Fast forward 8 months and I have just finished up the most intense 9 weeks of my life. It turns out that working at a residential camp for kids with special needs is more draining than pulling all-nighters at University ever could be, but also a lot more quotable and for the most part very fun.
There are two treats I have tried this summer which have probably blown my mind. The first, Nanaimo bars. Thought to have originated in the town of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, in the early 50s, these little no bake cookies have 3 layers of delicious; chocolate biscuit base, vanilla custard center, dark chocolate topping. Worth sneaking into the kitchen after curfew for.
The second of the Treats I Stole From Canada is apparently a campfire classic - Bannock. The origin of this one is controversial; some swear it is an indigenous quick bread while others claim it is of Scottish origin, but whatever the case it takes no time to make, has four ingredients, and is especially tasty when you add chocolate chips to it. I assume the oven baked version would be equally as nice, but there is something particularly satisfying about mixing ingredients up in a bag, wrapping it around a stick, then accidentally setting it alight over a campfire.
This time in 2 weeks I will have moved East and be wandering the streets of Montreal eating pastries and attempting to learn French at ILSC. In my Quebec fantasies I work at a patisserie, spend my days baking croissants and pain au chocolat, and my evenings drinking homemade chai and going on adventures with my housemates - who will obviously be dreamy bilinguals with exceptional taste in music, clothing, books, and crockery. In reality? Watch this space. At the very least it will be nice to have my own room with a bed, and access to a kitchen again.
Until next time.
xCB
