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!!