Almond bites alike

I read

The editor of Self defended the magazine's practices, saying that women want retouched images and heavier models don't sell magazines.

Do you Photoshop yourself in pictures?

... therefore, I think!

I do not.

When I read this on the internet, I thought Humphhhhhh that is soooo superficial. that was until I started to read the Elle Canada magazine of February 2011.

So I am at the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto waiting for my flight to Japan. There are magazines available and often take some on the plane with me. One, they are free and two, it's a 12-hour flight, so I have time to go through every single page. 

... and then I arrive on page 12! and what I see?? THIS.

I do NOT Photoshop myself, but I am so used to see "perfection" in magazine that I had to actually double look and this mannequin to "see" what was wrong ... and then I saw. The right leg (the one on the left in the picture). I do not know if a case of Photoshop gone bad or what but ... I would sue! 

I am so shallow ... sorry.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa !

Legs liek Rocky Road ice cream or ... these below.

Almond and Chocolate Bites

Prep: 15min     Serves: Many many

Cooking time: 10 min + 1hr cooling  

Ingredients

1 pack of Graham wafers (half a box)

2/3 cup sliced almond

1/3 cup nuts chopped

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

Preparation

Preheat oven at 350F, with the grill in the center.

Arrange the wafers on the bottom of one big cookie sheet. Sprinkle the almonds and nuts.

In a pan melt the butter and add the brown sugar. Bring to boil et cook for 2 min, until you get a thick syrup. Pour slowly on the wafers.

Bake for 10min. Cool down for about 3-5 min, sprinkle the chocolate chips and cut while it is still hot (it will become to hard to cut.) Place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

Source: hum, mostly Ma Cabeza and Inspired by a recipe in coupdepouce.com

When you have to choose ...

I see

... therefore, I think !

I really wonder if any words need to be added ...
Really, when I think about any of my friends (even the ones who do not drink!) I cannot think of one that would choose the junk food one over the wine !

Even if you do not worry about calories, there is something wrong with this table. Don't you think? Almost a full bottle of wine for a large fries from McDonald's ... hum, do I need to really think of the answer here? Riesling vs Zinfandel ? Just in case you wonder, the table is based on 5-ounces glasses and all wines are below 14,5% alcohol. Think about it, even if you would go for a wine with more alcohol content ... cut a glass and enjoy!

Maybe, just maybe ... a thought ... maybe America should start drinking more wine and get away from the junk! Hum, knowing them (I love them) they would probably forget to choose between the two. You cannot add one to the other ...  On this joyful note ... let me go get a glass of cool Sauvignon Blanc ...

Reference: Food & Wine, March 2011

Denial

I read

Talking about dying:

And then I wonder, is it because I am so content, since I think I have done in my life everything I ever wanted to do, or is it unconscious denial - "it can't be true, I'll just live...". Dunno, but I think the last plays important role. Otherwise the life would be just about unbearable. 

"A  friend of mine!!!"

... therefore, I think!


That made me scream !
How can you even think that in your 40's you have done everything you ever wanted to do?
To me, THAT would be unbearable !
Imagine, you still have half of your life to go through and no more dreams!

I read once that:  Going through life without dreams is like shopping without a list!
What do you want to do with your life?
Whenever I go to the grocery store without a list, just for bread and milk, what happens? I come out with a bunch of articles that I could have done without, do not really like, make me fat, that I do not need. Would you build a house without a blueprint? No. So why would go through life without dreams.

Dream. Dream big.
Leo  Burnett wrote: When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.
I read this in 1995 and to this day, I still think of it regularly. When I look back at what I have done, been  and achieved, I sometimes have to pinch myself. I am so lucky (ok, I also have worked very hard to be there). I used to think that I did not have goals or passions, but I came to realize that mine are so not with what I own, buy or acquire ... but with what I do, live, see, taste, smell. Very simple, but so rewarding.


I want more of all of it, but not at any price. My friends, family, work, home ... and me!

Hey Pumpkin, wake up smell the Harissa and go find something to do!

Pumpkin Soup with Harissa

Prep: 10-40 min     Cooking time: 20 min 

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2.5 kg pumpkin, cooked and mashed
• 750 ml milk
• 50-60 ml of instant stock mix, chicken
• Black pepper to taste
• Harissa, to taste

Preparation
Mix pumpkin, milk, stock mix and harissa. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. Season to taste.

Source: Recipe for Harissa, inspired by The essential vegeterian cookbook p.40.

Dirty handbag and packs

I read

Have you ever noticed gals who sit their handbags on public toilet floors - Then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?

Handbags are filthy dirty.

... therefore, I think!

Few weeks back, I went out with my sister who gave me the idea for today's talk. Where do we sit our purse? Hey guys, do not think it does not apply to you, you have packs, day packs.

Usually, I arrive home and put my handbag and briefcase on the kitchen table or the kitchen counter and go through them ...

It’s the middle of the afternoon; do you know where your handbag has been? Right now it’s probably sitting innocently on your desk, on a counter top somewhere, or on the floor next to you, but do you know where else has it been during the last 24 hours? The last week? 

Most women have handbags that get around to some really nasty places, like the floor of your car, restaurants, and all kinds of dirty restroom surfaces — and after all that they end up traipsing around on table tops where you eat, kitchen counters where you prepare food, and on your desk where you’ve got your hands on everything all day.

Studies have shown that as many as 4 out of every 5 handbags not only have not only “normal” dirt, grime, and germs on the outside but also surprisingly large amounts of very dangerous bacteria and substances like staphylococcus aureus, e. coli, salmonella, fecal matter, and even vomit.

YUCK!

So what to do? Keep your bag a little cleaner by using hooks to keep it off the floor in restaurants and restrooms and do your best not to set it down on tabletops, counter tops, and other surfaces like your desk. A handy tip is to think of your handbag like a pair of shoes you wear all the time: would you ever keep them up on the table next to your sandwich and fries?

Some quick “dirty handbag” facts:

• Women with children tend to have dirtier handbags than women without
• Cloth bags are generally worse than leather or vinyl ones
• Your handbag goes where people walk, sit, cough, sneeze, pee, and defecate. (gag)

So this fact, id kind of "new" revelation to me but when you do some research on the web, it has been a topic for a while. So I am not trying to reinvent the wheel here (that's some part are copy, paste in the article) but I want to make sure that you had been made aware of this ... if this does not concern you, think of people around you who do it. Talk to your friends, wife, girlfriends, boyfriends ... educate your children.

Once in a while, think of cleaning your bags !

Source: Twirlit

A day off

A Day OFF

I read

Victoria Day (Queen's Day)
Dollard's Day
National Patriot's Day

... therefore, I think!

If you are Canadian, today is a National Holiday.
Depending where in Canada you live ... that day has a different thing to celebrate.


Victoria Day is ... in Canada in honor of Queen Victoria since 1845.


Dollard's Day, no nothing to do with dollar as in chiching ...
After the Quiet Revolution of the '60s in Quebec, it was a real "faux-pas" in the province to celebrate anything that had to do with the British ... The English ... but none were about to let go of the statutory Canadian Holiday. So Quebec had to find a Hero and found Dollard des Ormeaux.  Adam Dollard des Ormeaux was unknown until the 1940s when nationalist historians in Quebec like Lionel Groulx found accounts of the Battle of Long Sault and raised Dollard to hero status. A postage stamp was made to honour his contributions to New France. The deaths of Dollard des Ormeaux and his men were recounted by Catholic nuns and entered into official Church history. For over a century Dollard des Ormeaux became a heroic figure in New France, and then in Quebec, who exemplified selfless personal sacrifice, who had been a martyr for the church, and for the colony.


National Patriot's Day, no it has nothing to do with football ...
National Patriots' Day (French: Journée nationale des patriotes) is a statutory holiday observed annually in the Canadian province of Quebec, on the Monday preceding 25 May. The holiday was instated by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec-in-Council in 2003, according to the then Premier of Quebec Bernard Landry: "to underline the importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837–1838 for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government."


So in order words, when English parts of Canada celebrate the monarch of England, Quebec celebrates its never ending fight with the "English" ...  but all in all, most people consider this day as the beginning of summer!


When it came to linking my recipe, I thought what could be better but to offer you a General ! 

General Tao Chicken

Prep: 35 min     Cooking: 20-25 min     Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 3 c. to tab (45 ml) oyster sauce
• 1 tsp to tab (15 ml) soy sauce
• 
  2 tablespoons to tab (30 mL) Heinz Chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons to tack (30 ml) sweet chilli sauce / salt
• 1 / 4 cup (60 ml) water
• 1 tsp tab + to 2 to 3 c. to tab (45 to 60 ml) cornstarch
• 1 to 1 1 / 2 lb (500 to 750 g) boneless chicken breasts, skin and fat removed, cut into 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• 1 beaten egg, large
• 1 / 4 cup (60 ml)  all-purpose flour
• 1 / 2 c. tsp (2 mL) baking powder
• 1 / 4 c. tsp (1 mL) salt
• 3 c. to tab (45 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 tsp to tab (15 mL) toasted sesame oil
• 1 / 3 cup (80 mL) sliced ​​green onions
• 1 tsp to tab (15 ml) fresh ginger, chopped
• 1 / 2 c. to tab (7 mL) toasted sesame seeds

Preparation:
In a small bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, hot pepper flakes, if desired, water and 1 c. to tab (15 mL) cornstarch. Reserve. (You can prepare the sauce in advance and cover it. It will keep for up to 2 days refrigerated.)


Put the remaining cornstarch in a bowl. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat. In another bowl, with a whisk, combine egg, flour, baking powder and salt. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat.


In a wok or large skillet, heat vegetable oil until smoking. Using tongs, add chicken pieces, a few at a time, and cook 7 to 10 minutes or until browned on all sides (turn them often during cooking to prevent them from sticking together). Remove the chicken and place on a plate lined with paper towels and keep warm.


Degrease the wok. Add sesame oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the scallions and ginger and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Pour reserved sauce and cook, scraping the bottom of the wok for about 1 minute or until it is thickened. Add the reserved chicken to skillet and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.


Source: Inspiration from CoupdePouce

Chez Victoire

I eat

Chez Victoire

... therefore, I think!

Friday night a week or so ago was a nice evening, one of the first nights when you can actually eat outside at night, but we could feel rain coming ... 

We were hungry and had not made any reservations ... a little mistake when going to the Plateau on weekends. Luckily, our choice quickly went to Chez Victoire. A name very appropriate considering I was out with my sister to celebrate her new job!

We were greeted by: ''You know Ladies, it is a very good idea to have a reservation on Friday night !'' I know, I know, but have you ever heard of plans are made to be changed ? Anyway, we were offered a face-to-face place at the bar. Excellent! that's a place we favor when we go out my sist and I.

You see, sometimes it is when nothing is planned that great moments happened! On this blog, I have talked of Le Renoir, the Montreal Sofitel's restaurant ... what was not my surprise (!!!) to see Dominique at Chez Victoire! Dominique used to work at The Renoir who he was also in charge of the wine selection. The good thing with him is that he can adapt nicely to the customer's wants and means ($$).  He suggested a nice wine for us, as well as the 2 gals sitting next to us (different ones, paired with our respective foods). He also brought a "certain class" to the place. I have to admit, that when he folded my sister's cotton napkin while she was at the restrooms added a little plus, a "je-ne-sais-quoi" ... Ok enough about Dominique ...

The entire staff is great, present but not too much. Just enough.

The only recommendation? Wine pouring ... some have not been thought that you do not need to fill up the wine glass when you do not buy wine by the glass ... I will drink the entire bottle, careful to not pour too much ... not a big deal, but ...

The food? We have enjoyed everything!

What we had? Well, we shared ...

Cocktail: 

•  THE OLD CUBAN
  MINT - LIME - ANGOSTURA - BROWN RUM - BUBBLES 

Appetizers: 

• HEIRLOOM CHEERY TOMATOES SALAD
  MOZZARELLA DI BUFFALA - EDAMAME - PINE NUTS - BASILIC - WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR

• Popcorn rock shrimps
  mAYO/GREEN CURRY

Entrée: 

 FROM ALEX'S RESERVE

• PIECE OF BEEF 1855 (1LB) VACUUM MARINATED & GRILLED
  CARAMELIZED ONIONS MOUSSE - ISRAELI COUSCOUS - IN-SEASONS' MUSHROOMS - MEAT JUICE WITH CIPOLINNI ONIONS & MEAUX MUSTARD

 Wine: 

• LE MACCHIOLE
  BOLGHERI 2008 - MERLOT, CABERNET, SANGIOVESE & MERLOTROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE: 92 POINTSWINE SPECTATOR: 88 POINT

... and then we were not hungry anymore ... nothing could go in ... no desserts, even though by looking at other people's plate, we knew we were missing something!

Ambiance: discretely noisy. There is a live DJ with good enough music for a Resto Branché ... loud enough that it can cover the neighbour’s conversation but that I could still hear what my sister was saying ... even though sometimes we had to lean forward. The owner was there making sure everything was under control. He is also friendly and recognizes the regulars.

Will I go back? for sure!

Do I recommend? yes, of course.

I was about to forget: menus are printing on brown recycled paper ... another plus.

Geocaching

I read

Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.
Wikipedia


... therefore, I think!


You were looking for something to do this weekend? 

I may just have an idea for you. Outdoor on top of it.

You are alone, with friends or your kids; GEOCACHING can be lots of fun.

The activity is often promoted to young children but I think it can be fun at any ages. Some caches are in the city, others in the middle of nowhere ... you can do the activity in group or alone. Sometimes, alone it is more difficult to go for a walk, some people need a purpose, a goal, a destination ... well this activity can just be what you were looking for.

Is there a group around where I (you) live? Check HERE.

A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (tupperware or similar) or ammo boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value. Geocaching is often described as a "game of high-tech hide and seek," sharing many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, and waymarking.

Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. After 10 years of activity there are over 1.3 million active geocaches published on various websites. There are over 5 million geocachers worldwide.

Want to know more?? Click HERE

Are we there yet?

I read

True believers will don celestial bodies and ascend to join God. On earth, sinners will suffer chaos until Oct. 21.

On that day, God will destroy the entire universe.

Recornet

... therefore, I think!

I saw this on one of my friend's Facebook page and I thought of sharing with you.

I actually saw this on May 4th, but decided to inform you only few days before.

Several reasons motivated this decision, but mainly I was not sure how you would take it.

I did not want to be responsible for a crappy month that this news may generate in you and the other one ... more practical. I thought, hum what will they do? Some of them will get stoned, totally wasted, not going to work, etc and since the economy is just recovering, I did not want to slow down productivity. 

You will say and so what ?

Well, if the end is really close I did not want you to be completely sedated and not see what will happen and if nothing happen ... hey, I could be responsible for you losing your job because of partying for almost a month. So by telling you only 3 days in advance, I think that it is perfect !

Just pick the perfect activity that you like the most and live as if ...

??? shouldn't we do that everyday of our life anyway ???

Bad God, bad bad God ... destroying everything that took so long to build ! Wouldn't it be easier to just send us someone (again), or just an email telling us it was just a sick joke from above ? Why should I be scared anyway? Isn't it the same God that is telling me that the after life is BETTER than this one?

It is so complicated ... 

French Royal Wedding

I read

Marie-Antoinette et Louis XIV

The ceremonial wedding of the Dauphin (Louis-Auguste) and Dauphine (Marie-Antoinette) took place on 16 May 1770, in the Palace of Versailles, after which was the ritual bedding.

... therefore, I think!

301 years ago, today.
We all know how the marriage ended ! 

Very ... abruptly!

Today, I am offering you a recipe fit for a King!

Chicken à La King

Prep: 20 min     Cooking: 15 min    
Portions: 6

Ingredients:
1.5 cups of frozen vegetables
1x 10on can of condensed cream of mushrooms
1x 10on can of condensed cream of chicken
450 ml of milk (1%)
1 Tbs poultry seasoning
400g cubed cooked chicken
2 cups chicken broth
2 Tbs mixture terragon, origan , basil, parsley, corainder, tumeric paprika, nutmeg

Preparation:
In a casserole combine the vegetables, chicken broth, soup, milk, poultry seasoning and mixture of spices.

Stir in chicken. Cook, covered, on high for 6 to 8 minutes or till bubbly.
Serve over Pastry Shell, rice or toast.

Source: New Dieter's CookBook

A Mini-Me !

I watch

... therefore I think !

Isn’t it fabulous! Children learn by mimicking what they see. 

I did not start reading that young but I can easily remember my mom telling me from downstairs: “Sylvie, time to turn off the lights”. That’s when I’ve discovered that I could read under the blankets with a flashlight, but mom was not fooled that easily and soon had to stop. Later in life, books have accompanied me while traveling to college, an hour ride each way, everyday. Later on in life, reading became a good friend (always there) helping me with my … impatience. Waiting is not the best sport I like practicing. I used to stress out while waiting for someone who was late to an appointment. Today, bah, lateness (from others) is no longer an anxiety factor … I read. I always have a book.

Writing a blog is not always easy, especially when you decide to take your inspiration from reading you do. Sometimes, it feels like every reading I do has a define purpose … finding an inspiring line that will help me write the next day’s blog.

At times, it can be tiring because you no longer just read to read. Reading becomes “a job” and is no longer just an enjoyment to get away from reality. That you read an article from Vogue, The Economist, or any other magazines, a novel (mystery or love), of even the cereal box, you eventually need to find a sentence that will trigger your creative mind.

It may seem that I am complaining but it is not the case … I love reading. It is really a passion, as cooking when I have time. I say that because when I cannot read, for example when I drive, I listen to books … cooking … a bit more difficult to have a miniature oven in the car. Hum, now that I think about it, one day I will tell you the Easy Bake story.

LMAO no kiddin'

I read

On nous sourit? C'est immanquable, on va y répondre automatiquement. En effet, le sourire, comme le rire, est contagieux. Et, s'il est à la foir le signe et l'expression d'un certain bien-être intérieur, c'est aussi un outil de communication non verbal très efficace.

Les vertus cachés du rire et du sourire, Rose-Line Brasset, Châtelaine, Mai 2010

I translate: 

We smiled? It is inevitable, we will respond automatically. Indeed, the smile, likelaughter, is contagious. And if the evening is the sign and expression of some inner well-being is also a nonverbal communication tool very effectively.

The hidden virtues for smiling and laughing

... therefore, I think !

Feeling a bit bla today?

Nothing is really getting your attention?

Watch this 9-minute video, a real therapy.

The first 30 seconds are a bit slow because the only thing that is laughing is the guy in red on the right hand side ... but once you will understand why ... it WILL get contagious ...

No joke.

Cheaper than a therapy session with your favorite shrink!

I bet that you will feel better after the 9 minutes.

Better, bookmark this page as it may become handy when February comes again ...

fou rire contagieux - YouTube

Flooded St-Jean-sur-Richelieu QC

I read

The Richelieu's water level rose to 1.2 meters above normal Wednesday, and Environment Canada is predicting rain for the area until Saturday.
The number of municipalities affected by the breached banks of the Richelieu jumped from 10 to 17 Thursday, due to high water levels in two tributaries to the north. 

Military aids weary Quebec flood victims. CBC News, May 5th 2011


... therefore, I think!

Dame Nature is getting really pissed off!

You watch the news and every night they are showing us some flooded houses, people who have to move out of their houses, people who have lost everything. These people do not live in the middle of nowhere, no in a nice little suburb town.

So one day at lunch time ... I decided to go see by myself.

Yes, I did made myself one of the really nosy persons that take their car to go take pictures ... really stupid, but I did it. You drive at less than 5km on a flooded street that has about 10cm of water and you can see the big wave that you are creating ... and you also see the resident in their houses looking at you with big eyes and you know they say something like: "Hey, you, idiot! Get off my street. Don't you see that you are creating more damages. Do you think that we need you in our streets just to take pictures? At least next time bring a shovel so you be useful and fill up some bags. Idiot! Now, go away."

So now that the deed is done, must as well show you some of the pictures I took.

These pictures do not depict the worse as I still had some decorum and did not push the stupidity as to go where it was really bad and that I could not come back !

These pictures where taken Thursday May 5th ... since Saturday May 7th the rain has stopped and the river is getting back in but slowly, very slowly. There is still snow melting in the Vermont's mountains, Champlain Lake is full and there is so much the river can take. However, the worst seems to be behind in terms of weather ... but for the residents, it is not over ... one thing that we should remember is that when the water comes in, it is not nice clean water. Noooooooooooooo. It is a mixture of dirt, sewer and water ... 

Chambly canal - Lock 9

Between the rail and the yellow cement block ...
there's a bicycle path not a canoe one ...

Closed street

That's Water

That's more water

Water is supposed to be on the other side of the trees