My Balcony is Ready For Canada Day !!!!!

Happy Canada Day everyone!!!!  Thanks to Warren Greenhouse for the lovely geraniums and million bells flowers!  Enjoy your week-end!!!!!

Strawberry Jam With Strawberries From The Market !!!

When strawberries are plentiful at the St. Jacobs market, I love to make several batches of this simple preserve and then store the jam in the refrigerator.  I find the whole process of canning a lot of work and this jam is the perfect solution and it also makes a fresher tasting jam! The jam will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator as long as it is securely covered, but it usually doesn't last long. The recipe is 1 pint of strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp. lemon juice. In a small enamel pot combine quartered berries, sugar and lemon juice.  Boil for 10 minutes and then with a slotted spoon remove fruit to a clean jar. Continue simmering juice until it is reduced by half and then fill jar.  Allow to cool and then cover and refrigerate. Enjoy!!!!!!

Low Carb Pasta Alternative

Spaghetti squash makes a great low carb pasta alternative!!!  Halve a medium size spaghetti squash and remove seeds.  Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.  Bake cut side up in a 375 degree oven for about 40 minutes.  When cool using a fork, scoop and separate the squash strands. You can then use with any of your favourite pasta sauce recipes..  In the photo below I used a fresh tomato sauce with garlic, basil, mozzarella,and shaved parmesan! Enjoy!!!!!!

Macarons from Paris France!!!!

My Grandson Tyler had the opportunity to visit Spain and France on his way home from his first year at university in the Netherlands. In Paris he purchased authentic macarons to bring back home to Waterloo!  Paris is known for its mouth watering little round macarons with a light, crisp, fluffy shell with a perfectly tart or sweet ganache filling!!!!  Thank you Tyler for this special treat!!!!

Grow What You Love!!!!!

 My favourite Summer salad is Caprese ( named after the island of Capri ). The key ingredients are vine ripened tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and olive oil with just a touch of balsamic vinegar!!!  Having fresh basil on hand can be a challenge but not if you have a basil plant!!!  I have mine on my balcony and it will continue to give me basil all Summer, as long as I keep it well trimmed ( that is not a problem for me as I use it several times a week ).  I also like to have fresh chives, rosemary, thyme and oregano as well.  On this first day of Summer enjoy the taste of fresh herbs at your fingertips!!!!

Wine Tasting at the Gambino Winery

The Gambino Winery is located on the side of Mt. Etna.  It affords beautiful views of the mountain as well as the Mediterranean Sea. Our host was amazing and we had a delicious lunch accompanied by their delicious wines.   Visiting this exquisite winery was  a highlight of our trip and a fitting farewell to an awesome trip to Sicily!!!!  Arrivederci Sicily until we meet again !!!!!!

Mt. Etna, the Tallest Active Volcano in Europe

it was an exciting morning taking the cable car part way up Mt. Etna and hiking from there!! Mt. Etna is an active stratovolcano situated between the cities of Catania and Messina. Some of our fellow travellers made an inukshuk just to put a Canadian memento on this majestic peak!!!!