long weekend update

In honour/mourning of the Godfather going back to Dallas today, I spent yesterday cooking and baking. There was a Jamie Oliver recipe that just looked too fun not to try, and then a cupcake recipe that involved bacon (3 different ways) and dark chocolate so it was too good to pass up. Yeah, I know.

The honeycomb cannelloni was kind of a pain to make because I couldn't find 2 of the main things - creme fresh and a casserole dish that would fit everything - but I improvised and MacGyvered a solution. I mixed sour cream, light cream, Parmesan and seasoning for the creme fresh, and used my timpano pot for the casserole. Crisis averted, I moved on to the best part of the dish: the sauce. It had carrots, celery, red onions, portobellos and porcinis, garlic, and loads of plum tomatoes and basil. So easy to make and basically idiot proof, it amazes me when people say they can't cook or don't know how. If you can read a recipe, you can cook. It really is that simple. Trust me.



The dessert was courtesy of the brilliant and torturous minds behind one of my favourite food blogs and I couldn't say no to something that combined bitter dark chocolate, salty bacon, and sweet maple syrup. The cupcakes were so moist and delicious, and the butercream/bacon icing was a surprisingly tasty variation. Having a piece of maple candied bacon as a garnish was way better than a cherry on top. There are a few left over if anyone is interested.



In the midst of baking I got an invite to hang with an awesome friend that I rarely get to see, so I packed up a few cupcakes and took a drive. We hung out in his basement, attempted more than twice to burn a CD, and then abandoned the cause in favour of watching "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". Basically your typical high school hang out, minus the awkwardness of teenage angst. Being grown up has its advantages.

Hope you are all enjoying this Family Day long weekend and spending it with your peeps.