AN EARLY CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER BLENDING TWO CULTURES

Combining traditions can be fun. Barb and I will spend our Christmas Eve dinner alone this year. So one daughter Sonya  and her husband hosted a family dinner last Sunday December 21 with everyone contributing some food items and fun. Two sauces- Sonya made the meat sauce with sausage while I made the seafood sauce. I also made the fresh homemade egg noodle pasta everyone loves. We do have to be careful with the seafood as one grandchild has a seafood and fish allergy. So the reason to combine the traditions. Chicken balls and sauce were brought by Natasha and Domi for the festive meal.

Lots of seafood too!

A festive table!

A variety of veggies such as peas, broccoli, as well as olives and other appetizers with dips. Of course, dessert for one and all. A cheesecake and apple cake!

Cookie decorating by the children.

A fun creative way to serve fruit to children!

So a dish with pasta with seafood sauce and meat sauce symbolizes the blend of both worlds, doesn't it. Have to love the Christmas season! Still more eating to go.

WHEN GRANPA CAN'T SLEEP

Thank heavens for all night Grocery Stores. While Barb was sleeping, a quick trip to Sobeys to buy our turkey for Christmas dinner that was on sale. We will be having fewer people at our Christmas table, but dinners the week of Christmas elsewhere.  So I did not need a big one- just 12 pounds. There will be lots of leftovers anyway as there are lots of other dishes. Yes, this morning I started a nice broth- chicken broth on the stove for a soup dish later today. With all the holiday eating, soup is a good filler and less calories. Besides I like soup so I eat it often. So with all the nocturnal activities, back to bed for an early morning nap while the soup simmers and Barb keeps an eye on it. I will need a trip to a good fish store to buy a few items for the Christmas Eve dinner- it will be just Barb and me this year. But it does not mean we can not have some wonderful seafood dishes like lobster and scallops! I need to review previous posts from other years on my dishes. There may be current readers that want some recipes for those easy dishes. My Christmas seafood appetizer gets readers year round!! Perhaps, I will make that soon as it is a simple dish and tasty!! Happy eating!

DECEMBER NEEDS SOUPS

So watching one's weight during the month of December is tough. But soups are a great way to get nutrition and fill up without all the calories.

So with ground beef made with one egg, some parsley and bread crumbs-salt and pepper to taste- rolled into little balls and fried- drain off the grease!

Escarole chopped, cleaned and lightly boiled- save a little of the water!

Good chicken stock made with a chicken leg, carrot, onion, celery stalk, parsley! Boil into the broth. When finished, add the ingredients together and you have soup for a meal.
Some Italians call it Wedding soup. My mother used to call it Sunday soup because it was the soup she made on Sunday. You can eat it any day of the week! I know I do!

CHRISTMAS COOKING NEEDS PLANNING

As the busy Christmas cooking season is around the corner, it takes planning to know when to buy the ingredients. For Italians, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is huge for Christmas Eve. I have written posts on these dishes and may revisit some over the next few weeks. Some fish items can be bought frozen but many need to be fresh. So knowing which fish market is best really helps. I will be thinking about what to give my two working daughters to help with the season too. Time for more soups that can be provided in "take out" containers to them. I get to cook. Barb gets to do all the other stuff that comes with Christmas. But she does get to eat to keep her energy going!!

A hearty December soup to start the week was good.

GRANPA IS BACK AFTER A SICK BREAK

After two weeks of being sick, my appetite is back. So is my desire to cook! Barb had picked up the slack of shopping and cooking. The festive season is around the corner so I will be making some of the Italian seasonal dishes again. The colder temperatures bring soups and sauces so the house will have good aroma in it. A daughter's birthday coming so maybe some gnocchi for her as it is her favourite food! Well I do enjoy it too! So much to do, so much to cook!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES WITH GOODIES ARE FUN

A well planned party shows in the outcome. My littlest grandchild celebrated her first birthday. The sweet table was beautiful with goodies and the cake. This cook just enjoyed the event prepared by my daughter.

The cake by the ARTSY BAKER company was a hit with its chocolate and vanilla layers. Something for everyone's taste. My older daughter made her marshmallow treats that can be seen to the right of the picture. Simple to make and a favourite of the little kids. Picking up pizza from Grande Cheese and 7 platters of food from Longos was all the preparing I had to do. This granpa loves to cook but also loves a day off!!

BACCALA SOUP IS GREAT FOR A COLD AND FEVER

The best decision I made was to make baccala soup which has lots of tomato broth in it to feed the fever and what ailed me. Barb had to cook but she never minds doing it. After a little nap yesterday I found a bacon and tomato sandwich plated on my Sudoko puzzle. I didn't feel like eating the garden salad with chicken chunks but Barb made lots as she knows I will probably snack on it later. Meanwhile I will finish my soup. With the fresh bread Barb made in the bread maker, it will be tasty.

A QUICK TUESDAY DINNER FOR THE COOK

Every cook needs a break. So for Tuesday dinner, Barb reminded me we had some Feta cheese in the fridge. A Greek salad made with what. So off to Sobeys and bought a barbecue chicken with chunky seasoned potatoes and a baguette, dinner was simple and good. With the leftover chicken, I can even make Barb a chicken salad sandwich for her lunch. I have to keep my working woman or as I call her- my golden goose- well fed. Now what to make for a Wednesday dinner. The dilemma of being the cook!!

GNOCCHI FOR A BUSY WORK WEEEK

With good sales in potatoes, I decided to make some pans of gnocchi for Barb and me as well as the working girls, husbands and grandkids. Feeling a little under the weather, my sous cook Barb finished the rolling and imprinting before freezing them. Later the frozen gnocchi will be put in bags. So three large bags. All the gnocchi only cost about $1.00 worth of potatoes. The meaty- ragu sauce however cost about $15.00. Seems like a lot of money but for each family a substantial meal or side dish worth $5.00. The cute story from the family. I made a batch awhile ago for Natasha and family. She told her kids the gnocchi was for her husband Domi. Her little guy Damiano said- hey don't give it all to Daddy!! Some reverse psychology, tell kids the food is not for them and they want to eat it. Maybe Barb should add it to her Nana Says series on Wednesdays. I better be careful, I don't like her to tell me how to cook so I better not tell her what to write.!!

My little pile of potatoes and flour.

 

Gnocchi is always good as a side dish with meat and vegetables.

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS MAKE FOR A NICE CLUB SANDWICH

Too many leftovers as usual after a Thanksgiving dinner. Barb boiled some turkey bones so I had a nice soup with small noodles for dinner last night along with some peas, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. Of course, I made a traditional club sandwich with bacon and 3 slices of bread with some turkey slices. If I have to eat leftovers, it is good to fancy it up. Besides a club house sandwich is one of my favourite items to order for a simple lunch when eating out at a restaurant. I'll have one more meal of leftover turkey then I want a nice meat sauce with pasta again. This Italian cook loves his pasta.

THANKSGIVING NEEDS A LITTLE ITALIAN FLAIR

Thanksgiving is Barb's time to shine in the kitchen. I help with the vegetables- wash and peel the potatoes, make the rapini, wash and cook the brussel sprouts and once the turkey is done- I carve it. The rest is up to Barb. She likes all those Canadian vegetables like peas, squash, sweet potato and the cranberry sauce., of course her bread stuffing!

I also like to add some fried mushrooms to the meal. Cooked with some garlic in olive oil, they are tasty the way my mother used to make them. I know, I said it was Barb's meal but someone has to be in the kitchen supervising her!

GRANPA VISITS THE RICHMOND HILL FARMERS' MARKET

It was an easy market trip in mid-August. Just up Yonge street to the Performing Arts Theatre parking lot in  Downtown  Richmond Hill. There was a small farmer's market on Saturdays we thought we should try. Another local one is in the Hillcrest Mall parking lot Wednesdays and Sundays. With about 15 tables of goodies, there was some selection to peruse.

Hum! What to buy!

Barb bought two jars of strawberry jam- Manning Jam- made locally from this lovely dealer.

One dealer was selling homemade soap which Barb thought she would try. Rosemary was used in bar.

Not a bad haul! Peaches, plums, cucumbers, jam and soap! Love those markets!

#richmondhillmarket#manningstrawberryjam#lotsofgoodpeaches#shoppinglocal#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro 

END OF SUMMER CLEANUP FOR THE COOK

As the garden winds down, time to pick the remainder of the beans and tomatoes. Bagged a bushel of tomatoes from the store to use in soups and sauces during the winter. Too many tomatoes in the garden so have been bagging those too. Some Italians are busy making their homemade bottles of passata di pomodoro.

I bought two dozen for $.99 for each bottle and no effort. I think I will go back and buy some more but don't know if I can do all that work!!! I also like to use the canned tomatoes- crushed for some recipes and diced for others. The whole tomatoes can be used in stir fry meals. The red peppers are in abundance so have been enjoying roasted, fried and fresh in several dishes. Rapini will grow until the frost comes several times. Lots of home grown garlic and onions being used now. I love the fresh vegetable but will not miss the work of the garden. Oh yeah then there is snow removal! Garden versus snow removal- I guess I like the garden better!

PICKLED EGGPLANT OR MELANZANE SOTT'OLIO-THE WAY MAMMA MADE IT

I decided to make to make some Melanzane Sott'olio- Pickled eggplant. It was a dish or rather a canning activity my mother would make. It is another way to use eggplants. It is great eaten separately or on a sandwich.

INGREDIENTS

Eggplants.
White wine vinegar. Water.
Oregano.
Garlic.
Olive oil.
Hot peppers/pepperoncini.
Bay leaf pieces.
Salt. Pepper to taste.

DIRECTIONS

Find the right size mason jars and lids. Boil to clean or just put them in the dishwasher to sanitize to have the pickled eggplant in sterilized jars.

Take as many eggplants as you want to make.
Peel off the skin.
Slice into long strips.
Put in a bowl with a rack at the bottom or colander.
Sprinkle with salt to help the eggplant lose moisture or to "sweat".
Place paper towels to absorb the moisture.
I let mine rest for 8 hours.

When ready to pickle, boil 1/2 wine vinegar and 1/2 water and put amounts of the strips to boil but just for about 2-3 minutes to keep firm. Pat dry
Meanwhile have a chopped garlic, hot peppers, oregano mixed to add some to each jar.
Put olive oil on the bottom of the jar and put in your strips adding the spicy mixture.

Poke down with a fork, spoon or the end of a wooden spoon.
No room at the top. Fill jars completely.
Put a piece of bay leaf at the top of each jar.
Add more oil to cover the strips if needed.
Seal tightly.

The best part of making this dish is eating it. I already finished one jar.

#eggplant#pickledeggplant#makinghomemadeeggplant#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA'S HAUL FROM THE ST. JACOBS FARMERS' MARKET 2014

Returning to the St. Jacobs market after the fire in August 2013, it was still as lively as ever. The crowds pour in all day.
So what did I buy.

Cauliflower, new little potatoes, large white potatoes, flat green beans, cucumbers, fresh garlic and 2 large bunches of asparagus.

Beef steak tomatoes, peaches, apricots and cherries. I was already munching on my baguette bread as the picture was being taken.
Not a bad haul for a day's trip.! Nothing is better than fresh food from the farm!

With my trek trolley, always able to buy more than the arms can carry!
#stjacob'smarket#haulfromthemarket#trektrolleyhelpswiththefood#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA RETURNS TO THE ST. JACOBS FARMERS' MARKET 2014

Barb and I love to visit farmers' markets. So a return trip to one of the best in the province, was inviting us to return. St. Jacobs market in the little community of St. Jacobs just outside Kitchener/Waterloo Ontario. Home to a multi-generation German community and the Mennonites along with the diverse Canadian community. Waterloo as you know is home to Blackberry or known previously as R.I.M. An interesting area of Ontario!

Last year, August 2013, St. Jacobs market had a devastating fire of its building-24,0000 sq. ft.- that housed 60 vendors. In a short time a Harvest Barn was erected that could accommodate 47 vendors. It can be seen in the distance of this market scene. When we arrived, there is construction occurring at the end of the parking lot that may be the home of a more secure, modern specs. building. The problem with the old building was the wood structure.

We take our little trek trolley everywhere now. It sure saves on the muscles.

Beef steak tomatoes were in abundance.

Walking along and viewing the wonderful selection of locally grown fruit and vegetables.

Lots of Bing Cherries!

What to buy?

Breakfast was a good choice. Peameal bacon and egg with tomato on a bun-the breakfast special! Nice picnic area at the end of the Harvest Barn with clean washroom facilities if needed.

Mushrooms from a tree branch anyone?

Corn, watermelon and melons!

More delicious fruit!

Couldn't resist the asparagus! Love it in a breakfast omelette!

A good haul of fresh fruit, veggies and some baguette bread! Time to go home and eat!!!
Visit their website.St. Jacob;s market
#stjacob'smarket#returningtostjacob'safterthefire#lotsofgoodeatsatstjacob'smarket#buyingmushrooms#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA'S TRIP TO THE COLLINGWOOD FARMER'S MARKET JULY 2014

Summer brings day trips and outings with Barb, kids and grandkids. So on a weekend jaunt to Collingwood, I visited the Collingwood Farmer's Market. Collingwood is a community North-west of Toronto on Georgian Bay-Lake Huron. Up the 400 and through Barrie, Collingwood is a sweet community near Blue Mountain for winter skiing and summer sports and shopping.

I did not need to buy much so had a good look around. Of course Barb snapped pictures.

Yes, Barb bought some butter tarts for the oncoming barbecue with the kids.
There are always friendly vendors so Barb asked these ladies if they had a picture taken with me she would buy their hot sauce.

They make the hot sauce in Trinidadian style. They have a booth every week at the market. Lisa Mendoza and her friend were very nice and were very kind to accommodate us. Their hot sauce is JD Boss Pepper Sauce. Check out their website. www.jdbosspeppersauce.com

Walking around and exploring the other non-food booths is Barb's choice.

A local photographer-George Czerny has written a book and photographed the old shipyards of Collingwood. Barb bought a couple of cards from him. Good captures of the shipyards! And record of a piece of  Ontario history.

Barb bought some sausage for the barbecue later in the day.

It was a fun start to the our Saturday. There was a musician playing adding some ambiance to the market.

Hum-was there anything else I needed.
#collingwoodmarket#granpalovestocook#granpavisitsthecollingwoodmarket#buttertarts#hotpeppersauce#sausageforthebarbecue#oldshipyardsofcollingwood#jdbosspeppersauce#gerogeczernybookaboutheshipyard#lotsofgoodfoodtoeat