When LIFE gets you DOWN...go to the PARK!

We are not always the HAPPY, GO LUCKY PERSON we appear to be...there are days when the gloomy weather matches your mood...dark, dreary, cold and rainy!! It's not all SUNSHINE!! Although at times I am sure that the loved ones in my life wish it was SUNNY! HA!!

But what always seems to make me smile or even laugh.....is people watching!! Where else to do it, but at the park my friends!! Recently...I saw three things that made me smile and even laugh out loud!! And it was based around children!! Children know how to make us smile...they don't have the worries of the world on their shoulder(and they shouldn't)..for them...it should be where to play, what snack do I want...and what car do I want to play with.....

Attached to our park, is a baseball field...there was a game going on...not a serious game...but a fun game!! There was a child, in centre field...red shirt, black shorts and a BRIGHT pink tutu!!  She was out there, dancing and twirling...most likely told to be there, and the only way she would be there...was if she wore her PINK TUTU!! And she did catch a ball...in between flips and twirls!!

Then there was a Brother and Sister....he was decked out with all the protective gear that one should wear at 8, while trying to skateboard! Now he was on his knees, bracing himself on his board! Now bring in the Sister who was 6(hopefully)....dressed fully in purple(love it)...she was pushing her Brother around on the path...they had so much fun...no fears at all...seriously, after she rammed him into the green garbage can...he got back on.... and she pushed him again.....but this time he crashed into a tree!!! Such trust between a Brother and a Sister!

Thirdly.....there was a father and Son...the little boy..who wore a HUGE SMILE was driving one of those motorized cars...steering and driving and looking around at the kids on the swings...he veered off the path and ended up in the wood chips!! His Dad laughed and made a comment about paying attention...he got him back on the path and they continued! Now as a parent, I would never walk in front of my child.......its like grocery shopping...your child wants to push the cart and you are ahead of them...walking quickly and oddly, cause you are trying to protect your heels...your precious heels....!! Well this smiling little boy...rammed right into his Father....I laughed(and I tried to do it quietly...)...the look on the Dad's face....priceless!!!

The joys and smiles of being at the park.....the innocence! Always brings a SMILE to my face!! No matter what is going on in my life...I try to see the joy in others...to catch a glimpse of their joy, a quick intimate moment between two loved ones, as they look at each other....and to feel the sticky arms of my children, as they wrap their love around me....I am reminded, LIFE IS GOOD!

Michael Smith's BACON SMASHED POTATOES are PERFECT for this COOL weather!

Cooler weather screams for warm comfort food....comfort food to me is mashed potatoes...YUM! I could eat a bowl full for my dinner....!! Shhhh...just don't tell the health nuts...or my Mother!! HA!! I could hear her rant now....!!

Josh and I thought it was a perfect time to make Michael Smith's BACON SMASHED POTATOES....come on...potatoes and BACON! YUM!!! The only thing we switched around was cooking the bacon in the frying pan...instead of simmering in water....!! AND instead of microwaving potatoes we boiled them...the old fashioned way!! But we understand the reason for microwaving them....limited time in a hectic day!! AND since my Daughter doesn't like green onions...we used chives!! So we really switched around a lot of the instructions and ingredients!! But that's OK....LOL!!

End result...they were DIVINE!! GOOD OLD COMFORT FOOD!!!

They went well with our crusted Chicken Breasts!! Hubby said "it was like a loaded bake potato!" Can't go wrong with that....!!

You want FRESH FISH...Joey's in PEI has it!!

If you are going on HOLIDAYS to PEI, one must take a fishing excursion...its a must! Hubby and Josh went fishing in North Rustico...to Joey's Deep Sea Fishing! Now this was their third time fishing for Mackerel and Cod with Joey and company! They had a blast...I have never seen such a smile on my Son's face as he leaves the cottage in anticipation to go fishing and then again the smile is there as he returns and holds up a bag of fish that he caught!!

Now granted...not all trips are successful...just depends on the day and the mood of the fish(I suppose)...but this year they caught an abundance of mackerel and cod! Right there on the boat....they cut, clean and bag the fish for you! Even if you didn't catch a fish....you still come ashore with a bag of tasty morsels...waiting to be devoured! Josh even caught two on a line!! He was ecstatic!!

The following day they went back to do Lobster Fishing....on board was a pot of mussels steaming and a fresh pot of chowder!! Hubby said he had never tasted anything so fresh! So good! They all learnt about catching Lobster....and for the final....they had fresh Lobster on board!! I was slightly jealous...but I knew that they both had a blast....so it was OK!

The fish that they brought back was delicious! The cod...Hubby did a quick fry in the pan...topped with lemon and sea salt/pepper. For the mackerel...we wrapped it in toil foil with a marinade of olive oil, some white wine, seasonings, lemon and onion! It was simple and pure....FISH at its best! I don't think that we have ever tasted something that FRESH...FRESH FISH ...and we probably won't again...till we return to Joey's, in Prince Edward Island! If you like fishing....you should check them out!!

*Now....Josh wants to live on PEI and become a FISHERMAN...and own his own restaurant!!
You never know where and what might INSPIRE a CHILD!
 

www.joeysfishing.com

Michael Smith's BACON FETTUCCINE CARBONARA...errr...LINGUINE I mean!

BACON FETTUCCINE CARBONARA.....minus the fettuccine and add linguine!! Use what you have!! I recall Smith saying that once...not sure if it was in his show or that I read it in his book...regardless...I am pretty sure it was HIM that said it....so I try to live by it!! USE WHAT YOU HAVE...can go for all aspects of life! Be happy with what you have! Be happy with YOU! Just be happy!

While reading the directions, Josh and I were not sure why we had to simmer the bacon in water....does it make for less fat?! Anyone know....!? We did it anyways....!! Although Josh and I discussed that we would have cooked the bacon in a frying pan...drained the fat...and with all the remaining bits in the pan, use it as we tossed in the garlic and remaining ingredients! BUT...nonetheless it was yummy!!

We served the pasta in my Grandmothers Platter. I came across the platter in her attic, as we cleared her house out!! She has been gone these seven years...but I could feel her presence and I knew she would be smiling....her Great Grandson...cooking in the kitchen...and using her dish!

Josh was also enlightened and made aware of my feelings. When I cook and prepare new dishes or old ones, Hubby does at times...add flavours without tasting the "original" dish. I would fuss in the beginning but now remain silent. I always found it an insult in a way...someone spent time...preparing a dish, trying to make it perfect...then someone came along and added pepper or chili flakes without trying the dish to begin with! I have made comments in the past...and lately he has stopped adding the "heat"....but with this dish...I assumed he would want the chili flakes...so I reached for the bottle...and what did Josh say, "what are you doing, the recipe didn't call for chili flakes...you are going to ruin it!" He was hurt!! I was alternating the dish he made!
It was Freaky Friday...but on a Sunday and in the kitchen! Josh understood me for that brief moment! Hubby did try the dish as it was written...and then a second helping with the chili flakes...he later commented that the first serving, minus the flakes, was the best!

Needless to say...we are having fun...cooking together in the kitchen!! We are learning, sharing and growing together...conversations are being had...laughs heard throughout the house and more hugs are being had.

Visiting Michael Smith's Flavour Shack has led us to a new adventure!

So my 9 year old is interested in FOOD....perhaps I lit the passion that evoked this next chapter for him and myself....whatever started it, here we go!!

Our family vacation this year was to heavenly PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND! It was our third visit. We returned to same cottage, in the Provincial Park of Cavendish...steps away from the ocean! I could do dishes and see the ocean! The air was so clean! Breezes in abundance and a shower of stars lit up the night sky! No one wanted to go home.

One day we decided to make the trek to Souris...to visit Chef Michael Smith's Flavour Shack. Newly opened...and it is literally the size of a shack....his cookbooks(all signed) lined up the counters. High above on another shelf, all his personal cookbooks that he had collected! In a corner hung his two aprons that he had previously worn....visitors could try them on! Of course Josh and I did...and yes, Smith is certainly a tall fellow! There were various flavours and cheeses that you could buy....endorsed by him! All local!
Josh decided, after talking with the knowledgeable sales lady...that he wanted to buy "Fast Flavours"...she explained that Smith wrote this book, on the simplicity that the ingredients should be easily found, within a local store...and they are simple and full of flavour!!

We left PEI and came home with the idea of cooking our way through his book! Josh eagerly chose a few recipes for us to make this weekend! With busy schedules through the week, and not everyone eating at the same time, we decided that we would cook on the weekends!

Yesterday morning....we chose to make "Extra-Blueberry Pancakes"....but we switched it up and turned them into waffles!! For dinner Josh chose "Pork Chops with Tarragon Marmalade" and "Orange Ginger Broccoli"......by doing these recipes together we are having fun and spending quality time together...something that all families should be doing, but are lacking in todays society! Also by doing these recipes we are trying new flavours....we have never tried "tarragon" before!! We didn't know what to expect...for example...does one chop the whole herb? Or do you pick the slender leaves off?? After washing them and trying to pick just the leaves...I gave up and decided to chop it all!!

We later "googled" tarragon....and found out that you can eat the whole thing...we also learnt that it became common in 16th century in England, and 19th century in the USA (spiceadvice.com).
So...I suppose the whole family is on a new chapter of learning and experiencing new foods!!!
I will be blogging about it here...all our experiences!!! It has certainly lit a light bulb in Josh....a young foodie at nine years old!!

Tonight we are planning on making "Bacon Fettuccine Carbonara".....Hubby is excited for this .....BACON!!