Three Conclusions About Myself...

Today, while biking and hiking around Denman Island, I came to three conclusions about myself.

They are:
1] I am really, really, really (and I mean really) afraid of snakes. I know, I know, I'm in Canada and they are tiny little harmless snakes but I still jump half a mile when I see one. Today I saw two and I'm glad there was no one around to watch me have a little freak out.

2] I am completely incapable of going for a slow leisurely walk, I must power walk everywhere. For this I blame my mum - she knows why :)

3] I believe I am the best version of myself when I am surrounded by nature. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some aspects of cities but I find I end up being a big negative mess if I spend too long in a concrete jungle.

Anyhoo, thought I'd just share that and now I'll bore you with some pics of the dreadful scenery from todays trek and last nights sunset...

 

 

 

 

I finally found Pok Pok...

Ok, story from the beginning. I was recommended this place to eat (along with many others) by a customer at the Wychwood Barns Farmers Markets in Toronto, so naturally, when something gets a recommendation I have to try it for myself.

So, last Friday I hired a bike with the intention of going there for lunch and to check out the east side of town. Writing down the exact address or marking it on my map probably would've been a smart thing to do (yes, I still don't have a smart phone - that would have been so much easier). So off I went, and I rode and rode and couldn't find it. Once again, I probably could've just asked someone - but oh well. I was heading back down SE Division and got distracted by a Food Cart Pod and decided to have lunch there instead (turned out to be delicious Venezuelan food). After that, I just gave up and went shopping over on SE Hawthorne at some awesome vintage stores.

Next day, I went on the Epicurean Walking Tour (which was fantastic! 3 hours of walking and eating) and I mentioned to a couple also on the tour that I had tried to find Pok Pok and failed and they said I have to go back because the place is amazing. They even gave me two bus tickets to get me there and back which was totally sweet of them. So now, I really had to go!!

And I went today!! By bus (for free) and I did my research and found the place without any trouble. Turns out, the Food Cart Pod I ate at on the Friday was directly across the street from Pok Pok and I completely missed it!! Talk about having a man look.

End of story, it was delicious!!!

What I ate:
I had the Pok Pok Special which consisted of Kai Yaang (charcoal rotisserie chicken stuffed with lemongrass, garlic and cilantro) which came with Papaya Pok Pok (best green papaya salad I've had outside of Thailand) and sticky rice.
Than I just had to have dessert which was a Coconut Ice Cream Sandwich, which is supposed to found at any Thai Street Food but I never saw any while I was there. Anyway, it too was amazing!
All washed down with a Pok Pok Som Lychee flavoured drinking vinegar.

Now I don't think I need to eat again for a week.

 

Welcome to Portland...

 I'm sorry, did you say I had to eat my way around the city? Only happy to oblige...

The line for Voodoo Doughnuts...

...is totally worth the wait. The pink one is called Dirty Snowball and the other is Dirty Old Bastard.

Street Eats from the food carts - Korean Bulgogi Taco

More street eats - Venezuelan style food (Plantains and Chorizo) and some gorgeous sunshine!

Lunch @ Bunk. Roast beef + caramalised onions + horseradish = DELISH!! 

I'll be updating this post later, just in the process of trying to feel better and getting my appetite back :( Nothing worse than getting sick on holidays - the joys of communal living I suppose.

Ch, ch, ch, ch changes...

Well, three seasons later I have finally left Marvellous Edibles Farm! Ayse, Jens and Cengiz are now like a second family to me and I can't express enough how grateful I am to them for putting up with me for so long :) It was a hard decision to leave but I knew if I didn't, I would probably spend the rest of my time in Canada there - which definitely wouldn't have been a bad thing but this country is huge and I should probably see some more of it while I'm here.

So, Ayse, Jens and Cengiz, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! Thank you for teaching me everything you could about farming, baking, sausage swinging, tractor towing, garlic planting and much more. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and family. Thank you for the laughs and the memories. I had an absolute blast being there and I will treasure my experience forever.

Happy Valentine's Day

I just managed to scrape this one in on time - 30 minutes left of Valentine's Day here in Canada.
Hope you all had a beautiful day!

Chewy, Baaaby, Fluff Ball, Big Fatty Boomba...

or otherwise know as Chewbacca, pig herder extraordinaire and St Jens' connoisseur.

I have to admit it took some time for me to warm up to this ball of fur (or should I say for him to warm up to me) but since I'm nearly part of the furniture now at Marvellous Edibles Farm I think it's fair to say that Chewy and I can be called mates. Beneath his huge exterior he's just a big sooky la la.

Oh yeah - Happy New Year everyone - where did January go already??

The best bread EVER...

and probably the easiest.
This is the no-knead bread from Jim Lahey's 'My Bread' cookbook with a few tweaks made by Ayse to make it the yummiest, crustiest bread I may have ever eaten.

Ingredients
3¼ cup organic unbleached flour
1¼ cup Spelt flour
¾ tsp dried yeast
1½ tble salt (we use Kosher Salt so it may need adjusting to taste)
450ml cold water

You'll also need a cast iron pot.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. You may have to add some extra water to get a nice sticky consistency.

Cover with plastic wrap and leave it for 18 hours at room temperature. It should be nice and bubbly and have risen after 18 hours.

Turn out onto a well floured surface and round it into a ball, incorporating some of the flour. The dough will still be quite soft.

Lay onto a well floured dish cloth, cover with the cloth and leave to rest for 1 hour. Make sure there is plenty of flour on the cloth or the dough will stick to it (and it will be messy).
Place the cast iron pot, with lid on, into the oven and preheat the oven to 475℉ (250℃). Once oven is at the right temperature remove the pot and drop the bread into it.

Replace lid and bake for ½ hour. Remove lid and bake for another ½ hour. The bread should be a lovely caramel colour. Remove from oven and pot and place on a board to cool long enough to be able to handle and cut. Eat it as soon as you can because it is DELICIOUS!!!