Lunch/ Brunch under 50 – Avenue Deli July 19, 2009

Avenue Deli is a small place in Marda Loop (#3 – 2008, 33 Ave. SW) that features Montreal smoked meat sandwiches for brunch, lunch or to take home. The sandwiches come with a variety of flavored chips and a coleslaw salad, with prices around $7-13. I am a huge fan of smoked salmon (lox), so I got a smoked salmon bagel ($13) which was absolutely delicious, with lots of cream cheese and capers, just as it should be. However, a bit pricey, if you ask me. My friend got a tuna sandwich ($10). With two pops, the bill came at $29. When sunny outside, take advantage of the few tables on the patio/ lawn, but don’t expect much: it’s really just three tables out on the lawn… Otherwise, the place has a few tables inside (but not so many, so if you are going there for lunch or brunch during the weekend, it may get crowded pretty fast). Good food, but for a sandwiches places, I found it expensive.

Brunch at Galaxie Diner July 10, 2009

Galaxie Diner is a small place where you can have brunch. The place itself is not special in any way. If you ask me, its main advantage is that it is conveniently located downtown, next to 17th Ave with 11th St (1411 11 Street SW Calgary). It seems to get really crowded at brunch/ lunch time, so plan to wait in line for some 10 -15 minutes. Food is fine, your usual brunch thing in Calgary: eggs, toast, hash browns, with prices ranging from $10 to $14. I got the poached eggs with smoked salmon ($14) and they came on a croissant and with hash browns. No veggies, just your plain heavy breakfast…

Tomatoes and Zucchini Soup July 10, 2009

This soup is incredibly tasty, but you have to like sour tastes to enjoy it. It’s quite easy to make, and you can use canned tomatoes instead of fresh ones if you want to save time. You’ll need 4 big tomatoes, 1 zucchini, 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, oil, salt, pepper, basil, parsley, curry and some corn kernels (canned).

Instructions:

1. If using fresh tomatoes, bring a pot of water to boil, sink each tomato for 1-2 minutes. Put it under cold water, and peel away the skin. Cut tomatoes into small pieces and set aside.
2. Peel and cut zucchini and set aside.
3. Cut onion and garlic cloves. In the pot where you’ll cook the soup, pour a bit of oil and cook the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes or until translucent.
4. Add zucchini and tomatoes. Add some water if needed (1/2 cup of water should do it, since the veggies are  gonna release a lot of juice). Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add salt and pepper, and just a pinch of curry (optional). Cover and let boil, mixing every now and then.
6. When the veggies are cooked, add basil and parsley.
7. Add corn kernels and bring to quick boil.

Eggless Raspberry Cake July 6, 2009

Cake batter

I ran out of eggs but still wanted to make a raspberry cake. It turned out really really delicious! You’ll need some 200 gr raspberries, 2 cups flour, one and a half cup milk, 1/2 cup oil, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup  cocoa, vanilla essence, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 tbsp vinegar.

Instructions

1. In a big bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa.
   

   Cake

2. Gradually incorporate milk.
3. Add vinegar.
4. Add vanilla essence.
5. Pour everything in a rectangular cake pan and spread it evenly with a spoon. Using your hand, spread the raspberries on top and push them gently in with the spoon.
6. Bake for some 45 minutes or until done (350F).