Sunday, June 27, 2021

Pender Harbour for Jenn's 'MARGARITA' bridal shower

The beautiful Bride-to-be


We celebrated Jennifer G's  bridal shower in Pender Harbour yesterday. Thanks to Beau & Victor, Jennifer's best friends and soon-to-be in-laws, who hosted a fantastic shower in their beautiful home in Pender.   
 We are also celebrating being double vaccinated and being able to visit face-to-face with friends and family again.  We have so much to be thankful for! Beau, Shannon, & Julie did such a wonderful job and as soon as they share their Margarita recipe I will post it.  Stay safe out there everyone!








Roddy enjoying the afternoon in Pender

Cody 

Maggie enjoying Cody's ocean front home



Sunday, June 20, 2021

BBQ'd Asparagus with lemon drizzle

Here we go to the Farmers Market Grandma!




One of the best things about summer is having the beautiful weather to BBQ your entire meal and you don't ever have to turn on the oven or stove.

Kelsey, my favorite daughter-in-law is a master at the BBQ and she prepared the most delicious halibut burgers with roasted asparagus drizzled with her own lemon zest reduction. Seriously, so delicious on a hot Calgary night.  

Kelsey's Lemon Zest Reduction 

1/4 cup vinegar (we used champagne vinegar) 

Zest and juice of a lemon

Place the above ingredients in a small pan and bring up to the boil and reduce heat to a simmer.

Reduce until the liquid is a glaze consistency. 

Approximately 15-20 minutes.


Rinse off asparagus and pat dry. Trim asparagus by taking each asparagus spear in your hand and bend near the blunt end. This allows for a perfect break that removes the woody end. Discard the woody end.

Add 1/4 cup of olive oil to a large flat baking pan.

Carefully place washed and trimmed asparagus into the pan and role the asparagus in the oil and sprinkle with salt.


Turn the BBQ to high to burn off the char and then reduce the heat to 3/4's and grill asparagus until tender crisp. 

Remove from the BBQ and place the asparagus on a serving platter.

Drizzle with the lemon zest reduction and serve hot with your chosen protein.


Thanks Kelsey honey!






Tuesday, June 15, 2021

The perfect charcuterie board compliments of Jessica O'Dwyer & Ashley Oddy

Jessica & Ashley 



Charcuterie board you say?

These two lovely ladies have nailed it and they are not even in the business.

Ashley & Jessica, Lynn's daughters really went into overdrive to ensure their Mama had the best birthday ever. They are very talented chefs and it is too bad that catering is not their business.  Great job ladies!

Lynn Oddy's birthday celebration at O'Rourke's Winery


Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Sausage Rolls made easy

 

500-600 gr. sausage meat (I used a combination of hot Italian pork sausage and mild sausage)

1/4 cup feta cheese (crumbled)

fresh ground pepper to taste (this recipe does not need salt because of the feta cheese)

2 tsp. herb de provence 

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

14 oz. box Puff Pastry - butter puff pastry can be bought in the freezer section of your grocery store 

4-5 tbsp. all purpose flour (for rolling out the pastry)

1 egg + tblsp. water (for egg wash)

Thaw frozen puff pastry in the fridge (not a room temp).

Combine the sausage meat, cheese and dry ingredients in a large bowl.  With clean hands combine all the ingredients until well mixed.

Flour your work counter and then unwrap the puff pastry and place on the floured counter.

With a rolling pin, roll out pastry so that it is thinner but not too thin.

Cut the pastry in half length wise so that you have 2 rectangles to place the sausage meat on. 

Divide the sausage meat in 2 parts.

Flour the counter again and roll out the sausage meat with your hands so it looks like a log. Place the sausage logs onto the puff pastry rectangles. Egg wash the outside edges (as shown below). 

Close up the pastry (see pic below) and pinch the edges. Cut off any excess not needed.

Egg wash the top of the log. 

The easiest way to cut these sausage rolls is to freeze them first as a whole log.

Take out of freezer and semi thaw.  Cut into 1 inch  bite size pieces. With scissors cut a vent in the top of each piece as is demonstrated below.

Place sausage roll pieces onto a parchment lined baking tray.

Bake at 400° for 20 - 30 minutes depending on your oven.  Remove from the parchment so that the sausage rolls do not reabsorb the grease.

Cool down to store in the fridge or serve hot.  This is an awesome appetizer and is a real crowd pleaser.









Monday, June 7, 2021

Lorna's delicious egg & avocado toast direct from the Sunshine Coast.

 Nothing better than a delicious breakfast especially when you are on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Ingredients: delicious bread of choice, 1/2 an avocado and a hard cooked egg.  If you happen to like hummus (click here for an excellent recipe) Spread hummus on the bread first (instead of butter) and top with avocado, egg & fresh herbs from the garden.