FINALLY!

Finally, I can take a breath after holding it for - forever!  YUP!  Crave Cupcakes, my favorite little cake store has finally opened in Edmonton! (three weeks ago to be exact)  Located conveniently on Calgary Trail just south of Whyte Avenue (and to my delight but my hips dismay) on our route home from work/school!  For those that prefer landmarks, it is about three storefronts north of Planet Organic Market.

Jenna and I made our mandatory "civic duty" checkout on Saturday morning, and yes, quality control was taken and confirmed before happily retreating to our SUV to scarf back not only the delightful cupcakes, but some good old fashioned Whoopie Pie cookies!

You will find the same decor, selection, and most importantly, quality, here in Edmonton - just like the original Crave Cupcakes in Kensington, Calgary!

Going home, Part 2

One of my daughter's favorite Newfoundland things...

The internationally, popular work dog, the Newfoundland Dog.  Very popular in Holland, where the dog pulls flower carts for it's owner and street vendors.

But I digress....

The liveliness of the capital, St. John's, is hard to miss, regardless of a small population around 150,000.  From the colourful saltbox homes, the quirky downtown with a huge assortment of local merchants, bistros, restaurants and pubs, the most bars per capita in North America and an abundant amount of festivals and reasons to celebrate with food and drink. 

View from above: overlooking Old St. John's, the downtown and Harbour with The Narrows

Typical saltbox style homes in Old St. John's

Old St. John's and the downtown district

You can easily spend an afternoon, evening and night strolling along the three main streets of the downtown area, enjoying some wonderful bakeries and bistros for lunch, first class dining experiences for dinner and a few too many pubs to keep you going at night! Shopping downtown is a must to see what Newfoundland has to offer in the way of unique clothes, crafts, music and art.  From Found Locally, "Downtown is align Water Street, which at 400 years old is the oldest commercial street in North America, with its colorful painted store fronts on 3 or 4 story Victorian brick and stone building. The Murray Premises is a restored 19th century fishing merchant building that survived the Great Fire, and has been restored to contain stores, restaurants and offices. One street up is Duckworth Street, which has more Restaurants and cafes intermingled with stores which are more focused on crafts, antiques and books."  Take a look at http://www.downtownstjohns.com/ 

Pending the season, visitors flock on boat tours to catch an iceberg up close, to experience the whales migration path, see the adorable Puffin in it's natural habitat or take an adventure tour by sea kayaking - an experience not to be missed!  Talk about degrees of separation, my old high school gym teacher now runs a great sea kayaking tour company aptly named Stan Cook's Sea Kayaking Adventures!  http://www.wildnfld.ca/  Stan will take you out to iceberg, puffin, whale and through the many sea arches along the coastline of Newfoundland.

THE ROOMS is the latest home of the Art Gallery and Museum of Newfoundland.  http://www.therooms.ca/artgallery/  Based in St. John's with spectacular views of the old city, the harbour, Narrows and Cabot Tower, with abundant history and a great little bistro to catch up with old or new friends.

Take a stroll through the Botanic Gardens next to Memorial University, where you can see the natural plants, flowers and trees of this unique Province.

Botanic Gardens

From most points of view in Old St.John's, the beacon on the hillside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is a famous site, Cabot Tower on Signal Hill.  This houses an impressive view of life in Newfoundland, the ceremonious Tattoo which is re-enacted multiples times a week in the summer months, and is most importantly known as the sight of the first transatlantic communication.

Cabot Tower

Though it overlooks the Atlantic, it also offers impressive views of "The Narrows", the locals' name for the small opening between land that allows access from the Atlantic to the St. John's Harbour - the mouth of the Harbour.  Here is a beautiful picture of Fort Amherst, which resides low on the hills, opposite of Signal Hill in "The Narrows".

Fort Amherst

In the mood for history and beautifully old and preserved architecture?  Look to the beacon perched on top of Old St. John's and you'll find St. John The Baptist Basilica.  Built by the Portuguese and Spaniards while over fishing the waters, this impressive church was carefully carved out over many years and is kept in wonderful condition today.  It is currently the main place of worship for people of the Roman Catholic religion and is breathtaking from step to step.

The Basilica in action

Whether you are in the mood for modern day comforts, quirky and artisan finds, a place to have a good pint, or even a stroll back in time or wedged firmly in history of a people, a place or their contribution to the world wars, St. John's will keep you busy for days on end.

Reflexology - a little care and touch goes a long way

Reading GOOP this morning, I was inspired by reading some practical uses for reflexology and wanted to pass on this information highlighted by Chantel C. Lucier from Angel Feet as well as some of my own research. Whether to feel connected with another person or to help what ails you, reflexology has many benefits.  And hey, who wouldn't enjoy this attention from a partner?


Basically, reflexology is defined as"a system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the theory that there are reflex points on the feet, hands and head linked to every part of the body."   This technique is not a modern day invention but dates back to the Egyptians and Chinese over 5000 years ago.  Here, the Reflexology Association of Oregon gives a bit more background:


"The principle of this therapy is scientific in that by giving deep, controlled compression with the thumb to reflex points on the feet, hands or ears, corresponding to certain parts of the body tensions and blockages are released, allowing the free flow of vital energies and helping the body to heal itself.



"REFLEXOLOGY can bring relief to sufferers of many disorders. It is an entirely natural therapy without painful side-effects. Only the hands are used to give a treatment, making it a safe, simple and effective method for the holistic healing of the body."

EGYPTIAN REFLEXOLOGY TREATMENT

EARLY 6th DYNASTY ABOUT 2,330 B.C. WALL PAINTING IN TOMB OF ANKHMAHOR
(HIGHEST OFFICIAL AFTER THE KING) AT SAQQARA, AND IS KNOWN AS THE PHYSICIAN'S TOMB. TRANSLATION READS "DON'T HURT ME." THE PRACTITIONER'S REPLY: "I SHALL ACT SO YOU PRAISE ME." (Courtesy of the Reflexology Association of Oregon)


Chantel Lucier offers the following tips to relieve two common ailments: headaches and stomach aches:


Headaches




• Big toes, little toes, inside and belly of the foot. The big toes are where the head, brain, pituitary/pineal glands, & upper cervical spine (neck) reflexes are located. The tips of all the little toes too coincide with the head, brain and sinus reflexes (give more attention to these toes if you have a sinus headache).



• The spinal reflex resides along the inside or medial aspect of each foot, also very effective since the spine is where the nervous system is housed.



• Dehydration is a common cause of headaches too, sometimes hunger and/or a digestive issue might be a cause for a headache as well. In this case, the digestive system reflexes are located on the bottom or plantar aspect of the foot and can be reflexed accordingly.



• Since it is sometimes difficult to isolate where a headache might be emanating from, there is no harm in giving attention to all these areas. If you want to be really precise, refer to a reflexology map.


Tummy Aches




The area that corresponds to the digestive system reflexes is located on the bottom plantar aspect of each foot. Many of the reflexes to the integral organs that contribute and play key roles in the digestive process are all located here.



• This is a delicious area to give attention to in general as the arch of the foot can really use the care after a day in shoes pounding concrete as well. I refer to this area as the belly of the foot as it's the softer portion of the plantar aspect (between the ball and heel) of each foot.



• Again, refer to a map (below) for more precise reflexology points and where each organ reflex is located.



Reflexology dates back to the times of the Egyptians as shown on their pyramid wall paintings. Reflexology is the Study of reflex areas on the feet and hands and applying pressure to these areas.
 
 

For those up for the challenge, here is a website offering free foot and hand maps for reflexology.  Just drag your cursor over the area of ailment and the map will highlight the exact area of the foot or hand to concentrate on - don't worry if you are not a professional, your other half will appreciate the thought and benefit instantly!

http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/features/reflexology/footchart.html

Going home, Part 1

Map of Newfoundland

Well, my daughter's wish has come true - she is now booked to travel back to "the old country" to spend some time with my family this summer.  The age of travelling independence is close at hand for Jenna, and she loves spending time with her older cousin, Juliana.  So, off to Newfoundland she goes for 8 glorious days without parents - nirvana!

For those readers who have not made the pilgrimage to this ruggedly beautiful island, shared a pint with friendly natives in the oldest city in North America or broken bread with some of the most down-to-earth people in the Western world, I would urge you to take a trip to Newfoundland.

Newfoundland and Labrador is both the oldest and youngest province in Canada, as it was the first part of the "new world" to be discovered over 500 years ago, but remained a British dominion until 1949.  The Newfoundland Blog gives an interesting snapshot of this Province: "Newfoundland is famous around the world for its unique heritage and cultural identity, as well as the stunning and rugged northern landscape it offers. Traditionally a land of fishermen, loggers, trappers and miners, Newfoundland, with most of the population living on the island, remained an isolated land for most of its history and thus a separate culture and language was able to develop.

The people of Newfoundland often call themselves 'Newfies' although this term can also be used in a derogatory sense by those from other provinces. The language spoken in Newfoundland is often considered nothing more than a strong accent, but linguists at Yale University have classified the Newfoundland dialect as a distinct language within the English group. It has its own pronunciation and lexicon, idioms and in some cases its own grammatical rules. It is impossible to describe the Newfoundland language in writing, but it is heavily based on a fusion of Irish and English and Scandinavian."

Newfoundland and Nature

Never seen an iceberg block your sea view?  Then try travelling in May or June, and you will also find yourself on the coast for lobster season!  Icebergs can be found floating past the island as late as mid July, and tourists often enjoy going iceberg-spotting, by hoping into a car and driving from port to port to see what awaits over each rolling hill.  And as 4/5 of Newfoundland is rural, the narrow roads and multiple bays will keep you wondering whats behind every bend!

Small icebergs, or Bergies, pictured in the Irish Loop

Or something much larger and magnificent

Like the wonder and natural history of National Parks?  Look no further than Newfoundland with several parks to choose from spread over the Province, though the most breathtaking by far is Gros Morne National Park based on the West coast of Newfoundland.

From http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/ , "It took Mother Nature 485,000,000 years to mold Gros Morne National Park into the geological and visual wonder we know today. The second largest National Park in eastern Canada, Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching across 1,805 square kilometres of western Newfoundland as part of the towering Long Range Mountains.

Encircled by tiny seaside communities, and encompassing forests, freshwater fjords, bogs, barren lowlands, moose, and striking cliffs and shorelines, this area is also world- renowned for its complex geology. It was here that geologists proved the theory of plate tectonics. The Tablelands, a mountain of flat-topped rock of a kind usually found only deep in the earth’s mantle, is a truly awe-inspiring sight."

If you love the outdoors, Newfoundland will keep you inspired well beyond your visit.  The East Coast trail system throughout the province, the many parks, hiking, skiing, golfing, fishing and hunting opportunities are only as limited as your time and budget.  Mix a good hike with  taking a skag at some beautiful heritage sites, like the Lighthouse at Cape Spear.

Newfoundland is also known as the Sea Bird capital of North America.  No surprise to this blogger who spent her formative years here!  So, if you are at your computer and wondering where to go on your next adventure, try discovering Canada and it's history.  Mix it in with breathtaking scenery, ample activities and a warm, inviting hospitality and you have the making of an adventure to go down into your own history.

A great place to start your research or book your travel is through the official Newfoundland and Labrador travel website, one that has launched genius marketing campaigns consistently over the past several years
http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/

Tacos, Tacos

OK, no offense to the intelligent Mexican man in the white suit on t.v, but tacos does not equal Old El Paso!  Real tacos are a wonderfully simple food, complex in flavor and suited to everyone's individual taste.  Street food in Mexico, you can find numerous stalls around the town, including in front of Costco or the Mega (local Superstore) similar to our Canadian Fat Franks stalls.  They are delicious.  I love them with chicken (pollo), flank steak (arrachera), and, yes, now fish (pescado).

We are always out to try at least two new things on each trip to Mexico and this time it was Tacos al Pastor at a local taqueria, and the famous Baja fish taco.  Al Pastor - excellent.  But, I have to admit, I couldn't find the taco stall that gets rave reviews by multiple food network chefs, and our choice was less than spectacular.  However, it has now led me on the hunt for a great recipe I can try at home.  So, I turn to Bobby Flay and  his recipe with another wonderful addition, a slight move away from traditional Tacos pescado - grilled fish!  On the menu this weekend at our place!

Thank you to Food Network and Bobby Flay for this modern and health conscious version of Tacos Pescado.  Here is my slightly adapted version:

Ingredients


Tacos:

1 pound white flaky fish, or try cod or halibut

1/4 cup canola oil

1 lime, juiced

1 tablespoons ancho chili powder

1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

8 corn tortillas


Garnish:

Shredded white cabbage

Hot sauce (our favorite Valentina Mexican sauce, found in your local Walmart grocery store!)

Sour cream

Thinly sliced red onion

Thinly sliced green onion

Chopped cilantro leaves

Pureed Tomato Salsa, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place fish in a medium size dish. Whisk together the oil, lime juice, ancho, jalapeno, and cilantro and pour over the fish. Let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the fish from the marinade place onto a hot grill, flesh side down. Grill the fish for 4 minutes on the first side and then flip for 30 seconds and remove. Let rest for 5 minutes then flake the fish with a fork.

Place the tortillas on the grill and grill for 20 seconds. Divide the fish among the tortillas and garnish with any or all of the garnishes.

Try your favorite salsa recipes for this dish (red, green or both), or try Bobby Flay's pureed tomato salsa:

Pureed Tomato Salsa:

2 tablespoon peanut oil

1 small red onion, coarsely chopped

4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

4 large ripe tomatoes, chopped

1 serrano chile (fresh or dried)

1 jalapeno, sliced

1 tablespoon chipotle hot sauce

1 tablespoon Mexican oregano

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Salt and pepper

Heat oil in medium saucepan, add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add tomatoes, serrano and jalapeno and cook until tomatoes are soft, about 15 to 20 minutes. Puree the mixture with a hand-held immersion blender until smooth and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Add the hot sauce, oregano, cilantro and lime juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste.


Saludos!

A little bite of chocolate happiness

Looking for a rare gift to express your love to that special someone this Valentine's?  I've found just the right item!  On a recent (as in today) pit stop to my favorite chocolate store, Sweetlollapalooza  (http://www.sweetlollapalooza.com/ ), I was given the opportunity to taste the world's rarest chocolate.  In limited supply from Peru with only two known suppliers in Canada, this chocolate is pretty special. 

Take a look at the following article 

http://www.livinginperu.com/news-13864-food-rare-cacao-beans-discovered-peru

The taste, is an incredibly rich and dense dark chocolate, but not bitter at all.  There is a natural sweetness, combined with nuts and creaminess that is simply unique to any other dark chocolate I have tried.  Sounds like a cliche, but a little goes a long way, and the finish on this chocolate can last for an hour!  For now, you can purchase this chocolate in a wonderful ganache heart-shaped chocolate, boxed and ready to share with the one you love.

Beautifully finished bites of happiness!

And, at $3 per chocolate, not a bad investment for the one you love....or yourself!  Coming soon, but a limited edition, will be a large chocolate bar using the same chocolate, wrapped in a beautiful linen casing.  Sweetlollapalooza always does things right, and yet again, another example of exceptional quality, product and customer service, down to the beautifully wrapped box and blue bow!

Monday is Valentine's Day!

I'll be the first to admit that although I think it is fantastic that we take a day to recognize the ones we love, I bristle at the fact that it has become so commercialized and retail has completely taken advantage of us, the consumer.  Even the once two dozen roses for $16.99 at Costco is now hiked up in price for the coming weekend, let alone a specialty florist!

That being said, I have a few top choices of my own to share with Edmontonians, be it celebrating on Monday or any day:

Treats from the Duchess Bake Shop!  As with every holiday, the Duchess makes some wonderful season-appropriate french delicacies, and Valentine's is no exception.   Introducing, The Valentines Macaron Gift Boxes. These heart shaped macaron have two flavours: Amarena Cherry and Rose.  Pre-order these little morsels of wonderfulness to ensure availability!

Need some chocolate to celebrate with a loved one?  Then look no further that my personal favorite, Sweetlollapalooza in Commerce Place, downtown.  The master of creating exceptional product and delightful flavour combinations is also inspired by the seasons, and is sure to have some wonderful items for both men and women, as well as some hard to resist samples!  Hey, it's a win-win situation!

Romantic dinner for two in an intimate setting with a high quality menu?  Yup, also checked.  Try the new and much raved about Corso 32.  With some very traditional Italian plates on the menu and some modern twists, it is top on my list of new places to try!

Looking for a little something that lasts longer than chocolate with a small price tag?  Take a look at these beautiful and simple necklaces designed by Maya Brenner, available under the STELLA! tab in the navigation bar above.  Order from the comfort of your computer and watch it arrive in a beautiful gift box within days for your beloved!

The Ever After Necklace

The On The Mark Necklace

Whatever, and whenever you choose to celebrate your love with your partner or family...just do it.  Always appreciate the ones closest to you that make your life happy, filled and complete with a loving gesture, word or just a private moment together.  And hey, food and jewellery are always a bonus!

Back from Vacation!

Can't wait to be welcomed by Merida and all her wonders

Well, back from a wonderful week long vacation in always sunny Cabo with my husband!  A great time, although the wind was a bit chilly (brrrrrrr..) but mostly time to reconnect and experience some new places in one of our favorite spots.

Cabo is one of our favorite because we know it.  We know what to expect, how to get around and feel comfortable in the surroundings.  After that, Cabo San Lucas is quite limiting as a "Spring break" town filled with cheesy tourist traps at every corner, though it's sister town, San Jose Del Cabo, is much more our speed with low traffic, lots of locals and quirky stores with fantastic food, arts and music.  We are constantly drawn to the breathtaking beauty surrounding us where we stay, where you see rugged Pacific coastline and sea as far as the eye can see!  The crashing of waves against the rock formations, the whales playing in the Pacific and the constant sunshine defines relaxation for us.

As a bonus this visit, our dear friend, Ven, from Guadalajara just "happened" to find himself in Cabo for a series of work meetings and was able to join us for the better part of a day to break bread and catch up - what a treat!  Lucky guy to have a meeting in Cabo :-)

But next, we are planning our trip of discovery to Progresso and Merida, the capital of the Yucatan.  Where Merida is inland and is a cultural hub with Operas, Universities, Museums, great food and architecture, Progresso is a mere 30 minutes away, originally a small fishing village and on the beautiful coast.  Here is our opportunity to explore a new area of Mexico and maybe take advantage of some great investment real estate before it starts to climb!  Excited about the next adventure and wondering when it will be.....