Friday, August 31, 2012

SUMMER FUN WITH FRIENDS

Having some fun in the backyard.
Last Saturday we had a few friends over for a BBQ. It has been a very stressful summer for some of us, for various reasons,  and it was good to get together to blow off some steam.

We had a wide variety of foods and conversations, and the laughs flowed as easy as the many jello shooters that were enjoyed.

"Chef Rob", he's getting more comfortable with the bbq'ing.
They look so serious, but they are either talking about Apple TV or a trip to Vegas.
Girl talk in the kitchen, with Rob listening in.
"What?"
Our neighborhood Groundhog made an appearance. 
"AWE!!"
It was a great and much needed afternoon.

Friday, August 24, 2012

SCALLOP CASSEROLE

Another keeper!
Last Sunday I made another recipe from the "Decade of Good Eats" recipe booklet from Saltscapes magazine.

It was another easy recipe to follow and quite tasty. I normally only pan fry scallops so it's nice to have another way to serve them, and I would make this for company.

SCALLOP CASSEROLE

Ingredients
1 pound (500 g) scallops (halve large scallops)
1 tablespoon (15 mL) butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped celery
1 (10-ounce/284 mL) can mushroom pieces and stems (or equal amount chopped fresh mushrooms)
1 (10-ounce/284 mL) can cream of mushroom soup
2/3 cup (150 mL) milk
3/4 cup (175 mL) soft breadcrumbs
1/2 cup (125 mL) grated cheese, optional
Cooked rice

Directions
Add scallops to a saucepan of boiling water. Reduce heat to low and let simmer gently for no more than 5 minutes. Drain, transfer scallops to a medium-size greased casserole dish; set aside.

In the same saucepan, melt butter; add chopped onion and celery, and sauté until translucent, but not browned. Add mushroom pieces and cook, stirring, until heated through. Combine soup and milk and add to vegetable mixture. Pour soup mixture over scallops in casserole dish; stir gently to combine.

Spread fresh breadcrumbs over top and sprinkle with grated cheese, if desired. Bake, uncovered, at 350°F (180°C) for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned on top. Serve over rice. Makes 3 to 4 servings.

I used fresh mushrooms, and served it on egg noodles. I used dried breadcrumbs, but next time would use fresh.

Next time I'll sprinkle it with parsley, for a splash of colour. 
 Love trying and sharing these new recipes!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

KEMPENFEST ~ OUR FIRST TIME

How about this for the backyard?
The Sunday of the Civic Holiday weekend, Rob and I went to "Kempenfest" with friends Dave and Andi. It is a large outdoor arts and crafts festival that takes place on the Barrie Waterfront. Dave and Andi have been many times before but it was Rob and mines first time, but it won't be our last.

Dave drove us in his PT Cruiser.
I haven't had a potato chip this year, so I passed on the free samples.
Lots of grand birdhouses for sale!
Entertainment though-out the day and live bands perform at night.
  Andi and I waiting to get in the car.
We stopped at A & W for a late lunch.
Our haul from the day!
    We enjoyed checking out all the vendors; lots of jewellery, food products, soaps, clothing, painting and photography. There is something for everybody and I can understand why it's so popular.  It wasn't the best day weather wise, and it started to rain quite heavily as we were getting ready to leave but we made the best of it.

We purchased a couple new yard ornaments, wine jellies, sauces, salad dressings and bath stuff. I would also like to thank the person who dropped the gorgeous hand made wooden spoon for me to find while running back to the car in the rain. And a special thanks to Dave for taking the time to stop and get if for me as my hands were full and it was pouring!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

MEADOW & ME

Meadow and I having a chat.

Meadow was only about 6 months old when I entered her and Rob's life, and I knew from the moment I saw Rob and her together that there was a very special bond between them. She was his "princess" and he was her "whole world" as he once told me in an email when we first met.

Meadow didn't think to much of me when I first entered her life, if I remember correctly, she wouldn't even let me pat her. If Rob and I were sitting on the couch she'd promptly jump on his lap and glare at me, as if to say "mine".

I was determined to make friends with her. I knew I would never have the same bond with her as Rob, I had had a bond like that with my own cat, Buster, for 15 years before I lost her to stomach cancer, that kind of relationship is sacred, I knew that, that special relationship was theirs and theirs alone. Still, Meadow was young, and I planned on being around for a long time, like forever, I needed to establish some sort of relationship with her too. How to do that?

Two words, "Fancy Feast".  Yes, I bribed the kitty with food, I'll admit it. When Rob and I were dating and I use to spend the weekends, I use to give her Fancy Feast, and she loved it. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and I remember how excited she use to get when she saw me on the weekend, because she knew it meant getting Fancy Feast. Rob never gave it to her those first five years before we lived together, that was a special thing for her and I alone. 

Unlike Rob and Meadow, whose relationship has been the same since he first brought her to the house, Meadow and mines relationship has changed over the 9 years I've been in her life. We have our own special games, feeding rituals and bond. I think it was about 2 months after I moved in when she really accepted me, I was laying on the couch watching TV while Rob was at work, and she walked over and jumped up on my tummy, purred and stared at me. It took over 5 years, but she finally claimed me as her own!

I think sometimes she gets confused about her loyalty when we're both home. She rarely shows me any real affection if Rob's around, but I get lots of kitty love when he's at work. I'm happy to play second fiddle to Rob for her affections.

I've been to every vet appointment she's ever had, I introduced her to Fancy Feast and cat nip, and I once came all the way over to the house when I was really sick with a cold to remove a pain bandage from her belly after she was spayed, because Rob couldn't do it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, she's special to me too, and when we recently went through a health scare with her, I really realized just how much.

Nine years isn't long enough with ole Fuzzy Butt, and I hope we have many, many more years of silliness together.

I love this shot of her.
Rob and Meadow one Halloween.

I use this shot of her as my Gmail background picture.
An X-mas gift I had made for Rob early on.
She is a special little girl to both of us.
   Rob did a blog about her 9th birthday health scare, which you can read about by clicking here.