Today it is cloudy and a bit windy and the big thing today is the grand opening of a new grocery store. Would you believe the whole town came out and half their relatives I swear. It was totally wall to wall people/carts and management passing off samples of cheese and candies. I think this is done to keep the tempers in check. The line up to PAY for the groceries went from the front of the store right to the back of the store in EVERY aisle. Also across the one side of the front, the Customer Service counter was putting through all the 20 items or less baskets. It was a huge success for the store opening and fun to see a small town in action. I am sure it will be talked about for weeks to come.
Then the Landscaper was here and showed us his drawings and he will surely make the yard look splendid. Now we just got the estimate for the LITTLE fence to go around part of our property, and they must make the fencing out of gold. YIKES! Alms for the poor, alms for the poor. Just kidding we really need to win a lotteryquick or else a good martini. Guess what I opted for? Nah!
Potato and Bacon Chowder
I love chowders and this one has a lemony taste to it. Give it a try!
You will need:
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 garlic clove
- 3-4 large gold potatoes
- 2 sticks of celery, ribs peeled,
- 1 small carrot, chopped small
- pinch of salt/pepper
- zest from one lemon
- 5-6 slices of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 2 cups whole kernal corn (off cob or drained canned corn)
- 3/4 cup whipping cream
- fresh dill, chopped
- Cook bacon until crisp and crumble. Set aside.
In a large pot combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes (until tender) and liquid has reduced and thickened a little. Add the lemon zest and cream, continuing to simmer for about 5 minutes. At this point do not bring to a full boil.
Serve in a pretty bowl and garnish with the bacon and a touch of fresh dill.
Friday Night Guests/Dinner
We are expecting guests for the weekend and are planning a horsie derve (lol) and signature drink while we watch the end of the hockey game and then proceed into a fabulous caesar salad that Don makes and deep fried baby nugget potatoes, grilled mediterranean veggies, rotissierie chicken (again a favourite of anyone who has tasted it) and a Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake for dessert. Then I will open and sample a new ice wine that I purchased here in the Valley and see what everyone thinks.
Tomorrow, of course, is breakfast will be like we served at our Bed and Breakfast. All the recipes for that are in my cookbook.
Later…. I have a signature drink to prepare. I think it will be Olivers Martini
Poppy Seed Cake With White Chocolate Icing
This is a bit different but still tasty. It takes:
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 1/4 cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup poppy seeds
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- Pinch salt
- 1 cup sour cream
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar until light in colour and thickened. Add butter and continue beating until well combined.
In a small bowl, stir together coconut, poppy seeds, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir half of the mixture into the egg mixture. Add the sour cream and remaining dry ingredients.
Pour batter into a greased and lined with parchment paper 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Smooth the top with an off center spatula and bake for about 30 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched in the center.
FROSTING
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 7 oz. white chocolate, chopped
- Poppy seeds
Place butter and chocolate in a double boiler and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Whip the cream until stiff. Slowly whisk in the cooled chocolate into the whipped cream and ice the cake when it is completely cooled. Sprinkle poppy seeds on top.
This is delightful in flavour and texture.
Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake
When we ran our Bed and Breakfast, the joke was that you left your diet outside the front door and picked it up again when you left. I can’t get over that habit. Do I want to? Not so much!
You will need:
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cups Rodelle Baking Powder (any large grocery store)
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsps. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsps. baking soda
- 1/2 cup Crisco oil
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsps. vanilla extract (or 2 tsps. chocolate flavouring)
- 1 1/4 cups whipping cream
- 1/4 cup creme de cacao
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbls. icing sugar
- 1 packet of Oetker “WhipIt” (stabilizer for whipping cream)
- 1 1/2 tsp. icing sugar
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the bottom/sides of 2- 9″ round cake pans. Now fit parchment paper circles into pans and butter the paper. Set aside.
Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil and let it simmer. Combine the dry ingredients into a large bowl and beat together with the oil, milk, eggs, vanilla and creme de cacao for two minutes or until smooth. Reduce to low speed and now add 1 cup boiling water. Mix well and divide equally into the cake pans. Bake these for 30-35 minutes and check with a wooden toothpick to ensure it is cooked. Cool for about 10 minutes and unmold, returning to the wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting beat the cream with the Whip It, until light peaks form and add the icing sugar and creme de cacao and beat until a little firmer. Gentley fold in the remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tbls. icing sugar and 1 1/2 tbls. baking chocolate.
To assemble: slice each cake in half and place one layer on the serving plate. Spread a layer of frosting on top, sprinkle with 1/4 of the chocolate chips. Repeat with each layer except the top. Ice with the remaining whipping cream and sprinkle the top with “Choca vlokken” which is actually choclate curls. You can, of course, make you own but these work out in a pinch.
Enjoy!
Half Iron Man Part 2
It is now 6 a.m. and we are all showered and ready to walk down to the start of the race (swimming part) which is in front of our home. Then we will come back and have breakfast and then go back to the finish line around 12:15 or so and wait with a tray full of homebaked cookies for Laura and her friends. Should be fun! They have to swim, ride a bike and then run. In August this year, Laura is going into the Ironman race. (approx. 17 hour race….I can only ask why?)
This is what commitment is all about. Bless her and those who do this.
Tasty Pumpkin Soup
Always on the lookout for something new and knowing you have all the ingredients in the pantry? Try this one on for size.
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 leek, cleaned, white and light green pieces only
- 1 rib of celery, peel off the threads
- 1 gold flesh potato, diced
- 1 tsp. curry powder
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 2-2 1/2 cups whipping cream
- 1 can pure pumpkin (not pie mix) (796L can size)
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- Brioche croutons (or buttered sourdough croutons)
Heat oil in a large pot on medium heat, adding the leek and celery and saute for about 3-4 minutes until soft and fragrant, not brown.
Add the diced potatoes and curry powder and saute for another minute. Now add the stock, pumpkin, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer and cover pot. Cook for about 15 minutes. Add the cream and cook until heated through. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Put into a pretty soup bowl, add a few freshly toasted croutons .
The curry adds a little flavour but no heat and it is a wonderful refreshing soup. Add a bottle of well chilled Piesporter (glass, if only you).
Enjoy!
How To Purge Your Home
Having worked with an Accountants for most of my career, one suggestion would be to keep a folder marked “taxes” and put any and all receipts inside and when April comes around, you will have everything at hand and ready to go.
If you have a linen closet like mine, you might want to control the mess by stocking three towels, wash cloths and hand towels per person; two sets of sheets (one cotton and one flannel) for each bed. Guest rooms get one set of each. Now you have room.
Half Iron Man Race
I have a friend (and former boss) who is in this race on Sunday. The fun part for me is to hand out cookies to her friends also in the race. I will be holding a sign that says “Laura’s Friend” and I have made this morning a batch each of Citrus Lace Cookies” and “Chunky Chocolate/Pecan cookies.
Still have another batch to make. My house smells incredible. Don’t believe me? Just go ahead and sniff. There….told you so.
Enjoy the day!