Happy Canada Day!

I miss Canada on a moment-to-moment basis. Every year when the 1st of July rolls around, my level of missing gets real. Today is Canada Day, and already I’ve witnessed my Twitter and Facebook feeds explode with Canadian long weekend celebrations, and it got me craving all things Canadian. So, I thought to share with you some of my favourite delights from back home. And more importantly, to tempt you into the dark side … 

Naniamo bars. It’s like shoving a piece of heaven in your mouth. Coconut, biscuit and dark chocolate base, followed by a smooth and delicate custard centre, topped off with a crisp layer of dark chocolate. When you bite into it, the custard goes everywhere and you will loose the plot completely. It’s that good.  
POUTINE. Oh my god. If there is only one Canadian delight you try, make it this one. Even better reason to try it – it’s oh so simple. Chips {or fries – depending on what continent you’re on}, grated cheese {lather it on good and thick}, topped with home made gravy. I will be personally offended if you do not try this. 
Pecan pie. I know. Pecan pie is American and not Canadian. BUT, it is gorgeous treat of the senses and reminds me of home. Does that count? The Canadian version of this dish would be butter tarts. Which are insane. And I want one now. 
Tourtiere. I will be the first to admit this dish tastes a hundred times better that it looks. Husband pure demanded this for dinner tonight, but as he’s up to his gills in man flu and I’m not far off, I think poutine will be our choice of dinner tonight.

Happy Canada Day to you and yours 🙂

xx A

p.s. I’ve been a bit MIA on the blog front this week. I’ve been channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw by writing away and spending a lot of quality time with my laptop. Except, nowhere as fashionable. 

Hydrangea Girl – elsewhere

As you may know by now, Google reader is going extinct as and from tomorrow. I have no doubt those of you who use it have made the necessary precautions, but just in case, below are a couple of alternative sites you can use to keep up to date with my posts …

Bloglovin’
Subscribe by e-mail

I’m sure there’s more, but those are the only two alternatives I can think of. And while I’m at it, here’s some blatant social media plugging you can find me here too …

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

For all of about 4 minutes I signed up for Google+ and Instagram, but I quickly deleted my accounts. To me they’re just two more social media sites I have to chase, and I’m quite content with the ones I have to date. No offence to those of you who have those accounts; I feel I’d be spreading myself too thin. It seems less is more is happening a lot around here lately.

That’s all peeps. Stop on by tomorrow for some tasty temptations you will adore / immediately regret consuming. Hell, you only live once. xx A

Merry half way there!

It’s official. We are exactly six months through the year. Half way to Christmas. To some people this may cause their skin to crawl, but I’m always thinking six months ahead. These days I’m daydreaming about Christmas time, wooly blankets and hot chocolate. Woah, hold up – those last two happened last night. Yep, our summer is over already here in Ireland it seems … Moving on!  

In recent years, husband and I have started a tradition of our own. At Christmas, husbands mom makes us a ridiculously yummy pudding, which is one of husbands most favouritest desserts. So, for the past three years, I’ve saved two healthy slices of Christmas pudding and stored it in the back of our fridge. Then on June 25th, half way there, I dig it out of the fridge and we enjoy a serious slice of pudding {I snuck a tiny bit while taking this picture, and nearly had a When Harry Met Sally moment in the kitchen}.  
Do any of you have silly traditions like this you’ve started with your significant other? I can easily see our tradition snowballing out of control when we have produced children, and I end up decorating the house on June 25th. Yeah. I’ll be the weird mom. 

p.s. Thank you all so much for your sweet comments and words of support on yesterdays post. I am one lucky gal 🙂 xx A