CanadianBakin'

I usually use a mix of Granny Smith and Galas. No spice at all please, not even cinnamon. Just white sugar, potato starch and a dash of salt.

What a great "apple pie"!

I'm with you on that one. I thought I'd wait till it hit Costco in Canada but it's getting very hard to be patient.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I checked Home Sense tonight and wouldn't you know it they had a big display of Le Creuset but no grill pans. They also had some Staubs items for greatly reduced prices. I also checked Costco but nothing at the moment. I'll slowly make my way through the list.

Are we going to hear about your trip? I didn't notice anything on the Vancouver forum.

I don't have time to read this whole thread at the moment so it might have been suggested but I bought some awesome sour cherry jam at Whole Foods that might incorporate well. Not marachinos but still cherry.

I realize this thread is 3 years old so nightscotsmans link doesn't work. My husband recently discovered Mojitos and would like to make them at home. Does anyone have a good recipe?

Bake Shop muffins from a back issue of Fine Cooking magazine are awesome! I think I typed it in Rodney's orange muffin thread. It's very versatile, bakes up a big cap with great flavour. I have always had great success with this recipe.

I'd like to get a square Le Crueset grill pan with panini press for my sister-in-law but they aren't cheap. I've only begun my search and have been to The Cooks Shop and have looked online at department stores. Anyone know somewhere I should keep an eye on for sales? Or simply another source to check? I know The Cooks Shop can be expensive so I'm not sure if their price is good or not. I think the pan alone was about $139.

I think that sounds like a great deal! I took a pastry and baking class last year that was $695 for 8 3-hour classes, ingredients and tools provided at a culinary school. I think we did 4 - 6 recipes per night but it varied. Some recipes were done over 2 days. It might be at the same school that BBQ Brian is signed up at...NWCA?

Thanks for showing us another part of Canada. It's absolutely beautiful!!

They sound fabulous!! The best "Hostess" recipe I ever made is from Food and Wine... "Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Filling". White squiggles on top and all. You can get the recipe from their website. It is a truly sensual eating experience. My daughter just happened to maket them this Monday for her co-workers. They are all still raving about them. Please try the recipe. ← Here's the link. I don't have marshmallow fluff but as soon as I get it I'm going to give these a try. I think my husband would really like them.

Not fancy, but I bet brownies ship well and you're famous for them!

I'm not sure how this would work in petit four style but squares of crisp puff pastry layers sandwiching apples that have been caramelized, served beside or underneath a small scoop of apple icecream would be nice.

I've found potato starch works great in pies. I read about it in Baking Illustrated and have used it ever since. Not gummy or gooey looking but firms up pies nicely.

Thanks for all the suggestions! This gives us a great list to work from.

Since we live out in Mission we aren't very familiar with good places to eat in Vancouver aside from the ones we've enjoyed thanks to everyone's recommendations...Parkside, HSG, Feenies, Irish Heather, etc. So, I need your help again. Can you please recommend good places for a reasonably priced lunch that are not far from the Cancer Clinic? It's on W 10th near Cambie. We walked around last friday and there seems to be a lot of variety but it would be nice if we didn't have to waste time finding out which ones are best. If there happens to be a good coffee shop or bakery in the area I'd love to know about that too. Thanks!

Yes it was me. I'm doing pretty good so far, thanks for asking. The fund raising is all my girlfriend's plan. We had no idea it was coming. We have been totally overwhelmed with the support! ← I saw that as well. I did not put it together. What was the email ? Trek_for_Tina@hotmail.com Is there anything this crew of food geeks can do ? ← That is the correct e-mail address. What can "this crew of food geeks" do?...I'm not sure Neil. Thanks for asking though. We do need recommendations for decent places to have lunch near the Cancer Clinic but I'll start a new thread for suggestions so it doesn't get lost in this one. Aside from that keep enjoying food and friends!

Yes it was me. I'm doing pretty good so far, thanks for asking. The fund raising is all my girlfriend's plan. We had no idea it was coming. We have been totally overwhelmed with the support!

Thanks so much for all the time and effort you put into your blog. This is the very first one I've followed from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

We ate on the patio at Parkside this past Sunday as recommended by a number of you and we are definite converts. We will absolutely be back. We liked it much better than West but that may be just us. We were served by Zahara as well as two gentlemen although I didn't catch their names. I had the appetizer special which was Deep-fried Zuchinni Blossoms stuffed with herbed ricotta. I'd never tried zucchini blossoms and was glad for the opportunity. They were delicious. Not greasy, just crisp with the lovely flavour of the fresh herbs. With Zahara's input I chose the Fillet of halibut with fresh chanterelle mushrooms, lemon, parsley, garlic and crushed new potatoes for my main. Also, oh my goodness delicious. Perfectly seasoned. My husband thought it was good but thought his main was better. I don't agree. Dessert was Okanagan peach tart with yoghurt sorbet and pecan praline. The peaches and sorbet had wonderful flavour and complimented each other well. My only complaint is the crust was a bit soft so I left most of it. I'm pregnant so I was a bit limited for drinks. They asked if they could make me something fruity and virgin, made with their home made sorbets. It was raspberry and I could have had several but I needed room for all the great food. My husband, Matt, began with Crisp fried Deep Bay Oysters wrapped in pancetta with lemon, chili, garlic butter and corn relish. He hasn't had oysters in quite sometime and never this way. He thought it was fantastic! His second course was Bucatini with tuna, olives, capers, anchovy, garlic and parsley. He didn't like this as much. Neither did I. It was good but he wouldn't order it again. For his main he chose Grilled lamb tenderloin, gnocchi & fava beans, pea puree, mint & olive oil jus. He said he could eat it everyday! The lamb was perfect and he really liked the gnocchi which I don't think he expected. I tried his lamb but I still think my halibut was better. For dessert he had Coupe glacée: dark chocolate ice cream, house made marshmallow, cherries & white chocolate foam minus the cherries. He doesn't like fruit and chocolate. He let me have one very small mouthful and it was divine. The icecream was deliciously bittersweet and smooth. The white chocolate foam and marshmallows offset it perfectly. I had hoped he'd ask for wine pairings but he decided on cocktails instead. He had the Pim's cocktail and a Mojito. Loved the Pim's, enjoyed the mojito but didn't like that the mint was crushed instead of left whole. Personal preference I guess. The service was timely and friendly. The food fantastic. Thanks to you, we now know what the fuss is about and we'll be back.

We walked by this past Sunday night in hopes they'd still be open but it was just after 10pm and it looked like the Irish Heather was closed as well. Full of jovial guests finishing up but not taking anyone new. Maybe next time.

WOW!! Porcella's looks like a real find! I wish we had something like that out here in the Fraser Valley. I imagine there must be a few like that in Vancouver but I've yet to discover them.

I'm really enjoying this blog! I've gotta say your drunken posts just about had me in tears. I'm so glad you didn't edit them.

I was thinking of suggesting the K.S. as a possibility for the followup dinner day. Haven't seen anything posted about it for such a long time though, so I'm glad to see your mention of it. I also wanted to extend my best wishes for both your treatment and blessings for the little bun in the oven. ← re: little bun in the oven...a funny thing about this is our last name is Bacon so our children and the one coming are affectionately referred to by friends as bacon bits.