GRANPA COOKS CIOPPINO FOR A DINNER PARTY

Having friends over for dinner is always fun. The first course was California salad with Italian dressing.
The second course was coloured tortellini with white sauce.
The main dish was my idea.
Barb obtained a couple of recipes for Cioppino- A San Francisco Italian Fish Stew from the Internet.( for those that like to follow a recipe by the letter, check out the Food Network-Giada De Laurentiis or Elise Bauer- Food and Cooking Blog).
I reviewed the main ingredients but then did my own thing.
The ingredients are:
The sauce- simple-
olive oil- enough to coat the pot
onion chopped
garlic buds- 4 chopped or diced very finely
some red pepper flakes- to taste
can of diced tomatoes with the juice
1 or 2 cups of white wine
salt and pepper to taste
The good stuff- PEI  mussels, clams, peeled shrimps, scallops, cut pieces of white fish of your choice.
Fresh is best. Although some frozen fish items are good too if fresh is not always available. These were my choices but any seafood items can be used according to your own taste. You can improvise on how hot you make like it. So the red pepper flakes can be optional.

Make the quick sauce, let it simmer then when ready with fresh or frozen seafood ingredients, cook them. Serve soon after they are cooked.

Barb bought some fresh long loaves of Italian bread. Making a butter garlic spread to make crunchy garlic bread in the oven. Fresh crunchy buns are goods too. Why? To dip in the the juice of the soup!
It is a good dish for those that are not eating meat or cutting back on their meat consumption.
The meal was delicious and a hit with our friends.
#seafood#ciopinno#sanfranciscorecipes#foodnetwork#elisebauer#giadadelaourentiis#dinnerwithfriends#garlicbread#tortellini#salad#3courses#granpalovestocook

GRANPA HELPS WITH THANKSGIVING DINNER

Thanksgiving dinner is Barb's domain. Most of the ingredients are bought. My job now is to buy the fresh items like the Italian sausage from Longos, dinner rolls for the little one, brussel sprouts, broccoli and mushrooms. Barb makes an amazing stuffing that everyone loves. I help on Sunday Morning- we like to have the dinner Sunday so we have lots of leftovers on the real Thanksgiving to enjoy the day.
I help prepare the vegetables like peeling the potatoes for the mashed potato dish.
Yes, Barb can do it all but it is hard to keep this cooking granpa out of the kitchen.
My girls bring appetizers and pies so it is a real joint family affair. Of course pumpkin pie for Barb. I like apple pie.

#thanksgiving#dinner#October#italiansausage#Longos#broccoli#mashedpotatoes

NEW ROUTINE-GRANPA GETS A BREAK FRIDAY NIGHTS

Barb has taken pity on me. She suggested a couple of Fridays recently to let the cook have a break. Friday night is good. The restaurants are not as busy as Saturday. A nice end to the week.
Started with a trip to Swiss Chalet with the regular chicken- two leg dinner for me.
So one week, Abruzzo Pizza- a local Italian cuisine- take out veal parmigiana dinner with salad, spaghetti and tomato sauce and a panzarotte.
Another week, Chinese Food ordered and delivered from our favourite place- Choice of the Orient. We have eaten their food for over 25 years. We love their Cantonese Chow Mien as  well as the Peppered Seafood Combination.
To start the September Labour Day Weekend Barb suggested we go out. Decided on Lodestar- a local Texan style restaurant. We both ordered the steak with a loaded bake potato, steamed vegetable, potato wedges and onion rings.I had a coffee while Barb tried the iced tea margarita. Close to home and easy, fast service. I hate staying too long dining out.
So we must decide what to do next week. I'll keep you posted. I like eating at home better!
#granpa#SwissChalet#ChoiceOfTheOrient#Lodestar#AbruzzoPiazza#chinesefood#vealparmigiana#steak#bakedpotato#cantonesechowmein#givethecookabreak

SUNSET GRILL FOR A FRIDAY VACATION

Barb needed a vacation day. So today and Monday she is off. A nice start to a 4 day weekend was a nice breakfast at Sunset Grill at Dufferin and Major Mackenzie-Vaughan. I had the eggs over lightly with peameal bacon and white toast- no butter. Barb had her usual- The French Connection- scramble eggs, home fries, 4 sausages and French toast. It seems like a lot but she never finishes it but takes at least 1/2 home to eat off and on for the rest of the day. So when it is said it is an all day breakfast, well for Barb it really is!
#sunsetgrill#breakfast#coffee#eggs#peamealbacon

CANADIAN FRENCH TOAST FOR A HOLIDAY MONDAY

Barb's favourite is French toast.

Two eggs in milk. Let the bread soak up the mixture.

Then some butter in the pan. Let the slices cook.

When flipped a few times to take out the moisture. On to the plate.

With real Maple Syrup, Barb really loves it. Too bad there was no peameal bacon on the side. Perhaps, next time.

JULY 1ST BARBECUE FUN

A wonderful Canada Day at Sonya and Andrew's home. We all brought food. Barb bought those Maple Leaf Shaped Sobey's burgers.

Lots of salads- Kale, Tossed, Caesar, Potato, Bean. Burgers, hot dogs, sausage, chicken on skewers! Chips, veggies and dip! Desserts and drinks.

Canada day stuff to help with the celebrations.

The kids swam in the pool with parental and grandparent supervision. Of course, Granpa needed an after dinner nap.

#Canadaday#mapleleafhamburgers#salads#familyfun#150celebrations#barbecue

WHAT IS GRANPA COOKING FOR CANADA DAY 2017?

Well the traditional Canadian barbecue but this year with the Maple Leaf shaped burgers. Sausage. Lamb spaducci. Steaks. Barb and I will make a potato salad, bean salad, tossed salad and devilled eggs. We will make it at home to take to our daughter's place due to the little kids needing to be in their own homes. Yes the family and grandchildren will be the main guests. Of course flags, decorations and hats will be in tow. What are you doing for Canada Day?
#barbecue#mapleleafshapedburgers#sausage#lamsapducci#steaks#salads#deviledgeggs