Party of one

Cooking for four, or more, may well be a lot of work but the rewards are often just as abundant. From help with preparation and/or clean-up to the simple act of sharing a good meal, and conversation, amongst loved ones... the pros definitely outweigh the cons!

Breaking bread and sharing the bounty is after all one of the simplest joys of life. Even Yeezus agrees.

"When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed."  
Acts 20:11, King James Bible, Cambridge Edition

But back to my party of one.

Living alone, there is literally no one to break bread with. Prepping, cooking and eating solo becomes a daily chore that merely has to be accomplished along with the rest of 'em. 

Some days that's fine. 

Others, it's kind of depressing.

In an attempt to make dinner for one more a yea and less of a nay, I've come up with a few tricks... including setting a really nice table, trying new recipes and having hors d'oeuvres for dinner. 

Wine also helps.

While I don't actually eat at a table, per se, and instead choose to set all of my food and beverages on a vintage Pepsi-Cola cooler, I always aim to make it look nice and inviting. 

Sometimes I even light a candle.

As for new recipes... I'm all about them. Especially coming up with my own. 

I really enjoy cooking, and eating, as well as trying new spices, foods and recipes - so this is not a struggle for me. 

Most recently I came up with an easy recipe for kale-wrapped salmon which I submitted to an online recipe contest sponsored by Gwyneth Paltrow and Food52. 

Ha! I never noticed how ridiculous funny I sound.

Anyhoo...

Hors d'oeuvres for dinner is another one of my tricks, and one I return to again and again because it's so quick and easy. 

Take last night. 

I got home and was literally starving. So I put some pita chips in a bowl and pulled some hummus out of the fridge. Hors d'oeuvre #1, done!

Next I sliced some Kumato tomatoes, bocconcini and basil and made a little caprese salad. Easy, peezy, lemon, squeezy. (I didn't actually use lemon though. I drizzled the whole thing with extra-virgin olive oil). Hors d'oeuvre #2, finito!

Onwards and upwards... to hearts of palm. I opened the can and took them out. Then I sliced them. Then I ate them. Hors d'oeuvre #3, gone in a flash!

Last but not least I made mushroom caps stuffed with garlic and cheese. I left them in the oven a smidge too long so they came out a little microscopic but what the hay... Hors d'oeuvre #4 was done and so was my supper.   

Girls, girls, girls

After watching the same show online for years I've finally found a new one.

Girls.

I had seen bits and bobs (literally) of it on HBO when I still had cable, and a television, last year but it never really hooked me. 

Until I decided to give it a chance.

Directed by, written by and starring the inimitable Lena Dunham, Girls tells the story of a group of 20-something women (or girls?) living in New York City.

Sound familiar?

Dunham plays Hannah Horvath, a budding, yet struggling, writer with a propensity (also known as obsessive-compulsive disorder) for the number 8. 

Or 64.

Apart from portraying OCD with brutal honesty, and courage, Girls aims to portray a number of issues, including friendship, relationships, sex and addiction with integrity. 

It also nailed loneliness. 

Another great aspect of the show is the music. From well-known hits to lesser-known gems, the 3 seasons I perused over a series of near-hibernation-like days introduced, and re-introduced, me to some great tunes.

Including...

 britney bitch

icona pop

cali swag district

the echo friendly

... and the previously referenced Robyn.

Not to mention the fact that season 2 featured Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, as Hannah's black, Republican boyfriend.

Said Glover about his role on the show: I need those people too, (referring to haters) because if everyone enjoys what you're doing you're just not growing. You need a conversation to get to that point.

And this is why he has haters... 

But personally, I'm a lover.

Speaking of love... who else LOVED Yoko Ono at the Grammys this weekend?

Peace out!

Tinie tempah

While this blog post has nothing to do with Tinie Tempah (Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu), the award-winning English rapper, it has everything to do with tempeh, the fermented soy product that originates from Indonesia. 

But first, a little Tinie Tempah!  

 

Tempeh is super high in protein, calcium and iron, as well as isoflavones, but very low in fat. It has more "oomph" than tofu, as it is more textured and substantial, and has a slightly nutty flavour.

Now that I'm "one of those people" I thought it only natural that I start eating tempeh. 

 not so much

 closer

I actually started eating it because I remember feeling fantastic after trying it a few years ago. It is the only food I have ever eaten that literally gave me energy right after eating it (as opposed to making me want to take a disco nap).

After perusing the net for the "best tempeh recipe ever" I settled on my own - as usual. I fried some red onion on olive oil and added diced carrots, turnips and peas, as well as sliced tempeh. After adding salt, pepper, cumin, turmeric and garam masala I doused the entire thing with coconut water, covered and simmered for 10 minutes. 

When I removed the lid I had tempeh curry! Wooot! 

I added a tablespoon of peanut butter as well as a healthy dash (!) of hot sauce and covered the whole healthy thing for another five minutes before serving (to myself!) with a sprinkling of fresh basil.


 

A room with a view

I recently moved into my latest incarnation of home and am pretty much done with trying to make it feel like me.

One last painting needs hanging, and it's not The Last Supper, but after countless losing battles with plaster, and a very uncooperative hammer, I've decided to simmer down before losing my shit tackling the behemoth that is my large, heavy, framed - and autographed - poster of George Chuvalo and Muhammad Ali.

Only George Chuvalo signed it but whatevs. I love it. Over the course of his career, in 93 fights, Chuvalo was never knocked down - or out.

Word!

Moving is never easy - even for a pro such as myself who does it every year. 

Trying to make a rental feel like home is no simple task, especially when you know have the feeling it probably won't be for long. 

And you can hear your neighbour sneeze at almost exactly the same time every day. Loudly. As if he was, in fact, sitting right next to you even though he's not. 

How much time, money and effort is really worth putting into it?

Time? A little. Money? Ummm... as close to none as possible. Effort? Some.

So, after putting in a little time, almost no money and some effort into my apartment I am ready to present it online, a la Design Sponge.    

Without further ado, here is a sneak peek of my small, rented "pied-a terre" in Montreal.

Enjoy!

One of the best thing about my apartment is the view. And I don't mean the view into my neighbours' apartments, a la Rear Window. 

I mean the view of Saint Joseph's Oratory. 

Friday five

"I never panic when I get lost. I just change where it is I want to go."
Rita Rudner

When I first started this blog two years ago I planned on posting some kind of list every Friday, with five items. I was inspired by Cupcakes and Cashmere's Emily Schuman who dedicates Fridays to her five favourite things of the week.  

While I've somewhat strayed off the path I (perhaps over-enthusiastically) set up for myself, I'd like to get back on it. As such, here is a list of five things that I'd like to do in 2014.

1. Make osso bucco 
Okay, this is a bit of a lie because I actually made it two weeks ago BUT it was the first time I had ever made it AND it was in 2014. So there. I know veal is not everyone's bag, for obvious reasons, but the name osso bucco just sounds so round, and delicious, that I had to try it. I checked out a few recipes online, including Jamie Oliver's and Giada de Laurentiis', but both were a little ingredient-heavy (aka I didn't have all of them) so I made my own pared-down version which included: veal shank, butter, garlic, onion, carrots, stewed (organic) tomatoes, red wine, chicken broth and salt and pepper. It was the best thing I have eaten in a long, long time.    

2. Try roller-derby
Roller-derby is a contact sport played by really hot, tough, cool girls. (You see what I just did there? lol). Ever since watching Whip it, with Ellen Page, Juliette Lewis and Drew Barrymore, I have been dying to try my hand, foot, roller skate at it. I have also been scared. Really scared. I bruise easily, you see. I have a feeling one "game" of roller-derby would leave me black and blue for days - if not weeks. But I also kind of think that's hot, tough, cool!

On a semi-side note, but not really, I first heard Jolene, by Dolly Parton, while watching Whip It and immediately fell in love with it. 

You know who else sings Jolene?

My main gal.

Which brings me to #3...

3. See Miley Cyrus in concert
On March 29th me and my two Ren's are dedicating a full 24 hours to Miley... and twerking. We've booked a hotel room and plan to spend precious pre-concert time coordinating our outfits while getting turnt up and... twerking. I don't have anything further to say about this other than... can't wait!   

4. Make a budget (and stick to it)
I have never, ever, made a budget. I have also never, ever been in debt. Until this year. In an effort to understand, and curb, my spending as well as return to my previous debt-free status I plan on making a budget. Income, fixed expenses, variable expenses, debt repayment and, yes, savings will all be included and accounted for (as well as laughed/cried at). Gail Vaz-Oxlade (now that's a mouthful of letters) has a great online tool to help me get debt free by 2015.  Go Gail!

 

   who knew this to be untrue?

5. Learn Polish 
This is also a bit of a lie, admittedly, because I already understand Polish (what with being Polish and all). But speaking Polish is another matter entirely. I'm technically quadrilingual but two of my four languages leave something to be desired, namely Polish and Japanese. I've been trying to sign up for a relatively inexpensive Polish class with the McGill Polish Students' Association for several months now to no avail. Which means I have to get crafty... 

     

YOLO

Sometimes, I can't see the forest for the trees.

I get so overwhelmed by the minutiae of everyday life that I forget how blessed I am just to be alive.

After a particularly detoxifying (sweaty!) hot yoga class last night I went home and made an ever-so-slightly barf-inducing tofu and vegetable stir-fry.

Side note: Is it possible to be too healthy, like... to the detriment of your actual health?

When I was done, I felt like I could finally see the forest for what it is.

Life. 

My life. 

When I was younger I used to look down at the ground while walking around (I thought I was looking for lost money but according to a quick internet search it turns out I was actually shy). Everything was dirty, dark and gross. Also, there were lots of cigarette butts.

A slight adjustment in my posture, looking up - and around - instead of down, totally changed my perspective (if not my attitude).

Life in Montreal has been a little like the filthy ground of my youth lately. Dirty, dark and gross. 

Not to mention cold and rude. 

And hectic.

When I first moved back here in August everything looked shiny and bright - full of hope and promise. The trees, streets and buildings all held a little magic. 

That magic has since been replaced by work, apartment living and... the minutiae of everyday life.

In an effort to recapture a little of that magic, I thought I'd dig up (or download) some pictures I took of my hometown upon my return.

 clearly, i didn't take this one

PS: On my way into work this morning I came across a handwritten sign that someone had made and taped to a pole. It said "Smile!" I wanted to take a picture of it but I also didn't want frostbite. The sign achieved its goal though... it made me smile. And guess what? I wouldn't have seen it if I had been looking down.

 the killers

PPS. YOLO. "The battle cry of a generation." Too funny...

the lonely island