A Portable Cheese Store in Catalafimi, Sicily

Is it silly that I am dreaming of picnicking when the view out my window is of 3 feet of snow?  No it is not-it is is one of the coping skills of hardy Winnipeg folks.

On a bench in Prairiano

Olive Choices in Nice (France) Market

Let me begin at the beginning.  My husband and I met in the hospitality business and so it is no surprize that we’ve been self-professed foodies before the word was invented.  We became a couple when D was home for his summer break between University semesters.  He had an amazing summer placement, working alongside Chef Tony of the St. Charles Golf and Country Club.  He was attending Ryerson for his degree in Tourism and Hospitality and when I went to visit him for the first time, he was living the life of a poor out of town student-“borrowing”  toilet paper from the pub and filling his grocery shelves with yellow generic labelled food.   I on the other hand was already working as Marketing Director for a local restaurant so I had some cash.  But because we have always tried to do more with less, we even spent that money wisely.  So instead of dining out…we picnicked!

On a bench in Nice (France)

D lived in residence next door to the Eaton Centre and at one time Eaton’s was THE place for gourmet food offerings.  We prided ourselves in being very adventurous in those days, even though our selections are now purchased during our monthly shops.  We would buy little tastes of dolmades, cottage pate, spicy olives, pickled herring (now we always choose Elman’s), smoked mussels and oysters, creamy Havarti cheese and crisp red grapes.  Then we would go across the mall to the LCBO and select a Alsatian white wine.  Each bite was savoured and we dreamed that one day we would have a six babies (we settled on 3) and travel (we have) and cook together (we do) and grow old together in rocking chairs on the front porch.  So dreams do come true (except that we’re not quite at the rocking chair part)!

Over the years we have modified the picnics to take the kids when they were little to Assiniboine Park and roll and wrestle on the riverbank and then walk across the bridge to Sargent Sundae. We also love having love happy hour on the beach with cocktails and appetizers.  We also have an end of summer cook which is a much loved tradition.

When we were travelling in Europe this September some of our favourite meals were our picnics.

So even if you can’t spread a blanket on the lawn, shop for a picnic supper.  Take little bites, savour and dream.

My son got home from his honeymoon last night and this morning at about 9:30 -he called me.  Is this guy perfect or what?!  Not only does he love his Mom but he is cooking breakfast for his new bride and I don’t mean peanut butter on a bagel.  He was making her Eggs Benedict and needed my from scratch hollandaise recipe!  Sorry girls, I only have one of him and he’s taken.

Here’s the recipe I directed him to:

Combine 4 egg yolks, 1/4 t each salt, sugar, Tabasco and dry mustard and 2 T fresh lemon juice in a blender. Heat  1 c of butter until bubbling in the mic, being careful not to brown.  With the blender running, slowly pour the butter into yolk mixture in a thin stream until all is added.

My family is hollandaise crazy!  They became hooked because of a chicken recipe that gets more requests for birthdays and special celebrations, than any other over the years.  Asparagus Wrapped Chicken Breasts: 

Pound 4 whole boneless chicken breasts between wax paper until an even thickness.  Blanche 24 asparagus spears. Combine 1/4 c butter, 1/4 c Dijon mustard mustard, 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic and 1/4 c white wine. Dip chicken breasts in this mixture to coat. Place 3 asparagus spears on each breast and roll securing with a toothpick. Mix 1 1/2 c of bread crumbs, 1 T Parmesan and 2 T finely chopped parsley together and roll breasts in this mixture. Bake 30 minutes at 350on a tinfoil lined baking sheet.   Serves 4 – 6.

My family shares a summer cottage with sister#2 and her family.  It is a special place and a special time when we are all together.  We put a lot (perhaps too much) emphasis on the weekend menus and Eggs Benedict is one of the favourites.

I have not been to Brunch at the Fort Garry Hotel for years but my sources say that it is the best in the city.  If they feature Eggs Benedict-my family would agree.

A reader emailed me to see if I had a good Ginger Snap recipe.  So here is my favourite:  Cream together 3/4 c margarine with 1 c sugar.  Add 1/4 c molasses and one beaten egg and then beat together.  Combine 2 c flour, 1/4 t salt, 2 t baking soda and 1 t each cinnamon, cloves and ginger.  Add to creamed mixture,  Mix well.  Roll into balls, then sugar.  Press with a fork.  Now the flatter you press the more snap the cookie will have, I slightly press because we like our chewy.  Garnish with a piece of candied ginger.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes (check after 10 minutes because of variable thickness).  

There are many health benefits linked to ginger.  I am not going to endorse anything that I have not personally tried, but I do know that ginger tea is lovely when you have a cold or the flu.  The recipe is simple.   Ginger Tea: grate  2 T  of ginger root into 2 c of boiling water.  Drink straight or add lemon and/or honey.

I knew that some cash was going to be spent on dining out this week, so I started the weekend off on a frugal note.  I made what we call Refrigerator Soup.  My husband keeps turkey broth in the freezer, so I threw in some chicken for protein and whatever veggies and herbs were in the fridge/freezer.  In addition, I cleaned out my bread box and made croutons which is one of my fav snacks (when you are craving salty).  If you’ve never done this, here’s my recipe:  melt  1/4 c of butter with a 1/4 c of olive oil and mix in 1 T of dried chicken soup stock (or garlic salt but not both).  Toss with cubed bread and spread onto a single layer of an edged baking sheet.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes and check.  Depending upon the quantity, if not quite browned, stir and bake another 5 minutes or so.

That night was Cafe Dario for dinner.  Instead of giving my nephew a cash wedding gift, we treated them to a night out with us.  We had a lovely visit and no one had to cook.  I had been to the Cafe for business lunches many times but never for dinner.  The Cafe features a five course dinner for $35.

We started with escargot “El Diablo” simmered with mushrooms, and tomato and covered with melted provolone.  We also tried the mussels and clams cooked with bacon, beer and Serrano chilies and the chipotle BBQ basted elk ribs.  The soup course was a delicious French onion and the salad had a fresh mint sesame vinaigrette dressing (I could have eaten a bowl of it with a spoon).  For entrees we tried the beef tenderloin with chimichurri, the porcini crusted rack of lamb with chocolate mushroom sauce, the bacon wrapped venison loin with brandy blackberry coli and the bacon wrapped chicken breast stuffed with jalapenos and cheddar and served with a cilantro crema.  The dessert was a little piece of tiramisu.  We chose an Argentinian Malbec to accompany the meats.  A delicious and wonderful evening.

For lunch during the week, I met a friend of mine on the second floor of Deluca’s. I had a lovely visit with a stranger that I shared a table with as I waited for her to arrive.  I chose the pizza covered with olives, roasted red pepper and artichokes and a tossed salad with extra red onions. My friend had the homemade soup and salad.  We were both stuffed for $15.  I also had the opportunity to go out for a last minute Dim Sum date at the Dim Sum Garden.  In my opinion this is the best in Winnipeg and I have been to their location on Rupert Ave. a hundred times.  I especially love their sticky rice and  shrimp dumplings.

I ended the week on a frugal note again and found some frozen hamburger patties in the freezer.  I wanted to go easy on the carbs and get my veggies in,  so we had a huge mushroom cap topper instead of the top half of the bun.

I chatted about my post yesterday with a friend who directed me to one of her favourite food books that was neglected from my list.  This clever book is written by Suzanne Pirret and is a  a combination of recipes and a narrative about being single and wondering why eating alone has gotten such a bad rap.

I quote:  “This is a book about cooking for yourself decadently.  There are serious cookbooks written by serious chefs and light and breezy cookbooks written by wholesome cooks.  This is both.  It’s naughty and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Each chapter begins with a short story based on my experiences living in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London followed by my repertoire of recipes that have been inspired by modern classics, some great chefs, my travels and, I might add, a far amount of successful experimentation.  They’re all for one serving and written in a fairly simple style….Think solitude at its most celebratory. ”

My friend tells me that these recipes are so delicious she still cooks from this book now that she’s is an old married lady (celebrating her first anniversary this weekend).

This is her favourite:

Not Suzanne's Version

“Best Mac “N” Cheese

Nothing fancy or weird.  This is the real deal.

Cook a c of elbow macaroni in boiling salted water with a little oil added.  Meanwhile , in another saucepan, make a bechamel:  melt a T of butter, whisk in a T of flour and cook until bubbly.  Add a c of cold milk and continue whisking until thickened,  Season with salt, white pepper, a nice pinch of hot chili powder and some chopped fresh thyme of flat-leafed parsley (or just a simple grating of nutmeg).  Stir in a cup of grated cheese, such as a combo of white and yellow cheddar, or some parmigiana and/or Emmental-whatever you favourites might be.  You have a lot oif choices.

Drain the pasta and toss into your bechamel.  Spoon into a small casserole dish, sprinkle with toasted fresh or panko breadcrumbs, place on a baking sheet and stick in a 400 degree F oven until golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes or so.

Drink whatever you want.”

I would respectfully challenge my friend to a mac and cheese cook off.  My family loves my version adapted from The Best of Bridge.  You decide.

Gourmet Mac and Cheese

A delicious Mac and Cheese from The Lobby on York

Cook and drain 2 1/2 c macaroni and set aside. Melt 1/4 c butter over medium heat; stir in 1/4 c flour; mix well. Add 2 c milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Add 1 t salt, 1 t sugar (sounds strange but just do it!) and 8 oz. grated cheddar cheese. Mix well. Mix 2/3 c fat free sour cream and 1 1/3 c cottage cheese into sauce. Mix with macaroni. Sprinkle another 2 c grated cheddar cheese and 1 1/2 c bread crumbs over top. Dot with 2 T butter and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes. Serves 6.