FauxPas

Most definitely. Which is why it looks like the Alberta Beef Producers are influencing next week's challenge. Still, I hold out hope for more creativity with the selections.

A gardening friend came over the other day and I noticed her arms were all scratched up - I know she doesn't have a cat so I asked "Raspberries?" Yup. 🙂 (But you look better prepared with those heavy gloves!) Your garden looks so tidy and well-prepared! Your weather must have warmed up a lot to put basil out. The Costco Garden Centre here is usually very good, we often buy things there. For several years, we have bought fuchsia hanging baskets from them - only $19.99 for big, healthy ones, an excellent price for our part of the world. Here's one from last year, this year's haven't really bloomed too much yet. I have a few baskets with strawberries. They are a few years old and wasn't sure how they would come back but they are off to a pretty good start this Spring.

I still wish they had done more interesting things while in Canada, as they really haven't made use of the location. Most of the time they have been in that Top Chef bunker/warehouse which might as well be in Akron, Ohio. Why didn't they go to PEI to cook PEI mussels? Not sure about the Calgary Stampede visit either. Don't get me wrong, the Stampede is a big part of Calgary history and can be quite colourful and is known for its sometimes oddball midway foods, (cheeseburger ice cream, pickle fry poutine, watermelon burger and lots of bao last year) but still... Calgary certainly has more attractive venues than rodeo grounds. Thinking of the lovely River Café on Prince's Island Park or Rouge Restaurant or several other places with local and/or historical significance. Or even SAIT and its culinary campus, it had a student take home the Trophée Jean Rougié last year. First Street Market would work or maybe cook at the top of the Calgary Tower (and not just walk around the edges of it, as they did on the CN Tower, ha). Or the Rocky Mtn Wine & Food Festival in Calgary. Or go to the actual Rocky Mountains! Sigh, so many interesting and lovely Canadian things they could make use of while in Canada, but haven't. I hope they prove me wrong about the Stampede stuff, maybe I'll really enjoy it. 🙂

I don't think the Bee cares about original usage, it's more about current usage. And lallygag ain't it. 😄

Thank you! The Bee people don't seem to get it that it's "lolly" and not "lally". 🙂

Oooh, I feel the joy as well! Nothing like the first fruit on a plant and a very special plant in this case, right? 🙂

And suddenly they are open! My favourite is this coral one, I just love the colour.

A short visit down to Victoria to see friends and brought back a couple of Caribbean pork rotis from Trini 2 D Bone. My friend also got chicken and goat. We had ours with a side salad and some commercial chutney. I still have mango chunks in the freezer, should get back to making some of my own!

Wow, it's always interesting to see what you are doing in your indoor garden and hope you will keep sharing how things go!

I adore all magnolias! Such a sweet gift from your daughter. 🙂 Have you decided where you will plant them?

I adore peonies! Mine have fat buds but haven't opened yet. Why are you debating about corn? Do you still have a lot frozen? Or is it maybe a carb thing? I tried starting some tomato seeds in my little countertop greenhouse but it didn't seem like they were going to germinate so bought some young plants at a local nursery. A day or two later, I checked and my seeds were germinating after all, so I will have more tomato plants than I need too! But nothing like you! I only bought seven plants and have about the same number starting up. Overnight temps are still a bit variable so bringing the plants in at night for now. I planted some snap peas because I love them so much. But I'm filling most of my pots and little raised beds with flowers this year, I want LOTS of colour on and around the deck. I started some zinnias from seed, too.

My husband had a bacon and egg craving and luckily I had leftover potatoes to make panfries.

Finally got around to cooking those beef short ribs, braised in a red wine sauce. Very tender, sauce was luscious. 🙂 I think it's the classic recipe? Browned the ribs, then a sauté of onion, celery, carrot, garlic. Added red wine and reduced. Bit of tomato paste. Beef stock, thyme and bay leaf and added meat back in, then braise for a couple of hours. Strain sauce, reduce a bit and thicken as necessary (I used a bit of cornstarch).

Beef short ribs braised in a red wine sauce.

Cool Spring evening, I decided to add the last meat from a roti chicken with some homemade stock and the usual veggies for a simple chicken noodle soup.

If it's the Campari tomatoes from Windset Farms, they are a Canadian company but they have greenhouses in both Canada and US. They grow Campari tomatoes in their Santa Maria, California greenhouses so you should be able to get those ok. Here in the Delta, BC greenhouses they grow more of the Avalantino variety which are also very good. Similar to Campari but maybe a tad bigger and labeled as Vivo tomatoes. They also have a variety of other tomatoes, plus cukes and peppers. https://windsetfarms.com/about-windset/

Reminds me of Molly Stevens' recipe for World's Best Braised Cabbage, one of my favourite ways to use cabbage. Yum. 🙂 https://tastecooking.com/recipes/worlds-best-braised-cabbage/ Or https://nomnompaleo.com/post/1356598429/worlds-best-braised-green-cabbage

This made me laugh! I was going to joke about what a frugal shopper you are, hahaahahaha

Frohe Ostern! Such delicious-looking food and lovely family traditions! Nice photo of you and your dad at the bonfire. I missed seeing a photo of your son, though! Your 'little one' who is likely becoming less little all the time, ha. 🙂 So nice to see you back here!

Wow, these last comments make me wonder: when do you folks think something from the freezer is too old to be cooked? Or is it only based on freezer burn? I admit I have thrown things out that are over a couple of years old, but maybe I am being overly careful? 🙂

I buy pork shoulder steaks just so I can make Filipino Pork Adobo. I trim some of the fat and serve it with rice and steamed veggies, it doesn't have to be too unhealthy. 🙂 I pretty much do mine this way, but only add a bit of brown sugar at the end. https://thewoksoflife.com/pork-adobo/

Well, my short ribs went back into the freezer before they had really even started to thawed. Had to go to grocery store and saw some lovely chuck patties at the grocery store for a song, bought them and husband says he's been hankering for a grill night since weather is so lovely now. So we'll invite some friends and do a burger and beer night. We'll do a toast to Russ, @Smithy! 💕 🍺🍔💕

Ha, I have some beef short ribs in the freezer also. Thanks to you and @Smithyfor the reminder. 🙂 Just went and go them out. They are nice meaty-looking ones but were marked down to half-price. A great deal because they tend to be quite pricey these days. I'll let them thaw in the fridge overnight and cook them for dinner tomorrow. Probably braise in a red wine sauce.

I wonder if oiling your hands a bit might have helped?

Do you watch Top Chef Canada? I see Top Chef (US or Canada or the other international shows) as more than just a cooking competition. It's absolutely about diversity and inclusion and about exploration of food cultures. We're a beautiful mix of things in this country and I love exploring it through food! https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/cooking-causing-friction-windsor-born-chanthy-yen-on-fire-after-top-chef-canada-win