The News.

The good news:  I had a delicious muffin from Whole Foods today.  Its muffin-top was especially large.
The bad news:  It had a date pit in it that I nearly chipped my tooth on.  Nearly.  Now there's no chance to sue, make millions, and be able to afford more than just their baked goods.

The good news:  I'm going to Galiano Island tomorrow for a 3 day hike/bike/eat/drink getaway with my pals Dana and Heather.
The bad news:  None.  There is simply no downside to this.

The good news:  I heard from Tourism Richmond....
The bad news:  .....that they're not announcing the winner until June 5th.

The good news:  This gives me plenty of time to take up new hobbies.
The bad news:  These hobbies will likely include squirming in my chair and stress-eating.  Muffin-tops.

The good news:  We all get to look forward to Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson's new movie.
The bad news:  It doesn't come out until June 1st.

The good news:  That's a heck of a lot sooner than June 5th!

Treats.

I'm going to a friend's "This Ain't No Pink Neck" redneck BBQ tonight.  On the way home from work, I decided to stop at 7Eleven and pick up some artificially cream-filled snacks to assemble on a platter and bring for dessert, classy-like.  While waiting in line to pay, the plastic packages slipped from my hands, sending mini donuts and Dolly Madison Strawberry Coconut Zingers crashing to the floor.  Horrified someone would think I wasn't buying them ironically, I struggled to collect them from around the other customers' ankles and said "Oh!  Just getting these for a redneck BBQ!" far louder than necessary.  As if saying it was necessary at all.

They stared at me, indifferently.

Sunshine.

On a sunny day outside, I shake my head in wonder at my own good life.  It's impossible not to feel happy with your feet back in sandals, a fine view of the mountains and ocean, sweet-smelling flowers on every corner, and an entire city out enjoying itself with you.  Vitamin D, it's so nice to have you back.

In the last few glorious days I've been out for gelato,

on walks with my lovely roommate,

out to the Richmond Night Market,

(mainly for the food)

making a Black Forest Cake (with the kitchen windows and door flung open),

and picnicking on the beach with Marnie.

To think, it's only May.  We have months of these illuminated days ahead of us.  

Look What I Found!

I know what you're thinking, because it's the same thing I thought when I first saw this at Les Amis du Fromage. 

"That's gross."

But of course I had to get it, because bizarre foods are like a food-lover's version of bungee-jumping.  The weirder / higher the better.

You know what?  I liked it.  We all did actually, and there were four of us tucking into this cheese + chocolate combo.  There's a thin layer of crunchy parm in the middle, and while at first you only get it in texture, there's a little bit of cheese at the end.  It mainly just tastes salty, which is great because salty chocolate is awesome.  


I don't think I'll ever stop and say "maaaan, I could really go for some parmesan chocolate right now," but I'd definitely get this again; it's an edible conversation starter that's genuinely good.  Way to go, Les Amis!

Again, With the Peanut Butter. I Just Can't Help It.

Last weekend was busy; I wrote about labneh for work, prepped for my final #Richmond365 interview, stared at the Super Moon, and visited with my dear friend Caylee who was visiting from Montreal.  The two of us met in Kindergarten and have bonded over our love of eating and arguing ever since.

Caylee and I (NERD ALERT) were high-school debating partners, and because of this I will unreasonably and gladly accept credit for the remarkable career she's since pursued; she studied at the United World College in Hong Kong, completed her undergraduate degree in The Netherlands, earned a Masters of Law in London, and is one semester away from her law degree at McGill.  There's also been academic and work stints in Finland, Kenya, Pakistan, New York, and Paris.  So what do to when such a worldly friend visits?  Steep some tea and make peanut butter balls, of course.  

Before you go to thinking we're any less nerdy now than we were in highschool (yes Caylee, "we"), just wait til you hear WHY we made these particular treats:  for a pun party.  My friends Dave and Zoe held a May the 4th Be With You shindig this past Friday, and since I wanted to take an edible pun (edible puns = the definition of cool), we made "Baka-Chews."  In honour of Chubaka.  From Star Wars.  Because the best comedians need to explain their jokes.

While Star Wars dictated the name, our recipe choice was fuelled fully by nostalgia; Caylee and I went through a childhood phase in which making peanut butter balls was our sole hobby.  We endlessly stirred p.b., icing sugar, coconut, and rice krispies together, formed this mixture into balls, and ate them like it was our job.  Such blood-sugar-spiked good times we had!  Since we're (sadly) grownups now, this Baka-Chews version is a little healthier:

- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup agave nectar or honey
- 1 cup oats (chopped or food-processed to make finer)
- 1 cup toasted, unsweetened coconut
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
- chopped dark chocolate
- chopped toasted almonds

We mixed these together, then adjusted wet/dry until we reached a desirable taste and rolling consistency.   They were crunchy, chewy, nutty, and satisfying - not bad for something based on a furry fictional character from a movie.  

Before she returned to Montreal, Caylee left me with a book.  Secret Ingredients is a compilation of food stories from The New Yorker, and a mere 10 pages in I knew it to be one of the great literary loves of my life.  I can't wait to read it fully, and many more times in the years to come.

Thanks Caylee - you're a brilliant lawyer and an even better friend.

Final 3 in #Richmond365 + A Recipe to Keep Forever.

As with the response to the #lindseatsrichmond photo campaign, I'm feeling rather dumbfounded.  I knew my friends would rally, but never did the possibility of 3366 votes occur to me.  I will never be able to say thank you enough but really hope you feel appreciated.  Even if it sounds dangerous, gratitude is literally radiating from my body; it's remarkable to feel this supported.    

I'm now in the top 3 with two very talented ladies: Kelly Brisson of The Gouda Life and Melanie Hillier of Dulcet Devotion.  Of course I'd prefer to dislike them, but they've made that impossible with their madly-good blogging skills and generally awesome personalities.  I keep thinking "I want to have them over for dinner," so I'm going to.

Over the next few weeks they'll fly from Ontario for in-person interviews with Tourism Richmond and will get a chance to explore the wonders of the left coast.  I too will have another interview, one final chance to explain why I was born for this job.

Part of that will be describing how my culinary ambitions began when I was young, and I'll start here by sharing a recipe I painstakingly developed at the age of 8.  This was when I decided to re-invent the classic Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich, which I thought  needed a shakeup.  I was relatively convinced my new version would go big, as in 'viral' kind of big if the internet existed back then.  Fortunately it has the chance to now, so here you are dear readers and you're welcome.

8 Year-Old Lindsay's Peanut Butter and Cheez Whiz Sandwich

Ingredients:
- 2 slices whole wheat bread (because Momma Anderson refused to buy white, which tasted to me like candy)
- peanut butter (generous slather)
- Cheez Whiz (generous slather)

Method:
Spread peanut butter on one piece of bread.  Spread Cheez Whiz on other piece of bread.  Sandwich together.  Cut in half.  Observe orange-on-brown strata and think oneself to be very clever.  Bite into sandwich.  Realize is disgusting.  With indescribable disappointment, choke down entire sandwich because are descended from prairie folk and do not like to waste food.  Never make again.

Go childhood Lindsay, go!

Yes I'm younger than 8 here, but this IS another example of my childhood smarts.