We had a pretty mild February, here on Vancouver Island.
Here are some of my favourite photos, from last month.
We hope you had some amazing February days. Here’s to an equally-amazing March for everyone!
Rock on,
The WB
I can’t praise the recipes I’ve tried at Sip and Feast enough! Every one has been a winner so far, and subject to repeat requests by my family. Here is a recipe for scalloped potatoes that I have made multiple times already since trying it.
That’s my short and sweet post for this month. I hope you’ll join my co-host Donna and myself and let us know what’s been on your plate lately, either in the Link Party or in the Comments.
INLINKZ:Rock on,
The WB
In December my co-host Donna and I decided to treat each other for Christmas with an experience – Christmas High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. We had already tried a couple of high teas closer to home and I knew we would eventually make our way to the Grand Dame of all high teas on the island but didn’t think it would happen so soon. Kudos to Donna for suggesting it and making it happen!
During our 2 hour tea we were treated to piano playing as well as carol singers. Magical! After experiencing uh..overwhelm at the size and quantity of offerings at another high tea, we were pleased to be able to consume almost everything on our tiered tray…it would have been a shame not to; everything was so pretty and delicious!
I remember having high tea at the Empress back in 2003 with my late husband (then boyfriend) and the kids. He kept asking our server for more sandwiches, which were promptly supplied! I suppose this happens, with the men people with larger appetites who partake? I wonder if extra sandwiches would still be provided now, in these different times.
It was the perfect kick-off to the fast-approaching holidays, and with the perfect companion! Of course, we found our way to the hotel’s gift shop after our tea experience, and as well as purchasing some tea and one of those cute tea timers, I found the holy grail this:
Please join me and Donna in sharing what’s on your plate! Join the Link Party or let me know in the Comments. I hope you all had a wonderful December however you celebrate (or not)!
InLinkz:Rock on,
The WB
I came across a recipe last month that I think is perfect for this month of celebrating, potlucks, and hosting a crowd. It’s pretty easy to make (and make ahead!), can be made vegetarian easily, is gluten-free, is a HUGE amount of food, and tastes even better the next day! What’s not to love?!
Without further ado, I give you:
I made this recipe AS IS (I know…who am I?!?!) for the first go-round but I am already planning to make it again with more and different vegetables added in…and maybe (spoiler alert!) cut the recipe in half next time 😉.
This recipe is a KEEPER, in my books anyways.
As always, my co-host Donna and I are looking forward to seeing what’s been on your plates! Please check out Donna’s post where she transforms one of my garden squash into a delectable meal. Here is how to get to the link up party…and/or feel free to let me know in the Comments!
Rock on,
The WB
The second Monday of October has been designated (since 1957) as the day Canada officially celebrates and gives thanks for the annual harvest. Although it has been recognized as an annual holiday since 1879, there wasn’t an official date to celebrate before then and sometimes it was celebrated in November instead of October. I don’t know if we ever shared the same date as American Thanksgiving however we did adopt their customs of making the meal centre around turkey, pumpkin pie, and squash!
This year’s Thanksgiving was even more special to me because it included some food that I had grown or harvested myself (which I am truly thankful for!) AND because it included a special cranberry relish made by my challenge co-host, Donna. Donna and Richard were able to join us at my daughter’s house for this special meal (another in the long list of things I am thankful for!)
Kabocha squash (aka buttercup; aka Japanese pumpkin) is hands-down my favourite squash. This was my first year attempting to grow it and for some reason I had it in my mind that it was difficult to grow, or maybe that it couldn’t be grown in my climate. I’d only even seen imported kabochas in the grocery store and never seen it at farmers’ markets either so I had incorrectly surmised this. Thankfully I found some seed and took a chance, anyways! The plants ended up almost taking over my garden, like some kind of alien life force 🤣.
Another item featured in our harvest celebration was the blackberry! We had as a family gone blackberry picking on several occasions in August, and some of this hard-earned bounty ended up being featured in a trifle.
And here are some shots of the harvest feast:
Bonus content: Last month there was some fun discussion in the Comments about my drawer of shame. I thought I would include a photo, so you have a visual…
That’s it for me for this month. As always, please join in the fun in the Comments section and/or join the Link Party.
And please check out Donna’s blog, where she “goes bananas”!
Feeling thankful for all my readers and contributors to this challenge…💕🙏💕
Rock on,
The WB
Well! This month came and went in a flash as evidenced by the lack of journal entries AND lack of progress on my To-Do list for September:
In my defense, my TV died suddenly at the beginning of the month and that got me to thinking all sorts of thoughts…like:
Also, I received much-anticipated guests at my place part-way through the month (and we had a blast whilst together, so much so that I don’t have any pictures of what was on my plate during this time).
All of this to say: I was relying on past favourite recipes – my tried and trues – to feed myself and my houseguests.
Such as Greek potatoes and Air Fried Chicken. Both were received very well. I also made a killer beef roast in the slow cooker…no recipe, really. Just brown the meat (blade roast or cross-cut rib is best), then throw it in the slow cooker with beef broth, fresh ground pepper, lots of garlic, generous lashings of Worcestershire sauce, and let cook on low for at least 8 hours.
That’s it for me for this time! Pardon me as I have a free fireplace mantle to paint (more on that coming up on the blog if it turns out OK).
I would love to read what you’ve been eating, in the Comments. And please join my co-host Donna as she managed to put together a delicious dish in her challenging month as well!
Here is the Link Up party link, should you care to visit there:
Rock on,
The WB
Joanne and I returned from our fabulous trip to the west coast of the island (read about it here and here) to find this:
We decided to make a quick lunch, from this and other bounty from the garden. With the help of these and a can of pizza sauce:
I had made some quick refrigerator pickles from my pole bean bounty, before Joanne’s arrival.
And Joanne made a quick little zucchini salad using olive oil, vinegar, garlic…and oregano and chives from my garden.
That’s it for me! And Donna is off hiking in Portugal with her husband, so no Link Party this month. She wrote about what was on her plate here before she abandoned me left.
Please let me know in the Comments what was on your plate this past month! As always, I look forward to them.
Rock on,
The WB
🎵Summertime….and the living is easy BUSY🎵
All of this stuff is happening around Chez Badass, all at the same time. The weather has been hot and super sunny, the garden is going gangbusters, the grandkids are here, nature is calling, the wild berries are ripening, AND I am undergoing some long awaited renovations (of my 2nd bathroom and my entryway). Whew!
What’s a gal to do, with all this mayhem happening ALL at the same time? Turn to the pantry (or in this case, her daughter’s pantry 😉), that’s what to do!
I had some long-suffering frozen shrimp thawing in the fridge and we combined that with a jar of sauce, some frozen mango chunks, chopped onions, and these babies:
So that’s it for me, for this month! Please join my co-host Donna (she lost the golf game but won at dinner!) and me in sharing what’s been on your plate lately!
Here’s the Link Party deets if you care to join the party that way:
Otherwise, I hope to see you in the Comments!
Rock on,
The WB
Donna came over to my house last month (surprise, surprise), one of several visits actually. I forget why or what we were doing this particular time but I don’t forget what I made for lunch! Or was it supper?! 🤣
My daughter had served me this meal previously, and I not only thought it delicious but perfect for my mostly-vegetarian friend and co-host. Here is the recipe: Instant-Pot Mujadara.
I would describe this lentil and rice dish as comfort food that is easy to prepare, and quite healthy (as opposed to most comfort foods 😉). I think you could spice it up easily, if you wanted. For my first time making it (don’t you love how I make my guests my guinea pigs?), I made and served it exactly as the recipe stated. I don’t know who I am anymore either. I made it the day before so there would be less time in the kitchen and more Donna-time.
That’s what was on my plate in June! I’ll be adding this recipe to my repertoire, especially for the colder months. Please join Donna and myself in sharing what was on yours, either in the Comments or via the Link party (if you wish to link your blog post).
Rock on,
The WB
Last month I had a good friend come to visit me (and attend a work conference in Victoria, but yeah let’s say the main reason was to visit me 😉). Kalena invited me to come down to Victoria with her, and amuse myself while she was busy doing the conference thing. As I am easily amused, there could only be one response: HELL YES. So this month’s post is going to be about that time, and some of the wonderful things we ate and drank during her visit.
We made sure that a stop at The Butchart Gardens (enroute to Victoria) happened!
We had several memorable lunches while Kalena was on a break from conference-ing (is that a word?) but my favourite meal was actually at the hotel (Marriott Inner Harbour). It was a meal for me, but a snack for Kalena as she had a gala dinner to attend!
After the conference, we had only 1 full day before Kalena had to fly back home. We decided Cathedral Grove and Goats on the Roof were two good ways to spend it.
I think I gave Kalena a good enough “taste of the island” that she will come back to visit me again 😉. I know that I certainly enjoyed myself!
That’s what was on my plate in May! Please join Donna and myself in sharing what was on yours, either in the Comments or via the Link party (if you wish to link your blog post). Note: When this post goes live I will be traveling by plane to Ontario for a very quick visit to my hometown so please forgive me as I may be tardy in replying or visiting your blogs.
Rock on,
The WB
