Vancouver blues
It’s October and in Vancouver the weather has changed like a light switch from glorious sunny summer to low thick clouds and dark rainy mornings. It’s cold and wet and with the rain come the blues and the need to nest and be cosy seems as natural as the geese flying South for the winter.
Flannel and fleece
Our building’s radiators are slowly coming to life again hissing and banging and flannel and fleece will become my new best friends for the time being.
At the heart of the nest is definitely the bedroom where, during this time of year, it is essential to hide yourself away in a cocoon of comfort protected from the endless rain and dank cold.
Feeling blue sleep set by Bedface
Weekend anticipation
Weekend anticipation starts to have new criteria and many plan simply to withdraw from society happily confined to their nest by the weather. Nesting at this level starts to look more like hibernating and takes planning in order to have everything at hand to achieve the goal of ultimate comfort. Pyjamas may stay on all day, magazines may need to be purchased and Netflix will definitely have to be consulted in order to combat the West Coast blues.
Breakfast in Bedface
And on a particularly cold rainy Sunday morning, breakfast in bed has to be the crowning achievement of the master nester. For the recipient not having to leave the confines of a warm and comfortable bed while being served breakfast is opulence usually reserved for birthdays and royalty but our friends at Bedface may have changed all that.
Vancouver based company
A Vancouver based company, Bedface, has created what they call the world’s most comfortable sheets…available online. So when the rain blends the day and night on the West Coast, putting a foot out of bed in the morning seems wrong and breakfast in bed seems oh so right.
Italian inspired French toast
I have made French toast with hot dog buns in a pinch, when going to the store is not an option, and tried every variation you can imagine. This particular Italian inspired version takes a little more effort but can be made ahead and quickly fired into the oven in the morning. It’s cannoli meets French toast, top it with whatever berries you have on hand and finish it with a drizzle of honey.
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 or 3 strips lemon zest
- 1 large egg yolk, reserve white
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 pound fresh ricotta
- 4 slices of whole wheat sourdough (or other) cut 1 inch thick
- 1 egg plus above egg white
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 drops vanilla
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 pound blackberries (Frozen is fine)
- 1 cup honey
- In a small sauce pot whisk together all the ingredients COLD except for the ricotta.
- Place the pot over medium to low heat.
- Whisk until thick without bringing to a boil.
- Remove from heat as soon as it thickens and whisk a little more to make sure it's smooth and consistent.
- When cool, whisk in the ricotta and refrigerate.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together all the ingredients (except the bread).
- Heat a large frying pan and when ready, dredge each piece of bread in the egg mixture.
- Brown nicely on both sides and remove to a plate.
- Place 1 cup of honey and 1/2 a cup of blackberries in a Mason jar.
- Place the Mason jar in a small sauce pot and fill with water to make a little bain Marie.
- Bring the water up to just below a boil and steep the berries in the honey for 20 minutes, stirring a few times.
- Remove the jar from the water and screw a lid on it while it cools.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Take each piece of cooked toast and with a spoon or spatula make a good sized depression in the middle so the toast will hold more ricotta cream (that's why we cut the bread thick)
- Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and top them with 3 or 4 tablespoons of ricotta cream and a scattering of fresh blackberries.
- Bake the toasts for about 30 minutes or until the top is just set and a little browned.
- Top with more berries, dust with powdered sugar (optional) and drizzle with the blackberry honey.
- Breakfast in bedface is served!
- The majority of this recipe can be done the day before for a quick and easy assembly to pop in the oven the next morning.
Love this colour combo! So nice to see what someone else with the same parameters. 🙂