GRANPA VISITS THE AURORA FARMERS MARKET AND ARTISAN FAIR 2016

Aurora is a sweet town north of our home. Go up Yonge Street from Toronto you will find it. To start some summer jaunts to markets, Barb and I thought we could start with one close to home. Last summer with a sore knee we did not go on any trips.

Wells street is closed off next to the town park. Use Mosley from Yonge Street to find the market.

Barb bought some fudge slabs- chocolate, maple and root beer from Sasha's Sweets.We are expecting some house guests so it will help with the dessert course!

Strawberries from Willowtree farms. We have actually been there on jaunts to Port Perry previously.

Nothing better than a basket of fresh cucumbers.

Fresh baked goods at the Nutmeg bake shop. Cheese bread and a couple of butter tarts for a weekend treat.

Delicious looking aren't they??

Peas from the Oak Ridges Finest- owner loves geography and is proud to grow on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Nothing like local farm fresh produce.

A nice variety of items including a row of handmade products by local artisans.

I let Barb look around while I took a little break.

Not a bad haul for a Saturday morning!

Cook's trip to the Aurora Market

#auroramarket#countrymarkets#freshfruitandvegetables#baking#nutmegbakeshop#buttertarts#oakridgesmoraine#granpa#freshbaking#fudge#cheesebread

GRANPA COOKS FOR A BIRTHDAY DINNER

As everyone knows that reads this blog, I love to cook. So given an opportunity like a birthday get together for my oldest daughter Natasha, I did most of the cooking. The family had a discussion about which of granpa's pasta dishes- lasagna, gnocchi or spaghetti- I was to prepare. The consensus was homemade spaghetti or as I have posted previously the egg noodle. It is easier to make and actually is my favourite pasta dish.

Lots of meat for the ragu sauce for the pasta. As it simmers, I remove as much of the oil and fat as possible. The thick meat sauce clings to the pasta better. It gives a hardy meat portion to a meal.  I made oven roasted chicken thighs and leg along with potato wedges. Again draining off excess fat! Salt, pepper and rosemary added the needed flavour. Peas made with onions simmered on the stove top added another dish to the meal. The pasta was cooked and prepared. I took along extra sauce in case someone wanted more on their portions Taken to Natasha's in travelling tin foil containers made the job easy.

A Greek salad prepared right before dinner rounded out the meal. The kitchen mess stayed home for Barb to clean up later. I do the cooking but my cook's assistant cleans the pots! Overall it was a good birthday meal enjoyed by all!
#granpalovestocook#chichenandpeas#chickenandpotatoes#salad#homemadeeggnoodle#lotsofgoodfoodforabirhdaydinner

FEASTS FIT FOR A FATHER

Father's Day weekend was full of good eating. Going to friends for dinner Saturday June 15 brought wonderful appetizers and a creative salad.

Lettuce with strawberries, blueberries and pomegrante! House dressing!

A tortellini pasta dish with meat and pea sauce.

Followed by a meat dish with lots of vegetables. And dessert. Thanks Mary and Ben!

Then to my daughter and son-in-law for a combined birthdays for the grandkids and Father's Day on Sunday June 16.

Appetizers, 4 salads-tossed, caesar, bean and pasta, devilled eggs-made by Barb started the meal.

Lots of barbecued meat.

Chicken, sliders, kabobs, sausage, lamb on a skewer, hot dogs!

Both meals served wonderful desserts.

Tuxedo cake, oreo cookie cake and one of my favourites-lemon meringue pie! Thanks to Tash and Domi!
#cakes#Tuxedocake#lemonmeringuepie#chickenonthebarbecue#sliders#tortellini#greatmealsattwoplaces#devilledeggs

A TYPICAL DINNER FOR A WORK NIGHT-TURKEY AND VEGGIES

Every day cooking can be routine. Like turkey on a Thursday night.

A turkey thigh roasted in the oven with peas, carrots and mashed potatoes topped with turkey gravy as side dishes makes for a good wholesome week day meal. We call it Turkey Thursday at our house!