Some of These Things are Just Like the Others

Look who caught my eye in Toronto. While stopping in Toronto for a few days with Ike.......we just HAD to stop by China Town. It is one of my must do things every time I go there. This trip we had a small shopping list from Grama to complete before we could leave. The shopping is very hard work for Ike and there was a little bit of complaining........ but not too much. It was a few hours of walking...so it was good exercise too:) While in the shop we needed to stop in for Grama, I chanced upon this cute little teapot. Since I had not purchased much on this trip....I didn't feel the least bit guilty indulging in this small purchase. When I saw it I thought it might suit these little mugs I found earlier in the year in a thrift shop. Hmmmmm..... I think I may feel a collection coming on.

Fun at Grampa's Cabin

Fishing is always a big part of Ike's visits back east. Since Gramps camp is on a lake it was only natural that a few fishing excursions needed to be had. Ike was a very busy fisherman on this trip. He caught 7 small mouth bass casting off shore (biggest was 4 lbs) on a little day trip to Crystal Lake near the US boarder. It was a fun little trip as it involved a little canoeing through pretty marsh pathways to get to the lake. (Well it was all fun aside from the tick mom acquired on that trip, but did not find until returning home) Honestly......if you find a tick on you and you scream.....and you scream......wouldn't you expect help to come????? I would advise against screaming for help at my parents house......because I can assure you.....NO ONE WILL COME. Another fishing trip up at camp yielded 6 Pike at an unnamed lake. Ike has since named it Lucky Log Lake as every single fish we caught was caught while trolling past a deadhead log. I had hoped that these Pike would be magically transformed into mom's famous Fish Balls....but no such luck....maybe next trip:( The photo above (with Ike's eyes closed...oops) was from a little after dinner fishing trip on the lake using the down rigger. That lake trout might have been on the line for a long time....who knows??? We didn't notice it until we gave up and hauled up the weight.........and surprise surprise....there was a lake trout:)

Another one of the things Ike enjoys most about the camp is the friendly squirrels and chipmunks that come looking for snacks. They are so accustomed to being fed that they will climb onto your knee and take a peanut from you. Ike thought it was great fun to hold onto the peanut and lift it and the clinging chipmunk up into the air. It took a little bit of explaining to make him understand that this type of behavior might lead to the chipmunks scratching people to get their nut. Fortunately this kind of shenanigan has stopped. It was amusing to see a chipmunk stuff three unshelled peanuts into it's cheeks before taking off to hide or eat his treasures. This day we left out a little dessert for them and they seemed to like it.

.................................And so did some other forest creatures. This fellow was a little annoyed that he couldn't pick up the entire piece. He was hoping for a less flaky crust, I think.

And lastly.......here is a photo that I have meant to take for years now. This is the sauna of the neighbour next door at camp. Isn't it just the cutest? Well, I've always thought so! The day at camp always ends with a sauna or at least a good washing up in Grampa's sauna....so every morning the water tank in the sauna is filled, and every evening at 4 pm the fire for the sauna is lit. Sparkling clean for a good nights sleep!

MMMarshmallow Cookies

This month's Daring Bakers Challenge is certainly one that I was interested in right from the start! Making homemade marshmallow has been on my to do list for some time now and I was was happy that this challenge was going to be responsible for getting it done. Although the option was there to use store bought marshmallow....for me the challenge was mostly about the marshmallow! So here it is and I hope you take the time to give it try if it interests you as it was not that much work....especially it you make the dough the day ahead of assembling the cookies. And homemade marshmallow.....YUM! For me the recipe made more like 70 cookies but not knowing how much marshmallow the recipe would make, I only baked up 24 cookie bases leaving the remaining 48ish cookies as dough in the fridge. If the heat doesn't kill me, I may bake up the rest tomorrow. Today, I made the extra marshmallows up on a layer of icing sugar to keep for hot chocolate....assuming it cools down. Just need to dip them into their chocolate coating now. So far.......they are delicious! To see more delicious cookies by the daring bakers go here. Update: The coating would simply not set up unless refrigerated....possibly due to the crazy hot weather we are having.

The July Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Nicole at Sweet Tooth. She chose Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies and Milan Cookies from pastry chef Gale Gand of the Food Network.

Mallows(Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies)
Recipe courtesy Gale Gand, from Food Network website

Prep Time: 10 min
Inactive Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Serves: about 2 dozen cookies

• 3 cups (375grams/13.23oz) all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (112.5grams/3.97oz) white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 tablespoons (170grams/ 6 oz) unsalted butter
• 3 eggs, whisked together
• Homemade marshmallows, recipe follows
• Chocolate glaze, recipe follows

1. In a mixer with the paddle attachment, blend the dry ingredients.
2. On low speed, add the butter and mix until sandy.
3. Add the eggs and mix until combine.
4. Form the dough into a disk, wrap with clingfilm or parchment and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
5. When ready to bake, grease a cookie sheet or line it with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
6. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
7. Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness, on a lightly floured surface. Use a 1 to 1 1/2 inches cookie cutter to cut out small rounds of dough.
8. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Let cool to room temperature.
9. Pipe a “kiss” of marshmallow onto each cookie. Let set at room temperature for 2 hours.
10. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or silicon mat.
11. One at a time, gently drop the marshmallow-topped cookies into the hot chocolate glaze.
12. Lift out with a fork and let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
13. Place on the prepared pan and let set at room temperature until the coating is firm, about 1 to 2 hours.

Note: if you don’t want to make your own marshmallows, you can cut a large marshmallow in half and place on the cookie base. Heat in a preheated 350-degree oven to slump the marshmallow slightly, it will expand and brown a little. Let cool, then proceed with the chocolate dipping.

Homemade marshmallows:
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup (168.76 grams/5.95oz) sugar
• 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 egg whites , room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. In a saucepan, combine the water, corn syrup, and sugar, bring to a boil until “soft-ball” stage, or 235 degrees on a candy thermometer.
2. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let dissolve.
3. Remove the syrup from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix.
4. Whip the whites until soft peaks form and pour the syrup into the whites.
5. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff.
6. Transfer to a pastry bag.

Chocolate glaze:
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 2 ounces cocoa butter or vegetable oil

1. Melt the 2 ingredients together in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over barely simmering water.