Teatime at The Boathouse Tea Room

Teatime at the Boathouse Tea Room, Kiku Corner

The Boathouse Tea Room is – you guessed it – an old boathouse in Guelph, Ontario. Both Tomiko and I completed our undergraduate degrees at the University of Guelph, and every Saturday on our way to the Guelph Farmers’ Market we’d pass by the Boathouse. As students, Tomiko and I only visited The Boathouse twice, […]

Easy Fudgy Brownies

Fudgy Brownies, Kiku Corner

There are cakey brownies, fudgy brownies, iced brownies…but in my opinion, fudgy brownies are the quintessential brownie. If you want a cakey brownie, why not just eat chocolate cake? I also don’t understand people who like iced brownies. If your brownie is flavourful enough, it doesn’t need to be dressed up in icing. I think […]

Canadian Design: Teatime and Flowers with Marvindale

Buttercups II, Marvindale, Kiku Corner

Apple Blossoms   As I’ve mentioned before, I adore Cori Lee Marvin‘s watercolour paintings. The following pieces feature teacups, mason jars and sugar bowls, all done in a light, whimsical style. Her original paintings, limited edition prints, and art cards are available on the Marvindale website. 

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with Vanilla Sauce

pineapple-upside-down-cake-kiku-corner 031

A delicious old-fashioned cake perfect for a picnic! I brought this to a Sail Past feast a few years ago, and it was a hit. It’s from Susan Branch’s Sweets to the Sweet: A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home, so follow her advice and serve it with a silky smooth sauce. Often […]

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Tomiko and I agreed to bake some treats for our friend’s Earth Day fundraising bake sale, so this was my contribution! I made these Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, adapted from a Nigella Lawson recipe. The small amount of cocoa surprisingly makes a big impact in these moist muffins. If you make a batch for […]