sunday wrap-up

Insane weekend.  Seriously… this past weekend has been INSANE.

1.  I spent Thursday and Friday running around participating in Capital Cupcake Camp promos.  Awesome Fun.

My Friday evening @ The Whalesbone was canceled.  Charlotte had Arctic Andrew and another guy (Elliot) in to see how they did… so I got the night off… and spent it enjoying sundaes with loads of friends (seriously… Deb and Handsome Ransom showed up… plus the girls and then Platonic Jeff)… in the end I enjoyed the chowder and then ran downstairs to make sundaes for my friends!  :0)

2.  Saturday morning errands… as in wedding cake delivery.  This required that I head down to my favourite Barhaven location (Emily’s house) and grab a  simply decorated large slab of lemon cake and a beautifully decorated small 2 tiered marble cake.  Sweet. Then back downtown to deliver to our client.  Done & Done!

3.  Host a baby shower.  Yep.  Gigi’s (remember – she gets me the sweet parking spots at Loblaws) shower was yesterday afternoon.  I was hosting.  Which meant lots of baking on Friday.  Lots of baking. My blog on that to come… :0)

4.  My mom was visiting.  I heart visits from my mom.  I heart that she drives down to visit me – even when she’s rushing off the following day to Europe.  Or Asia.  I heart that she enjoys sitting in my apartment, chatting with me, and lets me bake.  Because I had lots of baking to do this weekend.

5.  I was a judge at Capital Cupcake Camp.  Yep.  That sure was fun.  Seriously… a lot of fun.  But my stomach hurts a little right now.  Ever heard of cupcake heartburn?  I have it.  Sigh.  Where you there?  Did YOU make it?  A room full of cupcakes is not to be missed.  But… just in case you did… I’ll be blogging about it soon enough.  So tune in.

Right now I’m taking a break from #6 on my list.  I’m taking my little breather writing to all of you.  Thanks for the breather.  This next one is what’s really getting me nervous.

6.  I’m baking baby cakes for Kate’s (head caterer @ the Whalesbone Oyster House – catering division) event tomorrow.  I’m still working on them.  40 baby cakes.  That doesn’t sound so bad right?  Except… fondant.  I am using fondant.  Rolling it out.  And trying not to screw up.  Expect a blog about those little cakes for sure.

Thanks for letting me regale you with my weekend.  Back to my butcher block I go.  Rolling pin in hand, fondant and buttercream at the ready.  This could be the beginning of a very long evening :0)

Ciao :0)

to change the template or not?

I need your help.

see… the blog has changed a little… I picked a different template.

Do you like it?

Should I keep it?

Should I go back to the original?

You have until Sunday, the 13th @ midnight to weigh-in.

Let me know… I heart comments and opinions!

tapas galore!

This is another entry that really doesn’t include a single recipe… only pictures of absolute goodness. I had the opportunity to finally try out an amazing Ottawa restaurant, Allium (on Holland Drive)… well, I think the few pictures I took speak volumes.

Highly recommended… I taste tested a roasted beet salad with pecans and an herbed goat cheese, absolutely decadent mac & cheese… seriously, just look at the picture! Tuna tartare with a crunchy won ton noodle and fish cakes topped with mango and avocado… sigh. Everything was just perfect. Top that off with some good wine and even better company… I would call that a perfect dinner.

roasted beet salad with pecans and herbed goat cheese

 mac & cheese

tuna tartare with a crunchy won ton noodle

fish cakes topped with avocado and mango

all done

I highly recommend Allium and their Monday night tapas menu… anyone have plans next week? ;0)