Nanaimo-ey goodness...

The time has come for the yearly Nepper pilgrimage back to our hometown of Nanaimo. We used to get back there twice a year, but over the past few years its only been once, in the summer. Not like the so-called winters are bad...if you don't mind a little rain! When it was just us, or just us with one in the tummy, a 12 hour drive seemed like nothing, but now with two kids, its a bit of an ordeal. Not just the packing, but the actual traveling. Yes, I know, I know, we could fly, but when you do a cost comparison, it just can't compare. Especially when you tack on the cost of a car rental...yowza!

Our life has been super busy with me finishing up school on Friday (Read: Mommy was a stressed out nutcase all week, and I think the entire family sighed a huge sigh of relief along with me). So we move from busyness, into more busyness. This weekend has consisted solely of getting stuff finished up, organized, and PACKED! Thankfully, I quite enjoy packing. It feeds into my organizing tendencies. Few things in life can satisfy nearly as much as a neatly packed suitcase.

This year we are quite happy to be making the trip home with good friends of ours. They've never been to Beautiful BC, let alone the picturesque Island. So we are quite excited to not only have traveling partners, but also be able to share our hometown with good friends. In a highly dorky manner, we will be a mini Ford Windstar caravan. Thankfully theirs is beige (ours is sage green), so that reduces the dorkiness...somewhat ;)

A few weeks ago, in preparation for our trip, we sat down and were looking at some tourism guides. It really is odd to see your hometown, and places you regularly hung out at in a "Visitor's Guide." Conversation came up about the infamous Nanaimo Bar. Yes, that's really where they are from. Well, technically it looks like it was a lady from Ladysmith who is credited for the first published recipe...but seriously, a Ladysmith Bar? I think not!

After researching the history of these bars, I stumbled upon the "official recipe" on the City of Nanaimo website. As a ex-resident, I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I had no idea there was an official recipe. Not to mention I had never even attempted a batch of these little gems. So I quickly remedied this problem. I like to call it pre-trip preparation.

If you too would like to attempt a batch of Nanaimo Bars, here is the official recipe.

Nanaimo Bar Recipe

Bottom Layer
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¼ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ c. finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut

Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan.

Second Layer
½ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. and 2 Tsp. cream
2 Tbsp. vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Third Layer
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter overlow heat. Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

In my preparation of the Nanaimo Bar...a cute helper is a must have!
My first-ever double boiler attempt worked quite well.
The bottom layer looked so delicious I just wanted to stop right there and grab a spoon...
I picked up my custard powder at Bulk Barn. 62¢ is what it cost me for 2 Tbsps, compared to the $4.99 Safeway was going to charge me for an entire box, I'd say that's a pretty swell deal.
Mmm, chocolaty goodness...
I doubled the recipe so that we could share our Nanaimo Bar plunder with those near and dear to us. I had one 9x9 dish, plus a 9x13 to divide up. Considering 6 families got to nibble on some Nanaimo Bar-ey goodness, I'd say it went pretty far. And the reviews were quite good!
A picture just can't do the deliciousness justice.
So we'll be gone for 3 weeks to our lovely little Island. Staying with my parents. Visiting the many beaches. Enjoying the hot weather (compared to ugly, rainy, mosquitoey Edmonton. Ugh!). Visiting with old friends. Of course we'll join in on some of the touristy stuff with our friends. Its actually an interesting concept, being a tourist in your own town.

I was looking at our pictures from last year, and its amazing how few I took of the actual town and the scenery. Usually I'm more interested in taking pictures of friends or their kids. I think partially because those beautiful mountainous scenes and breathtaking beach side sunsets are imprinted in my mind. I've spent countless nights enjoying those views, so when I return I'm not quick to take pictures of them. To be honest, I often forget just how beautiful it is...until I go back. So this year I hope to view it from a "tourist's perspective" and try to see some things and places and maybe even people that I wouldn't normally see.

I hope to do some blogging from the Isle, so stay tuned...