Where I’ve been (at least in part):
What I’ve been doing (at least in part):
I hope you’re enjoying your summer too!
Archive for the ‘Likes’ Category
Summer, in Parts
Posted in Holidays, Likes, tagged #ThingsILike, fun, inspiration, travel, yay on August 25, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Summer Snapshot
Posted in Food and..., Likes, tagged #frostyadultbeverages, #summer101, #ThingsILike, #thingsthatmakemegonom, food, garden on July 16, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Tonight’s dinner:
pasta with citrus shrimp and French sorrel, Swiss chard, lemon thyme, basil, garlic chives and cherry tomatoes from the garden.
This is about the extent of our bounty so far. It may have been 94F today but it’s still Canada, the growing season starts late and ends early. Still fun!
The astute observer may also have noticed a bright splash of color in the background. That’s my favorite new summer beverage, Ace Hill’s grapefruit Radler. So, so much nommity goodness!
/yeah, I’m buying it by the case
#noregrets!
My Favorite Chocolate Cake, Now, Even Better!
Posted in Food and..., Likes, tagged #fuelforwriters, #UniTheUnicornCake, awesome, baking, cake, food, fun, inspiration, recipes, yay on July 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »
This is the latest version of my favorite chocolate cake recipe. It has been used (extensively) for layer cakes, sheet cakes, and cupcakes. Why a new recipe? With tweaks to the fat portion of the ingredients, this version has even more flavor (sorry, Canada, flavour), than the original, and is still simple, easy and quick to make. Oh, and if you happen to forget the butter and coconut oil in the microwave, this works as a fat-free recipe too. Ask me how I know;) I’ve also included an updated frosting recipe, because that’s what friends are for. It’s metric, because these days, that’s how I roll.
I like it. I hope you do too!
Truly Excellent Chocolate Cake, v. 2.0
Cake:
2 C. sugar (400g), half white, half brown
2 C. all-purpose flour (250g)
3/4 C. cocoa powder (88g)
2 t. (11.5g) baking soda
1 t. (4.3 g) baking powder
½+ t. (5g) kosher salt
2 eggs
1 C. buttermilk (or 1 scant cup milk, warmed with 1 T. white vinegar)*
1 C. coffee
2.8 oz. (80g) butter, melted
1.16 oz. (33g) coconut oil, melted
2 t. vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare one 9″ x 13” pan, two 8/9” cake pans, or 24 standard muffin tins, with butter and flour/cocoa powder or line with parchment paper (a lot less trouble).
2. Mix sugar, flour, cocoa, soda, powder and salt in a large bowl.
3. Add remaining ingredients, beat for 2 minutes.
4. Pour into baking pans and bake until tester comes out clean (30-35 minutes for cake pans, 35-40 minutes for large pan, or 22 minutes for cupcakes).
5. Let cool 10 minutes and remove from pan. Frost when cool.
* Note: I usually make a cup of coffee in a 2C glass measuring beaker, then add the vinegar and fill up to the two-cup line with milk. Voila!
. . . . . .
Buttercreamcheese Frosting:
100g butter, softened
160g cream cheese, softened
560g powdered sugar
pinch of salt, to taste
~½ t. vanilla
2 T. lemon juice, or some combination of lemon, orange juice concentrate, milk, cream, and/or Grand Marnier; this is the flavoring portion so tweak at will!
1. Cream butter and cheese together until whipped smooth, fluffy and white (can take up to 5 minutes but it’s worth it).
2. Sift powdered sugar, add to butter mixture in two parts, blend.
3. Add flavorings and beat another ~3 minutes until smooth, light, and spreadable. Adjust liquid as necessary to reach desired thickness.
Works well for anywhere you need a mostly white frosting, and colors well. Just ask my friend Uni the Unicorn!
Uni the Unicorn was a present for a six-year old’s birthday: Six layers of chocolate cake with buttercreamcheese frosting, a little marshmallow fondant for the eyebrows, and magic!
Happy Day, Canada!
Posted in Holidays, Likes, tagged #HappyCanadaDay!, #ocanada, #spentalldayatabbqandowiamcooked on July 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »
* not actual Canada Day fireworks, but actual fireworks nonetheless. Enjoy!
A Useful (Yet Potentially Obscure) Illustrator Tip
Posted in Likes, Other, tagged arts, creativity, design, Illustrator CS5, Thoughts, tips&tricks on April 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »
I can’t draw, but I do love designing things like maps and logos and books and fun gifts. I use software to make it all work and shortcuts can be a terrific time saver. That’s why I’m excited to report that I recently discovered a very helpful trick for aligning objects in Illustrator.
I came to Illustrator from Freehand and found myself tripping over simple things. This particular tip fixes an issue that’s been bugging me for years, so I wanted to share in case I’m not the only one. (Maybe you already know this trick? Good for you, now give me a sec to share this bit of wisdom with those of us who have been less fortunate;)
I use Illustrator CS5 so ymmv, but here’s the gist, paraphrased from this useful article:
Select the objects you want to align, then (here’s the important bit) click once on the object or guide you want to use to control the alignment of the other selected objects. No shift key needed, just a straight click. The Key Object will show a heavy border outline around it. Align as usual.
It should look something like this:
Enjoy!
I Just Can’t Even Tell You
Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged #ThingsILike, Fiction, harry potter, inspiration, star wars, Thoughts, writing, yay on March 27, 2018| Leave a Comment »
I love this so much I just can’t even say. The idea that a generation of Potterheads and aspiring Jedi and would-be superheroes are tackling the big issues of the day? Absolutely fantastic.
As Time correspondent Charlotte Alter put it,
“This is not just a generation that has grown up with school shootings,” she tweeted, before building her apt analogy. “It’s also a generation that grew up reading Harry Potter.”
It’s everything I love about storytelling and everything I want for society. To those writing the good fight, from Tolkien to Rowling to all of you working to make the world a better place through storytelling…
Thank you.
Winner, Winner, Ewok Dinner!
Posted in Holidays, Likes, tagged #ThingsILike, awesome, creativity, entertainment, fun, inspiration, science fiction, sff, star wars, yay on October 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Oh hey, don’t ask me how but it’s the end of October already. This holiday I bring you the winner of The Most Awesome Costume award (as determined by yours truly):
/zomg, now I so want a speeder:)
Happy Halloween!
