Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Okay, I’m cheating a little bit today.  Thursday was the first official day back at work after summer vacation, although I have been into the school four other times in the past two weeks, and I’m tired.  Of course, the fact that we have been under a ridiculously humid heatwave and Hubby worked a double-shift meaning he didn’t get home until 11:30 last night…and he couldn’t sleep, so I couldn’t sleep…you get the picture.  Thankfully I had the rest of this post actually scheduled, I just didn’t get the chance to add much more to it, than what you just read.  I’m sure next week, I’ll be back with plenty to say about the first week of school.  Stay tuned.

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Bouncing around the Tuesday Follows I came across this little site…and after taking the quiz found out…

It’s funny actually, because Paris is the city that has always called to me, the Eiffel Tower, bread, cheese, the Louvre.  What’s not to love?!  Then I started reading Eat, Pray, Love and I have to admit I think Rome and I would get a long fine, fabulously even.

I think in part it’s the history, that’s not to say that Paris doesn’t have history.  But Rome, well, it’s just a little bit older now isn’t it.

Then there’s the food.  Again, Paris has bread and cheese, but reading all about the pasta and the pizzas…I was ready to hop on a plane then and there to go and enjoy the food!

I still want to go to Paris, but I think Rome may have replaced it on the top of the list.

Care to join in on the fun…or to see what others are writing about today?

I find it funny that I used to love watching award shows. Used to. Now, I just can’t be bothered for pretty much all of them. I occasionally watch some of the Academy Awards but that’s about it, and even then, my attention is usually pretty short.

I think I watched about 2 minutes of the Emmy’s that’s it. I did however log on to People.com to see the dresses afterwards and I’m watching Entertainment Tonight as I type this. I guess my attention is drawn to snippets at best. I do understand that I should probably hop over to Youtube to see if I can find the opening…I can’t imagine it’s not there.

Anyone watch the Emmy’s…did I miss anything else?

Update: Just watched the opener…oh my goodness, that was bloody AWESOME.  I don’t think I have ever seen such a great opener for an awards show.

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Mother Nature has decided to tell us that she is still very much in charge. Last Friday I froze because I went out in shorts and a t-shirt, determined to wear them a bit longer. Well, that lasted a whole 24 hours before she decided to throw another log on the fire and turn the heat up again. It’s in the low 30Cs and that doesn’t include the humidity…that just makes me melt. I may actually get to bring the dog in for one more swim before school starts next week.

What’s really annoying…by the weekend the temps are supposed to be half of what they are now. I know I live in Canada, but it still amazes me that we can get such temperature swings. And apparently we are going to get warm weather through Halloween. I can’t complain about the temps, but the allergies, that’s another story!

What’s good about the weather…the only day I have to go into the school this week, Thursday, is supposed to be rainy and the start of the temps starting to drop.  That will certainly make it a bit easier to go.

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SIL was in a dragon boat race on Saturday.  To park, we ended up parking on the bike path – I didn’t know it at the time, but we lucked out by not getting a parking ticket.  There just wasn’t enough parking for the number of people who were attending.

This was the first race she had ever been in…as a matter of fact, it was the first for most/all of the team.  And…

They came in first in the gold category.  The only category higher was platinum…and they almost made it into that category on their first race.  After the first race they were 11 out of 59 teams.  Not bad for a bunch of newbies!!

And while we were there, we saw the biggest husky I have ever seen.  I’m 5’5″ and the head of this dog was above me hips.  Apparently he wasn’t done growing either.  I found out from SIL afterward that the dog was just a pup…at six months old!  Holy crap, that’s going to be one BIG dog.

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Shopper’s Drug Mart…what are you doing?

I went into my local Shopper’s the Monday and wandering the aisles I came across quite the “display.”  Not only was there Thanksgiving decorations, with a bit of Halloween thrown in…and Christmas.  There was also Easter and Valentine’s Day.  Really, seriously!!  I think this brings a whole new meaning to the one stop shopping idea.

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Anyone got a pressure canner they want to lend me?  I’m not fully serious about this, but I was hoping to can some of the HUGE bag of green and yellow beans my neighbour sent me home with on Sunday night.  Alas, I think I am going to have to survive with freezing the beans instead, as there doesn’t seem to be a safe was of preserving them without a pressure canner and I’m not spending $150+ just to get one.  Either way, homegrown beans in winter will be awesome!

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If you’re a NASCAR fan, you’ll probably know about this t-shirt.  Kevin and DeLana Harvick made the most out of a stupid comment made by Joey Logano and decided to raise money for their charity.  I just helped the cause.

The look on the one girls face made me laugh…not your typical t-shirt for small town Ontario!

And just incase you were wondering, I’m linking this post up…

I haven’t done a meme in quite a while. While bouncing around the different Friday Follows I came across this one at

and I liked the questions.

What is your favorite time of the day and why ?

I honestly don’t know that I have a favourite time of day. I know that I most definitely do not like mornings – ick! I think my favourite time of day would be evenings, I tend to get more done then.

salt or sugar ?

Usually sugar, although my sweet tooth does seem to have a limit now. And when I can figure out what I want to eat, I usually end up going for salty – go figure.
Sea or mountains ?

I may be a skier, but this is one very easy questions for me…definitely sea!!! I love the sound of the ocean, I love watching waves crash on the shore, I love the water running over my feet. I just find it very tranquil and relaxing.
What country would you like to visit and Why?

I have many countries I would love to visit, but for the sake of this meme, I’d have to say France is still on the top of my list. There are many reasons…to see WW battlefields, to climb the Eiffel Tower, to eat a fresh baguette, to sit at an outdoor cafe, to see the Mona Lisa, to visit a winery (and I don’t even like wine), the visit Cannes, to visit the French countryside. As I said, there are many reasons why France is the first country on my list.
Favorite song ?

This is always changing. I think right now it’s a toss up, between Defying Gravity from Glee, yes Glee. And, Up on the Ridge by Dirks Bentley. Oh and I can’t forget about Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland. As you can see I don’t really understand the meaning of the word favourite.
Do you cook? What is your favorite dish to make ?

I do cook, I do enjoy it, but I don’t like my kitchen one bit! Favourite dish…probably fajitas.
What is the one thing you want to do before you die ?

There are two things that always seem to come up on my Bucket List no matter when I have made it…although the second one would help me the first one. I’d like to visit all continents (although I’d be fine if I make it to six) and I’d like to visit Everest base camp.
Favorite flower?

Tulips, although lavender and daisies are pretty close behind.

Yep, that’s what it is.  I’m having one of those days.  I have no desire to do much of anything.  It’s not like I had a bad night sleep or anything, although I didn’t turn the fan on and I do wish I had, I’ve been sleeping better with the air moving.  But lack of sleep doesn’t explain the ugh of today.

We were busy yesterday that’s for sure.  It started off with making a pasta salad, that I found out hours later I didn’t actually need to make – or so I was told after I made it.  But…people enjoyed it and I came home with none so that’s good.

After the pasta salad, we had a funeral to go to.  Losing track of time didn’t help us, but we managed to get there with second to spare.  And weren’t the last ones to arrive.

Then it was back home to cut some peppers and make some dip for the BBQ we were going to.

The BBQ was great.  Had fun with my cousin, her kids and husband and my aunt, uncle.  There were many others there, but before others arrived this is who we hung out with.  I ate, and ate and ate – lots of veggies and dip, a maybe a few desserts.

Just before it was too dark to go, we went out for a bit of a kayak.  It was great.  The lake was incredibly smooth.  It wasn’t too hot.  It was just perfect for paddling.  We finally thought better of it and got off the water before it became too dark to see us.  I did have a beacon on the back of my jacket, but still.

We didn’t even get home overly late.  As a matter of fact I was in bed by midnight.

And today…nothing, that’s about what I’ve accomplished.

Okay, maybe not nothing.  I did get a Christmas gift almost made (it will be finished by the end of the day, but the NASCAR race took over), I did get a load of laundry done.  Maybe a bit of vacuuming.  I did get a bit of work done in the trailer (NASCAR weekend i a few).  But really, I haven’t done a whole heck of a lot.

The kitchen…it’s a mess!

My craft/computer room…don’t even ask.  It’s still usable though.

My vehicle…I did get some stuff out of it, but the half case of Gatorade is still in there (the other half went in the trailer).

And dinner…I’m trying to figure out if I have enough desire to go to town and get dinner.  Otherwise, it’s 4:36 pm and I have no idea what to make.

Yep, yesterday was great and busy.

But today, well today is just one of those days.

Fresh burgers, potato salad and dessert.

Hanging out with family and friends.

Just having fun and enjoying myself.

See relatives I don’t see often (enough).

Maybe a bit of swimming around.

Probably some kayaking around the lake.

Taking lots of pictures of everyone.

Yep, sounds like a good day!

I hope you’ll stop by and visit some of the other people participating in 6 Word Saturday.

I joke about the fact that when I go to Swiss Chalet I get the baked potato and smother it with butter, sour cream AND chalet sauce.  Yes, I know, that’s just bad!  Would it help if I told you I eat at Swiss Chalet less than once a year (a byproduct of the fact that Hubby doesn’t eat chicken).   I have no idea how many calories are in this, but I’m smart enough to know that it’s a lot and I probably shouldn’t eat it.

Then I saw this (again,  on MSNBC…I need to stop visiting that site).

A simple eat this, not this article.

Olive Garden Fettuccini Alfredo meal

800 calories
48 g fat (30 g saturated)
810 mg sodium

Saturated fat equivalent: 1.5 full jars of Nutella!

I’ll take the Nutella please.  Of course, it should be noted that this is for the kids meal at Olive Garden.  This doesn’t include the bread sticks.  This is not the adult meal…I’d be afraid to ask just how many calories are in the adult equivalent.

Applebee’s Grilled Cheese with French fries

1,020 calories
54 g fat (17 g saturated)
2,170 mg sodium

Calorie equivalent: 400 Cheddar Goldfish Crackers. (That’s 1.3 full bags!)

400 Goldfish Crackers?!  That’s just crazy.  I’d be okay eating some of this one…I don’t tend to eat a lot of fries.  As if I’m justifying my eating a grilled cheese sandwich.  Either way you look at it though, that’s a lot of calories…half of what I should eat in a day. Not I say should eat…

And the one that takes the cake…

Friendly’s Mac & Cheese Quesadilla meal with Friendly Frank, Shirley Temple and Friend-z Peanut Butter Cup

2,270 calories
109 g fat (45 g saturated)
3,320 sodium

Calorie equivalent: 45.5 Glazed Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts!

We don’t have a Friendly’s here in Canada so I don’t really know what this meal is, but I do know that 2200+ calories for a kid is criminal!  That’s more than the recommended daily calories for an adult!!  In this case, I guess any kid would be better off eating 20 glazed munchkins from Dunkin Donut than the meal at Friendly’s.  Granted this meal includes the dessert.  I wonder what the calorie count is on just the meal.

I have/had the Restaurant app on my iPhone (I need to re-download it…apparently there was a glitch causing the phone to crash) and it was handy and helpful.  Did I look at it every time we went out to eat…goodness no, sometimes I just want to eat what I want to eat and not feel bad about it.  But, I have to admit that sometimes the app surprised me with the information it gave.  Sometimes the better looking choice wasn’t the better choice after all.