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Out & About #1055 | Black Friday Shopping, stackt Holiday Hills + Wellington Market

11/29/2024

The average adulting life is brimming with stressors. Even in the absence of external interference, routine O&M procedures can span the bulk of one's day.

While countless Ontarians complain about the local healthcare system, I'm glad to declare we have not yet stooped to the level of ridiculousness in BC. Wait times of sixty minutes aren't uncommon, but, at the very least, one can aim for off-peak times and taking advantage of virtual check-in platforms.
That said, results for my pre-sunrise blood test have yet to be delivered even 1.5 weeks later.

The odd breakfast of toast would serve to break routine from Marbled Banana Bread and oatmeal, while homemade Passion Fruit Hot Chocolate (using Passion Fruit Citron Jam from T&T and Tim Hortons' Chocolate Mix) was tested as an interim curiosity quencher before Sunday Baking's Milk Chocolate & Passion Fruit Cake could be constructed.

The last week of November marked our final days in the ergonomic office. Outside the building, the tree was erected, the lights draped over the entrance, and the skating rink in the midst of being readied.

A complimentary sample of Kona Coffee hazelnut brittle sustained me throughout the morning, where I regretfully relocated not once but thrice due to desks being either double-booked or fitted with malfunctioning hardware.

Lunchtime errands primarily comprised of retail-related errands. First up was Uniqlo.

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Out & About #1054 | Errands + Potluck Prep Feat. Peppermint Brownies + Black Sesame Pound Cake with Matcha Glaze

11/23/2024

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With the annual office potluck is just over one week away, I deemed the weekend an appropriate period for testing out potential options. Technically, I could have skipped the experimentation altogether, for I realized afterwards that my creations would be enjoyed by members of the team regardless of how the products fared on my own rating scale.

14 eggs (or was it 15?), 4 hours of active labour, and 2 hours of dishwashing later, the day's mission was complete.

1) Coffee Cupcakes

The recently uploaded Easy Chocolate Cupcake recipe had me lusting for the airiness of the Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes, a seven-year old formula that succeeded in inducing a wow factor even seven years later. Instead of chocolate though, I hankered for the toasty bitterness of coffee, concurrently seeking to deplete the remainder of my Nescafe Gold Espresso.

Conceptually, the swap should have been as easy as the elimination of cocoa powder and dissolution of espresso powder into the specified quantity of hot water. Fuming due to familial dysfunction, I had forgotten to measure the precise amount of instant coffee used. Amidst my hot-headed state, I had likely also forgotten to compensate removal of cocoa powder with additional AP flour.

The modified ingredient list was as follows:

̶1̶2̶0̶ g → 170 g AP flour
̶5̶0̶ ̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶c̶o̶a̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶d̶e̶r̶
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
100 g granulated sugar
120 g hot water
̶1̶/̶2̶ → 3 tsp espresso powder
120 g milk
50 g oil * I used canola
1 egg

Yield: 9 standard muffins

Sunday's recipe would supposedly produce 25 mini cupcakes. Adapting the formula for a standard-sized muffin tin, I achieved a total of nine cupcakes. These would baked at 375 F for 9 mins, then 350 F for 6 mins.

The absence of cocoa powder had initially spurred some reservations, for I was unsure whether the baking soda would have sufficient acid to aid in the leavening reaction. Then, in recalling that coffee is also acidic, these worries were buried promptly. The final products did not emerge alkalinic either - I was safe.

A handful of the cupcakes featured pointy peaks beyond just the typical dome. These had likely been over-filled, causing raw batter to surge from the centre while baking.
The base of the cupcakes retained noticeable dampness even after baking and cooling, making the liners difficult to remove. In reviewing the cross-section, I'd observe the peculiar travel of air bubbles: the configuration was almost akin to the interior of Vietnamese honeycomb cake, being somewhat stringy instead of circular.

There was no hiding it: Coffee was lacking - nonexistent even. While the hue was appropriately brown, the profile was distinctly devoid of aroma. As anticipated, the cupcake itself was quite light, enabling elevation via addition of frosting (buttercream of ganache) or being maintained as a simple tea cake.
Excess matcha glaze did not overwhelm the creation, but nor did it create a cohesive profile. It merely flowed over the Halloween-themed liner, adhering to the exterior and shattering in any and all attempts to remove the inedible piece.

As far as production quality, I can confidently declare proper techniques and, consequently, proper visuals. Derelict is merely the presence of coffee - back to Sunday's roster it is.

2) Peppermint Swirl Brownies

Variations of peppermint brownies is often a holiday favourite. Milder than candy cane-containing renditions, I set out to craft a two-toned specimen that could possibly constitute a candidate for the upcoming potluck.

Frankly, Sunday Baking's Mochi Brownie recipe is too sweet for my liking. However, olive oil or neutral oil containing renditions aren't that much better. Having seen success in a swirled creation previously, I decided to formulate a Peppermint Swirl Brownie using Sunday's recipe as a guideline.

Using two eggs, the ingredient list was easy to halve. That said, results are never guaranteed when introducing modifications.

Sunday's original ingredient list is as follows:

2 eggs
110 g granulated sugar
170 g dark chocolate (58%)
65 g unsalted butter
20 g cornstarch
10 g cocoa powder

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Out & About #1053 | Cycling to East Chinatown + Distillery Winter Village

11/19/2024

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While seldom my customary choice, Monday coincided with my first day in the office.
Licensing requirements, or rather the uncertainty associated with satisfying such requirements, have kept me up for at least two weeks and counting. In spite of easing into the work week, these woes would not recede to make way for paid responsibilities.

I'd somehow execute the 90-minute commute with 4-5 hours of sleep. When lunchtime rolled around, I embarked on a cycling trip to East Chinatown via Gerrard.

A portion of this segment would be devoid of delineated cycle tracks/on-street pavement markings. Stopped vehicles and construction in the curb lane would force cyclists to merge with vehicular traffic, admittedly unfavourably. That said, I was thankful that plenty of empty docks were available near my desired destination.

A distant coworker had noted regular visits to a Chinese bakery by the name of Tung Hing, not on the bases of quality but rather convenience due to proximity to other POIs.
"What about (the nearby) Grand Restaurant/Phoenix Bakery?" I had posed before departed.
A hesitant and largely negative response came back, informing that the restaurant had switched owners countless times without sustaining any sort of reliability.

I forgoed a stopover and head straight to Tung Hing. The bakery revealed itself as quite dilapidated; origins were presumed to be Vietnamese-Chinese given observations of banh mi - and even Vietnamese Coffee - gracing the menu.

At slightly after noon, the shelves were relatively well stocked. However, all baking operations had ceased for the day. The kitchen area was as deserted as the PATH on a weekend. A middle-aged lady of East Asian descent handled the cashier. Meanwhile, a bulky Caucasian sat perched behind the cake counter, head down scrolling through her phone.

A few units of each bakery item were spotted. Prices ranged from sixty cents to $2.50, which promptly confirmed Tung Hing as the most budget-friendly pick of all of Toronto and beyond. Not a single GTA outpost could outdo their low prices.

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Out & About #1052 | Pecan Chocolate Chip and Matcha Hazelnut Cookies + North York Run

11/16/2024

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The colourful candy-covered chocolate chips I had procured while on a fervent mission to recreate - no, better! - Craig's Cookies caught my eye several times throughout the week as I strolled in and out of the kitchen. By the end of the week, I could no longer resist temptation: Cookies would be constructed.

Normally, I would have made a beeline for Sunday's adaptation of the Levain Chocolate Chip Cookie, for the substantial yet voluminous dough was a fabulous foundation for any chunky and/or craggy constituents.

As I was keen to maximize my morning with two styles of cookies though, Sunday's "1 Batter to 4 Types" Ugly Cookie recipe was utilized instead. The formula was halved; almonds were swapped for pecans in the original dough and yuzu chocolate swapped for white chocolate and hazelnuts in the matcha dough.

Cookies are generally fuss-free and speedy concoctions, but the sophisticated modifications of chopped chocolate and toasted nuts - times two - rendered the process longer than usual. That said, the project would not span more than 90 minutes in total even with two trays of cookies.

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Out & About #1051 | Gochujang Caramel Rice Krispies + Oomomo Pop-Up

11/15/2024

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While the Chestnut Tiramisu took social media by storm, I personally found the most memorable dish from Culinary Class Wars to be Edward Lee's reimagined tteokbboki dessert with gochujang caramel. The pairing was unthinkably unique, with a profile that harnessed the renowned sweet-and-spicy profile of Korea's beloved yangnyeom chicken.

Featured on the show on was a variation of a semifreddo stabilized with Italian meringue and moulded into the shape of elongated rice cakes. Breaking down its components, one could envision the dessert to taste creamy and "marshmallow-like", as the judges had described. I reckoned that the equivalent for home cooks could be Rice Krispies squares drizzled with gochujang caramel. Thus, I set out to craft just that.

Naturally, a step-by-step recipe did not exist for this concept. Drawing from my own multitude of riffs on the timeless holiday potluck dessert, I'd formulate the base with toasted hazelnuts and salted butter. The latter was an intentional decision to ensure that the overall concoction would not emerge cloying.
The addition of nuts is also a no-brainer for me, for it enhances textural variance without an extraordinary amount of effort. While I must admit that hazelnuts were a more finnicky choice than almonds or pecans due to the additional step of removing the skins and inconvenient circular shape (they slid about the cutting board), they exuded utmost olfactory appeal.

Rice Krispies
Adapted from Kellogg's

Ingredients:

56 g butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 cups (132 g) Rice Krispies cereal
5 cups (220 g) marshmallows

2 cups Rice Krispies = 44 g x 3 = 132 g
- 135 g used
1 cup marshmallows = 44 g x 5 = 220 g
- 218 g used

200 g hazelnuts

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Out & About #1050 | Albion Hills Conservation Area (Autumn Edition)

11/9/2024

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My past visits spanned two different occasions in entirely different seasons with different people. Yet, my recollection of Albion Hills is foggier than any other hiking destination.

The first was during the peak of the pandemic, when mandatory masks was in place and eating in the car was the norm. Perhaps the experience was even hazier given the combined effects of an intense makgeolli hangover - my first hangover ever! - and 40 degree weather

The second took place in the wintertime, again during COVID times. From what I could recall, we spent a decent amount of time roaming snowy trails and interacting with barren trees and logs on the sidelines. Conditions weren't particularly chilly, though the handful of downward descents always had me fretting over the potential of accidental trips and falls.

It dawned on me that, despite having visited the conservation area during Ontario's most extreme seasons, I hadn't undertaken the trails during the most forgiving time of fall. My CVC Pass was due to be returned imminently, thus I resorted to my second solo hike of the season. Alas, this would be a proper one.

Albion Hills was a mere few minutes away from Palgrave, so it was surprising when Google Maps led me to the 401 then the 427 instead of 410 and local roads. Driving about the Pearson area is never pleasant, especially with the substantial volume of commercial vehicles and construction-induced lane restrictions/closures. That said, I was admittedly enthralled to learn that the 427 now featured an HOV lane and extended up to Major Mackenzie Drive. I believed the highway had previously terminated at Hwy 27, forcing traffic onto dreadfully narrow local streets.

Tim Hortons in the Bolton BIA would assume my first stop of the day. Though the parking lot could have used more critical design thinking to facilitate inbound and outbound flows, the Canadian coffee franchise nestled amidst the chaos did not disappoint. Washrooms were clean, adequately stocked with toilet paper, and a faucet featuring a push knob instead of the finnicky automatic senser.
This location did not stock holiday merchandise, but featured a highly efficient team. My Mobile Order of Assorted Timbits box was slid across the Mobile Pickup station within seconds of ordering. Frankly, I had wished for nothing more than a handful of Old Fashion Plain, however the app did not enable addition of comments. Received was a well-rounded mixture of Toasted Coconut (definitely a new fave!), classics of Chocolate Glazed and Honey Dip, and excessively cloying Birthday Cake and Sour Cream Glazed.

Reservations had initially surfaced towards leaving my backpack in plain sight while venturing within. Kind gestures, such as smiles and door-holding, from those entering and exiting the franchise before me dismissed those qualms shortly afterwards.

Albion Hills Conservation Area was 10 kilometres away - the equivalent of eleven minutes of driving at 11 AM.

Entry into the park was a seamless process: the CVC pass was scanned and I was ushered inwards without a moment's hesitation from the gatehouse staff. Unlike Belfountain, there would be no time limit imposed. That said, the Conservation Park was slated to close at 5 PM, which coincided with sundown anyway.

The winding internal roads were no easy feat to maneuver, which prompted heavy reliance on posted signage. I continued in the direction that noted "Trail Access", until reaching a parking area with just one other vehicle at the opposite end of the gravel lot. My decision had been founded on the presence of a trailhead marker. I later learned that opting to park near the Pool & Splashpad enabled a visual marker for my trek later.

Although the trail map was remarkably comprehensive in consolidating both the hiking and bike trail network on the same image, the amount of information was slightly overwhelming at first glance. Icons indicating the presence of picnic areas were wholly valid; in contrast, washroom icons led to disappointing discoveries of locked outhouses with rusted doors.

After meandering along the perimeter the now-vacant pool building, I eventually found my way to Post No. 31. There, I'd embark on the Blue Trail, being mindful to adhere to the coloured trails instead of venturing onto the comparatively narrower Single Track Bike Trails out of curiosity. Nevertheless, vigilance was required at all times, for mountain biking was permitted on all trails within the park.

Crunchy leaves and moderate elevation differences characterized the hike. While the most breathtaking sceneries of fall foliage were behind us, late autumn views exhibited a grandeur of their own. A variety of leaves were observed, ranging from giant yellow maples, oak leaves with Swiss cheese-style cavities, murky, dark purple buds, and even a lone deciduous tree sporting some green maples.

Nearing the a four-way hiking-biking crossing, a soiled pink specimen was spotted on top of a post marker.

Upon closer inspection, the article was a pink and white Velcro monkey, one that was seemingly once loved with even a special hairdo.

View the full album HERE !

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Out & About #1049 | Easy Chocolate Cupcakes, Toronto Railway Museum + ProFusion

11/8/2024

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With a supplementary licensure application deadline steadily looming and tasks flying into my inbox with no end in sight, it would be an understatement to merely declare: I am stressed.

The interference of others amidst this process can be beneficial or detrimental. While some have taken to casual conversation to alleviate immediate stressors, lending a helping hand to decrease workload and facilitate efforts towards my (seemingly endless) application, or showing understanding towards sudden schedule changes, there are also those that have consistently failed to exhibit the necessary forms of rapport, despite the requests being exceptionally straightforward.

During these high-tension times, I've resorted to balancing my mental strain by maintaining regular levels of fitness, contemplating new culinary creations, and the less health-conscious measure of heavy indulgence in snacks and sweets.

Apple cider and Perrier were discovered as a fabulous, daytime alternative to spiked cider. Peanut butter toast with condensed milk was an easy, North American take on the classic HK-style waffle sandwich.

Between managing weekly grocery rounds, general expense tracking, and planning for the upcoming Black Friday splurge, I was also finally able to watch Despicable Me 4! Nearly four months after its cinema release, the latest Minions production arrived in the Amazon Prime video portal, enabling enjoyment in the comfort of my own home. My browsing partner would be exempted from this viewing due to absence; meanwhile, I'd now be able to declare completion of the Minions and Despicable Me lineup in their entirety(ies).
The movie's addition of a Blackpink background track and BTS phone case were interesting observations, for it confirmed the infiltration of K-Pop into Western media to an utterly unimaginable extent.

Easiest Chocolate Cupcakes

As a consequence of skyrocketing chocolate cravings, I eagerly attempted Sunday's latest recipe.

Being named the "Not Too Sweet, Rich Chocolate Cupcake", my expectations were admittedly high. It was Sunday, after all.

Ganache

The corn syrup-infused ganache was effortlessly assembled in about ten minutes. Her recipe called for 200 g of heavy cream, but I was short 10 g. The entire recipe would be scaled down by 5% to accommodate for this, though it still resulted in more frosting than needed.

Ingredients

190 g heavy cream, warmed
171 g chocolate couverture
30 g glucose * did not scale glucose and accidentally added the original qty

The residual heat of the heavy cream was inadequate in fully melting the chocolate, thus requiring microwaving of the entire mixture. It should also be noted that my couverture pieces were noticeably larger than Sunday's, and my kitchen quite chilly in general.

Sunday recommended the ganache to be set in a shallow pan - likely for uniformity. However, I kept the mixture in a lidded glass bowl for easier scraping of the edges and to minimize dish count. Instead of resting at room temperature overnight, the process was hastened with a 2.5h rest in the fridge. Unfortunately, this duration was insufficient and the resulting frosting was too loose to hold its shape for piping. Interestingly, the consistency did not thicken much more even when left to reside in the fridge beyond 24 hours.

Nevertheless, it was delicious and accentuated the mild cocoa notes in the airy cupcake. On its own, it was a tad satiating, adopting a viscosity thicker than chocolate syrup (could not pair with ice cream) but looser than a mousse cake topping.

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Out & About #1055 | Black Friday Shopping, stackt Holiday Hills + Wellington Market

Out & About #1054 | Errands + Potluck Prep Feat. Peppermint Brownies + Black Sesame Pound Cake with Matcha Glaze

Out & About #1053 | Cycling to East Chinatown + Distillery Winter Village

Out & About #1052 | Pecan Chocolate Chip and Matcha Hazelnut Cookies + North York Run

Out & About #1051 | Gochujang Caramel Rice Krispies + Oomomo Pop-Up

Out & About #1050 | Albion Hills Conservation Area (Autumn Edition)

Out & About #1049 | Easy Chocolate Cupcakes, Toronto Railway Museum + ProFusion

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Out & About #1055 | Black Friday Shopping, stackt Holiday Hills + Wellington Market

Out & About #1054 | Errands + Potluck Prep Feat. Peppermint Brownies + Black Sesame Pound Cake with Matcha Glaze

Out & About #1053 | Cycling to East Chinatown + Distillery Winter Village

Out & About #1052 | Pecan Chocolate Chip and Matcha Hazelnut Cookies + North York Run

Out & About #1051 | Gochujang Caramel Rice Krispies + Oomomo Pop-Up

Out & About #1050 | Albion Hills Conservation Area (Autumn Edition)

Out & About #1049 | Easy Chocolate Cupcakes, Toronto Railway Museum + ProFusion

Who Am I?

Archives

Categories

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Contact ME

​Subscribe

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