WELCOME to SUMMER...PASTA SALAD(GRILLED VEG&MEAT)

I LOVE May...its the month where we..who live in Canada....can start to garden and bring out ALL the OUTDOOR stuff....my NEW living room is AVAILABLE for me to enjoy. We live in a nice house...but there are times with three kids and a Hubby..you JUST need to find your own space...and our back deck is an addition to our home..if only for the Summer months. There I can escape in the early mornings with my MUGS of coffee or in the afternoon to sneak a chapter in of a book that I am currently reading, or in the early evening...relaxing with my Hubby...chatting about the day and glancing about the gardens(where my mind runs off, with the many possibilities or even planning the next years treats). BUT on a DAY like TODAY where the temperature...with the humidity is 39...its time to hibernate indoors...close the windows, pull down the blinds and try not to use extra power...like lights and stoves and ovens....its TIME TO BBQ ALL MEALS!!! (if possible)

And on a day like today...where its only HOT today...tomorrow should be back to normal.....I'm trying NOT to use the air conditioning...and so, at 2:31pm its still only 24 in house....so MAYBE I'll make it!! Perhaps too we will lose a pound or so in sweat..nothing wrong with that...I have Weddings to attend to in the next few months...and lately I've been indulging in PC's IceCream Shoppe Flavours.....OK, just the one FLAVOUR...Peanut Butter and Chocolate...OMG...delish!! I've been skipping LUNCH to BALANCE things out...shhhhh!!!

With the Summer weather, I try to BBQ daily(if I can)...I LOVE the BBQ taste...FOOD just tastes better when its been BBQ'd...and BONUS...less dishes!! Tonight's menu is quite simple....although I might add, I have to cook pasta(slight hiccup...when I'm against using the STOVE in this HEAT!) But the way I beat that, is that early in the morning, I come up with the meal plan for that day....and try to cook it then....when its still COOL outside.....cause by the afternoon...its too HOT to do anything! So with the pasta already chilled and in the fridge...I grab peppers, red onions, mushrooms and frozen chicken breasts(skinless/boneless). Chicken goes on first...then on the other burner, I add my veg(all washed and sliced in half and drizzled with Olive Oil and Sea Salt) and let it all cook. I usually take the veg off when its al dente and let it rest in a bowl. With chicken...I am overly cautious...and usually leave it on too long...but as long as there are no pink juices...we are good! I let it all rest and slightly cool down to handle...then slice it all(lengthwise) and throw it  in with the pasta. I do have a dressing too...light....a few glubs of olive oil, a good handful of basil(chopped) and some Sea Salt and a quick grind of Pepper....mix everything and then top the salad(that's in individual bowls) with FRESHLY GRATED Parmesan Reg. Cheese!! AWESOME!!!

All sliced waiting for the pasta!

At first I cooked Bow Tie Pasta...but while draining it, the lid slipped and it all went into the sink...so I reached for the next available pasta...rigatoni, it the was bottom of the bag! Hence the broken bits! BUT still tasty!!

The thing with this SALAD...it can be whatever you have in YOUR KITCHEN....whatever pasta shape you like...whatever vegetables YOU like....even the meat can vary!! I've done it once with a steak...it made the steak stretch and feed a family of 5.....so anything is possible!!

That's the thing with cooking....you never know what you will create when NOT using a recipe....just grab your favourite flavours...whatever you have on hand....and just create!!!

Cheers!!!

Blueberry Lemon Biscuits....

I know a few weeks ago I posted my Triple Chocolate Cookie Balls, which...while browsing my name(for fun, cause who doesnt GOOGLE their own name??) .....I came across MANY recipes that have the same title.....hmmm......perhaps I should change it?! This week I thought I would add something slightly healthy...with a kick of anti-oxidants....Blueberries.....cause Lemons and Blueberries seem to go together like two peas in a pod!

The  thing with this recipe is that I have left out the Blueberries before...Katie doesnt like Blueberries....she only likes Lemons! While making a batch before, I quickly dropped a few on a cookie sheet just for her. Then added the Blueberries to the rest of the dough....it was too wet...still a learning process...but thats half the fun.....you never know what you may create...thats why I always make notes...just incase...might discover that multi-million dollar deal......

So on a somewhat sunny, Sunday afternoon...with a glass of wine in hand...I got out my ingredients.  After I had the dough ready, I thought about patting it out and using a glass to cut out perferct circles...must have been the wine-thinking...but they turned out GREAT(and got along well with the wine, Sauvignon Blanc, from Jackson Triggs!!) Although...I must say, I like my drop method better than patting it down...more of a rustic look...you decide!?

PS. Remember too...ovens vary...perhaps set timers for 15minutes...and then test them...they should give a little...

BLUEBERRY LEMON BISCUITS@Sherry Watton

Preheat Oven to 350

½ cup Butter(softened)

3 cups of flour (just the regular All-Purpose Flour)

2tsp Baking Powder

1/3 cup of sugar

pinch of salt

zest of 1 whole Lemon

Softened Butter should be in the BOWL first, dump the rest of the ingredients on top….then mix coarsely together with a fork, should resemble a coarse mixture…

What it LOOKS like, all mixed.....with a FORK!

IN ANOTHER BOWL ADD:

2 eggs

1/3 cup of milk

Juice of WHOLE Lemon(the lemon that you just zested)

Whisk these WET ingredients…..then add them to the DRY INGREDIENTS(make a well, then pour in liquids) …mix and add the Blueberries(I use a small pint…which says 170g/6oz.)

FROM HERE…I have done two different things….

1.   ** Once mixed(not over mixed) I take a BIG SPOONful and drop the mixture(on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper)…just a good size biscuit.. and bake for 20 minutes

2.  ** Once mixed, I turn out onto floured board and just pat nicely…to about an inch thick….and using a glass, cut out perfect little circles…and bake for 15 minutes

NOW…both I have brushed with milk and have sprinkled(evenly/lightly) with sugar. I have also made a light icing(4tsp milk and ½ cup of icing sugar) mixed in a sandwich bag(I got Katie to mash and smoosh it....till completely smooth....no lumps), snipped the tip and quickly zig zagged over the COOLED Biscuits.

I have too in the past, substituted the milk for lemon juice and added some Lemon Zest(but that’s more for decoration). It all depends on the TASTES of the PEOPLE that you live with!!

ENJOY!!

DROP Biscuits.....

Patted out biscuits....

All because of WATER MAINTENANCE.....

Just a quick note today......I was going to make my Blueberry Lemon Biscuits, I had all my ingredients and was ready for the day....but I forgot a notice that came to our house..."on the 24th between the hours of 8AM and 7PM, please refrain from using the WATER. They are doing maintenance/flushing on the water system. Sorry for any inconvience." Now....you don't really realize how much water you use daily, until you cant use it. I DRINK tons of water daily...every hour or so, I'm filling up the Brita container...washing hands from gardening...washing my kids hands...using the potty...how readily we turn to our water, just flip the tap...and there is clean water.  That got me thinking about countries that don't have clean water, or those that have to travel miles before reaching "somewhat" clean water!  We are privileged...and at times we forget that!! We as a society take many things for granted. Today and it should be everyday....I am cherishing what I have! I don't need BIGGER and BETTER things...Matt has a GOOD, secure job..... and as long as my family is healthy and tummies are full and there is laughter and hugs throughout the day....I will not want for BIGGER, BETTER and MORE.....

All these thoughts ran through my mind as I sat outside, early this morning...drinking my COFFEE!! I got up earlier to shower, makes lunches, water the gardens...doing the things that evolved around water. Then while the 3 kids were still asleep...I snuck out back and savoured my coffee and the scenery.....sun filtering through the trees, and hearing nothing but the wind rustling the new leaves and the birds singing.......with a such a BEAUTIFUL morning, it was then that I started to reflect on my life and those that I do not even know.....all because of the water maintenance.....

Sitting with my COFFEE........this is my VIEW!!

Side VIEW.........all the PLANTS starting to GROW!!

Its TIME to GARDEN!!!

In Canada...they say(I don't know who...but I've heard...perhaps its a wives tale)...the LONG WEEKEND in MAY is the WEEKEND to garden....perhaps it is then that the FROST is no longer a threat to our pretty little friends in the rich, black soil!! I have been itching to get to my gardens......in March we had LOVELY MILD temperatures...but I was too scared to dig about...I kept reminding myself..."I live in Canada...I live up NORTH in the 705 area code!" However this past weekend, was the LONG May 24 WEEKEND. Not only did I shop early at the Grocery Store and my local LCBO...I hit the Bradford Greenhouse...time to buy some flowers, vegetables and herbs. I was HAPPY.....picking out plants!!

This is my third summer here in our little home....now the gardens are healthy and flourishing with perennials.  This year I am correcting mistakes that I made last year.....FOR ONE, RASPBERRIES........YOU need a LARGE space for them...like in the back corner of the yard...where they can grow and flourish...cause they will GROW and FLOURISH...they are like a WEED!!! They were taking over a certain part of my garden....to the point where my hydrangea had to fight to survive! Last week....I fought with my Hubby's work gloves and a SHOVEL..to dig up NEW spawns of the original Raspberry bush...those ROOTS went on and on...deeper and deeper....BUT I THINK I WON!! Time will tell!!! Give me a WEEK!! I'll let you know!

Every new year with gardening, you realize certain things...what can survive in YOUR garden and what doesn't. YOU also realize what YOU like and what YOU can improve on ...what to add, what colours to mix...what new vegetables to try.....its a great way to get your kids involved too...they end up trying the veg/fruit from YOUR garden!! Its FUN!! We tried celery last year....it was too dry...as Josh said "its not juicy enough!" We also tried to grow a pumpkin....it got WAY OUT OF HAND.....then one night a squirrel came along and ate the WHOLE plant........

Every SUMMER we have to have our tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, rosemary, and oregano...those are our staples!! But now the GARDEN is getting too FULL.....I have no more room to switch it up, grow something new...unless...unless  I can convince the HUBBY to dig up some grass...poor kids....their play area will be getting smaller and smaller......

I finished the INITIAL weeding, mulching and planting yesterday....and I must say....I am quite HAPPY with the GARDENS so far...its just the beginning....and you know it was a SUCCESS cause your legs and arms are SORE from battling the weeds/roots and rocks...and even potatoes...YES potatoes....I am still finding potatoes buried beneath the gardens...I have no idea what the previous tenants were thinking...but I FOUND many, many POTATOES!!!

The GARDENS...various angles!!! See the KIDS have some space to PLAY!!

Its been awhile...a little drama and then add Mothers Day in the mix...I'm tired!

Its been awhile...yet again...LIFE gets in the way of BLOGGING...how RUDE!!! Since my last entry I've had to OPEN my HOME  to my MOTHER!! The day before her trip to Thailand, she fell.....she didn't see that ROCK(or pebble) while hurrying back to the office! She fell and did enough damage to her wrist...broke it and shattered the bones.....HOW LUCKY CAN A GAL GET!! She went her whole life without breaking a bone...let alone twisting something! And the day before her first exotic trip to Thailand....she makes a trip in the ambulance to stay and visit the exotic Toronto Western Hospital. There she waited for over three hours....I cant even imagine the pain and looking at your wrist and seeing bones, almost poking through your skin. That afternoon I was bombarded with emails from her co-workers....no one knew exactly where she went or what the damage was!

Finally I tracked her down....calling hospitals, I told each operator the story.......but by that time I couldn't speak to her...she was sedated...they were trying to POP things BACK in!! Eeek....  Saturday night she had surgery(a plate and screws were put in). Sunday she was released and came back home with me....in our small home, three kids, and a husband! Don't get me wrong, I love my Mom...but in small quarters and her injured and in constant pain... I was scared that one of the kids would hit her, or accidentally bang her with a toy car or something....I think I lived that week on egg shells. It was like I had FOUR kids....and I had to keep the peace with everyone! It was exhausting!!

Then came Mothers Day...which in all honesty, it didn't feel like it! I did receive lovely flowers, cards and brunch at the local Milestones Restaurant...but that element of relaxing to the point where I did nothing, was not there!   However after brunch, my Aunt was waiting at our house....she took Mom and Katie for the week(almost..till Thursday)...that was LOVELY...it was then after their departure, I was almost back to myself!! Perhaps the wine and shopping at the Antique Market helped too!!






Friday was the BIG TRIP to TORONTO....during rush hour... on a Friday of the HOLIDAY WEEKEND...construction here and there...more volume here and there...not finding a parking spot and having to drive around the hospital three times before finding the spot....three kids and a Mother...it was FUN!! It was a LONG DAY!!! But after three hours in the hospital...and her finally having 9 staples removed(ouch).....we were out and Mommy Dearest was on her way home........to her CONDO....her HOME!! LOL!! She is now HOME and starting work again this week.....she is more mobile but wishes that she could retire...not yet please, I'm not sure I can handle her idea(?) of moving in........I'm not rich enough...and she needs an entire WING to herself!! BUT I LOVE HER DEARLY!!!


On the BRIGHT SIDE of this....I would have to say that she got to spend MORE time with her GRANDCHILDREN.....and BOND with Katie....Katie was her shadow, her nurse while she stayed with us. Normally we see my Mother a few times a year, birthdays, anniversaries, just special occasions...she lives too far away, or we are each too busy with our own lives...its hard to re-connect...but with this accident, we connected. It also had me thinking of the sandwich generation....where we are raising our children and then looking after our ageing parents....its kinda scary!  I think we are getting too busy with activities, working more hours at the office(cause we want bigger and better things), moving here and there....perhaps we need to slow down...take the time to smell the roses, appreciate our parents and children and friends.....just enjoy the LIFE we were given. But its hard to do that...isn't it!?

WOWZERS.....

WOWZERS is all I can say when I logged on this morning.....well over 80 hits on yesterdays BLOG on Triple Chocolate Cookie Balls. I hope you do try them!!  I believe they are quite simple to make since I made 140 on Friday....I kinda turned into a machine...lol!! I found it interesting that my two kids came running when I started to make each batch...they eagerly watched and commented on the ingredients...of course they wanted a few chocolate chips....but when it came time to rolling the cookies...they took off...I was boring them!! And it understandable...there came a point when I just rolled and glanced out the window...watching the squirrels and birds...I even noticed that the same squirrel was hanging about, he had a patch of fur missing on his right side! Once the cookie tray went into the oven and I washed the dishes, the timer BEEPED...and the kids came back, eagerly awaiting to sample some balls and watched the process all over again, again leaving when it came to roll out the cookies.

I do have other recipes that I have created...tinkering over time, trying to perfect them. I think I will share them with you...weekly. The reason that I do my own stuff, is that I ACTUALLY ENJOY DOING IT and I know what goes into them. I know with three kids it would be easier to just buy a box of cookies, but then you have  ingredients that YOU cant even pronounce and preservatives. I just try to keep things simple, great tastes and appealing...after all you eat with your eyes! Also by baking/cooking you get your kids involved, they get to know ingredients, whats healthy and they actually eat it too....why...cause they helped to create it.

I believe that ANYONE can BAKE/COOK...take a simple recipe, try it out. If you really like it, think of something to add to it or something to take away from it. Tinker with things....kids and husbands are great for testing things out on....kids tell the truth. I know, my six year old commented once that the chicken was not JUICY enough!! Kids can be OUR toughest critics!!  I am always tinkering....I  love Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, Michael Smith and Ina Garten.....I have their books. I took one of Nigella's recipes a bit further. She has in one of her books, a recipe for muffins....in it she has yogurt and oil, I took it a step further and omitted the oil and doubled the yogurt...and they are great...the KIDS love them!!!

So  you never know where your inspirations can come from...get in the kitchen, tinker about......