Wheat Grass Guy

One of the vendors I am fond of at the Keady market is the wheat grass guy. I usual buy something from him- interesting little article about him.

This dinner is from June- spinach season. As an added note I am amazed how many people have no idea how to eat seasonally cause they have no idea when Ontario fruits and vegetables are in season.

I think this is bok choy, spinach, mushrooms, and brown rice noodles  which I'm sure is cooked with sesame seed oil.

Oh just so we all clear. I am posting food pictures to inspire!!!

Ever

Tell me five things you like Ever......




-I like going on bike rides and walks.
-I like playing games with daddy.
-I wish a super hero.
-I just like comic books.
-I only like pie and pizza and carrots.

Oh and for the record... is name is EVER not Everitt. I never correct people, I just wait for people to come to the realization that they have been saying his name wrong for four years.

Twinsies!!

Well except for the fact I think we look nothing alike. In fact, when Maya was younger I wondered if people thought she was adopted.

Easy Street -Around the Bay!!

Last year I said never again... but plans change. All winter, no races, have not got out of town since January.... so I bought a bib of Kijiji.

The plan was a easy training 30K mixed in with some back to back longer days.
Thursday- 15k- Done
Friday- 15-20k- Back aches + four hour Evening shift- NOT DONE
Saturday- 15k- Done
Sunday 30k Done
Monday- Somebody please put me out of my misery now. NOTHING DONE

Truth be told I have not been feeling well for a week or two. I think when I get too fat I loss my appetite and I lose weight. Got forbid my weight changes from 132. Honestly I have been that weight since high school.  Although after each kid at around 15months postpartum I dip down to 125 and everybody thinks I have cancer. Today I feel slightly better but I have to work tonight so I have to be better or else the  mortgage does not get paid.


Anyways, I decided a friend of mine was going to go sub- three hours and I was going to take her there. Long story short- we did. It was interesting, at one point I looked back at her and knew she had just switched from having a good time to the point where it hurt and she did not want to do this anymore. AND the thing is if she had been running with her usual running partner they would have shut it down. She ended up with a 20min PB.... and hated me until the finish line. All good after that.

For myself as I have raced this distance a half hour faster, it was a fun day. I wore my caveman costume and lapped up all the attention like the middle child I am. I felt like Chrissie Wellington out there- smiled the entire race. You would think I could find a picture, or a news report of my awesomeness?!? I kinda want to wear a costume at all races now. I think I am a attention whore.
It was a different experience being further back. So much more congestion then I am used to. Garbage was everywhere, and the women made up half the field. Honestly, it usually feels like it is just me and the boys. As I wasn't racing I didn't really have to worry about calories so I only took a single gel and drank all the water I wanted as I knew I had time to pee if I had to, and  the bacon. I partook in the bacon station... drizzled with maple syrup. Yum yum.

Next year will be the year of the bike...maybe.... cause really all it would take for me to have a gold metal is a 4;28 pace for 30k... umm next year is the year of the bike.

Funny

Told with Permission....

Some of the Mennonites in our community have health cards and some don't. Thus they pay cash when seen by the doctor. At the hospital there is a hospital fee, and a physician fee. The hospital rate is around $350 and on top of that there is a fee the doctor sets on an individual basis. If a patient is seen at the medical clinic all the patient has to pay is the physician fee. Thus when an un insured person comes to the hospital we know they are quite ill.

However this story isn't about money but what the doctor accepts in place of cold hard cash.

We have a new doctor who is the softest fellow you ever met. Recently for a in- patient physician fee he asked four pies to be baked for the hospital staff. Apparently he has some summer sausage in his fridge and just the other day he noticed his belt needed a new hole.
Thus when payment was being discussed for a clinic visit he removed his belt and since he has no hammer or nails his fee is air.

Which is why there is a doctor at work with his pants being held up by gauze- well at least until they can pay.

Daylight Savings Time

I guess the clocks changed this weekend as I spent a good hour changing every single clock at work and any equipment that does not do it automatically.

I also noticed alot of people complaining about how DST messes everybody up cause they lose sleep.

I regularly stay up 24hours.

I heard on the radio that as we become tired we loss the ability to self regulate our behavior.

It has been decided that I really shouldn't talk to people while I am working nights.

All those points are not connected are they???

Shazam!

One of the apps on my phone I use the most is SHAZAM.

Ever been in a store, riding in a car, ( Insert something suitably creative and funny here) and hear a song and think   "Gee I like that song, I should download it. ". Sometimes you even get the name, but of course you completely forget about it so then you never download it then you are stuck listening to the same 500 songs on your ipod shuffle and you know all the words and then finally one day you snap.  It could happen.

Shazam eliminates a nasty trip to the psych  ward on a Form 1.

You download the app, press the icon and it figures out what song it is and tags it so you can download it later. Sometimes it has no clue what the song is but over all it is better than writing it down on a scrap of paper while driving.

Sewing

 

As mentioned I really am a beginner sewer. Thus I complete my volunteer hours with the Dance school Maya attends by sewing. This is my fourth year doing so and really I have been given appropriate tasks up to this point.

My job this year was to make stretchy body suits short suits via a new leg hems and sew white circles out of spandex to the centres of the suits. My point:

Sewing with stretchy spandex is NOT a beginner skill.

Maya had to ask me to watch my language. 

Bulk Barn

 

This is what $80 spent at Bulk Barn look like.

Cashews, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, hazel nuts, chia seeds, and hemp hearts.

I recently read on somebodies blog about a 3lbs bag of almonds for $7.99 at Costco in the states and it made me a tad angry. Next time I go state side I'm not buying shoes but NUTS!!!

Dinner Time

 

I admit it.

We don't communicate at meals.

We each get a book/newspaper/ iphone and catch up/ look at pictures and read. It was one of things I was unwilling to change when we had kids. Some people refuse to give up smoking... and I will not give up silent meals.

Pictured is one of our favorite easy meals. Fried eggs and CSA potatoes boiled and broiled. 

Dogs

What I hate... DOGS. ( Disclaimer- in my life I have liked Popcorn and Brew.)

What I really hate... little dogs.

What I can't stand... owners of little dogs.

I am sorry, but owning a little dog does not give you an allowance to bring it into the bank, the store, or the library. Some people may think a dog is cute. Yes some people may think children are cute. Some not.
The difference is, children are not allowed to jump on you with out severe punishments.

People of Hanover leave your stupid little dogs at home OR carry them in a carrier like the baby you think they are.


The picture is of the Mennonite church outside of Chelsey. Maya took it out of the window of the car. She now likes photography. Her technique might need a little work.

Beans, Beans , the Magical Fruit

With our CSA we have gotten several pounds of dried beans. Honestly though it is a bit of a pain trying to remember to soak them before hand sooo they are an infrequently seen item on the menu.
However I did remember one day last week to do so and thus made a really big pot to enjoy.
Beans are best served at dinner to avoid uncomfortable workplace environments.

Company Dinner

 

The beautiful Andrea modeling the dinner I served on Family Day.

I added sautated shrimp in white wine and garlic cause Luke found the shrimp in the freezer and demanded it for dinner. Andrea didn't actually eat any of what she held I silently noticed cause I think she does not like seafood which I find incredibly odd, much like her husbands dislike of bacon, the only dead animal product I would miss if I became a vegetarian.

Spaghetti Squash with Herbs

1 spaghetti squash (about 4 pounds), halved lengthwise, seeds removed

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

1 tablespoon packed light-brown sugar

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 1/2 ounces)

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley ( I used dried organino and basil instead)

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (I never add this as I have a odd genetic reaction to it......it tastes like soap. Apparently other people have this as well)

1/4 cup blanched hazelnuts (1 ounce), toasted and coarsely chopped (I used some almonds cause I need to go to bulk barn and re-stock)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush cut sides of squash with oil, and sprinkle with sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Place squash, cut sides down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly on sheet on a wire rack, about 10 minutes.
2. Scrape squash with a fork to remove flesh in long strands. Place in a large bowl. Add oil, Parmesan, parsley, cilantro, hazelnuts, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Toss, and serve immediately.

Swimming Trunks

Just for the record, I like speedos.  Speedos are those cute little briefs.  Some men may be a little self conscious and want to cover up more,  so fine wear Jammers. Jammers are the knee length bicycle shorts without a chamois.  However there seems to be a new swimming item treading at the pool, the short shorts/boy shorts look. A mid thigh to just coming below the bum length, and I say what are they??? Like you want to be Mr. swimmer but can't commit to full on speedos? Please, your junk is all enveloped in spandex for all to see anyways so pick either confidence in speedos, or slightly shameful about your body but still want to be fast and get Jammers.

And those who are swimming in surf trunks, when you reach your goal weight I will personally buy you a pair of speedos. 



To Make a Farm

Our CSA Cedar Downs Farm is in a documentary. Showings March 3rd Walkerton Jubilee Hall.

:(

I am kinda sad that nobody comments on my blog, and that I have to work nights, and that I have been awake for three hours and the most I have accomplished is I got my comfy clothes on. Even my dinner was made by Maya playing cafe. I am sad that I want nice wine but I am too lazy to go to the liquor store, and doing exercise requires movement, and that I forgot my Domino's at work, and that this house is messy, and everybody makes to much noise, and that people don't update their twitter/facebook accounts enough to entertain me, and that I am materialistic enough to want to spend a day shopping in the city, and that my retirement savings is pathetic, and that I never travel anywhere, and that I don't run enough, and that I hate the Hanover pool hours, and that people pooh too much, and that I am too lazy to do toning exercises, and that my ankles are chronically swollen, and that I want to go skiing, and my daughter never wants to do anything i like to do, and that my hands are so cold all the time my iphone doesn't detect them, and that the only person in this house who can cook with anything other than carbs is me, and that I wake up feeling like this.

The only thing that would help would be to own this pinball machine.

We went to the pinball museum in Vegas and reminded me I want one.

The real problem is the working too many nights in a row.

Cheaper than Retail

As some people say, life is short eat desert first. Thus...

Homemade Snickers Bars- Glorious Pictures here- But for the link lazy just the recipe below......


Makes one 9×13 pan,  for best results, buy one of the half-sheet aluminum cake pans at the grocery store. That way, you can pop the entire square out and cut from there! ( Should have done that as mine didn't come our of the pan very well despite alot of pre- greasing butter)


Bottom chocolate layer
1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter

Thoroughly grease you baking pan. Melt ingredients together in a saucepan wave, then pour into the baking dish and spread until even. Let cool and harden completely.



Nougat layer
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups marshmallow fluff
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cup salted peanuts chopped, roughly chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add in sugar and milk, stirring until dissolved and bring to a boil. Let cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in fluff, peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Turn off heat and fold in peanuts, then pour over bottom chocolate layer. Let cool completely.



Caramel layer
1 14-ounce bag of caramels
1/4 cup whipping cream

Combine ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Let melt, stirring occasionally, until smooth – this took about 10 minutes for me. Pour over nougat layer and let cool completely.



Top chocolate layer
1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter


Melt ingredients together in a saucepan or microwave, then pour over caramel and spread until even. Let cool and harden completely. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving, then cut as desired. These can stay at room temperature, but they do get gooey.

So the title- Cheaper than retail, well don't really think so but I can't get king size snickers bars anymore thus I have to make a whole pan fun.



Ok so I have never ate a king size before- now I don't even have the option.

Thus Noted...

I am repeating the same recipes and food thoughts of the day... mental note- must stop drinking and posting.

The picture is from Las Vegas at the casino NewYork NewYork. We went there our first night there.... and I lost my drivers licence. You know how I hate purses so I thought I would just put everything I needed into my pockets. In went cash, my licence, credit card, and my phone. Thus, as some point, I assume when I was paying for a drink,  out it went on to the floor never to be seen again.
 Good news- my identity has not been stolen yet. Really it was no big deal except for having to carry my passport everywhere cause you are carded constantly and the time when I thought I had lost my passport. That was bad.

Parsnip Soup

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The overwhelming question everyday, one to cause my children to either scream at me, or call me the best mommy ever is...'Whats for dinner?'

So how do I come up with the answer?
CSA newsletters
Foodgawker
Epicurious
Simply in season

 The problem is usually too much choice... but I am limited to what is in the house cause I hate making repetitive trips to the grocery. The thing is I can be creative if we do not have a particular ingredient... Luke, not so much. He thinks he can cook without a recipe and I,  who thinks I am better than the current average population,  can not do so yet. As well, many recipes call for meat and I do not want meat OR beans, and yep I forgot to soak them again. Regardless of the recipe- even if it is a simple meal I spend about a hour a day dealing with food- oh and I never clean up. 

Tonights dinner was:

Creamy Apple Parsnip Soup
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large leek, (white and pale green part only), trimmed, halved lengthwise, washed well, and chopped fine ( I used two small )
• 1 pound parsnips, trimmed, peeled, and cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces ( I wanted to use all of ours up so it was like a pound and a half- Added- LOVE cooking with a food scale)• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 baking potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces ( I used two to make the soup go a little further)• 32 ounces of reduced sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 cup half-n-half
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg ( I used 1/2t)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I used 1/2t)
• Salt and pepper
Directions
Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks; cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes.
Add parsnips, apples, potato, broth, and 2 cups water ( Didn't add the water cause my pot was too small). Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes.
Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth. ( I have an immersion blender- do not do blended soups unless you have one- JUST NOT WORTH IT) Return it to pot; stir in half-n-half. Season with nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

Sunday Night Dinner

Celeriac and Potato Gratin
From the CSA newsletter

1 celeriac, peeled and cut into thin slices

1 large potato, peeled and cut into thin slices ( I added half a turnip and an extra potato)

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

250ml chicken or vegetable stock

250ml cream or milk ( Used almond milk cause that is what was in the fridge)

1 tbsp plain flour

1/4 tsp dried red chilli flakes (optional) ( didn't use)

Salt & pepper, to taste

Start by pre-heating your oven to 375f.

Place your celeriac, garlic, chili, flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss around with your hands until well combined.

Layer the celeriac and potato into a heatproof 8" x 8" dish. Don’t worry about being neat or about separating the celeriac / potato. Leave a couple of cm at the top of the dish so that the sauce doesn’t bubble over the sides.

Mix the chicken stock and cream together and then pour evenly over the gratin, then place into your oven for approximately 90 minutes or until golden brown and the celeriac is tender.

The last time I made this I used cream and the the hot pepper and it was better- but the cream is needed for the morning.

Easly Korean Spinach and Cabbage Salad

1/2 lb fresh spinach
1/2 head of cabbage, sliced thinly
toasted sesame seeds
4 teaspoons  soy sauce
2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cloves garlic or 4 garlic scapes, minced
-I added hemp hearts

Blanch spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, lift spinach from water, rinse well with cold water and squeeze dry. Add cabbage to spinach blanching water. Blanch for 1 minute. Drain cabbage. Cut spinach into bite-size pieces and toss in a bowl with cabbage.

Mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic . Toss well with blanched spinach and cabbage.
Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Serve!

Surprisingly yummy- but really anything with seasome oil you can't go wrong with.

And no my kids didn't eat much of this, they had filled themselves up with junk food at a party earlier.