Monday, February 28, 2022

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

 After Recess
William Kurelek 1969


William Kurelek, CM RCA (March 3, 1927 – November 3, 1977) was a Canadian artist and writer. His work was influenced by his childhood on the prairies, his Ukrainian-Canadian roots, his struggles with mental illness, and his conversion to Roman Catholicism.

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural


February 2022 - Toronto ON

Taken from the car.

Jasmin Pannu is a new artist to me.


At High Park.




Sunday, February 27, 2022

Canadian Artist of the Day

 Winter, Matawa
Franklin Carmichael 1935




Franklin Carmichael RCA (May 4, 1890 – October 24, 1945) was a Canadian artist and member of the Group of Seven. Though he was primarily famous for his use of watercolours, he also used oil paints, charcoal and other media to capture the Ontario landscapes of which he was fond. Besides his work as a painter, he worked as a designer and illustrator, creating promotional brochures, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and designing books. Near the end of his life, Carmichael taught in the Graphic Design and Commercial Art Department at the Ontario College of Art (today the Ontario College of Art & Design University).

The youngest original member of the Group of Seven, Carmichael often found himself socially on the outside of the group. Despite this, the art he produced was of equal measure in terms of style and approach to the other members' contributions, vividly expressing his spiritual views through his art. The next youngest member was A. J. Casson with whom he was friendly.

Saturday, February 26, 2022

My Recipe Box - Gluten Free Yorkshire Puddings

 February 2022


Photo taken before gravy and roast potatoes added!

I have tried many GF Yorkshire pudding recipes to varying degrees of success. This, however, was absolutely the best. They rose, didn't stick, and tasted to prefection.

I found the recipe at The Gluten Free Blogger who is British.

The recipe calls for cornflour, I used corn starch and it worked well. However, I do see a lot of different definitions used.

This makes 12 - for two of us I usually make 3 so I divide the recipe into a third, as I use glass ramekins to bake them. 


INGREDIENTS
75g plain gluten free flour
75g cornflour corn starch
120ml milk
3 large eggs
Pinch of salt
12 tsp vegetable oil


INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 425F/220'C / 200'C Fan / Gas Mark 8. Add around 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to each hole of a 12-hole muffin tin and place in the hot oven. Leave for around 10 minutes until hot.
Make the batter while your oil heats. Add the flour, cornflour, corn starch, milk, eggs and salt to a large jug and whisk until smooth.
Carefully remove the muffin tin from the oven. Working as quickly as possible, pour the batter evenly between the 12 holes. It should roughly half-fill each hole and the oil should sizzle as the batter hits it.
As quickly as possible, place the muffin tray back into the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and puffed up. Remove from the oven and serve straight away.

Latin Cafe


February 2022 - Toronto ON

Bloor St. W Toronto


We all know that the main story this week is Russia's invasion of Ukraine.




METROLINX STARTS UNION STATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, FEBRUARY 16

Another big story this week, right after I posted my Chip Off the Old Block post.

Saturday we were glued to the TV watching the police dispel the protesters in Ottawa.

Another quiet week with lots of weather, rain and snow, also quite cold and windy.

We worked on our hobbies, did chores, had an afternoon at the movies.

Tuesday we went out for burgers and some mural hunting but then it began raining and was just miserable.
There was nowhere to park and I realize from the photo that it runs along the wall as well. 





Yes, I am that nerd...





We had a light burn out in the kitchen so John got a replacement package of 3, but they are labelled DAY, he went out again and got more to replace all of them. What a difference, we finally have decent light. After buying three sets of under counter light sets, we don't really need them!



We hung my embroideries in the bedroom.


John decided we should have a tequila shot on Thursday, who am I to say no?


WATCHING

We watched the series In From the Cold, an American spy thriller television series. The series follows a divorced mother and ex-Russian spy, living secretly in the United States, as she is forced back into her old life after the CIA learns about her real identity.


I watched the movie The Most Hated Woman in America, an American biographical drama film. It stars Melissa Leo as Madalyn Murray O'Hair. I knew nothing about this woman or the fight to remove prayer from American schools. I found it interesting and would like to read more about her.


I also watched The Last Czars, a six-part English-language docudrama that premiered on Netflix on July 3, 2019. The series follows the reign of Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia's Romanov Dynasty, from his accession to the throne in 1894 to his assassination in 1918.



I also watched Halston which I enjoyed because I didn't know anything about him, and it starred Ewan McGregor. It was fun to travel back in time throughout the 70s and 80s and the fabulous fashions.


We watched The Misfits, more than enough said.

The Informer was great. It is a 2019 British crime thriller.


We have a couple more episodes of The Cleaning Lady to watch.


I watched  Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened is a 2019 American documentary film about Billy McFarland and the failed Fyre Festival of 2017.
I would never have bothered with this until I saw Inventing Anna and there is a scene where she is staying with Billy and later makes fun of his Fyre Festival.

COOKING



Monday I had two over ripe bananas sitting forlornly on the counter. Should I bake or should I freeze (I already have a dozen frozen) or throw them out? I couldn't bring myself to throw them out so I made a  banana cream cheese loaf.
Hot turkey sandwiches and peas.

Tuesday turkey lettuce tomato sandwiches

Wednesday mushroom Bolognese with spaghetti and Caesar salad. We always forget how much we enjoy this, so easy.

Thursday salmon, broccolini, roast potatoes and a mustard sauce (too runny, not much flavour), I should have used my usual Marcus Wareing recipe.

Friday steak, broccolini loaded potato.


READING

I read  The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg very quickly, skimming over much of it. Not my taste. It was recommended by a blogger who has very different taste in books than I do, so I shouldn't have been surprised. These characters, in their late 50s were so juvenile and silly.

I started This Little Light by Canadian Lori Lansens, a much better read. 
Taking place over the course of 48 hours in 2024, This Little Light draws readers into a universe of born-again Christians and celebrity worship where abortion is once again illegal and both religion and surveillance run amok.


Canadian Artist of the Day

 The Ukrainian Pioneer (No. 6)
William Kurelek 1971, 1976



Friday, February 25, 2022

Weekend Roundup

 Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler

Starts with H
Favourite
HATS - chosen by Tom

TATS and TOKES

I'm going to feature the many Toronto tattoo and cannabis outlets that are proliferating around the city.


Starts with H

HAPPY HOUR at a cannabis shop on Spadina.


FAVOURITE
Toronto On



HAT
On his way to work in Mazatlan Mexico


FRINGE BENEFIT
HOTEL HAMILTON





Thursday, February 24, 2022

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

Wrap Life
Jacquie Comrie 2018

I've posted Jacquie's work before and also mentioned that she is a muralist around town as well.



Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

Beach, PEI
Molly Lamb Bobak 2000

Yesterday was Family Day in Ontario, it was Islanders Day in PEI.





Twosday

 


A Chip Off the Old Block

Wordless Wednesday Wordless Be There 2day


My goodness, I didn't realize I hadn't done a potato chip post since 2013!!!! I had posted photos of potato chips taken in different countries.

I do love a potato chip sandwich!




2022


2021








2020




2019
Barcelona Spain


Lourdes France



Toronto







2018
Madrid Spain


A close up of the chips 


Toronto





2017
Ontario 


Victoria BC


Solvang California


Toronto




2016



Mexico






2015
Alice Springs Australia



Toronto





2011
Toronto



And for dessert!

2019
Toronto




2014 Arizona