Holiday preparation...

It is less than a month till Christmas and the stores are getting crowded. Whatever Christmas shopping I had to do, I'm done. I have bought all ingredients for my holiday baking. Only exception is the cream cheese for dessert for Christma dinner... white chocolate cheesecake with caramel sauce.

I will order my prime rib a week before Christmas. I went out shopping on Friday as I we have Black Friday. But of course not as big as in the US. I found a few things I need for my kitchen. And good price too.

I have my first Christmas decor....a poinsettia plant!!!! I also have Cristmas decor on my balcony door. I have a big clear glass bowl and I had put gold Christmas balls in it. I had taken out my Christmas dinnerplate set.

I was busy today making part of my laundry/storage room into part pantry as well. My sister showed me an apron she had done in colours of my kitchen which is white, black and red. I saw an apron in a music video I like which is simple.

I baked oatmeal date bar as I found out I have lots of dates.

I think this 

Is the video with the apron l like. The apron is in the kitchen scene.
I also like the song as it is upbeat.
Thanks for stopping by.

Remembrance Day

To all the men and women who dedicated their lives to serving their country in order for all of us to live free and safe. We salute and thank them for their ultimate sacrifice.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Meals...

I actually remembered a few times to take pictures of the meals I ate before I started eating. Sometimes it is my sister who remembers.

This is the dessert my sister had when we out for dinner. Beignets with chocolate and caramel sauce. I tried it and it was really good.

This was my crispy fried chicken sandwich. I just ate the chicken and fries, and coleslaw.

My first cocktail in 4 months. It was a good strawberry margarita from the Bourbon Grill in Vernon.

My dessert flourless chocolate cake with ice cream and some other pastry.

Stuff from vacation....

I was away for 11 days to visit my sister. I celebrated my birthday there. We had a lot of fun and I came home with lots of stuff.

      Ramekins from a garage sale.

Red creamer  and sugar. My kitchen is white, red and black.

Red butter holder with lobster spreader from one of the stores.

I also got a red oven mitts.

We also tried a few restaurants and I enjoyed the walk walk shrimps at a brewery pub in Salmon Arms. It is with mango sauce and garlic bread which was really good.

Lots of baking....

I'm on vacation but not on break from cooking and baking. As soon as I got to my sister's place, I had to cook two things for her that she would freeze.

Then I had to cook a few more times. I came thinking I would not be shopping as my sister warned me there are better stores in Edmonton. But on the day we went shopping I found all kinds of stuff on sale and fit me well.

I bought two pairs of boots. My pants were $5.00 each and one top was $3.89. We also went to garage sale which I find different as garage sales end in August in Edmonton. One thing we found was a Port Merion jam pot which I can add to my collection. And 4 ramekins. And all for $1.00.

Back to baking...I made cinnamon buns and my brother-in-law baked an artisan rustic beer bread.

Cinnamon bunsh

Rustic Artisan beer bread made by my brother-in-law 

Well, finally I can upload pictures!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy  Thanksgiving to all my friends, relatives and readers from Canada.

This is the first time in 30 years that I am not cooking or preparing anything. I am alone now and will be ordering take out from a restaurant close to my place.

I even slept in Sunday but did bake buttermilk biscuits for brunch. I will watch a movie on Netflix and enjoy my well deserved break from cooking.

Enjoy your  dinner and leftovers.

Grandin Fish and Chips

This restaurant/diner opened two blocks from where I live and 3 blocks from work. My officemate went to have lunch here when they could get a table. Or they leave for lunch early.

A few months ago, I went with them and had the basa fish and Chips. One officemate had the seafood chowder. The other two had fish and chips as well.
The fish is lightly battered and not greasy. So i can have it while on a diet. I went there for supper with a friend. Their kitchen is in front and it is decorated nicely. It is annoying that I still can't download pictures. You can Google it and look at the decor.

The servings are big and it is mostly busy at night as well. I have eaten fist and chips in the UK more than a dozen times and the fisd and chips here are better than some of the places I have tried in the UK.

Now this is a go to place for us for a fast meal after work. I order the haddock mostly and tried cod as well. They have also special fish some days. Next I will try the oysters.