meansoybean

Did you even realize I went away?

I took a blitz trip to dreaded Toronto (that’s right, I said it…) to learn how to silk screen, fulfilling my quest for a new hobby. I booked a day-long workshop session at Peach Berserk. I wanted to attend this many years ago but had given up on the idea for various reasons. However, my buddy at CJCustomz recently got my brain-hamster going about silk screening again… so off I went.

Now, I had been learning a bit about the silk screening process lately — mostly reading experiences and watching videos online — and I even picked up a copy of Print Liberation from the library, which I’m told is a pretty solid read for a beginner. So it’s not like I was clueless, but I mainly went to this workshop for the hands-on experience. In retrospect, spending $180 CAD in order to practice making a few prints was a bit much, to put it nicely. I also forked over $30 for my screen, just because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving it behind for someone to steal my work. Yeah, I’m paranoid. But I guess you could also call it a souvenir…

So I’m back in Montreal and, after spending 9 hours in a chilly workshop learning the do’s and, most importantly, the do not do’s of silk screening, I’m now looking forward to the next steps. I’ll be developing a solid set of designs, getting supplies together and eventually setting up shop. How exciting is that?

And the food while I was there? I went to the omnivorous eatery, Shanghai Cowgirl, for a Vegan Delight sammich that consisted of alfalfa sprouts, sliced avocado, hummus, lettuce, tomato and cucumbers on brown toast. It was alright, but the fries that came with were amazing! They were hand-cut and fried to yummy perfection. Honestly, I wish I was eating them right now…

I reluctantly stopped in at Fresh and I really shouldn’t have gone because, historically speaking, their track record sucks. Instead of ordering brunch, I opted for a shot of wheatgrass juice, the leek & potato soup with a side of tofu scramble. The shot was the best part of the meal. The soup was gross, like watery gravy, and the scramble was soggy. If I should find myself in TO again, they will never, ever get another penny from me. That’s it, I’ve had it so fuck em!

Just before leaving, I popped into Bo De Duyen and picked up their famous beef brisket, curry chicken and chow mein. I brought it home and had it for dinner that night — because after 6 hours of driving, who feels like cooking? All was satisfactory, though a bit on the sweet side, but very affordable at $14 for the whole lot. Just add rice.

So that’s the basic trip in a nutshell. I hope to have something off the ground by the end of 2010. Yup, that’s a goal, people. Wow, it’s gonna be twenty-ten (not two thousand-ten). Makes me think of this shirt.

Taking vegan.eating’s suggestion, I whipped up some ANNAS cookie spread and packed it in cute 125 ml canning jars. It’s a treat to make because the process is really effortless.

I plan on handing these out to a select few in the office today. I don’t celebrate Xmas anymore, but in the spirit of the season, and because these people showed me kindness during a rather rough 2009, I thought I’d show them some homemade appreciation and thanks.

Weekends are for eating pancakes. It’s true. I shuffle out of bed to heat up the cast iron griddle while I mix the batter. My mainstay recipe is an altered version of VwaV’s basic pancake. Check it out:

vegan.eating’s basic pancake

1 1/4 cup unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 soy milk
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In a measuring cup, combine all the liquids. Then, gently pour wet into dry until just mixed. Lumps are ok.

For cooking, it’s anything goes, as far as I’m concerned. Just make sure you see a bunch of holes on the wet side of your pancake before flipping. Oh, and make sure you oil your pan before pouring and again before flipping.

Hey, did you know I won a zine? Maybe my luck is starting to turn for 2010.

It’s called Craft Leftovers Monthly, with contributions by Leo Babauta and artvscraft.net‘s very own Fanie Gregoire, who also happens to hail from Montreal. It’s full of easy projects that use up materials that would otherwise be thrown away — good for the environment and your wallet.

I’d like to eventually try the mini knit sweater. Why? Because. I’m never going to knit a normal sized sweater. Ever. I don’t have the time or gumption.