My favourite cake growing up was Blueberry Buckle. Blue was my favourite colour, therefore blueberries were my favourite fruit, or was it the other way around? Ah well, that's a "chicken or the egg" situation; we can safely say that I loved blueberries. Therefore, blueberry buckle was my favourite cake. The sweet cake-y part, the juicy blueberries, and the lovely crunchy crumble on top. The thing is, the cake requires dry blueberries, or else the cake part will sink. That meant fresh blueberries, and therefore a 2 month period when the cake could be made. That cake was a special treat.

On Canada Day, Shoes and I visited my parents for a lovely dinner. I'm sure my mother, knowing that I was coming, made my favourite cake. It was such an amazing treat, I ate way more than was appropriate and then I still took some home. I was so sad to see it all gone by the next day.

I decided to make it the other day and it turned out surprisingly well for a first attempt. Of course, I followed my mother's notes to the letter, so of course it worked out! I am pleased and honoured to have a family favourite in my collection. I felt very adult making it and I definitely felt very close to my mother as I pulled it out of the oven. I don't know what it was about the experience that made me feel "grown up". Maybe it was that I loved it as a child and my mother made it for me. Or maybe it was the realization that I am starting to take these beloved recipes and actually make them with relative success.

Remember a while ago when I wanted that new camera? Well, I most definitely caved and bought it. I am so happy I did, though. It's absolutely beautiful, user friendly and exactly what I wanted. Here's a first shot. Not too bad.

Also, I love cherries. They're delicious and some of my favourites. I love summer fruits and berries.

Shoes and I have been trying to eat healthy. Truly, we have been. However, with the hamburgers on the cover of Food Network Magazine, what are two people to do? So, he made a feast. We made Sriracha Mayo topping with green onion, onions, mushrooms... the works! And of course, Famous Dave's pickles. Yum.

The only thing is that we had to cook it on the stove and not on the grill, like it's supposed to. That made me sad. We would love a barbeque so that we can cook fun things like grilled veggies, burgers, hot dogs, etc. It was so much work on the stove top with so much cleaning. Ah well. Still delicious.