Vacation, Books.

The cottage, Sugar Shack, we are renting in NC has a King Sized bed and we don't so we have to borrow sheets from our friends. Yesterday they popped in quickly to bring us a set. Early days yet, still a few more weeks to go. However, we are gathering stuff together in our spare room that we don't want to forget. We haven't yet bought ourselves any US dollars which we need on the way down there sometimes. We pay for a lot of things on our credit card, but one often needs cash for and it somehow disappears. One thing we are taking is a radio. There is a TV but we tend to play the radio all day long if the TV is not on. A lot of people tend to leave their TV on all day long, but that would drive me nuts. I have just got hold of the last book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer - Breaking Dawn. Just looking for the cover picture I see Stephenie Meyer is being accused of taking ideas from Jordan Scott's The Nocturne for this last novel. If you would like to read more about it click here. Never having read The Nocturne and not yet having read Breaking Dawn, I have no idea of the truth behind these allegations of plagiarism. Of course its a good way to get people to read Scott's book isn't it? I also got hold of a couple more Mercedes Lackey Books which I haven't come across before, The Phoenix Unchained and The Phoenix Endangered which are part of her Enduring Flame Trilogy. I am not sure why I haven't come across these before, I usually end up devouring her books. I have been rereading a lot of her writings lately, particularly the Heralds of Valdemar Series which I really love and am thoroughly enjoying reading again. Just finished a couple of the Gryphon series, Black and White Gryphon, haven't got hold of Silver Gryphon yet. You will gather I don't read a lot of books which are not fantasy or sci fi any more. Having said that, I have got my name down for the latest Michael McGarrity book at the library, Dead or Alive. This is the most recent in his stories about a cop, Kevin Kerney, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. They are set in New Mexico and the area sounds fantastic, especially if you ride. Amongst the many ezines I get on a daily basis is Recipe du Jour which is published by Richard Rowand , Simply Tim and Walt Mills. They not only have recipes but little stories or daily thoughts about everything and anything which are always great to read. Today they published the following salmon recipe which I borrowed for my blog because I know at least one of my readers is very fond of salmon. Spiced Roast Salmon 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets (about 1 1/4-inches thick) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt 4 lemon wedges Heat oven to 400°F. Combine first 8 ingredients in a shallow dish. Sprinkle fillets with salt; dredge fillets in spice mixture. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fillets, skin sides up; cook 5 minutes or until bottoms are golden. Turn fillets over. Wrap handle of skillet with foil; bake at 400°F for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Remove skin from fillets; discard skin. Serve with yogurt and lemon wedges. Yield: 4 servings. Have a great day.

Canada Day

Today genuinely is Canada Day - when we were out and about yesterday, there were lots of places open and we got a newspaper delivered. Not so today. There will be several organised fireworks displays this evening, one of the biggest locally will be in Victoria Park which we can just see some of from our balcony. Another closer to us will be at Bingeman's which is a fun park and camping site. That, unfortunately, is the other side of our building, so we can't see it. It looks like its going to be a nice day for all the barbecues and other celebrations.

Yesterday was a very sad day for me, I went to Barrie's Asparagus and bought my last bunch of the season. I told Tim Barrie I was crying but he didn't believe me. Well I am inside. I now have to wait a whole year to get more fresh local asparagus. A whole year!!! I know, some of you are probably sick of my fixation on the vegetable and all the asparagus recipes I have been posting, but to quote a well known chef writer, its my blog and I will post them if I want.

I have been told of a strawberry farm not too far away, so I want to check it out, they are supposed to have very sweet berries. I am also awaiting locally grown tomatoes and corn. There is another farm I want to check out for tomatoes. I got hold of a list/map which I am using to find these places. So far I haven't found a place with really, really good tomatoes yet. Hopefully this year I will do so. I have told Tim Barrie that I will let him know if I do find really good tomatoes. He doesn't much like them so I feel he should at least try a top notch tomato if I can find some. The trouble is, just because they look pretty and round and red, doesn't mean they have any flavour worth speaking about. I do so miss the one's we used to pick ourselves in North Carolina, they were some of the best we have ever eaten. Unfortunately our favourite farm stopped growing them.

Tomorrow I am off to one of the local theatres, this time in St. Jacobs which is a nearby town notable for its Mennonite population and its quaintness. Also for an excellent restaurant called Benjamin's and its farmer's market. We shall be seeing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - they made a movie of it - the show has had very good reviews from both friends and the local radio stations. Matt is not going, I am going with a friend. Matt figured he had seen the movie why would he want to see this performance. We will be going to the matinée.

On the way home from the asparagus farm we called in at Costco which is a large wholesale store, if you are unfamiliar with them, we got some nice chump lamb chops. Not cheap in this part of the world because not many Canadians eat lamb, at least that's what I am told is the reason lamb is not cheap. We had them grilled with asparagus and half a baked potato each which made a good meal. We actually bought baking potatoes for Saturday's dinner and had a couple left over. For some reason over here they are always wrapped in foil and most people don't eat the skins. I always take off the foil, give the potatoes a good scrub and then cook them in a very hot oven having salted the wet skins before I do so. The skin is always delicious, besides which, it contains all the nutrients that a potato carries.

Of course I frequently do a stuffed potato or what North Americans call a twice baked potato when you scoop out the cooked potato and mix it with cheese and butter and then put it back in the skin. For best results if you sprinkle the top of the potato with more cheese and brown it under the grill it will look golden and delicious. Nowadays people stuff potatoes with all kinds of fillings, but I personally prefer the simple cheese filling for myself. There used to be a chain in the UK called Spud-U-Like or something similar, don't know if they still exist, where you could find all kinds of different stuffed potatoes.

Speaking of tomatoes, here is a recipe I saved but haven't yet tried. I got it from Recipe du Jour which is one of the ezines I get in my inbox most days.

Tomato Pie

Servings: 6

Ingredients:
2 sheets frozen shortcrust pastry
6-8 medium-sized tomatoes, sliced
4 Tbsps chopped chives/shallot
4 Tbsps Basil
2 Tbsps cornflour
1/2 Tbsps sugar
freshly ground black pepper
beaten egg


Instructions:
Preheat oven to 200C. Use 1 sheet of pastry to line a 20 cm flan dish.

Mix chives, cornflour and sugar with seasonings to taste

Arrange a layer of sliced tomatoes in the pastry case and sprinkle with the chive mixture. Continue to layer the tomatoes, sprinkling the chive mixture between layers.

Brush edges of pie lightly with water. Use remaining pastry sheet to cover the pie sealing the edges. Trim pastry edge and flute. Brush the pie with a little beaten egg and bake for 40-45 ­minutes, until golden brown.

Serve hot or cold, with salad. Serves 6-8

Happy Canada Day and everyone have a great day.

Handy Tip, US Politics, Plants, Flowers and Books

I have just picked up a useful tip sent into Recipe du Jour. Many of us must have pulled out the roll of foil by mistake when we are in a hurry to wrap something. The person who sent in this tip said for some reason, she looked at the end of the Reynolds Wrap roll when she was throwing out an empty one and lo and behold there was a tab to be pushed in to lock the roll in place. There is one at both ends. Same thing on Saran Wrap and other cling film products. I went into the kitchen and pushed in all my tabs. I wonder how many of us had ever noticed this before.

I must confess to puzzlement that Obama and Clinton have been battling for months now then because Obama has apparently won, Hillary Clinton is prepared to stand as his running mate?? This seems weird to us. Not that I will ever understand American politics. The most surprising people seem to have backed Obama. Personally I would love to see a woman President, but that is a feminist point of view, not political.

We are finally hoping to get our herbs for the balcony tomorrow. It all depends on time whereas last week it was the weather, unbelievably we were still getting frosts. Let us hope that now June is with us, we will not get any more of those. I usually get a couple of hanging baskets of geraniums too which always look so good and last so well. Matt complains about their smell, but they are so pretty to look at. I was fascinated at the house in Spain where my parents lived to see permanent bushes of geraniums, huge things compared with what we grow every year. The shrubs and plants there always amazed me they were so profuse and lovely.

I also have to replenish my stores of that green stuff, you know, asparagus. I haven't got much longer, around about Father's Day and that's it. Tonight, we tried the Paula Deen recipe I posted on May 21st, Asparagus Phyllo Bundles, they were very good. We were doing a test run for dinner on Saturday. If you haven't tried them, I can highly recommend them. They are so very simple to do. We reckon about two per person as a starter.

I am now reading Wilbur Smith's The Seventh Scroll which is a sequel to The River God which I was reading a few weeks ago. I expected it to be about ancient Egypt, but it takes place in modern day Ethiopia although the story is connected to the previous book.

Here's another asparagus recipe which I didn't know I had. It sounds really good and I think I will be making it before the end of the season.

Asparagus Vichyssoise
Serves: 8

Source: The Healthy Heart Cookbook

2 pounds fresh asparagus spears
1 medium leek
2 cups peeled, diced potato
3 cups water
2 teaspoons chicken-flavored bouillon granules
1-1/4 cups skim milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
Lemon rind strips (optional)

Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Remove scales from stalks with a knife or vegetable peeler, if desired. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, reserving tips. Cook asparagus tips in a small amount of boiling water 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Drain well, and chill thoroughly.

Cut white part of leek into 1/4-inch-thick slices, and set aside. Reserve green top for another use.
Combine uncooked asparagus pieces, leek slices, potato, water, and bouillon granules in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Place mixture in container of an electric blender or food processor; top with cover, and process until smooth. Pour mixture into a large bowl; stir in milk and next 3 ingredients. Cover and chill thoroughly.

Ladle soup into individual bowls; arrange reserved asparagus tips over each serving. Garnish with lemon rind strips, if desired. Yield: 2 quarts (82 calories and 7% fat per 1-cup serving).