Dessert By Candy

A Quick Update

It’s a little ironic that over the next few weeks I will be cooking and baking a lot but not be able to write much about it. On Sunday, I had a bike-to-bike collision while making a right turn at slow speed. I returned to my sports doctors today and it is my second confirmed case of concussion. Just like last summer, rest will be of utmost importance to my recovery and it means computer time will be kept to a minimum. There will be no training, no television, no music, no reading once more. Luckily I have tons of recipes bookmarked and so cooking will help me pass the time.

Recipe That Inspired A Party

Last weekend I hosted my second party for our Monthly Supper Club. If you think I am an over-zealous hostess who wouldn’t let my friends have their turn hosting, well, I certainly am not. A few days after Pi(e) Day, we were reminiscing over YC’s candied bacon.  Of course that led to a search for other interesting bacon recipes which landed me at King Arthur Flour’s Maple Bacon Biscuit Bake. I fell in love fast and furious. I needed an excuse to bake that recipe and there was no better occasion than throwing a brunch party.

Race season and outdoor practices have begun and my free time is quickly diminishing before my eyes. I wasted no time in setting a date but hosting a large group requires a bit of planning. Fortunately, hosting brunch can be easy with plenty of made-ahead options. I scoured my list of to-cook dishes and came up with this ambitious yet unfussy menu.

Spring Brunch Party For Ten

Pimento Cheese Stuffed Tomato

Maple Candied Bacon with Dark Chocolate

Shakshuka

Sausage Portobello Breakfast Bake

Mixed Berries Grain Salad

Spiced Pear Fruit Salad with Dried Figs & Apricots

Cuban Avocado Arugula Pineapple Salad

Maple Bacon Biscuit Bake

Meyer Lemon Focaccia

Braided Lemon Bread with Homemade Meyer Lemon Curd

Cold Brew Iced Coffee with Homemade Goat Milk Cajeta

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Healthy Dinner For Athletes

In recent months, I’ve been getting lots of practice cooking dinner for two to three people. As athletes, we’re mindful of what we eat and regular dinners are no occasions to indulge. As a result, I am exploring complete menus with strong focus on healthy eating, not just a standalone dish. Pinterest has been a great tool for brainstorming and organization. I can see at a glance how all the dishes fit together as a whole. I’m starting to fill my profile with numerous mini boards for every meal that I planned.  Like most pinners, I keep a to-cook board with links to interesting recipes I come across everyday. When I plan my dinner, it is often the first place I look and build a whole menu around the selected dish. An example is my Healthy Dinner for Athletes menu.

Healthy Dinner For Athletes

Rosemary & Lemon White Bean Dip with Rosemary Crackers

Crispy Lentils with Ground Lamb on Barbari Bread with Labneh, Pinenuts, Mint, Cilantro

Roasted Portobello stuffed with Lucinato Kale & Shallot

Alchemy Pickle Company Spicy Carrots

Chia Coconut Water with Mango

Airport Picnic

I cannot refuse an opportunity to picnic even if the occasion only involves packing a brown bag lunch to enjoy on a plane or at an airport. Last weekend I traveled to Austin, TX for my first race of the season. Had I splurge for a direct flight from Toronto, I would still spend over four hours in the air not counting the extra time for checking bags, clearing customs, and security inspection. I opted for a cheaper itinerary and ended up spending the majority of Thursday on travels. What would have been a miserable day of eating turned into a fun diversion with my full to the brim brown bag lunch.

Air Travel Picnic

Smokey Tempeh Sundried Tomato Pesto on Barbari Bread with Kale

Antipasto Brochette with Chianti Salami, Stuffed Olives, Marinated Portobello, Roasted Red Pepper, Cherry Tomato, Marinated Artichoke, and Cumin Gouda

Garlic Grissini

Fruit Salad Summer Roll with Papaya, Mango, Strawberry, Mint

Raw Brownies with Almond & Cacao Nibs

Feed Me Back To Health

I lucked out this flu season but it doesn’t mean I escaped unscathed.  I came down with a cold last Friday and the faucet that is my nose finally shut off this morning. Even though runny stuffy nose and fatigue are merely minor inconveniences, I dread getting sick. As an athlete on a demanding training program, I walk a fine line between training hard and training too hard. When the immune system is compromised, I’m more vulnerable to come down with minor illness. This is an early warning signal to adjust my training program accordingly.

Normally I would seek help from my favourite over-the-counter medication to alleviate cold symptoms. Unfortunately, we’re currently experiencing a shortage on NeoCitran (aka Theraflu) in Canada. I haven’t been able to locate a box for months. I fell back on comfort food to feed myself back to health instead. Nutritious food can do no harm.

Potent. Refreshing. Good For Me.

I don’t normally jump on any superfood bandwagon that comes along. Every few months an obscure food would enjoy its 15 minutes in the spotlight and allegedly we would be fools not to load up. I strongly believe in a balanced diet as my path to healthy eating. Unless there are compelling reasons in terms of taste and nutritional value, I rarely splurge on the latest fad. Coconut water and chia seeds are two superfood that made the cut in my kitchen.

Coconut water is well-known among athletes as a natural source electrolyte hydration. Chia seeds are valuable as source of omega 3, antioxidants, and fibre. Combining the two into a potent sports drink makes perfect sense. Last Friday I took advantage of a one-day sale on Ataulfo mangoes at Whole Foods Market and brought home ten perfectly ripened fruit. With just a little planning ahead, I treated myself to a slurp-worthy cooler that was also good for my body. Chia Coconut Water with Mango is now my favourite post-workout beverage.

Improvise

Encounters with inferior chocolate chip cookies in the last few days left me wanting the real thing. They were all made from scratch so it wasn’t for the lack of effort. Quite simply put, the baker’s touch was not up to par. I feel a little sad just thinking of all the ingredients and time that went into baking those cookies.

I do not claim to be an expert but I learned from years of baking experience exactly how I prefer my chocolate chip cookies. When I do not feel like breaking out the stand mixer, Cook’s Illustrated Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie (check out Brown Eyed Baker’s adaptation) is my reliable choice. For all intents and purposes, I thought I would enjoy a late night snack of milk and chocolate chip cookies yesterday but it was not to be.

I ran out of chocolate chips.

I Dream Of Jeni's

I spent Easter weekend in Nashville, TN with my Asphalt Beach teammates for some pre-season training. I devoted plenty of time skating on roads, trails, and airport runway. What I did not expect was a stop at famed Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. If you haven’t heard, Jeni’s makes some of the best ice cream in the US according to many trustworthy sources. But I have little reasons to visit their scoop shops in Columbus, Ohio. Before last weekend, I was certain my dream of tasting such splendid ice cream would remain a dream.

We were driving on Eastland en route to Cornelia Fort Airpark when a bright orange sign caught my attention. “Jeni’s!!!!” I squealed in delight much to the dismay of my travel companion. I couldn’t figure out why they have a shop in East Nashville but the familiar logo was unmistakable. I could not contain my excitement.