September 28th, 2008

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Shady Maple Farms Syrup: The real deal

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

There are two types of people: those who love real maple syrup and those who prefer the imitation variety.

I was raised on the imitation. It’s cheaper and easier to find. We even had bottles that you could put in the microwave that had a square that would light up when the syrup was hot. Now I’m far too worried about plastic (and microwaves, for that matter) to ever go back to that.

Besides, now I’m addicted to the real deal. Shady Maple Farms in Canada makes a delicious organic syrup in a pretty glass bottle. In the photo it’s all used up. Its last drops went onto a sweet ginger pancake yesterday morning.

Maple syrup is much more expensive, but I love the intense flavor. I would love to try Grade B syrup since I’ve read the flavor is even deeper, but Grade B seems hard to come by. Where do you find it?

Recipe: Chocolate Oat Balls

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

There are two types of people: those who prefer baking and those who prefer cooking.

Despite my sweet tooth I am very much in the cooking camp. I am not very precise with measurements and I am liberal with substitutions. Therefore when I make dessert I usually make pudding, macaroons, fruit tarts and other things that can handle my lack of attention to detail.

These chocolate oat balls fit the bill. They’re no-bake, easy, and pretty.

Chocolate Oat Balls

Adapted from Anne’s Food, a wonderful blog

250 ml rolled oats
50 ml sugar
50 ml cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup hot, strong coffee
50 g unsalted butter, very soft

Put all ingredients together. Roll into balls. Anne suggested rolling them in coconut or pearl sugar, but I tried coconut and couldn’t get it to stick. Perhaps because it was unsweetened and therefore not sticky?

Eat soon. Store in refrigerator, but, better yet, don’t store at all. The next day they will begin to dry out considerably.

Restaurant: Cafe Loup, Manhattan

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

Tonight I went to Cafe Loup on 13th St between 6th and 7th Aves for a birthday dinner for my friends Tracy and Ryan.

I had the duck breast (on special) with coconut rice and butternut squash puree. Will, my fiance, had skirt steak with fries and pickled cabbage. Both were decent without being overwhelming, for $22 and $21 respectively. Cafe Loup is BYOB for wine bottles not included in their list which ends up being a good deal for an…  em, thirsy croud as we had tonight.