GRANPA IS BACK AFTER A SICK BREAK

After two weeks of being sick, my appetite is back. So is my desire to cook! Barb had picked up the slack of shopping and cooking. The festive season is around the corner so I will be making some of the Italian seasonal dishes again. The colder temperatures bring soups and sauces so the house will have good aroma in it. A daughter's birthday coming so maybe some gnocchi for her as it is her favourite food! Well I do enjoy it too! So much to do, so much to cook!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES WITH GOODIES ARE FUN

A well planned party shows in the outcome. My littlest grandchild celebrated her first birthday. The sweet table was beautiful with goodies and the cake. This cook just enjoyed the event prepared by my daughter.

The cake by the ARTSY BAKER company was a hit with its chocolate and vanilla layers. Something for everyone's taste. My older daughter made her marshmallow treats that can be seen to the right of the picture. Simple to make and a favourite of the little kids. Picking up pizza from Grande Cheese and 7 platters of food from Longos was all the preparing I had to do. This granpa loves to cook but also loves a day off!!

BACCALA SOUP IS GREAT FOR A COLD AND FEVER

The best decision I made was to make baccala soup which has lots of tomato broth in it to feed the fever and what ailed me. Barb had to cook but she never minds doing it. After a little nap yesterday I found a bacon and tomato sandwich plated on my Sudoko puzzle. I didn't feel like eating the garden salad with chicken chunks but Barb made lots as she knows I will probably snack on it later. Meanwhile I will finish my soup. With the fresh bread Barb made in the bread maker, it will be tasty.

A QUICK TUESDAY DINNER FOR THE COOK

Every cook needs a break. So for Tuesday dinner, Barb reminded me we had some Feta cheese in the fridge. A Greek salad made with what. So off to Sobeys and bought a barbecue chicken with chunky seasoned potatoes and a baguette, dinner was simple and good. With the leftover chicken, I can even make Barb a chicken salad sandwich for her lunch. I have to keep my working woman or as I call her- my golden goose- well fed. Now what to make for a Wednesday dinner. The dilemma of being the cook!!

GNOCCHI FOR A BUSY WORK WEEEK

With good sales in potatoes, I decided to make some pans of gnocchi for Barb and me as well as the working girls, husbands and grandkids. Feeling a little under the weather, my sous cook Barb finished the rolling and imprinting before freezing them. Later the frozen gnocchi will be put in bags. So three large bags. All the gnocchi only cost about $1.00 worth of potatoes. The meaty- ragu sauce however cost about $15.00. Seems like a lot of money but for each family a substantial meal or side dish worth $5.00. The cute story from the family. I made a batch awhile ago for Natasha and family. She told her kids the gnocchi was for her husband Domi. Her little guy Damiano said- hey don't give it all to Daddy!! Some reverse psychology, tell kids the food is not for them and they want to eat it. Maybe Barb should add it to her Nana Says series on Wednesdays. I better be careful, I don't like her to tell me how to cook so I better not tell her what to write.!!

My little pile of potatoes and flour.

 

Gnocchi is always good as a side dish with meat and vegetables.

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS MAKE FOR A NICE CLUB SANDWICH

Too many leftovers as usual after a Thanksgiving dinner. Barb boiled some turkey bones so I had a nice soup with small noodles for dinner last night along with some peas, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. Of course, I made a traditional club sandwich with bacon and 3 slices of bread with some turkey slices. If I have to eat leftovers, it is good to fancy it up. Besides a club house sandwich is one of my favourite items to order for a simple lunch when eating out at a restaurant. I'll have one more meal of leftover turkey then I want a nice meat sauce with pasta again. This Italian cook loves his pasta.

THANKSGIVING NEEDS A LITTLE ITALIAN FLAIR

Thanksgiving is Barb's time to shine in the kitchen. I help with the vegetables- wash and peel the potatoes, make the rapini, wash and cook the brussel sprouts and once the turkey is done- I carve it. The rest is up to Barb. She likes all those Canadian vegetables like peas, squash, sweet potato and the cranberry sauce., of course her bread stuffing!

I also like to add some fried mushrooms to the meal. Cooked with some garlic in olive oil, they are tasty the way my mother used to make them. I know, I said it was Barb's meal but someone has to be in the kitchen supervising her!