{sweet cherry pie...}

I endeavoured to make my very first pie this weekend. I grew up loving my grandmother's raspberry and blackberry pies, but I thought I would make C's favourite since cherry season is in full swing.

I did all the prep work yesterday, adding my Nana's secret ingredient (vodka!) to the pastry and pitting the cherries. I popped the pie in the oven about an hour ago and the house is smelling delicious!

*photos by me.

{the little things...}

I woke up on the wrooong side of the bed this morning. Hey, it happens right?

But all was turned right-side up again when I showed up to work to find that a colleague had brought in St-Viateur Montreal Bagels from a weekend in Quebec. An absolute Canadian indulgence, they are best eaten lightly toasted with whipped cream cheese.

Amazing how the little things can brighten a day, eh?

* photos from here and here.

{a sprouting summer...}

Home again home again jiggity jig! Many, many thanks to the lovely ladies who kept lovelyvélo rolling while I was away - your travel posts were superb!

As always, it's bitter sweet to be home from an amazing holiday. Mallorca was perfect beyond my wildest expectations and I will soon have many photos to share.

Some of the best moments of the trip were the meals we cooked at our villa with delicious ingredients from Pollensa's Sunday market. It made me so excited to come home to the little garden C made for me, now ready for planting! First on my list is zucchini - I hear it grows super quickly and I LOVE goat cheese stuffed zucchini flowers.

Have you heard of the Sprout Robot? Could be an interesting way to kick off my first veggie field, but I think I like the idea of a little trial and error the first time around ;)

*photos from here and here.

{melt-in-your-mouth mussels!...}

All I can think about today is mussels! Our cooking class on Saturday started with a course of Mussels Provençal. Such an easy dish to make and delicious to boot!

I took both of these photos on Piha Beach in New Zealand, but the best mussels you can get in Canada come from Prince Edward Island. En Route Magazine voted PEI's Ship to Shore Restaurant & Lounge one of Canada's Top 10 Restaurants of 2009... Worth a trip to the East Coast I think!

{bon appétit!...}

Last night, I made one of my best meals since C and I moved in together. (When I lived alone, I ate nothing but chicken and sweet potatoes ;)

From this month's cover of Bon Appétit Magazine, I attempted the Fettuccine with Peas, Asparagus, and Pancetta. It was surprisingly light, and very fresh. The lemon juice and peel were really the perfect touch!

Next Saturday, C and I are going to Toronto's Calphalon Culinary Center for a lesson in French Cooking (my Christmas gift from C). On the menu:

Mussels Provençal; Filet au Poivre; Haricot Vert; Apple Tarte Tatin

Mais oui! My mouth is already watering...

*photo via flickr