Hubby and I went out for dinner a few days ago and we decided that we were in the mood for Mexican food. We rarely have a chance to have it as there are no Mexican restaurants in our neighborhood.
We went to Carlos & Pepes in downtown Montreal. We were seated right away (which I love), and got the complimentary nacho chips and salsa. I have been there before and the salsa was mildly spicy and flavorful. This time is was sweet and flavorless. It was quite disappointing.
As usual, I ordered a strawberry daiquiri (non-alcoholic as I was driving), Mexican restos are the only places that you can get a decent daiquiri or margarita. It was delicious, but too big! I was unable to finish it :(
I ordered the roasted vegetable quesadillas and hubby ordered the beef chimichanga. They both came with a green salad and Mexican rice. The plates are huge! The vegetables in my quesadilla were not roasted. There was no char on them and they were very moist. The rest of the meal was enjoyable. Hubby enjoyed his chimichanga. It was flavored properly. He was unable to finish it though as he does not have my appetite and the plates are huge.
They would do well to reduce the portion size a little and reduce the prices in accordance. They would have a lot less waste and save money on the take-out packages.
Here is the website, if you want to check it out: http://www.carlosandpepes.com/en/
Until next time!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Resto Review: Aristo
At the bottom of our street is a small restaurant. We often order take-out from this place. The food is always good, hot and reasonably prices. Three of my favorite things when it comes to food :)
In this instance, we decided to walk down there for my mother's b-day. We were six people and we did make reservations. They are more of a take-out place, then a sit down diner. But on this day, we should have called ahead. They were packed! This is great for them, but I was not happy as we could not sit together. Luckily, a couple of people left and we were able to move a couple of tables together before we ordered.
I decided to order my usual: the pork souvlaki pita plate. I love Greek food. It was perfectly cooked and I ate the whole thing as usual. If I did not like, then I would not keep ordering it, now would I? Hubby was not as lucky. He ordered the pizza-ghetti, but he got the all-dressed pizza. The pizza was very good as usual, but he was pissed because he did not get what he ordered. To be fair, our waitress had a head cold and left for home after serving us our meals. But, because of this error, hubby has boycotted them for a little while.
We will go back to them as they are down the street from us. But for now, they will lose our business due to this mistake.
Until next time!
In this instance, we decided to walk down there for my mother's b-day. We were six people and we did make reservations. They are more of a take-out place, then a sit down diner. But on this day, we should have called ahead. They were packed! This is great for them, but I was not happy as we could not sit together. Luckily, a couple of people left and we were able to move a couple of tables together before we ordered.
I decided to order my usual: the pork souvlaki pita plate. I love Greek food. It was perfectly cooked and I ate the whole thing as usual. If I did not like, then I would not keep ordering it, now would I? Hubby was not as lucky. He ordered the pizza-ghetti, but he got the all-dressed pizza. The pizza was very good as usual, but he was pissed because he did not get what he ordered. To be fair, our waitress had a head cold and left for home after serving us our meals. But, because of this error, hubby has boycotted them for a little while.
We will go back to them as they are down the street from us. But for now, they will lose our business due to this mistake.
Until next time!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Book Review: Caleb
I got a bunch of books for Christmas! I have been busy plowing through them :) I finished reading "Caleb" by Sarah McCarty. It is the first book in her paranormal western series called "The Shadow Wranglers". There are four books in the series (so far), each one about a different brother in the Johnson clan.
The series starts with Caleb, the eldest brother in a family of vampires. He was turned about 250 years ago and has not completely adjusted to the modern world, especially modern women. The woman that he is attracted to is attacked by werewolves, and he attacks them to defend her. He is injured and she manages to bring him to his ranch. This is where all the action takes place.
The story starts out well. It has all the elements that I enjoy in a paranormal romance. There is a strong chemistry between the main characters, the dialogue is witty, and there is humor. The story itself lags after the heroine brings Caleb to the ranch. Which is barely a third of the way into the book. Every time something happens, in order to shut her up, he has sex with her. I like sex in my books as much as the next person, but this was a little overboard. You lose track of the story and all the various details that she throws in during the sex scenes. And, she throws in a lot of details , without any warming (or foreshadowing) at all. It is very distracting.
I will probably reads the rest of the series, but I will wait until the rest of the books come out in mass market paperback format, they are not worth buying in trade paperback format.
Here is the link for her website if you want to check it out: http://www.sarahmccarty.net/
Until next time!
The series starts with Caleb, the eldest brother in a family of vampires. He was turned about 250 years ago and has not completely adjusted to the modern world, especially modern women. The woman that he is attracted to is attacked by werewolves, and he attacks them to defend her. He is injured and she manages to bring him to his ranch. This is where all the action takes place.
The story starts out well. It has all the elements that I enjoy in a paranormal romance. There is a strong chemistry between the main characters, the dialogue is witty, and there is humor. The story itself lags after the heroine brings Caleb to the ranch. Which is barely a third of the way into the book. Every time something happens, in order to shut her up, he has sex with her. I like sex in my books as much as the next person, but this was a little overboard. You lose track of the story and all the various details that she throws in during the sex scenes. And, she throws in a lot of details , without any warming (or foreshadowing) at all. It is very distracting.
I will probably reads the rest of the series, but I will wait until the rest of the books come out in mass market paperback format, they are not worth buying in trade paperback format.
Here is the link for her website if you want to check it out: http://www.sarahmccarty.net/
Until next time!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Book Review: Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Once again my sister has introduced me to a new writer. I just finished reading "Kitty and the Midnight Hour" by Carrie Vaughn. I read it in a day. It is a fun, quick read, but well written.
The story is about a DJ that accidentally starts a talk radio show for the supernatural community in Denver. She herself is a werewolf going through an identity crisis, which causes mayhem in her pack. Throw in a conspiracy, a serial killer and a bounty hunter and you have an entertaining read.
The plot is dense with characters. You can feel that the author wanted the characters to go in one direction, but they themselves took her in another one. Luckily, she managed to rein them in and create a cohesive story. The novel is well plotted and the dialog flows properly and is believable (not stilted like some authors).
This is the first book in the series, and I can tell you that I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
If you want to check out her website site, here it is: http://www.carrievaughn.com/
Until next time!
The story is about a DJ that accidentally starts a talk radio show for the supernatural community in Denver. She herself is a werewolf going through an identity crisis, which causes mayhem in her pack. Throw in a conspiracy, a serial killer and a bounty hunter and you have an entertaining read.
The plot is dense with characters. You can feel that the author wanted the characters to go in one direction, but they themselves took her in another one. Luckily, she managed to rein them in and create a cohesive story. The novel is well plotted and the dialog flows properly and is believable (not stilted like some authors).
This is the first book in the series, and I can tell you that I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
If you want to check out her website site, here it is: http://www.carrievaughn.com/
Until next time!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Waste Not, Want Not
If there is something that I hate in the kitchen, it is waste. It drives me nuts! Some would say that it is a short drive :) The one way that I have to combat that problem is a recipe website. I use it when I have leftover products from a previous recipe. This is my secret weapon.
The website is www.allrecipes.com. If you go to the top of the page, you will see an ingredients headings. This is the most perfect search engine. Type in the ingredient (or ingredients) that you want to use and you can type in the ingredient (or ingredients) that you do not want to use. This is the perfect site to find recipes for ingredients that you do not use everyday. You will need to read a few recipes before finding the perfect one. Be patient and take your time. It is worth the search!
It will also give you ideas for other recipes and meal planning. A good tool for those of us who are unimaginative or lazy. You have no excuse for a boring dinner party ever again.
Just a note of warning, these are recipes from home chefs. I have done some recipes that were beautiful and have been saved in my personal recipe book. And, there are others that are not good at all. But, it is all a matter of taste, so try them, change them and enjoy them. For certain ingredients, you will want to try a variety of spellings, for example broccoli is spelled a couple of different ways. The site is American, so use the term ground beef as supposed to minced meat.
It is fun to experiment with food, so have fun and enjoy!
Until next time!
The website is www.allrecipes.com. If you go to the top of the page, you will see an ingredients headings. This is the most perfect search engine. Type in the ingredient (or ingredients) that you want to use and you can type in the ingredient (or ingredients) that you do not want to use. This is the perfect site to find recipes for ingredients that you do not use everyday. You will need to read a few recipes before finding the perfect one. Be patient and take your time. It is worth the search!
It will also give you ideas for other recipes and meal planning. A good tool for those of us who are unimaginative or lazy. You have no excuse for a boring dinner party ever again.
Just a note of warning, these are recipes from home chefs. I have done some recipes that were beautiful and have been saved in my personal recipe book. And, there are others that are not good at all. But, it is all a matter of taste, so try them, change them and enjoy them. For certain ingredients, you will want to try a variety of spellings, for example broccoli is spelled a couple of different ways. The site is American, so use the term ground beef as supposed to minced meat.
It is fun to experiment with food, so have fun and enjoy!
Until next time!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Resto Review: Scarolies
Sorry that it has been a while. I was not feeling my muse, but now I am back! Hubby was in the mood for Italian food after his adventure, so he decided on Scarolies in the West Island on St-John's blvd.
It is usually one of go-to places for Italian food. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. We went early enough that we were seated right away. If you go after 6:30pm be prepared to wait for a half hour or more. Or, do like me and go somewhere else to eat. I do not wait in line to eat, Never! I dislike it intensely. There are plenty of other restaurants out there.
Once you are seated, the waiter brings you a warm loaf of bread and preps the olive oil & balsamic dip right in front of you. I have trouble ignoring warm bread, so of course I dug into it. It was so good! Hubby decided to order off the table d'hote for a change. He usually does not as his appetite is not as big as mine. He had the tomato & bocconcini appetizer. It was very good, but then again it is very hard to mess that dish up. His main course was the angel hair pasta with lobster tails and asparagus. He dove right in to that and loved it. He finished off the lobster but left half the pasta. The plates are huge. Since, he took the balance home and ate it for breakfast the next day, I can only assume that he liked it a lot.
I decided to have the rotolo milanese and no appetizer. The rotolo is rolled pasta with ricotta and spinach with a rosee sauce. I love stuffed pasta! I usually order that when I go to an Italian restaurant. I quite enjoyed it, especially when I cup up the basil leaves that they garnished the plate with and added it to the pasta. The filling was missing a little bit of zip and the basil provided it nicely. The plate comes with two rotoloa and I only one of them as I had eaten almost half a loaf of bread and I wanted dessert.
The dessert menu consists of the waiter bringing you a plate with all the desserts that they offer. I like that, because I get to see the quality of the dessert. You eat first with your eyes, and then with your mouth. If it is not pretty, you will not be tempted to eat it. I was tempted by all the offerings on the plate. I chose the Red Velvet cake. It is a new offering of theirs and I highly recommend it. The cake was a little nutty but light, the icing was flavourful and denser than the cake, which for me is perfect balance. It is garnished with a piece of kiwi and orange and whipped cream. Hubby and I shared the dessert as we usually do. I feel less guilty and he gets the 2 to 3 bites that he needs to cleanse his pallet. It is a win-win situation for us.
I ate my rotolo for lunch the next day. Because it had a cream based sauce, I warmed it up in the oven. I have learned from experience that you must NEVER microwave a cream based sauce, as it will clump up and be gritty. Always warm it up in the oven, it will dry out a little, but it will remain edible.
Back to the rotolo, it was very good the next day warmed up, I just wish that there was a little but more sauce. My fault for eating most of it the night before :)
Here is the website for those who want to take a look: http://www.scarolies.com/home-e.html
Until next time!
It is usually one of go-to places for Italian food. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. We went early enough that we were seated right away. If you go after 6:30pm be prepared to wait for a half hour or more. Or, do like me and go somewhere else to eat. I do not wait in line to eat, Never! I dislike it intensely. There are plenty of other restaurants out there.
Once you are seated, the waiter brings you a warm loaf of bread and preps the olive oil & balsamic dip right in front of you. I have trouble ignoring warm bread, so of course I dug into it. It was so good! Hubby decided to order off the table d'hote for a change. He usually does not as his appetite is not as big as mine. He had the tomato & bocconcini appetizer. It was very good, but then again it is very hard to mess that dish up. His main course was the angel hair pasta with lobster tails and asparagus. He dove right in to that and loved it. He finished off the lobster but left half the pasta. The plates are huge. Since, he took the balance home and ate it for breakfast the next day, I can only assume that he liked it a lot.
I decided to have the rotolo milanese and no appetizer. The rotolo is rolled pasta with ricotta and spinach with a rosee sauce. I love stuffed pasta! I usually order that when I go to an Italian restaurant. I quite enjoyed it, especially when I cup up the basil leaves that they garnished the plate with and added it to the pasta. The filling was missing a little bit of zip and the basil provided it nicely. The plate comes with two rotoloa and I only one of them as I had eaten almost half a loaf of bread and I wanted dessert.
The dessert menu consists of the waiter bringing you a plate with all the desserts that they offer. I like that, because I get to see the quality of the dessert. You eat first with your eyes, and then with your mouth. If it is not pretty, you will not be tempted to eat it. I was tempted by all the offerings on the plate. I chose the Red Velvet cake. It is a new offering of theirs and I highly recommend it. The cake was a little nutty but light, the icing was flavourful and denser than the cake, which for me is perfect balance. It is garnished with a piece of kiwi and orange and whipped cream. Hubby and I shared the dessert as we usually do. I feel less guilty and he gets the 2 to 3 bites that he needs to cleanse his pallet. It is a win-win situation for us.
I ate my rotolo for lunch the next day. Because it had a cream based sauce, I warmed it up in the oven. I have learned from experience that you must NEVER microwave a cream based sauce, as it will clump up and be gritty. Always warm it up in the oven, it will dry out a little, but it will remain edible.
Back to the rotolo, it was very good the next day warmed up, I just wish that there was a little but more sauce. My fault for eating most of it the night before :)
Here is the website for those who want to take a look: http://www.scarolies.com/home-e.html
Until next time!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Resto Review: Les 3 Brasseurs
After a matinee movie, my husband and I enjoy going out for dinner. On this night, we decided to to go Les 3 Brasseurs, as it was walking distance to the movie theater and we would not have to move the car. Walking after a meal is a good idea!
I ordered the Flammekueche with goat cheese, tomatoes, onions, oil & herbs. It is a very thin pizza. I liked it. The crust was really thin and crunchy. The toppings were a good mix of flavours in just the right amount. I was satisfied without feeling too full. I still had room for dessert :)
Hubby ordered the Roast beef sandwich that came with a side order of fries. The plate arrives, and surprise, surprise, there was no mound of fries on it. This is a rare event in a restaurant. There was actually a reasonable amount of fries on the plate and not a sumo-sized amount. The sandwich was good and properly seasoned.
And, for dessert we shared the House specialty which is a coffee or espresso a small slice of cheesecake and a small cup of chocolate mousse. Hubby had the espresso and we shared the desserts. This is an excellent idea for dessert. We tried two desserts without having to stuff ourselves to the bursting point.
Here is their website if you want to check them out: http://les3brasseurs.ca/eng/index.php
Until next time!
I ordered the Flammekueche with goat cheese, tomatoes, onions, oil & herbs. It is a very thin pizza. I liked it. The crust was really thin and crunchy. The toppings were a good mix of flavours in just the right amount. I was satisfied without feeling too full. I still had room for dessert :)
Hubby ordered the Roast beef sandwich that came with a side order of fries. The plate arrives, and surprise, surprise, there was no mound of fries on it. This is a rare event in a restaurant. There was actually a reasonable amount of fries on the plate and not a sumo-sized amount. The sandwich was good and properly seasoned.
And, for dessert we shared the House specialty which is a coffee or espresso a small slice of cheesecake and a small cup of chocolate mousse. Hubby had the espresso and we shared the desserts. This is an excellent idea for dessert. We tried two desserts without having to stuff ourselves to the bursting point.
Here is their website if you want to check them out: http://les3brasseurs.ca/eng/index.php
Until next time!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Resto Review: Five Guys
I love hamburgers. And, for me it is all about the meat. It does not need to be huge, but it needs to be flavorful and I need to taste the beef. I actually like raw mincemeat. I know that it is not good for you, but I am going to go of something, so I may as well enjoy! I like my hamburgers to be rare or medium rare. Restaurants cannot serve it that way, so I get them medium (but at home, they are rare).
The burgers at Five Guys are delicious. They are properly seasoned and taste like beef. I have not had the all-dressed burger, as I like my burgers simple. I put mayo, tomato, lettuce and pickles on the cheeseburger. In this one instance, bacon is not needed on the burger.
The fries are ordered on the side. They are deep-fired in peanut oil (people with allergies beware), and the skins are left on. They are very generous with their order of fries. The fries are great with some malt vinegar and salt.
Here is the Five Guys website if you want to check them out: http://fiveguys.ca/en
Until next time!
The burgers at Five Guys are delicious. They are properly seasoned and taste like beef. I have not had the all-dressed burger, as I like my burgers simple. I put mayo, tomato, lettuce and pickles on the cheeseburger. In this one instance, bacon is not needed on the burger.
The fries are ordered on the side. They are deep-fired in peanut oil (people with allergies beware), and the skins are left on. They are very generous with their order of fries. The fries are great with some malt vinegar and salt.
Here is the Five Guys website if you want to check them out: http://fiveguys.ca/en
Until next time!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Resto Review: Ye Old Orchard Pub
I went to "Ye Old Orchard Pub" in Pointe-Claire village for supper on a Sunday evening. It was a last minute decision and we invited my husband's parents and sister to come along. I am happy to report that a good time was had by all of us.
My husband ordered the chicken fingers in a medium BBQ sauce with fries. He orders this every time that we go, because he loves them. The only complaint with the dish is the amount of french fries that they put on the plate. There are way TOO many. They should consider reducing the portion size of the french fries. Nobody can eat that many in a sitting.
My sister-in-law and I ordered supper from the appetizer menu. It was her idea and it was a very good one. We both ordered the calamari plate. It came with a simple side salad with chopped tomatoes and a simple vinaigrette. It was the perfect size for a meal. The calamari was good and crispy, just the way I like them! The salad was refreshing and a good palate cleanser for all the grease in the calamari. The dipping sauce was curry mustard based, and not my favorite. I prefer a tomato or cream based dipping sauce for my calamari. Needless to say, that we both enjoyed our meals. I still had room for dessert!
My in-laws shared the Beef sandwich and fries. They seemed to enjoyed it! I had it last time that I went and it was quite good.
If you want to check out their website, here it is: http://yeoldeorchard.com/
Until next time!
My husband ordered the chicken fingers in a medium BBQ sauce with fries. He orders this every time that we go, because he loves them. The only complaint with the dish is the amount of french fries that they put on the plate. There are way TOO many. They should consider reducing the portion size of the french fries. Nobody can eat that many in a sitting.
My sister-in-law and I ordered supper from the appetizer menu. It was her idea and it was a very good one. We both ordered the calamari plate. It came with a simple side salad with chopped tomatoes and a simple vinaigrette. It was the perfect size for a meal. The calamari was good and crispy, just the way I like them! The salad was refreshing and a good palate cleanser for all the grease in the calamari. The dipping sauce was curry mustard based, and not my favorite. I prefer a tomato or cream based dipping sauce for my calamari. Needless to say, that we both enjoyed our meals. I still had room for dessert!
My in-laws shared the Beef sandwich and fries. They seemed to enjoyed it! I had it last time that I went and it was quite good.
If you want to check out their website, here it is: http://yeoldeorchard.com/
Until next time!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Pie Crust
There is one thing that I try to avoid making. Pie crust is the one the thing that I am not a fan of making. It is labour intensive and I can never roll it out round. I usually make homemade pie crust about once a year. I make my husband a peach pie, and this pie crust is sooo good! I would rather eat the crust on its own without the filling.
But, for my husband's b-day, I will brave making the dreaded pie crust. He wanted a Butterscotch Cream pie, so I found a recipe in my America's Test Kitchen cookbook. I followed the recipe for the pie crust to the letter. The instructions in their recipes are step-by-step ans simple. There are often a few paragraphs, but if you follow them, you will succeed.
This recipe recommended that after the dough is rested, you roll it out over graham cracker crumbs instead of flour. Since this crust is for a cream pie, the crumbs would help retain the shape and not become soggy. After it is rolled out, you freeze it for 30 minutes as crusts have a tendency to shrink while baking empty. Then you cover the crust with foil and put pie weights, I used pennies as I do not own pie weights as yet (I put them on my xmas list), then you bake it.
I have to admit that it came out almost as pretty as when it went in! A first for me! There are quuite a few steps, but I firmly believe that it is worth every one.
Here is a little trick for the leftover pie crust. I don't know about you, but I hate wasting food. I found this recipe or trick on line and it is really quick and easy. Roll out the excess dough, brush on softened butter (NOT melted) and sprinkle on some cinnamon sugar. Roll it up and cut it into 1/2 inch thick disks. Bake it for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. And, you get small "Pettes de Soeurs" (translated into Nun's farts). Quick, easy and economical! I love them.
Until next time!
But, for my husband's b-day, I will brave making the dreaded pie crust. He wanted a Butterscotch Cream pie, so I found a recipe in my America's Test Kitchen cookbook. I followed the recipe for the pie crust to the letter. The instructions in their recipes are step-by-step ans simple. There are often a few paragraphs, but if you follow them, you will succeed.
This recipe recommended that after the dough is rested, you roll it out over graham cracker crumbs instead of flour. Since this crust is for a cream pie, the crumbs would help retain the shape and not become soggy. After it is rolled out, you freeze it for 30 minutes as crusts have a tendency to shrink while baking empty. Then you cover the crust with foil and put pie weights, I used pennies as I do not own pie weights as yet (I put them on my xmas list), then you bake it.
I have to admit that it came out almost as pretty as when it went in! A first for me! There are quuite a few steps, but I firmly believe that it is worth every one.
Until next time!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Book Review: Hounded
My sister recommended this book by a new author. She really enjoyed it. So, I may as well try it. We do not have the quite the same interest in books. I like paranormal romance, and she likes urban fantasy (no romance).
The book is entitled "Hounded" by Kevin Hearne. His website is http://www.kevinhearne.com/. It is an urban fantasy about a really old Druid and his fight with a Celtic god. Basically, the druid has something that the god wants, and he does not want to give it up. Mixed in a good dose of god politics and a little mayhem. The story flows fabulously, there is no loose ends in the plot. The characters are richly described and well-thought out. You will not be able to resist Oberon and his devotion to the Druid.
The writing is flawless and the dialogue flows with quips and humor. There is nothing worse than stilted and dry dialogue, but that does not happen in this book. If you like urban fantasy then you will love this series. I am anxious to read the other books that are already out.
Until next time!
The book is entitled "Hounded" by Kevin Hearne. His website is http://www.kevinhearne.com/. It is an urban fantasy about a really old Druid and his fight with a Celtic god. Basically, the druid has something that the god wants, and he does not want to give it up. Mixed in a good dose of god politics and a little mayhem. The story flows fabulously, there is no loose ends in the plot. The characters are richly described and well-thought out. You will not be able to resist Oberon and his devotion to the Druid.
The writing is flawless and the dialogue flows with quips and humor. There is nothing worse than stilted and dry dialogue, but that does not happen in this book. If you like urban fantasy then you will love this series. I am anxious to read the other books that are already out.
Until next time!
Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Glaze
The meat is browned in a skillet on all sides, and then I set it aside while I made the glaze. The glaze is composed of dried apricots, apricot preserves, orange juice and lemon juice. It is made in the same skillet. I de-glazed the pan with the juices and scrapped up the bits left from the pork. Then I added the preserves and apricots and it cooked for about 3 minutes. Once it is ready, you pour the glaze over the meat and put it into the oven for about 15 minutes at 450 degrees.
The pork came out beautifully. It was juicy, fragrant and flavourful. The only thing is that the glaze was sweet, almost too sweet. My husband solved the problem with a little dash of hot sauce. If you like it sweet, leave it as is, if not, add some hot sauce for a wonderful pork experience.
Until next time!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Book Review: Devil of the Highlands
I read "Devil of the Highlands" by Lynsay Sands on the weekend. It is the first book in her "Devil of the Highlands" trilogy. The novel is an historical romance set in Medieval Scotland. The story is about a Scottish laird coming to claim his English bride. She is most eager to depart from her wicked stepmother and in her eagerness she has accidents. The accidents continue when they arrive in Scotland and she has to contend with the devilish rumors about her dear husband. And, of course solve the mystery of her accidents.
I have read a couple of Lynsay Sands historical novels and her Argeneau series. I love the Argeneau series! More on that series in another blog entry. In her historical novels, her heroines are practical, naive, emotionally stable women. The kind of heroine that I prefer. I am not a fan of overly dramatic females, they become tiresome. Her heroes are warriors in battle or in the bedroom. They are smart, cunning and sexy (a pre-requisite for all romance heroes). These characters are no different.
The story is solid and filled with humor. All of her books are filled with humor, and very little angst. It is a refreshing change from the books that take themselves too seriously. My only problem with the novel is that I read it too fast! I cannot help myself, the story flows and the writing is addictive.
However, I believe that that is my problem and not the author's :)
I cannot wait to start the other books in this trilogy. I will also take a look at her other historical romances. They are a nice light read and perfect for a Sunday afternoon lazy day. They are like a cool glass of lemonade, very refreshing and not too heavy :)
Check out her website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/ for more information on her books.
Until next time!
I have read a couple of Lynsay Sands historical novels and her Argeneau series. I love the Argeneau series! More on that series in another blog entry. In her historical novels, her heroines are practical, naive, emotionally stable women. The kind of heroine that I prefer. I am not a fan of overly dramatic females, they become tiresome. Her heroes are warriors in battle or in the bedroom. They are smart, cunning and sexy (a pre-requisite for all romance heroes). These characters are no different.
The story is solid and filled with humor. All of her books are filled with humor, and very little angst. It is a refreshing change from the books that take themselves too seriously. My only problem with the novel is that I read it too fast! I cannot help myself, the story flows and the writing is addictive.
However, I believe that that is my problem and not the author's :)
I cannot wait to start the other books in this trilogy. I will also take a look at her other historical romances. They are a nice light read and perfect for a Sunday afternoon lazy day. They are like a cool glass of lemonade, very refreshing and not too heavy :)
Check out her website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/ for more information on her books.
Until next time!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Soft Pretzels
My husband loves pretzels! I rarely make them, because they are labour intensive, even if I do use a bread machine to make the dough :) This may seem like cheating to some of you. I do not consider it so. It does all the hard work, while I can read for two hours :) It is a tool, and I like to use tools.
The secret to these pretzels is the baking soda bath that they get after being formed and proofed one last time. Once the water is boiling, add baking soda to it. The water gets foamy (also a good science experiment), and you put in the pretzels for about 10 seconds. You take them out and add your seasonings (if desired) and you bake them for about 15 to 20 minutes. Easy Peasy!
They are easy to make (with a bread machine) but it is labour intensive. I got my husband to help me roll them out and form them. His pretzels were better looking than mine! So unfair. He enjoyed them all and finished them off for breakfast. I love it when he eats.
Until next time!
They are easy to make (with a bread machine) but it is labour intensive. I got my husband to help me roll them out and form them. His pretzels were better looking than mine! So unfair. He enjoyed them all and finished them off for breakfast. I love it when he eats.
Until next time!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Book Review: "Master of None"
I know, I know, I know! For a supposed avid reader, I have not been posting a lot of book reviews. And, I apologize for that. The simple reason being that I am reading a book that I had a hard time finishing. It has taken me over a week to get through it. The book is called "Master of None" by Sonya Bateman. The author's website is http://sonyabateman.wordpress.com/
It is classified as an Urban Fantasy novel. The story is about an unlucky thief who has a Djinn (Genie) attach himself to him for the purposes of protection of his bloodline. He is also wanted by his criminal boss for losing an item that he stole for him. After the first few chapters, I sorta lost interest as the story was not moving fast enough, nor was the dialogue pushing the story forward. I like snappy, witty dialogue that keeps the story moving forward.
There are so many characters, subplots and character histories to keep straight, that you get bogged down in minutiae. That is the sense that you get from this book. The author likes to place the characters in situations that should cause their deaths (even the immortals), and then an extraordinary (almost unbelievable) event occurs to save them. It has a good idea and the story makes sense, but it gets bogged down in its own details and development.
Until next time!
It is classified as an Urban Fantasy novel. The story is about an unlucky thief who has a Djinn (Genie) attach himself to him for the purposes of protection of his bloodline. He is also wanted by his criminal boss for losing an item that he stole for him. After the first few chapters, I sorta lost interest as the story was not moving fast enough, nor was the dialogue pushing the story forward. I like snappy, witty dialogue that keeps the story moving forward.
There are so many characters, subplots and character histories to keep straight, that you get bogged down in minutiae. That is the sense that you get from this book. The author likes to place the characters in situations that should cause their deaths (even the immortals), and then an extraordinary (almost unbelievable) event occurs to save them. It has a good idea and the story makes sense, but it gets bogged down in its own details and development.
Until next time!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Resto Review - McKibbins Irish Pub
My husband decided that we were eating out yesterday. Who am I to argue with the man? That would just be rude :) We decided to go out to McKibbins Irish Pub in Pointe-Claire. We love it there. It is one of our go to places. We know what to expect and it never disappoints us.
I decided to have the Fish and Chips. I am not a fish lover at all. But occasionally I do enjoy a well-prepared Fish & Chips. The batter was crispy and the fish was moist. My only problem was the portion size. Three filets on top of a mound of french fries. It was too much food for me. I ate the fish and some fries. The rest of the fries were put onto my hubby's plate as he ordered an appetizer poutine with chicken and could not finish it so we took it home.
I think that they should offer us the choice of how many filets we want to eat. And, charge us a buck less per filet. They will still make money, I will eat less and there will be no waste of food to add to the landfills. It is really a win-win situation for everyone.
The poutine that my hubby ordered is a favourite of his. It is made with a curry sauce instead of a regular gravy. The Irish and British love Indian food. I have to admit to not knowing why they love it. I am not a fan of spicy food. Anyway, the poutine was spicy and the mix of cheeses helped to tone it down a little. It is an appetizer, but it can (and has) been eaten as a main course.
If you have a chance, go to McKibbin's Irish Pub, you will love it!
Until nest time!
I decided to have the Fish and Chips. I am not a fish lover at all. But occasionally I do enjoy a well-prepared Fish & Chips. The batter was crispy and the fish was moist. My only problem was the portion size. Three filets on top of a mound of french fries. It was too much food for me. I ate the fish and some fries. The rest of the fries were put onto my hubby's plate as he ordered an appetizer poutine with chicken and could not finish it so we took it home.
I think that they should offer us the choice of how many filets we want to eat. And, charge us a buck less per filet. They will still make money, I will eat less and there will be no waste of food to add to the landfills. It is really a win-win situation for everyone.
The poutine that my hubby ordered is a favourite of his. It is made with a curry sauce instead of a regular gravy. The Irish and British love Indian food. I have to admit to not knowing why they love it. I am not a fan of spicy food. Anyway, the poutine was spicy and the mix of cheeses helped to tone it down a little. It is an appetizer, but it can (and has) been eaten as a main course.
If you have a chance, go to McKibbin's Irish Pub, you will love it!
Until nest time!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Bulgarian Feta
A couple of years ago, my husband and I were at out local market with specialty food shops. We like to go there every once in a while and look for supper. We get inspired when we go there. Anyway, one day we were walking around the cheese shop (this place has everything!) We were going to get some feta when we noticed that they had about four different types. They had Greek, Canadian, goat and Bulgarian. On a whim, we decided to try the Bulgarian feta.
We were not expecting much from it. I figured that the taste of feta could not be that different from type to type, right? Oh, boy! Was I wrong! This was the best stuff that I have ever put into my mouth. My taste buds wept in ecstasy. The feta was creamy and mellow. It did not crumble like regular feta, it was actually spreadable. Every time we go to the cheese shop, we get some. And, we get upset when there is none available. It almost ruins our evening. We have to go not expecting to find it.
I have no idea where it comes or where it is made, all I know is that it is the best feta ever! If you have the opportunity to try it, do so. You will never regret it :)
Until next time!
We were not expecting much from it. I figured that the taste of feta could not be that different from type to type, right? Oh, boy! Was I wrong! This was the best stuff that I have ever put into my mouth. My taste buds wept in ecstasy. The feta was creamy and mellow. It did not crumble like regular feta, it was actually spreadable. Every time we go to the cheese shop, we get some. And, we get upset when there is none available. It almost ruins our evening. We have to go not expecting to find it.
I have no idea where it comes or where it is made, all I know is that it is the best feta ever! If you have the opportunity to try it, do so. You will never regret it :)
Until next time!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Breakfast buffet for work
My husband asked me if I could bake something for a breakfast buffet for work. His big boss is in from out of town and he leaves the day of the breakfast. I decided to make one of my hubby's favorite things: Bacon-Tomato Cups. He loves these things! Every time that there is an event (of any kind) and he requests them. I do not always give in, but this time I did as it is for the big boss.
I got the recipe for the cups from a popular website. It is called www.allrecipes.com. And it is one of my go to websites when I need a recipe for certain ingredients. The first step was to go to the grocery for all the ingredients. And, luckily, one of the ingredients was on sale! Don't you just love it when that happens? And, although, I follow the recipe (mostly), I know that I often have more filling and not enough crescent rolls, so today I bought double. I get home and start the cups. Fry the bacon & onion, chop the tomato, grate the cheese and miss all together with mayo, dried basil and some garlic (my addition). I fill cups and bake for about 15 minutes. They come out gorgeous, of course :)
For the first time ever, I used exactly the requested amount of rolls, so now I have two extra rolls and no plans to use them. I look through one of my recipe books and I stumble upon one that is perfect. I have all the ingredients which is always a good thing, and it is perfect for a breakfast buffet. I decided to make a Chocolate Crescent Twist. So easy to make and it looks quite impressive when cooked!
Until next time!
I got the recipe for the cups from a popular website. It is called www.allrecipes.com. And it is one of my go to websites when I need a recipe for certain ingredients. The first step was to go to the grocery for all the ingredients. And, luckily, one of the ingredients was on sale! Don't you just love it when that happens? And, although, I follow the recipe (mostly), I know that I often have more filling and not enough crescent rolls, so today I bought double. I get home and start the cups. Fry the bacon & onion, chop the tomato, grate the cheese and miss all together with mayo, dried basil and some garlic (my addition). I fill cups and bake for about 15 minutes. They come out gorgeous, of course :)
For the first time ever, I used exactly the requested amount of rolls, so now I have two extra rolls and no plans to use them. I look through one of my recipe books and I stumble upon one that is perfect. I have all the ingredients which is always a good thing, and it is perfect for a breakfast buffet. I decided to make a Chocolate Crescent Twist. So easy to make and it looks quite impressive when cooked!Until next time!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
"Undone"
I finished reading "Undone" by Rachel Caine. It is the first book in her Outcast Season series. It is a spin-off from her Weather Wardens series. I have not read the Wardens series and it is not necessary to read it for this novel. However, it would be a value-add to read them as there are some references and characters to the Weather series. It was not confusing, but it was not a rich experience. I felt that something was missing. But, then again that is just me. I hate starting a series in the middle and not realize it.
The story is about a Djinn that gets thrown to earth for disobeying an edict from her "boss". This becomes a classic duck out of water tale with a mystery and suspenseful story tossed in. Murder and mayhem when the hero's past comes back to haunt him. The heroine is caustic and impatient with her limitations and the hero is a former gang member trying to do good.
It is definitely a good start to a new series, but take my advice and read the "Weather Wardens" series first. It will be a richer experience for you. Check out the author's website for more information on all her series: www.rachelcaine.com
Until next time!
The story is about a Djinn that gets thrown to earth for disobeying an edict from her "boss". This becomes a classic duck out of water tale with a mystery and suspenseful story tossed in. Murder and mayhem when the hero's past comes back to haunt him. The heroine is caustic and impatient with her limitations and the hero is a former gang member trying to do good.
It is definitely a good start to a new series, but take my advice and read the "Weather Wardens" series first. It will be a richer experience for you. Check out the author's website for more information on all her series: www.rachelcaine.com
Until next time!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Restaurant review
I had the cream of vegetable soup and the steak & red pepper panini with fries. The soup was creamy and flavorful, the portion was just perfect for lunch. The panini was quite good. They did not overdue the roasted red pepper which is very easy to do and often ruins a sandwich. This one had a good balance of red pepper and thinly sliced steak. The fries were thin cut and crispy. The meal was reasonably priced as it included the soup, main dish, tea (or coffee) and dessert.
The atmosphere was really nice. The restaurant has some nooks and crannies for the guests, providing privacy and keeping the noise level down. Granted, I was there for lunch, so it was not crowded. My favorite part of the decor was the shelves that they used as room dividers. It was filled with books. English, French, fiction, textbooks, hardcovers, soft covers, old ones and recent ones. It was visually appealing and a great way to create ambiance. I loved that idea!
Until next time!
Monday, September 26, 2011
"The Lost Symbol"
So, I just finished reading the "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown. It has been in my "to read" pile for almost two years. Now, I know why I waited.
Despite the constant action, various perspectives and cliffhangers (almost one per chapter) it actually reads like a university lecture. Ooh, the mysterious Freemasons! How wise, wonderful and super-intelligent they were. Yes, "were", there are no new Masons that have done anything stupendous in the last hundred years (that we are told about) to take the place of George Washington, Sir Francis Bacon, and Sir Isaac Newton.
The final messages of the book are pure "Hallmark" or "Disney" movie. The messages are as follows: The power is within you. We all have the capacity to be more than the sum of our parts.
The book is well-written, the dialogue well-played, the characters are as fleshed out as they can be. The ancient mystery that he goes on and on about, was no great revelation. The book is formulaic. Basically, if you have read any of the other Robert Langdon books, you have read them all.
Until next time!
Despite the constant action, various perspectives and cliffhangers (almost one per chapter) it actually reads like a university lecture. Ooh, the mysterious Freemasons! How wise, wonderful and super-intelligent they were. Yes, "were", there are no new Masons that have done anything stupendous in the last hundred years (that we are told about) to take the place of George Washington, Sir Francis Bacon, and Sir Isaac Newton.
The final messages of the book are pure "Hallmark" or "Disney" movie. The messages are as follows: The power is within you. We all have the capacity to be more than the sum of our parts.
The book is well-written, the dialogue well-played, the characters are as fleshed out as they can be. The ancient mystery that he goes on and on about, was no great revelation. The book is formulaic. Basically, if you have read any of the other Robert Langdon books, you have read them all.
Until next time!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Planning a dinner party my way
On the spur of the moment, we decide to have a couple of people over on Saturday night. It was a very casual affair, so nothing intense had to be created. In an attempt to empty out my freezer (something I try to do 2 or 3 times a year), I decided to use the frozen, store-bought cannelloni that I had bought on sale.
In planning a menu, I always start with the main meal. And, from there, I springboard with the side dishes and then the appetizers. I like to have different flavors in my dishes. I do not like to repeat flavors and textures between the appetizer and the side dishes. Call me kooky, but I like my guests to be able to cleanse their palettes between dishes. I do not like to be inundated with the same flavors, I like to be surprised with varying tastes. I believe that when the tastes are similar, then the entire experience will be bland. There is nothing worse than a bland meal.
As an appetizer, I had decided on escargot brioche, but my guest wanted to bring an appetizer. A little rule that I follow: if someone offers to bring something, let them! It takes away a little pressure from you as you have one less thing to worry about and prepare. She brought a creamy bread dip, which is her signature dip. It is the one she always makes to bring to people dinners.
The main course, was of course the cheese cannelloni and garlic bread. I wanted something refreshing as a side. I made a bean and feta salad. It was low-fat and high in fiber. Quite refreshing and tart in contrast to the cheesy pasta and the creamy appetizer.
And lastly, came dessert. As I love to bake, this is my thing. My time to shine, my raison d'etre. I had some gingersnaps cookies (that were given to me) that I wanted to get rid of :) I found a recipe online for a Pear Crisp that used gingersnaps in the crust. It was surprisingly rich, and slightly spicy. The balance of spicy and sweet was a nice contrast for the main course.
It is all about balance when you plan a dinner. You need to have elements of cream, spicy, sweet and tart. You can never go wrong when you vary your tastes. It keeps it interesting and flavorful.
Until next time!
In planning a menu, I always start with the main meal. And, from there, I springboard with the side dishes and then the appetizers. I like to have different flavors in my dishes. I do not like to repeat flavors and textures between the appetizer and the side dishes. Call me kooky, but I like my guests to be able to cleanse their palettes between dishes. I do not like to be inundated with the same flavors, I like to be surprised with varying tastes. I believe that when the tastes are similar, then the entire experience will be bland. There is nothing worse than a bland meal.
As an appetizer, I had decided on escargot brioche, but my guest wanted to bring an appetizer. A little rule that I follow: if someone offers to bring something, let them! It takes away a little pressure from you as you have one less thing to worry about and prepare. She brought a creamy bread dip, which is her signature dip. It is the one she always makes to bring to people dinners.
The main course, was of course the cheese cannelloni and garlic bread. I wanted something refreshing as a side. I made a bean and feta salad. It was low-fat and high in fiber. Quite refreshing and tart in contrast to the cheesy pasta and the creamy appetizer.
And lastly, came dessert. As I love to bake, this is my thing. My time to shine, my raison d'etre. I had some gingersnaps cookies (that were given to me) that I wanted to get rid of :) I found a recipe online for a Pear Crisp that used gingersnaps in the crust. It was surprisingly rich, and slightly spicy. The balance of spicy and sweet was a nice contrast for the main course.
It is all about balance when you plan a dinner. You need to have elements of cream, spicy, sweet and tart. You can never go wrong when you vary your tastes. It keeps it interesting and flavorful.
Until next time!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Re-Organization
In July, I got a beautiful Le Creuset dutch oven. I have not used it as yet, but I will. I am waiting for the perfect recipe to initiate it. Not just any recipe will do, it has to be something spectacular. In the meantime, it has been sitting on my counter taking up space and collecting a little bit of dust.
So, today, I finally re-organized my pots and pans cupboard. It took me about 2 hours. The hard part was deciding where to put everything. It had been in the same space for the last 6 years (since we moved into the house).
Step 1 - Empty the entire cupboard. (Easy)
Step 2 - Vacuum and wipe it down. (Easy)
Step 3 - Put everything back. (Hard)
I did it though as evidenced by the pic above. I wish I thought to do a "Before Pic." I decided to put the baking things to one side and the cooking things to another. By stacking the baking sheets and muffin tins on their sides, I saved a lot of room, as well as stacking rarely used items on top of each other. Surprisingly, I only got rid of one thing, a cookie cutter sheet which I have never ever used. I prefer using individual cookie cutters.
Now, I actually have room for another pot or pan (Le Creuset, maybe?) My cupboard is more organized and I am ready to bake again. I have not done any this week, because I still have some cookies and brownies left. The good news is that the brownies are still not dry. The trick is to cut as you go and pre-cut everything. It keeps it from drying out.
Until next time!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Baking all week
I have been baking for most of the week. Baking seems to be the only thing that gives me some peace and tranquility from my recent stress. It helps me to relax and concentrate on something else. On Thursday, I made a triple-berry crisp, only because I had no more eggs and I could use frozen berries that I had in my freezer. It was good, but not my favorite thing. I had to make a couple of substitutions as I did not have any lemons or blueberries (I have an intolerance to them). I used orange peel instead and threw in some dried cranberries. The cranberry flavor simply overrode the strawberry and raspberry flavors.
On Friday, I made Lite Oatmeal cookies, as I had bought some eggs that morning. They were very good and easy to make.
And yesterday, I needed to bake and I made brownies at the request of my husband. I have had 3 so far today :( They are moist, and very chocolatey. The edges are my favorite. My fear is that they will dry out before we eat them all.
In the next few days, I will be baking some more, as I am trying to not spend my day reading books. It is very hard! I have been craving a specific dessert that I have not had in many, many years. I wonder if it is as good as my memory tells me or if it was all in my head?
I will leave you with this question: What baked good have you been craving but not had in a while?
On Friday, I made Lite Oatmeal cookies, as I had bought some eggs that morning. They were very good and easy to make.
And yesterday, I needed to bake and I made brownies at the request of my husband. I have had 3 so far today :( They are moist, and very chocolatey. The edges are my favorite. My fear is that they will dry out before we eat them all.
In the next few days, I will be baking some more, as I am trying to not spend my day reading books. It is very hard! I have been craving a specific dessert that I have not had in many, many years. I wonder if it is as good as my memory tells me or if it was all in my head?
I will leave you with this question: What baked good have you been craving but not had in a while?
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