Sexy oval glasses

There is a wonderful store on Davie Street in Vancouver called Homewerx.  Cuervo brought home these classy Italian glasses which are great for coctails and our morning smoothies.

We just couldn't wait...the most awesomest matcha brownies ever!

We just had to try them the moment they came out of the oven...

After we were satisfied Cuervo asked me "Aren't you going to take a picture?  It looks like a work of art."

Here's my recipe, which I adapted from a couple of other recipes, and then gave it a few twists.

The most awesomest matcha brownies ever!

The brownie part:

1.  Melt 115 grams dark chocolate (I used 4 blocks of unsweetened bakers chocolate)

2. Whisk 1/3 cup olive oil into the melted chocolate

3. In a blender, blend 1/4 cup of icing sugar, 160 grams of ricotta cheese, and 50 ml of whole milk

4. Add to the blender and blend - 3 eggs (room temperature), 1 cup sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract

5. Add the chocolate and olive oil mixture to the blender and, you guessed it, blend it.

6. Mix together: 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 pinch salt and 1 really big heaping tbsp cocoa powder

7. Add some of the dry mixture to the wet and fold, keep doing this until the two mixtures are well incorporated - just don't go crazy with the mixing and it'll turn out great.

The matcha part:

1. Cream in the blender 1 block (225g) cream cheese with 1/4 cup of sugar until it is creamy. (If you can get Liberte premium cream cheese got for it!  I always think people exaggerate when they say a certain food item is to die for but I think this stuff comes close..omg it is sooo good!).

2. Add an egg yolk to the blender and, you guessed it, blend it.

3. Add a tsp of matcha powder and blend it in.

Finally, here's where the magic happens or the art as Cuervo calls it...

1. Put the brownie part in a greased pan

2. Pour the matcha mixture on top

3. Take a spoon and start swirling it around taking some of the brownie mixture from the bottom to the top and viceversa.

4. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes

Enjoy them warm from the oven and then again once they have cooled and the flavours have intensified.

On another note, I think you could make the cream cheese part with any flavour you like with chocolate; raspberry or orange or mint might work well.

Summer Days at English Bay

It's gone!  Already!
One day it was here and the next - fall had arrived.  The tempurature plummetted ten degrees overnight and the warm rays of sun were surplanted by chilling drops of rain.

Oh summer days, why to you arrive so late and leave so early?

In the balcony garden

We've had a super hot August and the flowers on our balcony have responded; especially the black-eyed susan vine.  The vine is climbing down our balcony and up our trellis.  In the setting sun the petals become illuminated like shiny gold coins.

If you look closely you can see the garden elves hanging from the vines.





  
Black-eyed Susan vine
Thunbergia selections
Light: Sun
Plant Height: Climbs to 8 feet
Zones: 10-11
Plant Type: Annual,Perennial,Vine

Row row your boat indeed

Some experiences are meaningful not because they are easy and fun but precisely because they are difficult and frustrating.  This past weekend, Pluma and I went to Deer Lake to celebrate her birthday and explore the great outdoors on a row boat.  We had never rowed a boat before, but after watching a few youtube videos, we thought it looked fairly easy. If a 12 year old could do it, so could we.  What followed were two hours of back breaking, sweat-drenched, and exhausting mayhem that taught us a lesson we won't soon forget.

Located about 20 minutes from Vancouver in Burnaby, Deer Lake is a pleasant spot with a well-built wooden walkway that takes you down paths overgrown with berry bushes, slender cattails, and colourful flowers.

This was the first time we had been to this lake.  We marveled at the lilly pads that dotted the surface.  After exploring the area for about 20 minutes, we made our way to the boat rental place.  After filling up the paper work, we were given some life jackets and unceremoniously chucked into the lake with two oars and row boat.



I knew we were in trouble the moment the oar hit the water.  I splashed about until somehow, I managed to turn the boat and very slowly headed towards the water's edge.  The boat had a nasty habit of turning left and I thought I was doing something wrong.  I tried a number of different strokes and positions, but not matter what calisthenics I contorted myself, the boat kept turning left.

"Maybe it's because I'm left-handed," I said.

"Let's go back and get a different type of boat," said Pluma.  Seeing the strain and difficulty of rowing, she had already figured this had been a bad decision.

I was barely listening, intent on stabilizing the boat to prevent it from ending up in the lily pads, which by now had lost all their previous splendor and become traps to be avoided.

"Damn boat!" I swore.

"Let's go back and get another boat," said Pluma for the third time.

The sun beat down mercilessly in what was probably one of the hottest days of the summer.  My hands burned.  Shoulders ached.  I stopped and took a deep breath.  Then raising my index finger, I said, "if I go back to shore, I'm walking away from this place and going home.  So we either stay on this boat or go home."

Pluma looked away disgusted at my stubbornness.

I noticed three large calluses on my palm.  Ouch! We weren't even a quarter of the way around the lake. Hmm... Maybe Pluma was right.  We should go back and get a kayak or a canoe.  I shook my head.  I knew that there would not be a second chance to learn how to row a boat.  It was now or never.

Grimacing, I gripped the oars and began slashing and thrashing the water like a madman, throwing myself to the task with fanatical intensity.  Pluma was often on the receiving end of my energetic splashing, enduring it with a countenance soaked with stoicism.

Rowing to another part of the lake, I noticed that the boat began to veer rightward instead of leftward.

"It's the currents!" I said.

I realized that to travel in a forward trajectory, I'd have to make small adjustments to take into account the effect of the currents.  It wasn't going to be the smooth forward movement I often saw on movies and television.  I began to synchronize my movements better and the boat glided forward.

"Look!" said Pluma pointing at the water. "A turtle!"

I peered over the edge and caught a glimpse of the creature as it swam into the shadowy depths of the lake.  It deftly maneuvered through the tangled forest beneath the lilies.  On land, turtles seem so slow and clumsy, but underwater they are sleek and graceful.

We found a cool spot under a tree, where we rested our aching bones and muscles. Looking back at the shore, I realized that it was going to be tricky because of the heavy traffic near the dock.

"Time to head back," I said.

I maneuvered the boat towards the shore, making course corrections in a surprisingly fluid manner.  The assistant pulled the boat to shore, and I stepped out of the boat like a drunken sailor, and probably smelling just as bad.  It didn't matter.  I had finally learned how to row a boat, and in spite of the hassles along the way, I felt that I had accomplished something truly unique.

"That's the last f**ing time, I get on a row boat," I said to Pluma on the way home.

Beneath the Surface

The lillys on Burnaby Lake provide glimpses of their underwater network when green pads make way for viberant buds emerging from the depths.

Burnaby Lake

There is an amazing natural spot in the heart of the city - called Burnaby Lake.  Amoungst the lilly pads, ducks, and turtles, yes turtles, you can enjoy the peacefulness of nature.  From this oasis, the city scape is contrasted against the verdent trees and grasses.  A 15 minute bus ride from Metrotown willl take you a million miles away from all the hustle and bustle.

encurtido

Cuervo and I have been exploring our Celtic Iberian roots by cooking Central American fair. The latest experiment is called encortido.  These brightly coloured and spicy pickles are a zesty accompaniment to everyday eggs and beans or your most elaborate balcony picnic.

Oh just a note:  If you serve some of the liquid in a cup, to put on your beans say, don't confuse it with your morning beverage.  And I knew it was going to happen too!

Forget India, Forget Paris

Space is where it's at, baby.

http://io9.com/5832361/first-look-at-the-space-hotel-offers-aliens-aplenty-but-no-booze-allowed/gallery/1

What we did and did not see

Walking along Beach Avenue towards Stanley Park on Sunday afternoon, we did not see chariots laden with flowers, we did not see horses, or cows, and we did not see any sign of a parade past or a parade coming.

Shortly after 1PM on Beach Avenue, we first saw mariachis! and then a jazz concert in a gazebo.  Both were interesting an entertaining but neither of them seemed to relate to the Festival of India...

As we approached 2nd beach, we saw remnants of a few floats, a girl dressed as Shiva looking for her friends, and very busy looking parking attendants...at that point we realized that we had missed it!

The parade ended at 1PM.  It did not start at 1PM.  Alas, we were foiled by the website's information design!  However, the festival organizers made for a wonderful afternoon with entertainment and  an a delicious free feast.

Looking at the photos when we go home we saw that the mariachis were in the parade!

Faber-Castell Ambition Fountain Pen

She glides with arousing precision. Her body. Pearwood. Fine legs tattooed with jousting knights. My god. I gaze at her lovingly all day. Twirling her between my fingers to feel every smooth and rough texture of her rich brown skin. She's a bit heavy near the top, but of course, I'd never tell her that. She's not high maintenance, but you must treat her right. If you wet her properly, she's a smooth devil between the sheets.

A child's delight Pt. 2

The child said, "I wish mommy could see the fireworks."
"Me too," said the father.

A child's delight

Cuervo and I went to see firework this week.  Behind us was a small child, probably 3 years old.  When the fireworks exploded she exclaimed, "They look like shooting stars."  "I'm going to make a wish Daddy".  And I made a wish too.

Meditating Under the Protection of the Big Dipper

We've been looking into taking a Tai Chi class and I thought I would read-up on the philosophy.  The linkages among Tai Chi, Buddhism, and Taoism are very interesting.  I wonder if there are also linkages with Shintoism given the many references to nature in the forms?

I found a site with the name of a Tai Chi form that captured my imagination: "Heavenly Steed Soars Across the Sky Meditating Under the Protection of the Big Dipper"

It sounds like the perfect subject for a painting... but for now I'll leave you 
with this beautiful photo from NASA  (source: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050218.html).

Drawn to the flame

 

Flames dancing against the backdrop of the sky mesmerize as they elicit a range of emotions and memories.  Ancient memories of discovery and survival. Childhood memories of toasting marshmallows and singing songs.  Late night memories of sharing drinks and stories.

Wonder, bliss, intimacy, and serenity are some of the emotions stoked in those embers. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games cauldron, with its bright light shining across the water, elicits in me a feeling of pride and contentment while reminding me of those moments during the Games that passed so fast.

Little wonders

Relatively speaking, Vancouver is a young city, which does not possess the history of older centers such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Moscow.  There are no great pyramids or ancient gardens, no majestic castles or tall skyscrapers, but if you look carefully you can encounter sights that speak of many wonders.

I walked along the English bay seawall the other day when I came across one such magnificent scene.  It was near the bridge, where the path bends towards Sunset beach.  Appropriately enough, the sun was setting and its beams shimmered on the water like silver and gold.

'Awaré' I thought when I stared at the scene before me, remembering the concept of poignant beauty established by Zen masters.  I could not hold on to that beauty, it was here one moment, but in a few minutes, it would be gone forever.  Many beautiful scenes would play out on the morrow and in the many days to come.  But this particular one, would only exist once.  I stood there barely moving, trying to take it all in.  Awaré. 

The picture of course doesn't do it justice, but I'd be remiss if I didn't share it with you.

spicy skinny chicken taco salad

I was inspired by a skinny chicken recipe, a taco salad recipe and seasonal vegetables to make this dish.
 

Make the chicken mixture:

1. Bake seasoned chicken breasts (I used ClubHouse's Wild Whiskey Smoked BBQ spice)
2. Saute shallots or onions in olive oil
3. Add fresh or frozen corn kernels to the pan
4. Add black beans, chicken, and your favourite salsa to the pan

While everything is getting hot and spicy make the salad:

1. Combine your favourite greens
(We bought 3 beautiful heads of different lettuce at the farmers' market and pea shoots at the Asian grocer).
2. Dress the greens with Greek yogurt, fresh squeezed lime, and pepper.
3. Top the salad with the hot chicken mixture and fancy it up with avocado slices.

!Que rico!

Curious things

Once in a while I come across objects whose value is measured in proportions greater than their monetary cost.   In Japanese culture, they speak of wabi-sabi.   I hear that if you were to ask a Japanese person to explain it, you will be as successful as asking a Westerner to explain the concept of the soul.  Some say that wabi-sabi is not a concept at all.  It is an aesthetically metaphysical experience.

Indeed.

I do not pretend to know the exact meaning of wabi-sabi,  so if you want all the juicy details, take a peek at Wikipedia.

I enjoy viewing wabi-sabi images, for I have noticed that they leave a long-lasting (approx. 24 hours) impression on my perception.  This perceptual "impression" is, ahem, difficult to explain.  It's as if I become more in tune with the "potential" for wabi-sabi in my surroundings and thus more sensitive to its presence.

On Saturday morning, after viewing a few wabi-sabi images, I conducted a thorough cleaning of our apartment, which included taking out the recycling.  When I opened the door to the recycling room in our building, I noticed that someone had left a couple of items on the floor.  The first one was a large orange clay pot filled with soil and the remnants of a dead tree.  Too big to carry.  Right beside it, however, stood a small and dusty wooden cabinet.  It had seen better days, but on the layers of dust, I could see the unmistakable imprint of wabi-sabi.

I gave the cabinet a good scrub with a wet rag and polished it with Murphy oil soap.  In some wabi-sabi circles, this is called sacrilege; I like to call it, sanitary.

I could not restore it to its former colourful glory, which had faded long ago.  In between the joints, there were still traces of red varnish.  For the most part, however, all that remained was a nostalgic patina that laid bare the dynamic and ephemeral nature of time.  How thrilled I was to find a sliver of broken wood hidden mysteriously on its facade-

to discover the backboards separated by weathering decay and the vagaries of craftsmanship. 

These small imperfections made it all the more delightful. 

The cabinet was a text-book example of wabi-sabi, and like a good Westerner, I wasted no time in filling it with an assortment of ink bottles, pencils, and even a wooden spinning top that I purchased in Honduras.  It now stands on the floor beneath my desk, doing double-duty as a book stop.  Just because you're wabi-sabi, doesn't mean you can't be industrious.  Seriously though, I am thankful for all the possessions that I have, and this one in particular never fails to put a smile on my lips.

Return of the max

We're back online after a technical hiatus.  The good people at Sibername helped us set up the domain so that we are now able to use our very own deliciousgrace.ca domain.  There are so many stories we want to share with you and now that we're back online, it's time to get busy.

rational living

I came across this blog for "rational living".  There are some interesting articles/perspectives shared here.  What do you think Cuervo?

Where to go in Goa

 Can you imagine a man on a bicycle bringing fresh naan into town every morning - announcing his arrival by ringing a bell?

Goa sounds romantic, mysterious, playful, and enchanting.  Apparently some people who go there never want to leave, while others do not spend more than a hour their in a life time.

India is enchanting us...it's not far off.

This site has a lot of information (like the antidotes above) but is a bit difficult to read with its black background: http://www.neoncarrot.co.uk/h_recommended/recommend_goa.html

I just found a place called Divar Island which is in Old Goa.  I think this place could be interesting to visit.  You need to take ferries to get there.  It is home to one of the most sacred Hindu temples in Goa and there is a temple to Ganesha.  The temple, reconstructed and moved 3 times, has a detailed carving of Ganesha (source: http://www.goaholidayhomes.com/info/236/divar-island/).

Reasearching flights

Today I spent some time planning a mini retirement.  I looked into various flight options for India.  Cuervo showed me a section of Tim Ferriss's 4 hour Workweek where he talks about ways to obtain cheap flights.  It was useful for me and hopefully will be for others too.

Cuervo also read several quotes from the book to me.  There are so many optimists who take control of their situations and bend reality to their will as opposed to the other way around.  It is not hard to be an optimist nor a pessimist - I think it is about choice and cultivating that choice.  And in the end, the choice is easy.  The cultivation, another matter.  But what else would one want to do with their supermind?

illusive sleep

As I lie awake
counting sheep will not take
nor melatonin dissolved beneath the tongue
breathing deeply - a song that is not sung

the inner strength to calm the mind and take a break
is out of reach, and sleep will not come for sleep's sake
and so I rose to write, to learn, to grow
to take ownership of my own destiny and bring back flow