Category: Friends - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #742 | Webster Falls, Locke Street, and Hamilton Nostalgia

9/5/2021

The mention of Webster Falls had inflicted regret over the years, as I had viewed my half-hike of the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area as incomplete without it. My time of academia had been spent in an area of hiking trails and waterfalls, yet the destination had sadly been excluded due to insufficient exploration time before sundown.

With COVID policies in effect, reservations were required in advance of any visits. Prime photo-capturing coordinates had also been removed from public access due past tales of trespassing and the need for rescue crews. The experience has undoubtedly changed in the past half-decade, yet I remained keen on making my mark.

In advance of the long weekend, I had proposed the trip - ie. the intent to reserve. A day trip beyond the west limit of the GTA was scheduled; it included lunch in the quaint cobweb of Westdale followed by hiking. Whatever residual time would be allocated towards re-acquaintance of the nearby neighbourhood.

A quick review of Google Maps informed me of Westdale's existing directory and dining setup. Saigon and Manna withstood their space, as did Paisley, unfortunately. Franchises like Subway and Pizza Nova were foregoed; instead we headed towards a newcomer in the area: Nannaa Persian Eatery.
Parking in the area was limited, but complimentary on Sundays and holidays.

Upon brief inspection of the menu, it was selected as the preferred alternative to its adjacent establishments of The Bean Bar and Mikel Coffee. Inside were tables positioned along the walls, plexiglass panels installed in between. The cashier could be accessed at the end of the corridor, nestled behind another plexiglass bearing.

We requested our meals in a dine-out(side), takeout format, along with two drinks.

Out & About #741 | Sum Pilates Session #8 Recap, Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf + Dave & Busters

9/4/2021

Economic restart entails more than increase in GDP. As evident over the past few weekends, the mid-pandemic boost is coupled with tragic congestion levels.
Keeping a keen eye on route alternatives to Thornhill, I ultimately began gathering my things for a 12:40 PM departure. My eighth class at Sum would not commence until 2 PM, yet I was confident that 401 commuters would result in a setback at some point along the way. (Mind you, I was right.)

Aspects omitted from the previous week's recap were the instructor's regular readjustment of my top, should it slide during certain moves, along with direct assistance in maintaining form, whether it be shifting the hip for levelness or holding the Reformer carriage for easier execution. The same elements were witnessed in the second class. Distinctly anatomical terminology had also been mentioned, though memory of the vocabular extends not beyond "posterior" and "anterior".

I strode into the facility at 1:58 PM and was greeted immediately. She pointed the thermometer at my forehead and, upon obtaining a satisfactory value, welcomed me into the studio space. I proceeded to relay concerns over pain in the right shoulder, particularly in the vicinity of the AC joint. A brief visual inspection was conducted, followed by comparison with the left shoulder. At a loss for the proper English word, she resorted to Google Translate. "Inflammation" it read. A minty substance was distributed over the area in an attempt to alleviate the swelling, though its cause remained a mystery.

Erring on the side of caution, she proposed exercises that avoided the arm and back, in fear of any additional triggers, and urged moderation in movement of/pressure applied to the right arm.

Majority of the class would be spent on the Cadillac. The Arc Barrel was positioned near its midpoint. With the back towards the curved accessory and feet placed roughly hip-distance apart, I would curl down in a C-shape with the arms outstretched before me. Once the entire trunk touched the barrel, the spine would be lengthened, the body relaxed. At that point, I would curl back up, leading with the arms, then chin, and lastly stacking the spine. This Arc Barrel-assisted Rollup would be performed several times before moving onto a half-Rollup. As the name indicated, it involved curling halfway down to the barrel, resisting gravitational pull for five seconds, then returning to the original position.

The thigh and glute exercises that proceeded also retained use of the Arc Barrel. Lying sideways with the hip positioned at the Cadillac-Barrel boundary, I placed one hand under the head as support and the other on the unoccupied space of the barrel. A black resistance band was looped about my knees for the Clamshell. It would then evolve into a side-lying Fire Hydrant, at which point I was reminded to keep the hips square while moving the top leg in a single plane. Stripping off the band, I was instructed to conduct a series of side-lying single leg lifts (top leg only); appended to the end of the lifts were lifted circles forward and backward. blogilates had trained me well for this moment.
While familiar with this portion of the routine, it was undeniable that greater impacts could be felt with rectified form. It dawned upon me that maintaining levelness of the hips during execution was not as simple as I had once believed. Once again, I was constantly reminded to lift the chin up. In order to achieve this, I allowed my gaze to fall upon the tower of the Reformer on the other side of the room.

Sliding to one end of the bed, I slid my head underneath a tension-affixed Push Through Bar. With fingers wrapped about the bar, I was guided through a double leg stretch. The tabletop position would be the resting stance, with the extended portion involving exhalation and making an "imprint" with the pelvis. At seeing my range of motion, the instructor informed me, "You can go lower, because you are strong!". It was a refreshing phrase that contrasted with the repetitive "You have weak muscle tone." and "You need to work your core!" heard over the years of countless physio visits.

Out & About #737 | Week #75 Quarantine Update Feat. Strawberry Matcha Mousse + Jin Myungdong Kalguksu

8/21/2021

As I sit in contemplation of the meetings, approved and potential change orders, and other trivial calamities of the week past, I can confirm that work duties have permeated into nearly every waking moment of my existence. My familiarization with financial matters is germinating gradually: a broader perspective facilitates the inferno that is invoicing, yet unsuccessful are the attempts in appeasing the mind leading up the submission deadline.

T̶y̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ Toiling into the early evenings render me feeble in the departments of physical and mental capacity. The lack of energy prompted an earlier dinner (before 9 PM, for once), then followed with a sweltering neighbourhood saunter.

Coffee Crisp enters the playing field on several occasions, accompanied by countless jolts of java to fuel withering cognitive capacity.

A proposed "half-day Friday" commences with a grueling journey along the 401; the much-anticipated physio appointment awaits at the other end of the 60 km drive. For the aching back, neck, shoulders, and all other stress-infected muscle groups, the session serves to relieve and re-educate on the limitations of the human body, as well as the need for mobility.

Emails received throughout the visit conclude significance in logging back into the work portal. Around the 3:30 PM mark, I pull up to Platform with hopes of plugging in and engaging in proper conversation with my sidekick. Pulling open the door, I am greeted by the owner, who then proceeds to provide unfortunate news: The café was slated to close at 4 PM. Moreover, all acceptably distanced tables were occupied.
Disappointed - but not yet distraught - I thanked her and navigated towards Main Street Unionville. Corner 20 was spotted out of the corner of my eye; I found parking in the garage, gathered my weighty belongings, and waddled over in my flat foot-friendly footwear. Much to my dismay, the same message was relayed to me. I spun on my heel as soon as I heard the words: "We're closing in twenty minutes."

Eventually, I settled for the general parking area and set my next target as pod coffee. A man with a laptop was spotted outside the shop - "If he can work, then so can I!" were my immediate thoughts. Heaving in the horrendous humidity, I gathered my things once more, but this time only roughly grabbing by the edges of the tote. In a matter of seconds, the laptop plummeted to the ground, striking my unshielded big toe at the depths of its descent. My mouth dropped, agape, yet not a single sound could be uttered. Overcome with shock and excruciating pain, I wallowed in an agonizing thirty seconds before coming to terms with reality. And just as I thought I could carry on, a splotch of maroon began to surface. Blood.

I tended to my toe with exasperation and awe, for what was the probability of two failed attempts to secure an air-conditioned, Wi-Fi-enabled workplace and a treacherous thump on the foot amidst the unruly chaos. Swapping my open-toed sandals for trusty runners, I hobbled across the street. pod coffee offered no bathroom for handwashing, no budget-friendly beverages, and, furthermore, no amicability whatsoever. The third time was most definitely not the charm.
Next door was The Alley, where a delivery driver swooped before me in line - with an air of outright righteousness, might I add - and demanded his drinks. The cashier was kind, albeit a bit difficult to hear behind the plexiglass barrier. I dabbed at my forehead while in wait of Order No. 31, and was then shoved my Dark Knight by the barista who had the same tremendous demeanour as pod coffee's sole operator.

At long last, I would find myself outside and ready to dive back into work endeavours, only to be warmly welcomed by fumes originating from cigarettes and cannabis. Oh, Markham, how I have learned to loathe thee.

Out & About #736 | Week #74 Quarantine Update Feat. Whole Wheat Loaf + Studio Bon

8/15/2021

A good work week starts with a Monday of minimal emails. Another aspect deserving appreciation is an unrushed opportunity for nutrition replenishing. Anxiety from the previous week's invoicing craze persisted, with its effects only augmented by the neverending list of other project tasks.

I craved heartiness, and I craved caffeine. The desires would lead to the creation of my first wheat loaf in aeons and consumption of Lavazza's renowned Italian espresso in a complimentary Balzac's mug.

1) Whole Wheat Loaf w/ Honey and Olive Oil

Given the arduous prepwork involved in Bake For Happy Kids' wheat bread recipes - and decidedly moist properties achieved thus far - I decided to venture beyond the tried-and-trusted. King Arthur offered a version that could be executed on a whim, using a breadmachine, and deploying olive oil and honey for extra swiftness.

The lack of expansion had me concerned initially, however the results were fabulous. Due to work commitments, the lengthier rising schedule was gladly welcomed. Baking at a higher temperature also eradicated unwanted moisture present in previously attempted wheat loaves.
Having yielded enough to fill two loaf pans, one had been portioned for slicing, while the other into pull-apart rolls. Both boasted impeccable texture when lightly toasted; margarine and honey made for a luscious, high-fibre breakfast, while homemade pecan butter could be smothered on for a boost of natural fats.

2) Green Tea Basque Cheesecake (Attempt)

The first green tea cheesecake ever to emerge from my kitchen and the second basque cheesecake ever to be crafted, I knew that the instigator could be no one else besides Sunday Baking.

Out & About #735 | Weeks #72 + 73 Quarantine Update

8/8/2021

With each email, each call, and each meeting, I loathe the cycle a little bit more.
For "work is not life, and life is not work.", as I have countlessly re-iterated. Alas, it all seems endless. The words leave a seething scar in my mind: "You're a professional. You're expected to work more, and do as the project requires."

But what remains is the shell of the human that I have become - soul, emotion, and health depleted and repurposed into productivity for greater project gains.
While there is pride in career accomplishments, I crave the balance of daily tidbits of joy, seemingly robbed by the work-from-home reality that is to persist with the oncoming fourth wave.

In recap of my weekly activities, I realize diversion is minimal. Songs and podcasts cannot be enjoyed in parallel with work in consideration of meeting counts. Kitchen experiments have also diminished drastically, the cause being unpredictability in work. Even during times of solitude, the tables quickly turn, leading to haste decisions amidst the process and, consequentially, subpar results.

Creations of the week(s) included:

1) Roasted Peppers, squeezed into the oven between meetings and mandatory catch-up calls

2) Brown Butter & Vanilla Pound Cake

Out & About #734 | Sum Pilates Session #6 Recap

7/31/2021

Congestion on the 401 hasn't stopped a day since the province's entry into Step 3. And allow me to clarify: I wholly encourage and support economic recovery and a gradual return to normal life, however rarely can one bring oneself to declare affection for grueling travel times.
I tend to drive less during the week, and shorter distances at that, leaving weekends as my only period of escape. In preparation for this week's session at Sum, I took to Google Maps. The route was far darker red than I would have liked, leading to an early departure and avoidance of the 401 as much as possible.

The alternate route took me to Hwy 7, where I would traverse nearly 15 km before two ladies would pull up next to me and honk for my attention. I peered over at the duo, both unmasked and one with hands occupied by a McFlurry. "You got a flat tire!" the driver called out to me. "The back one."
I cast a quick glance towards the back, but proceeded to my destination without stopping. At the nearby Starbucks, I was able to confirm the status of the tire, which was, indeed, as severe as the ladies had implied. Tire treatment was temporarily put on hold, as it was nearing my appointment time.

We commenced on the Reformer instead of the Cadillac, with the box attachment positioned on top of the Carriage. Warmup duration was brief in the form of breathing and awakening of the upper back. I was then eased into a variety of core-building activities. Keywords such as "tabletop" and "imprint" were instantly translated to engaging certain muscles, while descriptive instructions assisted when imagery was vague: "straight back, as if you're growing taller".
The most notable progression was conducting a rollup without the tension "pull-through" bar. The range of motion was now far greater, indicative of greater control required. Legs were bent over the box rather than kept straight in the starting position on the Cadillac. The arms remained outstretched in front of the body, palms placed at either end of the fitness hoop. I would then slowly lean back towards my tipping point, first by tilting the pelvis, then stacking the spine.

Another variation of core engagement was the straight-leg roll-up. The first version involved threading one foot through the fitness hoop in tabletop position and securing the other foot underneath a support strap. I would then roll back slowly while straightening the leg. Instead of halting at the tipping point though, I was instructed to continue bending back, relaxing the head and shoulders at the other end of the Reformer box. Curling back to the starting position on the basis of pure core strength was a challenging task, but it offered a grand sense of accomplishment and fabulous stretch to the hamstring and spine.
A second version eliminated the hoop and involved three introductory rounds of bending and straightening the lifted leg. Both hands would start grasping the ankle lightly, then travel down the leg to the thigh while rolling down. The process would reset once the head and shoulders were relaxed, then summon core strength ("bringing the ribs together") to return to the seated position. This exercise was one of my favourites from the session, given its attention to flexibility, mobility, and stability.

The next series of exercises involved lying on the side. The upper leg would be lifted at hip height, lower leg bent and slightly forward, upper arm outstretched at a right angle, and lower arm bent to support the head. Tension band in hand, the aim was to bring the upper arm as close as possible while striving to maintain stillness in the trunk. With pains emerging from the previous day's Pump It Up! and bowling activities, tremours only prevailed with additional reps.

Navigating to the Cadillac, I was guided through a series of tension bar-assisted squats. Beyond engaging the thighs and upper body, the core would also be engaged when returning to standing position. Next up were squatting torso twists: The tension bar was pushed down while descending into a ninety-degree formation with the knees. Both hands would then shift towards one end of the bar, where one arm would be lifted to lead rotation to the back. The same would be repeated on the other arm. Likely the most challenging portion of this move was not the rotation, but the force required to keep the tension bar in place.

Hip squats and a tension bar-imposed leg lift were then discussed. Due to general weakness in the upper body, I was unable to hold the tension bar stationary. Consequently, we maneuvered back to the Reformer, where I would execute wide straight leg raises for the core and side/lower glute muscles. More core work, in the form of tension band-attached knee-ins were attempted with tremendous effort. I was quick to admit difficulty in the move, but rapidly followed up with a desire to build and succeed.
I did not use the Barrel on this occasion, however a handful of kneeling side bends were included in the routine.

Out & About #733 | Miga + The Rec Room

7/30/2021

Civic Holiday long weekend commenced at around 1 PM on Friday. Efficiency had led to an early end for all work activities on my part (though the same could not be declared for a project colleague who struggled with synthetization of meeting discussions).

I proposed for lunch at Miga, intending to splurge on a well-deserved meal of meat. Since our midsummer visit last year, the restaurant has expanded its patio area to introduce artificial flowers and potted plants, a translucent overhead covering, and picnic tables equipped with grills. By the entrance was a floral arrangement with "Miga" in white, sans-Serif font. The restaurant name was also clearly visible from both ends of the patio area - this time formed by faux fuchsia petals. Potted plants prompted a tropical vibe that was mirrored even beyond the patio, adorning the ceiling of the indoor dining hall.

View the full album HERE !

We were accommodated immediately at our time of arrival. Seating options varied between smaller tables shielded by patio umbrellas or slightly larger tables with overlapping clear panels for UV protection and diffused illumination. Our preference lay with the larger tables in the main seating area. The hostess informed of the malfunctioning grill of our choice; without much desire to labout for sustenance, we proceeded without apprehension.

Our requests consisted of LA Kalbi, an item of long-time longing, and Braised Short Rib. With initial inquiries regarding two kalbi-based dishes, we summoned a member of the service staff, first by ringing the bell and later by waving given its defective status. We were informed that one of the dishes would be served in a stone pot with rice, while the other comprised purely of strips of meat. The Premium LA Kalbi was offered in strips of either two or three, priced at $26.95 and $39.95 respectively. More economic was the dolsot edition, associated with a cost of $21.95.
"How many strips does this one have?" I pointed to the stone pot selection.
"Two." The bespectacled young server responded, "I believe it is two, as seen from my peripheral."
"Okay." I stifled a chuckle at his choice of vocabulary. "We'll go with this one!"

A short while after order placement, a trio of banchan arrived, along with sweet potatoes in oligotang. The amount was admittedly scanty, so we picked at it slowly in anticipation of the entrées.

The LA Kalbi arrived sizzling and scorching hot, encompassed by the alluring scent of caramelization. It attracted the eyes of our neighbours, who peeked over briefly before diving back into clamourous conversation. After securing a few quick snapshots, we proceeded to uproot the rice grains underneath, tossing evenly with the sauce before compacting against the hot stone bowl. In roughly twenty minutes, the undersides would crisp up fantastically while absorbing the exquisite essence of kalbi.
True to the server's words, roughly two strips of marinated short rib rested atop the white grains. They had been cut into individual portions of ease of consumption before plating. Each section was tender and flavourful, boasting uniform marbling of flesh and fat.

Out & About #732 | Kyoto Gyukatsu + Downtown Shenanigans

7/25/2021

It is not uncustomary of me to establish relationships (or acquaintance-ships) in atypical places of gathering. Frequent are friendships formed in GA crowds, less often while awaiting the arrival of K-Pop idols, and rarest of all on the morning commute by GO Train.

One of this space's untold stories, an unexpected bond was formed under the alignment of fated conditions. I like to say that it was BamBam who brought us together, for the conversation would have never commenced without his existence.

"My friends can't believe we've only met once!" But we were about to change that.

Scheduled approximately two weeks in advance, I made the drive downtown, pulling up at the rear of HOEM on Jarvis, where we would be stationed for the day. A tour was provided of the lobby and general use areas. Leaving the greatest impression were the security gates, which required no more than the swipe of a hand for access, and communal laundry room, which seemed to materialize straight from a university webdrama.
Which was not far from the truth, as the complex offered accommodations for students on Ryerson grounds and beyond.

After settling in, we strode over to Kyoto Gyukatsu for a late lunch. The remainder of the afternoon was to comprise of crepe-making and choreography-learning, so there was contemplation over securing ingredients first, then picking up takeout along the way, or dining first to curb hunger levels. We agreed on the latter, and began perusal of the menu around 2 PM. Distinctly fragrant barley tea was served in plastic disposable cups; utensils were individually packaged and also of disposable nature.

The restaurant's assortment of offerings could be accessed via their website, with options for placing takeout or dine-in orders on a "Mrs. Digi" platform. Behind each table was a QR code, and underneath the table number. Complimentary Wi-Fi was provided to access these services, making for a functional, menu-less experience.

Entrées were divided into two main categories: Katsugyu Original Zen ("Zen") and Katsugyu Umami Juu ("Juu"). When inquiring about the primary differences, we learned that Juu enabled selection of portion size - either 3 oz. or 6 oz. - with one choice of sauce, while Zen offered the entire trio of condiments for dipping with a fixed portion size. To share, we took to the New York Gyukatsu Zen (6 oz.) and AAA Sirloin Gyukatsu Juu (3 oz.) w/ Deep Aromatic Sansho), both cooked to medium rare with onsen eggs and red miso soup on the side.

The sets arrived swiftly, adopting near identical formats. I paid little attention to the cabbage slaw and dove straight for the rice of the AAA Sirloin Gyukatsu Juu. Pearl barley contributed to a coarse, chewier bite, while the savoury drizzle an instant boost of umami. Less fond were we of the capers (?) decorating the top. Their profile was slightly sour with an odd, bitter aftertaste.

Eggs, I soon learned, were an ingredient capable of instilling grief in my ahga-partner-in-crime, depending on their method of preparation. Soft scramble was an abomination, fully hard-boiled was gag-worthy (though I cannot deny their repulsive chalkiness), and poached à la Eggs Benedict were acceptable. Thankfully, the barely-set Onsen eggs before us were also granted a passing grade.

The strips of meat themselves were quite interesting: The AAA Sirloin had been cooked to perfection, boasting tenderness lined with impeccably thin breading. On the other hand was the larger portion of New York Zen, which bore red on the edges, ultimately seeping through the breading to reveal splatters of saturated red. While the Sirloin was sufficiently flavourful on its own, the New York was on the milder side of the spectrum. The strips readily accepted additional seasoning through soy sauce (one dark, one light), coarse salt, and a grated onion pulp with pungent mustard-like properties. We were also recommended to try dipping into the Onsen egg as well - my personal preference, really.

Out & About #731 | Sum Pilates Session #5 Recap, Hanyang Jokbal + Pacific Mall

7/24/2021

Upon being made aware of Ontario's entry into Step 3, I had eagerly reached out to my pilates instructor in hopes of attending class at the next available slot. The studio asked all clientele to be completely vaccinated prior to booking, which was a reasonable requirement in any capacity.

I was also notified that my instructor would pursuing opportunities elsewhere, with her last day at Sum being the 31st of the month. Wherefore I was quick to schedule two sessions with her, as transitions are never truly seamless.

Giddy with anticipation and excitement, I set out with ample buffer for congestion along the way. Arriving fifteen minutes in advance of the class, I headed for the bathroom, only to realize I had forgotten the passcode. Peeping into the waiting area of the studio, I located the digits in question. Success was not realized. I pressed and turned the knob, until my palm reddened and I could turn no more. Diving back into the studio, I verified the numbers before one final attempt. The result was the same.
Two doors down was the men's bathroom. Drawing sharp glances in each direction, I listened for signs of activity, then entered the passkey and warily poked my head in. Vacant.

Moving rapidly, I washed my hands then immediately secured myself in a stall. Within millisecond, the door opened. From the creak of the door, a figure could be spotted before the sink. Sounds of brusque teeth-brushing, mouth-rinsing, and spitting followed. I held my breath, hoping for the figure's swift departure, and for no further entrants. My silent prayers were answered, and I slipped back into the corridor without crossing paths with another being.

The session commenced with breathing - a nod to the basics addressed in my very first class. Then ensued a series of "hundreds" on the Cadillac. My abhorrent shoulder and neck pain were discussed, at which point I mentioned the ultimate cause of my stress and recent physio visit. In response to this rigidity, I was guided through a side-lying stretch for shoulder and chest. Used to target arm mobility, the arm would be outstretched and rotated about the body, forming a semi-circle.

We then revisited the rollup, incorporating more dynamic movements along the way. Pausing halfway, rolling all the way down, then curling back up was effective in improving core control. While in the tabletop position, I was advised that the bent legs could be brought in past the hips (less than 90 degrees) to reduce lower back pain due to a weak core.
A tabletop-to-bicycle move was then executed for the transverse and lower abdominal muscles. With the head rested and legs in tabletop position, one leg would be extended at 45 degrees, while the other was summoned towards the hip. Clasped hands would press against the bent leg for resistance. I was recommended to focus on bending one leg - the left - to compensate for pelvic tilt and navigate towards a greater degree of symmetry.
I also worked on back and lat strength in both seated and kneeling positions on the Cadillac. The tension bar would be pulled down towards the side of the ribs to activate the muscles supporting proper posture.

Moving onto the Reformer, I performed "hundreds" with arm bands - one round with light tension, and the second round with heavier tension rods affixed. Partial pulses were introduced as well. Another variation of the hundreds involved a partially deflated ball tucked underneath the knees; I would bring the knees out, then back in while exercising core control. The move entailed some discomfort in the hip flexor, particularly the left, however I was informed that this was likely due to pelvic tilt and could be rectified via the tabletop-to-bicycle move.
Sitting on top of the Reformer box, a series of exercises were conducted for the upper body, including flyouts with tension-affixed arm bands.

Out & About #730 | Week #71 Quarantine Update

7/23/2021

The week was one of chaos, depletion, and unwarranted chiding. Vacation season typically introduces gaps of information, which are only worsened when paired alongside a dearth of judgement, poor project management skills, and ineptitude in communication.

There were few moments deserving of an image capture, for my daily views varied scarcely from the glare of my scratched monitor, Teams meeting interface, and the oh-so-splendid endless supply of spreadsheets.

As a consequence, the count of kitchen creations has plummeted extravagantly. I've also erred on the side of caution when approaching new projects: rather than those demanding precision and attentiveness, I've adopted those with less critical chilling periods, should the need to vanish upstairs emerge.

Cherry Crumble Yogurt Cake was a baking comeback for me. The layered treat was executed over the course of several days, namely due to lack of spare time.

The concept commenced with a bag of subpar cherries that were too sour for snacking, and in a quantity too large for jamming. Our jar of strawberry jam remained unexpended, however I set to work de-pitting them anyway.

Upon catching sight of Sunday Baking's latest production, I grew resolute to utilize the seasonal fruit. First would be a brandy-free cherry macerate using brown sugar, fennel seeds, and a few cardamom pods. The mixture would sit chilled overnight for flavours to intensify, enabling delay of the active work till the arrival of the weekend.
The cherries were drained the following day, with the now-infused syrup set aside for future applications. A crumble was constructed as per Sunday's instructions; the incorporation of almond flour was revolutionary, lending a texture boost that would never materialize with simply butter and flour.

Her original recipe called for a sturdy cake base that utilized oil as its fat source. Never one to be keen on oil-based cakes, I made the 1:1 swap for melted butter. Furthermore, I took to a yogurt cake for the rapid depletion of soon-to-expire plain yogurt - an unfortunately common occurrence in my fridge. Worries whirlwinded about the substitution, for the yogurt cake would be distinctly lighter than the components resting atop. In spite of such qualms, I took a leap of faith.

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky = a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things

Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

Contact ME

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!

© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.