I DREAM OF HAGGIS

WEEKEND IN PICTURES

Today was a glorious sunny day with nary a cloud in the sky, so I cycled from the Southside to the West end to meet up with Kate and Lauren for our Sunday ritual: tea and cake at Auntie M's Cake Lounge (more information below).

Lately I have really been into cycling; cycling to work and back. I must be pretty acclimatised to the Scottish weather because I have even been cycling in the rain.

My gorgeous friend, Kate, finally met my gorgeous bike for the first time and fell madly in love with it. Kate asked to take it for a spin and after getting used to the Dutch brakes (i.e. pedal backwards to brake), she announced that where she once thought she hated cycling, she loves my bike and wants her own. I was fortunate enough to take advantage of the government run Cycle To Work scheme through my employer, and that's how I managed to get such a lovely (but expensive!) Azor bike. Sadly, it looks as though the Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition government are changing the rules so people no longer get a deal when signing up to the scheme.

Just one more reason to hate this fucking government that Scotland did not elect.

Although I have been on a health-kick as of late, I couldn't help but make some rose-infused meringues as I had some eggs which were about the expire. With the egg yolks, I made some delicious (but rich) calvados and apple parfaits, a recipe from Regan Daley's brilliant book, In The Sweet Kitchen.

And in other baking news, is it just me or does anyone else find it odd that cakes over here in the UK are boxed and stacked upon each other? Maybe I'm just used to the Canadian habit of refrigerating them and placing them in display cases?

You know, like so?

Also, what is up with pre-made and pre-packaged pancakes?! I've lived in Scotland for over four years now but still, sometimes I'm just perplexed by it all.

As mentioned early, Kate, Lauren and I went to Auntie M's Cake Lounge for our Sunday cake, tea and gossip session. I LOVE Auntie M's Cake Lounge - the cakes are, by far, some of the best in Glasgow and all are made with love by fellow Canadian, Michelle; the sweet potato and pecan cake is out of this world. Michelle also carries a small range of North American goodies Valomilk and Welch's grape pop.

Another place I recently discovered is Taco Mazama on Renfield Street. Having lived in Toronto for many years, I had been spoilt with amazing burrito places and now, finally, Glasgow has jumped on the burrito bandwagon. I always joked with friends that I should start the trend in Glasgow and open a burrito take-away, but it looks like someone has beat me to it! At the very least, it is a pretty decent burrito joint too. Paul and I have been a couple times now and although the service can be slow, the food (and salsa) are worth the wait. Even the Vegetarian burritos, which are usually lazy and uninspired options, are delicious and creative with zucchini with peppers and butternut squash or eggplant and mushrooms.