GRANPA ANTICIPATES THE SUMMER GARDEN

Okay, my garden does not look like this yet. But I have been busy planting the tomatoes and other veggies. Fresh home grown garden veggies or quick trips to the farmer's markets are just around the corner. For the cook, it is a welcome relief to pick some items for the sauce or just as a side dish. For the diabetic, even better. As we know the green vegetables are free and healthy. So I am hoping my garden will be looking green soon.

AN ANNIVERSARY LUNCH AT THE TILTED KILT PUB AND BAR

Barb and I went to lunch for our anniversary. The Tilted Kilt Pub and Bar in East Beaver Creek area of Richmond Hill was a loud and busy place. Clam chowder soup and a big Club Sandwich- must have been for a Scottish warrior- was my fare. Barb had a side salad and a delicious Sheppard's Pie with some garlic bread. Not Scottish but there always has to be a little Italian everywhere with the garlic theme. Served by some young women or wee lassies in short kilts made for an enjoyable lunch. With my sore knee I was not in the mood for pictures. So Barb did not bring the camera. Perhaps it was a real missed photo opt!
#tiltedkiltpubandbar#eastbeavercreekrichmondhillontario#clamchowdersoup#bigclubsandwich#scottishwarrior#Shepperd's#garlictheme

MOTHER'S DAY- A TIME TO EAT

Attending my granddaughter's baptism was enjoyable. My contribution was 3 pans of lasagna while Barb made her devilled eggs. Two salads, a plate of sandwiches, cold cuts, pickles, cheese, olives, appetizers, buns, a drink of choice and a wonderful table with goodies. The cake with thick pink icing was well- the icing on the cake for the event. Mother's day and baptism day all in one was very good. Poignant, as many in the room were missing their mothers. Able to go home later and take off my tight pants replaced by jammies was enjoyable too! Overeating has its disadvantages!

See Barb's blog for the yummy food pictures.
http://reflectivethoughtsbybarbara.blogspot.com

ROASTED RED PEPPERS

So red peppers are good for us. Nice to know because Barb and I eat them often. Today I roasted some on the stove to have a bowl later with dinner. As we look forward to summer, red peppers will be an item in my garden. They are simple to cook. Get a little rack and put it on a burner. Roast your peppers until all sides are blackened. Let cool then clean the peppers by ripping out the seeds inside. Clean the black skin. Rinsing your hands often. After peeling pull the peppers into strips. Put in a bowl adding some olive oil, garlic pieces and salt and pepper to taste. An easy dish to add to any meal. I like to add some boiled potatoes sometimes. In the summer they can be roasted on the barbecue.
#redpeppers#roastedredpeppers#summerpeppers#roastyourpeppers#oilandgarlic

GRANPA LOVES A CHILD'S BIRTHDAY GET TOGETHER

Yesterday it was a fun time at one of grandson's birthday family get together. He turned 6! Burgers, sausages and hot dogs on the barbecue along with veggies &dip, potato salad, Greek salad, fruit platter and of course the birthday cake, it was a simple but tasty meal. A burger with all the trimmings- tomato, pickle, onion, ketchup  and mustard- sort of a preview to the warmer weather where more barbecues will prevail. The best thing for this cook well is I did not have to cook! Going out and enjoying a family time, eating well and not cooking is rather pleasurable. Granpa loves to cook but also likes a night off too!

 

 

Of course the cherry tomatoes with boccicni were a hit too!

ITALIANS LOVE LAMB-CANADIANS LOVE HAM AND TURKEY-EASTER EATING

The Easter meal will have a variety of dishes this year. My daughter wanted turkey as well as the other dishes made at Easter. So Barb will make her bread stuffing. I am marinating the traditional lamb roast that Italians like to eat. Rosemary is the main herb to put on it. Since we are having Barb's niece and family I am cooking a ham with pineapple slices. But my son-in-law Andrew loves the ham! My other son-in-law Domi eats everything! No pasta dish as with the variety of veggies would be too much. I bought a focaccia-tomato pizza-  from Grande Cheese to include on the appetizer table. So a little pasta like item!!  Before dinner of course the kids do a little Easter egg hunt at Granpa's house. Nana has told me that I can not eat the eggs that are easily found. The girls will bring desserts so just some sweets in the house. Barb still has a dessert wine to finish from our Niagara trip last summer to round out the desserts. Oh my sister-in-law Marilee is visiting so like old times with her at the Easter dinner. Hopefully Barb will take some photos to show the great dishes or just tasty-food does not have to be great! So Happy Easter everyone! Buona Pasqua!
#lamb#breadstuffing#turkey#veggies#focacciatomatopizza#GrandeCheese#appetizer#pasta#Niagaradessertwine#Easterdinner#BuonaPasqua

SUNDAY DINNER AFTER A DAY IN THE GARDEN

Working in the garden works up an appetite so I put on a nice chicken broth to make some straccitella zuppa-using the broth, adding an egg and parmiggiano  formaggio scrambled putting it in the broth- to go with dinner. A simple meal with salad and chicken will be enough for a Sunday night. With all the bending and cleaning, 3 pounds lighter it was a good workout. At least I can bend now. Of course my sous chef Barb did quite a bit of the work. Too early to start the vegetable garden but the prep work has began.

I can't wait for the fresh items from not only the garden but many of the trips to markets that Barb will drag me this summer.