I adapted this chestnut cake from the Australian Women’s Weekly Italian Cookbook. We bought the cookbook in Saudi Arabia many years ago, so I’m not sure if the it’s still being published. Anyhow, it’s an Italian recipe. Which is odd, considering that I brought this cake as a hostess gift to our family friends’ house, and one […]
Lavender Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread is a buttery cookie from the UK. It’s often sweet, so I’m not 100% sure why it’s called ‘shortbread’ and not ‘shortcake’ (which is obviously a different dessert). From what I have read, the word ‘short’ comes from the crumbly texture of both shortbread and shortcake, not that they were made with shortening, which […]
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My New York Wish List for Next Time!
There is never enough time to do all the things on my New York to-do list! It doesn’t matter if I stay two days or five days (or, I’m sure, 30 days), New York is so filled with sites and sights, restaurants, stores, museums, and parks, that I can never fit it all in. Thankfully […]
Hanami and a Baby Reindeer
One of our new favourite traditions in Toronto is going for hanami. For the second year, we’ve trekked to the packed but beautiful High Park for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. This year was much hotter and the crowds seemed bigger but hanami has definitely become a symbol that spring in the city is really […]
The Flowers of Spring
My favourite flowers are the early spring blossoms. Daffodils, hyacinths, tulips – they all mark the end of another long winter and promise a hot sunny summer to come. I’m not talented in the garden and unfortunately have killed more than a couple of my plants. The flowers that survive in our apartment are the heartiest ones that […]









