Fresh garden pickings...

Paul's rabbit.  This is how he helps get dinner ready.

Lunching with Bev.

 A long natter, a few hugs and a nice opportunity to spend some time together.

We do like good food and we certainly ate well at lunch today and it was amazing to see what they had done re-purposing and rebuilding  an old mill.

It was our first, and hopefully not the last, lunch since George's funeral.   Having made the trip in the past with Paul I found the drive easy even with the 2 detours for road construction.  I must however bone up on north, south, east and west.  They neglected to put up signs that said....hey Elizabeth this is the way to Cambridge don't worry what direction you need to turn.   I noted landmarks for the trip home.

Cambridge Mill

Bev with her soup of the day.  Cream of broccoli and potato.

My spring garden salad with Ice wine vinaigrette. Loved the mushrooms.

Chicken, cilantro and white cheese stone baked pizza.  Mine.

Bev.'s was mushroom.

Seeing as I was driving and passed on the wine I felt it necessary to have dessert.  Lavender panna cotta with pistachio biscotti.  The coffee was excellent. I had seconds.

View from out table.  Some rain drops on the window.  The rain lasted all of 3 minutes.

Slightly different angle.

Naan bread pizza

 

After a few overly crispy tries I discovered the trick is to really wet down the naan bread before decorating and cooking.     Tonight I pan fried red,yellow and orange pepper (chopped ) sliced artichoke hearts and sliced mushrooms in a little oil - added some ground pepper.

 Laid down a little shredded Italian cheese mix, added some sliced kielbasa, spread out the nicely browned veg. noted above above then added some slices of fresh tomato.  Sprinkled liberally with Italian seasoning, added more cheese and slipped into a 400F oven for about 8 minutes.  Turned on the broiler for a minute or two to brown the cheese and dinner was done.  Served with beer.

One for each of us.     Paul did add some dried jalapeno peppers to his.  He likes a bit more spice.

I buy packages of naan bread when it is on sale, separate the slices with waxed paper, pop in a bag and freeze.   It thaws in minutes and has many uses.

Starting 2012 off sweet

It IS all about size.

If this isn't bad enough,

take a look at this.

The small bar is considered a large size in Canada.  The Australians have a totally different idea of sizing and they also have more variety.  If it hadn't been eaten and enjoyed already you would have seen a Caramel mousse bar that was the same size as the Top Deck bar.    Feast your eyes on these  FLAVOURS  some I've had the the chance to try thanks to my friend Bats.   She does cater to my chocolate tooth at Christmas time. 

First ingredient in the Cdn bar....milk chocolate
First ingredient in the smaller of the Aussie bars....full cream milk
First ingredient in the large Aussie bar....full cream milk.

Counting down

The advent doll has settled in nicely

Quince fruit paste served with warm brie

along with a winter stout.

I continue decorating.  This year I bought some new LED lights and they are no easier to place than the older lights.  Did I really think they would be?  No, but it would have been nice seeing as I fuss and bother and still am never happy with the way I place them.   Adding ornaments will help.

The Christmas cards are done and the last batch will go into the mailbox today. 

I served the Quince with brie last night with dinner and opened the bottle of winter stout I had purchases a week or so back. I like trying beer in fancy bottles.  It was dark and thick and  very tasty.

Jayne...the quince was sweet and mild.  Not able to really describe the flavour but it was wonderful with the warm brie.    It is imported from New Zealand.   The beer is almost local.


HO HO HO

Dinner out

Cider Poached Scallop Brulee, roasted butternut squash and lime parvee, shallow fried leek hearts.  Riesling 2008

 The roasted squash was thick and sweet on a pastry square, almost dessert pie like. The lime was very subtle but you could taste it.  The scallop was perfect, crisp outside but tender and sweet inside. 

Caramel Corn Crusted Chicken leg, charred corn slaw, manuka honey-garlic sauce. Pinot Gris 2010  

yum

 Crisp outside, tender inside, we both picked up the bone and picked it clean, slaw was ok, the dipping sauce first rate.   The Pinot Gris was almost pink thanks to the use of the grape skins in the processing.  

Smoked bacon fat confrit of black cod, grilled mango salsa, vanilla dried carrot.  Reserve Chardonnay 2008

My least favourite portion of the meal.  The salsa was tasty but the fish was cold and the bacon taste stronger than necessary.  The carrot slice was crispy almost chip like.  The Chardonnay had an oak smell, first sip was not harsh like some I've had. 

Pepper Crusted Bison Striploin, strawberry relish ,arugula with almond vinaigrette, sea salt roasted almonds. Syrah 2008

Lots of stawberries

The bison was very tender without any gamey taste.  The strawberries were sweet against the pepper crust.  Ate all the arugula but left most of the almond brittle.   The wine tasted acid-y to me. I've had nicer.

Braised Lamb neck and dried cherry raviolo, smoked portobello mushroom tartar, pickled asparagus with roasted red pepper salad.  Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 

Tender shredded meat sandwiched between crisp - not pastry/not cracker  with a good serving of mushroom underneath.

This was excellent.  The crisp top and bottom were unexpected, I had been thinking soft ravioli. ( was the menu a typo? ) By the last bite I was stuffed.    The wine was better than the syrah but again not a taste favourite.

Paul enjoying the bison course.

We arrived by 7pm.  The first wine was served at 7:30. The owner of the winery gave us the background of each wine as it was served and the chef explained each course and what flavours in the wine had inspired it.    I was too busy eating and drinking to take notes and I will admit to not picking up the nuances of flavours in wines.     The amount of food was staggering and  they were generous with the wine.   

We finished and headed home at 10:30. 

In March they are doing it again this time featuring Charles Smith wines from Walla Walla Washington.   Will we go?   Not sure.  It was almost too much food and too much wine.   I will admit to spending most of Friday recovering.

On offering today...

 You can click on the recipe to make it more readable, I just scanned the one I had cut from the newspaper.  Far easier than typing it out and less chance of error.  The photo is mine.  I will be making it again but next time I will let the pears ripen a bit more.  I seem to have a problem with pears.  I rush.  I didn't have any almond extract so I doubled the vanilla.

 Yesterday Margaret and I took another bus trip with Redeemer College, this time to Niagara on the Lake to see My Fair Lady .  
A back stage tour and lunch were included as well as a lecture on Monday evening. Costumes were amazing, sets inventive and cast delightful.  A grand day out.

This is a fine example of what happens when you hit the take picture button instead of the turn off button.  At least it's in focus.

Oct 7 - Oct 10

Perfect almost summer-like temperatures and clear skies for Thanksgiving and our anniversary weekend.  On Friday we headed out to Ball's Falls Conservation area for the annual craft show.  We went for the historic buildings and scenery as well as the chance to see what might be tempting to buy. Good quality crafts and interesting food samples but we didn't buy anything other than lunch.  

Out building and one of the many harvest displays.

Automatic washing machine .. driven by a small  engine.

1911 Military Band Organ

the works

Side of the mill, the front is currently under renovation.

They still mill flour and it is for sale $3.00 a bag

The falls.  At the base we could see salmon spawning in the shallow rocky stream.

me

The Ball family home is open to tour.  I liked these birds ( pheasants? ) staring down at the dining room table and the muted wall paper.

Interesting linoleum pattern in the kitchen and pantry.

After getting lost but happily stumbling on a winery where I purchased Cranberry fruit wine, we finally found Jordon and had coffee on the patio and then dinner inside at  Inn OnTthe Twenty.  

Photo doesn't do justice to my dessert.  Lemon tart with blackberries and blackberry sorbet.

 ................

Saturday Paul cut the grass, I did some laundry and hung it outside to dry and made a quick grocery visit for brussel sprouts (I never serve turkey without them) and whipped cream.

Sunday was turkey dinner at our place with my sister Barbara, Stephen and Chawana.

Monday our actual anniversary and we have been doing small chores around the-.   Paul is currently outside watering the grass seed he put down on the front lawn and as soon as I post this I'm going to join him outside to enjoy this weather.    Sunny  28C. 

It's catch up with Elizabeth time

Learned how to make Pavlova from the girl next door.  She's originally from Perth Australia.  Sept. 16th 

Paul decide if I could take photos of food he could too.  His self packed picnic in the park.  Sept. 18th

British Car Day in Bronte Park.   I like the reflections. Paul liked the cars.  Sept. 18th

On the landing, sun coming in the side window.  I like the shadow on the wall.  Sept. 24th.

**************

I've been on a cleaning and recycling rampage.    The Salvation Army has benefited.  I've sold some items on Kijiji and I've put out my max garbage allowance several weeks running.     I feel so much lighter now.

Today I went through multiple boxes and have sorted and repacked, in new rubbermaid bins - there was a 2 for one sale - certificates, school stuff, family photos, cards etc. Each new one now labelled and ready for a final sort.    I found out after Paul made his feelings known that I need to let each person decide what to keep and what to toss.    I apparently have the boys a little scared with my  level of purging.

It's our 41st anniversary this weekend as well as the Canadian Thanksgiving.  After days of wet weather we are now having sunny skies and warmer temperatures and it promises to stay this way so we can enjoy my favourite time of year ... Autumn. 

My first

before

after baking

..... ever date squares.  My sister Barbara gifts me with a batch each Christmas because they are something I never make  but just recently Margaret gave me some of hers to taste and I was inspired to make my own.   We shopped at the bulk barn together after gym on Wednesday and she helped me buy the right ingredients and answered all my questions.  Apparently I need to learn to think less and just do.   Well I did this morning and in the process learned a few lesson.

1)   Cut the butter into smaller pieces before blending in the the dry ingredients.
2)   Let them cool longer before digging in or
3)   Ask Margaret why mine seem a little overly moist on the bottom.

Stephen says we can eat them with a spoon, Paul says that's a great idea as long as I serve ice cream on the plate at the same time.

DATE SQUARES

Combine in saucepan and cook until soft:

1  lb of dates (1 1/4 lb) don't be too specific                she said I'd know

1 1/2 cup of water (same amount of water)                  by looking

Mix into crumbs:

1 3/4 cup  oatmeal (2 1/2 c)    large rolled         
1 1/4 cup flour       (1 3/4 c)

1  cup cold butter  (1 1/2 c)                            M uses the larger measures

1 cup brown sugar (1 1/2 c)                            and so did I

1 tsp baking soda  (1 1/2 tsp)

1 tsp salt              (1 1/2 tsp)

I use my hands to mix .                                 I used a pastry blender

Put half the crumbs into a 9 x 9 in pan or an oblong pan.    mine was 7 X 11

                                                                                                                                      

Add date mixture layer and top with remaining crumbs.    

Bake at 250 deg for 1 hr. Yes that is right 250 deg.

They are very rich and moist and yes, I will make them again.    

    

Paul's birthday

We went out to celebrate Paul's 68th birthday on the 8th.
I spent much of the 9th suffering from a tummy ache.

Could it have been:

The bread dipped in oil and garlic

or the lobster tail with crab and hollandaise sauce served with roasted potatoes and asparagus?

Not this three chocolate dessert, Paul ate it all by himself.

Perhaps the tiramisu I managed to

scrap clean.

all better today thanks