Photolog 2018: Day 316 of 365

In a hasty decision, I got a big box of Swiss Chalet's frozen chicken pot pies from Costco. And I am pleasantly surprised. I was reading some terrible reviews on them and got worried that buying a big pack from Costco was a mistake, but I have zero regrets. The filling is flavourful and creamy, there's a good amount of chicken and veg, and the crust actually remains flaky and crisp even after five minutes in the microwave. (Why do people bother putting frozen foods in the oven for like, a hundred years, when you can put it in the microwave, and voilà, you have dinner in minutes?) Either the reviews are for a totally different product or Swiss Chalet changed up their recipe, 'cause it's my new fave for quick dinners at home.

Photolog 2018: Day 90 of 365

If honeydew is my Melona bias, then banana is definitely my bias wrecker.

Ice 'n Cake

Went to Ice 'n Cake with Shawn last night with only one thing in mind: "Pistachio gelato or go home." I had the hazelnut and Ferrero Rocher last time, and they were very good, but I was determined to get some pistachio. Lo and behold, they still had a third of a vat of Sicilian pistachio left. I guess people don't eat as much gelato when it gets cold out. I'm the total opposite, though: I eat more frozen desserts in the fall and winter than I do in the summer. I guess it's because summer is so sticky, and then frozen desserts melt faster, and then my hands get sticky, and the dessert gets all messy, and then I don't even want to eat anymore. Back to the point. Creamy, sweet, full of nutty flavour, with tiny little bits of pistachio randomly hidden... Now, I am not by any means a gelato expert or connoisseur, but the Sicilian pistachio gelato at Ice 'n Cake is... divine.

Ice 'n Cake

After our dinner last night, Shawn and I wandered over to Ice 'n Cake for some gelato. It's got to be the cutest gelato place I've ever seen in north Toronto. It's just so bright and colourful and happy! There were a lot of options to choose from, not just for desserts in general, but also from their flavours of gelato.

I originally wanted pistachio gelato, but they were all out, so I opted for a double scoop of Ferrero Rocher and hazelnut instead. Honestly, the only difference between the two flavours is that Ferrero Rocher is hazelnut mixed with Nutella and hazelnut is... just hazelnut. But in the same cup, the flavours melded into one and just tasted hazelnutty. Regardless, it was absolutely delightful. Creamy, nutty, flavourful. All I want in a gelato, really. I will definitely be back for the pistachio next time. I will call ahead to make sure it's available because I am determined to have it.

Cold Stone Creamery

Shawn and I went to Cold Stone Creamery and shared a bowl of the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip: mint ice cream, chocolate chips, brownies, and fudge. Looks gross, tastes so damn good. It is so dangerous that I live five minutes away from this place and that they are open 24 hours a day. Hello, ice cream cravings at 3:00am!

Laura Secord Superkid Ice Cream

There is only one thing I get from Laura Secord, and that is their Superkid ice cream. I don't get it often, but it's been one of my favourite flavours for the past two decades. It's strawberry, blueberry, and banana flavours swirled together in a creamy concoction of epic deliciousness. Yes, it looks like Play-Doh, but it's pure delight and will pretty much brighten anyone's day (literally and figuratively). Plus, it comes with a piece of their signature milk chocolate. Love!

M&M Meat Shops' Bistro Chicken Portobello

So, as my previous blog posts might insinuate, I am kind of a frozen food junkie. Since I am hibernating today and am extremely lazy (like, serious, I'm too lazy to boil water right now), I decided to make some rice and bust out a couple of M&M Meat Shop's Bistro Chicken Portobellos. It's chicken breast stuffed with portobello mushrooms and rice medley, coated with herbed tomato and cheese (let's be honest, this is something I would never make on my own). And it was pretty damn good. The taste kind of reminds me of stuffed cannelloni... except more rice-y. I would totally buy it again. I also have the ricotta and spinach version in my freezer, so I think I'm going to try that next. Nom, nom, nom.

President's Choice Mini Beef Wellington

Okay, so I didn't actually make these, as in season ground beef, mix a mushroom béchamel sauce, and fold and roll out pastry dough. They're President's Choice's Mini Beef Wellington, and I only had to put them in the oven. Point is, they are ridiculous. As in, I could eat 50 of these in one go. And I had to write this so all of you know that you need to purchase a box (or two, or six) of these immediately and revel in the epic deliciousness of seasoned beef in puff pastries. Oh, my god, so good.

Cold Stone Creamery

Hannan and I met up for a coffee and it just so happens that the Tim Horton's we went to also has a Cold Stone Creamery. So I ordered my coffee and also ordered a small (they have a kid's size that is smaller) Coffee Lovers Only since, you know, I'm a coffee lover (or addict, whatever). Coffee Lovers Only consists of coffee ice cream, roasted almonds, Skor toffee bar, and caramel. Okay, you can't really go wrong with that combination, right? Except that when I tasted it, it didn't taste like coffee at all. The ice cream had a hint of coffee, but for an ice cream sundae to be called "Coffee Lovers Only," I was expecting an explosion of coffee flavour. In this respect, it was disappointing.

However, if you don't care about the coffee flavour, the sundae itself is really, really good, as far as sundaes go. I like that they give you a good amount of each ingredient, especially the Skor bar (seriously, there were massive chunks of the stuff, not just "bits"). I'm not sure I would order it again, since the only reason I ordered that particular sundae combination was because it was supposed to taste like coffee. Then again, it's the only one with Skor in it... Still, I'm interested in trying the other flavours, like Banana Caramel Crunch, The Pie Who Loved Me, and Our Strawberry Blonde.

Chinese Pork Dumplings

I don't cook a lot, but I made some Chinese pork dumplings for lunch (pan-fried and boiled!). They're not much to look at, but they were delicious pockets of wonder and awe.

Now I think I will paint my nails in OPI's Merry Midnight (yes, from last year's holiday collection) and finish the rest of my 90210: Season 2 DVDs (don't judge) before Shawn picks me up to go to work.