Hey look at me, I’m Cooking!

 The cost of stuff is getting ridiculous!  As all of you may have noticed.  I thought gas was crazy in BC, let alone on the north end of Vancouver Island!  Well, yes it is, however this weekend I, going to “motor” to the new Coop gas bar in nearby Port Hardy.  Also because I have a Coop card and may as well get the member discount.  

Today however, I got sticker shock when I purchased deodorant.  Regular old Secret for women, no designer, high end, fancy schmancy pit deodorizer.  I nearly choked: $8.60 for one!  Crazy!  It cost $3. More than thru Amazon!  Sooo next time I may just order online. 

Online seems to be the answer, and while I don’t like making Jeff Bezos even more of a kazillionaire, (he didn’t even send us a Christmas  card last year) it seems to make sense financially. I mean c’mon, I am a senior, on a fixed income!!  Albeit a lively, smart arse, hilarious senior, but I digress.

So back to the title: I’m cooking.  Yup, its been nearly 6 months but I am making food, instead of take out or just chocolate and red wine. Cooking for one has definitely been an adjustment.   I can’t keep raw veg in my fridge, since the crispers are either a) filling with water, the source of which I have yet to identify, or b) freezing my veg rock solid in crisper #2.  So since we used to get Hello Fresh delivered in Alberta, and even here in Port McNowhere, the nice delivery man brings me a box with three well planned meals, every Tuesday.  

Let me break it down: each meal is a generous portion intended for 2 people.  Now since I’m a one woman show, this means 1 meal is split into two, either lunch and dinner or two dinners.  So two days of food per meal.  This translates into potentially 6 meals in a week, for around $50 total or $8.33 a meal.  The bonus is so far I am actually getting 3 or 4 meals out of one meal package.  And yes they are delicious and not just noodles and burger. 

Oh I still find reasons to go to the grocery store, for pop, chips, bagels, and creamer.  But now no more agonizing over what to make.  Added bonus: each meal has veggies!  Uhuh.  And when I really crave variety, I go to the Legion and grab the $10 Friday home cooked vittles!  (Tomorrow beef dip!  Yummo) 

The only down side is I still have to do dishes.  Thank goodness I have a dishwasher, lol.   

P.S. today I even mentioned baking Christmas cookies!   OMG yes, life goes on! 

Prepping for a long wet winter ahead….He Shoots He Scores!

 Big News:  I’m watching hockey on television again! 

Oh its been at least three decades, back when LaFleur was still racing up and down the ice.  But inspired by my puck addicted friends, I signed up for Sports Net and tonight watched the Habs beat the Blackhawks.  It was great! Indeed I was by myself, along with the cat who slept through the game. How could I have forgotten how exciting the watching hockey could be? Goals, penalties, a few minor fights (more shoving matches) and one bloody nose. ..I found myself yelling along, “c’mon pass, Pass!,” and “Take the shot, ohhh darn it was open”,  I had a blast!  Well provisioned with a cold beer, a buttery bowl of popcorn, and some home made chili - which was delish - it was a superb way to spend Saturday night. 

I recall when my high school friend Yvonne and I were in the full throes of hockey mania, early 70’s, we’d come to my house to watch the game.  My Dad however was a 100% to his dying day a Toronto Maple Leaf fan,  and hearing us cheer Montreal when the Leafs were playing:  well he’d unceremoniously kick us out of the house.  Lolol When in my late teens as a waitress I actually served veal cutlets to Foster Hewitt:  the radio broadcaster renowned for his Hockey Night in Canada phrase “He shoots,  he scores!” I think he was surprised at how this dorky teen was over the moon, meeting this man, who in my eyes was a hockey Legend! A brush with greatness? 

When I was really young hockey ruled the roost - back in The tiny Saskatchewan farm community we lived, the outdoor rink held many games, and my dad was always on the ice.  There was a shack with a wood stove where we’d  thaw frozen fingers and toes, where I learned how to cinch up my brothers skates.  Some times we’d trudge to the farm just out of town, push shovels on the dugout to clear a rink of our own,  at Buhlers Farm.  I’m pretty sure one of their boys made it to the NHL.  

In my-hand-me down boys skates, I thought having my own stick and whipping along the rink was heavenly.  Decades later, when I had a full time job, one of my first big purchases was a new pair of girls skates. Figure skates .  My first time out was skating on a lake, where I promptly caught a toe pick in a crack on the ice, and did a belly flop that knocked the wind out of me!  Other more graceful gals I hung out with laughed at me, saying I skated like a boy.  Well yes, I probably did. 😅

My winter will be filled with Stuff.  Saturday night hockey, church Sunday, two core strenthen/stretch classes during the week, and Legion supper Friday.  Heck I am even thinking of becoming a regular volunteer to prep food for Friday dinners.  Its a super deal: dinner and dessert $10, and $5 for a beer.  

Early November I’ll be doing some travelling to a wedding in Surrey and to see mom in Tumbler Ridge.  December my sister and I are off to Mexico for a week.  My biggest decision is whether or how much should I decorate for Christmas.  Then its on to another year.  

P.S.  I may have to do the January turkey 🦃 since the frozen stuffed breast at Thanksgiving was….well lets say it may have been turkey-like, but I'm spoiled.  I ended up chucking half of it in the bin.  I’m going to seek a replacement, cook it on a Saturday and enjoy all the leftovers I desire!  

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Gobble Gobble! 🍂 🦃 🍁

 Well my friends  and family, tis Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.  A weekend where the crisp fall air is redolent with the smell of roasting turkey, with gravy, mashed potatoes and stuffing…and never forget cranberries.  

Its a time to be grateful.  To appreciate what you have, what you've had, and the year so far.  Now I’ll admit, there has been a major upset in my year.  One I will never forget, but I am also filled with gratefulness for the previous 23 years with my favorite person,  my darling husband Mac.  And that brings me back to Thanksgiving.  

Traditionally, this is kick off to the Endless Season of Turkey.  yes Mac was a bonafide turkey-a-holic.  Starting out with the selection of the Thanksgiving bird, which he claimed had to be a 25 pounder at minimum, and which was always a fall feast to remember!  He loved to prepare, in a variety of ways,  his “guest of honour” to kick off the turkey months to come.

Along with the Thanksgiving Turkey, there was then the November pre-Christmas “practise turkey”, followed by the December Christmas bird, and culminating in his January “birthday turkey.”   yes, he did take his bird seriously. 

Sometimes roasted to perfection, stuffed with a delicious traditional dressing, one year with Oyster stuffing, one woth Sausage stuffing and one with “historically accurate” stuffing.  This last one involved cranberries, hazelnuts, onion, and should have been delicious.  Let me explain.

Mac wanted to do the dressing as the First Canadians dressed their birds.  So native nuts and berries were used.  When we tested the bird, with the traditional Mennonite stick a fork in the thigh, to our shock the juices ran red!  Back into the oven it went, 45 more minutes.  Another test, another flow of red juice! Finally we clued in if a person puts whole raw cranberries into the dressing, it runs red…with cranberry juice!  

Another year, while living in Vancouver, we shopped at Stongs, a renowned grocery store, and as I rolled the cart to the produce section, I saw Mac in the check out line.  I hurried over to see him cradling the biggest turkey Ever in his arms, a huge happy grin .. “look at this one”!  He honestly looked like a wee lad carrying a fluffy puppy…  it was a fresh, never frozen, “ethically killed, organic “ bird, that weighed 32lbs!!!  The teller was giggling at my reaction to this behemoth of a bird, I wasn’t sure it would fit in our oven!   Well it did, it was perfection and to date the best turkey I’ve ever had!   Thankfully we had some guests with big appetites to share in the feast.  

Then came life in the NWT where he bbqed a bird on the rotisserie, which apparently our neighbors had never seen, so we again had a family of neighbors share in the bounty.  Add the wonderful spatchcocked turkeys whether on the bbq, in the smoker or in the oven, he always amazed me with his cooking prowess.  

I am going to miss those turkey-paloozas, the resultant gallons of soup, curries, gravy…. I actually found 2 turkeys in the freezer when I shifted contents to one, to sell the second freezer this past month.  One went to the church where it has gone to a family in need.  The other will go to the neighbor for a big meal.  

As for me, a turkey addict by association, I purchased a stuffed breast, which ill have Monday.  A gal has to have some leftovers for turkey buns ya know!  I’m thawing the last of frozen homemade gravy and have buns and mayo on standby.

And tonight, while I’m so grateful for the past 23 years, I am also thankful for my friends who care for me and check in on me.  Tonight I’m dining with awesome friends, and their huge family, so grateful they are in my life.

To you, my dear friends, family and readers, I remind you - be grateful and thankful for the many wonderful blessings you receive.  😍💕