Biking…is hard stuff

If you’re following me on twitter, you’ve probably figured out what my big trip news is. I’m going to Peru! To hike up to Machu Picchu! Since the trip notes, travel agent, and my doctor highly recommended I ‘train’ and get ‘moderately fit’ for the trip, I’m trying to figure out fun ways to get some aerobic exercise and strengthen my lung capacity and heart and other stuff, like my calf muscles or something. Biking is the most obvious choice. Leo likes to bike, my cousin likes to bike, and so, we went biking last Sunday. I took my camera along.

We went up a few hills, I huffed and lagged behind, and at one point I lost them on our way back to get cold stone ice-cream – I guess that last part was for the better. Along the way, we encountered a creepy cemetery cat…

Canon AE-1 | Kodak Portra 400 VC

Nadège | Macarons

Film can be hit or miss, and unfortunately for me, as you can see below, only about 60% (sometimes even less) of my shots turn out. At least the colours are very nice to look at, no? The flavours are: chai tea, vanilla, salted caramel, guinness beer, cassis, and rose water.

Canon AE-1 | Kodak Portra 400 VC

Another Japanese plate to add to the collection

It’s so pretty. Weee. Thrifted at the Salvation Army by Warden & Eglinton.

Aroma Espresso Bar

Aroma is one of the better coffee shops in The Annex that serves a decent breakfast and lunch. While their cappuccino and lattes are too mild for my taste, I love their hot chocolate and their potato burekas, a savoury pastry made with filo dough and topped with sesame seeds. I made a brief stop there yesterday on my way to Intrepid Travel to book one of my dream trips – but more on that later!

Aroma Espresso Bar
500 Bloor St W | Website | Yelp

A simple yoghurt cake to beat the Mondays

Now and then it’s nice to make yourself a list of things that have made you happy. In no particular order, here’s mine from this weekend:

My rainbow gingham tea towel from the dollar store
Finding a new favourite Korean restaurant (a mom and pop on Baldwin street)
A new summer blazer that will quickly be unfashionable
Spending time with Leo (sapppppy, I know) – we watched movies, biked, shopped, and baked together
Being on the verge to finalizing a fantasy trip
Another thrifted Japanese plate!
The first Italian Soda of the year – lime and raspberry from Second Cup
Finishing a roll of film
Aaaaand…this  simple yoghurt cake, made on a whim

No glaze, no buttercream frosting, not even a dusting of icing sugar, just a plain and basic yoghurt cake with a nice crust and a spongy texture. I ate it on Sunday afternoon with a glass of cold milk and now have thoughts of whipping up a jar of milk jam to just spread on top of a slice alongside a cup of tea. I was in a mood for sharing that day and quickly halved the cake to make sure Leo and his family would get to try it.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  The rainbow gingham is really making me smile right now. Is it summer yet?

Yoghurt Cake

Recipe adapted from Vishinka via Nigella.com

1 cup of yoghurt

1.25 cups of sugar

3 cups of cake flour

1/2 cup of oil

3 eggs

1 1/2 tsp of baking powder

Pinch of salt

1 tbsp of vanilla extract

Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl.

Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F), line the bottom of a round 25-cm (10-inch) cake pan with parchment paper and grease the sides.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Cake is ready when a tester comes out clear.