Eyes on the prize
(aka: HOW are there only 4 weeks of school left?)
May 18th 2025
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April showers bring… May showers?
It’s been a weird old spring here in Toronto - strangely cold, unseasonably hot, torrential rain and winds. So far, May has brought a bit of the same and I’ve a feeling we’re about to skip spring proper and head straight into summer. After an interminable January, the rest of the school year has gone so fast and we’re in our last month of classes already. Doesn’t seem real!
Since we’re in the thick of #aprilmayjune, I’ve had my head down and eyes on the prize (mid-June) so I don’t have many deep thoughts ;)
I DO, however, have some good eats, lots of links and some good reads to share so I hope you enjoy!
Brain Tumour Awareness Month #turnMaygrey
Did you know that May is Brain Tumour Awareness Month in Canada? Did you also know that 27 Canadians hear the words "you have a brain tumour" EVERY DAY?
Many of you know that I was diagnosed with a meningioma in May of 2023 and underwent emergency surgery to remove it (less than 48 hours after it was found). As part of my goal to raise awareness and, ultimately, funding to help BTFC support research projects, offer support, deliver trusted information and resources, and drive national advocacy efforts, I am donating $2 for every copy of my self-published mini cookbooks, French Food for Everyone sold during the month of May to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
Get your copy of French Food for Everyone: le petit déjeuner, le goûter or le dîner (or all three) here!
If you don’t want a book (!) but simply want to donate to The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, you can sponsor me for the annual Brain Tumour Walk which takes place on May 31st by clicking this link.
I’ve been sharing thoughts on Brain Tumour Awareness Month on Instagram if you’re interested in reading more about my experience.
what we’re eating
Two recent favourite dishes (quick snaps, not styled, apologies!)
Butter Soy Chicken and Asparagus: This recipe is SO GOOD!
Crunchy Vietnamese Salad with Pan-Seared Tofu: An EXCELLENT accompaniment to the chicken (above) or any noodle dish.
in the kitchen with dad
On a recent Zoom session with my dad, he successfully made salted caramel sauce. I was nervous because it’s a bit finicky but he wanted to make a new dessert so I suggested my Salted Caramel Apple Crumble (because who doesn’t need a good recipe for that in their back pocket?) and he did such a great job as you can see, producing PERFECT caramel sauce!
Here’s his finished crumble:
I could not be more proud of him. I know mum would be too.
Want to make this yourself?
links you might like
eat
6 Things You MUST Have If You're Cooking With Kids, According To Experts via Delish. I actually don’t think classify a citrus juicer as a “must have” (if you have a fork, you can juice citrus) - I’d say a digital scale is much more important - but the rest of this list is pretty spot on!
The Color-Drenched Cult of Le Creuset via The New York Times. What’s YOUR favourite Le Creuset colour?
live
My Miserable Week in the ‘Happiest Country on Earth’ via The New York Times.
Instead of adhering to one of these optimal itineraries or visiting Finland at the rosiest time of year (any time except the dead of winter), I’d come […] with few plans at all during one of the bleakest months. Would the happiest country on earth still be so mirthful at its gloomiest?
A really interesting take on the concept of “happiness”.
We now leave navigation to our phones. The result: more of us are getting hopelessly lost via The Guardian. Have you ever been in a taxi or ride share only to watch the driver blindly follow the GPS and ignore common sense? It may be annoying but be thankful that sort of blind faith doesn’t result in the need for a mountain rescue !
Also along those lines Your Brain on GPS via The Globe & Mail.
Having an omniscient navigational tool in your pocket at all times has changed not just how we find our way around, but how we construct a mental representation of the world around us
3 Secrets to Falling in Love With Exercise via The New York Times. You know this is going to be an accurate article when Step 1 is “Don’t expect to love each second”.
The moment I got everything I once dreamed about via The Literary Edit. A really interesting look at how our dreams and goals change over time. Beautifully written.
All I know is this: I want to go where I feel most myself. Even if that means saying goodbye to the place I once thought I’d never want to leave.
travel
The French king who was a good king via France with Véro. Read all about our dear Henri IV (who lived in Nérac for a while!)
Reading retreats are the must-try wellness break of 2025 via Conde Nast Traveller. I mean, I can’t think of anything better but isn’t that what we all do when we’re on holidays? Apparently not…
a 2024 survey found that only half of UK adults read for pleasure, with three in 10 saying that they found it difficult to finish a book. With the wellness benefits of hobbies, and reading in particular, well-documented, it’s no surprise that a host of new reading retreats have popped up to cater to those who want to get stuck into a good book without distraction.
write
Food Blogger Charges Influencer with Plagiarized Recipes via Dianne Jacob’s Newsletter. This is a huge deal in Australia and something I have been following with interest. Don’t just read the article, read the comments where several well-known food writers chime in.
what I’m reading
On Isabella Street: I learned so much about Toronto in the 60s from this book - a turbulent time culturally and politically. Many of the issues (esp. mental health crisis) are still huge issues today and gave me pause.
Time Loops & Meet Cutes: I LOVED this book and couldn't put it down! Such a fun concept for a book - Noelle relives the same day over and over (for MONTHS!) trying to get "unstuck" from the time loop - meeting another timelooper at the same time and every iteration of the day having a little bit of a different interaction with Cam.
Death on the Island: A locked room scenario? Check! Characters you'll love to hate? Check! Twists you didn't see coming (right to the end!)? Check! Agatha Christie meets Nordic Noir is my new favourite genre!
The Keeper of Lost Art: Love, sacrifice and the power of art in wartime Italy. I flew through this one.
At the Ocean’s Edge: Girl from the city comes back to the place where she was raised and where she harbours some difficult memories, has a complicated relationship with an author she's supposed to be interviewing and reconnects with her own family at the same time. Ok, yes, it's s summer romance, but I was deeply invested in the characters and really cared about them. It was a romance with a bit of heft and substance that didn't feel fluffy. A perfect summer read!
The Names: "The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?” Three different names, three different lives. Beautifully written (TW: domestic abuse)
buy my books
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French food made easy … for everyone!
rent our holiday home in southwest France!
Maison de la Fontaine is a cozy, comfortable, tastefully decorated house in the friendly, quaint town of Nerac. It was perfect for us and was well stocked with everything we could need. Essentials were provided by the hosts, Mardi & Neil, as well as a much-appreciated welcome basket. Shopping for food items was close by within easily walkable distances. How wonderful to live the life of a rural Francophone in this wonderfully civilized country.
Mardi & Neil were exceptional hosts - always easily contacted and quick to respond to any questions about the accommodation or to provide recommendations. We could see the effort and thought that was put into hosting, with a very thorough House Manual that provided easy-to-follow instructions and provided lots of recommendations.
We found ourselves thoroughly relaxed, and Maison de la Fontaine was the perfect home base from which to explore the beautiful Gascony area of France. We are already looking forward to our next visit!
~ guest review, April 2025
Our charming house in Nérac, halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse, is in the heart of Gascony. 2025 bookings are filling up!
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for a French (Food Idiom) Friday soon!
Mardi
xo
Also re Le Creusets — I started off “collecting” mustard yellow (two pieces; rarely use the grill pan but that Dutch oven is well-loved). Ordered the wrong colour by mistake (I interpreted “oyster” as an off-white but of course it’s …grey 😞) but it’s their large-sized brazier and I use it every single day pretty much for family cooking! (But oh …those butter yellows…. )
Thank you for all the juicy links (many saved for afternoon tea break!). I never fail to be impressed by your Dad; he even plates his dishes very well! (I just cooked a Marbella-ish fish dish for my Dad last night — dead easy — and tried to nudge him toward trying himself ….). Also now am inspired myself to try that chicken and asparagus NYT one. I saw “velveting” when I skimmed the article a while back and thought, hmm too finicky. But you’ve convinced me!