Spicy Sriracha Bruschetta

This is a 25 Before 25 post. Check out the rest of my list here.

Upon accepting the 25 Before 25 challenge, I wanted to ensure that I created a list of goals and tasks that would enhance or improve my life. I began looking at areas in my life where I could identify shortcomings and almost immediately, the word ‘kitchen’ came to mind.

I love food. I really, really love food. However, I am a terrible cook. The irony of this situation is that I was employed in the kitchen at Big in Japan in Montréal for over two months. I actually prepared food for the masses in a busy St. Laurent restaurant, five days a week and yet, I am still terrified of the kitchen. Oi.

With this 25 Before 25 challenge, I’m hoping to curtail my fear of slicing, dicing, baking and broiling. While I plan on taking a ploddingly simple approach to my cooking dilemma, I also plan on completing my goal of 12 new recipes before my birthday in August.

In line with my “ploddingly simple” approach, I found a simple bruschetta recipe at Simply Recipes. Bruschetta is one of my favourite appetizers, year-round. I have had success making guacamole and three-layer dips before so this recipe was quite easy to prepare.

I did make a few variations given my love for all things spicy. Elise’s recipe needed a little extra kick, so inevitably it was Sriracha to the rescue…

Ingredients
– 6 to 8 plum tomatoes
– 4 to 5 yellow onions
– 2 cloves of garlic (about 2 teaspoons)
– 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
– 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
– 5 to 8 fresh cilantro leaves
– 1 tbsp of table (or kosher) salt
– 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
– 2 to 4 healthy squirts of Sriracha sauce

Directions
1. Dice the tomatoes and onions and add to a mixing bowl.
2. Mince the garlic and cilantro.
3. Add the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and kosher salt.
4. Mix in the Sriracha sauce until appropriate inferno levels!

This is a quick and simple recipe that even the most inept can’t mess up. It was a big confidence-builder for me, someone who considers himself a ‘kitchen brute’. This bruschetta is perfect for those days when you’re looking for a small snack or something quick to whip up for a potluck with pals.

I’m starting with small recipes (mostly small appetizers and dips) but I’m hopeful that my kitchen skills will continue to improve. I’m hoping to take on a large-scale cooking project by the time I get around to recipe #12. #Pray4Dyl, because I’ll likely need those prayers.

Happy weekend times!

What (easy) recipe should I make for my next 25 Before 25 project?
Comment below!

65 Years of Dave & Frances!

This is a 25 Before 25 post. Check out the rest of my list here.

I grew up across the street from my maternal grandparents, Frances and Dave Merriman. Theirs was my second home. When I couldn’t get my way with my parents, it was off to nan and pops’ house. When my parents refused to buy soda, I was seated at their kitchen table, sipping Pepsi through a straw. During school lunch breaks, summer yard sales, Christmas mornings, before bedtime, after church – you could always count on nan and pop.

Today is their 65th wedding anniversary. In honour of the occasion, I prepared a list of questions to ask the both of them about the last 65 years as husband and wife (big thanks to my mom for conducting the interview). Prepare your “d’awuuh’s” accordingly.

How did you two meet?
Frances: I went to a dance at the RCR camp with my friend Verla and her parents. Dave walked me home and sang “Buttons and Bows.” I said to Verla, “gosh, can he ever sing?” Well, the next time I heard him, I realized that he couldn’t sing [laughs]. But, it sounded so good to me that night.

Dave: The first time I saw her was when she was crossing the street. I asked a friend of mine “who is that good-looking girl?” and he said, “Oh, you don’t want meet her – she has a beau.” I said I didn’t care.

What was it like growing up together?
Frances: Oh, we had our ups and downs, but mostly it was a wonderful experience. The ups and downs strengthened our relationship.

Dave: Your mother was usually the one who had to put up with me, but I loved her like anything.

What was your engagement like?
Frances: It was a short engagement. Dave proposed to me at my mother’s house when I was 17 years old.

Dave: I did. I was afraid someone else would get her.

Frances: And you went down to Stacey’s Jewellers and picked out the ring.

Dave: [laughs] Yeah, it was a cheap one.

Frances: Oh, no it wasn’t. Not back then, anyway.

What was your wedding day like?
Frances: It was wonderful. The ceremony was at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. The reception was at the CNRA Hall on King Street [in Brockville], with about 35 guests. It was a really lovely affair. I don’t really remember what the decorations were like, though…

Dave: Me either.

Frances: And I wasn’t even drunk. [laughs]

What were you both like as parents?
Dave: She was much more tolerant than I was. She was a very loving mother.

Frances: He was a good parent. He used to sit and talk with the boys all the time. He never had a temper with your mother – she was his little girl.

What was your favourite trip together?
Frances: We were much older when we went, but it was our trip out west. We went to Vancouver and Victoria to visit your Uncle Stephen and Aunt Sharon. It was very nice.

Dave: It was my favourite trip, too. The train ride was so beautiful.

What are your favourite qualities about one another?
Frances: Dave is kind and very laid-back. He doesn’t let things bother him… and I love him for who he is.

Dave: She is very smart, organized… and I believe I love her.

[At this point, they both break down crying and it is the most adorably perfect thing I have ever witnessed].

What is the secret to a successful marriage? Any advice?
Dave: Marry a girl like Frances.

Frances: Never go to bed angry because it’s fun to make up. [laughs] Being able to communicate is one of the best things about marriage. He’s my best friend.

[More crying. More general adorableness.]

I have been meaning to have a conversation like this with my grandparents for years now. I’m so happy that, with the help of my beautiful mom as my proxy, I was able to gain some more insights about the driving force behind my grandparents’ 65-year-long love affair with one another.

I think what I gathered from my grandparents’ answers is that over the years, while their perspectives often differed, the enduring part was always a mutual love and respect for one another. It’s that lasting bond that gives this lovesick millennial a heaping portion of hope for my own future 65 years down the road.

Today is their day, so I hope you’ll join me in raising a glass – whether Perrier, Ketel One or otherwise – to 65 years of Dave and Frances!

The Holly Jolly Fun Run

This is a 25 Before 25 post. Check out the rest of my list here.

What a whirlwind these last few weeks have been! Between volunteering, schoolwork, social gatherings and taking some “me time“, life has kept me “running.” This, of course is a non-clever pun to lead into some news: I ran a 5K this past weekend! Yes, me! Wheezing, out-of-shape, “yoga and Jillian Michaels only”, me!

Along with my classmates, Andrew, Molly and Emma, I participated in Toronto’s Holly Jolly Fun Run, presented by SportChek. The race’s “unique selling proposition” was that it followed the same route as the Toronto Santa Clause Parade, starting in Korea Town (at Bloor and Euclid) and ending at Maple Leaf Square (just before the Gardiner Expressway).

While I did run three times a week during my last few months in Korea, I hadn’t ran a proper race since the Terry Fox Run in Brockville in the summer of 2002. Given that this race happened roughly 12 years ago, I figured it might be time for me to regain the old “running sea legs” (and yes, I realize that this is not an expression). The running elite may snub their noses at the prospect of a 5K, but after some self-reflection, I identified this as realistic goal for myself. Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

I had mild anxiety about this race for a few reasons. First, I hadn’t been running since the beginning of July. Second, I was finding it difficult to find time and motivation to train between school and life in general. Finally, I twisted my ankle the day before the race while taking out a box of recycling (coordination has never been my strong suit). Despite being marketed as a “fun run”, I definitely had a couple of crippling anxiety dreams where I was unable to move my legs due to a build-up of lactic acid. It was seriously unpleasant. In lieu of actual training, I decided to employ the “just do your best” approach.

Only in retrospect can I say that the race was fantastic. Thankfully, I didn’t have any ankle issues during the race. I did, however, feel as if I was going into congestive heart failure after about 3 kilometres. I found being surrounded by all of the people waiting for the Santa Clause Parade really encouraging. They shouted nice things like “keep going!” and “finish strong!” I ended the race with a time of 25:24, a big step up from my pre-race estimate of 37 minutes and placed 131st out of 715 participants. It was such a great feeling to cross the finish line; a surge of pride, exhaustion and euphoria.

Even though my body is stiff and sore today, I take pride in knowing that I set a realistic goal and completed it. Overall, the Holy Jolly Fun Run was a major success and a stepping stone to longer, more challenging races once spring and summer roll around.  Watch out, half-marathons of Toronto!

Have you ever ran a race? Was it a positive or negative experience? Share in the comments below!

HealthAchieve Conference

This is a 25 Before 25 post. Check out the rest of my list here.

During my last year in Montreal, I divided my time between a full-time job and volunteering for two non-profit organizations – Equitas International Centre for Human Rights Education and The Yellow Door. I assisted with Equitas’ yearly social media audit and their International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) and canvassed for The Yellow Door’s Generations program.

My time with these organizations was the most rewarding experience I had in my “first year out” from university. I learned more about the internal structure of non-profit organizations, received mentorship and guidance from working professionals and was able to contribute to my local and international community in a meaningful way.

When I compiled my 25 Before 25 list, volunteering was one of the first things I included. I was admittedly pretty lazy while in Korea, despite a plethora of volunteer experiences at my disposal, so I wanted to ensure a commitment to some Toronto-based volunteering.

Last week, I volunteered for the Ontario Hospital Association’s conference and exhibition, Health Achieve. Celebrating its 90th Anniversary, HealthAchieve’s mission is to bring the brightest minds from across the globe to share information, discuss current issues in health care and learn about new technological innovations.

I was lucky enough to run Health Achieve’s Instagram for the three-day conference. I was responsible for attending all keynote addresses, educational sessions, product demonstrations and awards ceremonies, posting dynamic and engaging content and interacting with Health Achieve’s Instagram community.

Instagram is easily my favourite social media platform, so having control of a professional account was an incredibly exciting prospect. My strategy was to use HealthAchieve’s Instagram account as a visual and navigational tool for delegates. I highlighted the “best of the exhibit floor” to create excitement for the conference’s best attractions, including their Book Store, Career Lane, New Product Showcase and Green Lane. In addition, I took photos of the conference’s special guests, including Harvard Business professor Michael E. Porter, Earth Harp creator William Close and the TED Senior Fellows, Vijay Gupta, Jessica Green and Nina Tandon. It was exhilarating to wander around the exhibit floor, looking for prime photo opportunities. I don’t think I necessarily missed my calling as a professional photographer, but it was fun to play dress-up for a day.

My favourite parts about the conference were a) the exhibit floor, b) engaging with Health Achieve’s online community and c) the amount of content from the keynote addresses that was relatable back to the world of PR (see here, here and here). The conference was highly collaborative, encouraging a dialogue between speakers and delegates as opposed to a one-sided conversation and highly visual, with a graphic artist illustrating each keynote address on a giant white board.

I learned a lot about professional conduct in the realm of social media (especially when it’s not your own personal account) and that my opinion on the health care world was grossly misinformed (it’s a lot more interesting than I had anticipated). I was lucky enough to work with and learn from a fantastic team (thanks to Makenzie, Chantal, Kumarie and Helena). The entire experience was a great reminder of how much I enjoy volunteering and I’m so thrilled to have volunteered for my first of three great causes!

25 Before 25

Earlier this week, I celebrated my 24th birthday. I spent the day at orientation for my upcoming Public Relations degree, securing a room in a beautiful townhouse, celebrating with friends in downtown Toronto, and reflecting on all that I’ve achieved and experienced over the past year. It was truly a perfect day.

As someone who loves long-form to-do lists (read: my Korean Bucket List) and having “all of the experiences”, I wanted a way to first, set realistic goals for 24, and second, to share and document them. My friend Steph over at Life in Limbo created just that – a long-form to-do list, after her 23rd birthday in March, called “24 Before 24“. The concept is simple: a list of goals to increase her happiness over the course of the next year. I fell in love with this idea the first time she did this two year ago, (check out her “22 Before 22“, too), and am happy to announce that I’ve created my own “25 Before 25” list!

The reason I love this project is because Steph has set parameters for herself that fall perfectly in line with one of our favourite mantras: “be gentle with yourself”. The list is meant to be a source of inspiration and to put a focus on having new adventures, as opposed to stressing about ticking off every single box.

That said, I already know that my Type-A personality is going to have a lot of trouble not stressing out about finishing everything. However, I’m so thankful to be surrounded by so many amazing people, especially Steph, who will remind me to slow down, to find my breath, and to be gentle with myself. I’m so excited for this project and a new year – here’s to 24!

1. Run a race
2. Read 12 great books (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
3. Learn 12 new recipes (1)
4. Develop a disposable camera each season
5. Go to an ugly sweater holiday party
6. Learn my favourite song on guitar
7. See Shakespeare in the Park
8. Try lobster for the first time
9. Volunteer for 3 great causes (1)
10. Do a free-standing handstand
11. Visit Vancouver
12. Spend a day in the snow like a kid
13. Take a road trip
14. Attend a music festival
15. Redesign my blog
16. Have a tie-dye party
17. Knit something
18. Take a spa day
19. Improve my French
20. Buy a record player
21. Try caviar for the first time
22. Write articles for 4 websites
23. Create a professional webpage
24. Send 12 love letters to friends across the globe (1)
25. Interview my grandparents for their 65th wedding anniversary