Week 1 - Las Vegas

December 13 - 19 2014

We arrived on the 13th late in the day after driving from Tucson AZ where we had spent two nights. It was already dark and we were pleased that we had already done our groceries.

After checking into the Wyndham Grand Desert, a timeshare and fighting off the sales pitches to attend an "update" we were able to put our feet up.
Dinner was salad, kale, brussel sprouts and lots more vegetables.

Sunday was football! I had already been warned by John that he was not moving and since he had driven for the last nine days I couldn't blame him. I had thought I would go shopping but instead also vegged for the day.  I made a hamburger stew for dinner.

Monday we were lazy and went to check out Fry's Electronics store. Stopped into Whole Foods to pick up a couple items. We had leftover stew with salad for dinner.

Tuesday we had plans and were salivating over having pizza at Caesar's Palace in their food court. We took the free shuttle to Harrah's and then strolled around, getting lost (as usual) in Caesar's looking for the food court. Finally we found it and it was closed up for renovations. What was one to do but head to Gordon Ramsey's Pub and Grill, always a favourite of ours.

We then went to visit the Bellagio Conservatory. More on that in another post.

Over to Flamingo's and checked out the wild life as John had not been here before.

For dinner we had pork chops, mashed sweet potato and carrots and braised brussel sprouts.

Wednesday we had leftovers for lunch and then headed to the Palms Casino and the Brenden Theaters to see The Hobbit Battle of the Five Armies along with pop corn. The movie was very entertaining. Movie ticket prices are lower than at home only $7 each.

We needed some groceries so we headed to Smith's and picked up ingredients for chicken divan, a request of John's and a great way to use up the broccoli we had bought. I found chicken breasts reduced for quick sale at $4 and it was plenty.

Thursday we decided to go to the JFK exhibit at Tropicana. Disappointing.

Dinner was salmon with kale salad.

Friday we took the shuttle and strolled along the Strip. We stopped into Wynn's in anticipation of their Christmas display but they had used the same decorations as last year.

Then we went to see the opening of Night at the Museum Secret of the Tomb - very, very enjoyable.

Then we went to Gold Coast TGIF for dinner. We hadn't been there since winter 2012-2013, when it was our weekly hangout. Steak and shrimp for John and lobster tails for me!

TGIF Friday - Project 365

This was one of my favourite Project 365 themes in 2009. From May - the topic was Song Titles and yes I am missing 1 day, May 19 we were flying home from China.

TGIF - Foodie Fryday

LCBO MUSHROOM MADNESS

$50

Few foods are as evocative as earthy and elegant mushrooms. Join Chef Paula Bambrick for this mouth-watering mushroom filled menu: Smoked Mushroom Soup with Crème Fraîche; Individual Wild Mushroom Strudel; Porcini-rubbed Beef Tenderloin with Mixed Mushroom Madeira Sauce; and Warm Mushroom Salad with Crispy Goat Cheese.



This was the menu for Maid M and I’s class last Monday. I’m afraid to say that we think it was a little much mushroom, duh, you think?

The set-up in the room is excellent 6 tables setting 4 people each facing a kitchen with a screen showing the activity on the stove and counter.

For this price you don’t get a “full plate” of food, just samples but was enough dinner for me. Plus there is a wine sommelier who serves you a sample of a different wine for each course.



For some reason we didn’t take any pictures???? I will post the recipes at some point and will then take some photos.

We both loved the mushroom strudel, but think some people might not like such a strong, pungent mushroom flavour.

We both hated the soup, it was just too smokey, but it was interesting that instead of using crème fraiche which costs around $12 a jar, she used Western Farms sour cream which costs about $5. We also didn’t like that it was a thin broth.

Next was a beef tenderloin crusted with porcini mushrooms and roasted. She then made a musroom gravy with roasted mushrooms. This dish was very good.

Final serving was a warm mushroom salad with crispy goat cheese. I loved the goat cheese and will definitely try this. The oven roasted mushrooms were served on top.

We'll be trying some more classes over the winter. I've also found some others given by President's Choice.
 

TGIF - Project 365 August 2010

August category was Primary colours. My fave was this even though I have shown this photo several times from Mackinac Island, I still love it.

TGIF - Project 365 July 2010

Theme was Pets - which I kept to loosely.
This was my 2 favourites.
The first one is a real cat (I waited to see if it moved) lying in a chair in a storefront on Queen St E. The second one I caught as I walked home from work, he posed perfectly for me.

And yes, poor Parnell is tired of me taking his picture.

TGIF - Foodie Fryday

I can't resist markets when we travel. These were taken in Chinatown in Honolulu last November.

TGIF

The man in this ad used to be a VP at our company.

TGIF - Gardening

Some random shots of my garden which I must admit I have been neglecting this summer. It's been hot and I do have to work full time to make a living!! It is overgrown and needs some major redesign. Maybe I'll work on it this weekend and devise a plan with some instructions for my gardener Manuel Labour to perform during the early mornings next week when it is cooler!!

Sadly the lavender is ready to be cut back.

TGIF - Foodie Fryday - Dumplings and Opera

Lotus root with lemon.

Each steamer came with 3 types of dumpling and 3 pieces of each as we were 3 people. M had her own vegeterian dumplings and vegeterian soup was also provided.

Duck – shaped like a duck

Pork – shaped like a pig

Shark’s fin

Ham

Albacore
Mushroom
Shrimp
Cabbage
Chcken – piece of corn at top to resemble an egg
Pork and leek
Hazelnut
Fried dumplings
Large plate of regular pork

Chicken Soup with baby dumplings

Opera show with beautiful costumes started at 8:30 and lasted an hour.

This one was taken in Shanghai. It was wrapped like a parcel.

TGIF - Random Weddings

Taken in Hong Kong - once the mother had seen me taking photos they kindly posed for me.

TGIF - Geeked

As this is TGIF - a free for all posting about whatever comes to my cluttered brain, I realized I haven't introduced our cat, Parnell.

He is a truely spoilt cat as anyone who knows him will attest to.

No wonder ittook me so long to finish this baby blanket that I was embroidering! Every time I took it out he had to get into it!

TGIF - Family

These are photos of my parents in Ireland before they were married. This was probably taken in 1949 or 1950. I have removed the personal information with names and addresses that are on the original. Mom and Dad grew up on the same street in Dublin. One lived at number 390 and the other at number 256. I love how elegant they look, sure beats sweats, even though I wouldn't give up my yoga pants for anything!