#COOKING: BOBA BUTTER TART PIE RECIPE

Boba Butter Tart Pie. Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦 What better way to celebrate this wonderful country than an immersion of the classic Canadian Butter Tart and our favourite, Chatime Tea! Even if you can’t find those tea packets, use your favourite bold black tea.

Pie Pastry:
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup butter, chilled
1/3 cup + 2 tbsps Crisco Golden All-Vegetable Shortening
1/4 cup cold water

Filling:
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
125g Instant Pearl Brown Sugar Tapioca
2 packets of Chatime Double Rich Roasted Milk Tea (or your favourite bold black tea)
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup butter
3 tbsps maple syrup
2 eggs
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Prepare pastry, combining ingredients, adding water 1 tbsp at a time, handling minimally. Knead dough gently on floured surface. Roll into ball. Chill minimum 2 hours, no more than 5 days.
2. Roll dough out and fit into pie pan. Use fork to prick bottom of shell and crimp edges of crust. Chill another 30 minutes. 3. Preheat oven at 400°F.
4. Soak raisins in warm water for about 10 minutes, drain.
5. Boil 1 cup water, soak two tea bags and add Instant Pearls. Soak 5 minutes and strain liquid. Mix pearls with raisins.
6. In sauce pan on medium-low heat, melt butter and mix with corn syrup, maple syrup, brown sugar, salt and vanilla till dissolved. Do not reach boiling point. 7. Best two eggs in large bowl. Pour-in butter mixture.
8. Line bottom of pie shell with raisins and tapioca mixture.
9. Pour butter-egg mixture over top. 10. Place pie pan on baking sheet to catch spills. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F. Bake another 20 minutes.
11. Cool at room temperature minimum 3 hours. Store pie room temperature for up to three days. Reheat pie slices when ready to serve. Plate with a dollop of whipped cream.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 1, 2020 at 3:52pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Baking boba bubble Tea butter Tart Canadian Pie Sweet

#FIRSTLOOK: INK ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT TORONTO’S CITYVIEW DRIVE-IN

As businesses begin to navigate the new normal, here’s a new entertainment option for us in the City! INK Entertainment presents CITYVIEW DRIVE-IN will host movie nights, entertainment and unique events.

The venue at 20 Polston Street, is designed to host 200+ vehicles in reserved parking spots a minimum of seven feet apart. Guests can enjoy live entertainment from the 238-foot stage and three large LED screens supplied by Apex Sound & Light from the comfort of their own car. For a completely contactless experience, tickets are to be purchased in advance online and will be scanned at front gate via a touchless system.

Guests can tune-in with a designated FM radio frequency without having to lower their windows and also concessions and merchandise can be delivered via contactless delivery.

More on this and upcoming concerts here.

(Photo credit: INK Entertainment)

#COOKING: GENERAL TAO BROCCOLI RECIPE

Ingredients:

General Tao Broccoli. You’ve all had this classic with chicken, but who knew it could be replicated so well and done vegan? This is so hearty it serves as a main with a side of rice. We’ve been seeing this pop-up on Instagram often of late and thought we’d give it a go. Loved it! 🥦

Broccoli:
1 head of broccoli, chopped into florets
1 cup corn starch
1/2 cup Aquafaba (Chick Pea liquid)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp soy sauce

Canola oil

Sauce:
3 tbsps rice vinegar
1 tbsp Gochujang (Korean Pepper Paste)
3 tbsps organic raw sugar
3 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsps maple syrup
1-2 tbsps corn or tapioca starch
1 tbsp ginger, minced
3 green chillies, seeded and minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 stalk green onion, minced
1 tbsp canola oil

Parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat oil large skillet/wok on medium-high heat till hot.
2. In shallow platter, mix 1 cup corn starch, 1 tbsp soy sauce, salt, baking powder and soda.
3. Dip florets into Aquafaba, then starch mixture and into hot oil.
4. Fry about 3-4 minutes each side or till golden brown.
5. Place on platter lined with paper towels to absorb oil.
6. In clean skillet/wok, heat oil on medium-high heat.
7.Sautée ginger, garlic, chillies, and green onion for 1-2 minutes.
8. In small bowl, prep sauce by mixing Gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, syrup, vinegar and starch. Add about 2-3 tbsps of water and mix well. Pour into skillet and stir well.
9. Once sauce thickens, toss-in broccoli and stir gently till coated in sauce.
10. Transfer to platter, garnish with parsley and serve.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 29, 2020 at 5:11pm PDT

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “MUCHO MUCHO AMOR: THE LEGEND OF WALTER MERCADO” TRAILER

Netflix present this new Trailer of MUCHO MUCHO AMOR: THE LEGEND OF WALTER MERCADO, a Documentary Feature coming soon!

Synopsis:

Every day for decades, Walter Mercado — the iconic, gender non-conforming astrologer — mesmerized 120 million Latino viewers with his extravagance and positivity. Then he vanished from the public eye. Award-winning documentarians Cristina Costantini (Science Fair) and Kareem Tabsch (The Last Resort) direct MUCHO MUCHO AMOR, produced by Alex Fumero.

See the Trailer:

MUCHO MUCHO AMOR: THE LEGEND OF WALTER MERCADO streams on Netflix Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER “COLIN IN BLACK & WHITE”

Netflix has announced a new six-part scripted Series about Colin Kaepernick’s formative high school years, which he will narrate. Ava DuVernay and Kaepernick also will serve as Executive Producers alongside Writer Michael Starrbury. DuVernay and Starrbury last collaborated on Award-winning WHEN THEY SEE US for Netflix.

Titled COLIN IN BLACK & WHITE, the Series provides an introspective look at the Football star’s early life as a Black child growing up with a white adopted family and his journey to become a great quarterback while defining his identity.

More to come.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER TRAILER FOR “RESPECT”

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin in Biopic RESPECT! See this brand new Teaser Trailer for this exciting Holiday release.

Synopsis:

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige.

See the Trailer:

RESPECT is in theatres December 2020.

(Photo/video credit: MGM Studios)

#FIRSTLOOK: “BLACK IS KING” VISUAL ALBUM TEASER

Check-out this Teaser Video for BLACK IS KING, a Visual Album written, directed and produced by Beyoncé, to be released on the one-year anniversary of the release of Disney’s THE LION KING. The Album reimagines lessons from THE LION KING for today’s children and is based on Music from The Lion King: The Gift, and starring the album’s featured artists and some special guest appearances. “Black Is King” is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience.

View the Teaser at beyonce.com.

Black is King will premiere globally on Disney+ on July 31, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

#COOKING: CHOCOLATE FUDGE MACARONS RECIPE

Chocolate Fudge Macarons. I was hesitant to try Macarons again since they gave me so much anxiety, but my dear friend Angela enjoyed the last batch I made so much, I couldn’t let her down! She literally said those were the best Macarons she’d ever had. She even went out of her way at nine months pregnant to buy me more Almond Flour so I could make more. Say what you will about the look of these which I know need a bit of work still in terms of piping, but they were phenomenal. That fudgy Butter Cream center is to die for.

Macarons:
1 cup Almond Flour, sifted three times
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted three times
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp sea salt
3 tbsps cocoa powder

Butter Cream:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
6 tbsps cocoa powder
2 tbsps whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate/Rainbow Sprinkles for decoration

Instructions:

1. In large bowl, combine 1/2 tsp salt, almond flour, cocoa powder and icing sugar. Ensure these are all sifted three times.

2. In separate bowl, beat egg whites and 1/2 tsp salt with handmixer till stiff peaks form. You should be able to flip bowl over and nothing moves. Gradually add granulated sugar.

3. Add flour mixture into egg white mixture bit by bit and combine gently with spatula. When ready, you should be able to lift spatula and draw a “figure 8” with batter. 

5. Scoop into piping bag with a circular tip and pipe each corner of baking sheet. Place parchment paper over it, using paste on corners to secure it.

6. Pipe Macaron batter evenly in circles over parchment paper. When done, take baking sheet and tap it on counter 3-5 times gently to rid of air bubbles and even out batter. Distribute sprinkles on-top.

7. Let sit for one hour.

8. Preheat oven at 300°F. Bake for 17-21 minutes depending how large your Macarons are. You’ll know they’re done when they don’t stick to the wax paper.

9. Allow to cool about 20 minutes out of oven and gently use spatula to remove from parchment paper and transfer to a tray. If they stick to paper, peel them off gently, taking a sparing amount of warm water and rub against back of cookie till paper peels off. Be gentle and do not over-wet.

10. Cool in fridge quickly for 20 minutes while you prepare Butter Cream.

11. Whip butter in large bowl till creamy. Add icing sugar, cocoa, vanilla and cream till you get a thick icing.

12. Scoop into piping bag and pipe onto “foot” of Macarons leaving a bit of space around the edge. Place another Macaron on-top and gently press into a sandwich.

13. Place in air-tight container overnight, room temperature before serving.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 28, 2020 at 11:43am PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER FOR “DISNEY AND PIXAR’S SOUL”

Check out this brand-new Teaser for SOUL starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, coming this November! The Film is directed by Pete Docter, who directed Inside Out!

Synopsis:
What is it that makes you…YOU? This November, Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Soul” introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

See the Teaser:

Walt Disney Studios Canada release SOUL Friday, November 22, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Disney•Pixar)

#NEWMUSIC: BLACKPINK – “HOW YOU LIKE THAT”

From their upcoming debut full-length LP, BLACKPINK continue to wow the world with these bangers! You must check-out the gorgeous new Video for their brand-new single HOW YOU LIKE THAT! BLACKPINK are comprised of Jennie, JiSoo, Rosé and Lisa. The South Korean girl group continue to pull-in alarming numbers and fandom around the world. They debuted in 2016 and today are the world’s most-followed girl group. They’ve collaborated with the likes of Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga, more recently on the Track Sour Candy.

See the Video:

Check-out their appearance on Fallon promoting the Single. They’re adorable!

BLACKPINK‘s debut album will see a September 2020 release.

(Photo/video credit: NBC/Interscope)