Canada Day - Pool Safety, David's,

I mentioned before that today is Canada Day so Happy Birthday Canada. At the weekend its America's turn to celebrate with the 4th July consequently they were talking about the dangers of children and swimming pools and that you must be forever vigilant with your young kids and the pool. Don't read a book or go in for a drink or anything else, but take time and go in the water with your infant. It made me think of a time in Florida when our youngest grandkids were visiting from England, and the very youngest dropped into the pool and went under water. Luckily I was standing right there and hauled him out. I could never have run to save him. As a 3 yr old he didn't seem a bit fazed about the whole thing, but I was horrified. Kids can get into anything in the blink of an eye. One suggestion I heard was always buy the same colour swim suit for your child, year after year, so you never have to think what colour he/she is wearing. There were some good tips on swimming safety on this page, by GMA contributor Summer Sanders, a former Olympic swimmer and mom. I must say it isn't a very nice looking day for barbecues and outdoor parties today, quite chilly in fact. I think people will need to wrap up warmly and won't be worrying about pool safety this afternoon. The superintendent and his wife are running a barbecue here this evening, I didn't find out about it til late yesterday by which time it was too late to contribute towards the purchase of food. However, we went to David's Gourmet yesterday and bought some goodies. We actually went for English cream as they didn't have any in our supermarket and we had strawberries - expensive cream, cost around $50. However, we bought some Caprese, some really nice looking Brie, some Heirloom Tomatoes (first time I have seen them on sale here and according to Giada di Laurentis, they are the sweetest. Certainly expensive) to make Heirloom Tomato and Basil Tart as published on May 20th. We also bought some of their really good yoghurt a couple of nice handmade cookies, some even nicer strawberries and incidentally, cream. We could spend a small fortune in that store without any trouble at all. I just discovered they sell Muscovy duck breasts, fresh, so now I know where to get them. A very expensive commodity, but I love duck breast. I got an email from Mushrooms Canada with the following recipe. Maybe a bit late for Canada Day but certainly in time for Independence Day. Sounds good, you could always have them alongside your regular burgers if you don't want to be a vegetarian. Marinated Portabella Burgers Preparation Time: 5 mins. Cooking Time: 10 mins. Marinating Time: 1-2 hours A delicious vegetarian option to regular burgers since grilled portabellas have a meat–like texture and flavour. 4 large fresh portabella Mushroom caps (about 4 oz/125 g each) 1/2 cup red dry wine or balsamic vinegar 2 tsp minced garlic 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp Each dried thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper 1/4 cup honey Dijon mustard 4 whole wheat or multigrain hamburger or Kaiser buns 2 medium roasted red sweet peppers*, halved 4 small lettuce leaves Method Place mushrooms in resealable plastic bag. In a measuring cup or small bowl mix wine, garlic oil, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Pour over mushrooms and seal the bag. Marinate at room temperature for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally. Remove from marinade and broil or cook on hot barbecue for 3-5 minutes on each side or until warmed through and softened. Halve the buns and toast or warm on grill; spread cut side of buns with mustard; place lettuce on bottom half of buns, top with grilled mushrooms, roasted red pepper halves and top half of bun . Makes 4 Servings *Roasted red peppers are available in jars or in some deli sections of supermarket OR grill, peel and freeze when peppers are in abundance. Variation: Top each cooked mushroom cap with 1 tbsp chevre (soft goat cheese) and return to grill to warm cheese before placing on the bun. Have a great Canada Day.

David's Gourmet Store

I have been meaning to check out David's Gourmet, a store I have seen in passing several times. This last few days two friends have recommended the place to me so finally, on our way back from bowling, we decided to go look. What a super store, this branch is newly opened, it is full of gourmet foods as well as health foods with a fresh meat and fish department too. They are not inexpensive, but what a selection. Having posted a recipe on Saturday (28th) calling for Toulouse sausages, blow me if they weren't selling them. They have a variety of sausages including two British kinds. You can buy sandwiches there to eat in or take out which I am assured are very good. If you would like to see their web page click here. Despite advertising 250 varieties, I don't think their cheese selection is quite as good as Vincenzo's which is another excellent delicatessen store in the area, but in our fairly short visit I think they otherwise have them beat. They sell both lamb and rabbit in the butcher's together with very expensive beef which looks like it would be very good and a lot of organic fresh products. We only went in to look and came out $33 poorer. There is a statue of Michelangelo's David in the store too about the size of the original. We decided to have one of our picnic suppers which is why we ended up buying things. We bought Brie and Sopressata a garlicky Italian salami which we tasted and is delicious. Also some salad which was made with tiny tomatoes and Bocconcini (can't remember the name or the rest of the ingredients, but also delicious) and a loaf of Foccacia. We hummed and hawed about several other dishes for sale, but decided that was enough. We ate this accompanied by a glass or two of red wine. We also bought Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) which are not readily available and some Mediterranean Yoghurt (plain) which I hope will be better than the usual yoghurt one can buy here which is generally way too sweet for me although admittedly if you go to Turkey, they dollop loads of honey into their yoghurt. Also a honey mango for me - one I tried to eat on Sunday was rotten inside. I have discovered a recipe for the salad which, in this case, shows sliced tomatoes, but ours is made with tiny grape tomatoes. Tomato and Bocconcini Salad Source - Kitchen Connoisseur This is a very popular summer salad. It takes only minutes to prepare and requires no cooking. It can be made with either fresh mozzarella or bocconcini cheese, and any variety of fresh tomato. Just make sure that the tomatoes - be they cherry, roman or beefsteak - are vine ripened and full of natural flavour. 3 large Tomatoes- fresh, cut in ½ inch slices 8 oz. Bocconcini- cut in ½ inch slices 12 Basil leaves, fresh - washed and patted dry 1/4 cup Roasted Garlic Olive Oil 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar (Modena) To taste Sea salt To taste Pepper - black, freshly ground 1. Arrange the tomato and bocconcini on a serving dish. This can be done in individual servings (as shown in our photograph) or on one large serving platter. 2. Drizzle with Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. Garnish with fresh basil and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with fresh bread and wine.