Category: Gratitude

What Goes with Veggies

We’re back from vacation with a distinct longing for vegetables – which seem to be in short supply when eating in many restaurants. Too much fat, salt and meat has left us hungry for fresh food. As luck would have it, our veggie garden has run rampant, so we have a surfeit of choice.

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Our choice? A combo plate of golden beets roasted in balsamic and garlic, green and yellow beans, peas, and beet greens, all steamed. On the side, fish poached in white wine, lemon pepper and tarragon. Feeling full (and full of gratitude that the deer left us something to eat!)

Can't Put a Damper on This Canada Day

Well, it has been a soggy Canada Day weekend, and today’s forecast doesn’t look promising. However our family has a sure-fire start to the day, no matter the meteorological outlook. It begins like this:

20130701-084826.jpg. Everyone has a favorite way to eat fresh, local strawberries, and in our house it’s shortcake. But cake is really a misnomer, because it has to have biscuits along with the freshly-whipped cream. And before it disappears, it looks like this:

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Happy 146th birthday, Canada. Have a safe and wonderful day. Oh, and Happy Birthday to you too, Dad!

Thinking Back to Winter

This was a post in the wintertime…but on a blustery, rainy day it would taste just as sweet!

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As we were hiding inside waiting to see what the blizzard would bring, we wanted something hot and delicious for breakfast. French toast seemed like a good idea. But how could we make it even better? We added a heaping tablespoon of Just Us! coffee’s Mexican Hot Chocolate mix to the egg wash. Topping it all with some sliced banana, pecans, and maple syrup from Acadian Maple Products, made our tummies smile.

Faster than Hollandaise

If someone tapped into our social network today, they might even discover what we’ve had for breakfast. In the midst of the net crawling, personal info spying controversy that is filling up the (do we still say airwaves?) we’re still talking about food.

Today, a quick substitute for Eggs Benedict. All the rich creaminess, topped with a poached egg, but fast and easy enough for a workday. Here you go, Internet spies, here’s the recipe:

For two:
2 toasted whole wheat English muffins
1 avocado, mashed, with the juice of 1/2 lime
4 poached eggs
Cracked pepper
Chipotle powder

Spread the English muffins with the pepper. Top with eggs, and sprinkle with chipotle powder to taste. Enjoy!

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Sweet Sunday Startup

20130609-090558.jpgSweet Sunday morning! For us, it’s a combination of relaxing and getting ready for Mass. But no matter what your Sunday looks like, it’s great to get it off to a shining start.

Having had a very rainy, windy Saturday, something warming was called for. We discovered some dried cranberries during the cupboard cleanup and the idea was born: French Toast with apple, cranberries, cinnamon, walnuts and maple syrup. A great local breakfast, especially since Acadian Maple Products are just down the road. But even if they’re not your neighbours, you can order their amber deliciousness online.

Around the Corner from Nice

20130606-071912.jpg Our dinner plans were foiled. A couple of days ago we picked up some fresh green beans and a piece of salmon, expecting to make a slight twist on the classic Salade Niçoise. But some twists of fate kept the recipe off the menu for three days, and third-day fish is never a good idea. The beans weren’t looking so hot, either.

Not deterred, we gathered a basket of greens from the garden – tender turnip greens, arugula, spinach, chard, beets, and a few kinds of lettuce. Some pretty French radish. It would be enough. We made do with some good-quality canned tuna, a red pepper (locally hothouse grown) and free range eggs. Olives and a Dijon lemon dressing rounded out the meal. How can you be anything but grateful in the season when home gardens are springing to life with delicious surprises every day?

Take it Outside!

20130602-084335.jpg It’s foggy over the bay this morning, but yesterday was the first hot, sunny, really summery day of the year. We started with golf, then into the city to do some shopping and “summer hair”.

Local pork chops were secured from Highland Drive (recommended by Fred as The BEST) and grilled with a little chipotle powder and a light hand on the sea salt. On the side, steamed young turnips and radish, and a salad of greens from our garden – turnip, Vulcan and Simpson lettuces, Bibb, romaine, arugula, and Swiss chard. On top, some steamed young asparagus, and a dressing of Dijon, sesame oil, and Mirin.

Making a Hash of Breakfast

20130505-082849.jpgThis time of year, it gets easier and easier to eat local food, even on the chilly windswept coast. Greens and hardy veg are growing in the garden in our cold frames, and hothouse peppers are making an appearance. With all the beauty and deliciousness of the garden, it is work (and lots of it), especially a first year garden like ours. So we feel fully justified in eating a breakfast that has too many calories for a regular workday.

For two:

Half a small orange pepper
1 stalk celery
1 small diced onion
2 diced potatoes
4 Cremini mushrooms
2 Cavicchi’s sausage patties, made into tiny meatballs
2 large eggs

Cook the vegetables in a nonstick or cast iron skillet with about 5ml/1 tsp olive oil. Lidding the pan will help the potatoes soften. Stir once or twice. When the potatoes are nearly tender, sprinkle the sausage balls on top and cover, allow them to sit on low heat until the sausage are cooked (2-3 minutes). Stir. Crack the eggs on top, cover, and cook until the eggs are done as you like.enjoy. We did!

A Smooth Sendoff…with a Kick!

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One of the best ways to up your personal productivity is to get the day off to a good start, and that means eating breakfast. I know, that seems easier said than done, but here is a great smoothie for two that takes almost no time, and will put a little spice in your step:

500ml/2c frozen berries
500ml/2c plain no fat organic yogurt
250ml/1c 1% milk
30ml/2T Justus Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate mix

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Thanks to the folks at Justus coffee for getting us off and running!
http://www.justuscoffee.com/

Smoked Salmon Sunday

20121202-084243.jpg Yesterday was Christmas tree day…the local Lions Club had set up shop in the parking lot of our nearby grocery store. We stopped first for some provisions, including some delicious-looking peppered smoked salmon, from St. Mary’s Bay.

So this morning, surrounded by the gorgeous smell of balsam fir in the house, we made smoked salmon bennies on homemade English muffin loaf. We’re all set for a day of decorating. On a day like this how can we help but feel grateful?