Thoughts, Tributes, Trials & Tribulations

Morning Splendor!

2010-10-02T06:47:00.002-04:00

I never get tired of the sunrise!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Oven Floor

2010-09-17T05:37:00.001-04:00

We took a break for the entire month of June; I was busy gallivanting in Europe so we installed a makeshift tent to protect us, and the oven, from the harsh sun of July!
We did a mix of fireclay from Tucker's Pottery and some brick sand. We had to screen the sand to make sure it was free of small stones and to get rid of some weeds which grew in it over the past year. What should I expect: I had the sand delivered a year ago.....
The layer is rather thin and its purpose is to level the bricks; it's not really acting as a glue.
Once all the bricks were placed properly, I realized I miscalculated the void needed for the ash slot. Because I use 10" wide cement blocks to do the base, it made the hearth slab slightly narrower so I couldn't make the oven floor as wide as Alan Scott's plans were depicting. Not a real problem, we'll reshape the ash slot at a later step.
I selected the firebricks from Alphatherm and they are of medium duty, 9 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2". Since then, I found some locally but they are much smaller; it would have made the project much longer: more bricks to level!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Hearth Slab

2010-09-16T20:23:00.004-04:00

We had precut the 5/8" rebars so that we wouldn't waste any handling time. We positioned them as soon as the heartn insulation was leveled and tied them with a small wire and we are ready to pour the slab!
All around is a 1" piece of wood that will create an air gap necessary for any expansion of the hearth slab during heating. This wood frame also provided the height needed, 3 1/2" thick for the hearth slab.
The slab is made of Lite Kastite refractory concrete supplied by Alphatherm in Toronto. Another alternative would have been to use a mix of Portland and lime but since Jim Wills suggested the Kastite for a stronger slad more resistent to heat cycle, I went with the expert's choice!

If I'm going to go into the trouble and time to build this bread oven, I might as well not skimp too much on the materials. This oven will still be standing much longer after I'm gone!!!

And by the way, this was done on May 26 of this year. My dad visited often this summer allowing us to accomplish a lotvon the built. As I'm writting this post, I'm preparing for his visit this coming week-end; I have great hopes to convince him to visit one more time before the winter and to finish the oven.......

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Hearth Insulation

2010-09-15T20:15:00.003-04:00

On the plywood support, we poured a 5:1 mix of vermiculite and Portland cement to have a 2" thick layer. This will be the first layer of insulation for the suspended hearth slab. After a few months of use, we will insulate further from the bottom. At the far side, you can see the void for the ash slot. We had to work fast to pour the hearth slab on top the same day to ensure proper bonding between the 2 layers. We also poked a few galvanized nails at a 45 degree angle in the vermiculite layer to increase the bond.
Funny how it looks like my dad is working alone......

A WHAT?? Wood-Fired Oven! Seriously?

2010-08-09T05:40:00.006-04:00

Just thought I’d add this photo: Dad surveying the work to be done and probably wondering what possessed his daughter to start such a large scale project…….

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Hearth Foundation

2010-08-08T21:51:00.004-04:00

After last winter, our first order of business in May was to create a wood support for the hearth. Although it is to be a suspended hearth, we built a center pillar with cement blocks to provide additional support. The pillar top had to be in the middle of the hearth insulation layer so we had to build up the height a bit. Unfortunately, the corner broke when we removed the form, but it will not affect anything as it will ultimately be inside the insulayer layer.

The bottom of the insulation layer is build with pieces of plywood we recycled from the yard; we could have done it in only 2 pieces but the smaller pieces meant for easier removal.

At the far end of the photo,you can see we built a shape to create a void for the ash slot; you will see it better in the next steps. The ash slot will allow me to rake the ashes out of the oven and let them fall under the base; much easier removal.

At the forefront is the wood frame that will be used for the next step: the hearth slab, and the grooves at the top of it will support some rebars and create a 1" air gap between the hearth slab and the cement block walls, so that the hearth slab has some room for expansion. It's easier to prepare for the next step right away because the hearth slab should be poured the same day as the hearth insulation layer to help the bonding between the two layers.

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Cement Base Fill

2010-08-05T21:14:00.002-04:00

This was the last step we worked on before we wrapped up everything for the winter last October: we weren't prepared to work in less than perfect weather so we called in a day.

As mentioned in the previous post, this is a photo of one corner with a rebar and filled with cement mix after chipping some of the core away to make room for more rebars.

I'll share the spring status in the next post; a winter has never gone so fast!!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Block Base part II

2010-08-04T05:39:00.006-04:00

Do I have a lot of updating to do!! I haven’t posted anything on the build since last August but that’s not an indication of what’s happening: I’ll try to speed-up the updates in chronological order to get you as fast as possible to the current status.
In September of last year, we raised the cement block foundation to 4 ½ courses. I decided at the last minute to add half a course because I wanted the floor of the oven to be at a comfortable height for me; I suspected that the plan I was following was a tad too short. I’m glad I did that.
We used type S mortar for the cement blocks and we filled them at the end with regular concrete mix with some small pebbles from the beach, as well as vertical ½” reinforcing bars at every corners and every other foot or so. As you can see, we put some recycled metal screen before the last course to avoid filling every cement block core all the way down to the slab. The spaces without the screen pieces will have a vertical re-bar in the cement block cores.
The lintels or iron angles are to support the last course above the front opening of the block base. I should mention now that the opening of the block base is NOT where the fire will be! Most of my visitors get confused but you will understand much better when the project is more advanced. Right now, it looks like a big square pile of cement nothings! Stay tuned!

I Stopped to Smell the Roses Tonight

2010-08-03T19:55:00.006-04:00

Time to de-stress and enjoy the surrounding beauty! Very hot & humid today and probably not the best time to enjoy piping hot chipotle & cheese quesadillas, but oh boy, where they ever good!! So simple to do: the idea comes from my friend, chef Pat Forster, and they were a favorite menu addition to my BBQ party this summer. Take one can of chipotle pepper in adobo sauce and puree in food processor, smear a thin layer on a soft tortilla, fill half with your favorite grated cheese and then fold in half. You could make it a meal by adding roasted chicken pieces in it. Lightly oil the quesadilla before putting it on the grill to warm up. They can also be done successfully on a panini press and that's how I enjoy them, at work for lunch. And it's a margarita hidding in that tall lemonade glass, the perfect companion to spicy quesadillas!

National Corndog Day March 20, 2010

2010-03-20T22:27:00.003-04:00

Have you had a corn dog today?

I Want Green Pastures instead of White Lawns!

2010-02-28T18:16:00.001-05:00

Gardening season is almost upon us! Well, maybe it’s a bit delayed by the snowstorm we got last Thursday but nonetheless, it’s great to start planning the veggie garden. This year, I think I will step out of my comfort zone and try new varieties. Potatoes are the first thing on my mind: I love fingerlings but I’m too frugal to pay the supermarket prices. However, I have no clue of what to do to grow potatoes! Is there anybody with advice for me on how to grow (hopefully successfully!) potatoes?
Maybe my title for this post should have been Green Acres…..My life is starting to look a lot like it!

What a Chore!

2010-02-25T20:12:00.002-05:00

Vacuuming is the very worst chore for me. And with the additional cat in the household, I find the need to vacuum more often. My my, what a nightmare. Billy leaves little balls of fur everywhere and they are difficult to pick up because they stick to your finger and won’t let go!! The electric brush of my vacuum gave out last week and I was glad to still have an old Hoover in the garage. This one’s electric brush is working very well but it’s so large and difficult to maneuver. AND it has old fashioned bag!! I got used to the bagless technology the last few years. A co-worker gave her son the New Dyson DC23 Animal version for Christmas and I have to admit that I’m green with envy….I’m very hopeful I will get one too with Northern Mama’s great giveaway! Good Luck to me! ♣

Meet Billy

2010-02-24T18:57:00.004-05:00

In order to keep up with the single woman typecast, I added another cat to our household! Billy is a year old and was raised with a dog; that’s probably what attracted me to him. It shows good dispositions and that’s very important. Although he seemed quite independent and had no problem spending long amount of time exploring the outdoors, he also keeps close by if I’m outside or just follows cat #1, Nita around. Today was the day he was being neutered. That’s the responsible thing to do but I’m also hoping that will be the end of the spraying he’s been doing around the house to mark his new territory. So far, so good with Nita; although I must say this week was a bit more difficult: lots of fighting and loud meowing. I’m hoping we’ll all get along nicely soon!

Feb 12 2010

2010-02-20T15:39:00.004-05:00

What's with this weather? No accumulation of snow so far and the lake is not frozen yet! I'm so afraid spring will never come because winter didn't happen!

This picture is from February 12th, but it's still the same today, other than being a gray-ish fall-like day.

Guilt

2009-08-12T20:53:00.004-04:00

This is what guilt looks like! Guilt of leaving my cat alone for 3 days. Not available in Canada (yet), I saw this Fancy Feast cat food in St. Louis and decided to splurge for my cat nita! I hope she'll like it; all the flavors looks very good, human grade, but I also hope she won't like it too too much: I don't want to have to bring back cat food each time I travel to the States!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Cement Block Base

2009-08-02T18:44:00.004-04:00

Last week, after modifying my plan a dozen time, I was finally fully satisfied and was ready to start, at last. But I realized that I really didn't know how to put the cement blocks together; I had plenty of witten material on the subject but felt I was missing something. So I placed an add on Kijiji in the Skilled Trade section, asking for someone to come by and graciously spend a couple hours with me to show me how. The first respondant asked me what I was doing and after a few missed calls and emails, came by Friday night. He arrived at the time scheduled and with all his tools! I was glad to impress him with how ready I was with my own set of tools! A very nice man, originally from Haiti, currently out of work from a call centre but obviously well versed in building with cement blocks. We did the first 4 blocks, as I intended, and he was then on his way.

On an unrelated funny note, we're both French speaking, but I couldn't understand a word of what he was saying because his French accent is so different than mine, so we spoke English to each other!

Yard Sale Loot

2009-08-01T20:36:00.004-04:00

All that for only $1.00! Quite happy about my luck! I was ready to pay double but I gave the quoted amount gladly; it could be because I stopped by at 6pm and she looked like she was ready to pack everything in!

In the lot, there's a Henckles knife, so even if don't even use anything else, that was worth it!

But with those 24 small tart molds, no excuse not to try some tasty phyllo cups!

And how about that vintage cheese knife set? Cute! I might have to invite people over for a cheese and wine affair just to show them off!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Mock-Up

2009-07-20T21:02:00.004-04:00

I did the inventory of the cement blocks I got so far and modified my paper plan accordingly. I have much more block 8X10X16 so the oven hearth floor will be slightly smaller than the Alan Scott plan, but it's ok. I laided the blocks to see if it all made sense and I think it will look good. I just made a slight modification to use the 8X8X16 block for the center pilar instead of the corners. The metal wash bassin will be the ash recipient and it's there to make sure the front opening is large enough to access under the oven easily.

In the meantime, I was able to acquire an old cement mixer: that will save me a lot of elbow grease! I will retake all the measurements, redo the mock-up and hopefully start the actually work soon!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Cement Pad

2009-07-12T20:12:00.003-04:00

Finally done!! I came back from work on Tuesday and it was finished!! There are cute little bird footprints on it but unfortunately, they will get covered by the cement blocks and bricks; too bad they aren't at the other end where nothing will cover the cement.

I guess I'm somewhat of a control freak: it bothers me not to know exactly how the cement was poured and how the reinforced mesh was positioned inside but, I can't be everywhere at once and I need to learn to trust people. That's the tough one....

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Ready!

2009-07-06T21:37:00.003-04:00

The gravel is packed, the frame is secured and I'm ready for the cement to be poured. Maybe tomorrow?

My neighbours are starting to ask when we'll have a pizza party! We all need to be patient; the oven will probably not be completed before next spring. But it's so worth the wait!!

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Taking Shape!

2009-07-05T19:49:00.003-04:00

Now Randy, the handyman, finally got the form up. It's 14" above ground so it will be the same height as another deck I have beside the house. It does look odd, and big, in the middle of the yard but I'm hoping that once all is done around it, it should all make sense and look good. Everything is taking a loooonnnng time.....I have to learn to be more patient........and remember that to keep the cost down, I'm relying on Randy's help, on his time schedule.

Wood-Fired Oven ~ Now it's Really Starting!

2009-07-02T18:46:00.004-04:00

Finally! The excavation is done but we were only able to go down 12" before hitting the shale rock. That could be a problem if I didn't plan to go 14" above ground.

I will also do some irrigation channels around the base to make sure there's no accumulation of water there in the fall and springtime. It's been quite flooded the past few years....

I read somewhere that the entire oven will weight 3 tonnes; hopefully, that's enough to keep the cement slab secure.

Wood-Fired Oven ~ the location!

2009-06-29T20:32:00.003-04:00

Before marking the cement pad location, I had to think about the big picture and how I wanted everything to look, once all the components are done, in a few years. Also, after discussing with a few oven experts, I changed the orientation of the oven due to the prevailing winds. So the back of the oven will be what I will see when I step out of my kitchen but it will make the efficiency much better. The long line starting at the bottom left of the picture, is actually the boardwalk to build from my existing deck to the future outdoor kitchen. The large rectangle is the cement pad: 118" X 80". Once the oven is build, the heat is all contained and therefore will not affect the lilac tree just beside it. Unfortunately, the 2 small lilacs at the small furthest end of the pad will have to go.

Wood-Fired Oven ~ the beginning!

2009-06-28T13:19:00.007-04:00

My project this summer is to build a wood-fired oven. It actually started in the winter time with the thinking process and it has broken ground last month. I first had to remove 2 pine trees that didn't not fit in the future landscape plan. Don't feel too bad; one was already sick and was in worst shape than last year. It was just a question of time.

The local handyman, Randy, is helping me and said the removal only look 15 minutes. When you have the right tools, everything works out faster and better! And he's helping me keeping the costs down by doing my work when he has some spare time, between 2 jobs. So far he's happy with the cold beer I gave him when he was doing landscape work on my neighbour's property, on a hot day!

So here's the photo after the trees were removed and I filled in the ground as best as I could. I think it's ok until I work on the overall landscape plan (maybe in a year or 2...) when I will even out the grounds properly.

I am using many sources for the building: Jim Wills from Mary G Artisan Breads, Alan Scott & Daniel Wing book "The Bread Builders" and Rado Hand with his web site Traditional Ovens. There's also many other sources of inspiration and advice and I will mention them as I go along.

Just impossible

2009-06-24T20:10:00.003-04:00

to get ahead.... I received today my electricity bill and my new "budget monthly" amount has been increased by $43.00. I consider myself frugal with the energy: I keep the heat to a minimum all winter long, no air conditioning in the summer, I mostly live in the dark at night, TV is not on unless I'm actually watching it, I cook as much as possible on the propane BBQ grill and half the time, I not even home! How can it be $261.00 per month for a one-person household????

I already looked at my budget 2 week ago to slim it down and I just don't know where this money has to come from. Just depressing.

Storm Coming from the West

2009-05-16T07:18:00.003-04:00

Can hear the thunder and see the lightnings, and it's getting increasingly dark. The rain should start any moment now....That might change my plans to drive around for yard sales this morning......

There's Hope for Me!

2009-04-04T19:09:00.002-04:00

TheStar.com
Horoscopes for Saturday, April 4

If today is your birthday: A process has begun that will change your future potential beyond what you ever thought possible. It all hinges on a new attitude, a new perspective and a new vision that will soon inspire you.

Aries (March 21 — April 20)
Success is a simple case of being at the right place at the right time. People spend a lifetime trying to find this magical point in the space-time continuum. Don't entertain any doubts and you will be ready for a pleasant surprise.

Cambridge, MA

2009-03-24T20:57:00.004-04:00

Great bookstore! I was in Cambridge earlier this month and was able to spend an hour checking out the treasures in the store's basement. I found great cooking books in pristine condition and a great find: "Joy of Cooking", 1975 edition for only $3.00!! Never been to Cambridge before but I will definetely try to spend more time in the Harvard Square area if I have another chance.

The Morning Twilight

2009-02-15T07:50:00.003-05:00

I never get tired of looking at it.

Great Combination!

2009-02-08T14:21:00.004-05:00

A perfect lunch for a sunny February afternoon!

Multigrain baguette from Ace Bakery, still warm from the oven, with Lady Laurier d'Arthabaska soft surface-ripened cheese, topped with fresh dates. And blueberries to finish the lunch. The trick here is patience: this cheese is best at room temperature so you have to plan for it and take it out of the fridge ahead of time, otherwise you won't be able to enjoy its flavor and wonderful texture.

Turkey for Breakfast!

2009-02-08T10:01:00.004-05:00

I used an extra large muffin mould to make a cup out of leftover stuffing and filled the inside with a beaten egg mixed with diced turkey meat and a dash of hot sauce, covered with grated old cheddar cheese and cooked in the oven for 15 minutes! Perfect! To make it more breakfasty, I had some red grapefuit quarters with it. It would be as good with cranberry sauce actually ~ humm that's an idea for a quick weeknight supper!

I Love Turkey!

2009-02-07T19:39:00.005-05:00

I've had a turkey in my freezer since New Year's day, waiting for cooperative weather to cook it on the BBQ. The mercury climbed to 7C this afternoon and the winds were low so it was perfect! With the Butterball stuffed turkey, I was able to cook it directly from the freezer, no need to thaw forever in the fridge, so it was perfect for my situation as I didn't know when the temperature would be mild enough to do my turkey feast!
This time, I followed a friend's advice and cooked it with the breast down so that the juices would flow down on the white meat, to keep it moist and juicy. Indeed, the meat very good! I only turned it for the last hour of cooking, to crisp the skin. My glaze was a mix of homemade plum jam -homemade by Mom with plums from her garden, thank you very much!- and crushed rosemary, simply delicious! I have to say that I was not disappointed by the Butterball stuffing; seasonned to perfection, very tasty and best of all, plenty of it!

Of course the greatest thing about cooking a whole turkey for one, is the leftovers! I'm already looking forward to a week of turkey lunches and soups!

Deep Fried Wonton

2009-01-31T22:10:00.003-05:00

& Sweet and Sour dipping sauce!

I ordered the cooking DVD from LMT Cooking School and tried my first recipe tonight. Easy as 1-2-3 and delicious to boot! I could have filled the wontons a bit less but they were plump and tasty! Next time I do the sauce, I will make it a tab more sweet and a bit less sour. It was still very good and so much better than the sauce filled with the awful red dye we get at the restaurant. I even made a double recipe of the wontons but didn't deep fried them: I'll turn them into a soup tomorrow. With the snow storm we got again tonight, a warm soup will be ideal for a Sunday lunch!

Pizza du Jour!

2009-01-25T13:15:00.006-05:00

I experimented with 3 different pizzas today. With my new Kitchenaid mixer, doing the dough is a breeze!

The first one was a canadian style with whole wheat crust: homemade tomato sauce, pepperoni, onions, peppers, mushrooms, bacon with mozzarella cheese. My next one is actually my favorite: rosemary crust, sauteed apples (I normally use pears, but none in the pantry right now...), bacon, caramellized onions and crumbled blue cheese on top. I don't even like blue cheese, but on this pizza, it's marvelous! And the last one was a tiny 7" light whole wheat crust with tomato sauce, spicy salami, fresh garlic, caramelized onions, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. I added arugula on top after cooking.

And of course, all are cooked on the BBQ, in balmy -5C temperature!

But there can be too much of a good thing: I'm just about to OD on pizza right now! Bonny, you keel like sharing my leftovers for lunch tomorrow??

My Very First Attempt at Making Bread from Scratch!

2008-12-21T14:54:00.003-05:00

And Today: First Day of Winter!

2008-12-21T14:44:00.002-05:00

Yesterday

2008-12-21T14:41:00.002-05:00

A Weekend of Homemade Pizzas

2008-11-16T21:04:00.007-05:00

Pizza Galore: one frozen dough ball made me 4 pizzas this weekend. I didn't have a lot of the conventional toppings so I improvised. My favorite was the white dough with herbs, just slightly undercook so it's possible to fold it sandwich-style, stuffed with bocconcini cheese, tomatoes, proscuitto and arugula. I actually made one like that for lunch Saturday and one for Sunday! The other one was also with bocconcini (no mozarella in the fridge!), smoked chorizo sausage, hot peppers, garlic, onions and mushrooms. And with tzatziki dipping sauce! Thanks Jamie for your recipe!

Hilarious!

2008-11-08T14:33:00.003-05:00

This could be me next February....

I Hate Yogurt!

2008-11-04T21:39:00.002-05:00

Plain, fat-free that is! I tried my best, you know to get more calcium, to eat healthier stuff; did a few garlic dressing, dip and even a fake-tsaziki sauce. All were bad tasting, just plain nasty. I even made this small portion with granola, fresh raspberries and real maple syrup. It was ok, but just ok. From now on, I’m sticking to fruit-flavored pre-mixed commercial kind.

Saturday Night Feast for One!

2008-11-01T18:12:00.003-04:00

Once again, I’m trying to empty my freezer. I’m not very successful at it because I posted about the same thing a year or so ago… I don’t know why I need to buy more than I can eat weekly; as if I was going to miss something. Anyhow, found 3 Flintstones beef ribs; thought it would be a waste of propane to use the rotisserie on the BBQ for just 3 ribs so I tried them in the slow cooker. I used a mix of 2 BBQ sauces: Diana’s Gourmet Rib & Chicken and Cattleboyz’ Original BBQ sauce. Delicious!!! The meat is very tender, just a bit more fatty than if it turned on the spit all afternoon. If there was a dog in this household, he would be in heaven tonight!!

Perfect.....

2008-11-01T15:05:00.004-04:00

fall afternoon for a nap on the deck! Perhaps one of the last days nice enough to lounge outside.

Today’s Groceries

2008-10-23T20:52:00.003-04:00

I haven’t lost any weight in the past 2 months but have maintained my 25-lbs loss for that period. I’m very happy about that because I’ve traveled in Europe during that time and believe me, I didn’t lose any opportunity to try all the local specialties! And since I came back, I don’t have the feeling I didn’t eat exactly what I wanted. So something must be sinking in my brain! But I have another 25 lbs to lose so it’s time to put some extra efforts. For the past 2 weeks, I’ve been participating in a Learn Eating and Activity Forever program from the local health unit dietitian; so far it’s been very informative and last week’s cooking demo showed us a few very easy ways to add tasty and healthy food to our daily meals. This week’s groceries are definitely a reflection of what she’s been talking about and I’m all excited about giving it a shot. I already made some fat-free hummus this week and it was a success at the lunch table! Tonight, I prepared a spread of yogurt, low-fat cream cheese and seasoning, I chopped broccoli, onion, carrots and cabbage and will have a cold veggie pita pizza for tomorrow’s lunch. Already looking forward! Isn't that crazy??

Lunch Soup - part 2

2008-10-13T12:50:00.005-04:00

Today's use of leftover turkey is a Turkey/rice soup with carrot, topped with garlic croutons and grated parmesan cheese.. A few months back, I purchased at the bulk food store a mixed rice called Aztec Blend (Colusari red rice, brown rice, split peas and amaranth grains), seemed healthy enough and I was waiting for the perfect occasion to try it. Of course, I put too much rice in the soup; it appears I have a problem calculating the proper quantities of rice and pasta per portion...oh well. But the winning ingredient in this soup was once again the Mexican Oregano leaves. I believe I bought it when I was in California last spring and each time I use it, it bring fabulous flavor to the dish. I went on the McCormick's site to find more details and found recipes galore!! I wouldn't have enough week-ends in a year to try all the appetizing dishes I saw there!! And check out their Flavor Pairing section, so much inspiration! I need a bigger spices & herbs cabinet!

Something to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving

2008-10-13T09:34:00.005-04:00

My cat! I'm thankful to my friend Ann who had the insight to see that this kitten and I would be a good match, despite my (very!) strong preference for dogs. She was only 4 months old when she joined our household and my 10 y.o. dog didn't really know what to do of her. She was so full of love for him, would follow him everywhere, sometimes clinging to his back legs! Now, I see in her many dog-like behaviors and they always bring a smile to my face. Nita is 7 years old now and I could not imagine how my life would be without her. Definitely empty. Thank you Ann, wherever you may be in your travels. I miss you.

Fleeting Beauty

2008-10-12T18:54:00.004-04:00

Beautiful sunset lasted barely 5 minutes. Popham Bay, looking west.

Lunch Soup

2008-10-12T14:47:00.004-04:00

With the turkey bones and smoked skin, I made a delicious soup stock this morning. I used half of it to do my lunch soup today and will use the rest for tomorrow's. I put in there some potatoes, butternut squash, lima beans, spinach and some acini di pepe pasta. And of course some turkey meat! I like food with a kick so I added a chipotle pepper to my bowl. When I was putting away the rest in portion sizes, I realized that I forgot to add some smoked sausages from yesterday; no problem, I sliced up some and added to the individual containers.
Already looking forward for my other meals using leftover turkey!

Thanksgiving Turkey

2008-10-11T19:25:00.006-04:00

This year, I decided to do a small turkey in the smoker to use my leftover of wood briquette before the winter. Wanting to maximize the space, I added some chorizo and bratwurst sausages and a white fish fillet. The smoker works with moist heat generated from the water basin above the charcoals but below the lower grill. It makes poultry with darker/pinkish meat and very moist. Even the breast is delicious, it just never dries out. The smoked white fish was a first for me; I had a craving for white fish and had dropped by my favorite Jewish deli in Toronto 2 weeks ago but they were closed due to Rosh Hashanah. Luckily, white fish was on sale at Sobey's this week and today was the day for my first experiment. It was quite a success!! Next time, I might put more wood chips earlier to give it a more smokey flavor but it was extremely moist, almost better than at the deli! Tomorrow, I will make some turkey soup, probably a couple kinds and I will use the smoked sausages in them.

Brighton's Popham Bay

2008-10-11T15:47:00.002-04:00

Peaceful, quiet and so enjoyable!

How ironic that just as I'm finishing this post, a seadoo and its driver decide to discturb the quietness.

Simply Striking

2008-10-09T22:38:00.003-04:00

Such an ideal sunrise, if only the days didn’t bring so much disenchantment.

Europe September 2008 - Ireland

2008-10-07T21:33:00.003-04:00

This year, I took the Dublin North Coast tour on my vacation day. Unfortunately, the weather was not the best: gray sky and rain! But I hope the beauty in the landscape is still showing through these pictures.

Europe September 2008 - Germany

2008-10-05T18:37:00.001-04:00

In September, I spend 11 days in Europe – mainly for business but my colleague and I were able to squeeze in a few days of vacation. Our last stop was in Heidelberg, Germany and here are some of my best pictures. It took me a while to post as all my pictures were much too big and not web friendly at all. I had to resize them all; I still have the Paris and Dublin ones to do, so stay tuned, more to come!

Booming Brighton!

2008-10-04T15:50:00.005-04:00

WOW! 2 new restaurants to open in Brighton this month! Choice Bonanza! Captain George's Fish & Chip and Pizza Factory. Never heard of either but apparently they both have more outlets in Ontario....

Captain George's is having a free taste test this Wednesday; I'll have to drop by to see if their fresh cut fries make the cut! As for the Pizza Factory, wouldn't it be nice if it was was real italian, thin crust, wood-oven baked? Probably just in my dreams.....

Another One Bites the Dust!

2008-10-02T17:50:00.002-04:00

Few months ago, I discovered a great restaurant in Colborne, the next village 15 minutes down the road. An authentic Thai restaurant! At first, I was skeptical but when I found out that the owner’s wife was Thai AND was the cook, I was hooked! Unfortunately, I've driven by twice in the past week, and even though the signs are still all there, the restaurant closed and there was nobody in the'r apartment upstair. Hummm, hopefully, they just went on a little holiday and forgot to leave a note on the door…… I certainly hope so but most great places don’t survive too long away from the city crowds. And I would bet that not many locals know about Thai food anyway?

The Sardines Lunches

2008-09-28T11:04:00.005-04:00

Pretty much every week, Bonny and I share sardines for lunch at work. So far, we’ve never been able to recruit new participants, wonder why…… Well now we have our UK colleague, Shane, joining us each time he visits our plant! So we try to make it a bit special when he’s here and this past week, I brought out of the freezer an Irish soda bread and Bonny made her famous Caesar salad. Let me tell you that Bonny is not frugal with the garlic in the dressing and Shane and I had to avoid others for rest of the afternoon!!! But so ever delicious!!

Time for Me to Move??

2008-09-27T18:09:00.007-04:00

I think I've been living in a retirement community for far too long: it's 6pm on a Saturday nite, I already had dinner (at the Curling Club at 4:45pm....) and I'm already back home in my pj's......sad sad sad. I even decided not to go to the dance at the arena tonight because it's probably going to be just teeny boppers anyway..... wow I need to get an life, and quickly!!!

Here's a few pictures from both ends of main street this morning for the Applefest ~ surprising how many people still came out in spite of the rain!! At the dinner tonight, there was more tourists at my table than locals! So I guess that would qualify as a success!!

Breakfast Food??

2008-09-27T09:58:00.004-04:00

I'm pathetic. I wake up in the morning with a single thought: What am I going to have to eat??

I read a few sections of the Toronto Star and before 8am I had decided to do my version of the Margherita pizza featured in the Living section. Here's pic as I'm putting it on the BBQ. There's no photo of it after because I couldn't get my paws on it fast enough and now there's only half left.....

End of the Swimming Season

2008-09-27T09:48:00.006-04:00

ahhh, when the ducks and geese are back, I know the swimming is over for me; the water is just too cold! This morning, I got a parade of geese swimming towards the shores of Presqu'Ile beach. It's such a grey morning with rain dizzling; it just too bad because it's the Applefest today on Main St. Brighton. People put so much efforts into putting up these events and for every one of these event this summer in Brighton, we've had rain. Nonetheless, I'm on my way there in a few minutes to show my support, check out the wares, the crafts and of course the treats! Unfortunately, there is my Midway rides this year, so that means also no corn dog stand...... I'll have to find another fair somewhere sometime soon to fill my constant craving!

Dublin & North Coast - September 2008

2008-09-23T21:33:00.001-04:00

Waterfowl at Presqu'Ile

2008-09-21T09:46:00.004-04:00

Can you name this bird?

Family Outing

2008-09-20T09:08:00.002-04:00

The Year when Everything Falls Apart

2008-09-18T22:09:00.004-04:00

42 – What a bad year. Started the year with the doc’s concerns about my high blood pressure (something that has been going on for years but now needed to be treated….), then a foot condition that finally required some orthotics. In between, on a good note, I started a new lifestyle program to lose weight, not easy but I’m down 25 pounds now with still 25 to go. Now, I’m scheduled tomorrow for a CT scan for severe lower back pain. I’ve done physio and massage therapy before going to Europe but the latter part of the trip was extremely difficult and the best word to describe me when I came back last week is: crippled. The pain med has been working very well however, I’ll just wait to see what the CT scan says before I resume activities. The year is not over yet, but my cup is full.

Hostile Take-Over

2008-08-11T21:09:00.002-04:00

They finally got the best of me! I had to bring in the big guns to get rid of the Undesirables. The Spiders. They’re everywhere outside and started to invade the inside now. You can’t sit on a chair outside without giving it a sweep over. And it only last a couple hours. When I get out of the house, I have to make sure my mouth is closed because I have to go through a barrage of webs. So very pleasant.
It’s been 7 years since I had the house perimeter treated against them; I thought it was ridiculous to have to pay to get rid of a few insects. Well, well, have I changed my mind!!! The outside of the house, garage and around the decks were sprayed this morning and tonight, the place looks like a morgue: dead bodies piled up everywhere!! So it looks like I won the war. For now.

Rainbow over Presqu'Ile Park

2008-07-29T21:51:00.001-04:00

Albuquerque’s Dog House

2008-07-19T15:39:00.003-04:00

When I walked by this joint in Albuquerque, NM, I was sure to hit the jack pot in my quest for the best corn dog ever. With a name like that, they must have perfected every which way to serve a dog, one would think….

Of course, with high expectations, one can only be disappointed…… their corn dog was a mini-version, bland and greasy, just not the Mexican-inspired jalapeno-real corn bits I would have like to bite into……oh well the search continues…In the meantime, i’m grateful for the grocery-store POGO corn dog. Their all beef version is actually quite tasty!

And if anyone is in Indiana, I’d love to have a review on Hinsdale Farms all beef corn dog.

7th Annual BBQ Party - June 21st 2008

2008-07-12T21:17:00.010-04:00

Fantastic weather + Terrific friends + Fabulous food = Great Party!! What else could one wish for??

Cuba April 2008

2008-05-19T21:55:00.003-04:00

Sorry it took so long to post my pictures: I didn't care well enough for my digital camera and some sand got into it. I had to take most of the pictures with my cell phone and I needed to get them into my computer.....

You Win Some, You Lose Some!

2008-04-12T21:37:00.004-04:00

I wish I would have written a post last week to celebrate reaching a total loss of 10 pounds. Then again, if I’d done that, I would have to hide the fact that this week, I gained 7….. There’s something funky happening: this week, I am 7 pound up from where I was just 1 week ago, which was 3 down from the week before! I started to see a dietician 2 weeks ago and she is tracking my weight weekly. Although I celebrated my birthday (over 2 days!!) and then traveled most of the week, therefore enjoying great restaurants & cocktail parties, I didn’t expect such gain. However, in the last 2 weeks, I lost 1 inch around my waist and hips. How do you explain that???? I think I’ll just disregard this week’s weight and I’ll wait for next week to get alarmed. I haven’t gone back to the last belt hole yet, so there’s hope for me! After eating out for many days, I was glad to be home and be juicing again for breakfast! These carrots, apple and a chunk of beet never tasted so good! And today, I made a very tasty soup for lunch: onions, carrots, navy beans, sweet potatoes, orzo pasta and Banger sausage in chicken broth and used Ancho chile pepper powder and some Mexican Oregano I got in California last month. Very tasty!! Oh and I also bought some Dalmatian Sage; does anyone knows what to do whith that? I never use sage other than in stuffing so suggestions would be welcomed!

Doors of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2008-04-09T13:09:00.002-04:00

SoPoBoMo

2008-04-05T23:17:00.003-04:00

Still on the water theme: lifeguard hut, Cherry Beach, Clarke Beach Park, Toronto.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

2008-04-04T20:36:00.006-04:00

Look at the wonderful (and delicious!!) gift I received at work from Joan and Patsy! It's made by Edible Arrangements and it's full of fruits skewers! So thoughtful and the girls know that I'm watching what I eat so they ask for just a few strawberries dipped in chocolate, and not milk chocolate but dark because they know that's what I prefer!! I'm very lucky! The picture doesn't show how big and full it was because by the time I took it, half of the fruits were already in my belly!! It was really stunning and I know I make many jealous when I walked throught the plant with my special delivery!! Thanks again girls and I hope we'll be lucky with our lottery ticket tonight!

I also received calls galore, cards, e-wishes and care packages full of happy wishes. Thank you all for thinking of me!

SoPoBoMo

2008-04-02T21:46:00.003-04:00

I might be going for a "water" theme....

SoPoBoMo is Starting Today!

2008-04-01T21:26:00.005-04:00

The Solo Photo Book Month project is starting today! The goal is to take 35 photos during 31 days and to “publish” it in a virtual book. It’s open to anyone and thanks to Jamie for the suggestion; I thought I’d give it a shot. I barely finished my online course from the FIT than I was signing up for this project 5 minutes later!! Couldn’t I just take it easy??? My photos are not that great but isn’t it the intention that count? My problem will be to try to stick to one subject; I tend to scatter my thoughts….This my first photo for the project.

Morning Beauty!

2008-03-30T19:38:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to share my early morning view with the moon still up there.

Earth Hour - March 29, 8 to 9pm

2008-03-30T19:28:00.005-04:00

I did my share. Did you do your? At precisely 8pm last night, I didn't only dim the lights, I shut off all the breakers! I continued doing work on the computer, but battery-powered and enjoyed the candlelit atmosphere. I didn't even turn the TV on after 9pm.

Did I make a difference? Sure! In my small world. But maybe not in the bigger scheme of things. It was not just about dimming the lights but rather to be more conscious of our wasteful ways. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T10:46:00.002-04:00

I Feel Lucky!

2008-03-19T20:34:00.003-04:00

Today, I’ve been dumped by my Irish beau, ended up being nothing more than the flavor of the month. That sucks. It’s not the lucky part but can’t dwell too much on the sucky parts of life. On my way from work, I saw a Roadtrek 190 on a used car lot! That’s the small RV I’ve talked about before ~ just what I need to hit the road! This must be a sign of better things to come, so I bought a lottery ticket for tonight’s draw! You never know!

Denver, CO

2008-03-15T11:44:00.001-04:00

Wow! Today must be a lucky day for me! First I got an exit aisle seat on the flight from Sacramento to Denver without asking. So much leg room! AND I got a US Air Force pilot beside me! Easy on the eyes to boot! Could not have asked for better!!! We chatted all the way about California, Illinois (his home base), Canada and motorcycles! He showed me videos taken with a lipstick camera mounted on his bike. Fascinating! He showed me how to do sudoku games; is that the right name? I've never done that before so I learned something today! And he was curious about all the items I dog eared the pages in the Sky Mall catalogue. Got to go, we're boarding now! Denver airport is great: again free Wifi access!!!

Sacramento, Sunny California!

2008-03-14T12:34:00.007-04:00

I'm in Sacramento right now with 2 hours to kill at the airport before my flight to Denver, then on to Toronto. There was no traffic this morning so I got here earlier than expected. It's a very small airport (and Sacramento is the state capitol?!!), very 60's looking, BUT there is free public WiFi access!!! At every other airports I've been too, you always have to buy a time package. So this is really impressive!

Magnificent Mango Salad!

2008-03-02T14:13:00.002-05:00

I got this recipe from the Chatelaine magazine a few years ago, but couldn’t find it again on their web site to share with you. I used the same dressing, fish sauce/lime juice/sugar/chili pepper flakes but I’ll have to find a new kind of fish sauce; the one I have in the fridge has 52% of your daily sodium requirement in 1 tablespoon!!!! Much too much!!!
Anyway, the end result was delicious: a huge mix of mangoes, shrimps, sweet onions, bean sprout on a bed of arugula greens, sprinkled with chopped cilantro and crushed still-warm roasted cashews. I often change the recipe, depending on what I have in the fridge! Avocado is also very good in that mix, so is fresh grapefruit chunks. I still have a mango left so I’ll do a repeat this week with chicken. So good, I wish I could share with you virtually! !

1st Victory!

2008-02-29T22:05:00.002-05:00

A visit to my doctor yesterday confirmed a 5 lbs loss for the pass 5 weeks! I’m very happy! But the challenge continues ~ I still have a lot of weight to lose and the goal for the next 8 weeks is to lower my blood pressure through better diet and exercise. I guess I will dust off the stationary bicycle tomorrow. And maybe I should start watching all the Richard Simmons VHS tapes I've collected years ago!!

On Target!

2008-02-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

To Keep or Not to Keep?

2008-02-24T21:18:00.001-05:00

I have so many CD’s and so little room. When I moved here 3 years ago, I had cd’s in 3 Banker’s boxes; I bought 7 portable binders and got rid of hundreds of plastic cases. And the rest, along with the binders, went back in storage in the garage… I’ve now decided to get rid of the ones that didn’t fit in the binders, after ripping then to my computer. Is it ok now to get rid of the original CD’s? What do you normally do with a CD collection that has gone out of hand?

Landscape Ever Changing!

2008-02-18T11:56:00.002-05:00

One day, it snows, one day it’s raining, now it’s more windy than in Chicago! The lake went from calm, quiet and flat, to frozen overnight yesterday and now the waves are ferociously crashing on the icebergs near the shore. Amazing show!

Vacation Planning!

2008-02-11T18:48:00.000-05:00

It looks like I HAVE to go to Cuba…again!!! My mom invited me to join her after my Dad divulged he would prefer to spend a week vacationing at my place and be our pets’ sitter while we’re away! Vacation time for everyone!! I really have it tough: accompany my Mom to a sun-soaked 5-star resort where there is nothing to do but be pampered at the spa, eat like kings and catch up on my reading in between swims in the turquoise blue ocean! Too bad we can’t get away right now, when we’re expecting another dumping of snow with frigid temperatures. Unfortunately, I have a few business trips planned but we’ll get away in early spring. Looking forward!

Merci Papa!

2008-02-10T20:41:00.001-05:00

Last week I had dinner at friends and their kitchen reno was almost finished, done by pros. New cupboards, trims, counter and sink: nothing extravagant, just nicer and new. A closet in the hallway was removed to increase the kitchen footprint and a breakfast counter with top cupboard was removed. When I heard the price tag was close to $10,000.00, not only was I flabbergasted but it made me reflect on my own renovations, specially my kitchen, now on the 8th year. I had a full wall removed, new window, new larger exterior door, new cupboard units, new counter, new breakfast counter and all done to my precise wishes. Best of all, all done by love, with passion & talent by my Dad. I’ve only had to call pros twice: an electrician to hook up the 220V washer/dryer and a plumber to look at a pump problem. I could not have done a tenth of what he’s done if I had to have everything done by pros, and it would not have been made with the same care and quality. I’m very luck. As a small tribute to my Dad’s amazing work, I share with you a few Before and After photos.

Small Victory!

2008-02-09T14:30:00.000-05:00

This morning, I was able to tighten my belt to the second hole without any effort! So 2 weeks of juicing & salad eating is showing up. And I keep going! Just back from the grocery store with more veggies; this week-end I will experiment with dry beans. I need to get away from the canned one because of the high sodium content so I will try a couple recipes with dry white navy and red beans. On the menu tonight is a beef stew: I will use the pressure cooker to tenderize the meat and reduce the bean cooking time and I will add tomatoes (I found a canned version with no sodium), cabbage, carrots, garlic and I will spice things up with a couple chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Yummy! Already looking forward!

I Broke Down!

2008-02-04T20:22:00.000-05:00

And had a mac & chesse Kraft Dinner tonight….but for the first time, I followed the recipe and did not add extra butter! Butter is my problem and that’s what I miss the most. I also ate only half the package instead of my regular three-quarter. So just small improvement from the past. The most difficult time is definitely the dinner time; breakfasts are easier than I thought and I look forward to my salad and or soup lunches. But to prepare a healthy dinner is a chore. I need to get that more organized. I’m feed up with doing dishes every night. Not so long ago, I could go from Monday to Friday without having to clean dishes, pots and pans. As Jamie made me realize, in terms of food preparation, my life has been all about convenience: I would do the easy stuff, one-pot quick dish. So one of my goals is to get to a comfortable middle: where I can prepare a healthy dinner with minimal efforts.

Survived!

2008-02-02T13:24:00.000-05:00

One week of eating salads for lunch!! And actually, it wasn't too difficult; the variety of salads I had made it interesting and I looked forward to my lunches! Now to make sure I don't get bored, I might switch to a Soup Week! This lunchtime, I made a Vietnamese-inspired beef soup: brocoflower and ginger chunks simmered in the beef broth and I put in the bowl rice noodles, onion, spinach, grated carrots, thinly sliced beef and hot sauce. Oh and I added a few white kindy beans to make it more filling. Delicious! Well not as good as my fav Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto but certainly a very good country substitute!

Still Going ~ in the morning too!

2008-01-30T20:49:00.000-05:00

And I’m still juicing in the morning! This morning’s healthty juice was extra delicious: one carrot, one apple, one kiwi and one beet. But I know myself; I’m gonna get bored with that so I’ll did thru my juicing books for new recipes. I’ll add spinach tomorrow morning to see what it tastes like.

Still Going!

2008-01-30T20:38:00.000-05:00

3 days on the big salad mode and still going strong! Bought more supplies tonight: more cauliflower (very tasty boiled in chicken broth) and more fish. Pollock is on sale right now, it's low fat and it’s perfect for dinner. Humm, what will it be for tomorrow?? Maybe I’ll do a replay of Sunday‘s sweet & sour beans and I’ll add chicken. Or maybe another beef salad but with Thai dressing? So much choice! And I haven’t done the spinach salad yet!

I’m Exhausted!

2008-01-28T21:21:00.000-05:00

All that veggie chopping and preparation is a lot of work! It seems that all I’ve been doing since yesterday is planning and preparing healthy food! On the menu tomorrow will be a chicken club salad: spring mix and spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, grated carrots, crispy prosciutto, grated asiago & Monterey Jack, onions, rosemary-flavored croutons and honey-French Vidalia onion dressing. Today’s lunch beef gourmet salad was very good and will be on the menu again. So far so good.

Forget About Counting Calories!

2008-01-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

As I am embarking in this “salad” adventure, I must share with you my culinary experience in Michigan last December. It was highly recommended (Thanks Dave for the tip!) I try a Michigan specialty: National Coney Island; I knew I wouldn’t have any personal time in Jackson so I made a stop at the National Coney Island diner at the Detroit airport. Actually, I stopped by twice, upon my arrival and I couldn’t resist stopping again when I left! I had their specialties: Coney hot dog and cheese fries. The dog was simply delicious! It comes with chili, mustard and diced onion and I added cheese. The wiener was cooked perfectly, juicy and the bun steamed – a real treat for a Montrealer like me! The wieners come from Dearborn and they were so tasty that I’ll bring back a box when I go back!

New Beginnings

2008-01-27T12:02:00.000-05:00

I decided that this week-end would be the turning point. I’ve been in a rut for long enough. Not too sure what is behind that, but could be loneliness, wearyness, unsatisfactory work life, never enough of things such as company, help, money, time, outings… Most probably a combination of many things. But nonetheless, my life sucks and it’s time I do something.
First problem is actually with me. I’m too fat and I don’t like it. Never did but always lacked the discipline to change it. I’ll give it another shot now and maybe other things, that aren’t too great in my life, will turn around if I take care of that problem first.
So I went grocery shopping yesterday and here’s my plan: I’ll make a salad everyday for lunch, and/or dinner. And I mean an interesting salad. I get bored easily with food; it’s got to be exciting and varied. Bonny, my lunch buddy at work, makes great salad and I enjoy them a lot! Is it because they’re prepared by somebody else or is it because she puts in her salads toppings that I never have on hand?? In the past my salad are always the same, because if I buy an ingredient or another, I have to make consecutive salads to use it all up before the best before date. So I get bored with the salad thing. I won’t worry about that too much, cause this time, I’ll make a lot lo salads! I also made a spreadsheet listing all kind of components that would make my salads interesting. I can use that as a reference chart and compose new salads just by mixing stuff on my list.
So in my fridge right now are 3 lettuce choices: romaine, spinach and spring mix, all pre-washed and ready to use. Very important cause I don’t want this to become too much work. Their large containers were on sale and that should last me for the entire week. Then I have some choices in terms of meats/proteins to give it the filling effect. First some rotisserie chicken leftover (most probably for a chicken ceasar salad for Tuesday) and some roast beef that will be for my Outback-inspired skeakhouse blue cheese chopped salad for tomorrow’s lunch. Today for lunch I’ll have sweet & sour greens and beans, and will have some peas and beans left-over for another day. I also have a few veggies and fruits to make the week interesting and a variety of chesses: Asiago, old cheddar, swiss, grated parmesan and grated romano. Two different flavors of croutons and a good selection of dressings. I’m good to go and have no excuses not to have a successful week! Oh and I started the day by juicing a carrot and an apple and made some buckwheat waffles that I ate without butter and maple syrup. That’s a small victory for me. I plan to have a juice every morning and that should help me get my 5-10 servings of fruits/vegetables daily as recommended by the Canadian Food Guide!
I hope you'll share your own salad ideas.

How Do They Get Away With This?

2008-01-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

I bought this can of Green Pigeon Gungo Peas based on the packaging only; I’ve never heard of Gungo peas, but the picture looks like pods from the sugar peas I grow in the summer so I thought, humm must be good!
What a disappointment upon opening the can! The bright green peas from the picture turned yellow-brownish and are not as appetizing…..They fooled me. I should have known better; when does the Big Mac you order look like the one pictured on the menu??
Anyway, I mixed the yukky-looking peas with canned white kidney beans & thinly sliced onion and with the sweet & sour salad dressing recipe I got from my brother; it’s the dressing they serve with the salads at the Knights of Columbus dinners in Ste-Madeleine. It’ll marinate for a couple hours and then I’ll just have them on greens for lunch.

In-House Protest

2008-01-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

I guess I've been on the computer too much, for too long: I got this, with "the look", as soon as I left my spot for a few minutes!

All Wired Up

2008-01-21T22:20:00.000-05:00

But nothing is working! Last year, I disconnected the satellite TV and decided solely on my antenna TV, hoping for a simpler life. I didn’t realize that without the sat receiver, all the other components would not be working. So after almost 9 months without DVD and VCR, I decided to hook up again the VCR. After all, how hard could it be? I had detailed diagrams from the TV instruction guide and felt confident I could do a good job. And I did, for a short time. Last week, I realized that while the VCR is now working well and I can tape TV shows, the stereo is no longer working: no radio, no CD player! So I’m back to square one, with the TV, VCR, DVD and the stereo system’s instruction booklets showing hieroglyphs meaning absolutely nothing to my creative brain! And all I wanted was to simplify my life!

Another Delectable Treat!

2008-01-01T12:19:00.001-05:00

Scotch Eggs! Freshly made with pork/beef sausage meat, seasonings and coated in breadcrumbs. Yummy yummy! I couldn’t resist and had one while they where still warm! Thanks to Sue, who shared her Aunt Shirley's sister Marilyn's recipe! I couldn’t remember what I’m supposed to serve them with; I had mine with honey mustard. Delicious!

Plans are Made to be Changed!

2008-01-01T11:31:00.000-05:00

There will not be a scrumptious turkey dinner tonight. Because my oven is not large enough, I always cook the bird on the BBQ. Unfortunately, today the weather is not cooperative. We had such a beautiful sunny afternoon yesterday that I was hoping for the same. But the snow has been falling steadily with the wind from the north; the coldest kind, coming straight on the BBQ on the deck. I shoveled the snow off the deck early this morning but as you can see on the pic, it took no time to accumulate again. I’ll have to raid the freezer to see what other feast I can do for tonight! In the meantime, this weather is perfect to enjoy a good book!

Happy New Year 2008!

2008-01-01T10:47:00.000-05:00

Ah the joys of a day of leisure!

I was too tired (from what I not too sure!?) last night to make sausage rolls to nibble on while waiting for the new year to arrive. So I did them this morning!

Banger pork sausage wrapped in wonderful flaky pasty, with chunky pineapple sauce for dipping.

I shamelessly made them for breakfast!