by Krista | Jul 23, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
There are many things that make me happy in this life: dark chocolate, Cary Grant movies, and cousins. Especially cousins. I have heaps of cousins and I love them to bits. We are scattered across Canada, the US and Europe, but whenever we get together there is much hilarity, great story telling, and that feeling of connectedness that transcends friendship. I feel very lucky to have such great rellies.
Last night I got to drive to the beach and spend the evening with my cousin Cindy, her hubby Lee, and their two hilarious kids, Hayley and Ben. I love these guys because I can totally be myself with them. They make me laugh so hard and I always feel comfortable and welcome.
And boy oh boy can Lee ever cook!!
I arrived as he was hustling back and forth between the oven and the grill, carrying trays laden with all sorts of fabulous things like grilled lemon slices layered with sweet onion.
…salmon cooked beautifully with dill, cream and more sweet onions.
From the oven he brought out these delectable cheese-filled mushrooms…
…and to-die-for twice baked potatoes filled and topped with cheeses.
Then he followed all that deliciousness with a gorgeous Greek salad of cherry tomatoes, brightly colored peppers, red onion, and loads of feta cheese. Absolutely fantastic!!
Their 2-year-old Ben watched with interest as I photographed each dish in the waning evening light, and promptly insisted that his own food be photographed. So here for your viewing pleasure is Ben’s bowl.
After dinner we eased back in our chairs and talked, catching up on the years we lived apart. When the kids were tucked in bed Cindy and I pulled on sweaters and headed down to the beach. We found comfy perches atop a large piece of driftwood and talked for ages as we watched the sunset, not budging until our backsides were numb and our limbs shivering. It was wonderful.
It’s been a good week and I have much to anticipate this weekend: Classic Movie night with my cooking group, a jolly picnic with friends, and Brit murder mysteries with my folks.
What are you looking forward to this weekend?
by Krista | Jul 22, 2010 | Plucky Thursday
It’s a dark, cloudy morning. The sort of morning where I want cozy things like:
Hot spearmint tea…
Glowing lanterns…
…and a rather scrumptious breakfast.
Scrambled eggs “with all the fixins” are one of my favorite rainy day breakfasts. I love them with scallions, tomato, salmon and chunks of melty goat cheese drizzled with green Tabasco sauce. A side of toasted prosciutto is never amiss.
This morning I get to have breakfast with friends from Germany and am so excited to see them. I love starting my day with great people, good conversation and something delicious and hearty.
What’s your favorite breakfast?
by Krista | Jul 21, 2010 | Compatriot Wednesday
You really can’t go wrong with four kinds of dessert. Especially when those desserts are things like, well…I’ll tell you in a minute.
It was a beautiful sunny evening as my cooking group friends descended on Don’s kitchen in a whirl of chopping and stirring and slicing and tasting. We had decided on a menu of cold foods and ended up with a delectable array of appetizers and toothsome desserts. With plates piled high, we headed out to the lamplit deck, cramming in as many chairs as we could fit so everyone could contribute to the stories and share in the laughter.
We started with a selection of crackers mounded with Selwyn’s oh-so-creamy Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Dip and Mango Ginger Habenero Dip.
Mike served up lovely grilled toasts topped with shaved ham, roasted tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil.
Jenny made a massive bowl of fabulous pasta salad, savory with salami, Parmesan cheese, olives, bell peppers and juicy little cherry tomatoes.
Don brought out heavenly smoked salmon and we perched it atop cream cheese spread on crackers.
I made a Ceviche Spring Rolls, tucking in plump pieces of shrimp marinated in lime juice and drizzling with spicy peanut sauce.
Just when we thought we couldn’t possibly eat any more, out came those amazing desserts.
We began with Toby’s Coconut Gelatin with Caramel, so beautifully creamy and delicate.
We followed this with two versions of mini-cheesecakes by Deb and Jon. The first one was a sprightly apricot, followed by…
… a spiced plum. Deeeeelicious!
By the time we got to Darren’s Coconut Pineapple Ice Cream with Rum Sauce we were eating by lamplight and enjoying every last morsel.
What are your favorite cold foods?
This is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday.
Selwyn’s Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Dip
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Grilling Sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
Directions:
- Place all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth, scraping down sides occasionally.
Selwyn’s Mango Ginger Habenero Dip
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Mango Ginger Habenero Grilling Sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
Directions:
- Place all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth, scraping down sides occasionally.
Krista’s Thai Peanut Sauce
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups creamy natural peanut butter
1 can coconut milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp fish sauce
3 Tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tsp hot sauce
3 gloves garlic, minced
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth. Taste. Add more hoisin sauce if not sweet enough.
Krista’s Fresh Ceviche Spring Rolls
1 cup shrimp, soaked overnight in lime juice
8 round spring roll sheets
1/2 cup cooked, shredded chicken
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cups fresh Thai basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 bundles vermicelli noodles, cooked, drained and cooled
Directions:
- Pour lime juice over chicken and stir to coat.
- Soak one spring roll sheet in warm water 5-10 seconds. Place on clean counter top.
- Down center of sheet place shredded chicken. Top with vermicelli noodles, mint, basil, and cilantro.
- Grasp edge of sheet closest to you and fold over mixture, tucking edges under. Fold each end piece over, then continue rolling until spring roll looks like a burrito.
Toby’s Coconut Gelatin with Caramel Sauce
by Krista | Jul 20, 2010 | Spring
It was our last night in Bosnia as we ascended the hills above Mostar and drove along the coast toward Croatia.
The sea was smooth and gray like polished steel, and the sky glowed softly in gentle, velvety colors. The dramatic scene seemed the perfect way to leave this country that had so surprised, gutted and thrilled me. I didn’t want to leave but other countries, stories and adventures beckoned me on, so I left, carrying a heart full of memories and a camera full of pictures.
After the devastating conflict that left communities shattered, families torn apart, and thousands of people struggling to rebuild their lives, a new national anthem for Bosnia Hercegovina was adopted on June 25, 1999.
It had a melody but no words, for no words could be agreed upon.
For ten years there was only a tune but finally, in February 2009, the national parliament settled on lyrics. I found several translations that differ slightly in everything but the last few lines. To me they are the most important:
“We go into the future together!”
How I wish that for Bosnia. May it continue to grow into a place of peace, healing, and much hope.
by Krista | Jul 19, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
I can’t stop smiling when I think about this past weekend. My heart is fairly bursting with memories of dear friends, beloved family and great food.
Friday night I drove down to Seattle and had absolutely fantastic bbq and happy catching-up with long-time friends from California.
Saturday and Sunday I got to spend with my oh-so-fabulous brother Dana and sis-in-law Rachel. We talked for hours tucked up all cozy in our favorite spots on couches and chairs, laughing ourselves sick, sharing a tear now and then, and parting dearer friends than ever.
And tonight I got to celebrate the visit of my friend Darren’s parents with a bbq par excellence.
The sun was shining gloriously as we sipped Moldavian wine on the deck and munched our way through one delicious thing after another.
We started with Jon’s chunky guacamole piled high on salty tortilla chips.
He was clearly in an appetizer frame of mind, for he then served us grilled salt and vinegar potato slices topped with chorizo, cheese and fresh cilantro. Yowsers!! Those were tasty little bites!
Darren grilled up steaks and sizzling bratwursts and we ate them with….
…my roasted dill potatoes and….
…and Selwyn’s smoky grilled asparagus.
After our splendid dinner settled, we dug into bowls of Darren’s Pina Colada ice cream made with coconut milk and fresh pineapple topped with dark rum.
It was a glorious end to a splendid weekend with people I love.
What is your favorite memory from your weekend?
This is my contribution to Chayas’s Meatless Mondays.
Krista’s Roasted Dill Potatoes
Ingredients:
6 Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, dried and diced
1-2 Tbsp dried dill weed
4 cloves garlic, halved and sliced thinly
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
- Toss all ingredients in glass bowl and mix well.
- Pour onto baking sheet and shake to distribute evenly.
- Bake 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until potatoes are browned and crispy, but not burnt.
