Last week I came across these photographs from one of my favourite blogs Bippity Boppity Boo and couldn’t help but share. Do they fill you with a piercing sense of wanderlust as well? Like I’ve mentioned before, I can’t wait to travel, adventure and get outside this summer!
On June 2oth Vancouver will celebrate its summer solstice! The summer solstice is the time of year when the earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun, giving the northern hemisphere its longest day of the year. Another excuse to get outside and enjoy the daylight isn’t it? :)
Summer fills me with wanderlust, I think because as a Vancouverite I savour every droplet of sunshine that comes our way this time of year. Summer is the best time of year to enjoy our beautiful city and beyond! Have you been enjoying the sun? This past week some of my friends hiked the Grouse Grind and Baden Powell Trail. They’ve inspired me to do the same sometime soon! What are some activities you hope to do while the days get longer?
In just over a week I will be hopping on a plane to embark on a summer adventure of my own. I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to spend the month of July in eastern Canada with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. It should be a rigorous summer of orchestral training, chamber music, touring Canada and meeting inspiring professors and musicians. I can’t wait to say the least! It’s an incredible honour to be invited to join this prestigious Canadian orchestra. Some of the highlights for me will be:
- Performing in the National Arts Centre as a part of Ottawa ChamberFest.
- Craning my neck up at the Rockies while en route to Edmonton, Alberta.
- Seeing familiar faces in the Chan Centre on August 11th for our final concert.
Speaking of Canada and the great country we live in, here is an all-Canadian dessert for you, Nanaimo Bars! Earlier on this year, I was stuck in the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo, BC where I came across a postcard with a Nanaimo Bar recipe! I couldn’t help but laugh and pick one up considering its incredible authenticity. What a great postcard for the old recipe collection! Here it is for you, straight from Nanaimo, BC:
Nanaimo Bars
Base 1/2 cup melted butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup cocoa 1 egg 2 cups graham wafer crumbs 1 cup flaked coconut 1/2 cup chopped walnuts1. Mix these ingredients together in a bowl and press into a 9 x 9 inch pan. Place a piece of wax paper over the base to help squish into place, then discard. Tightly pack. Refrigerate base once packed in.
Filling 1/4 cup butter 2 tbsp custard powder 1 tsp vanilla 1 tbsp milk 2 cups sifted icing sugar2. Cream together butter, custard powder and vanilla. Blend in milk, icing sugar alternately. Spread over base with spatula. Refrigerate until ready to ice.
Icing 3 oz semi sweet chocolate (3 bakers chocolate squares) 1 tbsp butter3. Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler over low heat. Spread over filling layer. If your filling layer begins to be picked up by chocolate, stop what you’re doing and refrigerate or place in freezer for a couple minutes to cool. Make sure you spread the chocolate thinly and dollop in blobs all over filling layer to help distribute it. 4. Score bars while slightly warm. Chill until chocolate sets, then fully slice and store in tupperware container.
PS: In case you’re curious, here’s my recently posted NYOC biography!
(I find it strange reading my bio after the fact! Some of the questions really made me feel exposed and nervous! Sometimes it’s difficult writing about the most important things in life like love, dreams and our greatest hopes don’t you think?)
I hope you have a wonderful week full of personal gratification, appreciation for those you love and perhaps a little dessert to treat yourself with!
Blue Owl Treats 
Oh great, Heather. It’s my sister-in-law’s Birthday on Sunday and she is always snooping about for chocolate treats after lunch. I’ll surprise her with these.
I’d love to catch you at ‘The Chan’, but hope to see somewhere on the trails before that. :) R
Love your blog! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! :)