Art: Lost Road

Art: Lost Road, Julia Laxer, Photograph

(Click on image to enlarge)

This piece was featured in this year's 

LAKESHORE / REXDALE YOUTH IN FOCUS

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography exhibition

High Park cherry blossoms hit peak bloom -- a photographic visit

With photographs by Julia Laxer

This is the week that that annual Toronto ritual for so many occurs -- a trip to Toronto's iconic High Park to see the cherry blossom trees as they so spectacularly hit full bloom.

Last year's cherry blossoms were sadly largely ruined by cold weather. This year, however, the blossoms are back. While there is only a short window to see them, you should still have a few days.

Also terrific at the moment are the Forsythia which are gloriously bright and vibrantly yellow.

Expect big crowds of course. And big crowds of photographers both amateur and professional!

Not to be outdone, we went, camera in hand to capture some images for our readers.

Many of the photographs here were taken by 12 year old budding photographer and cartoonist Julia Laxer.

(Click on images to enlarge)

See also: Sam Smith Park in Winter -- The Lakeside Parks of South Etobicoke V

See also: Labyrinth Nawayee by the Healing Garden at Sam Smith Park

Kids These Days - Comic Strip

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Kids These Days is the comic strip of 12 year old Julia Laxer

(Click on images to enlarge)

Why Should We Remember?

Why should we remember?
What happened in the war
Why should we remember?
What is it good for?
Why did the soldiers leave?

Why did they leave their sisters
Their mothers
Their children
Their brothers
They left so they could save us
And save the others too
But why did so many die?

Why so many young?
All the boys and all the girls
Who fell in the war
And were buried where they stood
So many had died
Died in different ways
So that’s why we remember
On this very important day
That’s why we remember
In all these different ways

Written by 11 year old Julia Laxer to be presented at her school assembly, 11/11/2016

Yueh Tung -- Hakka & Chinese Cuisine by Toronto City Hall

Yueh Tung is a well-established restaurant just a stone's throw from Toronto's City Hall and Nathan Phillip's Square. For over twenty-five years they have been serving up classic Chinese dishes with the the addition of a variety of Hakka dishes throughout the menu as well.

For those unfamiliar with Hakka cuisine it is a style of cooking influenced by the flavours and techniques of both Chinese food and Indian food. It originated in southern China and northern India.



Yueh Tung delivers both with bold

The view of the back of City Hall from just outside!

flavours, nice presentation and excellent service. It's second floor dining room is large (though reservations for generally busy nights are recommended, especially for larger groups) and bright with modern decor. Service is excellent and very friendly.

Portion sizes are large and the prices very reasonable. This is great spot to go with family or friends after an event or afternoon spent downtown. It also could not possibly be more central!

There are a lot of great dishes on the large menu, but here is a look at a few favourites.

Hot & Sour Soup: Ranges from individual  serving at $3.95 to a large group bowl $14.95

The Hot & Sour soup here is a real standout. One of the best I have had in the city.

Tangy and spicy, it is full of shrimp, tofu and absolutely delicious BBQ pork.

Honestly, the Hot & Sour soup alone would be worth coming here for.

Hakka Wonton Yam Mein: $8.95

Hakka cuisine is noted for it noodle dishes and this is a great one.

The noodles are perfect with delicious pork & shrimp dumplings 

and more of that wonderful BBQ pork!

Chili Chicken: $9.95

Bold flavours and mildly spicy, a terrific chicken dish.

Calamari Fritters: $9.95

They have this in the appetizer section of the menu but it the size of a main!

Battered and crispy, they have a nice kick of heat. 

Crispy Beef: 10.95

This is one of my family's favourites.

Just as they say -- crispy battered beef strips in a terrific sauce that has a hint of sweetness.

Manchurian Fish: $13.95

'Manchurian' sauced dishes are Hakka staples with chicken, fish and other varieties.

The Manchurian fish at Yueh Tung is moist and bursting with spicy flavour.

A night view of bustling Dundas St. W. taken from Yueh Tung's window

by 11-year old Julia Laxer

The Manchurian Fish, Crispy Beef and Chili Chicken can all be had served on a sizzling plate for an additional dollar. This is always a fun and crowd-pleasing service.

There are so many dishes to try and keep you coming back from Shrimp or Chicken Pakora platters to sauced seafood platters with Vancouver Crab or East Coast Lobster.

They are licensed and serve beer and wine. The dining room also has a few tables that accommodate large groups. Unfortunately, however, it is a second floor restaurant that can only be accessed by a staircase so there are accessibility issues. It is very family friendly and the busy and bustling dining room is great for kids. They do also deliver within downtown Toronto.

You can see their full menu and read about the story of the restaurant and the Hakka style of cuisine at their website. 

Yueh Tung is located at 126 Elizabeth St., right behind and to the north of Toronto City Hall. 416-977-0933. They are open seven days a week with extended hours on Friday and Saturday. 

See also: 12 Great Dishes at Toronto's Asian Legend

See also: Swatow Restaurant -- Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup & more in the heart of Toronto

Julia's Quick & Tasty Peanut Butter Cookies

With Julia Laxer

My eleven year old daughter Julia recently decided she wanted to make peanut butter cookies that would be perfectly sweet and with a nice, soft, chewy texture.

After doing some surfing around various recipes, she developed her own drawn from a couple of sources.


The measurements here will make 20-25 cookies, though the portions can, of course, be easily doubled.

It is also a very kid friendly recipe that it is both easy for kids to make and it is certain they will enjoy the fruits of their labours!

Julia preps the cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 heaping tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Take a heaping teaspoon of batter and form into small round balls and flatten with a fork (if fork is sticking to batter dip fork in sugar) pushing down in two opposite directions to make a cross pattern on the top of the cookie.

Ready to go in the oven

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 for 10 minutes until golden brown. Let sit until cooled, otherwise they will crumble.

These simple to make cookies are wonderfully moist and delicious.