Wednesday, October 28, 2015

January 2, 2015 . . . Nanna turned 98!!



On the 2nd of January we hosted a little birthday party at the seniors' centre to celebrate my grandmother's 98th birthday with all her card-playin' friends.

I can't believe that is a couple of short months she will be 99!  

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Pork Tenderloin and Sweet Potatoes . . . fabulous!!!

I sliced a small pork roast instead of the tenderloin because that is what I had in the house.  Even fussy hubby loved this dish.

Pork Tenderloin and Sweet Potatoes


2 servings
Preparation 10 min 
Cooking 20 min
330 calories per serving 

Ingredients

2sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1,5 cm pieces360 g
1 clovegarlic, minced 
1pork tenderloin, cut into 2 cm slices300 g
1 pinchsalt [optional] 0.1 g
 ground pepper to taste  
1/2 tbspcanola oil8 mL
1 tspbutter, unsalted5 g
1 pinchcayenne pepper 0.4 g
3/4 tspdried oregano 0.4 g
1/3 cupgrapefruit juice 85 mL
1/3 cupwater 85 mL
4 tsppine nuts [optional] 10 g
4 tspfresh mint, chopped 4 g

Before you start

Put a serving dish in the oven at the lowest setting to keep the meat warm while the sweet potatoes cook.

Method

  1. Prepare the vegetables: Cut the sweet potatoes into pieces, about 1,5 cm. Mince the garlic.
  2. Cut each tenderloin crosswise into 2 cm thick slices. Season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the pork slices then sauté until golden-coloured, about 4 min per side. Take them out of the pan and set aside on a plate, keeping them warm in the oven.
  3. Add the garlic and cayenne pepper to the pan, then cook 1 min with stirring. Add the sweet potatoes andoregano, then sauté 2 min with stirring. Pour in the grapefruit juice and water, then bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 12 min.
  4. Put the pork slices back into the pan then heat them through, 2-3 min. Sprinkle with pine nuts (optional) and chopped mint, then serve.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Pork Tenderloin in Puff Pastry

Pork Tenderloin in Puff Pastry


Pork tenderloin fillets covered with a spinach-Prosciutto mixture, then wrapped in puff pastry and baked.
3 servings
Preparation 30 min 
Cooking 30 min
590 calories per serving 

Ingredients

1/2onions, finely chopped100 g
1 clovegarlic, minced 
3 cupsbaby spinach50 g
4sun-dried tomatoes (oil packed), coarsely chopped 2 tbsp
26 gParma ham/Prosciutto, coarsely chopped2 1/4 slices
1 tbspolive oil15 mL
2 tbspbutter, unsalted28 g
1pork tenderloin300 g
200 gpuff pastry dough 1/2 box
 white flour (all purpose), to roll out the pastry 
1 pinchsalt [optional] 0.1 g
 ground pepper to taste  
 parchment paper  

Before you start

Defrost the puff pastry dough at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. The dough should be flexible but still feel cold to the touch.
Keep the serving plates warm on the stove while you're preparing the dish.

Method

Prepare the stuffing
  1. Prepare the vegetables : Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic. Wash the baby spinach leaves then drain them well. Coarsely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and the Prosciutto slices.
  2. Heat the oil and butter in a pan to a fairly high temperature. Brown the fillet(s) on each side, about 6-8 min total, then season with salt and pepper. Take the fillet(s) out of the pan and transfer them to a plate. Set aside.
  3. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, then sauté until they become translucent, about 2-3 min. Add the tomatoes, Prosciutto pieces and spinach. Sauté 2-3 min, with stirring, until the spinach wilts. Let the mixture cool down a few minutes, then put it in the refrigerator for about 10 min to reduce the humidity content slightly before wrapping with the puff pastry.
Wrap with the puff pastry and bake
  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F. Line a large baking sheet (about 30 x 38 cm) with parchment paper.
  2. To wrap each fillet, roll out the puff pastry into a 30 x 24 cm rectangle (approx.), using a rolling pin on a lightly floured board. Arrange one fillet in the centre of the rectangle, then put the stuffing on top. Wrap the fillet completely with the pastry, brushing the pastry edges with water so that they will stick together. Press the edges of the pastry closed with the tines of a fork.
  3. Repeat with the remaining fillet(s) if applicable. Put each wrapped fillet on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Bake in the middle of the oven 30 min until the pastry is golden-brown. For a nicer crust, turn on the top broiler for the last 2 min (but do not let it burn!)
  5. Serve on the warmed plates.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Mean People on the Facebook . . . or why their opinions don't matter to me . . .

So earlier today this link was posted to Facebook and a challenge was made to choose the most trustworthy face . . . http://www.upworthy.com/a-guy-with-a-twisted-sense-of-humor-explains-how-your-brain-is-quicker-to-judge-than-your-eyes?c=ufb3



I don't usually join in on these conversations but I must have been almost bored for a minute and I joined in.  

Pam Matthews Hedden the guy with the resting bitch face . . .
A few people commented and more people Liked my answer.  In my world, there is just something smarmy and too happyish about the guy on the left.  Yes, a snap judgement, but that's what they were asking for.

Anyway, someone decided to try and be mean to me.  Obviously they don't know that I have survived marriage for 32 years and the raising of two boys.  Not much scares me anymore . . . LOL.

So here is his mean post . . . 

Steven G***** I like it how people 'compete' for likes on FB these days. If the comment about swastikas hadn't been there this one would've won! Shame there's always one better, you know, breaking the boundary further!

It took me a few minutes to realize he was Like-shaming me . . .

So I replied . . .

Pam Matthews Hedden Steven G***** Actually my children tell me I have a resting bitch face . . . and I make it a rule to tell the truth. I connected more with the second face . . . Besides, I don't collect FB likes . . . I collect followers on Blogger . . .

So there! LOL.  I guess I told him.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Get involved . . .




Keeping clean is an important part of remaining healthy, but families who have fled their homes because of disaster or war often struggle to afford these necessary supplies. Hygiene kits also are given through schools or orphanages to encourage healthy habits for children. There is always a way to help.

For more information . . . http://mcccanada.ca/get-involved/kits/hygiene?utm_content=buffer84222&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer




My January 2015 Scrapbooking Layouts

January must have been a really busy month because these are the only layouts I finished . . . 



My January 2015 Scrapbooking Layouts

January must have been a really busy month because these are the only layouts I finished . . . 



17 Tips for Scrapbooking One Photo Layouts

I just wanted to share this excellent blog post from suzyQscraps.  

one photo scrapbook layouts

Here's the link:  http://suzyqscraps.com/2013/03/12/one-photo-scrapbook-pages/

Enjoy!

This is my personal favourite . . . 

digital scrapbook layout by britanee

Autumn in St. Thomas


I took this photo from the MCR railway trestle this past weekend.

Fall in St. Thomas is so beautiful thanks to all our parks and green spaces.

I just found this video by Tony Bendel of fall photos around town taken with a drone.  Beautifully done!

Monday, October 19, 2015

New Year

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Today's Writing Prompt: New Year

We won't be back to prompts until after the new year, so tell me: What are your hopes for 2015?


I'm a little late answering this prompt . . . but here goes . . . 

It is actually mid-October and I have to say 2015 has been pretty great so far.  We've had ups and downs, but more ups.  We've had health issues but we are getting through them.  We are very lucky that our children and grandchildren live in the same town as we do so that we can see them whenever they aren't too busy . . . LOL.

Yeah . . . 2015 has be okay so far.

Good News (making memories)


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Today's Writing Prompt: Good News

There have been a heck of a lot of terrible things happening in the news lately. Counteract it, tell me something great that has happened in your world recently!


We've been able to have a lot of fun this past month and that is all due to the fact that I am a thrifty planner and Hal has a good job.  The chequing account has taken a bit of a beating never-the-less . . . but OH the memories we've made.

Box ON! Letterboxing Meet Up in Kingston ON

 

 





 Letterboxing in Owen Sound











Four days and three nights at Windswept Cottage, Port Lambton



Thanksgiving Dinner (no photos!)

Doors Open St. Thomas