Au revoir Monsieur Marceau

When I was little, my mom took me too see this wonderful gentleman.



I loved it, the way he could convey ANYTHING with his gestures was amazing to me, and now he is gone... all I have to say is THANK YOU Monsieur Marceau for making me deliriously happy on that day of my childhood.

My dad has always said that great ones leave in threes, first it was Luciano, now is Marceau... who is next?

wherever you are Marcel Marceau, I'll never forget you!

want to come and have tea with me?

My day did NOT turn out the way I had expected or hoped, I was supposed to buy a rolling pin and also make some elephant ears.. AND some rolls with spinach and feta, and well... none of those things happened. That's life I suppose, it throws things at you unexpectedly just to see how you'll react. However, the day was worth it because of books and some experiment baking.

I went to pick up books from the Public Library oh yeah!!! there's so much I have to cook now, I have:
>Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros
>Favourite Comfort Food from Martha Stewart
>Everyday Food from Martha Stewart as well

The experiment baking was a loaf of whole wheat bread.. which did not turn out quite like a loaf.. I think the temperature of the water was a bit too hot and the yeasties got mad at me (I am so sorry yeast, I'll be nicer to you next time). What did turn out amazing are these beautiful chocolate Madeleines (which have also some coffee in them yuuuum!!!)




so... who wants to come and have tea with me and eat some of these lovelies??

Me and my BIG broccoli

broccoli
Originally uploaded by Miss Ifi

While I was in class yesterday morning, I decided that as soon as class would stop I would go to the market and look around, and buy some much needed zucchini so I could make perhaps some zucchini fritters, or zucchini quesadillas.
When I got to the market, all the nice looking vegetables were calling me .. saying things like "pick me" and it was then, when I saw this HUGE broccoli, and I had to take it home.... would you look at the size of that one!!!
It was only 75cents, so I am lucky, and so I am making some more soup.. oh yeah!!!! it's going to be GREAT!!! but seriously.. the thing is HUUUUGE!
yay for my big broccoli!!!

Miss Ifi goes French!

This semester, I decided to take some French, I mean I've taken French before, but really I should put a lot of effort in it if it's going to benefit my career and my hopefully staying in Canada.

Well I registered on the beginners French (F1) and had my first class on Monday, and the teacher recommended that I take the placement test, since I am not an F1, well.. I do.. and the placement takes .. well it takes me all the way to F4!!! imagine that.. I was like.. WHAT?? yeah.. I know I understand a lot of things and come on... it is a multiple choice placement test, but I don't think I belong in F4. I panic a bit and I go see the people at the languages thingie, they say go to talk to another language person, I do.. she says okie.. you belong in F3, and proceeds to let me know there might not be room, I panic and then she says okie let's go to the main office, we go, they say no.. maybe I'll have to have classes on Friday afternoon (I panic even MORE), finally my schedule stays the same and I take F3.. well now I can say Bonsoir!!!

I've been finding lucky pennies lately, the one I found this morning helped me with the French, but I wish the other pennies could have helped in other aspects of my life, in the words of my wise mother: "You should eat cake", yeah.. with the way I feel I should be eating cake and LOTS of it.. unfortunately I don't feel like making cake nor do I feel like buying cake. I tried today an alternative to cake.. ice cream I ate almost a pint of it and it didn't help at all ... I better find me some cake soon... anyone willing to share some cake with me?

Farmer's market sunday

I enjoy so much going to the Ottawa Farmer's Market on Sundays (though I am mad there is not a cheese vendor) all of the people seem happy picking up their vegetables and flowers and the colours are amazing!!!

The two treasures that I brought today from the market are peaches and cream corn and some ball yellow squash, and then when I went to the supermarket I found some broccoli on sale, which meant it was time to make some broccoli cream soup yuuuuum!! so I did I made some yummy soup and whole wheat bread.. mmmmm love whole wheat bread!!

Yesterday I went to Value Village and I found some awesome stuff, like this really cute apron (the one on the picture) and some beautiful plates (also shown in the picture) among other things, it always makes me so happy to find beautiful stuff for my kitchen, and I always have to think what are the stories behind these objects, perhaps the apron belonged to a cake baker or to a Canadian Martha Stewart *giggles*



I know.. I need to get a decent camera.... I better ask for it for my birthday /sigh

Monsieur Josh cooks a Turkey - Part I

Yesterday, after my first day of class and after my delicious supper (which was lamb with sautéed zucchini on the side, my first time cooking lamb), I was on the phone with Monsieur Josh and we got talking about thanksgiving and the most exciting/disturbing/I don't know how to describe it piece of news was delivered:

"This year I am cooking the thanksgiving turkey, and YOU are helping me"

the echo of "and YOU are helping me" lingered for a bit....


when the echo was gone the first thought in my mind was OH NOES! It will just be like the tale : Dave cooks a Turkey by Stuart McLean

I tried to put my fear aside and be supportive of Monsieur Josh, but the truth is I am terrified of cooking a turkey, YES... terrified, specially for thanksgiving and specially for his family. I must begin the research, and if YOU (yes you reading this) have any stories or tips that you would like to share... PLEASE DO!!!



..... "and YOU are helping me"

To Luciano

Is a sad day, one of three great tenors has died.


























Thank YOU Monsieur Pavarotti!
for delighting us with your voice

My longest relationship

The longest love relationship that I've ever had is with FOOD, that is right! I LOVE food!! I am addicted to it and I admit it. I've probably loved food since I was born, I was always a hungry kid (which would explain why I've always been a bit chubby) and I just love everything about food.

Why you may wonder? well I recently found a few words in the Joy of Cooking that explain it:
"Food is a central part of our lives. It provides the body with fuel and raw materials for maintenance, growth and repair. It draws together family and friends, anchors celebrations and rites of passage, and sometimes soothes the soul. It has the power to heal and also to harm"

When I moved my mom said: "Whenever you feel sad, EAT CAKE" and you know what? it helps, if I feel really sad a good piece of good cake will lift my spirit and help me go on, so food does have the power to heal. Nothing in this world can compare to eating a good meal, having some fresh salad with some smoked salmon, cream of celery, a steak so tender that almost melts in your mouth and a cake that makes you feel in heaven, all accompanied by glass of red wine.

I have to thank my parents for teaching me the pleasure of eating, and eating right, they always made me try EVERYTHING (and really I mean everything, I've eaten tongue, brains among other stuff) so I learned good eating habits and I never felt bad for being a bit chubby, it always meant that I was eating right and enjoying my food. As I get older I get more conscious about what I eat, and I try to eat healthier, but still a good balance is always the key, there is always room for cake, but not for junk food (I do fall into the temptation sometimes, but I try to cook healthy stuff and foods I can savor).

Well that is all I have to say about food for know "I <3 FOOD", I am going to go eat some of those cookies I made ^_^

Chapter I - Introductions

You might be wondering and WHO? is this so called Miss Ifi who loves cake so much? well, allow me to introduce myself *curtseys* my full name shall remain a mystery for now but let me tell you a bit more about myself. I became a knitter in February 2007 and a proud cake lover in October 2006 and I am living in an apartment for the first time in my life, so this blog shall include tips on taming first apartments.
Now that you know a bit about myself (I don't really want to bore you, you will get to know me more later on) I shall introduce the main characters of my life.
First I shall mention my lover and cuddler (without forgetting personal chef) Monsieur Josh *applause*
I shall also introduce my partner in crime for the Knitting Mesdemoiselles, Miss Carolyn with whom I've been friends for.. well a long time ago, since we started university, probably 5-6 years ago.
My dearest friend Miss Martha a.k.a Carrie, to whom I owe more than I can say, she has saved me in countless occasions and feed me cake in others.
And last but not least, Lady Amelia a.k.a the "cake lady", I try to steal cake from her on regular basis.
As this blog develops I shall introduce more characters, but for now, I shall leave you to wonder what will happen to these characters, if they will soon feast on cake or be faced with the most important question of all "What to make for supper?"
Au revoir