Friday 14 December 2018

GRANPA ENJOYS THE HOLIDAY TREATS

Good hard Torrone is a must at Christmas. So Barb shopped at her favourite store- Grande Cheese coming home with items for a pot luck, Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner. The pickles and breadsticks that are needed for the appetizers. Of course a variety of cheese- Provolone and Fruilano- nice mild white cheeses are a must in the home. The cheese can be sliced thinly for sandwiches with meat or cubed for platters. Olives, red peppers and giardinaro are welcome in the home.

 We try to blend the Canadian and Italian traditions at Christmas. Always room for lots of good eating.


#christmaseating#granpalovestocook#cheeseforplatters#provolone#fruilano#olives#redpeppers#blendingcanadiananditaliantradionsatchristmas#torrone

Wednesday 21 November 2018

GRANPA MAKES EGG NOODLES WITH FARM FRESH EGGS

Barb attended a media event with our daughter Sonya. She wrote a blurb on her House of Kerrs website.
House of Kerrs
The event featured Conestoga Farm eggs and baking using these eggs.
Barb came home with a bag of eggs.
Conestoga Farms
Three different containers. 6 on the run and 6 organic eggs.
We used the dozen Free Range eggs.
I don't have the energy I used to have so Barb did the majority of the work while I supervised.

Usually one egg to one cup of flour.
In a bowl or on the counter, make a flour well and put the eggs in the middle. With a fork mix the the eggs and flour. If too dry add another egg. Do you notice how yellow these eggs are?
I helped make some of the balls of dough but Barb did the most.
Taking small portions at a time, the dough is worked through the pasta maker.
Making the flat pieces to be laid out and dried.
When the pieces are dried enough, they are made into spaghetti or fettuccine.

The pasta is put on floured cookie sheets and put in the freezer until time to cook for a meal.
Earlier in the day a ragu ( meat ) sauce was started in the slow cooker. One of my earlier posts has the recipe for this sauce, a favourite from the Lazio region in Italy.
Of course dinner was the fresh pasta and ragu sauce. Barb made some meatballs with the extra ground beef. They are made with some diced garlic, pinch of oregano- which we had dried from our summer garden and some fined bread crumbs and yes another free range egg from Conestoga to bind it all together.
The best part of the whole process is a good spaghetti with ragu sauce meal.
Of course most people know Barb types these posts, I just dictate what I want written. Writing is for Barb! The best part for this Granpa is the eating. Granpa loves to cook but Granpa loves to eat better.
#granpalovestocook#ConestogaFarms#Conestogafarmfresheggs#BarbgoestoaneventwithSonya#HouseofKerrs#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#eggnoodlesmakegoodpasta#granpa'sragusauce#lazioregioninItaly#fromacooktoasouschef#eatingbeatscooking

Sunday 18 November 2018

GRANPA LOVES BANANA MUFFINS

Barb does not do much baking. Why? No one really eats it. But she does make banana muffins. Why? Because I eat them. If the grandchildren come by, they eat them. I actually love them. Barb uses a muffin recipe from a Muffin recipe book she bought about 25 years ago.And the over ripe bananas are used. So less waste. Well I do not care about waste, I just like to eat muffins.
#bananamuffins#granpalovestocook#overripebananas#usingupfoodinthekitchen

Thursday 8 November 2018

PASSATA GRANPA STYLE

Yes I know it is an Italian-Canadian tradition to make the passata for the sauce. Do you know the folks in Italy have stopped this personal tradition and buy from the farmers? My cousins would shake their heads at the work people did here. So Barb and I have watched for sales in the Fall for the Passata the last few years.
So when Food Basics had their sale- 88 cents a jar, Barb bought us 5 cases. We still had one case from last year so with 72 jars we are well stocked. For our sauce we usually add a tin of crushed tomatoes or  whole tomatoes to one jar of passata.
Yes it was a wonderful time when my mother was alive and we would help her do her bottles. However it was not always consistent. One year- runny passata. Another year the tomatoes had too much acid. So with my favourite Aurora brand my passata will be just right. Barb says it is so much work carrying those cases from the car!!
#passata#granpalovestocook#makingpassataathome#buyingpassatafromthestore#passataforsauce#anoldItaliantrandition

GRANPA LOVES PICKLED RED PEPPERS

Red peppers are good in many dishes. I am not fussy about the average pork chop. A cheap meal! So Barb decided to make some jars of pickled peppers.

Using red wine vinegar as the main ingredient to help pickle the pepper. A 1 to 2 ratio with some water. Boil it so it is hot for the process.
The peppers are sliced lengthwise. The peppers are blanched to help with the process. Boil the jars to make them sterile before adding the ingredients.
Garlic cut in pieces is added in the jars.
Two large jars and 3 small jars were enough for our needs.
So the peppers need to pickle for about 6 weeks before they can be used.
Now for the pork chops. Braise in a frying pan with some olive oil and garlic. Add the pickled peppers with the vinegar and simmer until done.
Now that is how to eat a pork chop!! Granpa's style.
#granpalovestocook#redpeppers#pickledpeppers#howtomakepickledpeppers#thatishowtoeataporkchop#blanchetheveggiesfirst#barbmakespickledpepersforgranpa

Sunday 14 October 2018

GRANPA SAYS GOODBYE TO OUR HOUSE GUEST

Having a house guest gives an opportunity to cook nice dinners. Well Barb is cooking the dinners. Had a lamb dinner. Steak barbecue. Pizza night more than once. Barb tries to make everything wonderful for guests. Favourite drinks, Desserts and all the trimmings. I just get to eat and enjoy everything. Besides it is refreshing to have someone else to talk about all my life concerns and listen to the other person. Eating and talking. Talking and eating. What more do we need in life.? Granpa still loves to cook but also eat and talk..
#granpalovestocook#havingahouseguestmakesforgreatmeals#cookingforahouseguestbringsbettermeals.

Monday 8 October 2018

GRANPA EATS THANKSGIVING DINNER

Barb did the usual Thanksgiving dinner with all the Canadian trimmings- bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy. But we do start with lots of appetizers. Everyone loves the prosciutto on bread sticks. She always adds some Italian sausage, mushrooms to please me. Brussel sprouts are loved by everyone. Our daughters love the peas the way I make them with a little oil and onion sauteed then add the peas with some water and let them simmer so the water boils down.Barb always buys a couple of extra turkey legs so no one will fight over the two available ones. She likes to makes everyone happy. I just like to eat.
My girls bring the pies and other goodies. As usual lots of leftovers for several days.I don't like leftovers. But Barb says it is a Canadian tradition to eat Turkey dinner leftovers for several days. I like the Italian tradition to get back to regular eating. Where is my pasta??
#thanksgivingdinner#lotstoeat#turkeyandallthetrimmings#pies#italiansausagetosatisfygranpa#granpalovestocook#granpalovestoeat#lotsofappetizers#toomanyleftovers

Thursday 4 October 2018

GRANPA WELCOMES A HOUSE GUEST

It is good to have another pair of ears to discuss life. Eating and talking are always good combinations. So Barb made a nice lamb dinner with rosemary potatoes, carrots and some red pepper. All baked in the oven for an easy preparation. Of course, it needed more salt. But the fresh rosemary from our garden made the lamb very flavourful.
Lamb is often an Easter dinner. But our house guest loves lamb so it was a good Wednesday night meal.
#lambdinner#rosemary#rosemaryfreshfromourgarden#granpalovestocook#granpaletsBarbcook#itneedsmoresalt#goodeatingathome

Thursday 30 August 2018

GRANPA LETS BARB VISIT THE MARKETS

It is too difficult for me to do prolonged outings. So Barb goes to a few markets alone.
The local one at Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill is convenient for her. So last week she brought home this haul.
Fresh Ontario peaches, tomatoes, apricots, beans and potatoes were the week's buy. There are two booths with fresh produce from the Niagara region. Barb loves the markets and fresh food. I just as usual love to eat.
#markets#goingtothemarketsalone#tomatoes#potatoes#beans#apricots#peaches#freshOntarioproduce#localfarmersneedtobesupported.

Wednesday 8 August 2018

GRANPA CELEBRATES BARB'S RETIREMENT

Celebrating Barb's retirement with a cake and donuts- nut free of course!
Fun with all the grandchildren. Delicious cream cake from Longos!
Even a special Happy Retirement Nana!
Always fun to have a celebration.
#retirement#retirementcake#Longosforacake#Barbcelebratesherretirement#allthegrandchildrenhavefuncelebrating#timeforcake

Sunday 1 July 2018

GRANPA CELEBRATES CANADA DAY

Canada Day- time to celebrate. The food can by anything you want.
But burgers, steak and sausage on the barbecue are the best. And lots of condiments for the burger. Don't forget fruit- especially the watermelon.
Of course tablecloths in red and white.
Salads, buns, drinks make up a great Canada Day feast.Of course cake, cupcakes and icecream!! My family always pitching in with everyone contributing something to the meal.
Oh Canada! Mangiamo!
#CanadaDay#steak#hamburgers#sausages#drinks#buffetstyle#barbecue#icecream#cake#lotsofgoodiestoeat

Sunday 29 April 2018

GRANPA PREPARES FOR A COUSIN'S VISIT

Actually Barb will do the grocery shop with my instructions. My cousins are visiting from Italy next week so lots of time for talk, laughter and good eating! We are Italian. Not sure what they will want to eat but planning several dinners and lunches- a lamb roast dinner, chicken,  a ham and pineapple, and whatever pasta dishes they will like. A good ragu sauce will be ready. There will be a day of open house for the kids and grandchildren to drop by and eat and visit. Barb has been preparing the bedrooms and bathrooms for the guests. Looking forward to seeing them as it is always good to connect with loved ones. From my Dad's side of the family so most people here do not know them. But anyone is welcome to come for a visit.
#ragusauce#pastadishes#cousinstovisitfromItaly#gettingreadyforthevisit#laughterandafuntime#lambroastdinner#hamandpineapple#chickendishes

Sunday 22 April 2018

COOKING BRINGS COMFORT-AH STUFFED RED PEPPERS

Everyone has a a hobby. Some ordinary activities like cooking can be one. For this cooking granpa, home for me is the kitchen. Near food. Around food. Cooking food. Eating food.
Barb has to do all the grocery shopping now but I can still cook.
So my latest dish was some stuffed red peppers. The bell peppers are best for stuffing.
Clean them out.Lots of  ground beef meat, onion parsley, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese on top. Some people may stuff with rice but we prefer it as a meat dish.
An all in one meal with a little salad on the side. Barb loves red peppers so it is a good week day meal.
#cookingforcomfort#stuffedredpeppers#meat#breadcrumbs#inthekitchen#groceryshopping

Monday 19 March 2018

GRANPA EATS ZEPPOLE FOR ST. JOSEPH'S DAY

St. Joseph's day in Italy is a wonderful celebration. Mostly it is a time to eat zeppole. A baker from Naples invented the pastry in the 19th century and it has been popular since that time.Mostly popular in Rome and the Naples area, a must for the day.
Barb bought us two over the weekend. So I ate mine on St. Patrick's Day. A saint! So it was okay.
#stjoseph'sday#zeppole#pastry#Rome#Naples#italianpastries#whattoeatonSt.Joseph'sday

Sunday 18 March 2018

A SAUCE GETS GRANPA COOKING AGAIN

A nice ragu sauce is simmering on the stove.Ground beef and some pork bones for flavour in the tomato passata make it great with any pasta. Dealing with my health issues has slowed me down. But being back in the kitchen for simple meal preparation is good. The sauce takes more effort. I told Barb I am making it for her. Hum she said. You're making it because you don't like my cooking!

#granplovestocook#ragusauce#homecooking#backinthekitchen#healthproblemsdraggedmedown

Wednesday 24 January 2018

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

Tuesday 2 January 2018

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