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CanadianFoodieGirl's Profile

Website: http://www.canadianfoodiegirl.com

Location: Toronto, Canada

About: I comment on a lot of blogs but haven't been able to decide on a theme for my own. I like to eat, a lot. It doesn't show because I was blessed with good genetics and was raised in a family that encouraged healthy eating and exercise.

Favorite foods:

Last bite on earth:

The Ten Most Recent Posts By CanadianFoodieGirl

From Talk

Wanted: Quick and efficient tips for chopping chocolate

Posted by CanadianFoodieGirl, May 18, 2008 at 5:19 PM

It seems like a simple thing, and yet I can't seem to get it right. I'm currently making a mousse cake the requires chopped chocolate*. I didn't have the patience to chop with a knife so I tried chopping in my Magic Bullet (flat blade) because according to the infomercial, it can do that. Like the previous attempt, it failed (previously I'd also tried freezing the chocolate first, and that didn't work either). Then I tried a plastic bag and hammer. Failed.

So, back to the knife and chopping board, chopping roughly with my palm pressing down on the back of the knife. I cut my hand and the process was messy with chocolate chunks flying over my counter.

Any tips? Is the secret to chopping chocolate a good knife?

Thanks.

*I'm making a chocolate espresso mousse cake recipe that I found at David Lebovitz's blog awhile bag, replacing some of the espresso with Kahlua.

8 Comments | Tagged: chocolate

From Talk

Vegetarian Crock Pot recipes

Posted by CanadianFoodieGirl, January 28, 2008 at 1:06 PM

I've just bought a 4 quart slow cooler on sale, as I've heard positive things about slow cookers and I once had a friend who raved about them. Now I'm looking for recipes. I searched the Serious Eats site and found a Moroccan Jewish dish in comments (November 2007) and I will definitely try it some time, being Jewish. I know that baked beans are an option.

Other ideas?
Can I cook soup in it? I'd use it for the tortilla soup that I'm making for Friday evening (see my previous post) .

8 Comments | Tagged: Crock Pot, slow-cookers, vegetarian

From Talk

Small Mexican themed potluck ideas

Posted by CanadianFoodieGirl, January 23, 2008 at 12:33 PM

Ideas? Recipes? It's "potluck" but I think that there's less than a half dozen of us in attendance so "Mexican fiesta dip for 20" is overkill.

One idea I had was something chocolate. One person won't eat anything custard-like or anything with cooked fruit.

I prefer vegetarian but can work with meat if I make it myself.
(Explanation: I prefer organic meat and have access to a suitable butcher but eating vegetarian is easier and cheaper.)

Tools at my disposal include a rice cooker and a Magic Bullet, if that helps.

Thanks.

15 Comments

From Talk

Favourite food blogs?

Posted by CanadianFoodieGirl, September 13, 2007 at 10:13 AM

Over time I've been pruning my online news reader (Google Reader, if you're wondering). Even on my slow work days it can take hours for me to get through my feeds, despite skimming headlines. I've removed a lot of recipe blogs because of the tendency to print out recipes that I never use.

Besides Serious Eats, what food blogs/food-related RSS feeds do you like the most? Let's compile a "must read" list.

31 Comments | Tagged: blogs, food blogs

The Ten Most Recent Comments By CanadianFoodieGirl

From Talk

Do you eat because of hunger or the clock? Or both?

Hunger, or else if I feel like it's been too long since I last ate. I don't understand the "it's noon, it's lunch time" mentality, except for in the case when people's rhythms are set that way - to be hungry at "lunch time". Scheduled eating seems to be a carryover from the Industrial Revolution. I get to work at 6:30, am ready for breakfast by 7:30/8, and can be ready for lunch any time between 11:30 and 1. Sometimes I eat two breakfasts.

Listening to one's body is best, rather than eating by the clock without question.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 1:07PM on 07/24/08

From Required Eating

'Reasons Why I Don’t Like Making Vivannos'

Thanks for giving me a new blog to read, as if 117 subscriptions in Google Reader wasn't enough.

Or I can not subscribe and let it release from my memory.

It is an amusing blog.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 12:05PM on 07/17/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

The Elio Perrone Bigaro seems to be unavailable in Ontario. At least, not widely distributed. I'll have to ask my friend who works in the wine industry about it.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 12:11PM on 07/15/08

From Talk

when a snack becomes a meal...

Amount of food, I think. Yesterday evening I wasn't hungry so instead of dinner I had a snack: Blanched local peas dipped in sesame ginger dressing. This could have been the appetizer to a meal.

I tend to eat smaller meals anyway, but generally not that small.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 11:37AM on 07/11/08

From Talk

Let cookie dough rest, and other secrets

I read this article earlier and loved it, sending copies to people and commenting on it in a draft blog entry.

The "high quality chocolate" tip should go without saying, but I'm going to try the other tips.

My sister once got some chocolate chip cookie tips that included melting the butter and under cooking (I think). I'll have to look those tips up in my food & recipe binder when I get home.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 12:56PM on 07/09/08

From Talk

honeycomb toffee?

I'm going to try that "Cinder Toffee" recipe (see recipezaar link). If it works it would be great to take to parties - or the office.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 10:46AM on 07/07/08

From Photograzing

Nutella Ricotta Calzone

Oh baby.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 1:35PM on 07/04/08

From Talk

Do you scoop your bagels?

Wow, such controversy over bagels!

I've never heard of this before and am mildly disturbed. I take my bagels seriously even though I realize that it's just food and that scooping a personal choice and none of my business. Why not eat half a bagel - or a quarter of a bagel - instead?

The concept of scooping out bagels would make a Montrealer sh*t themselves and I want a Montrealer to either validate this statement or contradict it.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 1:42PM on 07/02/08

From Talk

Happy Canada Day!

Nothing special, though I'm currently eating a salad that I made yesterday using some ingredients from my local farmer's market. Does that count?

Poutine would be nice but too heavy on a day like this. A cold, refreshing beer should be in my near future.

Happy Canada Day.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 2:35PM on 07/01/08

From Required Eating

The Great Strawberry Ice Cream Debate

Ben & Jerry's strawberry cheesecake = swoon.
As Ed indicated in his most previous comment, the simpler the ingredients the better. Cream, Strawberries, Skim Milk, Sugar and Egg Yolks is as close to home made as you can get in a carton bought from a store.

CanadianFoodieGirl at 8:36AM on 06/27/08

Responses to Comments by CanadianFoodieGirl

From Talk

Do you eat because of hunger or the clock? Or both?

Hunger. No kids, just hubby and me. We eat when it suits us.

When I'm helping out with my neice, I stick to the clock. She will run around until she's cranky from low-blood sugar or exhaustion unless, I or her mom, tells her it's time to eat or time to sleep.

Hungry now, must go eat.

wookie at 1:41PM on 07/24/08

From Talk

Do you scoop your bagels?

i agree with sloppy -- i don't have a problem with people trying to be calorie conscious, it just seems a little wasteful to me to order a bagel and have the clerk scoop all of the inside from it, leaving just the crust. if you're using the pizza analogy, it's like ordering a slice of pizza and having the clerk throw away all of it EXCEPT the crust.

but on the other hand, hey, if some places offer it, that's their prerogative. just because you buy a bagel doesn't mean you should be forced to eat all of it! who am i to tell anyone how or how not to eat the bagel they purchased?

megannesta at 7:15PM on 07/21/08

From Talk

Do you scoop your bagels?

Of course!!! That way you have more room to load it up with cream cheese and/or tons of lox!

http://www.someonespoilme.com

someonespoilme at 6:39PM on 07/21/08

From Required Eating

'Reasons Why I Don’t Like Making Vivannos'

Cry me a river. When 100s of you are fighting to keep your jobs you have complaints? Better pull your head out of your back end.
@Cup oooh I am a barista too. Oh yea I am yelling for a banana right now.

JerzeeTomato at 12:49AM on 07/18/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

@Ariel777 - My boyfriend is one of those too, but I've never dared to feed him something off his no-no list, even if i suspect he'll like it. (Example: He swears he can't stomach cheese, but he loves melted mozzarella on pizza - which makes me wonder if it's not a mental rut more than anything else.)

My question is, how do you manage to have him try new things without being condescending or dismissive of his tastes? I'm vegetarian, and I'd hate it if someone tricked me into eating meat because "I don't know what I'm missing."

piccola at 7:50PM on 07/15/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

I would try the Bigaro, if I was offered it. I don't tend to like dessert wines, but my experience with them is admittedly limited (other than ports and sherries which I love). My parents offered me a taste of Barsac when I was 12 and I thought if was the most cloying thing I'd ever put in my mouth. But I would try a dessert wine again.

Amandarama at 4:41PM on 07/15/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

you told a great story and did a wonderful analysis of a tricky, subjective topic that can easily press people's buttons and makes them roll their eyes.

you've done a tremendous job with these posts!

looking forward to the next one...

z911empire at 3:03PM on 07/15/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

Hannah, a big thumbs up on your writing style. And as a huge fan of dessert wine, I'll be hunting down a bottle.

Also, on a more personal note, I used to HATE all goat cheese, or any cheese reminiscent of goat cheese. Then, a friend put a really good feta in a salad, and I started enjoying feta more as I ate it. After that, I tried a pizza with little gobs of chevre on it, and while there was a slight aversion at first, now I LOVE it. Goes to show, some things, cheese especially, can be an acquired taste.

amanda0730 at 2:22PM on 07/15/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

I think it's all a matter of degree and, yes, courtesy on all sides.

If you say, with or without trying it first, that you would prefer cow's cheese to goat's or the Burgundy to the Champagne, and you smile and don't make a big deal about it, friends or family or waitstaff should all try to give you what you want without forcing or shaming you into doing something else.

After all, it could be that goat cheese does fascinating things to your digestive system, which you might or might not want the rest of the table to know about.

If, on the other hand, you "flail" and throw a tantrum, behave like a two-year-old trying grape jelly for the first time, and go into a long monologue about how worthless the food or drink (and everyone who likes it) are, and generally make people feel uncomfortable with their own choice, you're being rude and you probably ought to be sent from the table or forced to eat what's in front of you, like any other child.

Hmm. I feel a blog post coming on.

annien at 1:40PM on 07/15/08

From Required Eating

Served: On (Not) Knowing What We Want

Hush, Hannah! If they don't like goat cheese, that means more for me...

missginsu at 12:53PM on 07/15/08