Two secret ingredients

Yesterday I went to the Dufferin Grove Farmer's Market and got carrots and beets. Today they impromptu turned into a soup. To liven up the broth, which was otherwise the salted water from simmering the vegetables, I fried minced carrot greens stems and parsley in olive oil with garlic. I also added two secret ingredients: sweet smoked paprika and aged dried orange peel that I previously wrote about.

I'm not ready for autumn...

...But my wardrobe is! Check out this rich orangey-yellow jac dale vintage blouse. It has large side pocket details at the bust, and tuxedo tails in front and back. Here I've paired it with Toronto-based LABEL silver leggings which I got at the Muttonhead warehouse sale a few weeks ago, a pair of vintage Kaufman heeled rain boots, and a leather triangle necklace from Gigi's Little Art Department.

Incidentally, I've lived in a beautiful loft of the old Kaufman building, so these rainboots have a special place in my heart although they're a tad too small at size 8. Jac dale brand has been cancelled but was a subsidiary of Elanstyl Diffusion Ltee based in Quebec.

What do Red and Yellow Make?

Red and yellow make orange! Welcome to orange level of the Dufferin Mall Parking Garage.

Reza Making the Orange Mocha

Reza making an orange mocha!

Drink Development at R2

Last monday saw a few of the R² baristas brainstorming and shopping for the ingredients of possible specialty drinks. I photographed some of the process. 

Ingredients: result of shopping

We ended up developing two drinks, the orange mocha, and the chocolate chili latte. The orange mocha is currently being served at R², and comes with the lovely garnish of a chocolate-coated sliver of candied orange peel from Delight on Queen West.  

Chocolate-coated candied orange peel slivers

Ingredients of the orange mocha

Me on the phone

Chris, an esteemed regular

Evan, making a free-pour swan

Evan, pleased about something, possibly my photo of his latte art

We will be serving the chocolate chili latte later this fall. 

Chocolate chili latte ingredients

Dried Orange Peel

These delicious-smelling orange peels were s(h)aved from a bunch of oranges hanging around the apartment using a vegetable peeler. I dried them in a pan on the lowest setting until they felt dry to the touch. As they toasted their aroma deepened. After they cooled, they got stored in a jar... The aroma matures a lot at this stage. I'm not sure what to do with them yet, but every so often I open the jar and smell their awesomeness.





Also, I think they'd be good with duck, or in marmalade.