Morning Reflections

 

My Recipe Box - Spicy Thai Basil Pork

May 2026 - Toronto ON

We didn't bother with lettuce wraps with this, simply served it with salad. It would also be good in tortillas. I could also see it in rice paper, fried or not.

I also had some ground beef that I mixed with the pork.

 Ingredients

  

For the Pork

1 lb ground pork ideally 80/20 for a bit of fat and richness

4 cloves garlic minced

2 Thai bird’s eye chilies finely chopped (adjust for heat preference) OR jalapenos

1 shallot finely diced OR white onion

2 tablespoons neutral oil canola or vegetable

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons fish sauce

1 teaspoon sugar - I omitted

1 tablespoon water

1 cup Thai basil leaves packed (don’t sub with Italian basil—Thai basil brings that peppery, anise kick)

For the Wraps/salad

1 head butter lettuce or romaine leaves separated and washed

1 small cucumber julienned

1 large carrot shredded or julienned

Tomatoes

Red onion

1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts optional but adds crunch

1 lime cut into wedges

Optional Add-Ins

Sriracha or chili garlic sauce for extra heat

Jasmine rice or vermicelli noodles if you want to bulk them up

Pickled Thai vegetables like carrots and daikon for tang

Cilantro

Instructions

 

Step 1: Prepare the Flavor Base

Start by heating oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, chopped chilies, and shallots. Stir-fry quickly, about 30–45 seconds, until fragrant but not burned. This forms the base of that punchy, aromatic flavor that’s key in authentic thai recipes.

Step 2: Cook the Pork

Add the ground pork and use a spatula to break it up. Stir-fry for about 5–6 minutes, or until the pork is fully cooked and starting to get those delicious crispy bits.

Step 3: Add Sauces and Seasoning

Lower the heat slightly. Add the oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and a tablespoon of water. Stir to coat the pork evenly. Simmer for 1–2 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly and clings to the pork.

Step 4: Stir in Thai Basil

Turn off the heat and immediately add the Thai basil. Stir until the leaves wilt and become glossy. This last-minute addition preserves the herb’s bold, slightly spicy flavor. The pork should be glossy, rich, and deeply savory—a little sweet, a little salty, and full of heat.

Step 5: Assemble the Lettuce Wraps/salad

Place a spoonful or two of pork into each lettuce leaf. Top with julienned cucumber, shredded carrot, chopped peanuts, and a squeeze of lime. Add extra chili sauce if you like it fiery.

 

Tuesday Treasures

 May 2026 - Toronto ON

 Tom hosts Tuesday's Treasures.

Between 1880-83 - Looking north up Yonge St from Queen St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto.

Archive Photo Credit: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1478, Item 38 - F.W. Micklethwaite photographs

1938 looking north at Queen and Yonge

A major Bank of Montreal (BMO) branch operated at the northeast corner of Yonge and Queen for decades. Built in 1910, it featured classical Italianate architecture. The historic bank's facade was preserved and integrated into a modern glass office tower, which serves as a key access point to the Yonge subway line.

In fact, I had used that entrance a couple of weeks ago.

2026

The F. W. Woolworth building at 2 Queen Street West, located on the northwest corner of Yonge and Queen in Toronto, is a historic landmark designed in 1895 with a distinct curved facade. Woolworth's occupied this prominent site from 1913 until the 1960s, operating a popular "five-and-dime" store that served as a landmark near the Toronto Eaton Centre

You can see the five-and-dime in the 1938 photo.

 The building is famously known for its curved storefront at the northwest corner of Queen and Yonge, initially built for Philip E. Jamieson in 1895.

Woolworth's took over the space around 1913, following a brief tenure by S.H. Knox & Company. It remained a staple in downtown Toronto's retail scene for decades.

The site was later famous for having a lunch counter in the basement with a tunnel leading to the Eaton's store.

Following Woolworth's, the building served as a Tower Records and later an Atmosphere store, with the structure eventually undergoing extensive restoration and heritage preservation.

The building is still recognized as the F. W. Woolworth Building and acts as a preserved heritage component at 2 Queen Street West.

Signs

  Joining Tom at Signs2

May 2026 - Toronto ON

 Public art installation entitled Careful Infrastructures for Reassembled Lands located along the Toronto waterfront.

Created by artist Lisa Hirmer, this installation is part of a broader "poetic infrastructure" project inspired by the rebuilding of the Don River mouth.

The laser-cut metal signs are designed to encourage viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural environment in the context of the climate emergency.

Morning Reflections

 

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural

April 2026 - Toronto ON Part 3

Part 1             

There are more murals from this outing to come.

The main artist for this piece is Hungr, known for intricate lettering styles.
The mural features a prominent, stylized lettering design for "Hungr" with a distinctive green and pink color scheme.
The artwork also includes a small, detailed stencil of a raccoon, typical of work by artist Emily May Rose.

Also by Hungr.

D. Terra and more Emily May Rose

Jimmy Chiale.  Another Chiale.

Also Chiale.

 Christina Mazzulla, for the Golden Turtle Restaurant. I have many of her murals posted, click on her name in the tags/labels at the bottom of this post.