I have been busy lately. Although you may not noticed. But it is true! I have actually been busy working on a new collaboration with my sister! I have a feeling that I will be spending a little more of my time on the new blog. So please come and visit www.thealbrecht.com.

Baking with plums is a part of fall that I always look forward to.

A new necklaces or two isn't so bad either.

Back to the plums. When I first noticed the Italian Prunes in the grocery my mind started racing! Think of  all the wonderful things that you can do with plums. Stewed plums and Greek yogurt, plum pie, plum kuchen. The latter won. And Charlie was very pleased when I walked thru the door with 3 pounds of plums.

So pleased in fact that he tried to steal one. Anyway, here is the making of the Plum Kuchen.

Charlie was a little upset. He didn't manage to steal a plum. :( Poor little buddy.

I went to visit my Aunt awhile back and I came home with these. Silver spoons. My Grandma used to collect spoons and I have become lucky enough to take over the entire collection (much to the chagrin of my boyfriend). Oh well. I kind of like them.

I went for lunch at  Au Petit Chavignol the other day. After heading out to pick up the best invention ever, the Sodastream.

Before I get totally side tracked by the Sodastream I'll get to the point. Au Petit Chavignol is De Licious. So delicious in fact that I couldn't even be bothered to stop and take a photo of my lunch! And I always have time for that kind of messing around.

Just imagine yourself sitting in a sunny window enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich with crispy, perfectly salted frites. Mmmmmmm

I returned to my homeland over the weekend with most of my crew. You see my it was my birthday weekend and I virtually always spend my birthday with my family. Anyway, about a month and a half ago I was informed that everyone would all be descending on Kelowna and if I wanted to celebrate with my family I should be there.

So I went. And as it turns out this gathering wasn't about my birthday at all! It was about a bike race. And apparently not just any race, it was the Granfondo with Axel and Eddy Merckx. And to top it all off the Tour is on also! I am pretty sure that I haven't heard so much cycling talk and excitement in my life.

*I had a very lovely Birthday and I even got a perfect Apricot Ice-cream birthday cake out of the whole deal!

I like rice noodles and glass noodles too for that matter. I think it is because I never get to eat them at home. Anyway, I found a recipe to try. Hello Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad, I can make you at home and you look Yummy!


Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad (It was very yummy)

Haircuts are one of the best small luxuries around. Ever. This is coming from a girl who would be more than happy for sit around and have her hair played with for hours on end. So I will understand if you do not share my sentiment.

I have been putting off having my hair cut for sometime now. I just have not been sure what to do with it. About 2 weeks ago I decided that it was time for me to just suck it up and make an appointment. As luck would have it on the day I called to book an appointment my stylist told me she was leaving the very next day for a 2 week vacation in Paris! Very good for her. But not so good for me.

My wait is finally over and today I am getting my hair did! Hooray.

For some strange reason when ever anyone asks me what my favourite food is the first thing I always think of is watermelon. Lucky for me it is that season!

Recently:

So this morning and I was having a little trouble deciding what to eat. I woke up starving so I ate some grapes. Then I realized that grapes wouldn't be enough so I decided to eat a banana too. Of course a banana and grapes aren't enough for breakfast. So I thought I would make a banana smoothie, but all I found to put in it was an orange. Orange banana juice type thing and grapes was what I had.

It didn't last very long. When all else fails eggs are really the best option. And if you follow Julia Child's omelet method it should only take about 30 second to cook! This morning was my first try. And I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow!

Muffins. I don't make them that often. You see, someone once told me that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you shouldn't mess around and eat tiny cakes for the most important meal. That being said sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and make muffins. 

If you ever find yourself in this situation I would recommend that you make Smitten Kitchens, Perfect Blueberry Muffins. They will not disappoint!

How does my garden grow? Well let me tell you! 

Surprisingly well actually. The mixed greens are up, as well as the radishes. The fancy "Paris Market Carrots" have been taking their sweet time or perhaps just being fashionable late but they too have finally come up too.

Mixed greens

 Radishes

 Basil

 Strawberries in bloom!

And finally the herb pot with Italian Parsley, Dill, Curly Parsley and Oregano.

You may or may not remember that a couple of weeks ago a friend and I tried to turn an old ikea bed into a vertical planter. Well here is the fruits of our labour!

I painted it white and ran out of dirt before I got the whole thing filled up. So I went to the green house and bought more dirt and some fancy seeds. And by some unknown stroke of genius I managed to buy only French vegetables. I got Paris Market Mesclun greens, French Breakfast Radish, and Paris Market Carrots. Yeah that's how I roll, fancy french style.

I did not get caught up in all the Royal Wedding hype at all. Well not until Thursday afternoon that is. I think I must have been living under a rock because on Thursday afternoon I realized that the wedding was actually going to be on TV that night at 3am not Saturday at 3am which I had some how convinced myself. And I had no formalized plans!

So on Thursday like everyone else in the city I decided that I absolutely needed to make the Chocolate Biscuit Cake that the groom had specially requested. I headed to the store after work only to discover that all the Rich Tea Biscuits were sold out. Luckily there are about 20 different variations of this recipe and I found another recipe that called for a different kind of biscuit.

So, I made the cake. Talked a lot of big talk about staying up all night to watch the wedding and then fell asleep on the couch early and went to bed at midnight.

The cake however goes quite nicely with tea! Who would have thunk it.