GRANPA VISITS THE NEWMARKET FARMERS' MARKET

Newmarket is north of Toronto. Just go up Yonge Street or the faster route that I took up the Don Valley/ 404. The market is easily accessed from Mulock Drive, turn north on Bayview. The market is at Timothy and Doug Duncan streets in the Newmarket Riverwalk Commons.Near the historic part of town so shopping afterwards is doable. Barb and I had a fun visit to this market close to home.
Newmarket Farmers' Market

Pretty flower beds and a fountain.

Music provided a background for an early exercise group that was working out.

Barb bought some Kettle Corn from the Captain Kettle Corn booth. 

On the hunt for food!

So much to consider.

We bought some beef meat pies from Bailey who was helping her father at the booth.

Barb always likes to try to find something different than just food. So she headed over to the wine booth.

Nick from Tawse Winery helped Barb with her purchases of Spark Riesling and Pinot Gris Redfoot bottles of wine. Located in Vineland, the winery has been a family-owned operation. She will save the bottles for a special occasion. 

Tawse Winery

Barb bought some butter tarts from this seller. She always likes to sample the variety of tarts available in the province. Although there are significant butter tart trails in Wellington and Durham counties, Barb has created her own trail.

Oh Ontario peaches. I bought some peaches and golden plums from the Greg's fruit and vegetable booth. They come from Beamsville Ontario to sell their wonderful fresh produce.

I always love the service and enthusiasm of the people in the markets I attend. It does make the outing very enjoyable each time I buy some produce.

Barb bought a cauliflower and large Spanish Onion from the Willowtree farm booth. Barb and I have been to the Willowtree Farm several times over the years on our day jaunts to Port Perry. It is located just west of the town and has a wonderful store as well as activities on their property.

Willowtreefarm

We actually needed broccoli but another cauliflower is okay.

So many wonderful booths with a variety of food.

A good haul for the day. Fun market in a beautiful setting. Love the flowers and places to sit. 

We had the beef meat pies for dinner. I made some brown gravy. Cooked most of the cauliflower but left some pieces for Barb to use on the veggie and dip tray. She prefers it raw, I prefer it cooked. There were some cobs of corn to use so our dinner was quite tasty. The pastry in the pie was enough carbs for me. Barb, however, needed to sample the butter tarts for her ongoing survey of the best butter tart. 

GRANPA VISITS THE LINDSAY FARMERS' MARKET 2016

A long August weekend so a good time to go on one of those 1/2 day trips. Barb and I headed to Lindsay Ontario. About a two hour more or less drive from home, less for me but more for Barb. Now considered part of the City of Kawartha Lakes region. It is a sweet town north-east of Toronto in the Trent-Severn Waterway system.

Like the sign says it has been around since 1859. Like other markets we have visited, likes to say one of the oldest and longest running markets in Ontario. The website said there are 35 vendors. It dis not seem like that many but who was counting.

Having a good look around the market. It is on Victoria Street which is in the historic part of Lindsay. Runs between Kent and Peel. With the little avenue in the middle, made for an easy stroll. Barb was buying some new potatoes from the Kent Farms booth around since 1940.Kent Farms

Barb bought some perogies and cabbage rolls for dinner later. Not sure I would like them. But she said let's have something different. You know me, I don't like to try new foods. Taste of Russia

Barb needed some Maple Syrup so bought a tin of the medium dark from this booth. Lots of cucumbers too for pickling or just fresh eating.

And corn!

Love the fresh local produce.

My Barb, not the Baker Barb bought butter tarts and cheese buns from this booth. Barb likes to sample butter tarts wherever we go. To try to find the ultimate butter tart- a very Canadian treat! Barb's Home Baking

A booth selling wood working products.

Don't you love those big wood bugs!

Steve Cameron gave Barb a business card. The wood items really were beautifully made.
South Mountain Reproductions  A visit later to his website was a delight!

I bought some oyster mushrooms from this booth.

Gardening tips anyone? I have a tip. Put wire around your eggplants. I had some lovely ones growing, ready to eat and the squirrels got them!

So a walk around also gave Barb an opportunity to find some other photo ops! I was hungry so we headed to the strip plaza part of town finding a Smitty's restaurant for a mid-morning breakfast.

Our stash from the day!
We had the perogies and cabbage rolls for dinner. Barb loved them but I prefer my spaghetti and sauce!
#lindsaymarket#mushrooms#freshfruitandvegetables#southmountainreproductions#atasteofrussia#barb'shomebaking#countrymarkets#ontario#buttertarts

GRANPA HAS FINE DINING AT A FRIEND'S DINNER PARTY

Sometimes it is fun to go out to eat. But fine dining at a friend's house like Barb and I did last Saturday night was enjoyable. Rose and Paul were the hostess and host. Appetizers were fresh Ontario cherries and tositos and hummus dip.
Rose made these delicious stuffed mushrooms that were cooked on the backyard gas barbecue.

She made two without any cream cheese for a friend who does not tolerate it. Very tasty.
For the main course, halibut heated again on the barbecue with a tasty sauce and tomato.

Rose served it with a cold vichycoise and beans. Along with salad it was a complete nutritional meal.

Presentation is everything.

So enough to fill the cook's belly. Dessert was some cake and pecan tarts. I always prefer the main course. So a pleasant time at the home near Kitchener-Waterloo was had by all!

GRANPA VISITS THE AURORA FARMERS MARKET AND ARTISAN FAIR 2016

Aurora is a sweet town north of our home. Go up Yonge Street from Toronto you will find it. To start some summer jaunts to markets, Barb and I thought we could start with one close to home. Last summer with a sore knee we did not go on any trips.

Wells street is closed off next to the town park. Use Mosley from Yonge Street to find the market.

Barb bought some fudge slabs- chocolate, maple and root beer from Sasha's Sweets.We are expecting some house guests so it will help with the dessert course!

Strawberries from Willowtree farms. We have actually been there on jaunts to Port Perry previously.

Nothing better than a basket of fresh cucumbers.

Fresh baked goods at the Nutmeg bake shop. Cheese bread and a couple of butter tarts for a weekend treat.

Delicious looking aren't they??

Peas from the Oak Ridges Finest- owner loves geography and is proud to grow on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Nothing like local farm fresh produce.

A nice variety of items including a row of handmade products by local artisans.

I let Barb look around while I took a little break.

Not a bad haul for a Saturday morning!

Cook's trip to the Aurora Market

#auroramarket#countrymarkets#freshfruitandvegetables#baking#nutmegbakeshop#buttertarts#oakridgesmoraine#granpa#freshbaking#fudge#cheesebread

SUMMER EATING OUTDOORS

Barb loves to eat outside. So I try to make as many meals that can be brought to our little table on the back porch area. The barbecue is going on those days that it is a certainty that rain is not in the forecast. I find it too hot most of the time or am bothered by the bugs! Using the barbecue does reduce the number of pots and pans needed for cooking. Barb does the cleanup so likes it!  Grilling as many vegetables as possible on the barbecue helps to make the meal in one spot. For example, soaking corn on the cob in the husk in some water then putting it on the barbecue gives a better taste of the corn. Dieticians would like this method as the nutrients are intact! Husk after cooking! I do not like gas barbecues as I still use charcoal. Barb bought me another small one last year. For some reason I go through barbecues a lot. Maybe they don't make them like they used to make them! Or I am just hard on them! Barb likes the relaxation of eating outside after being indoors all day so maybe I'll just be a good sport. As we all know the season is short!

GRANPA ENJOYS JUNE EATING

Barb made a nice platter of deviled eggs for a grandchild's barbecue birthday party!

Potato salad for a week night meal.

Lots of barbecue meals! Showing hamburgs and hot dogs! But I have been enjoying cooking chicken and steaks. As you can see I do not like gas barbecues but prefer my little charcoal one!  Cooking outside is so refreshing after being inside for so many months.

Bean salad with many summer meals is always a family favourite and so easy to make. Using those feeds of beans from the garden with canned romano or medley beans with some onion, garlic and Italian dressing!
These dishes are not from my original home in Italy but from my Canadian home with my Canadian family! Lots of good eating for all.

GRANPA CELEBRATES 45 YEARS MARRIED

marriage
Barb and I celebrated 45 years of marriage May 15th. Since it was a special occasion, she took a week's staycation to rest and celebrate. We started her week off with a dinner out at our favourite Chinese restaurant- Choice of the Orient in Richmond Hill on Friday night. Sunday was a Toronto Harbour Cruise with a lunch/brunch buffet. The food was okay but not nothing stellar. I cook much better but it was a time to sit down, eat and enjoy the view with Barb snapping pictures- even of one of me sleeping. I can sleep anywhere.
Last night we used a gift card to Montana's. I had the 8 oz steak, baked potato-loaded and corn. Barb had the sampler- chicken breast with sauce, shrimps, coleslaw. Drinks two loads mugs of coffee!
Barb always likes projects so for our 45th she finished our Cookbook of food from the Ciociaria region was finished in March. Of course entitled- Granpa Loves To Cook! Initially she wanted it written by me but if anyone really knows me not in this lifetime so Barb succumbed and has it written by both of us. It is a finished draft one of many drafts over the years. 85 pages.Three copies were made to be reviewed over the next couple of months by us and the girls. Deadline for September for any revisions. We want to self publish it for ourselves, family and see where it goes. Meanwhile, years of effort has been finished. Barb showed Sophia the picture of her making homemade pasta with her grandpa.

Sophia did not remember the picture but it was at a time when I watched her one or two days weekly to help out my daughter. My post from that time gives good instructions on how to make the "egg noodle" as it is called.
It is hard to come up with new recipes as the main ones from my original area have been written on my blog.
So what is next!! More cook trips to Farmer's Markets of course. Barb hopes to use these trips and photo journalism for guess what! Volume two of "Granpa Loves To Cook". Barb actually as you must know has already started it even before Volume One was done. She always has ideas floating in her head, then writes them down and keeps on going.

The most read post on my blog is Canascione- one of the most traditional dishes from Ciociaria. For some reasons it get page views weekly, As has been seen from my blog I do make some traditional Canadian dishes as well. Barb used to make the potato salad in the summer, for example, but it is now in my domain. She takes the pictures and writes up the information and even does more of the research. I mention some Italian concept and she takes it from there. So I have no choice but to continue to go along for the ride of market visits, pictures, and little posts about the visits.
As you know I love to cook because I really just love to eat. If I can cook for others like my daughters and families then it is even more enjoyable.

Remembering my traditions and blending them with modern times keeps me busy and out of trouble. Besides I get to eat!
#45yearsmarried#lotsofgoodcookingduringourmarriage#teachingmygranddaughtertomakeeggnoodles#beingagoodsportaboutthisblog#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#ciociariacooking#recipesfromciociaria#canascione#unpublishedcookbookonregionaldishes