September 28, 2012 - Things on the go!

It has been well over a month since the last blog entry. Lots of things going on. August-September is peak tomato season and I have been taking full advantage of that. I have made two batches of fresh tomato sauce and eating lots of tomatoes in my salads and cooked with eggs. I had a visit from my mom whom I hadn't seen in a year and spent a weekend at the cottage at Sauble Beach. We stopped at a place called Macbeth's for breakfast one morning and took notice that they made and sold their own jam. They had raspberry, strawberry-rhubarb and peach. Normally strawberry-rhubarb would have won my favour in a choice of these three but I had already made that strawberry rhubarb syrup this summer and thought maybe I'd give peach a try. It was delicious. I used some of it to make a marinade for chicken breasts with soy sauce, olive oil, minced garlic, fresh thyme and dried chilies. Barbecued and served that on a beautiful leafy salad with Ontario blue grapes, fresh figs, and radishes. 

I made cajun spiced red snapper with fingerling potatoes and wilted sorrel for a nice, light dinner one night. Just this week I made a Thai coconut red curry with chicken, string beans, red pepper, and baby bok choy. 

In my last entry I shared my experience making pasta for the first time. Man, was that ever beginner's luck! I have tried to make pasta four times since. Only one has been semi-successful. The more I read about pasta making the more I'm finally heeding the warnings that it does take a lot of practice. I haven't given up though. Wish me luck!

I also made a trip to St Lawrence Market within the last month. It's one of my favourite places in the city. I take the King streetcar to Jarvis. From there you're just a stone throw from the farmer's market across the street from St Lawrence. I always go on a Saturday morning. The farmer's market opens at 5:00AM. The best time to enjoy it is as early as possible because any time after 9 or 10 gets too busy for my liking. The market is best enjoyed when you don't have to maneuver around hoards of people and you can actually have a conversation with the farmers, butchers, mongers, bakers, cheese makers and distributors about the product you're about to buy and cook with. I always leave that place with such a loot. I bought lot of tomatoes, fish, spices, vinegar, olives and more... what a treat. 

I treated myself to take out for dinner tonight. I had spinach and feta pie wrapped in flaky phyllo pastry with a Greek salad and garlic bread. It was scrumptious. 

In a week I am heading out to Calgary, Alberta to visit my family. I will get to meet my niece for the very first time. She's almost eight months old already! That will be great. I'm also going to see some old friends to catch up. Two of my friends from high school and i have a day in Banff planned. Banff is a tourist town in the Rocky Mountains of western Alberta. So needless to say, I'll have lots of great eating experiences to share. 

Be happy and stay fed,

B