I have written here before about my dinner club GLEE (girls laughing, eating and entertaining).  Over the years these women have become very dear to my heart.  Recently two sisters who are members of the GLEE club lost their mom. So it felt a bit strange planning a GLEE celebration scheduled to take place shortly after their loss.  It was decided that our theme would be celebrating our moms by bringing a dish that reminded us of our moms.  I am the only GLEE member fortunate enough to still have her mom. 

Our evening always starts with a cocktail to match our theme so in keeping with her mom’s tradition, K provided a fully stocked bar that was prepared to make any kind of cocktail your heart could desire. 

Her sister H provided the shrimp cocktail and cheese and crackers to enjoy with our cocktails. Their mom Ruth was a hard working nurse and farm wife whose entertainment style was warm and simple. 

B was on salad duty and brought a delicious beet salad served on romaine. B’s mom was a sweet and elegant lady who died this year, just days before her 100^th birthday.  

Our main course was roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and gravy, another of Ruth’s staples.  It was accompanied by L’s mom’s vegetable casserole and I provided cabbage rolls in honour of my mom. 

For dessert we enjoyed K’s mom’s chocolate chip snack cake.

So happy mother’s day everyone. Regardless of if your mom is here on earth or in heaven, be sure to take time to remember her today.

Kath’s quote: “Every year the number of new cookbooks increases, but in spite of them the progress made in this most useful of the arts is not ever overpowering. On the contrary, we must regretfully admit that nowadays people no longer prepare the fine and nourishing dishes that our mothers used to make.”-Anna Dorn, Cookbook Author (1834)

Love-that is all.

Research released recently by Sobey’s Inc. includes data that is contrary to our own family’s experience. The study reveals that there is a generation gap when it comes to food knowledge and confidence in cooking (only 31% of 18-29 year olds feel confident in the kitchen).  The survey also revealed that Canadians are consuming too much processed food as opposed to made from scratch food.  This I know is true, even though I make it my mission to not be so with my family.

The findings do not match up with our family or our immediate circle of friends and I was wondering why this is the case.  I have discovered two primary reasons also through Sobey’s research: 1) “When cooking skills are passed down from generation to generation, there’s more enjoyment and collaboration in the kitchen.” In my parents’ house, I recall from as far back as I can remember, being included in the joy of cooking for our large family.  It started with pretty simple tasks: how to peel a potato and shuck corn, to pinching down the edges of a perogy and cutting out the form of a biscuit with the edge of a glass and finally how to make my Mom’s cinnamon buns and blueberry pies and how to perfectly grill a medium rare steak.

2) “Canadians who cooked with their parents (57%) are much more likely to love coking as adults and are more likely to involve others in their own cooking, fuelling a virtuous circle.”  So too from a young age, the kitchen has always been the centre of our home.  First toys were Tupperware, measuring cups and spoons and pots and pans.  Water play at the kitchen sink was much loved as well as playing with a piece of leftover pizza or cookie dough.  Our families’ favourite meals have always been: make-your-own salad, make-your own-sub and make-your-own pizza.  Now that our children are adults, together with their spouses and significant others, we can see the fruits of this atmosphere.  We get invited to their homes for dinners; everyone takes turns making meals at our family cottage and they contribute courses for special celebrations like our birthdays. Heck, in our house, we’ve even had family cook-off competitions.

But we know that we are not typical and that is why Jamie Oliver (a fav in our house)  created a global day of food action called Food Revolution Day to inspire persons the world over to stand up for “real” food.  In recognition of FRD, Sobey’s has launched Canada’s Biggest Potluck Party challenging Canadians to host a potluck leading up to FRD on May 16.

If you want to register your own potluck event, invite friends and plan your potluck luck items, go to http://betterfoodforall.com. You can also access Jamie Oliver & Sobeys recipes, as well as tips and tricks for hosting the perfect potluck party at http://betterfoodforall.com/potluck-inspiration/. You’ll find tons of information there!

Our potluck is scheduled for tonight when we host our monthly Young Families’ Group-a time for parents to socialize with other parents, while I, D and Sister #3 take their kids off of their hands for an evening.  We always start with a family supper-kids in the dining room with us and parents in the living room, eating off their laps.  Our potluck theme is ” Tastes from Home” and we plan on sharing family favourites.

Kath’s quote: “The dinner table is the center for the teaching and practicing not just of table manners but of conversation, consideration, tolerance, family feeling, and just about all the other accomplishments of polite society except the minuet.” -Judith Martin

Love-that is all.

The AAW is the Advertising Association of Winnipeg and every year they recognize the best in advertising that is created in and for our city and province.  I have long been associated with this group and facilitate their Media Planning Couse each fall.  This provides a wonderful opportunity to meet the newest members of the industry and do my part to teach, mentor and pass the torch.  The Signatures are like our “Cannes” or as I have been known to say Winnipeg’s version of the Academy Awards; or the closest thing that we Winnipeggers will feel to experience such an event.  I suppose the more appropriate comparable would be the Golden Globes because guests sit at round tables and get to imbibe during the evening.  This sometimes creates some silliness at the podium both in Hollywood and in Winnipeg.

Last night was my very first visit to the refurbished Metropolitan Entertainment Centre but certainly not my first visit to the building.  I clearly recall (and I recounted these stories last evening), being taken to see “101 Dalmatians” as a little girl with my twin brother and sister accompanied by our two eldest brothers.  I can also recollect viewing “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.

The building has been carefully restored and now looks like a beautiful Great Grandma, lovingly coiffed and dressed to attend a celebration for one of her great-grandchildren.

The evening was one of those rare treats for me when my worlds collide, coupling the business that I have cherished over the years with my newish profession of blogger and food appreciator. I must confess at this juncture, that I did not have terribly high expectations for the food and I was pleasantly surprized.  The entire meal service was efficient and cordial.  We started with a subtle cream soup that was velvety smooth and slightly sweet and then immediately to a mixed green salad with oranges, cranberries, almonds and red onions.

Both soup and salad courses are not often offered at formal dinners any more.  They happen to be the highlights for me.

A bold move on behalf of the kitchen and organizers was the serving of pork for the entrée- a lovely surprize alternative to chicken.  The appropriate sized cut was accompanied by an array of mixed vegetables and a triangular potato pie.  Loved it.

Dessert was a light chocolate mousse and was served as the lights dimmed and the award festivities began.

In all, an absolutely lovely evening.  I extend my thanks to the Signature organizing committee and my table host-Global TV.

Kath’s quote: “And do as adversaries do in law, strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.”-William Shakespeare

Love-that is all.

Even though I am not partial to sweets, I love anything baked with apples: apple pie, apple crisp, apple jacks (perhaps these are a Winnipeg thing), apple platz (definitely a Winnipeg thing) and apple strudel.  After years of being timid about working with phyllo pastry, I had to step up to the plate when a food styling gig that I was contracted for, demanded that I make my first fruit strudel.  What did I discover?  Working phyllo is a piece of cake.

I had some phyllo dough in the freezer and decided that a vegetable strudel would make not only a perfect dinner that evening but that left overs would be handy for lunch.  I love spanakopita (a Greek pastry filled with spinach and feta), so I worked up a recipe that would spring off of it.

Kath’s quote: “You may feel that you have eaten too much…But this pastry is like feathers – it is like snow. It is in fact good for you, a digestive!”
-M.F.K. Fisher

Love-that is all.

Our Mom has had a tough go of it this winter.  She is waiting out her time for a place at a nursing home, at the Misrecordia Hospital.  Earlier this winter there was a respiratory infection that spread through the ward so they had to put the residents under quarantine to protect any further people in the hospital becoming sick.  The ward is old and Mom’s room is very small and even though friends gather together in the hallways to visit, Mom can’t hear very well and the echoey hallway does not promote a great conversation.  So, as you can imagine she was getting pretty antsy by the time the limitations were lifted, just before Easter.  Mom was supposed to go to Deer Lodge to have some dental work done and when her appointment was postponed, she was so disappointed.  When Sister #3 sympathized with her and said: “I know Mom, it must be frustrating to not be able to get your teeth worked on”.  Mom, replied: “No, my mouth isn’t bothering me, I was just looking forward to getting out of here.”

Sister #3 decided that it was time to make arrangements for an outing.  For as long as we can remember, visiting the flower conservatory at Assiniboine Park has been one of our family Easter traditions.  Sister #3 did some research to ensure that there would be something on the menu at Terrace in the Park for Mom to eat with her dental issues.  The plans were set into motion and I met the wheelchair van at the front of the Pavilion.  We had some time to spare before our reservation, so we took the elevator up to see the Winnie the Pooh Gallery and other enjoyable exhibits.

The day was cold, gray and drizzly but we were cheered by our lovely round table waiting for us.

We were hungry and dived into the bread basket.  This was how the piped butter was presented.  With such attention to detail, we were assured that our lunch would be lovely.

We thought that Mom should be able to tackle the Crab and Pea Risotto.  She found it a little bland and asked for the salt shaker which is quite common with Mom.  But she was absolutely right-when the seasonings of the dish were corrected with a bit of salt, it was rich, creamy and satisfying.  I personally don’t “get” risotto.  I am not sure that all the effort of the constant stirring and adding small amounts of liquid and cheese is worth the pay off.  But, who am I to say?  Others don’t “get” my constant yearning for the perfect French fry; Sister #3 for one.

Sister #3 selected the Beef Tenderloin that was crowned with baby gherkin pickles.  The accompanying fettuccine was particularly buttery and delicious and Mom had a couple of satisfying bites.

The hit of the day was the Pickerel Po Boy.  Haven been to New Orleans and feasted on traditional po boys, I am not exactly sure why this sandwich would be so named.  Authentic po boys are a Lousiana version of a sub sandwich with battered and fried shrimp, oysters, soft-shelled crab or crawfish, placed on a baquette-like New Orleans French bread and usually dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise.  The Terrace’s fried fish seemed to be the only detail connecting it to a po boy.  This is in the small points department, because although the taste wasn’t authentic, it was none the less, absolutely terrific.  The fish was perfectly prepared, the grilled bread added a salty feature and the slaw provided crunch.  The fries, by the way were equally delicious.  We shared tastes from our three plates amongst us, so everyone was satiated.

The short trek over to the Conservatory was surprisingly brisk for Mom.  We realized later that she hadn’t really been outside for months.  During times like these, you can forget what a chilly wind feels like on your ears.  The journey was worth the trouble, for the flowers were magnificent and we all loved to see the bright dashes of spring colours.

These soft and fluffy flowers were actually tulips, the likes of which we had not seen before.  The afternoon had to draw to a close as Mom was getting sleepy and tired from being in her chair all day. Sister #3 had planned a lovely afternoon.  One that we intend to repeat sometime soon.

Kath’s quote: “Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.”-Al Bernstein

Love-that is all.