Cool Cat in the ‘hood

Hello :D Hope your Caturday has been a good one. So far so good here, except that it's gloomy and rainy out right now. I did get out earlier though, while the weather was much nicer. It was an errand-walk to the pet supply store to get my cat Eddie some kibble. On the way home I caught sight of this fine feline, waiting to be allowed back inside. Seems to me that he (she?) knew I'd be coming along and that I would have my camera in my pocket, ready to take his portrait!

Food Friday : Hummus Made With Peanut Butter

Hello .. Happy Friday :DToday I am sharing my quickie recipe for homemade hummus that uses things you might actually have in your home right now. To backtrack a bit, usual recipes for this delicious pureed chickpea snack include tahini, a sesame seed paste that's expensive and not that easy to find, at least here in Toronto. I can't tell you the number of times I've bought a jar of it, used a few spoonfuls to make hummus and then later found that same jar in the back of the fridge, well past its due date. “No more”, I said! So, I came up with a hummus recipe that tastes very similar to the tahini version but uses ingredients I always have on hand, namely peanut butter and sesame oil.  So, this is an alternative “untraditional” version of hummus but it tastes very much like the real thing.Aside: if you don't always stock sesame oil in your kitchen, I would recommend getting some because it is so tasty in many different recipes. Get the kind that is pure sesame oil (not the type that's mixed with other kinds of oil), and store it in the refrigerator where it will keep for a really long time. It may thicken up when it's cold but quickly running the bottle under hot tap water will get it flowing again. And, a little goes a very long way. It's not great for frying, but a teaspoon added to a stir fry before serving adds a lot of flavour. I also use it in soups, bbq sauce and vegetarian chili.Another thing worth mentioning about this version of hummus is that I used chickpeas that we had boiled at home (in the pressure cooker) and had in the freezer. But canned ones that have been rinsed and drained work perfectly well, too.Now, on with the recipe!To make Loulou's Hummus (using a food processor)1 1/2 cup (more or less) cooked dry chickpeas, or canned and drained ones1 large clove of garlic3 tablespoons peanut butter, smooth or crunchy.1 tablespoon sesame seed oil (Pure, not blended)2 tablespoons (or about 1/2 a lemon's worth) of fresh lemon juice1/2 teaspoon salt (or to your liking)1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (both optional)In the bowl of your food processor, mince the clove of garlic. Add all other ingredients and process until smooth.  Mix in a tablespoon or so of water if it’s too dry.I decorated mine with brown sesame seeds and parsley. Serve with pita bread or raw vegetables. Makes a little over a cup.

Interesting Building in Toronto : Queen Street West and Bathurst

ass="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6217" title="sideview-january-2012" src="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sideview-january-2012.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="481">This building (located on the south east corner of Bathurst Street and Queens Street West), was built in the late 1800s and was originally a Masonic Hall. By the early 1900s it had changed to become the home of retail shops such as United Cigar Store (based on the historic photograph). Sometime in there it's top floor was removed and the exterior covered in a new layer of bricks, and by the 1960s it became the Holiday Tavern, and had a sign stating 'Exotic Dancers Daily'.

What I Wore : Fancy Night Out

Here are some shots of the outfit I wore out on Friday night, to the Dare to Wear Love fashion show. As I mentioned before, Nick and I had some perfectly suitable outfits to wear to this event, however on the Wednesday preceding the show, we decided to go out and have a little shop along Queen Street West, to see if something special called out to us. We both ended up getting something new, and for me, it was this dress. It was made by En Focus Studio and is a knit jersey with a touch of lycra.

Dare to Wear Love Fashion Show

Hi! Yesterday I showed you some pictures of the Toronto Fashion Week 'Dare to Wear Love' reception party before the fashion show. This was an event held last Saturday, organized by Chris Tyrell and Jim Searle of Hoax Couture, and benefiting The Stephen Lewis Foundation, for HIV/AIDs in Africa. The creations of a number of different Canadian designers were featured in the fashion show, and each of them incorporated a length of African printed cotton into their pieces. Many of the outfits were modeled by local celebrities.

My pictures aren't great because I only had my tiny Canon PowerShot camera with me, however I think they give you a feel for what transpired ... a positive and fun fashion event, coming together for a good cause.