JANUARY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR GRANPA

I couldn't get out to the party so the family brought the party to me.
A Sunday brunch for my birthday on the 7th and another one for Barb's on the 21st. Hot and cold items was the deals of the days- scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage for one, chicken and ham for the other and macaroni and cheese for both. Bagels and fresh cream cheese, muffins and danishes veggie platter, fruit platter, coffee, juice, milk, tea. Toast if anyone wanted it. Of course the birthday cakes by noon and the day was done.
For Barb's birthday day the 22nd, she ordered the sirloin steak and carved steak from Montana's and picked it up. Hard for me to get out to a restaurant these days. With the baked beans, baked potato or fries, the crispy fried onions and Barb had the Caesar Salad to start, it was a good meal. The cook did not have to cook so made it even better.

#birthday#januarybirthdays#sundaybrunch#bagelsandcreamcheese#MontanasRichmondHill#steak#onions#bakedpotato#frenchfries#muffins#bacon#birthdaycake#sausage#macroniandcheese

NEW YEAR'S DINNER FOR TWO

No big New Year celebrations. Barb and I had Lobster tails with melted butter, anise with oil and vinegar and brussel sprouts roasted in olive oil and garlic. She went to a movie with one of the kids and family. Returning at 9 for coffee and Sobey's cupcakes. We did try to stay awake for midnight with little cat naps in between.A quiet celebration together.
#Sobey's#newyear#cupcakes#lobstertails#simplemealtogether#anelderlycouplecelebratingnewyear#family#anise#oilandvinegar

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER FOR TWO

Two types of shrimps dishes, clam sauce on fettuccine and seafood appetizer will be our fish dishes. Not the 7 dishes but four is not bad for two. Some flat beans and anise with olive oil, red vinegar and garlic will be the 2 side dishes. Nice hard crunchy Calabrese buns are good too. Barb bought some butter tarts for dessert.
Christmas Eve was always a traditional evening for my family. My Mother-mamma- always poured her heart into this meal to keep the Italian tradition alive. We used to make a big dinner too but the girls go to their inlaws Christmas Eve. My sister-in-law and children would eat with us but they live in another province so it is Barb and me on Christmas Eve now.

 A smaller dinner but a good one. Barb said I can wear clean PJ bottoms with my new Christmas sweatshirt.It says Merry Christmas you filthy animals!
She thought the grandchildren would like it! They love the movie Home Alone!
So tonight is the quiet celebration. Christmas Day will be noisy with the rest of the family.Lots of time for good eating.
#christmaseveitaliandinner#seafood#shrimp#seafoodappetizer#anise#flatbeans#calabresebuns#dinnerfortwo#mamma#mother#italiantraditionsdinner#butternut's

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