In My World

Simple and lovely.  I served with whip cream for Hal and Greek yogurt for me. Serves 2. 1 peach or nectarine 1 kiwi 1 cup strawberries 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed 2 tsp sugar Peel the fruit and cut them into bite size pieces.  Put the pieces in a salad bowl, add the lemon juice and sugar.  Toss to combine.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Toss the fruit before serving. soscuisine.com

I thought it was okay.  Hal hated it. Serves 2. 1 tbsp paprika 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground pepper 1 tbsp cornmeal 2 tilapia or turbot fillets (360 g) 1 tbsp canola oil 1 clove garlic, for pan-frying 1 tbsp butter, unsalted, for pan-frying 1/2 lemon, cut into wedges These fish fillets can be cooked either in a pan on the stove or using an outdoor grill. In a shallow bowl, stir together the paprika, oregano, cayenne, sugar, salt and ground pepper.  To obtain a crispier crust, add the cornmeal (optional). Pat the fillets dry and dredge them in the mixture, turning them to coat well.  Shake of the excess then place the fillets on an oiled, hot grill. Cook until the fish is opaque throughout and lightly blackened on the outside, 4-5 minutes on each side, turning them once. Alternatively, heat the oil in a large skillet over moderately high heat.  Thinly slice the garlic then add it to ...

I really liked it.  Hal did not Serves 4. 1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 tsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsp. olive oil 1/3 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted Peel the leaves off the Brussels sprouts; discard the cores.  Bring a large saucepan of water to boiling.  Add sprouts; cook 20-30 minutes or until barely tender.  Drain and immediately plunge into ice water.  Drain well and dry in a salad spinner.  Transfer to a large bowl; set aside. For the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper to taste.  Gradually whisk in the oil.  Drizzle dressing over leaves to coat lightly; toss.  Add cranberries and walnuts; toss to combine.  Chill.

. . . sigh . . . I drove over to Michaels in London today for 2 items.  I found the embroidery thread I needed but the thing I wanted most, that I've been searching for years for . . . no where to be found.  A friend sent me a link recently about Martha Stewart craft products for texture called embossing paste.  When I couldn't locate this or any other similar product I went looking for floor staff.  There was none to be found.  So I knocked on the office door and asked for assistance.  The young lady came out, looked at the Martha Stewart display right outside her door and informed me they didn't have any.  Duh!  I asked if these products would be coming in or if I could order some in.  She told me that perhaps a higher volume store might have them and no they wouldn't order in.  Do you think they might be a higher volume store if they actually sold something to their customers??  So I spent $1. there. On the other hand, someti...

You've heard me talk about Ladies' Day Out . . . oh once or twice . . . LOL.  I don't go often in the summer because I don't like heat so I tend to huddle up in my air conditioned apartment, venturing out only when I am in need of food or there is a really superior scrapbooking sale.  You can pretty much count on me to be there every Tuesday in the fall, winter and spring though. We have some traditions at LDO.  One of my favourites is the birthday rule.  When it is your birthday you get to host your birthday party.  You pick the food for lunch and bring your favourite cake.  We all help you eat it and give you little presents.  You never worry that your birthday will be forgotten because you are the host.  We've had every meal from hot dogs to roast beef and every cake from McCains to fancy character cakes . . . and we've loved each and every party . . . How's that for a nice tradition? These photos are from Krista...

I'm in a story-telling sort of mood right now . . . so I thought I would tell you the story of the missing jewelry. About 2-1/2 years ago my rings went missing.  I often took them off and set them someplace safe when I was working with cleaners.  The problem this time was that a day or two later I realized I wasn't wearing them and I started searching the house for them.  I tore every shelf and cupboard and drawer apart and couldn't find them anywhere. Apparently, in the back of his mind, Hal must have recalled seeing the rings but couldn't remember where or under what circumstances.  After a while Hal thought he remembered seeing them.  A few months later he thought he might have put them in an envelope because he thought he would take them to the jeweler for a cleaning to surprise me.  A few months after that he began to worry that they had been thrown out.  I was really mad with him because he had lost my rings.  I threatened that h...

Photos taken January 27, 2012

This is the salad I was raving about earlier this week on Facebook.  I think I will be making it quite a lot this summer.  It is easy, delicious and very refreshing.  I bet lots of different veggies could be substituted in. For 2 servings: 1 leek 1-1/2 tbsp  Classic Vinaigrette 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed salt and pepper to taste 4 button (white) mushrooms, sliced 1 tomato, sliced 1 carrot, shredded Prepare the leeks:  cut off the dark green tops and discard, slice the white and pale-green parts into large chunks, then boil or steam them for about 10 minutes, until soft.  Drain the leeks and let cool a few minutes. With a serrated knife, cut each chunk of the leeks into rounds about 1 cm thick and transfer them to a bowl.  Pour in the Classic Vinaigrette (I doubled the lemon/olive oil dressing and used that instead), then season with salt and pepper.  Blend gently and set aside. In a small b...

4 apples, Cortland or Lobo 4 tsp butter, unsalted 1 tbsp brown sugar 2 tsp raisins 1 tbsp pine nuts 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon salt, about one pinch Preheat the oven to 375F. Wash the apples.  With a corer, carve out the core and seeds from the top, paying attention not to pierce the apple completely through to the bottom.  Make a circular incision just through the skin halfway up the side to avoid bursting during cooking.  Place the apples in a shallow baking dish. In a small bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, raisins, nuts, cinnamon, and pinch of salt.  Portion out the mixture into the apples.  Add a small amount of water (about 1/2 tbsp per apple) to the bottom of the dish to start the cooking and prevent burning or sticking.  Place the dish of apples in the centre of the oven. and cook for 30 minutes. I served the apples with vanilla ice cream. From soscuisine.com

Before I post this recipe, let me just say that Hal (my hubby) hates fish.  Really really hates it.  He enjoyed this trout.  You notice I didn't say love.  Hal will never love fish, but he did like it.  I loved it.  The fish was served with steamed basmati rice and a salad. 2 trout fillets 360g -- I used rainbow trout 1/4 cup slivered almonds 1/4 cup white wine (optional) -- I used a Vidal 3 tbsp margarine salt pepper Heat the margarine in a frying pan.  Add the almonds then saute over medium heat until they are golden.  Take the almonds out of the pan and keep them warm on a small plate in the oven. Add the trout to the pan and cook over fairly high heat, 2-3 minutes on each side, starting with the skin side down.  Deglaze the pan with the wine, lower the heat and cover.  Cook 7-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the trout is tender.  Check with a fork to see if it is cooked through. Take the ...

Photos taken January 21, 2012

. . . was January 20, 2012 . . . 

The Under 12 CYO Boys Basketball Team were awarded the Ontario Basketball Team Fair Play award.  I think their warm up shirts say it all.  My grandson plays on the team and my son coaches.  I am so proud of them both.  I am proud of the entire team and of the parents of these young athletes who teach by example. RESPECT Yourself Your Team Your Opponent The Game They play a tough game but they always play fair. The parents cheer for both teams, just louder for our own!  

It's been a while since I've had a rant about anything so here goes . . . When you are crossing the street, the little green man flashing at you is only an invitation to cross . . . NOT A GUARANTEE!!  Don't you remember your training?  Look both ways before crossing the street.  I could have been texting my bestie, spilling coffee on myself, my brakes could have failed . . . seriously . . . grown ups are so dumb. I know, I know . . . we all do it . . . leaving our grocery carts willie nillie about the parking lot.  That is annoying.  Have we become so lazy we can't walk the few additional steps required to put the cart where it belongs?  But what really burns me up are people who leave the carts in the middle of handicap parking spots.  WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?  The lady on crutches, the man in a wheelchair . . . you expect them to park in the laneway, get out of their vehicles and into their walker, wheelchair, or whatever, push the cart out of...

This is a very non-exciting day.  That's okay.  We all deserve a day where not much happens. I was hoping to go to a tea biscuit party . . . I even mapquested the directions . . . but a call to deliver a grandson to a doctor's appointment topped the party . . . I promised my grandsons that they always come first. To make up for the missed party I treated myself to a visit to Memories of Main Street in Lambeth (London).  Picked up some very pretty strawberry and canning jar papers.  And of course I had to have matching ribbons and cardstock to make a kit. Now if only June 9th would come along so I can take my WagJag coupon to a local strawberry farm and pick up my half price flat of strawberries.  Those strawberries will be jam by the 10th . . . LOL. I've invited some friends over for lunch and scrapbooking tomorrow.  This way I know I'll clean my house today.  Sometimes when I start chores this late in the day I don't get too far . . . but...

On our way home from a doctor's appointment, a very medicated Debbie decides she is starving.  A visit to the Shwarma Palace in London changes her whole life . . . LOL . . .

Hal and I are participating in the Relay for Life in St. Thomas tonight. It is going to be a long, cold, wet night. I want to share something my Relay teammate, Krista Taylor Rempel, just posted on Facebook: Relay for Life tonight. Ive been quietly grumbling about the weather (no one else here to hear me) and then I remembered the phrase I heard last year about cancer doesn't sleep (the encouragement to stay awake all night) and I realized that no matter how wet, uncomfortable and miserable I may feel tonight it will not be as uncomfortable as cancer. So I will try and suck it upand put in perspective what and why I will be at the Relay .