When external conditions took a deep dive for the single digits come then persisted in the low double-digit range, I was well prepared. Come Tuesday morning, I had anticipated the seasonal temperatures, dressing accordingly with winter accessories and a windproof jacket. Unfortunately, there were few others that did the same.
Horrible hacking and sniffles were overheard on the GO train - not once, but twice. The same observations would apply for the following day, causing me to wince in the absence of a mask.
Horrible hacking and sniffles were overheard on the GO train - not once, but twice. The same observations would apply for the following day, causing me to wince in the absence of a mask.
 |  |
The sudden influx of baked goods in the household immediately prompted distribution. Five containers of apple pie, pecan tarts (sans shell), and apple tarts would be packed for the office. While the transport of such items can be troublesome, I'd argue that these deliveries result in a mutually beneficial relationship where excess creations can be enjoyed at peak freshness, maximizing my efforts without any additional calorie intake on my part. Of course, the unanimously successful specimens, such as the Pecan Tarts, would be frozen for later consumption. But alas, my freezer cannot fit it all! (And neither do I find contentment in sampling repetitive flavours.)
Lunchtime was spent - you guessed it! - conducting errands yet again.
A Friends & Family event led me to the Shoppers at Queen West. The item of importance was found to be in low stock, inciting the concern that the barcode discount would be a one-time offer. A staff member graciously retrieved physical copies of the coupons from the back room, enabling me up to a maximum of four transactions beyond my own digital offer
A Friends & Family event led me to the Shoppers at Queen West. The item of importance was found to be in low stock, inciting the concern that the barcode discount would be a one-time offer. A staff member graciously retrieved physical copies of the coupons from the back room, enabling me up to a maximum of four transactions beyond my own digital offer
 |  |
In the end, the Eaton outpost also did not carry my needed items. Before turning back, I'd make a quick dash into Bath and Body Works. The hiking venture (and port-a-potty experience) of the weekend past had utterly depleted me of sanitizer.
I'd replace my lavender-scented spray bottle with lavender-vanilla and mahogany apple aromas instead.
I'd replace my lavender-scented spray bottle with lavender-vanilla and mahogany apple aromas instead.
 |  |
The next morning, I'd lug myself downtown once more.
 |  |
In store for me was a rare, inter-department in-person meeting.
Accompanied by snacks of crispy egg rolls and lychee mochi, the group would collectively discuss the findings of the previous week's trek through Chinatown, then mark up the provided maps with potential opportunities for improved public realm, including park spaces and cycling infrastructure. The exercise was quite fun, yet fairly abstract and optimistic.
Accompanied by snacks of crispy egg rolls and lychee mochi, the group would collectively discuss the findings of the previous week's trek through Chinatown, then mark up the provided maps with potential opportunities for improved public realm, including park spaces and cycling infrastructure. The exercise was quite fun, yet fairly abstract and optimistic.
 |  |
I later embarked on a late lunch walk with a new colleague.
Routing through Queen West once more, a fake New York subway tunnel was spotted at the northwest corner of Queen and Peter, just outside MEC. The installation was learned to be for upcoming filming in the area and, apparently, not the first of its kind according to Reddit.
 |  |
 |  |
The last-minute cancellation of an afternoon meeting had enabled a pick-up at Michaels. Meandering south along Peter then east along Richmond, I was appalled to discover a community of homeless residents camped out near new condos on areas with beautiful streetscaping. This sight prompted recollection of the drastic income gaps south of the border.
 |  |
As with Sport Chek, the pick up was self-led and mostly stress-free. Organized by last name in alphabetical order, I'd find my two Scentsicle containers neatly secured in a complimentary (!) plastic (!!) bag in one of the many white bins. It was my first time using the in-store pick up function, and quite a straightforward one at that.
I parted ways with my new colleague soon after and readied myself for a quick bike ride. Breezy conditions soon turned steamy under the influence of beaming UV rays, though the occasional gust would encourage me to continue pedalling onwards.
I parted ways with my new colleague soon after and readied myself for a quick bike ride. Breezy conditions soon turned steamy under the influence of beaming UV rays, though the occasional gust would encourage me to continue pedalling onwards.
 |  |
Thus far, I hadn't strayed from the routes featuring dedicated cycling facilities. Due to time constraints, I decided to muster up and traverse eastbound along Queen as part of my return. Riding alongside the e-bike wielding delivery drivers offered some degree of comfort. However, it was neither the parked cars nor adjacent lanes of live track that truly threatened security - it was the streetcar tracks.
While navigating between live traffic and parked cars, the tires of the bike became lodged in depressions of the streetcar tracks. I immediately tapped on the brakes to decelerate and regain control, but the bike continued speeding forward. I feared nothing more than the unexpected opening of a vehicle door that would send me flying into busy Queen Street traffic. The second largest fear was slamming directly into the parked cars, then being subject to damage claims.
As I braced myself for either option, I recalled my absence of elbow pads. "What a bad decision." came the milliseconds' worth of a thought.
Somehow, I managed to stop the bike by placing both feet on the ground, gripping the seat between the inner thighs. It was a clumsy sight, but at least I hadn't suffered ankle injuries or slammed face forward into filthy city streets. I had scarcely avoided eating asphalt.
As I braced myself for either option, I recalled my absence of elbow pads. "What a bad decision." came the milliseconds' worth of a thought.
Somehow, I managed to stop the bike by placing both feet on the ground, gripping the seat between the inner thighs. It was a clumsy sight, but at least I hadn't suffered ankle injuries or slammed face forward into filthy city streets. I had scarcely avoided eating asphalt.
 |  |
The tremors were suppressed until reaching Queen and Simcoe, where I docked my bike and resolved to continue to stretch on foot. I debated a stopover at Timmies, just to find the homeless man that had lunged towards me previously hovering outside and hitting his own knees aggressively. Needless to say, I skipped that snack stop.
The tremors from the incident didn't subside until a few hours later. By this point, I had resolved to adhere to cycle tracks for travel and avoid streetcar tracks at all costs and where possible.
The tremors from the incident didn't subside until a few hours later. By this point, I had resolved to adhere to cycle tracks for travel and avoid streetcar tracks at all costs and where possible.
Meals of the week comprised of: Frozen T&T Dumplings and Choy Sum in Chicken Broth, Steamed Tofu with Soy Sauce over Broccoli, and Salmon/Century Egg & Minced Pork Congee from Congee Queen. Besides RMT-induced low back pain, headache, and nausea, it was apparent that a lack of appetite had overwhelmed me. Cold symptoms had officially landed.
 |  |
Snacks of the week included the last pouch of Sakura Matcha Pocky, which I'd share with Larry, of course, and a horrifically overpriced box of Gourmet Truffles from Lindt. The pricey $25 gift box contained just twelve pieces of tacky, shoddily crafted truffles inferior to the chain's most popular Pick & Mix varieties.
A simple syrup of yellow cane sugar would be constructed for use in iced beverages and to pair with the final hextet of Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Balls from T&T.
 |  |
Assam and Matcha Finger Cookies
Halloween has arrived early. Cravings for cookies, when paired with a surge in new cookie cutters and considerations for new flavour combinations, naturally result in taking these thoughts to the kitchen to transform - or, at the very least, transition - them into reality.
Roll-out cookies were deemed too time-consuming for my available energy reserve. Being recently reminded by my baking coworker of last year's finger cookies, I decided to bring them back early this year. As opposed to the standard dough, I opted to incorporate tea flavours: Assam tea from Bloom Cafe and Matcha from Hokusan Niju and (expired) Momo Tea Matsu.
Roll-out cookies were deemed too time-consuming for my available energy reserve. Being recently reminded by my baking coworker of last year's finger cookies, I decided to bring them back early this year. As opposed to the standard dough, I opted to incorporate tea flavours: Assam tea from Bloom Cafe and Matcha from Hokusan Niju and (expired) Momo Tea Matsu.
The full recipe summoned a total of eight egg yolks; the eight remaining whites would be set aside for use in cake-making later on.
| Ingredients:
| Directions 1) Cream butter and sugar together. 2) Add in egg yolks one at a time, mixing to incorporate. 3) Fold in dry ingredients 4) Divide dough into two portions, separate adding in: a) 7 g Assam tea powder b) 6 g Hokusan Niju matcha + 2 g Momo Tea Matsu matcha 5) Let sit for a while to hydrate. 6) Shape/roll as desired. 7) Bake at 350 F for 12 mins. 8) Let cool and enjoy! |
Wrist discomfort halted manual compilation of my go-to Christmas cookie recipe. When excruciating pangs were experienced even at the early stage of softening butter, I turned to my stand mixer for assistance. The apparatus would indeed provide help in mixing, but, regrettably, did not yield a superior product.
Granulated sugar would remain unmixed at the bottom of the bowl, in spite of the larger quantity. The same issues would prevail with the additions of egg yolks (mixing only occurred on the surface) and flour (uneven mixing, which later led to over-mixing and, consequently, a stiff dough.)
Granulated sugar would remain unmixed at the bottom of the bowl, in spite of the larger quantity. The same issues would prevail with the additions of egg yolks (mixing only occurred on the surface) and flour (uneven mixing, which later led to over-mixing and, consequently, a stiff dough.)
Amidst the process, I had also mistakenly miscalculated the amount of AP flour required.
4 cups x 130 g = 520 g, however I ultimately used 100 g less (410 g AP flour + ~ 12 g tea powders).
The first batch of Assam fingers revealed itself incredibly tacky, varying vastly from the usual dough, which peels away from the insides of the bowl effortlessly. However, the potentially inadequate quantity of flour had been only been contemplated when the fingers spread significantly during baking. Additional flour (unmeasured) was kneaded into the remaining amount of dough, rendering it easier to work with. The matcha dough, on the other hand, retained malleable without stickiness; I reckoned this was due to a smaller quantity of dough being mixed with the comparatively drier matcha powder.
Both batches had spread noticeably, causing chubbier fingers to emerge from the oven. Thankfully, the overall shape was consistent with the intended outline, with ridges relatively intact.
4 cups x 130 g = 520 g, however I ultimately used 100 g less (410 g AP flour + ~ 12 g tea powders).
The first batch of Assam fingers revealed itself incredibly tacky, varying vastly from the usual dough, which peels away from the insides of the bowl effortlessly. However, the potentially inadequate quantity of flour had been only been contemplated when the fingers spread significantly during baking. Additional flour (unmeasured) was kneaded into the remaining amount of dough, rendering it easier to work with. The matcha dough, on the other hand, retained malleable without stickiness; I reckoned this was due to a smaller quantity of dough being mixed with the comparatively drier matcha powder.
Both batches had spread noticeably, causing chubbier fingers to emerge from the oven. Thankfully, the overall shape was consistent with the intended outline, with ridges relatively intact.
Lining the nails with red gel colouring also came easier than before. With a paper towel and metal chopstick nearby, the entire batch was successfully completed in roughly 30 minutes. Dishes would require another 20 minutes at minimum, for three sizable cookie trays, four Siplats, two bowls, and an assortment of stand mixer tools was no easy feat for a single person.
Although the texture was utterly unlike the airy, buttery profile of our household's coveted Christmas cookies, the lanky parcels were delicious nonetheless! Slight surface cracking was observed, along with a denser crumb. But cookies are cookies, and easily depleted by yours truly.
Bloom Cafe's Assam tea powder was an interesting addition to the mix. For drinks, it lends itself a profile akin to a Hong Kong milk tea concentrate, albeit with a grittier finish. Meanwhile, its first application in baked goods yielded a homogenous finish, a cocoa-like tint, but minimal flavour payoff. For this particular cookie recipe, its subtlety may have been preferred, given that the dough isn't very sweet to start.
Similar to last year's adaptation, 8 g of matcha was, once again, too bitter. The combination of Hokusan Niju and expired Momo Tea Matsu was faintly floral in fragrance, not overly grassy, but nonetheless a tad astringent for my tastes. Overall, matcha was deemed unsuitable for use in finger cookies. Even when using lower grade matcha, the result was less appealing than the original, unaltered formula.
Bloom Cafe's Assam tea powder was an interesting addition to the mix. For drinks, it lends itself a profile akin to a Hong Kong milk tea concentrate, albeit with a grittier finish. Meanwhile, its first application in baked goods yielded a homogenous finish, a cocoa-like tint, but minimal flavour payoff. For this particular cookie recipe, its subtlety may have been preferred, given that the dough isn't very sweet to start.
Similar to last year's adaptation, 8 g of matcha was, once again, too bitter. The combination of Hokusan Niju and expired Momo Tea Matsu was faintly floral in fragrance, not overly grassy, but nonetheless a tad astringent for my tastes. Overall, matcha was deemed unsuitable for use in finger cookies. Even when using lower grade matcha, the result was less appealing than the original, unaltered formula.
 |  |
Excess dough would be formed into swirled, circular mounds then topped with the remnants of my blanched almond slivers. These camo-tinted cookies were crisp at first, though later cooled to reveal a snappy rigidity.
In conclusion, the trial confirmed that:
- The stand mixer had compromised the cookies by overmixing: To preserve an airy consistency and smooth exterior, manual mixing is recommended where possible.
- The best version of the recipe is the original, devoid of any and all additives.
RSS Feed