Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Harry Potter and the awesome ice cream

When I was at Universal Studios in Florida, I spent most of the day in the Harry Potter world. I just love the story and the world JK Rowling created.

One of the things that made me incredibly giddy was the ice cream parlour, Florean Fortescue, that had the actual flavours from the books.  I went nuts for the strawberry and peanut butter ice cream! The taste was just perfect.

Fast forward a few months. I discover powdered peanut butter. My first reaction was ?O.o?
but then I thought, hey I can mix this with a ton of stuff that are difficult to mix with real peanut butter. I can use it as a breadcrumb! or to flavour broth! Holyshit let's get some!

One amazon order later, I've been stuffing my face with it in every declination possible.
And today I felt like a shake, and I had freshly frozen strawberries...

the result was EXACTLY like Fortescue's strawberry and peanut butter ice cream!

so here's the recipe :)

1 1/4 cup unsweetened, vanilla almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (any brand that you like works)
1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
2 tbsp peanut butter powder*
1 drop of vanilla extract
1/4 cup water

Blend until smooth, drink immediately.


*One note on the peanut butter powder. I recommend PB&Me, natural.  All the others I've looked at had sugar added and a bunch of additives to make it taste like crappy peanut butter. PB&Me was the only one I found with just one ingredient: peanuts. They do have other versions with crap in it, but the 100% natural is just that, 100% natural :P


Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Cancer sucks



So I've been a wreck for a long time now. I'm trying to push myself to do stuff and keep the illusion of a somewhat normal life, but everything I do takes 3 times the energy it should.

Following a group conversation feels like running a marathon and walking my dogs kills me for the rest of the day.


It's really cute how such a tiny gland controls EVERYTHING in your body and mind... I had no idea.



So, in the spirit of trying to have a life again, I'll kick my own butt and try to start writing again. Only in english though, cause I can't do double the work with only half of my brain available.



Word of advice : don't get cancer, it sucks.
And take care of your thyroid, it's the most important piece of your body!





Tuesday, March 24, 2015

byebye l'hiver

Y'en a marre de l'hiver, je sacre mon camp au Mexique!  De retour le 21 avril avec des adresses à découvrir à Playa Del Carmen et Tulum!

hasta luego!


I'm fed up with winter, going to Mexico!  I'll be back on April 21st with tips on where to go in Playa Del Carmen and Tulum!






Saturday, February 28, 2015

Nutella

J'aime pas le nutella... je sais, c'est presque aussi criminel que de ne pas aimer le bacon.  En fait, j'aime le principe d'une tartinade choco-noisette, mais je trouve que le nutella goûte juste le sucre, contrairement à leur annonce télé qui montre des cascades de noisettes "and a hint of delicious cocoa".

Il y a longtemps, j'avais trouvé une version française superbe, qui goûtait vraiment les noisettes, à la Confiserie Louise Décarie sur St-Denis.  La confiserie ayant fermée, j'ai dû me débrouiller autrement.

Après plusieurs essais/erreurs, j'ai finalement réussi une version maison excellente.

Le secret c'est la Pralinoise, un chocolat praliné français. On le trouve au Douceurs du Marché, au Marché Atwater. Les Suisses font aussi de l'excellent chocolat praliné, trouvable un peu partout, donc si vous êtes loin du Marché, il y a encore de l'espoir.

La recette est super simple à faire et se conserve au frigo.

NUTELLA MAISON

140g  Pralinoise (le 3/4 d'une tablette)
50g    (1/3T) chocolat noir ou au lait
50g    (3.5 c. à ta.) beurre salé
25g    (2 c. à ta) beurre de noisette
3/4T   lait de noix de coco

Dans un bol, faire fondre la Pralinoise, le chocolat, le beurre et le beurre de noisette. Au micro-ondes, j'ai chauffé 30 secondes, brassé un peu et remis 30 secondes.
Ajouter le lait de noix de coco, mélanger au fouet ou avec un batteur électrique.
Verser dans un pot en verre avec couvercle, comme un pot Masson, et placer au réfrigérateur pour quelques heures.




I don’t like nutella ... I know, it's almost as criminal as to not love bacon. I actually like the concept of a choco-hazelnut spread, but I find that nutella just taste like sugar, contrary to their TV ad that shows cascades of hazelnuts ”and a hint of delicious cocoa".

A while ago, I’d found a great French version, that really tasted like hazelnuts, at Louise Decarie Confectionery on St-Denis. The place closed, so I had to find another option.

After several trials / errors, I finally made an excellent homemade version.

The secret is Pralinoise, a French chocolate praline. You can get it at Douceurs du Marché, at the Atwater Market. Switzerland also makes excellent chocolate pralines. A few brands are available here so don’t lose hope if you are far from the Atwater Market.

The recipe is super simple to make and will keep in the fridge.

HOMEMADE NUTELLA

140g  Pralinoise (3/4 of a tablet)
50g    (1/ 3T) dark or milk chocolate
50g    (3.5 tbsp) salted butter
25g    (2 Tbsp) hazelnut butter
3/4T   coconut milk

In a bowl, melt Pralinoise, chocolate, butter and hazelnut butter. In the microwave I ran it for 30 seconds, stirred a little and ran it for another 30 seconds.
Add the coconut milk, whisk or beat with an electric mixer.

Pour into a glass jar with a lid, like a Mason jar, and place in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.





Thursday, February 26, 2015

Célébrer la nuit

Samedi soir c'est la Nuit Blanche à Montreal, une des soirée les plus cool de l'année!  L'organisation a maintenant une application mobile, ce qui facilite encore plus la planification des activités de la nuit. On peut la télécharger sur le site de Montréal en Lumières.

Depuis la première Nuit Blanche, j'ai toujours passé un temps à la Place-des-Arts (surtout qu'au début c'était juste là que ça se passait :P) pour les feux de joie, les boissons chaudes et show de lumières.
Ensuite je me dirige vers le Vieux-Montréal, pour le feux d'artifice, les galleries d'arts, les spectacles dans les églises et le dance floor du vieux-port.
Je finis toujours par Espace Verre pour voir les démos de verres soufflés (qui se terminait à 4am).


Cette année sera différente, il ne semble pas y avoir de feux d'artifice à l'horaire, Espace Verre fermera à 2am et la piste de dance est de retour à la Place des Festivals... je vais devoir me recomposer un horaire, si je suis capable de tenir debout quelques heures (c'est vraiment pas garanti)


Et comme on va fêter toute la nuit, il faut bien boire quelque chose, alors je vous suggère une nouvelle découverte, le mousseux Bulles de nuit (quelle transition subtile quand même!).

Avec un nom pareil, ça va de soit qu'il devient mon drink officiel de la Nuit Blanche. Le mousseux a des notes de pêches et de pommes. Il est léger et festif, parfait pour boire entre les différentes activités de la nuit!




One of the coolest party of the year, Nuit Blanche in Montreal, is hitting the town once again Saturday night! The organization now has a mobile application, which makes it even easier to plan the night's activities. It can be downloaded on the website of Montreal En Lumières.


Since the first Nuit Blanche, I’ve always spent a few hours at Place-des-Arts to enjoy bonfires, hot drinks and the light show (especially for the first few years, as there was nowhere else to go yet :P).

Then I would head to Old Montreal for the fireworks, the art galleries, music in the churches and the dance floor the old port.

I always ended the night at Espace Verre to see glass blowing demos (which ended at 4am).

This year will be different, there doesn’t seem to be any fireworks scheduled, Espace Verre closes at 2am and the dance floor is back at Place des Festivals. I'll have to rewrite a new schedule, that’s if I am able to stand for a few hours (it's really not guaranteed)




And as the celebrations last all night, we have to drink something, so let me suggest a new find, the sparkling wine, Bulles de Nuit (i.e. bubbles of the night) see what I did there? :P

With a name like that, it goes without saying that it is my official drink for the Nuit Blanche. This sparkling wine has notes of peaches and apples. It is light and festive, perfect for drinking between the different activities of the night!