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I can’t recall if I’ve shared a picture of the ferry that connects Long Island, NS with the mainland.  I bring this up because we’re heading across Petite Passage today to run a few errands. There has been talk over the years about building a bridge to the mainland because the distance isn’t that great. A bridge would certainly change life for the island’s inhabitants. And I can say, after living here for the past six months, that a bridge would be fabulous. Organizing one’s life around the ferry schedule is a royal pain in the arse. If you miss the boat you wait an hour. Not fun. Makes for some rushed mornings. And some lead feet on the drive coming the other way.
But at the same time, having to take a ferry to get here makes this place special and I’d hate to see that changed. Of course, I’m speaking as a short-term temporary resident so I don’t have a dog in this race. In other news, the men and women lobster fishers are gearing up for the start of the lobster season in this area of the province. “Dumping Day”, the day the first traps are dumped in the ocean, is next Monday. We’ve been watching trailer loads of traps heading up the road to the wharves to be loaded on the boats. Do you eat lobster? Cheers!
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A few weeks ago I mentioned Homemade Cookie Day – celebrated weekly in this house. Today is Homemade Bread Day, also celebrated regularly around here. I love homemade bread. Both the making and the eating. There was a time I would hand-knead the dough for upwards of ten minutes (good workout for the arm muscles) but then I got a stand mixer and now I let the machine do the hard work. I still enjoy the fruits of its labors though. And I still hand-knead an old family recipe for Shredded Wheat Bread that makes too much dough to fit in the bowl of my mixer. Anyway, back to the homemade bread. Yum! You’re supposed to wait until the bread cools completely – ‘cause of steam or molecules or something – before slicing but that’s a rule that begs to be broken. Who can wait when that extraordinarily luscious smell is permeating the house? When that golden loaf of deliciousness is sitting on the cooling rack, its flanks exposed to the air and the razor sharp bread knife? When whoever made that ridiculous rule obviously possessed too much willpower than was good for him? (Must have been a him ‘cause I suspect that rule was foisted on us back when most leaders in the culinary world were men.) One of my favourite quick and easy breads is English Muffin Toasting Bread from the geniuses at King Arthur Flour. 
So good. My mouth is watering just thinking of a slice of this bad boy, lightly toasted and slathered with butter (real butter, of course). Heaven! As I was saying to my friend Cara, homemade bread is my kryptonite. Do you make your own bread? Have a favourite recipe? Cheers! *This post contains an affiliate link. that today is Clean Your Refrigerator Day?
I’ll go out on a limb and assume the creators of this festive day didn’t mean for us to make use of a pail of soapy water and a scrub brush. But rather to empty the containers of fuzzy food, and discard that jar of pickles that’s been hiding at the back of the shelf since Aunt Sadie gave it to you six years ago. I’ve been known to hang on to foodstuffs longer than recommended. Years ago Son1 had a friend who was following the Paleo diet. So Son1 tried a few recipes that conformed, one of which was a dessert/sweet made with Medjool dates, nuts, and a few other things I don’t recall. Well, as so often happens with recipes, there were a few dates left over. (The sweets were delicious, btw.) Not enough dates to do anything with, really, but, chopped finely, they could be useful in muffins, cookies, or even something savory like a curry. I think my mistake was sliding the slim package of dates on to the shelf under the meat drawer where only slim things would fit. Over time the slim package got shoved to the back of the shelf and forgotten. I found the dates *cough* a few years later when I cleaned the fridge, with soapy water and scrub brush, in preparation for moving. What’s the oldest thing in your fridge? Do you abide by best-before dates? Cheers! Monday the 13th. Oh boy, better watch out for—well, it’s Monday. The start of the workweek with the weekend naught but a fond memory.
The highlight of my weekend, aside from Hubby cooking yummy suppers on Saturday and Sunday per usual, was the monthly firemen’s breakfast up at the Hall. A feast fit for a queen cooked by our local volunteer firefighters. Scrambled eggs, bacon (nice and crispy as it should be), sausages, fried bologna, hash browns, baked beans, and French toast. With regular toast too if you still have room. Along with coffee, tea, and fruit juice. Scrumptious. A community breakfast is also a good chance to catch up on the local news. Like the sightings of the coyote up at the lighthouse. Hubby carries a stout stick on his walks now. Happy Sadie Hawkins Day! Your one opportunity this year, ladies, to propose to the man of your dreams. Cheers! |
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