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"A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch." - James Beard


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Saturday, August 29, 2015

Tart of the Month - Bourbon Peach Icebox Cake


This is only very tangentially a tart.  Icebox cake has a "crust" in the form of cookies and a "filling" in the form of whipped cream and fruit, so I'm calling it my tart of the month so I don't have to turn on the oven!


Icebox cake is actually really easy to make.  A magic process takes place when you layer cookies with whipped cream. They take on a cake-like consistency as they moisten and become almost like solid cake when sliced. 



Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Happy Hour - Punch Romaine


Have you ever watched the TV show Hannibal?  If not, you should! The first two seasons are available on Netflix, and the the way they film food is unbelievable.  The final season is wrapping up on NBC right now.  It's not a spoiler to reveal that earlier this season Hannibal, played wonderfully by Mads Mikkelsen, mixes Punch Romaine to serve to his guests.



Punch Romaine was one of the last things served to first class passengers on the Titanic before it sank.  

It's an icy cocktail of rum, orange, wine, champagne and egg whites.  Here's what you need to make one cocktail:



1 egg white
1 oz white rum
1 oz white wine
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
2 oz champagne (or sparkling wine)
twist of orange peel for garnish




You'll also need crushed ice, a cocktail shaker and a cocktail coupe to serve.  I used the cocktail glass above.  



I used my blender to crush the ice, which worked very well.  Mound the ice in the glass just like an iceberg.  My crazy husband thought staging these pictures in front of a picture of the Titanic would be fun.  



Shake the egg white, rum, wine, simple syrup, lemon juice and orange juice together in a cocktail shaker with ice until frothy and chilled.  



Pour the cocktail into the glass and top with champagne and orange peel.  Enjoy in calm weather.  

This cocktail was surprisingly light and tasty. It would be a great palate cleanser between courses at a fancy dinner, or a cooling treat on a hot night while watching your favourite TV show.  Cheers!  

Friday, August 7, 2015

CSA - Summer Vegetables Abound


It's too hot. We are not the biggest fans of summer around here. We prefer it when the weather's cooler. 

But one of the things I look forward to every summer is my weekly CSA box.  



CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Farmers essentially sell shares in their crops in advance, then deliver the shares to customers weekly throughout the growing season.  

Saturday, August 1, 2015

The Beer Baron - Bonne Bière et Cidre en Montreal!

This post comes from Matt, the Beer Baron. Find him on Twitter & Instagram @geekcanuck


Amazingly, the Clockwatching Tart and I had never been to Montreal together and I hadn’t been to the city myself since the Unity Rally on October 27, 1995. My absence came down to matters of the heart, as I was heartbroken over the departure of the Montreal Expos while also becoming smitten with Chicago and Lexington, both of which are more or less equidistant to Montreal. So, with an open mind, an empty stomach and a deep thirst, it was time to revisit Montreal.


Since it was easily accessible right off the highway, our very first stop was the Terrasse St-Ambroise, a brand new and absolutely beautiful patio bar. Although many St. Ambroise beers are ubiquitous in Ontario (including their wonderful Oatmeal Stout), I was able to try a lovely Double IPA that was a perfect start to our trip.