suzette roberts

// CXBO Chocolates

I'm always amazed with how easy it is to find colourful unexpected inspiration with just a few early a.m. flips of our local morning paper... This new-to-me Chocolate Shop: CXBO Chocolates, nestled in the heart of our Toronto city, offers an award winning collection of handcrafted jewel-like signature chocolates, and other confections created by Chef Brandon Olsen, a self-taught chocolatier, and Sarah Keenlyside, an artist and filmmaker. The magic that happens when creative minds collide... 'Totally smitten and will definitely be indulging in a few must-try flavours later in the week. Click within the images (after the jump) to learn more...

// Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream (with Vodka)

Hello February! Strawberries in the winter? I wasn't quite sure and then thought, how could this be? With April through our late summer months being their peak season in the North, I came to the startling conclusion that if these heart-shaped fruits were to be had, they would somehow be imports of some sort from a much warmer climate. Sure enough, they were, and I was beyond smiles when my eyes caught them at our market three weeks ago. I wanted a natural rose-coloured flavour with a quiet rustic feel for our Valentine month. Within three days, this Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream (with a splash of Vodka) to enhance the strawberry bite, came to life. And with wanting to keep the ingredients as simple and as natural as possible, I was also able to indulge in this softer 'rosemantic' colour... :) It's been a wild week this side (to say the least) with our snow storms, but always invigorating with working with a great team. More after the jump... Thanks everybody and have a restful weekend.  ~xx 

// Ground Beef with Butter Lettuce

The winter whimsies are in high gear this side and all we want to do on our weekends is... watch movies, relax with cozy take-out and leftovers, take naps, and repeat. Last weekend we watched the thriller 'Married to a Murderer' (on Lifetime), and I loved every wild minute of it, next to my all-time favourite, so much so I'm adding it to the list of 'must-watch'. Sometimes we have to let the wolf out to roam free for a few... Maybe it's the beef, and that can be a good thing too. Our winter weather pulls on our muscles and reserves all while navigating what's in the air and elements, so including 1 - 2 servings each week help keep our energy levels up (good quality rest included of course). And for that weekend we may want to do something in the kitchen, we're keeping it light and sticking with the Sundays made simple plan...

// Dark Deviled Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream

Chocolate, upon chocolate, upon chocolate... taking this month's official new flavour: Dark Deviled Chocolate Fudge into the world of our young children. Back in the day, I was always amazed with our boys' never-ending desire to add more and more chocolate syrup to their already very generous scoop(s) of chocolate ice cream, making a dark potion of some sort with the added syrup, and enjoying it to the very last drop, straws optional. And not to mention the not surprizing double-layer chocolate birthday cake request, each and every year to go along with... you guessed it, chocolate ice cream of course. It's in the DNA. :) To kick off a fresh new year of frozen flavours, celebrating our kids and this month's National Bittersweet Chocolate Day (and because Valentines is also right around the corner), I happily dived into this decadent treat with a focus on its traditional beginnings using just bittersweet (dark) chocolate, and lots of it, to create this deeply rich and indulgent dessert... A few behind-the-scenes photos of its early in-the-making days after the jump. Have a luxurious weekend. ~xo

// Jamaica Rum and Raisin Ice Cream

"Our passions make it easy to find our place and true lifelong connections in the larger world." - Suzette

 

The official uploads of our flavour of the month: Jamaica Rum and Raisin and a year after the fact too with its rum-infused mix of two types of organic raisins. My mom actually requested this flavour for last year's holiday family get-togethers, and well, when your amazing mom calls it and gives it her blessing, wonderful things happen, including a licensed signature product which gives back to your native land. Creating fresh, small batch, made from scratch ice cream continues to be a genuine passion, and although I still feel like a baby in the biz, I am always thrilled to see others (family, friends, my work team, and folks I've yet to meet in person, enjoying something I created that took its first baby steps in my cozy kitchen. Thank you for your tremendous support, kind words, and seriously enjoying my product in the quiet comforts of your home or on a larger party/ gathering scale. A few behind-the-scenes snaps of its very humble egg-free beginnings... Happy weekend. ~xx

// Fall Movie Night Homemade Pizza

Three things we look forward to as fall seriously sets in and we are buried in the full cozies of it all is i) our 30 minute evening walks around our neighbourhood to give our lungs some fresh air (+ stretch our aging muscles :)); can't believe I actually said 'aging' as I still feel like a five year old, but alas 'tis true, and our muscles love it, ii) more cuddled up movie nights (indoors of course, blankets included), and iii) new ways to try something new with something traditional and pretty routine. With (iii), it usually boils down to something in the 'eats' department, geared towards our warmer supper hour, with minimal time and fuss. Hello again to the easy homemade pizza toast where we can indulge in a loved seasonal seed bread, warm tomato sauce, cheeses as we fancy them, and toppings that float our boat into the very merry...