A GREAT CANADIAN TRADITION-BARBECUE SEASON!

Barbecue season is back.

Simple meal of burgers, sausage with all the condiments like onion, pickle, tomato, ketchup, mustard and relish- Barb likes it, I don't. Put on a favourite hamburg or hot dog bun!

The Canadian Barbecue! A little bit of fruit with the watermelon or an apple as an easy and wonderful addition to the meal! As you can see, I like the charcoal barbecue and not the gas one. It takes longer to get going but it is for me! So bring on spring/summer barbecuing. Can't wait to do steaks, chicken and grilled vegetables! Of course with as many meals outside as Barb insists on eating outdoors as much as possible. 

#summerbarbecueseason#hamburgsonthebarbecue#hotdogsonthebarbecue#lotsofgarnishesforthehotdogandhamburgers#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA IS BACK-WAS BUSY COOKING NOT BLOGGING

I did not realize I had not posted for a long time. I have been busy cooking but not blogging.
Easter was a feast of lamb and lasagna. Marinating the lamb roast just gave it extra flavour.

Making a breakfast omelette with peameal bacon, onion, green peppers and tomato.

An open faced sandwich- toasted Italian bread, round steak with a cheese melt for a Saturday night quick meal.

Appetizers for a special meal! Actually Barb did this for the event!

My favourite quick salad of cucumbers and tomatoes with olive oil and red vinegar.
So the cook has been busy, just lazy about posting to this blog!

LOTS OF GOOD EATING FOR THE COOK

Easter weekend was a feast of eating. Easter Sunday had a great menu. For a starter, appetizers by Barb- Veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, drinks while one daughter brought rice balls and dip. I spent Friday making the lasagna, leaving it in the fridge to cook fresh on Sunday. I made two extras for my girls to take home and cook another day. This cook made a lamb roast as well as lamb chops; ham with pineapple; sausage; chicken thighs with roast potatoes as well as mashed; broccoli; peas; brussel sprouts and fresh buns from Grande Cheese. Dessert was Easter chocolate cake, cake pops for the kids brought by my other daughter, chocolates and vanilla ice cream. Beer and Sangria for those who love a little drink with dinner. Espresso or regular coffee.

Barb made some freezer meals with the leftovers so all the hard work cooking could be appreciated another day.
Since the cook does get tired, Barb and I went to our favourite little hole in the wall Fish and Chip place- Allencourt Plaza Restaurant Friday night. No cooking or cleanup. Great way to start the weekend. Granpa loves to cook but also to have a break.

ZEPPOLE FOR ST. JOSEPH'S DAY

Yesterday was St. Joseph's Day- Joseph the husband of Mary. It is an important day in the Catholic faith.  I taught Barb about the eating of the zeppole a couple of years ago. It is a tradition on March 19 to eat it. Different bakeries may make a different version of them. Cream, eggs and a variety of fillings from cream to ricotta cheese can be used. Morello cherries are put on top. The Sicilians say it as their dish but according to research Naples lay claims to it saying it is a Neapolitan pastry created in 1840 by Don Pasquale Pinatauro-his hometown!

There is a home grown version of it- the pan fried zeppole.

Make your own dough or pizza dough can be bought  in the supermarket. Divide into little balls, then make a donut like shape.

Pan fry in vegetable oil, flip it and place the cooked item on paper towels to absorb the oil and sprinkle with some ordinary sugar. Some people like to add raisins! Best to eat them hot.  The store bought zeppole are a wonderful pastry with a cup of espresso coffee in a simple outing at a bakery with a sitting area. We stopped at St. Philips Bakery in Maple for such an adventure on a Saturday night. Although necessary on St. Joseph's Day, zeppole can be found year round at many locations. Here in Southern Ontario where many people are of Italian heritage, the 2nd and 3rd generation Italians carry on the tradition by seeking out zeppole on St. Joseph's day.

CANASCIONE FOR EASTER

One post I wrote that gets reads every week is my post on Canascione. Go to my post of April 8, 2012 for full details and the recipe. It really is an authentic Ciociaria dish.

 I love this picture. I can taste the food.

                                                        Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

WEEKEND OF GOOD EATING ENDS WITH HOMEMADE SOUP

We started the weekend Friday night with a pizza , veggies and dip and fresh fruit at one family home. The pizza was from Grande Cheese where the ladies there make a wonderful Ciociaria style pizza. Saturday was a club sandwich from Tim Horton's. But Sunday the cook was back. Fresh homemade vegetable soup simmered on the stove in the afternoon. I used up some left over meat sauce to make a small penne casserole with mozzarella baking it in the oven. With Easter on the horizon, I have to start planning the menu.

GRANPA LOVES GOOD WINTER EATING CANADIAN STYLE

Superbowl Sunday was an effort by Barb to make me some slow cooker ribs made with honey and maple syrup. Okay but a little too sweet for me. The crispy chicken wings made in the oven were good. I have been busy making some winter soups- a cabbage one low calorie with lots of vegetables added last for a few days. Barb can take some to work. Today will be a roast beef with roasted potatoes and carrots. Barb tells me it is a basic Canadian Sunday meal. It was something she ate most weeks in her childhood. I used to have Sunday lunch. My mother would make her homemade spaghetti with sauce, oven roasted chicken legs and potatoes cooked with some rosemary, oven top peas made with some onions and always a salad as a side dish. If I make a decent meat sauce that can last for days, a quick side dish for Barb is always some penne with the sauce. Barb realized cooking for two can get boring no matter how good I am. So Friday night was a meal at Swiss Chalet. It is a common Canadian restaurant that serves good chicken meals as well as other entrees. Their sauce is great for dipping French Fries and the tasty buns that come with the meals. Barb likes their steamed vegetables as well as the Fries. We had the grandchildren for a sleepover so decided to use some gift cards to go to Harvey's another very Canadian place- a good burger joint. So the cook needs a break as well as Barb needs a rest from cleaning the kitchen after the cook. I love to cook but I do make a big mess of the stove and counters!

Then maybe I will buy some escarola to make some wedding soup to go with the roast beef!!
#canadiancooking#escarolaforsoup#roastbeef#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro