weekend bits.

Why did the Duck cross the playground? Answer: To get to the other slide.

I read this in a Vermont grocery store during a trip last month and it stuck. Actually shopping in the grocery stores in Vermont made me think about food in a different way, it made me question where my food comes from and what does it stands for. I'm so happy that we've been making an effort to buy more local ever since, it really feels great supporting small farms rather than the big factory farms.

My mom also recently gave me a great cookbook and so far i've made two delicious recipes, Moroccan meatballs with couscous and Thai mango chicken with vegetables. Both were complete hits with the family, healthy and delicious, love that.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

cabane à sucre.

In true Québecois tradition, we headed to a cabane à sucre {sugar shack} this weekend. Alicia {my adorable step daughter} and I were so ready to roll our popsicle sticks in the warm syrup laid out on the snow, or as we say in french "la tire"... yum! It was maple syrup heaven but even me and my big sweet tooth could only handle this once a year.

I hope your weekend was sweet too, and happy Spring!

japan.

Japan has been in my constant thoughts and prayers this past week. There really are no words for what happened and what the people of Japan must be going through. I've tried to imagine it and I can't. Every night my husband and I are glued to the TV watching the news and every morning we check the latest news from our iPhones on our train commute into work. Their tragedy has made me think a lot and certainly puts things into perspective.

I have a wonderful weekend planned with my family and I know how blessed I am that everyone I love is healthy and safe. I wish the same for you and yours this weekend, and always.

shiraz: the wine + the cat.

Woo! Was that one fast weekend or is it just me? I spent time with my girlfriends, parents and husband, so a great weekend but it just feels like it went by way too fast. My mister and I tried a wine that we brought home from the U.S. a few weeks back and I nearly fell off my chair because it was so good. I'm no wine connoisseur but I know what I like and what I don't like, and this one I liked a whole lot.

How was your weekend?

crush.

I have a big crush on farms with values like Echo Farm. Their cows have names, not numbers, in fact you will find the cow's name who produced your product on the label! We picked up Royal's rice pudding and Miracle's chocolate pudding while in Vermont last week and I swear they tasted that much yummier because we knew they came from such goodness.

The way that most farm animals are raised today is appalling and i'm being more conscious about where and who I buy my food from. I'm trying to find more products from certified humane farms here in Quebec but unfortunately it's not as easy as I thought. But in Vermont grocery stores it seemed to be the norm to find eggs from cage-free chickens and meats from animals who weren't confined to crates and stalls. I really hope that more and more farmers adopt Echo Farm's values and respect for their animals here across the border. You can find a list of certified companies here.

mini moon cakes.

Happy monday! Last week I went away for 3 days so this weekend was all about catching up on laundry, groceries and errands. Isn't it crazy how you need a vacation from taking a vacation?! Well i'm all caught up and it feels great. The hubs and I even had time for some picture taking and enjoying our favorite treats from Chinatown.

Are you ready for a new week?