I braved a couple of walks along the beach on Gabriola Island, secretly congratulating myself on my hardy outdoorsy nature. It felt good to feel the sea air and the wind whipping my cheeks. It felt even better to be cozied up by the wood stove indoors, toasty warm, reading, napping and sipping tea. All guilt free I might add, something I cannot accomplish at home when I am all too aware of chores or a nagging feeling that I should be more productive. During my time away I was satisfied with reading a book from start to finish, having conspiratorial giggles with my sister-in-law, and participating in the baking of perhaps the most magnificent chocolate cake of all time. I also managed to see a giant bald eagle, a wild turkey on a hydro wire, and was charged by an evil red beaked black swan, all in the span of twenty four hours.

Visiting The Sweetie’s sister in Victoria was delightful as always. The sogginess prevailed with tumultuous clouds and a wind that hurts the ears and causes an ice cream style headache. Playing tourist, however, makes those little annoyances tolerable. Days filled with steaming lattes, lingering over treats and meandering arm in arm with The Sweetie negated most of the grey dreariness. As is required with every jaunt to Victoria, I had to go to Smoking Lily, an adorable teeny tiny store filled with delightful silk screened goodies. Everything was lovely as always, including the staff. The owner actually braved the rain to walk from her studio to the shop to bring me a dress in my size, nestled under her rain slicker like a baby bird. They recommended Hernande’z, an amazing taco place hidden in a mall that we would have never found on our own. We lunched there both days, instantly addicted to the unbelievably fresh tortillas with big sprigs of cilantro presented on butcher paper rather than plates, 5 for a mere $5.00.

Any break from routine is welcome, especially during the dark days of November. A break combined with the warmth of family, strolling time with The Sweetie, chocolate cake and a wild turkey sighting? Well, that is an extra mighty fine break indeed. Nice try mean old rain clouds. You didn’t manage to dampen my fun.

We met in a parking lot with coffees in hand and lunches packed for an afternoon of glorious fall colours, wine tastings galore and loads of good cheer. We were expecting a cute little school bus and were surprised when a big white prison style bus arrived.

I was finally able to use my squirrel loot bags that I had ordered from Bake it Pretty (home of the pickle loot bags that have been the subject of much derision from those who obviously don’t understand fine party favours). I had ordered the squirrel bags specifically for the birthday girl, as she continues to unjustifiably demonize squirrels. Of all the woodland creatures to vilify, I don’t know why she has chosen squirrels. She calls them liars, deeply offended by their apparent duplicitous ways, tricking people into giving them nuts because of their cute, fluffy tails.

“Take that fluffy tail away and they are nothing but rats,” she always says.

I find her judgment unnecessarily harsh and as a result I have campaigned for years on behalf of squirrels by presenting her with irresistible squirrel paraphernalia. To celebrate this birthday I filled the squirrel loot bags with cookies and macaroons. I hoped that with such a delicious offering on our boozy bus ride, she would find a new appreciation for the generous misunderstood squirrel.

It was a splendid day. We managed to stop at six beautiful wineries. The vineyards were perfect, awash in brilliant autumn hues and the company was delightful. Our bus felt warm and festive, and although the wine surely helped, I think it was squirrel love that fuelled our magic penitentiary bus.

I’m still savouring the past weekend. It is impossible to go wrong with a summer’s weekend, even ones that are sprinkled with rain.

Friday was a gorgeous night when the temperature felt just right on the skin. Cool but not cold, just soft and pleasant, perfect for sitting on a backyard patio with grapevines overhead. We had a roti-off with friends who have been singing the praises of Bacchus roti, while we were more partial to Vena and Gandhi. Not all of the contenders were represented but we had a mini roti-off between Bacchus and Gandhi, unveiled in all their roti glory from behind a homemade curtain to heighten the drama of it all. So far, Bacchus is in the lead for best roti in Toronto. It will be hard to compete with their mix of channa, squash and spinach. So yummy and creamy and delectable.

The evening continued with full bellies, beer  and a game of Uno with candles flickering in a gentle breeze. Summer transforms the simplest of meals and activities into something magical.

I look forward to the ongoing battle for Toronto’s best roti, an Uno re-match and breezy nights with friends. Life is good in the summer.

I have chores and work and organizing to do and lazy feelings lurking in my bones but I am dreaming of summer picnics. The weather hasn’t been too cooperative yet, there was actually a frost warning the other night, but I have faith that picnic time is almost here. I have big plans for picnics this summer. Lots and lots of picnics. Planned picnics, spontaneous picnics, romantic picnics, solo picnics and social picnics. I am scouring recipes for packable salads and pressed sandwiches and cookies that don’t crumble too much.

I saw this delightful picnic suitcase on Black Eiffel and I am dreaming of picnics even more. Portable delightful quirky picnics…

I have met my new obsession in the form of Hakka, which is a type of Indian style Chinese food. Friends introduced me to Hakka at their Oscar Night party in February. It was the most delicious Chinese food I had ever tasted. In fact, the feast almost made up for my humiliating Oscar pool loss (I had been convinced of a sure victory and spent the evening heckling and trash talking the other guests until “Man on Wire” won for best documentary and ruined my chances).

I quickly became obsessed. I made transparent attempts at drawing The Sweetie into useless reminiscences about Hakka. “Sooooo, what was your favourite part of the Oscar night party? Mine was the Hakka, was yours the Hakka? Wouldn’t you love some Hakka right now? What was your favourite Hakka dish? Mine was the Manchurian balls, have you ever had anything like that before? Wow, it was delicious wasn’t it?” I pestered my friends who had given me my first hit of Hakka. “Sooo, who feels like Hakka? Are you guys planning a Hakka night any time soon? Cuz I’m in. If you are going. I’m ready. Just give me the word. Ready for Hakka night…”

Hakka Hakka Hakka. It became a sickness.

We finally made the voyage deep into the suburbs to Kimling Chinese Restaurant in Scarborough. It is an unassuming restaurant located in a strip mall, but what it lacks in location and decor it makes up for in unbelievable deliciousness. We stuffed ourselves on crispy vegetable pakoras, sauteed garlic green beans, pepper tofu broccoli, Hakka style rice noodles and Manchurian vegetable balls. Even The Sweetie, a die-hard meat lover outnumbered by vegetarians, exclaimed that the tofu was amazing and he is far from generous in his praise of tofu. The four of us were stuffed, smacking our lips and rubbing our bellies, for a mere $45.00. It was frugal feasting heaven.

Alas, a new serious addiction has been born, but one I am willing to endure.

I am feeling very accomplished right now due to a culinary victory. I made mushroom bourguignon from a recipe I found on  Smitten Kitchen and even The Sweetie, a meat eater, approved. Initially he said it was cruel to serve a meat eater something called bourguignon without meat,  but he had to concede that it was rich and yummy and satisfying. Served on egg noodles, it made a super cozy winter dinner, and I have been smug ever since.

Snacks are crucial for my flannel clad armchair star gazing and bashing. I decided I’d try to make Martha Stewart’s Caramel-Almond Popcorn. I was intimidated by the idea of using a candy thermometer, but it is a new year and one of my motto’s for 2009 is “feel the fear and do it anyway”. Besides, if a small underdog of a brilliant movie like Slumdog Millionaire can go head to head against Brad (yawn) Pitt, the least I can do is dust off the old thermometer and try my hand at some caramel.

In the end there was too much caramel, difficult as it is to believe that there could ever be too much caramel on anything. Overall, however, I think it is safe to say that I am now a caramel corn goddess.

I have conquered my candy thermometer fear, and Slumdog Millionaire won best picture.

Victory abounds.

The Sweetie and I enjoyed our annual New Year’s Day tradition of Dim Sum with friends at the Bright Pearl in Chinatown. I gorged on dumplings and crispy mounds of yumminess in preparation for tomorrow when everything will be different and I will eat nothing but salads and clear broth to atone for my gluttony during Shortbread Season.

I realized that things need to change while trying on Lululemon pants in Victoria. Lululemon’s workout gear is known for magically sucking in all the wobbly bits and the excessive price can be justified for the sake of looking fit without having to actually go to the gym. No one looks bad in Lululemon pants. Or so I thought. Unfortunately something went terribly wrong when I was in the change room. There was no mood lighting to cushion the blow and somehow instead of admiring my Lululemon clad apple bum, I was horrified to face a spandex wearing sausage. Apparently a month of eating cookies and fudge wreaths the size of my head has consequences after all.

As a result, my first New Year’s resolution for 2009 is to cut back on the fudge wreaths and re-introduce vegetables into my life.

In order to spare myself unnecessary temptation tomorrow, I will finish the remnants of my holiday cookies and a bottle of wine tonight while working on the rest of my list.

The Distillery District looks really magical right now, with little fairy lights strung everywhere and the brick streets lined with evergreen boughs. I actually had a moment when I thought winter could be pretty.

I quickly came to my senses and pulled us into Soma Chocolatemaker for some warmth and their magical Mayan hot chocolate elixir. Bravo to the Mayans for building pyramids and their astronomical advances, but the true accomplishment is discovering that chocolate and chili’s go so well together. I had a big cup with steamed milk, while The Sweetie opted for a short cup which was a gooey thick mass of pure heaven. My fuzzy head felt instantly clearer, and all was right with the world again.

Nothing like a nip of chocolate to put everything in perspective and take the sting out of winter, at least temporarily.

Damn you California Sandwiches, I can’t quit you. Why do you have to be so tasty? And so cheap? $6.00 for a delicious gooey eggplant sandwich, smothered in cheese and hot peppers, how am I supposed to resist that?

Regardless of my proclamations that I will work on the ever inflating inner tube attached to my waist these days, I just have to picture your saucy goodness and my steely resolve flies out the window. I don’t stand a chance.