Marlene

Notice Sam hasn't been heard from? I'm hoping he hasn't spontaneously combusted from all this eating!

That peanut butter burger is amazing. I know, I can hear you thinking to yourself "What's peanut butter doing in a burger recipe"? All I can say is, you gotta trust me on this one. Those burgers come out so moist and juicy you may never make burgers any other way. And you'll never taste the peanut butter although you will get a lovely nutty flavour. A few years ago, we had a thread on it around here somewhere and several people tried it. Well good morning, folks. It looks like rain as I contemplate my day today while getting my morning fix of coffee. Today will include shopping at the new Whole Foods to pick up ingredients for the mystery basket as well as working on our challenge for tonight's dinner, Pasta & Meatballs.

So dinner at an Italian Restaurant. we chose Trattoria Timone here in downtown Oakville. It's not a large restaurant and the kitchen is open so you can see the chef cooking everything. From what I could tell, almost everything was made to order. Including the cream sauce for my entree. there were a few mishaps along the way, including a waiter who got that "deer in the headlight" look whenever we asked him a question, but mostly everything was wonderful. They had a specials menu that is not posted on their website and Don chose the Baked brie from that. I'm going to apologise again for the pics as we took them without a flash in order not to disturb the other diners. The restaurant was full. As expected, I had the carpaccio, but I wish I'd ordered the Brie. It was much better! for the main course, Don predictably chose a steak, with a green peppercorn sauce: But I wanted to show eG'ers that I do eat something other than meat, so I ordered the Ravioli stuffed with Gorgonzola Cheese in a Cream Basil Sauce. This was on the specials menu, otherwise, I would have had the lamb. I have to say this dish was totally outstanding. As you can see, it didn't suck This is a reasonably bad picture of the wine we ordered with dinner. It was a Barolo, year, 1998. We really were to full for dessert, but we looked anyway at the menu: And in order to satisfy my fellow eG'rs curiosity, I had to order the Warm Cherry Clafouti I didn't have the Tiramisu or the Zabaglione because I haven't decided yet what to make for tomorrow night. I would normally have had the cheese plate, because I don't eat much dessert, but hey, I had to take one for the team here. We had coffee, (decaf for Don) and decided to finish off the evening with a Port at home. I didn't take a picture of it, but we enjoyed a glass of Taylor Fladgate 20 year tawny. Imedidately upon arriving home, I went in search of my loosest piece of clothing. All in all, a very nice evening out.

Perhaps some carpaccio and some tenderloin? ← yes and no. As far as the blender goes, Don took it back because the lid did not fit even close to snugly. He and the salesguy opened 4 boxes before they found one that did. The salesman said he'd never seen anything like it before. Your dinner guesses are half right. That's certainly an option, but I can think of several things to do with ground beef! Dinner pics in a few minutes. Bear with me. We had to take them without a flash so they need a little "fixing"

I'm comfortable with that, Soba. I can do one vegetarian dish at least to hold to the spirit of this. Now, clearly I'm not a vegetarian. So do vegetarians eat seafood?

To give you something to do whilst Sam and I dine out, ( you can all do your homework and read up ), this is where we are dining tonight. Well, Don and I are. I've no idea where Sam and Kathleen are going. Trattoria Timone You can all take guesses at what I'll be selecting to eat.

I confess, I haven't eaten much today, quite deliberately though. I did have some shaved parmesan and water crackers a bit earlier and of course, I've had my normal gallon or two of coffee. Tonight's challenge is Dinner at an Italian restaurant, which I'm really looking forward to. We'll be leaving in about an hour and I'll report back when we get home. Then tomorrow, shopping for the mystery basket ingredients, whatever they might be!

How about a Sicilian Cassata if one wants a baked Italian dessert? Basically cannoli cream filling with a nice rum cake. Yum if it is not too sweet. It can be nicely decorated as well. ← That sounds interesting if I can find a good recipe. I have come across a neat recipe for Zabaglione Gelato though that looks fun. Yeah, I know, it's not baked. I don't know if things are any different where Marlene is living, but currently in Minnesota, the asparagus is still being imported, and I don't know that I could find a decent peach or apricot to save my life. I can get quinoa, but can Marlene? Never mention that my family would mutiny if I served a meal like this! I'd at least have to add eggs. ← Mine has already stated they are going out to dinner - without me.

Tiramisu is the first thing that crossed my mind, because it's just so obvious. I've never made it before, so that's good, but I wanted to investigate other "traditional" Italian desserts as well.

Any votes Soba has received by PM will need to be tabulated as well. Morning everyone. Foodwise, this will be a very light day for me because we are going out for dinner and I'm saving myself. However, I do want to do some baking today, I just haven't decided what yet. Something Italian though I think to go with tomorrow night's challenge. In the meantime, as I mentioned, we're having a party on Saturday. Here's the menu we've come up with. Everything will be cooked on the BBQ. hors doeuvres include: chicken satays with honey mustard sauce beef satays with horseradish sauce rosemary potatoes with roasted garlic chevre dip antijitos Parmesan Rosemary Crackers with Herbed Cream Cheese Mini Corn Muffins Asiago Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Pinwheels Fresh Shrimp Wrapped in Snow Peas The main course includes: Bruschetta on the grill Beef and Chicken Shish kabobs Potato salad and coleslaw Finger desserts and cookies. Everyone please start praying to the weather gods for a beautiful sunny day that day please!

It's been a long day for me folks. Time for me to roll this bloated body into bed. Tomorrow is a treat as we're off to an Italian restaurant for dinner. I never did get to Whole Foods today, but I will do my shopping for the mystery basket there! I hope they'll let me take pictures. See y'all in the morning.

Show off. Tonight's dinner was a stir fry with left over beef, peppers, onions. I bought sugar snap peas (we usually use snow peas, but I couldn't pass these up.) Tonight was a treat for me. I was going to learn to stir fry, (Don always stir frys in our house, but hospital days are tough on me, and Don decided I needed a break. (I think he just wanted to use the new knife) Dacor provides a wok ring for my range. It's handy. We picked these up at the Japanese pavillion at Epcot Centre last month. Some of the ingredients: Leftover beef The new knife, (of course) Almost done: Dinner, is served with saffron garlic rice: It was so good folks. We had leftover trifle for dessert. Oh and this is Don's new toy. A portable ice maker. We're getting it ready for the party on Saturday. Ok guys except for the beef in tonight's dish, I'm really getting my veggies this week. I even had bean sprouts for heaven's sake. Haven't I had enough veggies? Take pity on me. Please.

I've a question on the blender for those who have one. The lid doesn't seem "snug" and I wouldn't call the attachment of the jar to the base overly secure either. Is this normal?

Soba, I believe someone suggested lamb, and someone else suggested duck. Edited to add, sorry, I see you got the lamb, but I don't see the duck, but then again, I could be blind.

Hmmm, mayonnaise. Great idea! The knife is really for Don I think. He was eyeing it longingly so I gently encouraged him to get it. It didn't take much. So Sam, what's for dinner tonight?

After a nice visit at the hospital, Don and I headed towards WS. We were hungry though so we stopped at Canyon Creek, a quasi chain steakhouse, across from the mall. It was such a beautiful day, we sat on the patio sipping a couple of beers (Rickards for Don, Heniken for me) while we waited for our orders to arrive. Don had the prime rib sandwich, real juicy prime rib, stacked high on an onion baquette and I had a bacon cheddar cheeseburger, med. Both dishes came with enough crispy shoestring potatoes to feed the entire patio. Both meals were excellent, although I didn't have my camera with me to take pictures. Then it was off to WS for a little shopping. It was a good WS day, what can I say? Two cookbooks (maggie, add two more for me!), my blender , a Cuisnart mini prep, Screwpull wine opener, WS towels, two measuring spoon sets, a set of biscut cutters, a Wusthof Classic Santoku knife, 2 Wusthof Classic steak knives and some coffee. The Waring Pro 60th and 70th Anniversary Blenders are only available in the US. Figures. As far as the mini prep goes, I couldn't justify using a big food processor enough to get one of those, but I can see myself using this little one fairly often. I am a happy girl. Cocktails on the deck in a little while, then off to piano lessons. Dinner when I return.

I only turn on the BBQ when I'm forced to do so. Don usually lights it for me. Then, I'll grill, sometimes.

Is it time for that new blender? ← Perhaps, if the Kitchen Gods are kind today.

Morning everyone. Coffee again this morning, on this beautiful day. Ryan had frosted flakes and I'm not sure what Don is planning to eat. I've a rare day mid week to share with my husband so this morning we'll go across the city to the hospital for a while, and then hopefully stop at William Sonoma on the way home. Maybe we'll get to check out the new Whole Foods store today as well. Tonight's challenge is "something creative with leftovers". We'll be using our left over steak to create a stir fry and I may or may not have time to make chicken soup from the leftover chicken carcass and meat from last night. Dinner will be late tonight as we won't eat until I return from my piano lesson, but I'm sure Sam can fill in the gaps nicely.

Those bags. Contain Ryan's marble collection, various pieces of lego and they double as an emergency makeup kit for me.

3 more for me, courtesy of suzilightning. Thank you!

Very nice, Sam. Poached chicken is another thing I've never done. Except for the mushrooms, oustanding. And woman does not live by bread pudding alone. Kathleen needs more desserts. After all, she cleans up the kitchen! Edited to add: My sweetie cleaned up the kitchen for me tonight. What a guy!

To clairfy: is it in two pieces (pedestal and bowl)? here's mine ← No, it's one piece. He had two helpings of the green. Roasted asparagus, who knew? Ryan runs away when he sees a power tool in my hand. For good reason. The trifle was the ruined cake, pastry cream, fresh raspberries and freshly whipped cream with shaved chocolate on top. That's a big part of it for me. When I do something for the first time, I don't have that rhythmn going that I normally have in the kitchen. And BBQ's are scary. Um, I almost never eat dessert either, but it doesn't stop me from making it. Hint hint. And Don got home early. They filed final statements today and so we had two reasons to celebrate: Don is taking tomorrow off to help get the house ready for the party on Saturday. The morning is taken up with hospital visiting, maybe, if I'm very good a visit to William Sonoma, and I've piano in the evening. Posts and pics will be late from me tomorrow folks. Hope you all had as much fun as I did today! Where's your dinner pics Sam?!

I hardly ever bbq because in the past I've been terrified of turning it on, hence Ryan's comment. Overcoming that fear is a big one for me. And to have it turn out the way it did, was just so perfect. As for the bowl, I've never thought of using it that way!

Oh. My. God. I think I just had a mouth orgasm. This was just too perfect for words, and I'm still in one piece. (I did it! I did it! I did it!) First the conversation with Ryan on the way home. Ryan: "So what's for dinner?" Me: "spit roasted chicken, potatoes, asparagus, and trifle" Ryan: Spit roasted chicken? Is Don home?" Me: "No, he'll be a bit late tonight" Ryan YOU'RE going to BBQ? Do you even know how to turn it on?" Me: "Of course I know how to turn it on" Ryan: "Well maybe, but do you think you should? Maybe you should wait for Don" First I had to spit the chicken. I put lemon and garlic slices in the cavity, tied the legs together and the wings to the body. Rubbed with some salt, pepper and EVOO. So far so good. It's on the spit. Now, onto the BBQ. I probably should have tied the legs to the body as well, but it didn't matter in the end. While I was cooking, I had a glass of this. Laurent-Perrier. Tossed the potatoes in olive oil, salt and pepper and melted some bacon fat in a glass baking pan. Tossed the potatoes into a convection oven, skin on to roast. Tossed the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper. Let it sit. Have another sip of champagne. This is the olive oil I'm using. I'm rather liking this one. The balsamic seasoning. This stuff gets used very sparingly. Chicken is done. Oh man. Oven roasted mini red potatoes, roasted asparagus drizzled with Balsamic, and shaved parmesan. Trifle Things I've never done before: spit roasted chicken, roasted asparagus, and triffle. Yes I know. I've had that triffle bowl for two years and never used it. My mother in law will be thrilled to know I finally used her gift. Ryan had seconds of everything. This was too die for, and I'll tell you what. I've never been as proud of a meal as I am of this one.