Breakfast on the Go
I will call them Scrambled Tartlettes. They’re packed with so much flavour I was dancing around my apartment this morning as I popped them in my mouth. The perfect bite sized breakfast for my Friday morning.
It’s hard to tell from the picture but below the freshly scrambled egg is a mixture of sautéed shallot, cremini mushroom, roasted red pepper and feta cheese. And on top a colourful tendril of dill. Paired with the earthiness of the spelt tart shells – bam! We’ve got a winner here 
My inspiration for these mini tarts came from Chef Geremy Capone, culinary analyst at ELLICSR: Health, Wellness and Cancer Survivorship Centre located at Toronto General Hospital. Yesterday, I attended their bi-monthly Survivor’s Kitchen where Geremy led a live cooking demonstration using fresh, wholesome foods to make simple recipes, packed with flavor. It was an empowering demonstration as cancer survivors, family, hospital staff and volunteers shared questions, ingredient alternative and tips for easy food prep.
All of these things combined got my creative juices flowing and I made my own version of Geremy’s tart shell late last night. I’m going to use the second half of the dough that’s chilling in my fridge to make Geremy’s mini spiced pear tarts (recipe to follow).
Until then my friends, I hope your day is inviting and inspiring.
xo
The Indie Coffee Passport
Coffee drinkers, rejoice! Independent coffee shops, unite! The Indie Coffee Passport is back for a second year. What better way to get your caffeine fix and experience Toronto’s independent coffee scene!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the passport, here’s a breakdown. Buy an indie coffee passport for $25. Visit any of the 30 participating coffee shops between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012. Enjoy one free espresso-based beverage/coffee/tea (up to $4 menu price) of your choice at each coffee shop.
Our plan is to visit each participating coffee shop, get to know the beans, the espresso machines, and the baristas, and then blog about it. Who knows where our caffeine fuelled journey will take us! And please, don’t be shy, share your coffee passport experience with us in the comments section.
For more information about the indie coffee passport visit http://www.indiecoffeepassport.com/index.html
Stay caffeinated!!
Elena & Alexandra
Hot Yam!
(image courtesy of jenandkreck.blogspot.com)
If you ever find yourself walking through UoT campus on a Thursday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm, hungry for a meal that’s inexpensive and sure to please any palate, look no further than Hot Yam!. Operating out of the Centre for International Experience Cumberland House and using mostly local and mostly organic ingredients (some of their produce is provided by the neighboring Sky Garden), this volunteer-run vegan food collective serves up hearty, sustainable and accessible meals for the community. Who can resist carrot and coconut soup, ginger-kicked baby beet salad, rosemary-roasted new potatoes, and strawberry-smacked crumbled?! And talk about accessible – four dollars gets you soup/salad, an entrée and dessert, not to mention your choice of water or tea. Whether you choose the communal style seating in the main dining area, the palatial patio or the front lawn, be sure to take in the British Colonial architecture of the Cumberland House. Completed in1860 by architect and civil engineer Fredrick Cumberland – who is also known for designing St. James Cathedral and University College – one of the most prominent features of the House is its stained glass dome that casts rays of pink, blue and yellow onto the main staircase. With the support of the Cumberland House and other domestics and international partnerships, Hot Yam! will continue to serve up delectable dishes, support diverse eating heritages and preferences and bring the community together through weekly meals. For more info visit: http://groups.google.com/group/hotyam/web
Hot Yam! is closed until September 21st 2011 (the CIE is busy with orientation events for the international students).
(image courtesy of hotyam.blogspot.com)
Urban Gardens and blogTO
Hi Everyone,
We have some exciting news for all of you green thumbs! After weeding through Toronto’s culinary landscape, we stumbled upon a rare and interesting species – the urban garden. In an effort to unearth and promote Toronto’s urban gardening movement, we’re writing about the subject for blogTO. Check out our first post – Atop the Sky Garden at UoT.
Know of any urban gardens in Toronto? If so, feel free to post a comment.
Elena & Alexandra
Quinoa Pudding & Strawberry Rhubarb Compote
Posting this recipe has been on my to-do list for the past 2 weeks. Although our local rhubarb and strawberry season is close to being finished, I assure you the farmer’s markets I visited this past week were fully stocked with beautiful ripe rhubarb stalks and mountains of ruby red strawberries.
The other feature of this recipe is the quinoa pudding (courtesy of cannelle et vanille) which is a great recipe you can enjoy year round. Be creative and have fun with your toppings whether it’s fresh fruit, dried fruits, nuts, seeds or spices
Try out any of these combinations for topping your quinoa pudding:
~Raspberries, cream and chocolate shavings~
~Figs. honey and toasted pistachios~
~Apricots, almonds and toasted sesame seeds~
~Dates, coconut and hemp seeds~
~Homemade granola~
Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Ingredients
2 – large eggplants
6 – tomatoes
1 – Spanish onion
5 – cloves of garlic
2/3 cup – extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp – freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp – salt
450g – cooked white kidney beans
1 – large lemon
1/2 cup – fresh thyme
1 cup – freshly grated Romano cheese
450g – whole wheat fusilli pasta
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cut eggplants, tomatoes, onion, and garlic into large bite size pieces.
3. Spread evenly on a large roasting pan. Coat with extra virgin olive oil, pepper, and salt.
4. Roast vegetables for approximately 20-40 minutes. Stir periodically.
5. Turn oven off. Place roasting pan on a cooling rack.
6. Drain and rinse white kidney beans. Sprinkle white kidney beans, fresh thyme, and lemon rind over roasted vegetables.
7. Cook and drain pasta. Place pasta pot on a hot plate. Return pasta to the pot.
8. Add all ingredients from the roasting pan, Romano cheese and lemon juice to taste.
9. Stir ingredients well and serve.
La Bamboche
Saturday morning, in the middle of thundershowers, Alexandra and I travelled to our favorite pâtisserie. Located at 4 Manor Road, just north of Yonge and Davisville, La Bamboche was just what we needed to lift our spirits.
Master pastry chef Stephen and two lovely young ladies behind the counter welcomed us and our iPhone cameras to a tasting of delectable treats. Our choice of two macarons would be the perfect pair to a creamy laté. French macarons -not to be confused with coconut macaroons- are almond meringue cookies. Crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, with flavored buttercream or chocolate ganache sandwiched in between. They make us swoon with each bite! If you’ve never tried a macaron, you must!
French Macaron Giveaway
Monday afternoon, Alexandra and I will draw the name of one person who has subscribed or posted a comment to Lemon & Citron.
Thanks for your love and support.
E&A.
French Macaron Giveaway Winner
Jun 6
Posted by Alexandra
Posted in Giveaway
4 Comments
Tags: comment, congratulations, french, giveaway, macaron, post, subscribe, winner