CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT-CHRISTMAS EVE ALONE

 I bought myself a couple of seafood items for Christmas Eve.

Some scallops.

Some shrimp.

I may make Adolph's seafood appetizer. It gets lots of internet reads.

I may or may not make a seafood sauce for some pasta.

I am glad I have so many photos of Adolph's dishes.

So this year, simple just me. Remembering all the wonderful Christmas Eve times over the years with family.

The last couple of years it has just been Adolph and me anyway.

There are several posts on Christmas Eve seafood dishes on this blog so check them out if interested.

#christmaswillbedifferent#rememberingchristmasevecelebrations#seafoodissodelicious#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

A DAUGHTER MAKES GRANPA'S HONEY BUBBLES OR STRUFOLLI

 Sonya made her Dad's struffoli. She adjusted the recipe to suit her cooking of the honey sauce.

Not bad for a first effort.

I think the family tradition will continue. Adolph's post was December 2012 if anyone wants to check it out.

House of Kerrs

You can check out her instagram and blog posts for other festive recipes.

#granpalovestocook#daughtermakeshoneybubbles#daughtermakesstruffoli#honeyissweetandgood#rememberingdadthroughfood#adolphdimambro

TRYING HOLIDAY SPECIALS 2020

With Lockdowns and curbside pickup and outdoor eating, no way to go to a restaurant. 

So last week I did the Festive holiday meal with Swiss Chalet. Loved the stuffing and cranberry sauce. I had the chicken and ribs combo. It took me 2 1/2 days of meals to eat it but it was worth it. I even ordered the Coconut Cream Pie.

Yesterday I ordered the Holiday at Home special from Pizza Pizza. Three toppings on a medium pizza, three drinks and choice of dessert. So pepperoni, green pepper and olives, diet coke, nestle ice tea, and Peace peach iced tea- the better choice as the can is twice as big as the other two and funnel cake. As sides, the breaded cauliflower bites and 5 chicken wings. Creamy garlic dip for them.

I ate two wings, a few bites and one piece of pizza with my own glass of wine. Later the dessert watching some TV.

The best part was the funnel cake strips that I dipped in the caramel sauce. Not bad for a pizza place.

Too much pizza. So I bagged 7 slices individually and put in the freezer to eat over the next month or two. Or if the grandsons come to visit an easy snack to heat in the microwave for them.

Being single and no parties other than Zoom ones, ordering in meets a need. 

So many places have fun holiday treats and specials.

The big dilemma is what to choose next week?

#holidayspecials#beingathomeandorderingin#pizzapizza#swisschalet#chickenwings#funnelcake#dietdrinks#peaceicedtea#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara

CHRISTMAS HOPE BRINGS A POSSIBILITY OF A VACCINE IN THE NEW YEAR

 Behind the scenes teams are working vigilantly to strategize the rollout of a vaccine for COVID.

Most of us just take it for granted we will get one sometime.

But there is a need to thank all the people working on this outcome.

The scientists.

The lab technicians who have been doing the testing..

The doctors. The nurses. The clinic and hospital staff. Even the politicians.

The Public Health teams.

The truck drivers who will transport the vaccine.

The people who will be setting up the clinic. The logistics of it all.

And the Military. They will play a huge role in all of this endeavor.

It is like we are going to war against the Virus.

So thanks to all and everyone who is working on this project from all of us. Give a virtual hug. Let's hope there is not burnout of everyone. 

#vaccinerolloutisahugeendeavor#scientistshaveplayedtheirrole#labtechniciansdeserveourthanks#everyoneinvolvedintherollout#themilitary#allthestaff#saythanksforagoodNewYearwithavaccine#granpalovestocook#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara

DECEMBER- WHAT WOULD GRANPA MAKE

 So much of Christmas cooking was Adolph's job.

I made the Canadian Christmas dinner.

He made the seafood dishes. Fresh egg noodle pasta. 

Baccala or cod soup.

Clam sauce for the pasta.

Shrimps and shallops. 

His honey bubbles or known as struffoli were his favourite. There is a post for them.

I stopped doing lots of baking years ago. No one really ate the goodies.

So banana oven baked donuts are a hit so I make them for the grandchildren.

But I am feeling I need to have some food in the house that Adolph would have liked.

Torrone was one. But the basic hard one.

Vermouth as it was a staple at Christmas. I would have a drink with lemon and toast with his Mom.

Of course the tangerines or clemetines. Some delicious apples which were part of my childhood.

Figs, pomergrante, and prickly pears were his favourites too.

So looking at food to bring me comfort as a reminder of him needs a little work. Of course someone will have to eat it.

#christmasfoodsasareminderofAdolph#granpalovedcertainchristmasfood#figs#pricklypears#pomergrantes#seafooddinner#canadianchristmasdinner#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro