Lynda Sez » food

A major birthday

rgdaniel — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:41:09 +0000

I spent my birthday away from home, but doing things I liked: reading, knitting, walking a dog, and finishing the day with an exceptional dinner accompanied by a delightful jazz trio, plus one. Thanks to dear family friend Vena for great conversation and very fine dining, and to Claire, for joining us!

The smell of sunshine

rgdaniel — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:06:33 +0000

I have never been to Spain, but I feel transported to a hillside there on those rare February afternoons when the Seville oranges are bubbling away on my stove to make the classic marmalade. I made only one batch this year, and I feel fortunate to get that, as I thought I had missed the very short season for this special fruit. Ah well, that makes each golden jar even more precious.

Where’s the sun?

rgdaniel — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:19:43 +0000

As I prepare to head off to the big city tomorrow for some usability fun, I note that we are only one week away from that much longed for event, the Winter Solstice. As of today, the day length here is eight hours and 49 minutes. We’ll lose another two minutes in the coming week, then ever so slowly, the days will begin to lengthen again. Celticly speaking, it will be Midwinter, an encouraging thought because that means we are halfway through the darkest deadest season of the year. As my forebears did, I will celebrate the Solstice with a cheery fire and feasting with loved ones. Who’s joining me for roast duck?

Putting food by

rgdaniel — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:50:00 +0000

As my mother and I shopped and chatted at our weekly visit to the Owen Sound Market, I was reminded of a story I read just yesterday about getting food in hand for the winter. I was immersed in Bruce County history this week while I catalogued precious family photographs, some dating to the 1880s. This story goes even farther back and is recounted in the History of the County of Bruce, Ontario, Canada. In Chapter 18, the author cites a letter from early settler David Chalmers, in which he describes, among other things, how he went about getting pork to eat for the winter:
“After getting fairly domiciled in my shanty on the banks of the Sauble, the question of grub for the winter’s work presented itself, a most serious matter, as it necessitated my carrying it on my back from Mr. Robert Linn’s in Derby, a distance of eleven miles, four miles of which were merely a surveyor’s blaze. As I had bought a pig from Mr. Linn, I determined that my pork should carry itself. I got my piggy along very well for seven miles, then it began to get tuckered out. These seven miles of road had been chopped through the bush, but the remaining four miles were only blazed. How to get my pig these four miles was a problem, but I had to face it. I started with a very reluctant grunter, making my way through bush and over logs until I came to a small cedar swamp about one mile from my house. As in most cedar swamps, there was considerable windfall, and here piggy, being tired, came to a dead stop, but eventually I got it to my domicile.”
So no complaints from me about grocery shopping on a bitter cold day.

It’s all about food — right here

rgdaniel — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:13:14 +0000

Local foodies came together in droves today at a yummy Field to Fork Feast in Owen Sound to support the Grey Bruce Agriculture and Culinary Association. Superchef Michael Stadtlander talked about his own mission to use great local ingredients since he moved to the area and started serving legendary meals at Eisenginn Farm. But the real star of the day was Robin Pradhan, whose Rocky Raccoon Cafe found fans immediately when he opened not long ago in downtown Owen Sound. Robin invented the F2F feast idea and brought dozens of chefs, producers and retailers together to make it happen. Wow!
As if that isn’t enough good food news, we’re getting a new local food market in town, so I’ll be able to get lots more of the kind of products I look for at the Owen Sound Market. In fact, it will be handy enough to the market that I can shop at both locations on a Saturday. Around the Sound Local Food Market is set to open for a preview Dec. 18, 19 and 20.

Spreading the bread

rgdaniel — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:50:59 +0000

Yesterday’s bread workshop went very well, I think. We had just the right number of people for the amount of dough I had prepared and enough time for everyone to shape one or two mini-loaves to take home. One person had never made bread before, but the others had various levels of experience. I believe they all left with confidence for tackling recipes, not just the ones I provided. I’ll be sending off copies of the recipe pack to Jacqueline and Gill, in North Carolina and Plymouth, UK, respectively, who really wanted to come!

More losing and finding

rgdaniel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:00:29 +0000

This week has been all about bread for me, as I am in final prep for my bread workshop at Ginger Press on Saturday. I started retesting recipes a few weeks ago, but when I was assembling them to copy for the class a couple of days ago, I couldn’t find one of my key recipes. At least this time the possible locations for the lost item were few. I had used it mere days ago, and I keep anything related to food in the kitchen or the sunroom (where we eat and where my cookbooks and food files are). I attacked the file box of loose recipes — it’s pretty big and very loosely organized. Not only did I find the missing recipe, I found the handmade poster from my original bread class way back when, PLUS all of my handwritten notes from that class. Yay!

Always something to learn

rgdaniel — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:08:03 +0000

I have been baking bread off and on for, oh, maybe 35 years, and never hesitated to try a different recipe or method. I’ve done sponge, sourdough, overnight, machine, Cuisinart, etc., and numerous ingredient and shape variations, such as Pesto Monkey Bread, challah (actually on request for an Easter service), hot cross buns, doughnuts, and lots of rolls. I thought I’d seen it all and tried most of it. Lately I’ve been revisiting recipes to prepare for a bread workshop at my favourite local bookstore/cafe on Nov. 1. All of my old standards have worked out well, so I ventured to a book I’ve had for years but never tried. The result was the BEST LOAF EVER. I’m stunned by how good this bread is, and even my taste testers, who tend to be complimentary, but will be critical if pressed, have both said the same, unprompted. Bet you want to know the secret, eh?

Autumnal equinox

rgdaniel — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:51:15 +0000

It’s starting to look and feel like fall — chilly nights, and brisk mornings down by the pond — with breezes that shake down dead branches and loose leaves. Today was divided between my landscape design assignment and making grape jam. The former was a very enjoyable though demanding effort. I had collected enough photos on the weekend to illustrate 10 critiques, but the writing took a long time. My jam efforts were tasty, but there is still more fruit on the vine. I’ve just about caught up in the design course, but I’m still way behind in the Connectivism course. At least in both courses, the material will wait for me online. The grapes have a frosty deadline though.

Curry in no hurry

rgdaniel — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:37:45 +0000

We have an enterprise in town called Curry in a Hurry, who offer food at the market and meals delivered. Tonight we got to try a selection at a relaxed buffet dinner at Mudtown Pottery, the venue for several concerts we’ve been to. No need for anything but background music because the food was the whole story. I confess I filled my plate twice with helpings of almost everything, but I don’t regret one bite. Because of the date, we considered it a joint birthday dinner for Bob and I. My son Evan graciously treated us and came up from Aurora this afternoon to enjoy it with us.