Hero Tea

  Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

September 2024

Yonge St. Toronto

Saturday's fog didn't break up until 4 PM.

I made apple fritters for Sunday breakfast - epic fail as I used that new flour Arva, I threw it away and will donate the other packs to the food bank. I cleaned up some plants, they are not happy right now. Sorted out my spice drawer and made a list of needed items. 

The usual geniuses were out on the roads on the weekend.

We waited for the plumber on Monday and then he messaged that he had truck problems so the saga continues.

Tuesday I took John to my burger place I tried last week, Cabano's and he was impressed. He had the Cabano, which was two meat patties with deep fried jalapenos and the regular other toppings.

We also had an order of fries that were delicious.

We also found some murals for Monday and click here to see the cute cottages near Cottage Lane for Tuesday Treasures.

We stopped by our old pizza place and found the hoardings had been removed. I wrote about this new condo that was preserving the other building earlier this summer. I also included some photos of what it used to look like.

Then we dropped into a couple of Winner's and he got some golf shorts shirts (thanks, Andrew!). We also checked out the new Winner's in the Eaton Centre.

Wednesday John had his usual golf. I went to College Park intending to get some items at the $ store, but they didn't have any of the things I needed. I will try another one this week.

Thursday we did a quick run to the Market. Along the way we found another Monday mural and didn't find another one I had on my list.

We picked up some steaks and hamburger at our usual place where as seniors, on Thursday, we get a 20% discount!!!

We picked up fruit and vegetables at our usual as well.

Friday John headed out to golf but texted me at 10 that he was coming home as there was a tournament (would have made for a long round) and there weren't any carts and it was a hot humid day. He booked the golf simulator instead.

I headed to Dundas to try the $ store there for the items I wanted. 

FOILED, again, there had been a fire in the $ store!! 

Since I had time to kill I took a walk around TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University formerly known as  Ryerson).  Click here for some more TMU information.

Mural by Lula Lumaj

Click here for further information on both these churches that I wrote about a couple of years ago. There's also more about Ryerson in that post.

 First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church (formerly Holy Blossom Synagogue)

I dropped into the Atrium for some vegetables and then got off the subway at King (found some new murals), picked up chocolate and poked in the bookstore before coming home.

COOKING

Saturday stuffed flank steak(Metro $14 New Zealand), roast potatoes and mashed cauliflower and carrots.

Sunday last night's leftovers with onion gravy (awful)

Monday honey garlic pork tenderloin (Metro $5) mashed

Tuesday fried (leftover) potatoes and eggs

Wednesday stir fried pineapple pork (leftover) with rice

Thursday burgers and potato chips

Friday steak (market rib eye - delicious) frites and tomatoes. Leftover steak so good for lunch!

WATCHING

The finale of Amazing Race Canada - the girls win!

I'm continuing with Animal Kingdom, I am totally engaged.

Quicksand (Swedish: Störst av allt) is a Swedish psychology-crime drama television series, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Malin Persson Giolito.

A school shooting takes place at Djursholm senior high school. At the age of 18, Maja Norberg is arrested and suspected of murder, while her ex-boyfriend, Sebastian "Sibbe" Fagerman, is dead at the scene. Maja admits the murder at an early stage but denies the crime – the trial is rather about why the murder was committed than whether it was committed.

Industry we were going to watch season 3 but decided we didn't really remember it all so went back to season 1 binge watched.

Industry is a British television drama series that premiered in 2020. Young bankers and traders make their way in the financial world in the aftermath of the 2008 collapse.

READING

Love Me Not I like the Helen Grace murder series. This one takes place over 24 hours so it is a fast paced read, easily predicable but fun.

Two Dead Wives had a surprise twist to it that I enjoyed. I did not like her husband Mark at all and thought that Daan's reaction with the boys was a bit weird.

One for Sorrow (does anyone know the rhyme?) is was having trouble grabbing my attention. UPDATE attention totally grabbed!!!! Even suggested it to John. What an ending!

"One for Sorrow" is a traditional children's nursery rhyme about magpies. According to an old superstition, the number of magpies seen tells if one will have bad or good luck.

There is considerable variation in the lyrics used. A common modern version is:

One for sorrow,

Two for joy,

Three for a girl,

Four for a boy,

Five for silver,

Six for gold,

Seven for a secret never to be told.

A longer version of the rhyme recorded in Lancashire continues:

Eight for a wish,

Nine for a kiss,

Ten a surprise you should be careful not to miss,

Eleven for health,

Twelve for wealth,

Thirteen beware it's the devil himself.

Tuesday Treasures

 Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

 

September 2024 - Toronto ON

Click here for a history of Toronto lane naming and a list of other lanes. That post is a work in progress, and hasn't been updated in a while.

Click here for the murals I found in the lane.

I found this lane when I was looking for Cabano's!

These cottages are actually on St. Nicholas St.

A very rare example of a surviving Victorian terraced row of ten residences located in Toronto's downtown core, 45-63 St. Nicholas Street is unique to say the least. It sits just several hundred metres from Young and Bloor yet feels like a quaint neighbourhood block. St. Nicholas Street was in fact originally an alley lane before the row was constructed in 1884. Each Bay-and-Gable "cottage" is named after a local flower, tree, or plant, as indicated by inscriptions on the buildings' façades.

Oak Cottage and Elm Cottage

Ivy Cottage - happens to be for sale for $1.9 million.

Rose Cottage

Hazel Cottage

Spruce, Birch, Beech Cottages

Maple Cottage

Ash Cottage

Weekend Roundup

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

1. Starts with "L"
2. A Favorite
3.  LAKE - Chosen by Tom

Starts with L (BIGGEST/SMALLEST/LONGEST/SHORTEST)

LADY LEGS LAS Vegas

FAVOURITE

LAMB

LAKE

LAKE Ontario

My Recipe Box - Lemon Parmesan Alfredo

  September 2024

After months of trying to get this to perfection, I have nailed it. Most times I found the sauce was too thin. I usually use cooked leftover chicken, either rotisserie or roasted so the meat wasn't getting drenched in flour to thicken the sauce. Eureka moment, I added the flour to the butter to make a roux. Perfect sauce.

I have used this recipe with mushrooms, you could also use shrimp.

NOTE - I have seen some recipes that cook the pasta in the liquids below (without the parmesan)  and then add the parmesan and chicken.

Ingredients 

8 ounces uncooked fettuccine pasta - we like Banza, gluten free chickpea

Slices of cooked bacon or pancetta

2 chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces or leftover chicken

Salt & pepper to taste

Flour for dredging - if using raw chicken. If using cooked chicken add the flour to the butter to make a roux

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup chicken broth (or use dry white wine)  I have found the sauce to be too thin, and I checked numerous recipes that DO NOT add stock.

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

3 large cloves garlic minced

2 dashes Italian seasoning

1 cup heavy/whipping cream 

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Fresh parsley chopped, to taste optional

Instructions 

Boil a large, salted pot of water for the pasta, and cook according to package directions.

Prep your chicken and sprinkle it with salt & pepper. Dredge each piece in the flour.

Add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. 

Once the butter is melted and hot, add the chicken to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken from pan. If using cooked chicken just make a roux and add the chicken towards the end.

Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Give it a good stir. 

Add the cream and parmesan cheese to the pan. Let it bubble for a minute or so. 

Add the chicken/cooked chicken back into the pan and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes or until the chicken has cooked and the sauce has further reduced. You may need to turn the heat down if it's bubbling furiously. 

Give the sauce a taste, and if it doesn't have enough lemon juice, add a bit more in. Season with salt & pepper as needed and sprinkle fresh parsley on top. 

Drain pasta and toss with the chicken Alfredo sauce (add in some pasta water prior to draining the pasta if the sauce needs to be thinned a bit).

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural

March 2024 - Las Vegas NV

Murals found at Nacho Daddy restaurant.

And on the other wall in the lane.

Good Earth Coffeehouse

  Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

September 2024

Yonge St. Toronto ON

It was a quiet week around here. John golfed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

The rest was mostly routine, nothing wrong with that, chores got done.

John saw the dentist, yet again, about his sinus/implant problem with ENT MRI in hand. He will now refer him to another specialist at Mount Sinai.

He also did a grocery run to Metro this week.

On Tuesday I wanted to check out a burger place I had heard about.

Walking up Yonge St. I always find something new.

Atlas of Toronto on the sidewalk at the corners of Yonge St. and Wellesley St.

Ethiopian restaurant.

Burger destination on Saint Nicholas St.  Cabano's.

This was a good burger, only missing tomato!

Imagine, British chocolate and I didn't buy anything!

Taken from the bus.

 The iconic Munchies return! The Canadian brand marks the occasion with the return of its three instantly recognizable Munchies - Red, Yellow and Orange. The beloved trio are back to give Canadians a taste of the past with a whole new twist including new flavours and formats for all to enjoy. To mark the launch of their return, the Munchies have made their debut appearance at Toronto's landmark Red Canoe (art piece by Douglas Coupland - Tom Thomson (Group of Seven) red canoe). They will remain here until September 20th.

Did they need the artist's permission??

From the press release:

Many Canadians will recall Hostess chips, from the 80s and 90s, featuring the Munchies on the bag. The launch of the Munchies chips in 2024 will connect generations, bringing back fond memories of the good old days and feelings of wonder and joy.

The nostalgic snacks are back in a new and old way, and the lineup includes:

Tangy Ketchup

Old School BBQ

Chili Cheese Stampede

Supreme Sour Cream

Cheeky Cheddar Popcorn

Deliciously All Dressed Popcorn

I loved Hostess chips!

Click here to read more about their new flavours.

I shopped a couple of times this week, I found nothing on Wednesday. But Friday I planned on buying new jeans (I looked but didn't buy). John I could find a black golf shirt, I sent him a few choices and he picked my favourite.

I also picked up a couple of sweaters.

TIFF is winding down this weekend. Selfie spot in the Royal York Hotel.

I didn't have room to carry any groceries and tried to convince myself we didn't need anything! But once I got home I realized I was supposed to get bread, so went back down. Anyway, cauliflower was $3 as were raspberries so it was worth my while. Cheeses were also $5 instead of their usual $8/9!

Cutting through Union Station.

This cop was pi$$ed when this driver (looks like a car for TIFF) didn't obey his traffic directions and was pulled over and ticketed!! Yeah!

John sent a couple of photos from the golf course on Friday.

We were fogged in again.

We were invited to my cousin's daughter's wedding in Montreal but we didn't go. the bride's brother officiated.

COOKING

Saturday sticky pork belly bites with rice and tomatoes

Sunday lamb curry. Monday's lunch.

Monday Szechuan pork with green beans

Tuesday chili

Wednesday gluten free breaded cod (Farm Boy - tasty) roasted potatoes, onions, mushrooms. Use the remaining two pieces for fish tacos.

Thursday Asian dumplings

Friday NOT steak! cheeses, pate, crackers/baguette

WATCHING

Jeopardy is back!

The Perfect Couple 2024 When one lavish wedding ends in disaster before it can even begin--with a body discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony--everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect.

Without Remorse (also known as Tom Clancy's Without Remorse) is a 2021 American action thriller film. It is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. Its plot follows John Kelly, a U.S. Navy SEAL who sets out on a path of revenge after his pregnant wife and unit members are killed by Russian hitmen.

The Snow Girl (Spanish: La chica de nieve) is a 2023 Spanish mystery thriller television series.

The plot tracks intern journalist Miren, set on finding the whereabouts of missing girl Amaya Martín, who disappeared during the 2010 Cavalcade of Magi in Málaga.

Billionaire Island is the English translation of Milliardærøya, which is … a Norwegian dramedy about salmon farming. It is about wealthy people – the characters are the dominant entrepreneurs on an island that is a leading player in the global fishing industry – and the story combines a struggle for corporate power with family drama. In other words, Succession with salmon.

READING

Central Park West by James Comey was an excellent read. He gives us the real scoop!

Unmask Alice is certainly an interesting read and a piece of literary history that I was not aware of.

In Unmask Alice, author Rick Emerson reveals the true story behind the famous book. Beatrice Sparks, the “editor” of Go Ask Alice and numerous other “diaries” is shown to be a master of deception.

Tied in with the background of the drug culture of the late 1960s and early 1970s and the later Satanic Panic of the 1980s, Emerson deftly illustrates how Sparks drew from the culture of the time in her work and then, ultimately, how her work shaped the culture.