Inspiration

I attended a class at barbara Jo's tonight (love their classes) on Jams and Jellies, specifically Christine Ferber's Mes Confitures.
I used to do so much jam, jelly and preserve making, but time constraints have depleted my will to can. I am all fired up again after tonights class. The Tomato and Apple Jam with Rosemary has my name all over it and I can't wait to make it.

 

Oh and hi to Trevor's Friend in Winnipeg!

Chicken Tacos

 

A quick and easy way to use up leftover chicken. And it tastes good too!

The dreaded veal

 

I had this fear of, or rather, aversion to, veal. Rob made veal chops for us once and I could barely eat them. My challenge this week was to make myself, at the very least, be able to eat them. I salted them very thoroughly before rubbing with garlic and allowing them to rest for an hour or so. Then I cooked them in a cast iron pan over medium high heat until they were a solid medium. Served with couscous and summer vegetable stew. The verdict? They were delicious!

 

We sipped a Spanish rose, recommended by the wonderful staff at Liberty Wines Granville Island. Possibly the new favourite of the summer.

Warm Pasta Salad

 

This is so simple, but quite tasty. Like a greek salad with warm pasta and shrimp sauteed in olive oil and lemon zest. Serve warm or even room temperature.

More hot weather meals

 

THis one was a salad of crisp vegetables and bean thread vermicelli with marinated seared beef. The dressing on the salad was a combination of rice wine vinegar, fresh ginger, sugar, sesame oil and fish sauce.

Tomato Basil Tart, Halibut

 

The heat continues in Vancouver, and for the first time in a long time, I have time to cook almost every night of the week.
This is another simple meal~ a tomato basil tart with savoury mascarpone and Halibut poach/steamed with capers and pink peppercorns. We ate on the patio, sipping a glass of Soave.

Another Summer Meal

 

Spicy Peanut Noodle Salad With Sweet Chili Shrimp

July 5th Dinner

Summer has finally arrived! And with it, my desire to cook rich food goes out the window.

 

Lemon Oregano Free Range Chicken Breast, Tabbouleh, Tomato, Cucumber, Kalamata Olive Salad.<

July 3 Dinner

Even when I was working away, too tired to blog (or partying away), I was still cooking and taking pictures. Here is the dinner I made on July 3rd.

Rack of Lamb with Fresh Pea and Mint Pesto, Smashed potato cakes and Honey Coriander Carrots.

Figs Braised in Balsamic and honey with Mascarpone.

Early Dinner

 

I made dinner for Rob and I before my job tonight; Halibut and Fresh Broad Beans steamed in parchment and a warm potato salad with a tarragon grainy mustard dressing.

Delfino Vineyards B&B

 

Back from Oregon and the most amazing B&B I have ever stayed in; Delfino Vineyards. Rob and I stayed two nights in the guest cottage here and did not want to leave!. As we pulled up the drive, I felt a wave relaxation pour over me. The cottage was spacious (bigger than our place) but cozy and homey with all sorts of little details that made it special. A bottle of wine was waiting for us when we arrived, along with the sweet and generous innkeeper Terri and four very friendly dogs. We poured a glass and then wandered down the hill past the vegetable gardens and the chickens to the pond. Rob took me for a canoe around the pond before we headed out to dinner and when we came back, we brought worms and I caught my first ever fish (and released it too). After the first fish, I just fed worms to them ~ I couldn't deal with the whole hook thing. Much later, we got in the hot tub with our glasses of wine and stared up at the stars.
The first morning, we had to leave very early, so Terri dropped off Fresh Blueberry Muffins the night before, along with some bread, butter, milk, strawberries (local) and eggs from their chickens and Rob and I made ourselves a breakfast. The second morning, we had breakfast delivered ~ fresh cut fruit and warm delicious dried cranberry scones (I can smell them still). After That amazing breakfast, we took a short hike through oak trees to high wild rose meadow and on to the vineyards. When we finally said goodbye to Terri and Jim and took off for Portland, I did not want to leave.
I will be back, but in the meantime, I hope that if anyone is heading that way, they look this place up; a true gem and worth every penny and more.

Melanie's Birthday

A day in the life.....

Wednesday

 

The first of the year's fresh salmon is in! Rob picked up a beautiful piece from Longliner on Granvile Island for me to cook for dinner. I love salmon so I always cook it as simply as possible and Rob loves the crispy skin on salmon, so I always sear the skin side. My technique is not for the squeamish though ~ I happen to prefer my salmon medium rare.
Season Salmon with salt. Place skin side down in a cast iron pan over medium high heat. After 3 minutes, flip, cook one minute on the flesh side. Serve. This is what the inside of my salmon looks like.

 

Served with steamed broccoli and herbed quinoa.

I am off today (!!) so Rob and I heading out for a picnic at the beach. I'll try not to get too sunburned...

Spring meals

Although I don't show up much here on my blog, I do still cook and eat. This gym thing and facebook obsession is seriously eating into my blogging time though. Rob recently threw together this simple supper which was oh so good and just tasted like spring on the west coast to me.

 

Halibut with Fiddleheads and Mashed Yams

What's in Your fridge

IMG_7514
Originally uploaded by kayaksoup.

Sam just opened her fridge door and took a snap. So did I. Of note, the lack of any actual food except for eggs. Every condiment known to man.

POLL

I have a family obligation this summer in Myrtle Creek Oregon. Not quite family reunion, but almost. Rob and I are flying into Portland and then driving down, planning to stay in Roseburg, not far from Myrtle Creek. I found this amazing looking place and trying to decide if we should fork over the extra 50$/ night or suck it up and stay in the Howard Johnson. Quick poll:

A. Go for it, we might as well enjoy ourselves even if we can't really afford it.

B. Suck it up. This isn't a holiday, its a family gathering.

Getting reaccquainted

Last week, I had the pleasure of having lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in over two years. We reconnected, thanks to my latest addiction Facebook, over Japanese food in downtown Vancouver

I started with a sunomono salad, one of my favourite non-sushi items. It is so refreshing when done right and this was not a bad example at all.

 

Milena had Yakisoba, and laughed good naturedly as I took its picture. It arrived sizzling hot and looked very appealing.

 

I followed my salad up with an order of tuna and wild salmon sashimi. Delicious buttery fish. What more could you ask for?

 

We also shared a bottle of Sapporo as we sat at the bar and talked and talked and ate.

Life is spinning out of control

Well, that statement might be a little overly dramatic, but I think its safe to say that it is changing A LOT. I have started going to the gym very regularly - another 1.5 hrs of my day gone, as well as working more hours. Plus Rob is now working more than full time. We have turned into one of those couples that barely get to see each other, let alone sit down to a delicious meal. We make the effort, but cooking is becoming more and more difficult. I think this blog is going to change ~ maybe a little less food centric and a little more like my own personal diary. I could do without feeling guilty for neglecting this!

Linda likes to

I discovered this fun little meme through a friend's Facebook posting "the exercise is type "[your name] likes to" in quotations in Google and put in the first 10 things that come up."
LInda likes to open the floor to specific questions from the audience.
Linda likes to play electric and acoustic bass as well as other instruments.
Linda likes to play with her friend Virginia who is in her Brownie troop.
Linda “likes to make love quietly and slowly. ...
Linda likes to travel and has built an album of beautiful world sceneries over the years.
Linda likes to play tennis, talk, and use the computer.
Linda likes to unwind through her hobby of decorative painting. ...
Linda likes to paint, take photographs, and practice her violin.
Linda likes to paint native animals and plants, and prefers to paint in the natural colours of the particular animal or plant she is painting. ...
Linda likes to garden.
Funny thing is, several of this are a good description of me..... But now I must run. 90210 is coming on soon and a I plan to have a cocktail while I watch (I am taking some me time, ok!).