“I think hell is something you carry around with you. Not somewhere you go.”
I Don't Want To Live On The Moon
I wish I'd seen this more when I was a kid, infact I hope every kid everywhere sees it at some tiny age since it's beautiful.
Rhum Corner in Toronto
I swear to God they make drinks here like they do in the islands. I had a Dark & Stormy and you CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
The last time I was in Toronto, Marla took me here and I loved everything about this place. It's been open for just over a year and I'm desperately hoping that it stays a long time. Look at this menu.
Not only were the drinks fantastically made, but the food is authentic beyond belief. Also, any place that boasts a homemade patty? Get the hell out of here. I couldn't even find that on the beach in Jamaica. Everything I tried here, I liked. And I think these opinions are especially notable because I'm not really big on Caribbean food since it was always around my house growing up.
Go, go, go! I can't wait to eat here again.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
This has been my go-to chili to make for the past year. I can't believe that I haven't posted it sooner, to be honest. Not only is it the easiest thing in the world to make, but it tastes crazy good.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 (28 ounce) can of crushed tomatoes (and compare the different brands' sodium levels 'cause some of them are outrageous)
- 2 (15 ounce) cans low-sodium kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can low-sodium black beans, drained
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Spray some cooking spray in a skillet over medium heat. Place the turkey in the skillet, and cook until evenly brown. Drain the fat from the pan as the turkey gets cooked.
- Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray, and mix in turkey, crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans and onion. Season with chili powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, allspice and salt.
- Cover, and cook 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High.
- When you serve it, you can top it with some non-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream if you're feeling fancy.
The original recipe can be found here, but my version is slightly adapted/better.
Downey's Farm in Caledon, Ontario
I've been going to this farm for twenty years and I doubt I'll ever stop.
In recent years, they've added on a lot of things so there's an admission of $14 per person on weekends and $7 per person on weekdays, which isn't that crazy considering the farm's closed most of the colder months.
And there's an area where you can build your own scarecrow. And I don't know what kind of hay they use here, but I built one with my dad about fifteen years ago, so let's just say that it definitely holds up over time.
But the main reason to go here? These pumpkin donuts.
Even thought 100% of the people who I let have a bite of this said, "This doesn't taste like pumpkin" - I still maintain that it DOES. Also, it's one of the best donuts I've had. Maybe 'cause they make it at the farm? Maybe all the sugar on it? I don't know, I'm not a scientist. EAT THIS DONUT! They're seventy-five bloody cents, so I recommend getting a dozen.
This is the only place to be come October. Take your family!
You can find more details here.
“Can we stop calling them “slutty costumes” and maybe say “sexy costumes” instead? Would that be progress at all?”
The Raven on The Simpsons
The main reasons this is one of my Simpsons Halloween favourites?
- It reminds me of being a kid. Since the show went into syndication so quickly after it first aired, I remember seeing all of these older episodes over and over again so they're burned into my memory in a way that I hope never gets lost.
- I remember actually being a little scared by this at the time. I think it might have been because of James Earl Jones' ascending voice at the end, but still. It felt weird and kind of cool to have a cartoon scare me briefly.
- It's gorgeously drawn.
I always thought they got the name for the Halloween specials (Treehouse of Horror) from this specific short and loved that it was based on such a well done episode.
Men, Women & Children Trailer
I can't tell if this looks really good 'cause I'm often tricked by wordless trailers, I always think they look better than they actually are. But I don't know, I really feel like this could be something.
Sidenote: Happy Birthday to my beautiful, kind and original-as-hell nine year old niece, Layla. You make me happier than you'll ever realize and I'll love you forever, lady.
Mom Says
Illustration by Andrew Hamm
Illustration by Andrew Hamm