A Slice of Nelson

I love to leave, because I love to come back. I love the experience of missing people, places and comforts, and returning to them with a new appreciation.

Going home this summer was my first chance to really miss Nelson, and all the aspects of my life here—a fun job, amazing food, a comfortable home, and friends!!

One of those friends is Darby Jack. She's a local entrepreneur, single handedly filling the void left by Live Food Bar with her amazing raw sweets. Sweet Summer Raw Confections can be found at the Kootenay Co-op (where we both work!).

Last week, she came over and made a mess of my kitchen. I got to take pictures and eat cake, with great appreciation

WHO

Darby Jack, owner and operator of Sweet Summer Raw Confections in Nelson, B.C.

I live underneath Elephant Mountain, on the shores of Kootenay Lake, in a two-bedroom mountain refuge with my partner Will and our canine progeny: a dainty princess-like Maltese named Muppet and a crotchety 7-pound Yorkie named Buster.

Raw cooking has always fascinated me, and I am a lifelong advocate for animals and cruelty-free eating. I particularly love the way whole ingredients magically come together to create healthful, flavour-rich desserts.

After studying under renowned raw chef Mark Reinfeld in Portland and working as a raw cook at Cafe Bliss in Victoria, I’ve decided to create my own line of decadent desserts. Nelson has been an amazingly supportive community in this endeavour, and has great resources for young business owners. I’m really excited for things to continue to blossom.

WHAT 

An Earl Grey and lemon cheesecake topped with young coconut whipped cream. I threw in some sweet, ripe strawberries too for a colourful surprise when the cake is cut.

This cake should be served on it’s own or with a few dried lemon slices and perhaps a drizzle of honey. Enjoy it in your favourite nook, blanket in lap, with a slumbering canine curled at your feet. Obviously a cup of hot tea is necessary.

WHY

I’ve been making cakes using beautiful, fresh berries and fruit all summer so I’ve been looking forward to exploring fall flavours. I’m really feeling pumpkin, plums, cranberries, and warm spices right now.

I’m in love with hot, lemony tea inside on a cool drizzly day so earl grey seemed perfect for an autumn cheezecake. I added some little strawberries to pay homage to the last fruits of summer and to cut through the Earl Grey colour like autumn leaves against a grey sky.

The young coconut whip cream’s pillowy-soft, creamy peaks pair perfectly with this cozy time of year.

RECIPE

YOUNG COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM 

 Ingredients: 

• 2 cups fresh young coconut meat 
• 2 cups soaked cashews 
• 1/2 cup honey- or to taste 
• 1/3 cup cacao butter- melted 
• 1/4 cup coconut oil 
• 1/4 cup coconut butter 
• 1 cup coconut milk, almond milk or coconut water 
• 1 tsp. powdered vanilla 
• 1 tsp. cinnamon 

Instructions:

1. Blend everything in a high speed blender.
2. Allow cream to sit in the fridge for 2-3 hours, until set.

Keep Jumbo Wild

Some friends and I hiked Jumbo last week, and it was spectacular—wild flowers everywhere!

Lately

I realize it's been a while, but I'm finally ready to spill the beans. Long story short, I completed my contract in Muskoka, and have since moved to British Columbia for another baking job. The past few months have been filled with moving out, packing, driving, and moving in...but I made it. I'm hoping once I've settled into my new job and life, I'll start baking for myself again, but until then, here are some pictures from the last few months, including one of my new home.

Unlimited Juice Party

I always like experimenting with my diet and seeing how it effects me. I was in Toronto for a few days last week and I thought it would be a fun try my first juice cleanse. I've always been curious about them, though a bit skeptical.

As I am both juicer-less and lazy, I decided to splurge on a prepared juice cleanse from my favourite raw restaurant in Toronto—Live Food Bar. I was already familiar with their juices and love them, so I kind of thought the cleanse would feel like a treat...an off-the-hook, unlimited juice party.

I committed to three days of nothing but juice, drinking 6 juices a day (delicious) in addition to a morning elixir (gross). I cheated once and bought an extra juice...I also drank my fair share of coconut water, but aside from that, I stuck it out.

Physically, I really didn't feel...much. Actually, I was surprised because I was rarely hungry. I never felt full, but there weren't any "my stomach is eating itself" hunger pains. I felt light and fairly normal, though a bit tired. I was also fairly emotional during the cleanse, but some of these symptoms could easily be attributed to external events. Oh, and I also had to pee all the time.

The mental component of the cleanse was most difficult...knowing I couldn't eat anything made me obsessed with wanting to eat something. I don't think the urge would have been so prominent if I had not been visiting Toronto, where I have a kitchen and access to my favourite restaurants. Had I done the cleanse back in Muskoka, I think I would have been ok, as I don't cook or eat out much. Juice would have been a welcome change to salad.

Post-cleanse, I feel good. Really good, actually. Kind of like I'm re-set. Nothing major, just a general good feeling. I'd do it again...during a calmer time in my life, and perhaps for a longer period of time. I'd like to see if anything becomes more marked as time goes on, though I don't know if I could make it a full week. I love food.

Summer is ending and so is the busy season here. A bunch of my co-workers left this week, so I made them baking related cards to say goodbye. I thought I'd share them...they're food related and I haven't had any recipes in a while.

Summer

Please excuse the ridiculously irregular blogging! I'm still in Muskoka, and trying my best to enjoy the rest of my summer. I'll be living here until October—a bit longer than I originally thought—and some big changes are planned for the fall, so I'm not quite sure when I'll be blogging regularly again. Hopefully soon! Until then, here are a few snapshots from my summer...

Practice II

Practice

The move to Muskoka actually went well. I saw two moose and, amazingly, I didn't even get lost.

Work for the bakery has begun, so we've been scratch baking every day—so exciting. No personal baking though—sorry, food blog!

Since spring decided to turn back into winter up here (it snowed on Sunday!), I've been practicing painting a bit in my down time. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but practice I must.

These flower designs are not of my own invention. I cannot find the source of the blue flowers in the first picture, though I'm pretty sure they were from Rifle Paper Company. Sorry! I thought I had pinned it. However, I do know that the roses are a lame attempt at ones from here. Everything on her website is so beautiful, it makes my heart ache.

The second practice was inspired by an old pillow case at my parents' cottage.

In the realm of baking and pastry, I know that baking theory is my passion. But when it comes to a favourite practical component, I just don't know.

Cake Decorating: Blackberry Cake

Last week, while leisurely decorating some miniature cakes, it occurred to me that they were ugly. I keep decorating cakes in the style I was taught in school—buttercream roses, piped borders, swags, etc...—only to repeatedly find myself displeased with the results.

I'm spending my rainy day off working on a dream bakery oatmeal cookie. I am using my first oatmeal cookie recipe as a base, because, upon re-making it this week (and editing the post and pictures...haha, shh, it was embarrassing), I found the cookies were actually quite good. Still, I know they can be better...but I'm having a hard time determining the criteria for my ideal oatmeal cookie. All I know for sure is that it doesn't have raisins.

Barbados

My father has been living and working in Barbados for the last 6 months, and for a week this month, my family and I finally went to visit. I've tried to limit the number of photos I share, as this is a food blog, but it's difficult to go on vacation and not want to tell everyone about it. I'll try to be brief and food related...

Getting Ready

Christmas is coming too soon, and I'm trying to get ready. Today I'm working on a shortbread cookie recipe for here and trying to finish my Christmas cards—'tis the season!

Lately

Christmas is coming, so I've also been busy knitting and making cards etc..., and work is pretty nuts right now too. I have been baking at home, because James and I have had company for the last two weekends, but by the time I feel any ambition to take a picture, it's gone.

I've been feeling conflicted about the amount of cane-sugar baking I do, when my real interests are in baking with local sugars, but here are a couple little sugary things I've made lately. The cookies are just a basic sugar cookie recipe with royal icing. I made them for fun, because I'd like to improve my piping and decorating skills. The cake is a chocolate genoise, with orange flavoured buttercream, that I made for a friend of James'. The colour combination for the cake's icing was a definite mistake, but I do think taste is most important, and the feedback was great. I hate looking at all the imperfections of my decorating, but I try to remind myself that I have to start somewhere.

Foraged Apple Crumble

I've yet to settle into Toronto living, and it makes me a bit anxious. Especially right now, when I know my garden at my family home is producing beets and carrots, and there are apples waiting to be picked from our tree.  Also, my mom tells me the cottage is beautiful this time of year.

Clammin'

My vegetarianism has always been based on the supposed philosophy that "if I killed it, I'd eat it." Until recently, however, I'd never actually lived that motto. 

While fetching James for our move to Toronto, I had the chance to go clamming, and have a clam boil on the beach. Digging for clams was actually a lot of fun—probably my favourite part of the process.

We boiled the clams over an open fire, with an assortment of root vegetables, an onion and some crushed red pepper. It was my first non-vegetarian meal in 7 years, and though I felt no moral apprehensions about eating the clams, their disgusting bodies made me think twice...clams are really gross looking. I overcame their appearance and they were surprisingly good, though I don't foresee any clam cravings. I think I've probably had my fill for life.

James and I are officially moved to Toronto, so life should be settling down, and I will soon return to some of my normal activities—blogging, for example.

Blog is on the back burner, because I love summer and I've been spending every moment I can spare at my family's cottage.

I would like to say I'll be back soon, but James and I have decided to move to Toronto in September, so things will be hectic for a while. I'm sorry to leave my family, and a job I love so much, but it's also very exciting.

Anyone know of any nice bakeries in Toronto that might be hiring? Seriously...I'm going to need a job.

Strawberry Picking: Valley Sunset

Probably the last strawberry pick of the season. This variety was by far my favourite.

Strawberry Picking: Cavendish

Strawberry pick number three. This variety is called Cavendish and it's pretty good—slightly better than Cabot, which actually turned out to be better than I first thought. Still anticipating the berries from peak season.

Strawberry Picking: Cabot

Another trip to the strawberry field. This variety is called Cabot. The berries are huge and though they're better than the first batch, I'm still unsatisfied.