Fabulous February

Normally February is such a dreary month. This year my very low expectations were totally disrupted and disproved.

Lingering in the beauty of the frosted windows in my upstairs; laughing at the cat's posture on the radiator, enjoying my winter garden, the resumed tick of the kit-kat clock, early morning coffee...

Enjoying our house on a whole new level.

Work-wise, the new job isn’t all bliss, but the vision is meaningful and the work itself is definitely interesting. Things are unfolding at a manageable pace... which affords me the more hectic pace of evenings and weekends.

Although I admit by the end of the month I probably could have used some downtime or time on my own, life was offering too much to let it pass on by.

Happy birthday! Feb 1 and celebrating a friend's birthday by going out for a nice dinner.

Groundhog Day! Feb 2 An excuse to watch the movie by the same title, one of our all-time faves.

Chinese New Year! Feb 8 Although the Lunar Year started January 25 the BPYC celebration fell on the official calendar’s last day. What a night! I especially enjoyed being a part of the dragon parade and hoisting the pole to make the yellow and red silk dance in circles.

Valentine’s Day! Feb 14 Waking up to a dozen pink roses Rob arranged on the dining room table. A gorgeous surprise.

Galentines… Feb 15 I invited Anita, Liz and Chris to come over for a light dinner and play cards and didn’t realize the proximity to the officially unofficial Galentine’s date of Feb 13. I prepared raclette and Anita and I managed to trounce the sisters on both rounds. Great conversation and an opportunity to catch up, with bonus belly laughs.

Family Day! Feb 17 Alex brought over some sausage and egg McMuffins for breakfast, and then we all went to Allan Gardens to enjoy the green on a winter day. Visits with family make it even more special when I return. Then off to the Art Gallery of Ontario to admire some Kurelek and Group of Seven. After that, tasty Touhenboku Ramen on nearby Queen; and then back to Glencrest to hang out.

Members Night at the AGO! Feb 21 went to check out Diane Arbus who haunted me for at least a week, as when I went to my yoga intensive and then again the Progressive Euchre tournament, I kept wondering what Arbus would do with these faces and bodies and personalities. The Illusions and the Art of Magic exhibit was timely, as I'm reading a book about fortune telling and magic (The Immortalists). 

Saturday! Feb 22, I spent the day at a yoga intensive and on the way home picked up some ingredients to cook up Vietnamese Herbed Chicken with Nuoc Cham cucumbers, a recipe I’d seen in that morning’s paper: “cooking lets you travel the world without leaving home ” Dave and Therese were to join Rob and I for dinner, however after I started cooking it all up, I realized I hadn’t confirmed the time. Well, turned out I didn’t set the day either (Dave thought it was Sunday). Rob and I enjoyed the tasty meal and then Dave and Therese came over after their dinner for cocktails and cards.

Feb 23, Tom Allan and Orchestra Toronto, Telling A Tale, including music from Dvorak, Prokofiev, and Raum. Bumping into Bluffers at the concert and watching Grace play first violin.

Feb 24, A particularly wonderful Uke Jam. We’ve been playing a fair number of tricky tunes the last couple of months, so this time round Paul B picked some 4 chord songs that were a bit easier to play: Led Zeppelin’s D’yer Mak’er; Mendez’ and Cabello’s Senorita; the Animals’ House of the Rising Sun. Everyone just lit up and it all came together, the mood was magic.

Feb 26, After work drinks with a new team I’ve really enjoyed connecting with, and a chance to do some teambuilding beyond the fluorescent lighting. Smart, interesting people.

Feb 27, Heliconian with Kaarina to hear the author talk about his collection, Immigrant City. Reading the short stories at Indigo beforehand.

Friday 28, out to a Rotary Club fundraiser - the Annual Progressive Euchre Tournament with Chris. The first time in a Toronto Legion Hall as well as playing my hand(s) in a tournament. It was such an interesting slice of community, as we never partnered with the same person twice. My partners ranged in age from early twenties to mid-seventies, higher income to fixed income... a very diverse crowd.

Friday 29,  LEAP YEAR!!!! The Epitourists were in town and we went off to try out a new restaurant (Aloette) and tour Eataly. In the evening, BPYC held a Roaring Twenties party with the Wintergarten Orchestra (at our table that night with Rob and I were Chris, Kaarina, Laura, and Grace, and sometimes Mike P).

We had seats right by the band, and I kept taking photos of the lead singer as there was a bright light at his head and I tried to turn it into a halo and then a ball of fire coming from his mouth.

Caroline slept over in the new bedroom alcove, our first official guest.

Before and After

These 'before' photos could also be called after photos... after the space was cleared so work could begin. It was quite a process, getting rid of old stuff to make room for the new; then living with the mess and hammering for months.

A year in the making.

Work finished in early January, followed by putting in the finishing touches. Mirrors, mattresses, paintings, rugs.

Done!

The more I use it, the more I enjoy it. February is a perfect time to be a homebody.

Down the stairs
Vinyl plank flooring used throughout the basement helps what still is a small space feel bigger. Fully waterproof and easy to clean.
The pantry is easy to access and provides essential storage. Originally the shelves were to be just 6", but expanded to 13", making a better depth for kitchen gear and wine bottles.
The bathroom is fully finished so occasional guests can stay in private quarters ... We joke about the heated washlet toilet and its built-in bidet functions but it is a real pleasure to use.

Warm and Cozy

The fireplace wall emphasizes the vertical, creating the look of more height.

Different types of lighting sources to play with the mood (ambient, accent, task).

There was quite a bit of back and forth about whether to go with a gas fireplace or electric, and whether to add more rads to the basement space.

The radiant heat is definitely cozy on a winter night, and maintains a constant temperature.

New windows also keep the chill away.... Hoping to see a difference in the monthly heating bills.

The elephant in the room is from an update a few years ago. Quite at home here, making a nice footrest in front of the fire.

I find myself in the swivel chairs often, content to spin.

Comfy couch

Somewhere to gather, whether to read or watch tv or enjoy some music and conversation.
Lately I've been using YouTube to provide relaxation and ambience - scenes of the Northern Lights, forest walks, backyard birds. Rob will call up the sounds of a crackling fire or waves on the beach. 

Lots of room to stretch out when it is just the two of us, but easily accommodating room for more.

 


Sleeping alcove
This was intended for overnite guests but is a welcome space for afternoon naps!
The chest is my hope chest from when I was a teenager, built for me by an old boyfriend.
The bedspread and pillow shams were crocheted by my mom years ago, I'm glad they have found a place here.

Mudroom / Laundry room

From jammed and unsightly to spacious.

A place to hang and air dry clothes, access to the sink for gardening season, with additional storage under the stairs. 

Full Snow Moon - Feb 2020

Blizzard

BY WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

Snow:

years of anger following

hours that float idly down —

the blizzard

drifts its weight

deeper and deeper for three days

or sixty years, eh? Then

the sun! a clutter of

yellow and blue flakes —

Hairy looking trees stand out

in long alleys

over a wild solitude.

The man turns and there —

his solitary track stretched out

upon the world.

Lines for Winter

BY MARK STRAND

for Ros Krauss

Tell yourself

as it gets cold and gray falls from the air

that you will go on

walking, hearing

the same tune no matter where

you find yourself—

inside the dome of dark

or under the cracking white

of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.

Tonight as it gets cold

tell yourself

what you know which is nothing

but the tune your bones play

as you keep going. And you will be able

for once to lie down under the small fire

of winter stars.

And if it happens that you cannot

go on or turn back

and you find yourself

where you will be at the end,

tell yourself

in that final flowing of cold through your limbs

that you love what you are.

The moon is full February 9, 2:33 a.m.

Happy New Year

Wendy staged a memorable Chinese New Year Celebration at BPYC. 

Beautiful cherry blossoms hanging from the rafters, Chinese lanterns. a signature cocktail, a zither concert, a feast, every guest's name transcribed to brush. 

It was months' preparation because she actually created the table centres with her own glue gun and strung each and every blossom. Baked all the cookies and cupcakes. 

Of course she did conscript her family, students, and fellow BPYC members. Truly memorable. 

I got to be a dragon lady! Taking a pole to hoist the dragon in a parade. What fun! I felt like a kid again.

Year of the Rat 2020 Ox Horoscope

Diane in Chinese

2020 will certainly be a lucky year for those born in the Year of the Ox. You’ll be relaxed and feel good about yourself, and this beautiful balance will have happy repercussions on your love life. The Ox is the 2nd of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. Your chinese zodiac sign is Ox if you are one born in of these years: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021. The Ox chinese horoscope 2020 predicts that in order to amplify the good celestial influences of the year and lessen the negative impacts, it will be in your best interests to take stock of your life and to hatch out new projects. Every time you have confidence in yourself and show yourself to be enterprising and innovative, luck will smile upon you.

Save Me the Plums

So simple and delicious! Putting these recipes from Ruth Reichl's Save Me the Plums into my rotation.

Ruth's spicy Chinese noodles 

Ingredients

½ pound Chinese noodles, dried egg noodles, or spaghetti

Peanut oil

½-inch-long piece of fresh ginger

2 scallions

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons Chinese black bean paste with garlic

1 tablespoon Chinese bean paste with chili

½ pound ground pork

Sesame oil

Directions

1. Cook the noodles in boiling water until al dente (the time will vary with the type of noodle). Drain, toss with a half tablespoon of peanut oil, and set aside.
2. Peel and mince the ginger (you should have about two tablespoons).
3. Chop the white parts and slice the green parts of the scallions.
4. Mix the sugar and the two kinds of hot bean paste, and set aside.
5. Heat a wok until a drop of water skitters across the surface. Add a tablespoon of peanut oil, toss in the ginger, and stir fry for about half a minute, until the fragrance is hovering over the wok.
6. Add the pork and white scallions and stir-fry until all traces of pink have disappeared. Add the bean sauce mixture and cook and stir for about 2 minutes.
7. Stir in the green scallions and noodles, and quickly toss. Add a drop of sesame oil and turn into two small bowls. This makes a perfect snack for two.

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Thanksgiving turkey chili

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

3 canned whole chipotle chilies in adobo

1 bottle dark beer

2 pounds tomatillos (husked, rinsed, and quartered)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 large onions (chopped)

½ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

2 teaspoons fresh oregano (finely minced)

2 jalapeños (diced; if you don't like heat, remove the seeds)

3½ pounds ground turkey

1½ cups chicken broth

8 large cloves of garlic (peeled but left whole)

Salt

1 bay leaf

2 cups cooked white beans

1 4-ounce can diced green chile peppers

Cream sherry

Balsamic vinegar

Sour cream 

Directions

1. Toast the cumin seeds in a dry skillet until they're fragrant. Allow to cool, then grind to powder.
2. Puree the chipotle chilies with the adobo.
3. Put the beer into a medium-sized pot, add the tomatillos, bring to a boil, and turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook for about five minutes, until the tomatillos are soft. Strain the tomatillos (reserv­ing liquid), and puree in a blender or food processor. Pour back into the pot with the beer.
4. Slick the bottom of a large casserole with a couple of tablespoons of oil, and sauté the onions until they're translucent. Add the ci­lantro, oregano, jalapeños, and cumin and stir for a couple of minutes. Break the turkey into the mixture and stir until it just starts to lose its raw color. Add the pureed tomatillos and beer, the chipotle puree, the chicken broth, and the garlic, along with a couple of teaspoons of salt and the bay leaf, and simmer the mixture for about an hour and a half.
5. With a large spoon, smash the now-soft cloves of garlic and stir them into the chili. Add the white beans and diced chile peppers and taste for salt. At this point I like to start playing with the flavors, adding a few splashes of cream sherry, a bit of balsamic vinegar, or perhaps some soy or fish sauce. Heat for another 10 minutes.
6. Serve with sour cream. 

While dousing these apple pancakes in rum and setting them on fire is optional, it makes for a truly dramatic presentation. The recipe comes from food writer and former Gourmet editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl, who grew up eating a version of the dish at Lüchow's, a legendary German restaurant in New York.

Adapted from Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Yield: serves 6

Time: 1 hour

German Apple Pancakes

• 2 Granny Smith or other tart cooking apples (15 oz.), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, plus more for drizzling
• ½ stick (4 Tbsp.) unsalted butter, divided
• ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 large eggs
• ¾ cup (4 oz.) all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• sugar for sprinkling
• ¼ cup dark rum or cognac (optional)

Peel the apples, core them, and slice thinly. Shower with lemon juice. 

Melt half the butter (2 tablespoons) in a medium skillet, and stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the apple slices and cook over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes, until they've become quite darkly carmelized and smell impossibly delicious. Remove them from the heat.

Meanwhile, beat the eggs. Gently whisk in the flour, salt, and sugar. Add the milk. The batter should be thin.

Melt a couple of teaspoons in butter in an 8-inch skillet, and when it's hot, pour in a third of a cup of batter, tilting the pan so that it covers the entire surface, making a thin crepe. Cook until just set, about 2 minutes.

Evenly distribute a third of the apples over the crepe, pour another third of a cup of batter over the apples, then turn the pancake (this is easier if you use 2 pancake turners) and allow the bottom to brown. Turn onto a large plate, sprinkle generously with sugar, and roll the pancake up like a jelly roll. Sprinkle with a bit more sugar and, if you like, a splash of lemon juice.

Repeat this until you have three plump rolled pancakes. If you want to flame your creations, lightly warm a few tablespoons of rum or cognac for each pancake in the pan, add the pancakes, spoon the liqouor over top, and set the pancakes on fire.

Jeweled chocolate cake

Adapted from Café Mezzo

Ingredients

1/3 cup cocoa powder, plus more for dusting pan (not Dutch process)

3 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate

6 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup neutral vegetable oil

2/3 cup water 

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1¼ cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. Butter a deep 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Butter the paper and dust it with cocoa powder.
3. Melt the chocolate with the cocoa, butter, oil, and water over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the sugar.
4. Cool completely, then whisk in the eggs, one at a time.
5. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk into the chocolate mixture. Shake the buttermilk well, measure, and stir that in.
6. Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then turn out, peel the parchment from the bottom, and allow to cool completely.

Praline ingredients

½ cup slivered blanched almonds

½ cup blanched hazelnuts

¼ cup water

¾ cup sugar

Directions

1. Toast the nuts in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes. (If you're us­ing hazelnuts with skins, put them in a towel and rub the skins off, but don't bother being fussy about it. Whatever comes off easily is fine.)
2. Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil without stirring un­til it begins to darken, swirling the pan until the mixture turns a beautiful deep gold. It takes a while for the mixture to darken, but once it does it goes very quickly, so don't walk away or it will burn. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts.
3. Pour onto a baking sheet that you've lined with foil, parchment, or a Silpat, spreading evenly. Use an oven mitt—a burn from hot sugar can be very painful. Allow to cool completely.
4. Break into pieces, put into a plastic bag, and smash with a rolling pin until you have lovely crushed pieces you can sprinkle over the frosting, adding both crunch and flavor.

Frosting ingredients and directions

Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar into a cup of mascarpone. Spread the frosting on the cooled cake and heap the praline bits on top.

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