I came across this article today regarding an awareness campaign in high schools in the States. The California based not-for-profit organization, Keep A Breast foundation, designed these bracelets with saucy little sayings on them in an attempt to make students more aware of breast cancer and early detection. It caused an uproar among parents and school administration calling the bracelets "obscene" and caused the bracelets to be banned in schools in South Dakota, California, and Florida.

Personally, I think it's a little silly as students are exposed to much worse on a daily basis. Furthermore the cause is a good one, it sends a positive message and if it allows students to learn about a serious health concern such as this I think it is even better. Not to mention I want one...too bad I live in Canada!

Last night I went out for sushi at my favourite place in my neighbourhood, Ichiban Sushi. I love it because it's secluded, fresh, imaginative and it is reasonably priced in comparison to other places in the area.

I have been there many times but last night I tried something brand new. The Lion King Roll. My friend and co-worker, Andrea, suggested it and my expression when it got to the table was more than surprised.

"Where is it?" I exclaimed in awe of the dish. The dish consisted of California Roll topped with spicy salmon and then a mound, I repeat a mound, of shaved sweet potato that have been quickly deep fried and loaded on top...creating a lion's mane. The plate had the perfect balance between cold and warm, spicy from the salmon and sweet and salty from the potato. It was not, however, the easiest thing to eat. Mounds of sweet potato sticking out of your mouth whilst you try to stuff the whole california roll in to your mouth. But then again, you may be able to find a daintier way to go about it...unlike myself. I announced that it is not date night food, Andrea smiled and declared she had eaten it on her very first date with her man over two years ago.

YUMMY!

This made me think about past dates I had and stories I had heard from my girlfriends. Some only ordering "light" dishes in hopes to show their date that they are not piggies. Or staying as far away as they can from anything messy, one of my friends will not go near sushi after a rather embarrassing sushi rice-spraying-all over the table-and her date-incident. Needless to say, a guy should not make a girl laugh while she has rice in her mouth.

I have done both:

1) Ordered salads because the are a healthier option, even though I have been ravenous and the later on the date my stomach growled so profusely that date commented that maybe I should eaten more.

2) As a general rule I try not to order anything that could be potentially messy. However, if you really knew me you would know that I can make a mess of literally anything! So I guess it kind of goes out the window.

I now order whatever the hell I want on the menu when I am out. I am no longer a slave to salads (unless of course there is some goat cheese, or pine nuts, or portobello mushrooms...heck! If the salad looks good then I will order it, however I am not going to do it every time I am out!). The more I eat, the happier the boy is...because he thinks that I am depriving myself otherwise.

I contemplated this last night as I dug in to the little piece of deliciousness that is the Lion King Roll and decided to order it the next time my guy and I are out for sushi.

What about your rules for first date fare?

Anyone who pictures Canada as the cold, desolate, igloo filled place is

A) Living in the 1800's

B) Completely wrong!

Take today, for example, it is 34 degrees, factor in the humidex and it feels like a balmy 40 degrees out! Don't get me wrong I love, love, love the summer (I am a July baby and a proud Leo after all) but when I can almost drink the air, it is no longer "loveable" in my books. Cooking in this weather can be somewhat difficult, especially in an unconditioned apartment, so last night I was brainstorming menu ideas when I remembered my tomatoes. I had a pile of 13 of them casually hanging out in my kitchen and they were on the verge of being too ripe. So I decided to make a nice cool tomato soup. No cream. Just tomatoes, a bunch of basil and a pinch of parmesean. I paired it with a few crispy garlic flavoured Ace Bakery baguette crisps and goat cheese. So simple yet so good!

Now, I am not a huge fan of tomatoes. As a child they were not my first choice of vegetable (errr... fruit). I could never understand why someone would slice a tomato, sprinkle on some salt and pepper and then chow down. I would shudder at the thought. As I grew up I began to eat them more; in Caprese salad, fresh salsa, and gazpacho and my taste for them expanded. I now squeal at the store when I see a box of multi-coloured heirloom tomatoes (much to my boy's confusion) yet, I cannot wrap my head around sliced tomato, salt and pepper. Until one night last week when the boy decided to make dinner. It was hot again and I was grumpy so I let him do the cooking. He made sandwiches. The boy loves sandwiches more than anything and his are really good, however when he presented me with a Tomato Sandwich I was more than skeptical. Then I took a bite, chewed and my how my tastebuds raved! Perfectly toasted bread, thinly sliced tomato, a little salt and pepper and swish of mayo. YUM!

To thank the boy for broadening my tomato repertoire I decided to make him something I knew he would like. I came across a cake recipe a week ago and I was itching to try it. Wild blueberries are in season and I knew that they would add an extra "oomph" to the dessert. The name of the cake was what attracted me first Boy Bait what a fantastic name for a cake and while I already have a boy and don't need to go fishing for another I knew that this would certainly attract him to the kitchen when he got home from work.

The cake originated in 1954 and was created by a 15 year-old girl who won bronze in the Pillsbury baking contest. It's a cross between a coffee cake and a dessert cake, loaded with blueberries, butter, and cinnamon sugar topping. While the name is pretty self-explanatory it has been proven (at least at my house) to bring the boys around! And enough about the history, here is the recipe!

Boy Bait

Serves 12, generously

2 cups plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, do not defrost first as it tends to muddle in the batter)

Topping
1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (do not defrost)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13 by 9-inch baking pan. (I lined a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper)

Whisk two cups flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. With electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, about two minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down bowl. Reduce speed to medium and beat in one-third of flour mixture until incorporated; beat in half of milk. Beat in half of remaining flour mixture, then remaining milk, and finally remaining flour mixture. Toss blueberries with remaining one teaspoon flour. Using rubber spatula, gently fold in blueberries. Spread batter into prepared pan.

For the topping:
Scatter blueberries over top of batter. Stir sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl and sprinkle over batter. Bake until toothpick inserted in centre of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes, then turn out and place on serving platter (topping side up). Serve warm or at room temperature. (Cake can be stored in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)