Coffee and Croissant

  Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Sunday Post

February 2023 - Toronto ON

January 2023 - Queen St. W Toronto

Saturday I did laundry and then spent the afternoon cleaning up the back of my knitted blanket, now I need to find a fabric to back it with.

Sunday Superbowl Day so John settled in with his golf and football after making fried ham and eggs for breakfast. His workout was riding his bike.

I did some plant management, two needed some TLC. 

I completed the kitchen reno paperwork for the condo.

I spent an hour (Saturday and Sunday) on the phone with my retirement home friend, getting all the latest gossip.

Monday John did a run to stock up on peanuts and gluten free bagels. Both places are at least a 30 minute drive.

Tuesday

I did a Valentine's Day post about Las Vegas chapels.

I went for a haircut. 

Flowers outside a florist in First Canadian Place, ready for pickup.

On my way back I cut through the Royal York Hotel and this was their Valentine decoration.

I received my own sweet Valentine's gift.

Wednesday we drove to Hamilton for fish and chips and some new mural hunting.

I'll be showing the murals on Monday Murals.

Alas the fish and chip shop wasn't open, they had done extended evening hours for Valentine's Day. Back up plan was a chip wagon! John had chips, I had a terrible poutine.

The winds were ferocious, 60-90 km an hour, and it was garbage day so there was so much debris flying around, but the temperature was 16C or 61F, unheard of in mid-February!

Thursday John went to the locker as we thought we had extra kitchen tiles that may be needed around the new dishwasher, yes, we had four.

Then the fire alarm went. 

The Toronto Fire Services (TFS) investigated the Fire Alarm incident, and they determined that a 12th floor Hallway Smoke Alarm was activated, due to construction dust, which emanated from inside a suite on the 12th floor. The owners are responsible for the false alarm charge of $1,530.

We got rid of two boxes of children books that I had growing up. They were not in good shape as they have been in basements and lockers for many years.

Friday we headed out to choose our kitchen counters/backsplash, sink and handles. 

It was a 30 minute drive there and 90 minutes home due to an accident on the Gardiner.

It had rained last night but north of the 401 (Trans Canada Highway) the rain had frozen.

We're heading into a long weekend, February 20, the third Monday of February is observed as "Family Day" in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan; as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba; as Nova Scotia Heritage Day in Nova Scotia; and as Islander Day in Prince Edward Island.

In Quebec and the three territories, the third Monday in February is a regular working day. The same is true in Newfoundland and Labrador except in Corner Brook, where it is an unnamed civic holiday. In Yukon, however, one Friday in February (typically the last/near-last Friday)—rather than a Monday—is deemed Yukon Heritage Day.

WATCHING

John started watching Borgen, so I am now re-watching all 4 seasons with him!

We also watched Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song 2021 - a feature-length documentary explores the life of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, Hallelujah.
This was riveting and emotional. 

COOKING

Made breakfast loaded potatoes - what a disaster, it was so unpleasant to look at that we threw it out. I used last night's leftover baked potato, scooped some of the potato out, added shredded cheese and a slice of bacon (also leftover from Caesar salad) and put an egg on top and baked them. They looked awful!

Dinner was ham, mashed potatoes with cheese and Brussels sprouts.

Sunday pork back ribs with beans and a baked potato.

Monday John suggested quiche.

Tuesday I used this sauce I had bought from Blighty's and did chicken with green peppers, onions and rice. You add diced tomatoes to the sauce. We did not like it, it was too bitter. I put the opened jar in the fridge, but the next morning I said "no, just toss it, why keep for months?" 

I also made the naan bread from the Cannelle et Vanille cookbook. I cut the recipe in half. I would make them again, I was rushed and didn't think through my timings butt they turned out tasty enough.

Wednesday leftover quiche and beets

Thursday - fried tuna sticks with wasabi mayo sauce and salad. I have made this before, in 2020.

It's a compromise as John doesn't like ahi tuna or ceviche. I also served some mango sauce with it.

Friday steak with frites and curry sauce, that was quite good, not very curry but quite peppery.

READING

I flipped through some magazines at the library, nothing exciting.

I am reading my third Jane Heafield book, although not in order, a mistake on my part, Cold Blood. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other two, probably because DI Lizzie Miller is not featured in this one.

COOKBOOKS

Flipped through That Noodle Life, I enjoyed it and learned a few things. Soba noodles are gluten free.

This is a recipe of theirs I would try Shanghai noodles with pork belly and kale, from the National Post. Substitute soba noodles.

They have a food blog I Am a Food Blog.

Five Ingredient Dinners America's Test Kitchen was a good read, lots of good recipes with good instructions and photos.

Make your own pickled onions for tacos or sandwiches by adding slices to a jar of pickles.

I'd like to make kielbasa potato leek soup, linked recipe has more ingredients than the book, I like the idea of cabbage.