CSA weeks 14-15 and "Aruna Shores"

This weeks post is a double since we were on VACATION!

Week 14 from Cooper's CSA Farm and Maze was awesome!  I was super pinched for photo time that morning as I had some viewings booked on our house before work.  However, this is a perfect representation on how the weekly box is received.  Included were Carrots, Beets with tops, Broccoli, two Spanish Onions, No-heat Jalapeno's, Spaghetti Squash and an Eggplant.

We found that we really don't care for the Eggplant so I decided to take it to work to give to a co-worker.  HOLEY MOLEY I'm going to have to hold a draw for the next one the the girls were fighting over it...hilarious!!!

We were on vacation for the delivery of Week 15.  My Mom and Dad are perfect little apprentices and took great pictures.  My Dad's camera time stamps the pictures so I know that he spent 15 minutes just taking photos not including time spent on artistic arrangement and set up!

Delivery included Sweet Corn, Red Peppers, Swiss Chard, Butternut Squash, Savoy Cabbage and a Chieftain Variety of Red Potatoes.  I LOVE SQUASH, butternut and turban are my favourite.

We just got back from a very relaxing week spent at "Aruna Shores" a rental cottage near Tobermory, Ontario fronting on Lake Huron.

Saturday was really warm when we arrived but the rest of the week was chilly and very windy.  There was a fire place that provided warmth in the mornings while the sun heated up the cottage in the afternoon thru all the windows.

The cottage was huge for two people but would be great for a family or a two couples.  There was a queen in the main bedroom, a double and bunk-beds in the other bedroom and a separet bunkie house with a double bed that would be perfect for kids to sleep in.

A day was spent in Tobermory.  Cute shops (I liked Circle Arts the most), restaurants, a grocery store and an LCBO which lets be honest on vacation is mandatory and always a welcome find!

We also visited a small town called Lion's Head.  It had a Marina, "full-service" gas stations, schools and again most importantly an LCBO.  While there we popped into a a quilt store called Greig's Fabrics which had a most impressive selection of fabric for such a small town!

Tobermory

Sunset at Aruna Shores Beach

Relax-a-roo time!

If you are interested in renting Aruna Shores, use this link here.

It was very clean, well supplied and I would feel comfortable recommending it.  The rental service RentCottage.com was top notch as well.

I was especially impressed that the kitchen came with cooking oil and a drawer full of spices.  We only ate out once the whole week at a Fish-n-Chip place in Tobermory.  Our meals we prepared together at the cottage were fantastic -- hamburgers, steaks, chicken thighs, sausages, spaghetti, baked potatoes, rice, sweet potatoe fries, salads, cheese and crackers, hummus, chips and popcorn, beer and wine.  I would suggest to bring a lot of drinking water; we used both a 10 and 8 litre jug along with a case of bottles from Costco.

Books were read, the net was surfed, tons of DVD's were watched -- all in a fantastic vacation!

CSA Week 13

So hard to believe that Labour Day is here already.....When I was a kid it was the excitement of school starting, now it's just the dread that summer is coming to an end.

Week 13 from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze brought lots of great stuff.  Avalon White Corn on the Cob, Green Beans, Field Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, a Passport Melon and Yukon Gold Potatoes.

The Potatoes were amazing! I boiled some down and made a Chick Pea and Potato salad with a Sweet Smoked Paprika and Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing for our lunches.

As per the advice from Lisa at Cooper's I diced up all the Roma Tomatoes and cooked them down in a saucepan with Red Peppers, Garlic, Chili Flakes, Smoked Paprika and a splash of Balsamic Vinegar. I paired it with Pork Schnitzel from the Little Polish Market and some Linguine.

This if anything is just funny.  Our dog Girly always likes to be around us.  She is not a moocher and doesn't eat "people food" but she contorts herself under foot when we eat at the kitchen table.  I don't know how she finds this comfortable but she will nap like this the whole time?? Weirdo....

It's been a great week for Running, except for Saturday....that was like breathing and swimming through pea soup.....so HOT! Have a great week!

CSA Week 12

Week 12 of my half share delivery from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze brought MELONS!

There was a small seedless Watermelon and two Passport Melons.  The Passport Melons smelled amazing from the outside and had a bright yellow rind.  I was really surprised that they were light green like a Honeydew on the inside!  They were all fantastic.

Also included were Tomatillos, Yellow Beans, a Tomato and Garlic. The Tomato looked a little rough but was just perfect and so tasty, so unlike the flavourless ones from the grocery store.  We all got to enjoy it sliced on top of BBQ'ed Hamburgers.

I can't believe that the share season is already half over!  This summer has gone by so quickly; how come winter seems to last forever?

This past week has been so busy with getting the house ready for sale. My Parents have been fantastic help!  They have cleaned and organized the whole house making it look spectacular inside and out.

My Dad held a Garage Sale last Saturday and made $235.50!!  Huh, I guess "One man's garbage is another man's gold" really is true?

CSA Week 11

Week 11 from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze contained Russet Potatoes, Carrots, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Red Bunching Onions, Cucumber, Swiss Chard and a surprise Cantaloupe!

Look at how pretty all those veggies look!  We've had potato salad, toasted tomato sandwiches, cut up cantaloupe and cucumbers in my lunch at work.  Just like last weeks Okra, now I'm stumped on what to make with the Eggplant.

I've had Green Thai Curries before, but usually just push the eggplant to the side since I didn't really like the texture.  However I do love Baba Ghanoush; think I might give this recipe a try.

This last week has been super stressful with some major life decisions.  In the past few years both our work locations have moved farther into the city resulting in 1 and 1.5 hour daily drives back and forth to work.  My husband and I have made the difficult decision to  put our beloved house on the market and start the search for something closer to work.  

If you're looking for a well cared for, super awesome home in the Brooklin area, let us know.  Here's looking forward to the beginning of another new chapter........

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.