All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Dough

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 

Sunday Salon

Seasons 

Hearth and Soul Link Party

Heart-breaking news at any time of the year.

Fishing boat and 6 men all lost in bad weather off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Our case numbers are still soaring and that is really scary. We hit over 2,000 a day  - 2  3 4 times this week.

Then on Friday we were told this.

Ontario extends lockdown in Toronto and Peel to January 4
As Ontario's total cases pass the 150,000 mark, provincial public health officials are also moving Hamilton into lockdown.

Since Toronto and Peel moved into lockdown, COVID-19 cases have continued to rise in both areas.
Toronto’s cases went from 37.5 per cent to 127.5 cases per 100,000 people, the government said, and Peel’s case rate went up 8.6 per cent to 199.1 cases per 100,000 people.
Hospitalizations rose by 54 per cent in Peel and 40.9 per cent in Toronto, leading hospitals to delay surgeries and other procedures.
The province said testing positivity rates also remain well above the 2.5 per cent high-alert threshold, at 8.5 per cent in Peel and 5.8 per cent in Toronto.

Not to put you off your holiday spirit but the Government of Alberta has created these pandemic ads to warn people about the dangers of holiday parties.

Here is a post by a local blogger on how quickly covid can spread.

This is a very interesting perspective from a Canadian, who works in the States, about flying home from LA to Toronto. Makes me happy to be a Canadian during these Covid times.

Also mentions a pet peeve of mine when travelling in the States. Why do the American customs officials think it is so strange for a wife to NOT take her husband's name? I have been asked that many times in the States, but never anywhere else in the world.

Some fun - Alaska Airlines safety dance.

AROUND TOWN HOME

A very quiet week as we hunkered down. This will be a photo lite edition!

Repair guy replaced the sensor on my stove on Saturday. I baked on Sunday and used both ovens and it seems to be working better.

Monday was more of the same, John hunkered down watching football after working out. I was lazy and watched several episodes of Great British Bake-Off in between some chores and baking.

Tuesday was also spent at home and some baking got done.

Wednesday morning we were tossing around the idea that John might go for vegetables. That blossomed into a full plan (a snow storm was in the forecast at that point) by 10:30 we were dressed and out the door. First stop, to stock up on enough vegetables to probably get us past Christmas Day and weekend. Then to the LCBO to ensure we had prosecco and other alcoholic beverages to get us through the holidays. 

Then groceries, this and that needed and they had fresh turkeys. The plan was for John to go to Costco early next week, but, since the best byy date on the turkeys was December 28 we grabbed a nice sized (there's only the two of us). 

Beside a possible snow storm, crazy rising Covid numbers, there's also a very slim (to none) chance that the province will allow a partial lifting of the month long lockdown on weekend which means everyone will be running out and hitting the stores and we certainly don't want to get caught up in that frenzy. It is doubtful, though based on the numbers and some regions just went into lockdown.

And now, just as I flip over to read email, I find the following news:

Rather than lifting Toronto’s lockdown Monday,  the Ontario government will tighten restrictions to stop people from gathering over the holidays and spreading COVID-19.

Very pleased with ourselves we headed home to put everything away. 

We debated several times about going downtown to see the decorations at City Hall and other spots, but decided the numbers are really too scary to venture out.

Perhaps Monday we will get out, the weather is looking unseasonably warm at the start of the week. This weekend is looking like rain.

COOKING

YES my oven is working properly!!

Saturday - ham, Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes turnips and carrots.

Sunday - lamb chops with roast potatoes and broccolini.

I baked these Mexican hot chocolate cookies - I made 44 and they need more chili.

These are really similar to my old recipe for spicy Mexican cookies.

Monday - I decided to make gluten free cinnamon roll cake. I've made this before but it turned out really well this time. I added orange zest to the batter.

For dinner I went with a recipe from this morning's New York Times, sheet pan lemony chicken with Brussel sprouts, since we still had sprouts and they were really good. I served it with mushroom rice. The chicken legs were good, the sprouts a little overcooked. It was good but nothing special.

Tuesday - Opened the fridge - leftover mashed turnip carrot and potatoes. Opened freezer - frozen ground lamb. Frozen corn. Equals shepherd's delicious pie!!

I did bring out my bread maker but lost my enthusiasm to make a gluten free loaf.

Wednesday - pork belly, cauliflower rice mixed with broccolini and red onion.

I had even picked up some turkey necks and backs and they went into the oven to roast before being made into turkey stock so we have it ready for gravy next week.

It is now frozen and ready.

Thursday - took chicken thighs out of the freezer and John requested Chinese curry chicken.

Friday - had apples and oranges fading quickly so I made gluten free morning glory muffins. This recipe worked out well. I added the orange zest and replaced the water in the recipe with the juice of an orange. I also replaced the two eggs with two bananas, worked perfectly.

I had made them before using regular flour.

I made our Christmas menu, I plan on having afternoon tea on Christmas Eve and tourtiere for dinner. Christmas Day will the the full trimmings, turkey, stuffing, Irish peas, roast potatoes and trifle.

WATCHING/READING

I have not yet finished The Tenant, haven't been reading.

I did watch more Great British Bake-Off.

I am also working my way through Rectify. What can I say, it is described as Southern Gothic. I am in season 3. I really, really don't like any of these characters, I can't even find any sympathy for them, they are just so miserable. I do like one minor character but even she is so whiny. But I do need to see the outcome. It does have rave reviews online and I understand but I just find it so slow.

I think I might watch The Ripper next. John is watching the British The Night Manager, which also appeals to me.

John and I watched the two seasons of Derry Girls, I thought he wouldn't like it but he does. Also fun to see images of Derry, which we have visited.

We decided to start watching The Ripper together on Friday night.