Category: Shopping - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

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

11/8/2020

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.

Out & About #674 | Halloween Happenings (COVID-19 Edition)

10/31/2020

The time has arrived for trick-or-treating. Despite health and safety concerns surrounding the event, the act of making neighbourhood door-to-doors was not banned by public officials; it was merely a matter of operating safely within COVID guidelines.

Older generations such as myself have not partaken in this particular act for well over a decade, though circumstances may differ depending on the spectrum of ages housed within one residence. Less inclined to the fearful aspects of the holiday, my Halloween festivities normally revolve around last-minute costumes and the occasional themed treat.

Mississauga's alternative approach to celebration involved a self-led scavenger hunt at the City Centre's go-to outdoor event space. Celebration Square, which now features social distancing circles, was decorated, minimally - if I may add - with a Monster Fitness Course and trivia questions referring to various parts of the city. Installations such as the Queen of Halloween and Monstrous Mum Living Mural were striking displays of colour fit for photo-taking.

We spent just under twenty minutes parading the perimeter of the square, after which chilly conditions prompted our return indoors.

Out & About #672 | Week #32 Quarantine Update Feat. Halloween Cookies

10/25/2020

With cooler weather upon us, it is only natural to drift in the direction of warm, cozy lattes and steaming mugs of cider. Naturally, cold brew production has also lessened, either being substituted with pourovers hot espresso-based beverages or acting to supplement mid-day cookie cravings.
The opportunity has, in turn, enabled me to try my hand at microfoam art, yet again witnessed with minimal success.

Remnants of the previous week's Oatmeal Bread and Pigs in a Blanket were devoured promptly. A Coconut Cream Einspänner reared its head in response to leftover AROY-D, much to the approval of orangecane.

CoCo was acquired from the location nearest me. New masks were tested by Larry.

Halloween fast approaching, I took upon the mission of obtaining black cocoa powder for undecided creative endeavours. Any previous attempts to locate Dutch press cocoa powder at the local grocer had been in vain; seeing that Amazon seemed even less economically-prudent for the ingredient, I sought out a local wholesaler in the east end of the city.

McCall's was further from any POI than I could have anticipated. Firmly nestled in a series of brick-and-mortar commercial buildings, which were, interestingly enough, not that far from the paintball destination of nearly two years prior, was their extremely modest side entrance and "parking lot".

Out & About #671 | Week #31 Quarantine Update Feat. Pigs in a Blanket + Farewell Playdium

10/18/2020

Growing up, my favourite season was summer - as probably every kid's was. The balmy months were often tied to keywords such as "summer break", "no school(!)", and "vacation". With the coming of age though, there is an undeniable shift in favour of cooler temperatures. Autumn's breezy conditions and saturated shrubbery offer a sense of serenity - an emotion disparate from the sweaty bustle of summer. There's just something extremely satisfying about traversing across crunchy leaves post-abscission.

Creations of the week included:

1) Apple Cider
...or rather, Mulled Apple Cider. With majority of our stash allocated towards Apple Pie, the remaining 802 grams of fruit thereupon constituted the base of an apple cider attempt. Alas, I was far too generous with the spice blend; the brew was stripped of its luscious, juicy tartness and made spicier than need be. Serving it cold in a 3:1 ratio with water was the resulting solution.

2) Oatmeal Bread

For me, it would be an understatement to declare that craggy, fibrous - and oftentimes healthy - items are joyful to consume. Thus, one can imagine my enthusiasm upon perception of the words "I need to eat healthier."
I first began scouring the World Wide Web for a gluten-free loaf utilizing oats, partially for the sake of experimentation and partially to eliminate white bread flour altogether. After landing on several formulae that listed pre-soaking of steel-cut oats as the first step, I reverted to the Queen of Breadmaking for a hassle-free endeavour.

Bake for Happy Kids has done it yet again! Not only was the dough was extremely easy to handle, but the kneading process was comparatively much shorter as well.

Admittedly, the loaf doesn't resist moisture dissipation as efficiently as the standard sugar-laden loaves. It also failed to the same height. Fluffiness was gradually lost over the course of twelve hours. Thankfully, this aspect mattered minimally, for slices were toasted till crisp and smothered with Knotty Coppertop's fabulously floral unpasteurized honey.

3) Pigs in a Blanket - the puffed edition

Success seen with SK's revolutionary pie crust, we began to contemplate a savoury edition. The conception eventually materialized in the form of wiener sausages coiled within thin, flat strands of buttery pie dough, then finished with a dash of dried parsley.

The first one, a highly unfortunate, dust-covered prototype, was topped with flaky sea salt and a pinch of turbinado sugar. Additional sodium was omitted from the latter batch upon the discovery of the sausages' existing salty profile.

Out & About #668 | Apple Factory (COVID-19 Edition)

10/5/2020

We ultimately could not forego the annual Apple Factory visit. Despite the worries surrounding staggering case counts in the northern parts of Peel, we proceeded with the tradition, vowing to dash in then dash out.

On an early Monday afternoon, both the roads and store interior proved relatively peaceful. We pulled into an asphalt lot that was, without a doubt, the least festive it's ever been in the past four plus years. From the entrance had the haystack and scarecrow display vanished. Even the Apple Jamboree had taken a "Social Distancing" break for the time being.

Only a handful of customers were spotted within the store, primarily stationed in the checkout line and separated by the length of shopping cart. Social distancing stickers were placed along the pie counter, though arrows had not been deployed to promote one-way movement.

Ticking off the items on the list, we maneuvered first to the produce section. Evaluating the apple varieties on display, a couple proceeded to enter our zone of safety and remain within it, oblivious to raised, furrowed eyebrows. Their constant presence persisted throughout our visit, seemingly pausing to poke at various items for the sake of dallying. Beyond backtracking their steps, the duo had navigated uncomfortably close to us at several instances. This lack of awareness and commonplace pandemic etiquette came across as shocking, especially as residents from a comparatively safer district of the region.

We secured a 3L jug of Apple Cider, as per the norm. The Apple Factory's produce is atrociously pricey, however I insisted on some Cortland apples to take home. At $9.99 per bag, it was a reasonable fee to compensate the proposed social distancing apple-picking trip that never happened. And, as suspected, pie-making is the ultimate rationale for this splurge.

Out & About #667 | Week #29 Quarantine Update Feat. Autumn Attributes

10/4/2020

Fall hath befallen in the GTA with decidedly toasty temperatures last week, discouraging lunchtime walks altogether. As we inch towards Thanksgiving weekend, temperatures have plummeted, and with it came dull, grey skies and dreary rainfall.

Much to my pleasure, skies remained clear during my in-office days. Gentle breezes also yielded conditions suitable for speed walking.
From a distance, I gazed at the huddle of red-orange-tan nestled between the unkept shrugs and azure, You Are-esque skies, anticipating the arrival of upcoming hikes.

Combatting a global pandemic is no simple task, as it has been displayed clearly over the past twenty-eight weeks. Those that abide the law as respectful citizens carry on with their everyday business, simultaneously searching for alternatives in the face of obstacles. Unsurprising is the fact that many have engaged more frequently in indoor activities - be it cooking, cleaning, or home renovations. With the sudden increase in usage, I found my household appliances to grow weary at an unpredictable pace. The abrupt breakdown of my ice maker prompted temporary reversion to silicon trays, while kettle issues led to immediate investment of a replacement. Thankfully, online shopping exists in the age of technology and information.

One of my first purchases of the week was the Jumbo Taro Milk Shaved Ice from Meet Fresh. The fifteen-dollar dessert had consistently occupied a spot in my mind since its introduction, thus I set out for procurement of the exclusive item, along with their coveted Herbal Tea.

Out & About #666 | Platform Espresso Bar + John's Chinese BBQ Restaurant

9/27/2020

Drinking black coffee probably doesn't mean you're a "purist". Having said that, one's preferences are not entirely nonindicative of their attitudes towards life happenings in general, pandemic-biased or not.

I possess great hatred towards the incorporation of milk and sugar in hot brews; it strips character from the silky solution, be it a sparkling light roast or thoughtful dark. Moreover, it is additional sugar in one's diet - sweetness that ought be obtained in a solid state, like cookies or cakes.
And while there are a select few that may engage in debate over the concept of milk tea, I'd like to retort that prior to the popularization of global bubble tea franchises was the introduction of dairy as a cooling agent in the steeping-and-sipping culture of the British. In that regard, the condiments pay homage to tradition, as opposed to intolerance towards astringency.

Already declared previously, Platform is northeast GTA's java gem. Comprising of a team fluent in the language of beans and roasts, the cafe never fails to impress with their seasonal rotations. (Mind you, I am referring to the caffeine menu free from synthetic sweeteners and gimmicky additives.)

My uptown tarriance had not been without purpose: starting the day off with an unfussy cup of coffee soothes the soul in profound ways, and Platform is the only way to go should I be in the area.

The menus remained affixed to their signature clipboards, albeit laminated to improve ease of sanitation. A listing of drink offerings had also been secured by the entrance for a contactless ordering process. Within the establishment, every other table was made available for dine-in, while two 2-person tables had been arranged outside as part of a makeshift, asphalt lot patio.
A shaky tent resulted from windy external conditions, however, in observation of concrete blocks used as footings, I rested easy knowing that there would be no threat to its structural integrity. Flying napkins and uneven table legs, though, were another issue altogether.

We took to two pourovers. The first was a 12 oz. Midnight Express, recommended by the owner herself upon the relaying a need for "room" at the top. The medium roast of Commuter (as a Pour-Over) was warned to be too watery with extra liquid. I conjured up the image of blandness in my mind, then quickly adhered to her suggestion. Midnight Express was indeed dark when consumed on its own, yet it wasn't as bitter as Nicaraguan Dark. It could be interpreted as the equivalent of a dark ale, adroitly accommodating additions of milk and sugar.

Out & About #664 | Week #27 Quarantine Update Feat. Smile Cookies

9/20/2020

Another blur of a week has passed us by, and with it another assemblage of kitchen creations.

1) Crackle-Top Brownies courtesy of Sunday Baking

The rice flour layer had been excluded due to lack of time, which yielded a drier finish. It was nonetheless delicious, though perhaps a tad sugary in the absence of chewy mochi.

2) Coconut Brown Butter Cookies

Another amazing compilation from the ever-formidable SK, these cookies were nutty, crisp, and impeccably delicious - a harmonious assembly of seemingly inconspicuous, common pantry items. While comparatively labour-intensive in comparison to no-chill doughs, the addition of brown butter is a quintessential element that truly shines in this formula. Chewiness is heightened by the presence of brown sugar, though the texture of coconut flakes, as recommended in the original recipe, is conceptually more superb.
Do beware that the dough spreads significantly and preserve several inches between each for good measure.

Do beware that the dough spreads significantly and preserve several inches between each for good measure.

3) Roast Chicken w/ Charred Carrots and Cherry Tomatoes

Did I mention charred? Some of my carrots had blackened thoroughly, so do keep an eye on the ones residing outside the impact area of dissipating chicken juices.

Countless attempts later, it was concluded that thorough defrosting was critical for success. The three-pounder was cooked in a manner akin to previous iterations, along with a quick brining method inspired by a buttermilk roast recipe.

4) Pork Chop w/ Pear-Grape Compôte and Caramelized Onions

Drawing inspiration from Mama Cheung's take on a HK Café staple, I set out for a method that involved little to no frying. The result was a two-step cooking process that commenced on the stove and finished in a preheated oven.

Out & About #660 | Week #24 Quarantine Update: Involuntarily a Homebody

8/30/2020

With full confidence, I declare that majority of us have become homebodies as a result of this ongoing pandemic. Involuntarily in the case of eager adventurers, the transition from daily downtown discoveries to dormant, deskbound drudgery was far from facile.
The inevitable "quarantine fifteen" prevails even in the face of countless up-and-coming online workout channels. And while homemade meals tend to prove more flexible and budget-friendly, the act of composition isn't entirely easy, especially when slotted between periods of tremendous anxiety and impromptu teleconferences.

I'm looking to start the roundup with several of the week's creations, as time in the kitchen has constituted for the vast percentage of my waking hours, whether it be a frantic fury of dinner assemblage or the undertaking of sweet treats for the sake of stress relief.

Creations of the week include:

1) Chocolate Chip Cookies - the last of the Epicurious batch, to be precise.

Baked in the oven at 350 F for roughly 15 mins, the yield was softer than toaster oven with, oddly, sweeter results. My preference lies with the toaster oven, for it maintains height, limits spread, and leads to an overall crisper cookie. Furthermore, it nixes the need for preheating (and its associated energy wastage).

2) Financiers

After adhering to a 12-hour chill - as directed by Sunday Baking - the batter was spooned into madeleine and mini muffin molds. Despite a small mishap along the way (ahem misreading the baking temperature), the results remained stellar.

In an attempt to recreate my fave specimen from Third Wave, I proceeded to coat a handful of the pastries with melted chocolate and chopped, toasted walnuts; it was a regrettable decision that contributed an excess of moisture, dissimilar to the King East coffee shop's heavenly incarnation. That said, the mighty morsels managed to disappear quite rapidly.

3) Penne with Chicken Breast using last week's fresh tomato pasta sauce

I won't even lie: work happenings resulted in complete obliteration of the starchy pantry staple from the grocery list, prompting me to run back for its sole acquisition. The pasta was enjoyed alongside defrosted kale and a shredded Edam & mozzarella blend.

Out & About #657 | Week #22 Quarantine Update Feat. Perfect Hawaiian Pizza

8/16/2020

Frozen pizza, instant noodles, and freezer dinners are three items that were once forbidden in my household. A rule imposed by none other than yours truly, the coronavirus pandemic has since led to the loosening of said reins.

Alas, a whopping twenty-two weeks into the work-from-home situation, I have succeeded in devising a food storage freezer plan. In addition to a sustainable system of sustenance supply, I have scavenged the World Wide Web for reliable dinner concepts, including a reputable recipe for pizza.

By this point, I have several editions of SK's Lazy Pizza Dough, from the ultra-thick 6-hour dough to thin crust, 24-hour slabs of user-induced dampness to the most recent 22-hour optimal Hawaiian. Familiarity has been achieved with sticky doughs and the imminent need to bake off pizzas as they are assembled.

Best enjoyed alongside crispy, cheesy 'zzas are solid red ales such as the highly patriotic Laker Red or invigorating Kirin First Press.

On the day where mall errands coincided with a Stuffies' promotional period at Square One, we swung by our complimentary mini Vanilla Bears and Blueberry Fish pastries. The shop had replaced Eva's Original Chimneys in the shared Concept space. Love Me Sweet's stall had also been vacated to make way for Yang Tea Shop.

Adorning their menu were also sundaes (think SomiSomi's ahboong) and sweet and savoury croissant taiyaki (bookmarked for a later visit to contrast against Snowy Village)

Neither of the two freebie varieties proved memorable. The blueberry jam encased within the fish was runny, but passable; not a far cry from that of my own, the sauce could easily be replicated with frozen blueberries and my trusty ol' jam - er, bread-maker. The Vanilla teddies were soggy shells housing a watery filling that was seemingly custard in hue. Exuding a barbaric profile of granulated sugar and false vanilla essence, the goopy, yellow solution only furthered its already meek structural integrity.

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.

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