Puces Pop Montreal

Puces Pop is a art/craft/design sale that happens three times a year in Montreal. Made possible by the same people who organize Pop Montreal, one of the city's largest music festivals, Puces Pop has been gaining momentum over the years and the talented list of vendors just seems to keep on growing as well. This year I sold a line of bracelets that I've been busy making (rather than blogging), called Madge. I'd like to do a proper post to introduce you to Madge, so before getting to that, I'll introduce you to all of the amazing vendors that I had the pleasure of selling alongside this past weekend. First up, my favourite vendor and lovely table-mate:

Les Ballades de Florence

Les Ballades de Florence is a line of t-shirts and accessories designed by Illustrator Sarah Gelfand. Sarah draws whimsical illustrations and then turns them into all-over and placement prints for t-shirts, bags, scarves and headbands. Her prints are playful, fun and free; a perfect representation of her brand. What I love about her work is not only are the prints extremely original, but she also uses wonderful fabrics such as 100% silk and organic cotton to print on, and the silhouettes of her garments are flattering. I bought a tank top myself, with a dreamcatcher print! To check out her sketches and inspiration, head to her blog here. And to shop online, check out her Etsy store.

Stay Gold Pony Boy

I'm just going to go ahead and assume that the name is in reference to the novel "The Outsiders." I read it in grade eight and didn't really appreciate it as much as I think I would now, I'll put that on the re-read list. Anyway, this unique line of jewellery is designed and crafted by Marigold Santos. I kept telling her how beautiful her booth was, with all of the faded shades of grey incorporated into the display. Her Jewellery however, really speaks for itself. She hand-draws tiny detailed illustrations onto each piece! for more information check  out the Facebook page here. 

Ok, time for a food break...this blog does have a lot to do with food after all. It was a very bacon themed weekend, with many food vendors offering something bacon related, and believe it or not, these were mostly bacon desserts! Obviously i tried them... 

JJ Commestibles

They were serving up Beef Jerky, homemade granola, and my favourite: candied bacon jerky. At first it was confusing seeing people walk around the fair holding bacon strips, but once you visited their booth it all made sense...so spicy, salty and sweet! Order some here!

Bon En Cochon/The Good Pig

This company was my table neighbour at the show, so you can imagine how difficult it was restraining myself when i found out that those little chocolate covered marshmallows were not actually marshmallows at all! No, they were actually bacon rolls filled with various ganaches and covered in chocolate. I tried one with a maple, apple ganache as well as a peanut butter ganache. Both Excellent. However, my favourite from their table were the cake pops: maple cake pops dipped in chocolate and bacon pieces...the perfect salty/sweet combination! (they also were kind enough to send me home with a maple pudding. I just ate it and it was unbelievably good)

Saint Donut:

I was a little bacon-ed out by the end of the weekend, so regrettably I didn't get around to trying these donuts, but they looked fantastic. I love a rustic looking donut, and sprinkled with bacon, mais oui! 

check out the Facebook page here.

Noemiah:

Noemiah creates gorgeous, one of a kind jewellery. Her display was one of the most original of the weekend. The pops of bright colour added something fresh to her feminine aesthetic. Shop Noemiah here.

 Rare Specimens

I loved the display at Rare Specimens. It was minimal, yet rustic. The jewellery is the same. So beautiful and simple, really letting the raw crystals and stones speak for themselves. Her Earrings are available on Etsy here. 

By Thomas

Natasha Thomas creates beautiful designs using artists' prints and transferring them onto the fabric from which her designs come into being. Her bags are current and clever, including beautiful simple printed clutches as well as her "paper bag" bag. Visit her website here.

(these photos belong to mode.mange.musique. Please link back to this page if you'd like to use them)

Miso Adventures

I know its been a very long hiatus. Let's just say things have gotten a lot busier around here than I had anticipated. Never the less, its not my intention to stop blogging...no not at all, in fact I've been taking this time to think about how to improve the blog; first thing, the pictures - I finally got a digital SLR! I just bought a Canon Rebel, amateur camera-yes, but a great camera and really all i want is to be able to take some decent pictures..now I just have to learn to use the thing. My first pictures i took are of the dinner I made tonight, but again I don't actually know how to use my camera (or my new computer really either for that matter), but I gave it a try anyway! I also am working on some new design elements on the blog, so there will be more changes to come.

So let's get back to tonight's dinner. I'm by no means a chef when it comes to cooking, but I am very passionate about food, and I tend to think that I know what tastes good together. My favourite way to cook is to improvise and experiment, so here's what I came up with tonight:

Miso/Ginger/Sesame Seared Cod with Quinoa Ginger Fried "rice" and watermelon salad

Miso/Ginger/Sesame Seared Cod Recipe

• 1 or 2 Cod Filets (easily adaptable to other types of fish as well)
• Fresh Ginger, finely chopped
• Miso Paste ( I picked up Amano's organic miso and have plenty left over for soups etc)
• sesame oil
• sesame seeds
• soy sauce
• cooking oil (I'm using coconut oil lately, as it stands up to heat better and also adds more flavour)

I've been trying to eat fish at least once a week, so I figured I would try out something new this week. This was my first time cooking cod and I have to say I think it's my new favourite fish. After venturing out to my favourite nearby fish market only to find that sadly it seems to have burned down, i picked up some cod filets from my grocery store which worked out fine.

First pour a little soy sauce over the filets and rub it in, put them aside in a bowl and refrigerate. To make the sauce, take about two tablespoons of miso and mix it with water to give it an almost runny consistency, next add chopped ginger ( I like a lot, so i used about 1 tablespoon), then add a few drops of soy sauce, sesame oil and enough sesame seeds that the consistency thickens to a paste. Take your fish out of the fridge and spread the sauce all over and set it back into the fridge until cooking time.

Meanwhile I was preparing my Quinoa in the rice cooker (I cook it just like regular rice and it turns out great every time!). Once the other dishes are pretty much prepared, you'll want to take a skillet and turn it to medium high with your cooking oil and place your fish into the heated pan. Sear the cod on one side until it begins to turn opaque, flip and sear until all of the fish is opaque. The fish will be nice and golden brown, and slightly crisp on the outside. 

Quinoa Ginger Fried "Rice"

• Quinoa - 1 cup
• Water, enough to cover the Quinoa by 1 inch in the rice cooker
• Ginger, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon, unless you want more/less)
• Spinach
• 1 egg
• Soy sauce 
• Sesame oil

This time i actually did have a bit of rice left over so I threw it in, but usually i just use quinoa on its own. So, first cook the quinoa in a rice cooker, or if you have your own method in a pot. Then, in a skillet or wok, add some cooking oil (again I used coconut oil), add cooked quinoa, chopped ginger an spinach and clear an area in the middle of the pan and crack in the egg. You will fry the egg in the middle of the pan, while the quinoa fries surrounding it. Once the egg is mostly cooked, stir up the whole pan and add in a few drops of soy sauce and sesame oil. keep it simmering until the egg is all fully cooked. That's it!

Watermelon Salad

• 1/4 Watermelon
• 1/2 cucumber
• Fresh mint leaves
• Greek feta cheese
• Balsamic Glaze
• Olive Oil

If you don't find fruit in salad weird, then you'll love this refreshing summer salad. (If you do find fruit in salad weird, you'll probably just want to eat the watermelon). My friend Natalie posted a picture on instagram of a similar salad she made, so that's where my inspiration began.

Chop up the watermelon into cubes, chop the cucumber finely and place onto plate. Wash and chop some fresh mint (about a handful) and sprinkle it over the watermelon/cucumber. break up some feta cheese and sprinkle it over the salad. My favourite new ingredient is this balsamic glaze i bought at a local market here in Montreal. Sure you can spend hours reducing your balsamic vinegar, only to get a tiny amount of sticky hard to deal with glaze, or you can buy a whole bottle of the sweet wonderfulness and spend hours blogging having a life instead. Pour the glaze over the salad and finally drizzle a little olive oil over the salad and there you go! of course you will time this all perfectly so the fish goes in the skillet last, and everyone will tell you what a wonderful cook you are.

Pop!

When Starbucks started selling their mini desserts including the wondrous Cake Pops, I realized that I had been out of the loop on this whole cake pop phenomenon that seems to have taken over the cupcake craze. I approve of cake pops because they fit with my whole "just for the taste" philosophy. Basically I have a hard time making up my mind when ordering food, so I love it when i get to have a little bit of everything all on one plate, "just for the taste." That's why I'm a huge fan of things like tapas. After learning about the cake pop, I began wondering what other types of dessert pops exist. Well apparently there are all kinds!

Summer Cool Down Recipe: Mint Melon Sangria

Thanks to the lovely blog Caleigh's Kitchen for this excellent recipe idea. I know what I'm drinking this weekend. (click the continue reading link below for the full recipe)

Mad about Macarons

My friend Erisa is visiting from London England, and she brought us some french macarons, my most favourite dessert. I've never attempted to make them before and I hear its pretty difficult, but I'm definitely going to try  the recipe that i posted below, I figured Martha would know what she's doing.

Smorgasbord

I haven't been posting much about food lately...that's because I've been too busy eating it. I thought I'd just serve up some random food pictures all at once to make you hungry. Bon Apetit!




Beautiful and delicious little pastries from a patisserie on Bernard St. E. (Sadly I don't remember the name)




Yes this is a dog cake!





On the left a brick hen from Toronto's Parts and Labour - I highly recommend this restaurant if you're ever in TO. On the right, a tea bento from my beloved Red Tea Box (also in Toronto).





I made a salad of lettuce, apples, red endive, brie, blue cheese and pumpkin seeds. Please note - never buy "light brie," it may be 46% less fat, but it is 100% less good. There is a reason they make double cream brie. Also I made a strawberry banana smoothie, and there's a pretty pomegranate (pretty but annoying to eat).




These are some pizzas that I made. I've been experimenting with pizza dough lately, in a quest to make a non-cardboard texture dough. I found that my best attempt so far was when i merged a recipe for naan bread and pizza dough. The quest still continues though, as I haven't perfected it. The first pizza has bocconcini cheese, portobello mushrooms, rosmary and olive oil. The second has mozerella, portobello mushrooms and tomato sauce.

Purple Potatoes!

I like root vegetables because they come in strange shapes and beautiful colours.

Yesterday I made a...

Beet Salad by cooking Beets, Sweet Potatoes and Purple Potatoes (my new obsession - so pretty!!) in boiling water until they were all tender. Then I let them cool and added some thinly sliced oranges ( just a little), olive oil, balsamic vinegar and maple syrop (just a little!). I topped it off with some freshly ground pepper, feta cheese and walnuts. It turned out to be pretty delicious, so I thought I'd recommend it to you all!

Today I made

Root Vegetable Fries by thinly slicing Sweet potatoes, purple potatoes and Parsnips (my fave!). I tossed them lightly in olive oil and placed everything so it was touching the baking sheet. I put them in the oven at 425 for about 20 minutes. I pulled them out of the oven and sprinkled them with sea salt, freshly ground pepper and some paprika (I love the word paprika).

Enjoy!!

more on Luxirare

I wasn't done about Luxirare. The foood!! These are the types of things she eats, and documents every step of the way. I wouldn't mind her lifestyle...no not at all...















All images: Luxirare

Introducing the STRAWBLUCHER

Today at my work, two awesome ladies from the print team made a birthday cake that will forever go down in history. Thank you Sarah and Rebecca for allowing me to experience this once in a lifetime dessert, and congratulations for pulling off such an incredible culinary feat. Introducing the dessert of all desserts: The Strawblucher

This is the cake that they made for my friend Laura's birthday. At first glance it is impressive because it looks like a giant cake, but look closer and you'll realize that it's so much more!



This is the story of the Strawblucher. There are three layers of cake. Inside each layer of cake, there is a full pie baked in the middle. There are three different types of cake (lemon, chocolate and vanilla(??i think it was)) and three different types of pie(strawberry, blueberry and cherry) all made from scratch and all perfectly complimentary to one another. The layers are iced and stacked and then iced again. I think even the Epic Meal guys would be impressed by this cake. I only wish that everyone could be so lucky as I was to experience the Strawblucher.

The lovely bakers (my new heroes): Rebecca and Sarah