GRANPA ADOLPH'S 2016 FAVOURITES

Each year brings lots of food enjoyment.The larger versions can be found on previous blog posts.

Dinner at VIVO in Richmond Hill. Restaurant of Andrea and Joey- family.

Gourmet meal at friends- Rose and Paul for a summer delight!

Oh those birthday celebrations that bring cake and more cake! Just one of many!

Oh those markets! Aurora!

Lindsay market was the most fun and farthest from home!

Newmarket was an easy drive.

Harvey's burgers and fries with family at Deerhurst Inn-Huntsville! A wonderful day trip to be with family!

Italian traditional food at Christmas- figs, prickly pears and pomegranates. Lots of Torrone too!
In March, we finished the cookbook in a good final draft to be reviewed and find a market! I still love to cook and will be finding new themes to share with you my readers. Oh Granpa loves to cook because Granpa loves to eat. What will 2017 bring! More good cooking of course!

GRANPA LOVES TO COOK BECAUSE CHRISTMAS IS A GREAT TIME TO EAT

                                 One of my favourite dishes- Christmas Seafood Appetizer.
Christmas has different traditions for different people. So normally I do all the shopping but Barb loves Christmas so she went out Thursday to buy fresh fruit and veggies for the next few days. The clementines this time of year are so delicious and healthy. They balance all the chocolate and cookies and other goodies that are around. Barb knows my traditions so she bought me a flat of figs-she doesn't eat figs, some prickly pears and a pomegranates which she does eat. Last week she bought some small panetones for me along with the nougat treat called Torrone. The Torrone now come in so many flavours like lemon, chocolate. She found one with cranberries which she loves. I let her eat that one. I don't love cranberries. Christmas Eve seafood dinner will be just the two of us so I have added lobster to the meal.

The girls have their in-law obligations which is fair. We are so lucky to have them and the grandchildren Christmas day. So I will cook the Italian Christmas Eve dinner and Barb does the traditional Canadian Christmas dinner. But as everyone knows I will have to supervise.

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

I bought the Butterball turkey for our Christmas dinner. Not too big. Lobster tails were on sale last week too so bought some for Christmas Eve. We do not do a big dinner anymore- just the two of us so we make the seafood dishes good. I will be going to a grandson's special hockey game today so I am bringing some food bank items for the event. Barb does the majority of the preparations, I just do some of the food shopping.

COOLER WEATHER MEANS COMFORT FOOD

Like any cook trying to think of something to make every day brings it challenges. So last Friday when I asked Barb what should we have for dinner, she said make it simple- soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. So I cheated and made Campbell's tomato soup and a grilled cheese- slices of Canadian Cheddar Cheese on multigrain bread fried in a frying pan. We have a little grilled cheese maker but too much effort to pull it from the cupboard.
Saturday night another opportunity to slack off. Calling from the club I asked Barb what do you want for dinner. She did not cook as she had been busy with Christmas stuff, housework and all the activities she tries to jam in a Saturday. Meat, chicken but not a sandwich! I sometimes like to get her a pannini from Tim's! So that was out! And she wanted a salad.
Why not Swiss Chalet? Coming home as it was early, I ordered from home- two quarter chicken dinners- one with fries and one with the baked potato.  I decided to make our own salad as I am not fussy about their ingredients. I do not like shredded carrots in my salad. Barb usually rolls her eyes when I say that! I used their discount coupon at Barb's request. I hate using coupons.
I only ate half of my baked potato as I am trying to watch my weight. Barb ate half her fries but somehow I managed to eat her other half.
Sunday breakfast- peameal bacon, eggs and toast with a second cup of coffee.
So some good old comfort foods for the weekend. But I am back to making a hardy vegetable soup for the week. Barb will take a large container to work today and freeze some for other times.
Maybe I should watch a cooking show to get inspired. Or make my old standbys. Some homemade gnocchi anyone with ragu sauce?

NOVEMBER SOUPS AND STEWS

I  love making soups and stews now that the cooler weather is here. Barb likes the soups. She freezes some containers to take for her lunches. Fast and easy to put in her lunch bag. Frozen then thaws by lunch time. Eggs were on sale so maybe it's time for some homemade egg noodles for pasta. The cooler weather makes it easier to make. The dough holds better. All these food items are available in previous posts. The same old recipes make for good eating. Barb may pull out the bread maker her mother gave her years ago for Christmas. The smell of fresh bread baking would be another wonderful addition to the cooler weather.

Oh for some fresh pasta anyone!

Some soup on the stove.

Barb's favourite- vegetable soup! Maybe I will watch some of those Italian shows for some ideas of new dishes to make my family.

GRANPA ENJOYS DINNER OUT AT VIVO

One of several franchise locations, Barb and I went to the newly opened restaurant at Bathurst and Carville in Richmond Hill. VIVO-pizza+pasta!
The daughter and son-in-law of one of my first cousins are the owners.
Barb and I had the Insalata Caprese as an Antipasti.

Fior di latte cheese, basil and sun dried tomato pesto with extra virgin olive oil.
Barb ordered the Calamari and Gamberetti Fritti- crispy fried calamari and shrimps served with lemon-garlic aioli and balsamic vinegar.

I had the Scaloppine alla Parmigiana- Breaded veal scaloppini with tomato sauce, Fior di latte cheese served with spaghetti Pomodoro. Barb did not get a picture as I ate too fast!
                                               Barb had a cappuccino after the meal.

VIVOand I had my espresso- no dolci!

Andrea explained the concept. Orders are taken at the front either for take-out or you can order, find a seat and the food will be taken when ready to your table.

Casual location- my style and good tasty food. A good dinner for the cook. Sometimes the cook needs to taste something new. I sure will recommend VIVO to family and friends.
#VIVO
#vivo#pizza#pasta#richmondhill#familyfun#espressocoffee#fish#closetohome

FALL COOKING

Trying to embrace my zest for cooking. Sauces and soups are starting to happen. However, I am a little bored lately. Making the same old, same old is routine. Barb is an easy person and enjoys all my meals. I have been cheating lately. I even bought a veal sandwich from Longos for her dinner last night! Since I am trying to diet making myself a bowl of rapini, I did not want any carbs. Barb took pity and gave me 1/4 of her big sandwich! Maybe I should read my own posts and try a recipe or two!