vehicle in quite possibly the most enthusiastic manner one could ever exhibit while entering a parking garage.

Entry on the first level was controlled by two grim-looking members of staff sporting hi vis vests and traffic advisor light bars, one positioned at each end of the first tunnel. As the car in front of us disappeared from view, we were permitted to traverse through the fairly dim first segment lined with promotional banners.
Rounding the corner, we caught sight of the first attraction: a spectacular tunnel with illuminated with bold light strands along its inner perimeter. With each step of the way, the lights would flash - sometimes white, sometimes blue - yielding a different perspective.

At the conclusion of this attraction was another member of staff, from whom we awaited direction prior to advancement. The next attraction featured a serene cobalt theme with winter wonderland-esque installations such as carousel horses and faux snow-decked trees.

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Out & About #677 | Week #36 Quarantine Update Feat. Cheddar Bay Biscuits

11/22/2020

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Ah, Cheddar Bay Biscuits. What are they?
To some, the palm-sized mounds may constitute no more than a pre-seafood appetizer. Others may view the biscuits as a quintessential element of the Red Lobster dining experience. And personally, these warm, cheesy biscuits are symbols of nostalgia, reflective of the countless times my family had gathered at the restaurant for weekly dinners during my childhood. (Not all of these meals took place at the Florida-based franchise mind you.)

The formula has undoubtedly evolved over the years, growing paler, drier, and less cheesy as I eased my way into adulthood. Nonetheless, the starter warrants recognition. Since the start of COVID, I have craved nothing from the menu except the comfort of the Cheddar Bay Biscuit.

I did a double-take upon seeing the title of the latest But Better episode, where my childhood favourite had not only undergone a facelift, but was proved to be re-creatable from the convenience of my own abode - no delivery fees or entrée orders required. Components of the recipe were already prevalent in my cupboard (besides buttermilk, but it was an easy fix), thus I set to work the next day.

The results were phenomenal and quite a few degrees more delectable than I had pictured for a first attempt. Admittedly, I had rolled my dough too thin, yielding smaller biscuits that browned faster. However, they were perfect in all other aspects. From the sheer whiff of cheesiness to the crisp, golden exterior to the plush, moist centre, they are indeed Cheddar Bay Biscuits, But Better. <i> Gone was the crumbly dryness and baking soda aftertaste of the original, and in its place an addicting savoury delight.

My second and last creation of the week was Roasted Cherry Tomatoes - coated with olive oil, sea salt, and parsley flakes and baked until blistered.

What ensued was a mad mess of work happenings, a tone broken only by an appointment to the foot doctor (who revealed an equal desire to resume concert-going!), 2-minute mail run, and post-deskwork blogilates.

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Out & About #676 | Week #35 Quarantine Update Feat. Pumpkin Tart + Carrot Cake

11/15/2020

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I hadn't ever thought that twenty-degree weather and holiday decorations would ever co-exist, however this year has proven to be a year of many firsts. (We may even be nearing the first lockdown in eight months.)

Progressing into the final months of 2020 provokes a period of reflection, as with every passing year and every winter. In hindsight, I don't believe to have accomplished much besides an incredulous amount of cooking, chore doing, and virtual meeting partaking. That said, I am grateful for employment, and the sheer ability to execute my assigned duties from the comfort and safety of my own home.

With gradual improvements in wrist mobility (despite persistent inflammation), I shall commence this week's roundup with a collection of creations of the week:

1) Earl Grey Almond Latte

Making the most of my gifted Sloane Heavenly Cream, soon-to-expire unsweetened almond milk, and exceptionally floral Knotty Coppertop Honey, I commenced the week with a low-impact Earl Grey Almond Latte.

Costco's Rotisserie chicken and homemade Diana sauce ribs constituted the household's protein sources for majority of the week.

2) Sour Cream Bran Muffins

SK's comparatively more savoury rendition of the high-fibre breakfast item was found to pair best alongside fresh fruit.

3) Unsuccessful Pizza constructed from previously proofed yeast and lonely strips of SPAM (feat. a heavily advertised yet decidedly undelightful can of Harvest Ale

4) Mini Pumpkin Tarts

Opting to make the most of a discounted local pumpkin wedge and my Stainless steel OOMOMO tart shells, I undertook the 3-day project later to be recalled as the soggiest Pumpkin Tarts in history. The endeavour had purposely been separated into three days for the sake of preserving wrist wellness.

The first day involved steaming the wedge and rind removal, while the second and third involved custard-making and crust-forming. A meringue topping was whipped up - in the most literal sense - utilizing leftover egg whites, then smothered atop each tart and charred.

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Out & About #675 | Week #34 Quarantine Update Feat. Takeout Takeover

11/8/2020

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Allow me to first address the elephant in the index: Week 33 of life amidst COVID-19 was consolidated into the past weekend's Halloween-centric entry. Now, moving on.

In response to progressively worsening pains in the wrist and fingers (that later began propagating from the tendons to large muscle groups), creations of the week were kept to an absolute minimum, with majority of the items of consumption outsourced.

Once the morning of November 1st rolled in, I set out on a(n online) quest for Halloween clearance merchandise. Contrary to my expectations, minimal stock graced the shelves of both online and in-store retail shops. Decor and baking tools were oddly difficult to track down this time around, yet holiday furnishings were already in abundance.
I skipped over the microscopic section of tea towels and spooky garlands; secured instead was a thin, satin-y vampire cape fringed with fraying threads, aimed to incorporated into the following year's unpredicted festive ensemble.

Nearby was Timmies - the same location from which I had previously secured a Smile Cookie after a tedious ten-minute wait. I summoned forth a Small Mocha and Raisin Bran Muffin for afternoon snacking, the latter proving excessively sugary with minimal cragginess. The Mocha, on the other hand, was admittedly delicious; its 1:1 ratio of hot chocolate and brewed coffee was superior to the likes of both Starbucks and McDonald's, establishments reliant on tacky-tasting chocolate syrup.

Shedding the spotlight on the very few creations of the week: Egg Salad and Chocolate Mousse were the prominent ones; baking off cookies from the freezer and pour-over crafting are contenders less likely to fall within this category, though shall be mentioned nonetheless.

More Timmies was secured on a trip to the east end, following physio and before errands.

Forgiving weather enabled an outdoor dining experience just beyond the Drive-Thru corridor. Chicken Wraps and a piping container of chilli were enjoyed in gloriously sunny conditions uncharacteristic of pre-snowfall periods.

During this visit, we learned about the franchise's removal of the Chicken Salad Sandwich, otherwise known as my coveted childhood favourite, from the menu. Additionally, it was concluded that altering the 1:1 ratio in the Mocha(s) did not necessarily yield better results.

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Out & About #679 | Week #37 Quarantine Update Feat. Breath of Pineapple Bun Scones

Out & About #678 | POLAR Drive at Pearson Airport

Out & About #677 | Week #36 Quarantine Update Feat. Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Out & About #676 | Week #35 Quarantine Update Feat. Pumpkin Tart + Carrot Cake

Out & About #675 | Week #34 Quarantine Update Feat. Takeout Takeover

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Out & About #679 | Week #37 Quarantine Update Feat. Breath of Pineapple Bun Scones

Out & About #678 | POLAR Drive at Pearson Airport

Out & About #677 | Week #36 Quarantine Update Feat. Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Out & About #676 | Week #35 Quarantine Update Feat. Pumpkin Tart + Carrot Cake

Out & About #675 | Week #34 Quarantine Update Feat. Takeout Takeover

Who Am I?

Archives

Categories

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Contact ME

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