Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Nine - Pretzel Bretzel

Dear all

Today, Darren had a very specific craving so sent me on a mission: he wanted me to find the 'ULTIMATE pretzel'. I took myself off to Metro and scoured the shelves... interestingly, there wasn't quite the variety I had envisioned ( considering the 1 1/2 aisles devoted to chips *crisps for the UK audience* and other chip-like crispy crisps. I the end, I bought everything ( not all the bags, just one bag per brand), hoping that this would increase my odds in finding the 'ULTIMATE pretzel'. As luck would have it, I hit the jackpot! Darren was after the hallowed honey mustard 'pretzel bretzel' from Neal Brothers and he was not wrong, they are delicious!

http://www.nealbrothersfoods.com/pages/home.html

And here is photographic evidence: The Pretzel Bretzel ( with my fingers in shot for scale). The Ultimate Pretzel!

And in other news: 

1. Another gorgeous evening in Collingwood... Darren and I went for a stroll around the Shipyards - so picturesque!

Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Eight - CPR Training

Dear all

Well... today was extremely unusual! I have embarked on a new endeavour - I am an official *yikes* 'Run Leader' for the new Georgian Triangle Running Club! http://www.georgiantrianglerunningclub.org/. In order to fulfil my role as 'Run Leader' I had to learn the basics of CPR, (just in case), so suddenly, I found myself at TAG gym, sitting in front of a plastic dummy man with a strange mouth ( he looked a little like the Sonny from I, Robot) and a defibrillator kit... VERY unusual, wouldn't you say??

Yep, I am now *trained* to use a defibrillator. I must say, the real thing is very different from the large  electrical device used on E.R. (not that I watch E.R: I don't like blood/gore/needles/ hospital programs). In fact, It rather resembled a fisher price toy,  presumably the idea being that the defibrillator is so rudimentary in design that 'even a child could use it'?

Anyway, after practising many times, doing chest presses and the breathing thing, as well as chanting what to do if we find someone keeled over (call 911), I felt a little more confident about the whole thing. It was an extremely useful course; we learnt about diabetic shock, epi pens, the Heimlich manoeuvre, how to look after babies, all things that I know I should know... I have just never learnt. 

I asked D if he wanted me to practise the Heimlich Manoeuvre on him.. but he declined. He said he wasn't chocking so didn't *really* need it. But at least I know how to deal with the problem should it ever arise!

Thank you everyone at Tag, Dan the teacher and the GTRC! 

Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Seven - BBQ Bok Choy

Dear all, 

Today, I was feeling particularly adventurous so decided to cook Darren and I up some 'bok choy' for dinner. We also had some leeks in the fridge ( so thought they might go together - they are both green after all). 

I did some research, and apparently one is supposed to 'cut the stalks of bok choy lengthwise' and cut the leafy bits, into little bits. 

In a wonderful turn of events, Darren suggested we cook everything on the BBQ ( it's so hot, we didn't want to even turn the hot plate on in the kitchen). I smothered some mini potatoes in 'bone dust' {http://aroundtheburgerbookinoneyear.blogspot.ca/2011/05/burger-two-bone-dust.html} and then Darren put the potatoes and leeks in our veggie basket for the BBQ. 

Here is the Bok Choy ready for the BBQ as well as the *large* salmon steak covered in garlic and lime juice (yum). 

And a brief intermission for a quick picture of 'porange' (pink + orange = porange)

D mixed in the bok choy with the veggies with which, we also added a large chunk of butter ( everything tastes better with butter!). 

And here is the final veggie mix - delicious... A new way of cooking bok choy!

Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Six - Mi0

Dear all, 

Oh my, it's hot! In an attempt to purify, I am trying to terminate my addiction to 'fruit water' *water that tastes like fruit*, it's full of sweeteners (I am sure they cause all sorts of sinister health problems) and plastic bottles are bad. 

 So, today, (as they were on special offer), I picked up a Brita http://www.brita.ca/ water purifier, and some Mi0 that Vince and Kerry had been using and I was very intrigued to try. 

They work on the principle, that you just add a few drops of the Mi0 ( that comes in a variety of flavors) into your water and it turns into fruit water - however... and here is the beauty of the thing, you can control the concentration (great for me trying to 'give up' fruit water) http://www.kraftbrands.com/mio/

So here is the juice in action... 

And here it is! Actually quite delicious, (strawberry and kiwi) and feels a little more healthy ( and cheaper and more environmentally friendly). Three cheers for Mi0!

Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Five - New Art Blog

Dear all, 

Just a quick post today (too hot to type!) - but I wanted to share my new on line endeavours.. I am starting up a new blog, this time, attempting to try and promote and sell some of my art, hurray!

This is the website - it's still in the early stages of development ( so this isn't the official launch), but I thought I might as well get up online and start the ball rolling - there is no time like the present! http://artbylibby.blogspot.ca/?view=flipcard

I am still working out the ins and outs of the site; how to ship stuff, how to make prints of originals etc etc.. but I am determined to make it work and have been putting some good hours in to getting everything on the blog set up okay. 

Although I don't think I could ever sell the one below - it's quite massive! haha. 

So now I need to get painting! If anyone would like a painting, do let me know, always available for commissions ( this is my humble attempt at trying to sell myself... its very challenging... but I am getting better...... *slowly* and also reading a 'sales-person's self help book in an attempt to get some tips *very useful actually*). 

http://artbylibby.blogspot.com/

Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Four - Painting with Karen

Dear all, 

Today, I drove over to a lovely area, just outside Alliston to paint with Karen at her gorgeous Parent's House!

Karen's parent's house is AMAZING! I set up an make-shift easel (skids work great BTW) next to a lovely line of poppies. Here is my second painting of the house and lovely wooden arch. 

We both started churning out the paintings - it was wonderful ( with lots of snack breaks and an amazing lunch on the patio outside)

 

Here is my little outdoor studio in the garden!

We had such a wonderful day and got loads of paintings done - five each!

Here is my first one - including this monster poppy!

I actually just amended this painting from last year... I added a few more colours. 

Here is an abstract. Let's call it 'abstract garden'. 

And another.. 

Karen's mum's lovely Birch trees! ( my first time painting Silver Birch Trees)

 I have just about finished my horse painting...

And my still life from last week... but maybe I need to do a little more work on this one. 

It was such a gorgeous day - thank you so much to Karen and Karen's mum!!

Year Two Day One Hundred and Seventy Three- Shepherd's Pie

Dear all,

Today, with this sudden (extreme) drop in temperature, I decided to whip up some classic, comfort food, a Shepherds Pie. This was actually inspired by Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives... (which is awesome BTW) http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

I started up making some stock... I mixed a beef stock cube ( I am still a beginner) with water and garlic. 

I then added a [large] cup of red wine. Port would also work.

 I let that simmer away and started to chop the veg; carrots, celery and onion.

 I then browned off the minced beef in the pan and quickly softened the onions in a neighbouring pan.

 I then added the softened onions, carrots and celery to the meet and added the stock.

 After a while, I popped a lid on the pan and let it bubble away..

While the meat was cooking away, I boiled some potatoes and gave them a good mashing (with a very generous chunk of butter. ). 

I then put a good portion of meat in the bottom of the *first* glass pan and then scooped the mash on top. We don't have a piping thingy but throwing the mash on top seemed to work okay. 

And here is the second dish... 

After around 45 minutes in the oven, out it came! It tasted great. I will definitely do things a little differently next time...(more mash, less gravy, or flour in the gravy to act as a thickener). Darren loved it too - it's a new stable in the repertoire, hurray!

And in other news:

1. Here is a FANTASTIC photographer http://jasonboothphotography.com/

Check out his work - it's awesome!!!!