CSA Week 10

This weeks half share from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze was interesting.  It had two huge Cantaloupes, Strawberries, Romaine Lettuce, Cucumbers and Okra.

The Cantaloupe was very good, sweet and juicy without being mushy.  The cucumber I have been taking sliced in my lunch sprinkled with Splenda, Vinegar, salt and pepper.  The strawberries were simply sliced and eaten with lunch.

I will admit the Okra is still sitting in my fridge.  I really have no idea what to do with it.  I'm kind of afraid cause I've heard that it's "slimy".  It looks very interesting; any suggestions.......

Saturday our friend TJ had us over for dinner.  As always everything was fantastic; BBQ'ed Ribs, Quinoa salad with feta, herbs, tomatoes and cucumber with corn on the cob with cilantro lime butter.

As you can see desert above was so pretty, homemade Raspberry Ice cream with chocolate Pim's cookies.....just perfect.

After dinner we sat around the backyard campfire.  It looks so totally real but it is propane!  It's called "Patioflame" by Napoleon Gourmet Grills.  We have a pagoda, but  since we live in the city I'm always afraid that someone might complain.  The Patioflame was awesome, no annoying smoke and plenty of perfectly warm heat.

CSA Week 9

Sunday I was busy having dinner and a good chat up with some girlfriends so this weeks post is a few days late....

Week 9 of my half share delivery from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze brought a Romaine Lettuce, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn, Potatoes, Cucumber and Garlic.

Best thing created this week was a potato salad with oil, apple cider vinegar, fresh parsley and oregano, celery, crumbled feta, black olives, dash of lemon juice, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.  Since there is no mayo it can easily last all day in a lunch bag.

Even with the lack of rain my herb garden is exploding.  My Basil plants have done exceptionally well this year.  Sunday, to go with Spaghetti and Meatballs, I made a Tomato, Bocchini and Basil Salad.  Very easy to do -- slice, pick, layer then sprinkle with Balsamic vinegar, drizzle with Olive Oil and season with salt and pepper.  Probably my Husbands favourite salad.

Blech, nite time pictures--trust me, in real life, these cookies look and taste fantastic!!  I was a bit rushed this week so my Mom was very kind and baked me Shortbread Cookies for a bake sale at work.

A co-worker recently passed from Ovarian Cancer.  In her honour "Ovarian Cancer Canada" presented and information session to employees who wished to attend to go along with a bake sale on Wednesday where all proceeds will be donated in her name.  As my part I would like to provide the following link.  I encourage you to take a moment and briefly read the symptoms.

If caught early Ovarian Cancer has a 90% survival rate.  Ovarian Cancer is a very silent disease and most times it is not caught until it is in it's further stages, which sadly do not have a very good survival rate.

CSA Week 8

This weeks box from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze was HEAVY!!  A dozen corn!!

I really encourage you to read the following link from Lisa and Steve.  Just when I thought I was having a hard week living with the heat -- The Cooper family was dealing with no power and very little water available for their crops and animals!

This weeks share had a dozen Norther Super Sweet Corn, Red and Golden Beets, Napa Cabbage, Green and Yellow Zucchini.

My Dad has collected stamps forever and now that he is living in the Durham Region he is back to attending philatelic meetings.  One of the meetings is held by a berry farm so he picked up a bunch of fresh raspberries for me.  Saturday we turned them into 12 jars of Raspberry Jam.  This recipe was so easy resulting in a firm set and yummy, fresh taste!!!

Sunday, I made "Chinese Napa Cabbage Salad" that I found on All Recipes.  We all really enjoyed it--toasty, crunchy, oniony!!

I also made home made Jamaican Patties from a Martha Stewart recipe called "Beef Patties" that I have been using for years.  I will admit there are a lot of steps to the recipe but they turn out great every time.  They taste good served either warm or cold--excellent for lunch boxes or pot-lucks.

My Mom finished sewing the binding and washed our "Make a Wish - Eastern Ontario" charity quilt.  My Aunt is visiting this week from Kingston and will deliver it to my cousin "Nerrad" to be used in a fundraising raffle this fall.

I am so proud of the work that went into this quilt by my Mom.  We both put many hours into this quilt.  I can only hope that the funds raised will help in granting a wish to a most deserving child.

I think this week is a great example of learning how to not take everything you have for granted, and remembering to treasure all the good you have.

CSA Week 7

This weeks photo was artfully arranged by my Mom and Dad since we were away on Holidays!  
As per my weekly email from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze this weeks basket included; red bunching onions, napa cabbage, zucchini, red potatoes-a new variety we are growing this year called-Norland, cucumber, sweet yellow banana pepper, and something a little different, purslane.

I grill wrapped the 'taters' with olive oil and chopped herbs from my garden.  We had them with homemade souvlaki kabobs and a Greek salad.  Always a favourite meal.

On Monday and Tuesday we vacationed in the Niagara on the Lake area staying at Maria's B & B in the Laura Lynn Suite.  Maria's B & B is perfectly located close to all attractions, dining and wineries.  Marielle and Jai were awesome and funny hosts providing delicious breakfasts and a well maintained, clean home.  We visit the Niagara area often and this will most definitely be on our return list.

While in Niagara on the Lake we enjoyed "High Tea" at the Prince of Wales Vintage Hotel. I begged my husband to go to this and I'm so happy he enjoyed it as much as I did.  The hotel is FANCY!  I would love to stay there sometime, it was just a bit expensive for our trip budget this time.  I really enjoyed this experience--the hotel lobby was filled with fresh roses and smelled so pretty.

On Wednesday we went to Stratford to see the Grapes of Wrath.  I chose this play because I wanted to see Janet Wright.  You may know her as "Emma" from Corner Gas.  I'm going to be honest, all of the actors in the play were FANTASTIC, the play however ---- ummm --- perhaps I should have read something about it before going??  It was not really our thing; we found it very depressing and a bit awkward and squeemish at the end.  

In Stratford we stayed at the The Caversham House Bed & Breakfast staying in the Sheridan Room.   Mary Lou and John have created a elegant B & B experience.  The house is decorated beautifully and located within easy walking distance to all the theatres and shops. Breakfast was outstanding and I loved that they make the effort to source their produce locally and that everything was home-made.   

I sadly said goodbye and gave my trusty Singer Sewing machine to my niece for her 10th birthday.  My Singer was a wedding present from my parents and has served me very well for the last decade.  I discovered my love of quilting with this machine.

 

On the upside!  I did go and pick up this baby on Tuesday via a little cross border shopping trip to Bailey's Embroidery Supply in Leicester, New York.   It's a Bailey's Home Quilter Pro 15. 

I am so excited to have this machine!!!  I know with time and practice my long arm quilting skills are going to be amazing with the help of this machine.  It's the stretch-limo of sewing machines!!

Thanks Big Man for such an awesome week off together.  You work so hard for our family.  I hope you know how grateful I am to have you and all that you provide.  XOXOX  --- except for this cold you gave me, that kinda sucks!

CSA Week 6

This week so far has been my favourite from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze!
As per my weekly email from Lisa and Steve:  "This weeks basket includes; snow peas (do not pod), a small bunch of beets, including the beet greens, (use these in salads, or steam like spinach), zucchini, fresh garlic, a cucumber, head of lettuce and fresh new white potatoes. (superior variety)".

GARLIC!!  I love fresh garlic it beats the poop out of the stuff you find at the grocery store!  I used it in Chicken Fajita's on Saturday and in a marinade for Steak on Sunday.

3 Zucchini's--that's a challenge in itself!  I sauteed two with the Snow Peas in a chicken broth, thyme and cornstarch glaze.

The rest was used to make "Chocolate Chip Orange Zucchini Bread".  This has been a go to recipe I found at All Recipes a few years back.  It makes two loaves that slice and freeze perfectly.  If you decide to make this, be sure to beat the eggs and sugar until they look "lemony fluffy white"; this is really what makes or breaks this recipe.

I spent most of this weekend using my long arm quilting frame to stitch a clam shell pattern onto a charity quilt my Mom and I have been working on.  We will be donating it to my cousin to raffle off for the "Make a Wish Eastern Ontario" chapter in the fall.

This weeks newly blooming flower was a Day Lilly.  The cat in the background is my neighbour's cat "Misty".  Every time I come back from a run she hangs around with me while I "stretch things out"; she's a sweetie.  A co-worker gave me an orange miniature Poppy that continues to keep flowering.

Sunday's dinner:  garlic marinated BBQ steak, boiled beats, sauteed zucchini and snow peas, grilled foil pack potatoes with sage -- delish!!

Wow, Southern Ontario really need some rain!  My grass has stopped growing and is brown and dry.  I've been watering my potted plants which seem to be surviving so far.  My poor herb garden is so wilted; I'll have to water it tomorrow morning for sure.
This week has been really hard for running (ok, who are we kidding, slow jogging).  After my run on Saturday I seriously almost passed out twice!  Once while picking up dry cleaning and then driving for groceries.  I had to buy and chug a Gatorade--please try to keep cool and power down the liquids.  

CSA Week 5

This week my share from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze brought Green Onions, a Green and Yellow Zucchini, Red Leaf Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Broccoli, Green Peas and 3 Bok Choi.  Wow!

My whole family is really pleased with how our farm share adventure is going.  A co-worker commented this week about how great my salads look.  I told her all about the share, she was surprised and admitted that she had never heard of the farm share concept before.  Perhaps another convert in the making?

This weeks flower is a daisy again -- but a super awesome watercolour daisy.  Joy, my friends Mother so graciously painted and framed this picture for me.  Stephanie's house is full of beautiful pictures and I admire them every time I visit her home.

Joy, Thank You so very much for this painting.  I LOVE it!  I've hung it up in my living room just outside the kitchen and I admire it with every passing.

I'm in awe of anyone who has artistic talent no matter what type of medium they create with.  I'm good at quilting; but drawing and painting are definitely not a talent I possess.

Sunday's dinner consisted of a simple Romaine Lettuce and Green Onion Salad.  In the oven I roasted the Green and Yellow Zucchini, along with Red Peppers, Red Onion, Mushrooms and the stems from one of the Bok Choi's.  My Husband requested the Green Onion and Cheddar Scones again.

Anyone who has a Costco membership knows how big the pack of pork ribs are! I used two slabs and made the "Baby Back Ribs on Maple Planks" from the most recent Summer 2011 Food and Drink magazine available at the LCBO.

I used Pineapple Juice instead of Apple Juice ('cause that's what I had on hand--keep comments to yourself Mother).  I also did not grill them on the maple planks but on my stoves grill pan on the top shelf of the BBQ.  Mmm, hmmmmm........sticky, crunchy, barky, goodness.  I recommend!

As per the picture above, I have finally gotten a smart phone!  YEAH!  It is an HTC Sensation 4G Android phone.  I'm learning how to use it but I look forward to posting much more interesting "Tweets" now that I can include pictures.

I know there is the hot debate between Android and Apple.  I chose the Android platform to work in conjunction with my Husband's phone.  I already have an I-Touch that I want to keep more for songs, movies and the occasional "app".

That's it for this week.  I hope the weather chills down just a little bit; it's so hot to run in the morning if I'm not out there early.....let's not even discuss the colour of my poor lawn.

CSA Week 4

This weeks share from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze contained Asparagus, Large Green Onions, Garlic Scapes, Savoy Cabbage, Red and Romaine Lettuce and a Zucchini -- the box was heavy and could hardly be closed!

I've been taking salads for my lunch at work and popping lettuce into my husband's sandwiches.  The Asparagus was grilled to go along with Turkey Burgers that I blended Scapes and Green Onions into the patty mix.  We still haven't used the Savoy Cabbage; not sure exactly what to do with it?

Wednesdays, Watson's Farm has a table outside of the subway station by my work.  I picked up 2 baskets of Strawberries for $8.00 and made Strawberry Kiwi Jam.  The recipe is from a book written by Yvonne Tremblay -- "250 Home Preserving Favourites".  This is my second year making it after watching a segment on Canada AM.
 

The jam labels were created by Cathe Holden and are available to use on her blog called "Just Something I Made".  She is very creative and is an amazing digital artist.  I love her site and all the crafty projects and inspiration that she provides.
 

Daisy's were the blooming flower this week in my garden.

Tonight I made "Zucchini Spice Loaf" created by Jennifer MacKenzie found via the Summer 2005 LCBO Food and Drink Magazine.  It smells fantastic and if it tastes as good as the batter it should be YUMMY!

I've also started work on quilting the baby quilt on my Grace Mini-Pini quilting frame.  I'm trying out a pantograph pattern that I purchased from Digi Tech Designs.  I bought the PDF file but I think next time I'll just order the printed copy and have it delivered.

The quilt is for a co-worker but I'm using it more as a practice piece.  My long arm quilting skills are very new so I don't feel that I am "fantastic" yet.  I've been reading lots of blogs and instruction books but I think it's going to come down to lots of "Practice makes Perfect".