BRUSCHETTA USES UP SOME GARDEN TOMATOES

Still picking lots of tomatoes from the garden. Without a frost, they are still going strong. Since we are celebrating our son-in-law's birthday today, I will be  making a large dish of Bruschetta from some of these delicious ones.
Quite simple to make.

Dice the tomatoes.
Add some olive oil and diced garlic cloves- 2-3.
Add some oregano to taste.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix together well.
It can be eaten right away or put in the fridge to rest for an hour or two.
On melba toast, fresh Italian bread or a cracker of choice, bruschetta always makes an easy appetizer.

Now what to do with the rest of the tomatoes!
#tomatoes#bruschettamadewithfreshtomatoes#pickingfreshtomatoes#oliveoil#dicedgarliccloves

GRANPA'S HEALTHY BEANS!

My sweet grandson, Damiano loves granpa's healthy beans. This year my garden has been full of these pole beans so there have been lots of meals with this delight. Last week Barb and I babysat him and his big sister. They had some penne with meat sauce and were eating it. When Barb brought the dish of beans-a little olive oil, some garlic, salt, pepper to taste-, Damiano's eyes lit up! Granpa's healthy beans saved the day!

GRANPA USES STORE BOUGHT PASSATA

After reading an article in The Toronto Sun today where a Canadian of Italian descent glorified the making of pomodoro di passata or as he called it- tomato sauce, I thought about why I do not care to make it anymore. Up until the fall of 1997, I would help my mother make it. After she passed away, it was just too much to expect to continue the tradition. For those Italian-Canadians that make pasta with red sauce every day, it might be necessary. Since our meals include not only Italian dishes but Canadian and others, 500 bottles of pomodoro di passata are not necessary. I remember well the years my mother would complain about the bottles- the sauce was too runny; the tomatoes had too much acid; the tomato crop was not a good one; the tomatoes were too small- well you get the picture. There are many good brands that have the right texture and flavour without the work. One of the guys from the club said his stall on Weston Road sold over 10,000 bushels of tomatoes so many people are still cleaning, chopping, cooking and straining the tomatoes for their own homemade passata! For this Italian cook, I smile and achieve very good homemade sauce with the store bottles!
#storeboughtspassata#granpalovestocook#pomodorodipassata#passataforthesauce#usingagoodbrandforthesauce#theWoodbridgecrowd

SUNDAY A BUSY DAY FOR THE COOK!

A busy Sunday making a chicken broth for Barb who has a cold and can do with the soup. A hearty meat sauce/sugo for the week is simmering on the stove. I will share with my two busy working daughters. Of course more healthy beans from the garden are ready to be cooked. One of my little grandsons loves granpa's healthy beans as he calls them. So far the garden continues to produce. An eggplant or two has been added to one of my weekend veggie mixes. The smell of the soup and sauce has made our home smell good!

GARLIC-A MUST FOR ITALIAN COOKING

 I tried growing garlic in my summer garden this year. Actually turned out okay.

A friend from my Italian Social Club gave me a huge bunch of garlic bulbs. So along with "my crop" and his donation, Barb and I have lots of garlic to use for the next few months. Garlic has been around for 7000 years. It was always popular in Italian cooking. When the influx of Italians came to Canada after World War Two, there was a stigma to eating garlic. How times have changed as everyone uses it now. It is used not only for cooking but some claim medicinal purposes. I use it a lot in my cooking. Many Canadians love the garlic bread at home and restaurants.

We found a quiet, dry corner in the kitchen to hang our garlic bunches.

Our  kitchen looks a little old worldly but some cultures use garlic to fend off vampires so the bunches are a good defense. Must be working-no vampires seen lately!

WOODBRIDGE ITALIAN FESTIVAL 2013

The summer has lots of local events to attend. In August, Barb and I went to the Italian festival in Woodbridge. We had a sausage on a bun. Of course, I found the Gelato tent.

Nothing better than to cap off a meal with an ice cream and an espresso coffee. With both in hand, a seat was found to enjoy the show.

A popular local group and band played many Traditional folk songs from various regions in Italy. Fun to listen and sometimes sing along. It was a simple but enjoyable evening not far from home. The best part was the Gelato!

#italianfestivalinwoodbridge#italianfestival#gelatoitalianstyle#olditalianfolksongs#granpaloveshisgelato#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA'S TRIP TO NIAGARA AREA WITH FRUIT STANDS

Niagara has more than the Falls. With the wineries to visit on many country roads, along the way there are fruit and vegetable stands. This one is located on the Niagara Parkway.

Barb bought us a basket of peaches and apricots. They were good to have to eat in our hotel later that night.

Barb had a friendly chat with the seller who liked Barb's coral top and skirt with matching shoes. The next day when we drove by the stall, the lady was wearing her own coral top! 
#niagaramarkets#winneriesingNiagara#buyingpeachesinNiagara#apricotsandpeaches#freshfruitinniagara