Monday, July 12, 2010

Do they have these in Heaven?

Or maybe only Canadian Heaven? Nanaimo bars' deliciousness is well known for over 40 years when a house wife submitted a recipe for a magazine contest. I had the joy of enjoying these little delectable bars during our trip to visit the Canadian side of the family. I was lucky to take this photo before I devoured it!
The recipe according to the city of Nanaimo website (http://www.nanaimo.ca/EN/main/visitors/NanaimoBars.html) is as follows:
Bottom Layer
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¼ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ c. finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut
Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan.
Second Layer
½ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. and 2 Tsp. cream
2 Tbsp. vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar
Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.
Third Layer
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Melt chocolate and butter overlow heat. Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Vietnamese Adventure in Canada

While in Alberta, we tried Vietnamese cuisine for the first time. While hesitantly walking into the restaurant I asked a couple walking out about their opinion and they couldn't have loved it more! Assured, we continued with our adventure and ordered meals from a very nice and outgoing waitress, who corrected our orders claiming "we can't handle it"! Jeff stuck by his choice, however, and ordered a traditional Vietnamese Pho noodle soup with raw beef, tendons, and whole lotta deliciousness, which he very much enjoyed! I loved my noodles on a bed of vegetables covered with shredded beef.

Monday, July 5, 2010

The sky is bigger in Montana

Road-tripping again! On the way to the Glacier Park, MT I noticed something different about the sky...