After last night, I know that it is time to get really good binoculars. We went outside to an open field and in this case it was a baseball field to watch for the space station. Luckily, Michael knew what time the space station was supposed to fly over. Right on time, it flew over and in the correct path. We could tell what it was because it was slight larger than the stars and also because it moved in a very defined path.
Apparently, it does fly by most nights but usually flies across the horizon and as a result we are not able to see it. Not sure why the flight path changed but it was certainly exciting for Michael.
I will be checking for those binoculars.
Fascinating. Wonder how long this station is supposed to continue flying. Just tried goggling for pictures and information but was not very successful. Will try again.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Hostas
(Someone remind me to publish before moving on to another page to get pictures to insert!)
For those of you who love gardening and visiting garden centres, I would like to recommend the following places.
Yesterday, I went to garden centres with a friend and one of the places we made a point of visiting is Giboshihill Hostas which is run by Kevin and Olga Elchuk. A wonderful private garden full of hostas of all sizes, shapes and various greens. Kevin and Olga sell some of the specimens and the prices are wonderful worth checking out k.o.giboshill@airnet.ca.
Another place that we did not have a chance to visit yesterday but will catch next time is Gardens Plus which is another boutique type centre which is just outside of Peterborough. Will worth the visit if you like hostas, daylilies or irises. http://www.gardensplus.ca/. Also check out this page to see the many wonderful spots in the garden at Gardens Plus. http://www.gardensplus.ca/Tourthegardens.htm
So many wonderful places to visit and check out plants. I need to do some gardening today and then will allow myself to visit more places.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Blueberry Lemon Loaf
Some of you may realize that I love fruit and blueberry season is one of my favourites. This summer, I am trying some new recipes. Today's was Blueberry Lemon Loaf and it is definitely a keeper.
Here it is for those of you who love trying recipes as much as I do.
Blueberry Lemon Loaf
Preparation Time: 15 minutes (I found that it took me a little longer)
Baking Time: 70-75 minutes
Makes: One 8.5” x 4.5” loaf
Freezing: excellent
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened 135 mL
1 cup granulated sugar 250 mL
2 eggs 2
2 tsp vanilla 10 mL
2 cups all purpose flour 500 mL
2 tsp baking powder 10 mL
½ tsp salt 2 mL
2 tbsp finely grated lemon rind 30 mL
2/3 cup milk 150 mL
1 cup blueberries 250 mL
Streusel topping:
2 tbsp granulated sugar 30 mL
2 tbsp packed brown sugar 30 mL
¼ cup all purpose flour 50 mL
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened 30 mL
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350o F, (160oC). Line an 8.5” x 4.5” (1.5 L) loaf pan with parchment paper.
Streusel Topping:
In bowl, combine granulated and brown sugars and flour. Cut in butter until mixture is very crumbly; set aside.
Using electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind. Using wooden spoon, alternately stir dry ingredients and milk into butter mixture, making three addition of dry and two of milk. Gently fold in blueberries. Transfer to prepared pan. Sprinkle with streusel.
Bake in centre of preheated oven for 70 to 75 minutes or until topping is golden and cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.
Tips:
If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw. Toss gently into 1 tbsp (15 mL ) all purpose flour before folding into batter, to prevent the blueberries from “bleeding”.
The streusel doubles and triples well. Use on top of muffins, open faced pies and other quick breads.
First baked, July 5, 2009.
Excellent
Here it is for those of you who love trying recipes as much as I do.
Blueberry Lemon Loaf
Preparation Time: 15 minutes (I found that it took me a little longer)
Baking Time: 70-75 minutes
Makes: One 8.5” x 4.5” loaf
Freezing: excellent
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened 135 mL
1 cup granulated sugar 250 mL
2 eggs 2
2 tsp vanilla 10 mL
2 cups all purpose flour 500 mL
2 tsp baking powder 10 mL
½ tsp salt 2 mL
2 tbsp finely grated lemon rind 30 mL
2/3 cup milk 150 mL
1 cup blueberries 250 mL
Streusel topping:
2 tbsp granulated sugar 30 mL
2 tbsp packed brown sugar 30 mL
¼ cup all purpose flour 50 mL
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened 30 mL
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350o F, (160oC). Line an 8.5” x 4.5” (1.5 L) loaf pan with parchment paper.
Streusel Topping:
In bowl, combine granulated and brown sugars and flour. Cut in butter until mixture is very crumbly; set aside.
Using electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind. Using wooden spoon, alternately stir dry ingredients and milk into butter mixture, making three addition of dry and two of milk. Gently fold in blueberries. Transfer to prepared pan. Sprinkle with streusel.
Bake in centre of preheated oven for 70 to 75 minutes or until topping is golden and cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.
Tips:
If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw. Toss gently into 1 tbsp (15 mL ) all purpose flour before folding into batter, to prevent the blueberries from “bleeding”.
The streusel doubles and triples well. Use on top of muffins, open faced pies and other quick breads.
First baked, July 5, 2009.
Excellent
Grano and Roberto Martella
While taking a break from baking and trying out new blueberry recipes- yes,( if the recipe is good I will include it on the blog), I am checking for ideas for the blog.Roberto Martella is someone we had the pleasure of meeting at his restaurant Grano. This restaurant is special. It is not just a place to eat but Martella has created a place to learn Italian- language classes, learn about great wines especially Italian at wine tasting and opportunities to exchange ideas at the various forums he has instituted. What a wonderful place he has created.
http://www.ideasthatmatter.com/people/2006roberto.html
Martella was awarded the Jane Jacobs award several years ago. This was a worthy recognition of the contribution he is making in this city.
We need more people like this who make places a wonderful and exciting place to live. Hope that your city has people like this as well.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
DIY jewellery
A friend of mine who lives in Florida makes her own jewellery which means that I am always looking out for places in Toronto that have diy jewellery. Toronto now has another place for creative people to make and create jewellery. As the article mentions, the store which is in the west end of the city has a variety of supplies like pearls, beans kukui nuts and tinted wood. The place store looks inviting and friendly enough that I would consider stopping by and giving it a try. http://www.laperlerie.ca/home.htmWho knows, I might add jewellery making to my repertoire.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Places to get sick
Finally, after nearly a month of being very sick- three days in bed, sleeping and attending to personal needs at the beginning, I am feeling 100%. I had not realized how long I had been ill until I started counting days and thinking about it. Wow, nearly a month!
Today's papers lists 6 place that you are most likely to get sick. I was in #2. #1 was on my list while I was looking after my friend who was terminally ill.
Wow, some of these places are places that you would consider safe and places that many of us consider havens. Be safe and careful!
1. Hospitals
It's where you go to get well. But at least 7% of people admitted to hospital will get an infection, including from the antibiotic superbug C. difficile.
2. Schools and daycares
Close quarters, lots of sticky hands and kids' immature immune systems mean viruses quickly make the rounds. In one study, a virus introduced on a toy into a day care in the morning was found on 80 per cent of kids by 5 p.m. and on 50 per cent of parents by the next morning.
3. The TTC
Or any closed-in, crowded place where people touch their mouths, pick their nose or cough into their hands. And then touch their surroundings
4. Public swimming pools
Gastrointestinal illness from public pools are on the rise in the States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The offender? Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite found in human feces that can live as long as 10 days in chlorinated water.
5. The Saturday night party scene
Or any place people are going to have casual sex. Stats from Toronto Public Health show some sexually transmitted infections, including Chlamydia and syphilis, are on the rise.
6. The Backyard BBQ (on a hot summer's day)
Every year, 1 in 6 Torontonians get food poisoning. According to Toronto Public Health, sporadic cases peak in July and August. Blame it on the summer heat, which causes micro-organisms to grow faster in food, and undercooked meat.
Today's papers lists 6 place that you are most likely to get sick. I was in #2. #1 was on my list while I was looking after my friend who was terminally ill.
Wow, some of these places are places that you would consider safe and places that many of us consider havens. Be safe and careful!
1. Hospitals
It's where you go to get well. But at least 7% of people admitted to hospital will get an infection, including from the antibiotic superbug C. difficile.
2. Schools and daycares
Close quarters, lots of sticky hands and kids' immature immune systems mean viruses quickly make the rounds. In one study, a virus introduced on a toy into a day care in the morning was found on 80 per cent of kids by 5 p.m. and on 50 per cent of parents by the next morning.
3. The TTC
Or any closed-in, crowded place where people touch their mouths, pick their nose or cough into their hands. And then touch their surroundings
4. Public swimming pools
Gastrointestinal illness from public pools are on the rise in the States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The offender? Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite found in human feces that can live as long as 10 days in chlorinated water.
5. The Saturday night party scene
Or any place people are going to have casual sex. Stats from Toronto Public Health show some sexually transmitted infections, including Chlamydia and syphilis, are on the rise.
6. The Backyard BBQ (on a hot summer's day)
Every year, 1 in 6 Torontonians get food poisoning. According to Toronto Public Health, sporadic cases peak in July and August. Blame it on the summer heat, which causes micro-organisms to grow faster in food, and undercooked meat.
Blueberry Cornbread
It is that time of year again. I am baking and enjoying food. When I am on vacation, I have time for these activities. Love exploring recipes, new and old. This one is tried and true and always a hit. Enjoy.
Blueberry Cornbread
This excellent recipe is adapted from The Blueberry Connection by Beatrice Ross Buszek. Serve it slightly warm for brunch or wrap it up and take it on a picnic.
1 cup cornmeal
1 ½ cups sifted all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
2 eggs beaten
1 ½ cups milk
¼ cup melted butter
1 cup blueberries, washed and drained
Place cornmeal in a bowl and sift in dry ingredients. Stir to combine. Mix together beaten eggs, milk and melted butter. Add to dry ingredients and stir to blend. Fold in blueberries. Bake in a greased bread pan at 375o F for 25 minutes. It can also be made in an electric frying pan. Grease frying pan and preheat to 250o F. Pour in batter, cover and cook with the vent open for 25 to 35 minutes.
Makes 1 loaf
This recipe was first made July 8, 1984 and included in the first cookbook that we prepared. Recently, Michael spoke to his optometrist about macular degeneration and what can be done to prevent it. His advice was to eat blueberries and green vegetables every day and eat fish regularly. I am including this to help everyone with their health.
This excellent recipe is adapted from The Blueberry Connection by Beatrice Ross Buszek. Serve it slightly warm for brunch or wrap it up and take it on a picnic.
1 cup cornmeal
1 ½ cups sifted all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
2 eggs beaten
1 ½ cups milk
¼ cup melted butter
1 cup blueberries, washed and drained
Place cornmeal in a bowl and sift in dry ingredients. Stir to combine. Mix together beaten eggs, milk and melted butter. Add to dry ingredients and stir to blend. Fold in blueberries. Bake in a greased bread pan at 375o F for 25 minutes. It can also be made in an electric frying pan. Grease frying pan and preheat to 250o F. Pour in batter, cover and cook with the vent open for 25 to 35 minutes.
Makes 1 loaf
This recipe was first made July 8, 1984 and included in the first cookbook that we prepared. Recently, Michael spoke to his optometrist about macular degeneration and what can be done to prevent it. His advice was to eat blueberries and green vegetables every day and eat fish regularly. I am including this to help everyone with their health.
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