In case you were wondering, the strawberry game is still going strong in my house. I am very lucky to have a farmers market happening every Thursday near my office. (more…)
Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce
Last week, I made a pretty big decision. One I was contemplating for about 10 years. After much thought and consideration, I have decided to play hockey again. I learned how to skate pretty much right after I learned how to walk, and have been playing hockey ever since. I have been on an approximate 10+ year hiatus and I figured I needed to do something about it. The main reason why I fell out of playing hockey is because many (if not all) of the friends I played with stopped playing. Plus, it’s a little daunting being placed on a team where you know absolutely nobody. But I decided to take the chance and now am officially a member of the Goal Diggers! I also may have signed up simply for the team name – amazing!
A couple days ago, I broke the news to Claudia that I was playing hockey again. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She has been and always will be my biggest hockey fan. I honestly don’t know how she did it – work full time, shuttle me back and forth to practice and games at least 3-4 times a week, cook us all family meals every day, and ensure all my equipment smelt great. Trust me, that that one is a HUGE job! People who play hockey or have kids who do clearly know what I’m talking about. Now that I’m a fully functioning adult, I don’t expect her to chauffeur me to all my games and practices – although that would be simply amazing. However, she has already declared she will be in the stands cheering me on at some games. I didn’t even have to ask!
I figured as a token of my appreciation for her fandom, I would bake her this delicious Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce. Yeah…it’s pretty much the best peach crisp I have ever had. The flavours reminded me of a dessert that could easily be served in a restaurant. The sweet peaches and maple syrup, topped with a crumbly buttery layer. You cannot go wrong with this. I also almost ate the Maple Cream Sauce with a spoon out of the jar the next day. I would like to point out..ALMOST. Okay so I did it….sue me.
Apple Crumble
After a few weeks of dabbling in chocolate candy treats, I decided to go back and feature something more traditional on the blog this week. With Claudia’s busy work schedule, we have been unable to get together to create some of her favourites. Therefore, I have been forced to rely on inspiration elsewhere. I wanted to make something classic and simple. Something that was warm and reminded me of the comforts of home. After a few days of searching, it finally hit me. Apples and cinnamon. I had it!
The sweet, warm aroma that filled my house while this delicious Apple Crumble baked what exactly I was craving. This is probably the best Apple Crumble I have ever had. The recipe was adapted from the wonderful blog the parsley thief. Sweet, rich, warm cinnamon apples topped with a buttery, crunchy top. Not to mention the delicious vanilla ice cream and caramel you can pair with it! This dessert is exactly what you need on a cold winter afternoon or a hot summer day.
Strawberry Rhubarb Cake
Like most people, summer is my favourite time of the year. The weather (for the most part) is warm and restaurant patios are a buzz with tons of people in great moods. I particularly love summer because of the selection of fruit in season. Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are in abundance in grocery stores, farmers markets are open, and U-pick fruit farms are everywhere. Some of my favourite summer memories growing up were when Claudia would take me and my brother to U-pick farms outside the city and we’d pick pails and pails of strawberries (and fill our bellies just the same).
I also find baking to be much more enjoyable with fresh in-season fruit. One of my favourites to bake in the early summer is Strawberry Rhubarb Cake. This recipe is another gem of Claudia’s. There are a lot of strawberry rhubarb recipes out there. This one is more like a cake, but still has the same delicious flavour as a crisp.