Christmas In The City: Go Fish

            We are staying in the city for Christmas this year! It's kind of special because usually we head out of town and over the hills to Grandma's house in the Okanagan for the days surrounding the holidays. For the first time in years though we are staying in the city we love- Vancouver. It's awesome to really see how the city puts of the glitz West Coast style during the holidays and so I will be featuring some of our favourite spots that are good to visit year round- but especially on the rainy December days leading up to Christmas!

        First up is our favourite fish and chips place- Go Fish- located just off Granville Island down at the fish docks this is truly some of the best fish and chips in the city- oh and the Tacones are pretty amazing too! This place is normally crowed beyond capacity during warmer days and so it is practically a genius move to come here during the off season. We walked right up to the counter and placed our order- ten minutes later we had piping hot cod!

            This city of ours really does a number of things right- food is one of them. The fish at Go Fish is as mentioned some of the best to be found in Vancouver. My favourite is the tuna tacone- seared to perfection and served with a spicy slaw in a warmed tortilla- amazing- have two!

         After a yummy lunch at Go Fish a walk down on the docks is a must- an authentic West Coast thing to do. My West Coast kids are right at home on the floating ramps and docks-pearing over the edge and making me freak right out! If you are lucky a resident seal will swim right up to say hello. Oh Vancouver- away from the crowds- when the rain stops- with fish and chips- you are perfect!

Favourite Cake on A Friday: Peach Crisp

         Last weekend we had the pleasure of heading out to the country- with friends- for a yummy picnic and some wine- our destination was Township 7 Wines in Langley. While this recipe isn't strictly a cake it is cake like so I thought it would still apply- Peach Crisp in jars is the perfect dessert for a picnic in a vineyard- its also the perfect end of summer treat!

Peach Crisp

Ingredients:

4-5 ripe peaches- skinned and sliced into wedges

1 cup blue berries

1/2 cup pecans- rusticly smashed

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup butter- cold and cubed

1 tsp cinnamon

sprinkle of nutmeg

dash of salt

To Do:

Place all dry ingredients in a bowl- cut in cubed butter with a pastry cutter until pastry is grainy- set topping aside.

Mix peaches and blueberries in a large casserole dish- make sure the fruit is evenly placed in the bottom on the dish- sprinkle topping over top of fruit and shake the dish so the topping settles down into the fruit.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about a half an hour- or until top is browned- cool and enjoy

       Friends it is Friday again- it's been quite a week- full of cousins visiting- swimming and sunshine- going into the long weekend we are going to take it easy- be quiet. Things feel a bit flat with the uncertainty of the school situation in British Columbia- but to all of our teacher friends we stand with you- take it to the mattress! Much love Friends- Happy Friday!

Blueberry Season

         It's blueberry season- rejoice and celebrate peasants!  This is one of our favourite times of year and I often feel a bit like a squirrel as I scramble to freeze bags of these delicious berries for the coming months. This past weekend the University of British Columbia Farm opened up their no spray fields to the public for U-pick- of course we were among some of the first there when the fields opened! The day was hot- as in very hot- and so the fields were only open until noon- we picked quickly and efficiently- although that was almost unnecessary as the berries practically fell into our buckets!

         As much as I enjoy buying my produce at the Farmer's Market there is just something so special  about being out in the field and gathering berries to tuck away for grey winter days. Of course several were sampled along the way and we all agreed that these are some of the best berries we have ever tasted!

        With our buckets and hats full we headed back to the car to drop off our bounty- then onto the UBC's own Farmer's Market we headed. This market is not at all very big but clearly the locals know- as the stalls were crowded- baskets in hand.

        Pretty much all veg that one could need for the week is to be found here- along with seeds and flowers- wood fired pizza and sugary treats. We stocked up on some tasty lettuce, cucumber, carrots and radishes- all grown at the UBC farm.

         This season of abundance is short so I feel pressed to get in as much as humanly possible- the perfect weather, the berries the produce. Like the sunshine I am soaking these days in- stocking it away for those grey, rainy days of November when the clouds press in. I hear folks complaining about the weather- I can't be bothered- it's hot but for such a short time. Make hey while the sun shines is what Pa* used to say!

* Pa- from Little House on the Prairies- not my own Pa who in fact prefers to be called Dad

Cherry Picking

          We are so happy to be visiting the Okanagan right at the beginning of cherry season- this is the time of year that a random rain storm can either make it or break it for orchardists- currently all we see is blue skis! The fruit is beautiful- and delicious- just as I remember it fresh off the tree. Our Littles are very well versed in where our food comes from- we have planted gardens- pumpkins, carrots, radishes, garlic- we have picked apples in the orchard and plums but never have they picked cherries. There really is nothing quite like eating the fruit right off the tree- still warm from the sun.

        When my sister and I were small we used to head to our Great Aunt's house in Kelowna- as the wife of a former orchardist it was only natural that she have a large and healthy cherry tree sitting on her corner lot. What I remember is how bug that tree was- watching the legs of adults disappear up into the leafy branches- surely up past the telephone lines. Hot, bright skies against the cool, lush, greenery of an ancient garden. My sister and I stealing handfuls of cherries from unattended buckets- hiding out in the dank, dark woodshed with our pilfered treasures- hanging pairs of cherries over our ears - pretending to be grown up ladies.

        It must be natural for children to hang pairs of cherries over their ears- those dangling pars just beg to be jewels against little one's necks- the best sort of jewellery one could wish for- surely worth more than the largest of rubies. These Okanagan cherries are a symbol of the industry that once drove the Valley- before boats and wineries became the working man's measure of success.

        Our children clamber up the ladders like monkeys- perhaps there is some sort of innate memory- my maternal family has a long history with the Valley's orchards. For now what is important to them- on this visit- is not the disappearing orchards of the Okanagan- or the massive spread of condos- or the roar of outboard motors- what is important to these little ones is climbing up a tree and picking the yummiest cherries they have ever eaten. Reaching up to pluck those jewels from the tree and stuffing as many as possible into their mouths!

       

Whats For Dinner

       Friends it is Friday- it is the Long Weekend- it is sunny! All these things are terribly exciting to me right now as I sit here on my deck- sipping my first coffee of the day- surveying my kingdom- AKA garden. It's just before 7am and all ready it's hot out- not Santa Clara hot- but hot enough to sit out on the deck sipping coffee in a tank top- just for the record I also have pants on. At any rate I'm already thinking about how hot our apartment will be this afternoon at dinner time and I've decided that a hot day like this will call for some easy comfort food tonight- enter in the humble lentil salad!

Lentil Salad

2 cups lentils- soaked and cooked
garlic- minced
1/2 onion diced
one red pepper diced
one bundle spinach- rinsed and drained
salt and pepper
olive oil
apple cider vinegar
Dijon mustard
maple syrup

- in a frying pan saute onions and garlic until translucent- add in red pepper at the end just to soften up a tiny bit- add in spinach and cover- cook for a few minutes until spinach is wilted- remove from heat
- in a large salad bowl combine pre-cooked lentils and veg mixture
- to make salad dressing combine- 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar, small amount of Dijon mustard and a drizzle of maple syrup- s&p to taste
- drizzle dressing over salad and combine well- this is great when made ahead and left to marinade with the dressing on a few hours.

- serve as a side with a fried or poached egg and avocado toast for what is quite possibly the most simple meal ever- of and don't forget the wine- aways wine!

       As stated Friends it is indeed Friday- this weekend we are shockingly staying off the roads for a bit of a Staycation- we will be hoofing it all over our fair city being tourists in our own town- first up the Trout Lake Farmers Market! I hope you all have a spectacular weekend filled with love and fine boxed wine- Happy Friday Friends!

Ladies Who Lunch

           Since the Littles both started school last fall I have found myself with chunks of time on may hands- twice a week I usually have no children for three hours- for this Mom of two very close babies this was a bit unnerving at first- slowly it has become my life raft! I chose the word life raft because that is exactly what it is- a foray back out into the world with out my children by my side- a foray back out into the world as myself. Initially I sat at coffee shops and wistfully watched Mommas stroll by with their toddlers- missing my own wee ones badly. Then I was gently nudged into taking a yoga class once a week- connecting once a week with friends and myself in beauty and quiet was just what I needed.

         Recently- with the return of fair weather- this time is being spent venturing further afield on regular outings- lunches- with ladies- also known as Ladies Who Lunch- yeah it's becoming a thing and it's wonderful! Our numbers vary depending on who is available on any given day- the general goal is to source out new spots with yummy new flavour combinations- and coffee- always coffee! How can you go wrong with good friends, good food and really good coffee?

        Yesterday was a bit of an impromptu Ladies Who Lunch outing- friend Erin and I hit the sea wall in the sunshine for a brisk walk all the way out to Second Beach in Stanley Park- cutting up through the park into the West End it was decided we needed coffee before picking up Miss Lo. Enter in Greenhorn Cafe- gently nestled in the heart of the West End at 994 Nicola st. While we had visited Greenhorn before neither of us had actually eaten anything more than a scone- so we settled in and stayed a while- soaking up the excellent ambiance all the while indulging in a delicious post walk snack.

        Both Erin and I tried the house made daily quiche- bacon and tomato- it did not disappoint! There was much speculating about the quiche crust as it was so tender yet not at all greasy and slightly crispy- in a nutshell it was fantastic. We had to ask what the Greenhorn quiche secret was- turns out it's a fresh homemade tortilla! Ok and the coffee of course needs a shout out- this is by far one of my favourite Lattes in Vancouver- delish!

          What we both really like about Greenhorn coffee- beyond the food and coffee is the casual and interesting style- the menu is printed on great rolls of kraft paper- beautiful floral installations abound. Located just a few blocks off bustling Robson street Greenhorn is like a little oasis in the middle of the city- a mixture of all sorts of people from families and dogs to tourists and business type folks- makes for some superior people watching!

       Friends it is Friday once again- the sun is shining and my little Miss has her Kindergarten Orientation today- *sob*- my how time flies! This weekend we have birthday parties and book launches and all sorts of wonderful plans with friends! My you all have sunshine on your face and love in your heart! Happy Friday Friends!

A Bowl Full of Goodness

        Holy Moldy- I don't even know where to start- I am sick- not as sick as many other folks are getting- but sick enough to be fuzzy headed and out of sorts- it's that weird sore throat thing that's going around. Thank heaven's it's not the flu- knock on wood. This fall and winter I have been following a health plan for our family which includes lots of rest- no running around getting stressed out, probiotics, fish oil and lots of yummy healthy real food (which we would eat anyways but I am just more aware of it right now)- so far this plan has worked for us- until the other day. Now with Momma down things have kinda ground to a halt.

     Enter in one of my favourite comfort foods- Quinoa porridge with all the toppings! Making Quinoa porridge isn't much different than making Quinoa for dinner- with the exception of substituting milk for the water. So grab your preferred milk of choice- this works well with Almond milk as well and cook your Quinoa in that- so creamy and delicious! Top with any number of your favourite toppings- I like local, raw honey, slivered almonds and local blue berries. Maple syrup with apple sauce and cinnamon is also to die for!

      So here I sit this morning scarfing back a bowl of amazing deliciousness and thinking about how much I miss being outside- incidentally it is actually sunny here today- crazy winter weather! This week we have had extreme low temperatures, snow, rain- complete with rain warnings all followed up with glorious sunshine today. I think I am going to bundle up and go sit on the deck for a bit- enjoy some all natural vitamin D!

ps- make sure to regularly stir the Quinoa so the milk doesn't burn and stick to the pot- also try not to let it boil over- otherwise you will be cleaning the stove top like I will be when I'm feeling better.

Hot Chocolate From Scratch

        This time of year can always be a bit tricky to get through- and getting through January is just what we all need to do- dealing with the post Holiday slump- or in our case the post travel slump- as well as the chilly, dark weather is not always easy. One of our coping methods is to indulge in our favourite treats and for us right now that is home made hot chocolate with whipped cream every day after school. The promise of a petite serving of warm, chocolaty goodness is just what we need to get those little legs to walk one more block after such a long day at school!

  Hot Chocolate

8 ounces of semi sweet chocolate- broken into pieces
4 cups milk- 2% or better yields the best Hot Chocolate
3 teaspoons powdered sugar- or 1 packet of Vanilla sugar*
a dash of vanilla
a dash of cinnamon

- place milk in a heavy bottomed sauce pan and warm to a low simmer- whisk occasionally so as not to scorch the milk- add in small pieces of chocolate and whisk quickly until it chocolate is completely melted- whisk in sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Top with Maple whipped creme and enjoy!

Maple Whipped Creme

- just as it sounds!
1/2  a litre of good quality whipping creme
1-2 teaspoons real Maple syrup

- whip in a mixer or with a hand blender until peaks start to form

* Vanilla sugar is something that is often called for in my Mother In Laws recipes- I had never found it on the grocery shelves until a stop at the German market- but it is essentially vanilla flavoured powdered sugar- but sweeter.

Farmers Market Missive: Santa Clara

       I love food- I love trying new food- I love learning about food- at this point in my life I am open to trying just about any food offered. So it was with glee that I hopped into my friend's car the other day and headed out- practically kid free save for the brand new addition- to their local Farmers Market in Santa Clara, California. The majority of my Farmers Market experiences have been limited to Pacific North West growing conditions- currently at our local market we mostly have root vegetables and kale- so it was my great delight to discover that right now is citrus season in California!

        First off it was a shear joy to buy citrus that is being grown with in miles of where it is sold- ditto on the winter strawberries- my kids may have totally gorged themselves as they haven't had a fresh berry in months! Aesthetically the market in Santa Clara was a visual feast- the colours and textures a jumble of yellows, reds and orange at a time with most of our veg is brown and dull. I was treated to samples of food I have never tried before like these huge citrus- the Pomelo- can I just say yumm!

        It wasn't just the fresh produce that intrigued me- the raw milk stand was ever so interesting and after drinking raw milk in my coffee and on our cereal for a few days I have to say I really liked it- not just the full fat aspect but the real taste- it actually tasted like milk! In Canada raw milk is "illegal" and very hard to come by- unless you have a cow parked in your side yard- which obviously in the city we do not.

       After buying plenty of provisions for the coming days the Mommas and the little Miss headed to a favourite coffee shop- my friend knows me well! Chromatic Coffee is a coffee lovers delight- really good strong beans that are hand crafted in the Valley of the Hearts Delight -isn't that the most amazing name for an area! Apparently they make really good "fancy" drinks here as well but I just went with my standard latte as I love good espresso! FYI- this is also Hipster central which I- of course- loved- great people watching to go along with yummy coffee!

        I thoroughly enjoyed our mini foodie adventure-  all the new foods topped off by excellent coffee and company! See that pastry above- a mini pecan pie if you will- yeah it was gone in seconds- it was just that good! I will admit that I think the most thrilling part of the entire experience was the citrus- so different than anything I have ever experienced- even in my friend's yard she has many different citrus trees growing- including Meyer Lemon- oh the curd that could make! The Valley of Heart's Delight is now for the most part Silicone Valley but the food is still there too and it is oh so good!

      Friends it is Friday again- time sure does fly when you are having fun! This weekend we are going to throw ourselves into winter activities up at Grouse Mountain- a completely different experience from last weekend spent in the sun! Happy Friday Friends!

Just A Short Rant About Food

       Good Morning Friends! Sorry for the late start- I got carried away sorting out all this produce- and possibly just looking at the amazing bounty! As I mentioned in yesterday's post m parent's are starting to put their garden to bed for the season- but they held off until I could get there to harvest some of the last tomatoes and a few other goodies. Incidentally I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with!

      I can't wait for the day I have a yard with a garden- the fact is food- good, healthy, non GMO food is so expensive and can be hard to come by. Living in a city with such close proximity to farmlands means we are fortunate enough to have access to some of the best food in Canada. There is such a strong movement in B.C. for sustainable, organic foods- with a year round Farmer's Market we are able to indulge in that luxury- for surely it seems good food is a luxury- when shouldn't it be a right?

     So on today's agenda is cleaning, dicing and freezing carrots and kale- thinking about green tomato relish and at the Little's request our first pot of home made apple sauce for the season. Or deck acts like a natural root cellar- we have boxes of produce outside covered with wool blankets- not very aesthetically pleasing but it does the job and we will have fresh Okanagan apples in the middle of January still. I have oregano, sage, mint and lemon balm tied together in pleasant little nosegays and tacked to my wall- the aroma is more arresting than any air freshener possibly could be!

     Right at this moment I am so pleased with the haul from my parent's garden- it reminds me so much of my Grandma Shirley and her garden- her garden was able to feed the neighbourhood or so it seemed- I wonder if my kids will have similar memories. I think it was watching the women in my family working in the garden that sparked the interest in me- my Great Aunt Dorothy and her sister my Grandma Shirley. They showed me that food is a gift- not to be squandered- I can only hope this translates to our children.

"Teaching kids how to feed themselves and how to live in a community responsibly is the centre of an education" Alice Waters

Weekending: Thanksgiving

   
          The weekend- as per usual- went by far too quickly- we were back in the Okanagan for our farewell until the spring- I will miss the lake so. The weather was perfect- cold and crisp and sunny- just the way you would imagine Thanksgiving weekend to be- perfect for a bon fire with hotdogs and playing outside in the garden.

        We spent the first half of our weekend in Peachland - where we gathered what we could from the garden one last time- buckets of tomatoes for green tomato relish, herbs, squash, eggplant and kale- oh the kale. We have enough kale to clean and freeze for quite a few months! It was so nice just being outside in the quiet, helping my Mom with a few chores around the yard- the simple act of sweeping the stoop and arranging pumpkins while listening to my Mom and Miss Lo chatter nearby was so peaceful.

       In the still hot Okanagan sunshine we made our way up to Vernon for a fantastic visit with the Mr.'s parents- his Dad decided to surprise the Littles and came down from the North early. Sunday and Monday was full of chats, plum cake and goulash- yumm! We came away from Vernon wit more apples than I know what to do with- I feel like this week will be spent canning apple sauce.

         Of course the Littles are very excited about Halloween and had to pick their pumpkins- they planted these back in the spring- over May long weekend and have anxiously watched them grow all summer. Many plans are being laid for how these pumpkins are to turn into Jack- O- Lanterns in just a few weeks! This is the best type of pumpkin patch and has perhaps spoiled them for the likes of the larger more commercial pumpkin farms that many people in our area visit.

         I'm not going to lie- there was nothing relaxing about this weekend at all- a six hour drive through rush hour traffic is not my idea of a good time. We love our family and for years have made the concerted effort to get home to see them at any given opportunity- the drive is long and hard after working a full week.  After this past long weekend I feel ready for winter- I am ready to tuck in and stay on this side of the mountains for the next six or seven months- at least until the lake is warm enough to swim in again!

Guest Post From The Farm

My friends are constantly doing interesting things- it's occasionally hard not to get jealous - in the very best possible of ways- of course! So when I saw all these lovely images of farming and gardening popping up on my friend Sarah Farrer Bukrey's photo stream of course I immediately was interested in what she was up to. She was kind enough to share some of her beautiful images as well as her own words on her time at the farm.

I started working at a local organic farm this June for many reasons. I thought it would be good exercise ( forced). I am a busy working Mom of two- and fitting in exercise is hard (Can I get a hell yeah?). I wanted yummy organic produce but I was too cheap to buy it, so working for it sounded like a great idea (and my garden always seems to die in mid July). Finally- I wanted something new that was not home, and not work. Something to look forward to - Something that was mine.

The first day at the farm I left tired and happy, and then could barely walk for three days afterward.  I have planted seeds, thinned seedlings and  planted seedlings. I have harvested asparagus in the morning, and then later seen asparagus ferns grow tall, dense and shine with morning dew. They look like fairy lands. I have weeded  plants crawling along the ground because the row is probably 2 miles long and I cannot crouch or bend another moment. I have cowered in a greenhouse during a severe thunderstorm- I had a job during that too, I don’t get paid to stand around.  :) I once washed plastic totes for two hours and left the farm with what later became the most enormous bruise I have ever seen ( beware the buckles on rubber boots). I have worked on box packing day where we form a vegetable packing assembly line. sometimes there are 10 people and sometimes there are four. Lately I have been harvesting. Picking beans- but never just green, wide white beans with purple streaks and long purple ones. I picked a rainbow of cherry tomatoes, pink, yellow, red in round, oval and pear shapes.

 

 

I have met people. There is Farmer Andy and  his assistant Jason, always cracking jokes and teaching us how to do new things (and showing me how much faster they can do everything). There are worker shares that are students, teachers off work for the summer, and others who like me were looking for something that the farm offers. Something more than fresh healthy food.

We found it.

Simple Family Friday

         This time last week was my first Simple Family Friday- I shared how we keep our diet as well as our grocery shopping simple- or we at least try anyways. Food does not need to be complicated but often becomes so- we try and eat whole food from scratch. I had several requests to share my meal planning here- everyone can always use a fresh perspective on what's for dinner! So today I present our meal plan for the week of September 15- September 21.

Sunday September 15

Roasted Chicken- we always get a big one so we have leftovers

New potatoes

Roasted Carrots

Sliced Cucumber

Monday September 16

leftover chicken in wraps- fajita style

sliced veggies- throw in any leftover carrots

salsa

yogurt for dipping

Tuesday September 17

Quinoa penne with meat sauce

garden salad for adults

sliced cucumber & peppers for kids

Wednesday September 18

Pork Kabobs- marinated pork cubes

cubed veggies-mushrooms, zucchini and peppers

sliced cucumbers for the kids

Thursday September 19

Lentil Soup

homemade biscuits 

garden salad for adults

Friday September 20

pizza night!

homemade pizza- recipe here

toppings- ham, pineapple, peppers, zucchini,black olives

mozzarella, feta

Saturday September 21

Sausages- from the Farmer's Market

red cabbage, apple and bacon hash

sliced cucumber and pepper for the kids

       For our other meals- breakfast and lunch we again keep things pretty simple- most days we all have giant smoothies for breakfast- they are fast and easy and the kids like to help make them. Lunches are leftovers for us all in some form- just packaged into lunch form- occasionally I will send a sandwich. If you wish to share any great simple meal ideas please do so in the comments! Like y'all I am always looking for new meal ideas- easy food that came be served in a pinch.

      Friends it is Friday again- by the time you are reading this I will be over at Opus Framing and Art Supplies shooting a "How To" video on block printing- I can't wait to share it with you all! If you are a local and are looking for something to do this weekend you can find me in Cloverdale at the Agriplex for the Fall Into Craft market- come on out and say Hi- I would love to see you in real life! Happy Friday Friends!

Simple Family Fridays

        Last week I touched on the topic of keeping life simple- or K.I.S.S.- keep it simple stupid- and while the name stupid is not a word I would regularly use- the acronym still sticks in my mind. I was asked by a few readers to elaborate on some of the things we utilize while striving for a simpler life. Now that school is in session I feel like I need these reminders as much as anyone- so I thought I would try something new here- Simple Family Fridays- where I will share some of my tips and techniques in creating a simple family life!

     Simple Tips #1- Eating Sustainably

        We made the switch from more conventional eating to striving for a sustainable diet in Ernest about a year ago- this is not to say that a grocery store threshold never shall be crossed- quite the opposite. What eating sustainably means eating locally, seasonally and organically- planning while staying flexible at the same time. Let me explain this contradictory statement further- we shop a great deal at our local farmer's markets which means that we need to be flexible to substitute one item for another if a particular vendor is not at a market- working from a master grocery list but making substitutions if needed.

      We shop what is in season at the farmer's market- right now tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and corn and then flush out the remainder of our list at grocery stores- carefully. For example we shop at Costco quite a bit- I mean what growing family doesn't? Costco has great deals on chia seeds, organic ground beef, walnuts and organic milk- plus toilet paper- obviously!

       We shop the farmer's market for eggs, sausages and the Bean Boy's Hummus- but hit Whole Foods for dry bulk items like black beans, lentils, oats and bananas- cause bananas* don't grow on trees around here and are a vital part of our morning smoothies! We try and stay away from the interior isles of the store as this is typically where all the packaged goods reside in any grocery store- and at Whole Foods that can be dangerous!

      Shopping at the farmer's markets is so much more fun that shopping a conventional grocery store- in fact mock me if you will- but I get anxiety in grocery stores- I panic and end up with only half the items I came for. Farmer's market shopping can be much more relaxing once you get over the fear of the crowds and sticker shock. Shop wisely and with a list- shop on a full stomach.

     To balance out the cost of local and organic foods as well as do the environment a solid we try and go meatless at least once a week. By choosing to go meatless we are reducing the stress on the land- plus it is heart healthy. Opt for a hearty lentil soup and baguette or bean burritos- with lots of cheese of course!

     In order to keep this whole grocery shopping situation simple I make sure to meal plan for the coming weeks- from the meal plan I can look in our pantry and decide what items we need to stock up on. Now that school is back in meal planning is key- it means at 4 pm I am not scrambling to defrost something- I already know what's for dinner- simple. Needless to say we try and make much of our food from scratch- I have a handful of recipes that are family favourites that rotate with the season- that doesn't mean that we never eat a frozen pizza or take out- cause we do- just very occasionally!

        I hope you like my first post on simplicity- I chose the topic of food and eating as it is always on my mind- feeding my family- planning- being healthy- if you are a regular reader you will I am sure have noticed my food obsession by now. FYI it runs in the family. My final thoughts on food and simplicity are this- food doesn't need to be complicated- it doesn't need to come from a lab- food should be nourishing, tasty and simple.

* I know that bananas aren't local or seasonal but hey we are human and we like bananas- at least the ones we buy are organic!

PS- wow- I almost forgot it's Friday again- you would think by the name of the post I would be aware- duh! Clearly I need more coffee- always more coffee! We are packing up for the last hurrah of this summer- camping in the Okanagan with some dear old friends- yes they really are old- my age at least! Friends I hope where ever you are in this fine world of ours you are surrounded by light and love this weekend- Happy Friday!

Making: Mussels

        One of our favourite parts about summer is eating outdoors- we are lucky to have a space where we can do so quite late into the season. Right now though the air is warm and the nights are long- perfect for sitting out on the deck and enjoying a favourite meal of mussels and an adult beverage or two.

         Part of the appeal to me of mussels is that this is most always made by the Mr.- so no cooking for me- bonus! We keep the sides simple- local corn, olives, cheese and bread- sometimes a green salad- all from the Farmer's Market bought earlier on the weekend. Simple and easy are the key words here- it's too hot to pause overly long in our kitchen.

        Mussels can seem a little intimidating but could not be easier- the Mr.'s basic recipe goes something like this- saute half an onion, celery and garlic in olive oil in a large pot- once onions are translucent add in 1 litre of vegetable broth and a splash ( bottle) of beer. You can also add a can of stewed tomatoes or white wine instead of beer. Throw in mussels- we usually get about 2.5 pounds for our family- place the lid on the pot and steam mussels until the shells start to pop open. Garnish with parsley- serve and enjoy!

        Now not everyone in our family likes mussels- The Boy has no issue and devours pretty much everything that graces his plate- Miss Lo on the other hand is not so keen on most types of sea food- we just make sure there is an extra piece of corn for her! Living on the Coast these Littles have experienced more foods than we ever did growing up- sushi, lobster, crab, mussels, squid- they don't know how lucky they are!

         In the summer our little table out on the deck hosts so many small gatherings for our family- nightly once August sets in and the air ceases to move inside our apartment- the breeze off Burrard Inlet cooling our sweaty necks and flushed cheeks. While this small gathering may not be a Kinfolk worthy photo shoot- there is something oh so good in what we are doing- eating locally- together- gathered - and that is all that matters to us.