Family Style Chili Night

Cost: $12-15 (?)

Prep: 20 minutes

We broke out the slow-cooker again. It has been awhile, but I really wanted to make chili.

There is something about this food that means that it needs to be made in a giant batch.

So, because my parents are doing a major home-renovation that has essentially left all of their furniture piled in their kitchen, we invited them over to join us.

I like to eat my chili with cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. My parents are more "buns" people, but that is TOO BAD! My brother is more of a "nothing with anything resembling a vegtable person", so even though he tried a few bites so as not to hurt my feelings, he eventually ate Pizza Pops.

We aren't classy people, and we don't pretend to be, so I didn't even bother with side plates. Hey, at least we all had bowls and our own spoons. Regardless, it beats eating on top of your dresser.

Goldstream Cookout

I don't have much of a post about dinner last night. Our nutritional intake (all-day) was not very good.

My family goes to Goldstream Park often to partake in cookouts. We met up with my parents and brother, as well as a bunch of friends, last night for a nature walk, fire, and weenie roast.

Charlie began the evening by burning calories. I did not, since I end up walking very slow as we look at every rock, stick, plant, puddle, and leaf that we attempt to pass. Charlie was fascinated by this big fallen tree. Because he has no fear, he ventured inside despite me telling him there are monsters in there (just kidding).

We then returned back to the fire site. Charlie began with a few cheezies and water. I had a few chips, which were luckily a variety I didn't like, and some camp-fire tea.

For the main course, Charlie ate some more cheezies and a few pieces of a turkey hot-dog. I ate a turkey wiener sans bun. I also had Caesar salad, which Charlie helped himself to a bit of bacon and the croutons from. Charlie and I shared two very small backed potatoes with sour cream (full fat). He did great with that.

For the finally, Charlie ate a few bites of two different Digestive cookies, although both times it fell in the dirt before he could fish.

I had a s'more made with a SUPER jumbo marshmellow the size of my fist, and then one more small marshmellow. Just one, but only because it was then time to go.

To Grandmother's House We Went

Another night I didn't have to cook! Hooray! (Btw- I also didn't cook Friday because I went to my mom and dad's.)

We were invited to my grandma's for two reasons: (1) they didn't get a good chance to visit with us on Easter because there were so many people and (2) so Matt could fix their wireless.

Dinner at my grandma's can kind of be hit and miss. Pork chops with mushroom gravy (hit); a package of bologna (miss); roast beef (hit); A&W chicken (hit or miss depending who you ask).

Tonight was a definite hit. My grandma made a little roast pork with all the sidedishes. She made mashed potatoes, roast carrots and onions, gravy, canned green beans, fantastic homemade apple sauce, and a garlic asparagus dish.

For dessert, my grandma got a giant pie from Superstore. For a store bought pie, it was really good. She served it with vanilla ice cream and cheddar cheese.

I love my grandma so much, and this meal was total family comfort food.

Carrots and onions

Roast po

Asparagus, apple sauce, mashed potaotes

Gravy

Matt's super size dessert

Charlie and his dessert; he was horribly messy at the end though

My dessert

Easter Dinner

My grandma did Easter dinner this year. Let me rephrase. My grandma did Easter dinner for 18 people this year.

Youch!

Again, I forgot to take pictures in the big group setting, but it had all the fixings. We usually do these big holiday meals as a potluck style--my thing to bring is the candied yams and sometimes pickle trays. This year, Gram wanted to do it all herself though.

My favorite part was the stuffing. The crumbled sausage and bacon really takes it up a notch! I avoided the brussel sprouts, but my grandma cooked them in chicken stock, and everyone said they were good. Other dishes included mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, turnip, dinner rolls, cannied yams, pickle and olive plates, tons of gravy, and the meats: turkey and ham. I don't think there are enough opportunities to eat turkey. I wish there was more.

So, job well done, Grandma. Thank you for the fabulous Easter dinner!

Mom's Potluck

Any night I don't need to cook is a good night!

My mom had another potluck on Saturday night. This time, there were just under twenty people including many children.

The purpose was for the children to decorate Easter eggs. Surprisingly, all the 13-15 year olds were into it! My 15 year old brother helped his little nephew colour his first egg. It was adorable. Then, he drew a happy face on Charlie's naked belly and Charlie spent the rest of time colouring on himself.

Tina brought sausage and crackers, which my mom paired with cheese as the appie. Matt and I brought two garlic breads. We realize these are the lazy persons contributions, but we stopped at the store to buy our things when we were already 45 minutes late.

Other dishes included meatballs, Caesar salad, green salad, tortellini salad (my fav--tomatoes, artichoke hearts, feta and black olives), curried shrimp with rice, prawns, and black bean hummus. I was too hungry and overwhelmed to remember to take pictures, so even with my companion here trying to help me remember, there very well may have been more.

There were many dessert as well. Remember the delicious soda bread at St. Pat's Day? Well, Sophie made desserts this time. She did lemon bars, cupcakes, and helped with chocolate dipped strawberries. For a 13 year old, she is a really great cook! My mom also made a cake, sprinkle variety, that was a hit!

My Mom Rules the Kitchen

Sunday dinner at my parents again! Yay and yum!

I will never be able to cook as well as my mom. She is a fantastic cook. I cannot speak highly enough of her or her cooking.

Tonight's dinner was roast beef with all the fixings. The roast was done perfectly medium rare.

The Yorkshire puddings were so puffy and delicious.

The gravy was thick and rich, as was the cheese sauce for the carrots and broccoli.

Honestly, I ate a delicious meal, but I didn't try to make it as healthy as possible. There were other choices for vegetables, spaghetti squash and frozen green beans, but I chose to have a white dinner roll from Safeway (BEST every day bakery) that our friend Claudette brought.

Charlie ate a much healthier meal, since he had a little of everything and didn't smother his veggies in cheese sauce. He did, however, also have a large serving of dessert.

For dessert, my mom made an apple crisp. It was fantastic. I love my mom's apple crisp; her crumbly topping is like no other, absolute perfection.

I wish I had appreciated my mom's cooking my entire life as much as I do now. My brother is in the phase where he TOTALLY does not relish in it, but I'm sure some day he will also look at all her hard work and talent fondly.

St. Paddy's Day Spread

Cost: free

Prep time: none

When I was a child, my mom and I had a tradition for Saint Patrick's Day. We would have a picnic on the living room floor and watch Darby O'Gill and the Little People. THe food would be mostly green: veggies, dip, pickles, olives, jello, Kool-aid, as well as some things like crackers, cheeses, and meats. We would even lay out a blanket.

We don't do this anymore, and I am kind of sad about it. My mom claims that it is a thing that was just for her and I, but my brother remembers doing it too, so I think she is wrong about that part. We didn't do the picnic this year, but I think Matt, Charlie and I will maybe bring about the old tradition next year. Besides, it would have been really difficult to try to get Charlie to eat this year while he has the ability to run away. His desire to play is much stronger than his need to eat.

Anyway, my mom put on quite the spread. I did have pictures, and I thought I posted them, but my post failed and I have already deleted the pictures, so I guess you, my faithful three readers, will have to just believe me that this food actually existed.

So, the appies were green chips and guacamole and green grapes. The main dish was a Guiness Beef Stew. Delicious. It had large chunks of beef, potato, turnip, carrots, and onions. This was served with salad. (My brother had mini-slider burgers, but why have something so non-Irish today?) Our friend Wendy and her daughter made soda bread, and I could have eaten it all day. Wow, was it good.

My mother never fails with dessert. Tonight, she made three. The first was a key lime pie. I love limes, and this pie was very good, although I think it was out of a box. The second course of dessert was green Jello. Charlie slurped some up, but I took a pass on this one, as the third course looked too good! It was a chocolate bundt cake that was very moist. Some guests paired it with chocolate peanut butter ice cream, but I had mine naked as it was so perfect on its own.

Anyway, I just want to thank my mom for filling my belly tonight. Thanks mom!

Family Dinner

Cost: $2

Prep time: 10 minutes

Tonight was Sunday family dinner with my parents, brother, and grandparents. There were 8 of us in total.

And...it was potluck. My mom usually cooks, but I guess there were other ideas tonight. My mom is an amazing cook, and at least she made dessert tonight.

I brought a pasta salad, that was really just cold pasta with salad dressing, pepper, and parmesan cheese. It was something that my picky brother would eat, and also the kind of thing that people get when they were first told they were going to get a pot roast and instead are told after grocery day that they need to bring a starch dish.

My grandma bought rotisserie chicken and salad.

Chick-chick-chicken

Salad

My mom made potato salad and sushi salad. I am not a fan of the sushi salad (I hate avocados), but everyone else likes it.

Mom also made a mixed berry pie, which was delicious and served with vanilla ice cream and strawberries.

Family dinner

Another slow-cooker day! It was nice not to have to take too much time away from being a family to make the evening meal today.

I made a slow-cooker pork roast today. I used a recipe from the "Fix It and Forget It" cookbook my friend Jamie lent me. Although I did not have all the ingredients, the recipe was called "Savoury Pork Roast".

The recipe called for simple ingredients: onions, bay leaf, and soy sauce along with the roast. I didn't have a bay leaf, and I accidentally spilled far too much soy sauce in. I also added carrots and potatoes.

I paired the roast with steamed green beans, zucchini with butter and parmesan, and Pillsbury crescent rolls (leftover from Christmas-time--must use up). Using the drippings and soy sauce from the bottom of the pot, I made a surprisingly good gravy. Little cups of apple sauce completed the spread.

My parents, even my mom who is a fantastic cook, gave their approval! So, I guess I can safely say week 1 was a success.