MaryIsobel

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. Thankfully I have never encountered poisin ivy. We have stinging nettles, but they are a minor inconvenience and white vinegar does the trick with the stinging. You are a wonder woman - if I felt like you did, it would be takeout or freezer meals! I would take to my fainting couch (if I had one.)

No pictures, because I've posted fish taco pictures before but it was a really lovely dinner, just my 24-year-old nephew and I and we sat on the deck for well over an hour discussing anything that came to mind. He is such an intelligent, empathetic young man. Sometimes, it's not the food that makes the dinner, but the company.

I do this all the time. I do use sodium citrate and evaporated milk, both which prevent the sauce from breaking. Also make sure that the pasta is just al dente and as mentioned above, make it "soupier" than I would if serving immediately.

Your breakfast is amazing. I had a slice of cold pizza that my nephew brought home last night. Not complaining, I like cold pizza, but it didn't hold a candle to your sumptuous repast.

I inherited my Nana's bean pot and have made homemade a few times. They were definitely good, but time consuming. They also call for salt pork which is not easy to find in these parts.

I've never had cold baked beans but the idea is not unappealing to me. I like leftover pizza cold and have been known to eat leftover pasta cold as well.

I have fig envy as well. About 45 minutes away from me, there is a large Italian population and in those neighbourhoods, almost every home has a huge fig tree. I sometimes see them in a market near me but they are about 10.00 for 6 figs. I just have to make do with fig preserves or dried figs.

Our nephew is staying with us for the summer and between him and my husband, I have been making pickled onions two or three times a week. My sister gave me this great 1.89 litre jar so I filled it up today. Should last at least a week (fingers crossed.)

I haven't made calzones or stomboli for too long - thanks for the reminder. Yours look amazing.

Thanks, I have never looked into it honestly. I may now be inspired to do so. We are now once again, contemplating going over the border to grocery shop.It has been well over two years, but Bellingham WA, which is the nearest decent size US city to us, has a great selection of Mexican food and groceries, which I have been sorely missing. I realize that Hatch chilis aren't Mexican but the talk of them has got me thinking...

Hot dogs are one the menu here for tonight. I only crave them about once a year and today is apparently the day. I only like "European weiners" so that is what I got. Probably baked beans and watermelon as sides. Sadly we will have to settle for storebought sauerkrout - I really should make a batch of my own.

You've inspired me to get off my butt (so to speak) and order a paella pan that will work on my induction stove top. I had a great one, perfect size but it is non-ferrous.

I would love to try a Hatch chili but they are undheard of in these parts, as are a lot of things you folks discuss. We are apparently in the heart of the raspberry/blueberry capital of Canada (?) but that and Chilliwack corn are all we have to share with the rest of the province/country.

I'm starting to look forward to cooking a hot meal again - but not yet. Cold noodle salad with grilled terryaki chicken thighs, red pepper, cucumber, carrot, red cabbage, green onion, cilantro, peanuts and a (purchased) sesame ginger dressing. As with most noodle dishes, I ended up with about twice the amount I meant to make. Our twenty-something nephew is staying with us, so I'm sure it won't go to waste.

Fish tacos and our first local corn of the year. I think it was Kim that mentioned the Ultimate Fish Sticks from Costco. We were having some littles to visit for a few days and their mom said fish sticks were their favourite meal so... They are actually pieces of fish, not fish paste. Had some left so fish tacos it was. There is a lime crema and cilantro underthe fish, which is under the cabbage (I only had red cabbage) and pickled onions

Magnificent! Flawless looking frosting and chocolaate curls and all my favourite flavours.

Happy birthday to Charlie and wow - what a feast!

That looks wonderful and cousins whom we will be visiting live in Cumberland, on Cumberland Road in fact. What a lovely garden. Will definitely check these out. Thanks so much!

I have read great things about Hen and Hog, but my sis is set on Atlas (she is very unadventurous when it comes to food and likes to go with what she knows, but she was all over the Cuckoo so that's good.) We let everyone pick a restaurant or two or three on our sister's getaways but ever since she suggested the Spaghetti Factory in Kelowna, my other sister and I have gently told her that we will pick restaurants for her to choose from! Thanks for the rec for the Black Fin, as one of our afternoons we will be taking our 90 year old aunt (whom you would think is 75) out for lunch. She lives in Courtenay, so that might be a good option. I hear you on the understaffing and the current heat wave. We are going the 3rd week in August so hopefully it won't be as hot as it currently is. Thanks so much for all the great suggestions, lots of places I haven't heard of.

I always have an ice cube or two in white wine or rose when it's hot out. Didn't know I was cool! (When ordering in a restaurant, I always ask for a side of ice cubes as I don't want 6 ice cubes in it.)

Always have Bird's custard powder on hand for Nanaimo Bars (at Christmas) or a quick and easy trifle with any kind of cake and any kind of fruit. Good stuff!

Also going to try to go to Q Burger but admittedly I am not one to stand in line for anything. Thinking we might try mid afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner.One of my sister's must-go-to places is Atlas Cafe in Courtenay for Eggs Benny. Apparently they were featured on You Gotta Eat Here (as was Q Burger) so it may be busier than the last time we were there about 5 years ago. https://www.atlascafe.ca/breakfast

Your recommendations are much appreciated and I just told my sisters that we will be dining at the Cuckoo one night for sure. I wasn't aware of it. I haven't been to the Island since 2019 thanks to Covid. I know that the Coombs market is crazy but we are all early risers so plan to be there for the opening bell on our foraging for dinner day. We have booked at the Kingfisher for the hydropath and lunch on our last day.

Thanks - have been goiong to Qualicum for about 45 years. Cut my beer teeth at the Shady Rest! Years ago, there was a great place, right on the water in Nanaimo that served buckets of clams and/or mussels. I haven't found it by googling and haven't been there for a couple of decades so it may be no longer. I will check out the Shore restaurant for sure. And touristy or not, I love Coombs! We are staying in a place right on the water that has a kitchen, so the plan for one night is to go to Coombs and gather ingredients for dinner. With a few Fanny Bay oysters on the side.

Sorry - my phone and laptop are not cooperating today. I'm getting a weird file extension and when I try to save as a pdf, that's what happens. I will try again after some sustenance.