GOOD TO COOK AGAIN

I must be on the mend. Seafood sauce- shrimps and clams with tomato passata- on some linguine was a good lunch for Barb and me. I can balance on my walker so I was okay. Now what can I make today?

GRANPA IS ON THE MEND

After knee surgery I can make some simple things but have to leave the cooking for meals up to Barb. We had take out Chinese Food on Friday as we did not get home from the hospital until 6 pm. Barb has made farafalle pasta with rapini. A slow cooker pot roast with potatoes, carrots, onions and beans was made for dinner last night. The kids came by yesterday with some buns and pizza from my favourite bakery. She made peameal bacon and a fried egg for breakfast.  Of course when Barb cooks I always need salt. It is our standing joke- not enough salt!! Then she does give me that look sometimes- you know the one wives make!!

A CANADIAN THANKSGIVING

The start of the long weekend. Time to shop. Already have a frozen turkey in the freezer with extra thighs to have more dark meat. Barb does the dinner while I prepare the vegetables. Most posts coming about the meal. This cook has to shop!!

CALABRESE BREAD/PANE IN RICHMOND HILL ROBERTO'S BAKERY

My daughter, husband and children recently moved to Aurora Ontario. It is convenient for me as I have found a new bakery for bread on the way to their place.

Actually I heard about the bakery one day at Grande Cheese- a wonderful store for cheeses and a variety of Italian products. One of Barb's favourite stores! On Sundays Roberto's bakery brings their bread there. There was a crowd waiting for it. It was the hard bread in the style from Calabria- a southern province of Italy. Someone said if you like it so much, you can go to the bakery, it is just on Bathurst north of King side road. Still Richmond Hill address but closer to Aurora.

Barb and I took the grandchildren home around 0730 from a sleepover last weekend and stopped for a  cappuccino on the way home while waiting for the bread to be finished. An early morning shot of the store while the new supply of goods was being freshly baked. Chatting with the baker/owner who said he gets up at 5 not 3 like some bakeries. He made our coffees then went to the back to finish the first round of baked goods. They have been in this spot for over 5 years. We told the baker/owner that we love the bread and have told others. New satisfied customers.
I asked the lady who came later how the crust becomes so hard. She said they bake it an extra hour.

I wanted the regular loaf and buns. There is the round version that is popular too. The bread fresh from the oven is good with fried eggs for breakfast. Tomatoes with some oil, garlic and parsley on a crunchy piece is very tasty too as a quick lunch item. Or just a fresh slice with anything!
Roberto's has other items like cakes, pastries, a hot table for lunch, deli and coffees. It is a little place but does the trick with its good food.

Now another reason to want to go to see the family in Aurora!

FISH AND CHIPS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT

So a quick Friday night trip to the Allencourt Restaurant in Richmond Hill for a quick meal of Fish and Chips. It is hard to find a good old fashioned Canadian restaurant in town anymore. Barb had her fish and chips with coleslaw and a coffee. I don't like coleslaw so had it with the Greek salad. I also had a coffee with my meal. The halibut fish was tender and the batter crispy. The french fries were big fries made in the traditional way. Like the kind that we make at home that can be fried in a deep fryer or on the stove. I get a craving for Fish and Chips once or twice a year. So craving filled, next Friday will need a different menu.

SATURDAY NIGHT TO THE DAIRY QUEEN

I decided to take Barb out again on Saturday night. It was a trip to the local Dairy Queen for an Ice Cream Cone. Well Barb had the Double Brownie Chocolate Fudge Sundae- at lease I think that's what it was! I just had a large cone with no chocolate dip! Barb informed me that it is the same Dairy Queen across from the Richmond Heights Plaza where she has been having ice cream since 1962. New employees of course but the same location. There are other items on the menu like warps, burgers, fries so the business goes year round. And still good ice cream. Nothing fancy! A warm Saturday night for a cone sure is living!

DINNER OUT TO START THE LONG WEEKEND

Barb complained that we had not gone out to eat for ages. So Friday night, we went to our favourite Chinese Food restaurant in Richmond Hill. The Choice of the Orient has been in town for the same length of time we have- 27 years. We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and just Friday nights out there The usual- 2 spring rolls, chicken wings, Cantonese Chow Mein, Peppered Seafood Combination and Lemon Chicken. Barb had a Blue Hawaiian Cocktail instead of the usual glass of white wine. Sometimes we order more but it was enough and even took home some leftovers for Saturday lunch. We are known there as the owners always greet us. They wondered where we had been but actually for our May anniversary we had ordered takeout from them. Nice start to the long weekend and this granpa did not have to cook.