i was a sixth grade alien

And then we proceeded to The Rex on Queen West. Being in jazz bars always makes me feel like going back to playing saxophone. Maybe soon...

It was so nice to hang out with the guys. Lots and lots of laughs and I think too much beer for at least one of them by the end of the night.

So three of us decided to walk towards Spadina but soon after stepping out of the bar we realized just how pouring these Spring showers were. We stopped right outside New Tribe for cover to wait for the street car when one of our buddies just casually said he decided to walk to Spadina and Bloor!!! We looked at each other but yeap he was serious. We didn't really get a chance to decipher it and I think part of me thought he was just bluffing and would turn back but nope, he wasn't!

Funny thing when I got off to switch streetcars, he was now drenched and came onto the street car. [hehe]

Okay like that isn't random enough.

I was sitting right next to him and he bbmed me;

"there's a show about him being a purple alien in grade 6"

Then I was like what alien? Who?

Then he pointed to a guy and googled "I Was a Sixth Grade Alien"

What a bizarre night I tell you. Lots of fun. Needed the distraction that's for sure.

Happy Nowruz!

It's going to be Persian Nowruz (new year) tomorrow. I was invited to a dinner for this great celebration. It was such a lovely dinner and I was taken just how welcoming everyone was. I was under the impression that it was going to be a dinner party with many people but it turned out to only be family plus me.

The food was completely amazing and I'm kinda shy to ask for recipes :). It was really neat to learn the cultural symbolism of the various items that were part of the celebration.

Happy Nowruz!

IKEA!

I had a tough night again last night. Ended up going to bed at 5:30 and having to wake up at 7am.

On the upside, the later part of my day was spent with my lovely mother. We went to one of my favorite places - IKEA! We had lunch there;

Stuffed Salmon, Fries, Mixed Veggies + Daim Tart

Tell me this isn't beautiful wall art?

Cutting Tradition through TIFF

I went to the Canteen once again this evening. It feels like I'm soon becoming a regular there :). I had the maple roasted squash served with mozzarella, balsamic, sage and a grilled lemon and herb chicken. So delicious.

It was my first time however to go for a film at the TIFF Bell Lightbox since it opened. My girlfriend asked me to check out the premiere of a friend's film. The Cutting Tradition narrated by Meryl Streep is a production of Safe Hands. This documentary is about the female genital mutilation in Africa. It had such powerful visual effects- very disturbing graphics, but powerful. Although I found it to be a well done film, it was definitely hard to watch. I chose to ask a provocative question and make a bold statement because I was upset by some of the ignorant comments that were being made throughout the Q & A. I dislike it when as people we create a "them" and an "us" especially when "they" aren't in the room to defend or speak for themselves.

Overall, such an exceptional evening and I really enjoyed spending time with my friend.

Easy Super Lasagna

So apparently Super Bowl calls for big appetites. I made my easy lasagna to feed the masses and this is basically how it happens;

How to make easy Super Lasagna

What you need:

• Olive oil
• Salt and other desired dry spices
• Ground turkey (you can substitute with ground chicken or beef)
• Chopped onion
• Pasta sauce
• Cottage cheese
• Chopped spinach (or other available veggies)
• Mozzarella cheese  (as much as you'd like!)
• Oven ready lasagna sheets

How to prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Fry meat in some olive oil until cooked add salt and spices to taste, add chopped onion
3. Add pasta sauce and simmer for 5 minutes and let stand
4. In a separate bowl, mix cottage cheese with spinach let stand
5. Begin to layer your baking casserole starting with lasagna sheets, then meat sauce, then grated cheese, then lasagna sheets, then cottage cheese mix, then grated cheese, etc. The top later should be ample meat sauce to spread on top of the final sheets
6. Put enough cheese to cover the top of the casserole. Cover in foil and bake for 40 minutes
7. Remove foil and bake till cheese is slightly brown
8. Let stand for at least 15minutes and serve!

Lunch at Bar Mercurio

My girl and I went for brunch at Bar Mercurio. I love going here for any meals because it always feels like home! Service was slower than usual but as always, excellent food.

I'm so happy that this friend moved to Toronto. Such a good feeling to still be close to an old friend!

 

♥

Asian Treats AND A Coffin?

A friend visiting from Singapore and brought me Asian treats!

Conching Rosquillos Biscuits (From Phillippines)

Conching Otap Biscuits (From Phillipines)

Lots of world teas! Gryphon Tea Company (From Singapore)

Pretty Chinese box (closed)

World teas in a pretty box!

Apparently it's a Chinese Urn!