by Krista | May 1, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
Hello dear ones. 🙂 It’s been a gorgeous weekend, sunny and beautifully peaceful. I spent many happy moments snoozing and reading in the sun, breathing deeply of fresh, clean air.
I had more energy than I’ve had in months and am so thrilled to have a clean and tidy house again. There’s nothing quite like walking across newly vacuumed floors and slipping into pristine clean sheets to make this girl happy. 🙂
Today I am off to US Immigration to renew my Permanent Resident card. It’s nice to have graduated from Resident Alien to Permanent Resident. 🙂
Thank you so much for your many kind emails, calls, texts and comments regarding my Grandpa. He is still hanging on, seems to be waiting for the last of his kids to get there. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking of him this weekend. He grew up on the Canadian Prairies and loved taking us grandkids out to wonderful abandoned homesteads where he’d tell us stories of when he was a youngster as we explored every nook and cranny. In the winter he’d take us out onto the frozen prairie and somehow find hills steep enough for us to slide down. We loved it. I’m so grateful for such good memories of this lovely man.
I was so sad when this weekend started, but dear friends invited me over for a dinner and movie night and it ended up being the best thing for me. How good it was to be with safe, loving people, to share delicious wine and scrumptious vittles. I made one of my favorite comfort food dishes from my homeland of Canada: poutine. It is not even remotely healthy but oh, it’s so very good. 🙂 Simply pile piping hot French fries on your plate, sprinkle with grated cheese (we used Swiss) and top with peppery roast beef gravy. If you want to be TRULY Canadian, finish it off with a drizzle of white vinegar.
What is your favorite comfort food from your homeland?
Canadian Poutine
Ingredients:
1 bag frozen French Fries
2-3 cans roast beef gravy
2-3 cups grated cheese (Swiss, Monterey Jack or Mozzarella work best)
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: white vinegar
Directions:
- Bake French fries according to directions on bag.
- While fries are baking, heat gravy in saucepan. I like adding lots of freshly ground black pepper.
- When fries are done, salt to tasted then pile them on individual plates, sprinkle with cheese, drizzle with gravy and eat.
- Add a few shots of white vinegar to make it truly Canadian. 🙂
by Krista | Apr 29, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
Hi dear ones. My heart is sad today because my Grandpa had a massive stroke and is not expected to recover. He has lost the use of his left side and does not recognize anyone.
I’m glad I promised you forest pictures today because Grandpa has always loved being outside, exploring, canoeing, and farming. He would like these.
Love you all and wish you a most beautiful weekend with people you love.
xo
by Krista | Apr 28, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Hello luvs!
It was a gloriously sunshiny day when my friend Jenny came out to visit me last weekend. The whole world seemed to come out of hibernation, birds singing madly, fish flopping in the creek, and folks emerging from their heated homes to bask in the first real spring day of the year.
Jenny thrilled me to pieces by bringing the most gorgeous strawberries, plump, red and perfectly ripe.
On such a scrumptious day we HAD to go for a walk, more of an amble really, stopping often to sniff blossoms and lift our faces to the sun. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.
When we got back we were thirsty, ravenous and ready for a rest, so we filled blue bowls with yogurt and fruit, gathered up blankets, and went out to the creek bank for a strawberry picnic.
We stretched out on our blankets and snoozed happily, rousing ourselves now and then to try and identify various birds or catch a glimpse of the big ol’ fish that kept splashing about in the water. The sun blazed down but lovely cool breezes from the creek kept us from roasting.
It was the best of days filled with great talks and peals of laughter, luscious berries, and that wonderful, healing sunshine we’ve missed so much this winter.
What is your ideal simple day?
by Krista | Apr 27, 2011 | Compatriot Wednesday
I was SO happy to get back to cooking club this week! It was so good to see everyone, to sit around for hours getting all caught up on our bits of news while we sipped wine and nibbled on crackers topped with provolone and salty farmer’s sausage.
The theme of the month has been eggs, but on this final night we went rather loosey-goosey with the rules and ate a delightful hodge-podge of this and that.
Cameron and Robin made a wonderful Gluten-free Egg Drop Soup. Instead of using flour to thicken the broth, they simply added more eggs and it was perfect!! I like it even better than the original.
Toby brought fresh pineapple and a whole bag of cheesy Gluten-free Pirate’s Booty to snack on.
Jen made a simple side dish that was so good! Carrots sprinkled with lots of green onion, covered with chicken broth and baked for an hour. Mmm, mmm! Tender and sweet with that lovely, salty broth.
We ended our evening with TWO kinds of chocolate dessert: Paul’s decadent Chocolate Souffles which got eaten so fast I didn’t get a picture, my Dark Chocolate Tart with Gluten-free Buckwheat Maple Crust. Delectable conclusion to our feasting.
What is your favorite thing to make with eggs?
Jen’s Baked Carrots
Ingredients:
6 carrots, cut in sticks
1/2 cup scallions, sliced
2-3 cups organic chicken broth
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Combine all ingredients in ovenproof dish and bake 60 minutes until carrots are tender.
Cameron and Robin’s Gluten-free Egg Drop Soup
Ingredients:
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup sliced scallions
4-6 eggs, beaten
Directions:
- Bring broth and green onion to boil.
- Using fork, drizzle beaten egg a little at a time into boiling broth. Egg should cook immediately. Add enough egg to reach desired consistency.
Krista’s Dark Chocolate Tart with Buckwheat Maple Crust
(Click here for recipe)
by Krista | Apr 26, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
It was a wickedly cold morning in Amsterdam this winter as my family gathered in my brother Ryan’s toasty warm flat for breakfast.
Christmas music played jauntily as Ry and his fiancée Melissa bustled about in the kitchen brewing coffee, sauteing veggies, and beating eggs. The rest of us visited and stood in front of their enormous windows watching passersby in the streets below, endlessly entertained by the ever-changing stream of humanity.
Soon we were called to the table and happily gathered round for a hearty repast, eager to fortify ourselves for an afternoon of exploring.
Both Ryan and Melissa are great cooks, and they outdid themselves with a savory frittata filled with cherry tomatoes, spinach, caramelized onions, and pancetta.
I got thoroughly spoiled with Melissa’s fabulous coffee: strong and creamy with a good two inches of decadently dense foam. Swoon.
Warm, full, and adequately caffeinated, we bundled into layer after layer of woolen coziness and headed outside Amsterdam to explore a park full of beautiful windmills and charming old shops and homes.
I’ll tell you all about it next time. 🙂
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