Friday Chat - February 6th

[Lekker]

It is such sad news about the little girl ... it's so sad and seems to happen so often. There was another girl that was abducted back in the fall in Toronto, but I don't think that they've ever found anything, which must be horrible for the family.

Living in a city, I've become a little more paranoid myself when it comes to strangers, which although safer, is somewhat depressing that I feel I have to be that way. I like talking to random people. I've had some very interesting and engaging conversations with strangers. I find it so appealing to have a thoughtful discussion with some random person whom I will likely never see again. When I come away from a good conversation like that, it reminds me that there are so many good people and so many potential friends out there. Sometimes, when I go about my day in the city, I hardly give a though to the other people around me, because I don't know them. But sometimes I have to remind myself that they are all likely good people, and that if circumstances were just slightly different, maybe *they* would be my friends.

One other student finally came into work today, so I was not alone all day, and fortunately, it was the one I like best, he has a great sense of humour...seriously spent half the day laughing.

Tomorrow I am showing a German post-doc friend of mine around the old part of Montreal, where I will likely take her skating. She wants to learn how! And another friend of mine wants to go skating tomorrow evening, so I anticipate many hours outdoors tomorrow. But lots of skating, which is a good, good thing, in more than one way.

Sorry, no movie suggestions for you Froufy! I've seen Girl with a Pearl Earring lately, and I really enjoyed it. Some thought it was a little slow moving (it's certainly not an action packed film), but just the fact that it was filmed partly in Delft was enough for me!

Good night all!

[Khem]

I made those tonight-wonderful...fluffy cake-light texture, deep rich chocolate flavor. I'm a fan of turkish delight, so I also added 1 tsp rose water to mine, but don't go there unless you like know what chocolate covered turkish delight is .

Khem Brand Flax Chocolate Cupcakes, soon to be available to your nearest market (lol)

1 cup ground flax meal (golden) (I grind it myself in a coffee grinder)
1 cup plain or vanilla or chocolate protein powder (I use Designer Brand)
pinch salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
3 eggs
1/2 c water
1/2 cup chocolate davinci's syrup
1/4 cup powdered spenda
2 tablespoons coconut oil
4 + 0.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.
0.5 tablespoon splenda
1/4 cup macadamia nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix flax meal, protein powder, salt, baking powder, powdered splenda and 4 T cocoa in a large bowl. In a smaller mixing bowl, combine eggs, water, davinci's, and melted butter. Add little bowl to big bowl, mixing it very well until smooth. Poor into 12 muffin tins or cups. Microwave 2 T coconut oil and add 0.5 T cocoa powder. Drizzle cocoa/oil (HOT) on the tops of the muffins as a glaze. Top each muffin with 2 macadamia halves (or unsweetened coconut or chopped nuts) Bake 20 minutes or until Puffy and done looking.

Per muffin (batch makes 12 medium sized muffins) total includes topping and nuts
335 calories
30 grams fat
6 carbs (total)
3 fiber
(3 net carbs)
12 grams protein