2015 Rotorua New Zealand
Saturday
Buffalo cauliflower poppers for lunch as I continue to use stuff up from the fridge. These were so good! I used tapioca flour but it was a little thin so I added some chickpea flour and it was perfect, so much so I may used that as my next batter for fish.
Steak with baked potatoes and broccoli for dinner.
Sunday
Longo's carries a large selection of loose-leaf teas with a dedicated expert.
I had tried a sample of tea at Longo's last week and had asked the tea-man to recommend a very spicy tea and he suggested chai , masala.
As we use our Cuisinart single serve brewer to make tea with teabags how were we going to do loose tea? Ta Da!! The Cusinart comes with a reusable filter cup, perfect for adding loose tea to brew.
I had raved about the lemon mousse I made at Easter so I made it again today but with tangerines that were languishing away on the counter. I used the juice of two tangerines which added more flavour and also made the mousse a little lighter.
Turkey breast, roast potatoes, mushy peas, turnip and carrot mash with homemade gravy.
Monday
John picked up our completed taxes and I went shopping. I got a couple of mixing bowls and some new hand towels.
Dinner was leftover turkey.
Tuesday
This morning's breakfast, I'm lucky that John prepares this meal
Lunch is usually DIY and dinner is my balliwick along with any baking.
We did a run to Nate's Bagels to stock up and checked out the new Farm Boy that just opened near it.
It is very much a market experience with lots of interesting fresh produce at very good prices.
They had the best selection of prepared spiralized vegetables at reasonable prices.
There is little in the way of canned or packaged goods. I did get coconut milk and cream at a very good price.
Amazing meat counters.
Great prepared foods. The woman at Nate's had suggested we make sandwiches with the foccacia that we bought and look! they have some here, put them under a grill!
A great cheese counter and we picked up some of this after having a sample.
We caught the 5:20 bus downtown and walked to King and John St. for dinner at La Carnita which features Mexican style street food.
We ordered five tacos to start with.
I didn't love the cod, it was a bit too wet to eat properly.
We ordered more, John had two more chorizo and I ordered Tostada de Ceviche
Albacore Tuna, guacamole, coconut milk, habanero, tomato, cucumber.
Then we headed over to the Royal Alexendra (Royal Alex) Theatre to see Come From Away. Great tickets, in fourth row centre stage.
I snapped a few photos of the theatre before the performance started.
The set which stayed like this the entire performance with the chairs moved around to represent different locations, amazing.
Local couple Irene Sankoff and David Hein's groundbreaking musical tells the story of what happened in Gander, Nfld., on and after Sept. 11, 2001 – when 38 planes from around the world were diverted there following the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The small-town Newfoundland in the show is a real place, populated by characters based on real people who Sankoff and Hein interviewed.
Wednesday
I had planned to go shopping but my desire waned as the morning wore on.
Instead we did a grocery run to Longo's where I had $25 in points avaliable, bonus!
I decided to make scones and this recipe worked but I didn't love it as they felt under baked even though I left them in a few minutes longer than recommended.
The recipe calls for cinnamon which I would leave out with fruit.
I added frozen berries to it. The recipe gives many options for additions. I would cut them smaller than the eight recommended.
Then I made lemon curd, and OMG I couldn't stop eating it even when it was still warm!! John had some over a scone.
Thai beef koftas, the recipe also includes a coconut sauce but we used Longo's
tzatziki instead and served it with Nate's gluten free foccacia and a Greek salad.
We watched the movie Molly's Game.
Thursday
Another grey rainy day so I decided to stay comfy at home. John did a quick run to Costco.
Homemade turkey soup using homemade vegetable stock, leftover roast potatoes, carrots, turnip, onions and leftover turkey for lunch.
I was going to make this microwave biscuits I had pinned but then decided to pull out my Against The Grain cookbook and make the jalapeno and cheese biscuits instead. I had made these back in October and John said they were the best. Rather than defrosting some block cream cheese I decided to use the spreadable cream cheese as we had a lot of it from Costco. It worked and didn't seem to make any difference in this recipe.
Fried chicken, jalapeno and cheese biscuits and Greek salad.
Friday
Like much of the continent we are in for some rough weather this weekend with a freezing rain warning, or so it is said. I love this weatherman's rant!
I got what we needed for the weekend and then we enjoyed being home while it rained outside.
Our building is in the process of getting work done on the air conditioners so step one was done this afternoon. The wall is now patched up but they will completely repair and paint when it is done.
BOOKS
The Cartel - I'm still reading it as it's a long book filled with really interesting information about the drug trade and cartels in Mexico and the US.
And since I love Mexico here is a funny video from a Facebook friend.
And since I love Mexico here is a funny video from a Facebook friend.
SHARING WITH:
Beth hosts Weekend Cooking where you can post anything food related.
Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy.
Sundays in my City
Seasons
Monday Walks
Monday Morning Blog Club
Through My Lens Monday
Our World Tuesday
Wanderful Wednesday #wanderfulwednesday
Yummy foods and markets! I also love the theater...gorgeous. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDelete..I spiralized my own veggies.
ReplyDeleteDo you have one of those spiral thingies?
DeleteI sure wish we had a Farm Boys store near us. The veggies and prepared foods look scrumptious. Your blog posts always make me hungry. Lucky for me, my husband loves to cook and I encourage him!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog. Your comments are appreciated.
Sandy @ Writing With a Texas Twang
Farm Boy got its start in this part of the province. I knew they were expanding into the GTA.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few stray flakes today, but the system is still incoming.
Always interesting. Cheers
ReplyDeleteYou do manage to fill your days! I guess the whole continent is waiting for spring.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Now you are making me hungry! Yummmy!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, Jackie ... New Zealand .... where haven't you been?? You ate plenty good food, posted in this post, yum.The theater is beautiful - hope you enjoyed the performance. I love the little sign about April - so true:) thank you for sharing the week with All Seasons. Wish your week won't be like a roller coaster:)
ReplyDeleteThat farm store looks amazing. And all this food - I am now starving! Lol. We are experiencing that soggy, cold weather here in the Detroit area as well. So blah. I am ready for the sunshine and warmth!
ReplyDeleteErin @ Still Life, with Cracker Crumbs
I'm going to try the popper and lemon curd recipes, mmmm. Every time I visit your blog, I'm more inspired to be creative with the vegetables. That's always fun to go into a market like the one you described with all the fresh and natural ingredients.
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
You have me exhausted by the time I get to the end (and in need of more food :) ). Spirals appear to be taking over the world. Thanks for sharing, Jackie!
ReplyDeleteThat tea mix looks wonderful. Wow that new market looks like it's a great place to explore. Did I read "lemon curd"? One of my downfalls!!!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHAHHA on the Alexa video!
When we traveled to Newfoundland a few years back we went to visit the Gander Airport. It's hard to imagine how they pulled it all off in such a small town with only a few smaller ones nearby. It's a testament to the Canadian spirit. - Margy
ReplyDelete