NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION-SURF AND TURF

So Adolph and I will be boring.

Bought some lobster tails and have steaks. The standard surf and turf dinner for two.

I cooked his favourite long pole beans as the veggie so we are good to go with some old buns to use as garlic bread.

Maybe we will add a little pasta too!
#surfandturf#newyear'seating#polebeans#granpalovestocook#barbaradimambro#adolphdimambro

GRANPA LOVES HIS TORRONE

So Christmas time brings some Italian traditions in our home. Lots of hard plain torrone for Granpa.
He has been enjoying the treats.
We try to have a blend of Canadian and Italian treats and food at Christmas.
I bought a plain old fashioned Panettone for Granpa too. It makes a nice centerpiece until eaten.
Now for some of those Baci chocolates.

Don't you just love all these Italian treats??

#italiantreatsatChristmas#torrone#panettone#chocolatesatChristmas#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA LOVES WORLD PASTA DAY

Granpa has always made many pasta dishes.

A good plate of spaghettini!

Anything can go on pasta.

Lasagna in a pasta bowl.

A granddaughter helps with the preparation.

A Christmas Eve feast with a meat sauce and a clam sauce. Try one or both.

The homemade gnocchi.

A hearty sauce for the pasta.

Cooking spaghetti.

Making homemade egg noodles

Eating a good portion of pasta is always best.

Years of food preparation and good eating.

Happy World Pasta Day everyone!!
#worldpastaday#spaghetti#makinghomemadegnocchi#cookingwithchildren#eatingisgood#meatsauce#clamsauce#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA LOVES HOUSE OF KERRS COOKING

The fun thing about cooking and families is that the next generation takes on the cooking torch. Each child has their strengths. So our daughter Sonya now has the cooking bug and is featuring her weekly recipes on her Instagram, Facebook and Blog sites.
House of Kerrs
Adolph and I have an unpublished cookbook with his regional cooking. Along with sampling a variety of cooking styles, Sonya is trying some of her Daddy's recipes. Trying to feed the 4 children is always challenging at the best of times.
However her recent stew dish is popular with all the little ones and big ones too.It is a hardy fall and winter dish. Great for them returning from Hockey weekends.

So check out Granpa's post of March 25, 2012- Spezzatino di Manzo- Italian Beef Stew. Then go to Sonya's and see what you think.
#houseofkerrs#granpalovestocook#beefstew#spezzatinodimanzo#italianbeefstew#ahardywinterdinner#greatfamilycooking#learningfromfamily

GRANPA IS TIRED OF TURKEY

Turkey and more turkey! Granpa ate the Turkey legs. Had some mashed potatoes and peas. So the request for today is a bacon and tomato sandwich for lunch then rice with some leftover red sauce for dinner.
I like leftovers because it means not cooking for a couple of days.
The preparation of a large meal from the planning, the shopping, the preparation, the cooking and the serving is exhausting. So for this Nana to have a little break is not a bad thing.
#turkey#turkeyleftovers#backtonormaleating#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

GRANPA IS GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING

Harvest home and a time for thanks are the themes of the Thanksgiving week.
I have been busy shopping for the feast. The girls will bring their goodies to the table.
So a joint family effort.
Granpa likes to watch me prepare everything for the big meal.
So turkey, Italian sausage, potatoes, squash, pumpkins, sweet potato, cranberries, gravy mix, buns-in the freezer, bread for stuffing, fresh sage for the stuffing, drinks, tableware are bought and waiting.
Just a few fresh veggies like brussel sprouts, mushrooms, parsley for stuffing.
There are more sundry things bought too.

How is your preparation for Thanksgiving going??
#Thanksgiving#Thanksgivingpreparation#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#barbaradimambro

GRANPA SAYS IT'S TIME FOR PEPPERS

Red Sheppard peppers on sale for $9.98 at box at Food Basics made for some Fall preserves.

I made 5 jars of pickled peppers. Granpa likes his pork chops simmered in the red vinegar and pepper mix. So they will help for those meals.

Roasted peppers on the barbecue and bagged 11 bags of 2 each.I kept 3 for our dinner meal. Nicely peeled of their skin and seeds with some vegetable oil and garlic. Some people may put olive oil but I like the taste of the vegetable oil better.
Granpa likes fried fresh peppers in some vegetable oil with garlic. He eats them with a nice fresh bun or bread.
So couple of dozen peppers kept for fresh consumption.
I like red peppers in a veggie platter and dip. Our grandchildren like red peppers too.
Besides being colourful, they are a healthy vegetable.
So Granpa loves red peppers.
#redpeppers#roastedredpeppers#veggiesanddip#friedredpeppers#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#pickledredpeppers#preservesforwintercomsumption

GRANPA SAYS IT'S TIME FOR TOMATOES

We stopped making passata years ago. So now we watch for the fall sales of it.
Food Basics had Aurora passata for 88cents a jar. 7 cases later of 12 each we are good for another year.
I bought a case of Roma tomaotes. Washed and bagged 7 bags of 20 each. Good for sauce and stews and soups.
One round of canned whole tomatoes- 12 at 99cents. Will look for more sales.
Using tomatoes in a variety of ways in cooking is always on our menu plan.

I used to make more pickles and jams but not anymore. No one really eats it.
#passata#tomatoes#cannedwholetomatoes#romatomatoes#freezertomatoes#granpalovetocook#adolphdimambro#makingiteasytoperservefruitandvegetables

GRANPA IS SPOILED EATING HIS CIAMELLA

So I go to Grande every Saturday to get his ciamella.

No wonder after he eats one, he is not hungry for hours!!
#ciamella#grandecheese#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#shoppingonSaturday

GRANPA LOVES PRICKLY PEARS

So still cherries can be found. But Granpa loves prickly pears and so I bought some from Sobeys today.
He does not like sweets but he sure loves his fruit.
#pricklypears#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#cherries

GRANPA LOVES SEASONAL FRUIT

Keeping cherries in the house is very difficult as Granpa loves them. Loves them a lot. So much so that Barb does not have a chance to eat a few.
The seasonal fruit is so good. The Niagara peaches. The tomatoes.
The golden plums.

Sample of what is available to all of us here in Ontario.
Now to go to another market. Which one? I will tell you later.
Granpa loves his fruit.
#seasonalfruit#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#cherries#niagarapeaches#ontariofoodland#tomatoes#lovingtheseason#timetogotoamarket

GRANPA LOVES TAKE OUT FROM MONTANAS

I get tired of cooking and shopping. So used our gift cards to get some take out from Montanas. Adolph or Granpa is very fussy so crispy chicken wings and a baked potato for him.
I had the steak faijitas with all the trimmings. Not only for Friday night dinner but brunch on Saturday. It was tasty and a change from our usual fare.
Even have a large salad to eat for dinner with my baked potato.
#montanas#gettingtakeout#faijitas#steakfaijitas#crispychickenwings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

GRANPA LOVES THE MEMORIES OF CANADIAN MARKET FINDS

Part of the joy Adolph and I had from going to various farmers markets was the food we brought home over the years.

Those free range eggs for great pasta.

Produce and baked goods.

Summer to Fall. And again another year.

Some items like the eggplant can be preserved for another day.

The Canadian food scene is so prolific and delicious. Granpa loves to cook but he really loves to eat.
#summerproduce#fallproduce#lotsoffruitandvegetables#peaches#cherries#eggplant#redpeppers#polebeans#newpotatoes#bakedgoodsfrommarketsarefreshilymade#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#rememberingthosemarkettripswithgranpa#tomatoes#freerangeeggs