I have been going through a lot of emotional hardship lately because of Post Partum Depression. It has been a long five months and I am still recovering. In those months I have not done much more than try to get ready for the day let alone think about cooking for a group of people, or my family. Now that I am recovering and watched Julie and Julia for a bit of inspiration I realize I want to get back in my regime of cooking and baking. I believe it must be the winter months coming, I know I need to catch up on my cooking and baking. Cooking was always theraputic for me never a chore I am hoping that spending more time in my shrine will help me recover even quicker. I suppose we will have to see as the days go on. I will keep whoever is reading updated. Hopefully someone who is going through what I am will understand and continue the journey through Post Partum doing what they love best. For me it is cooking

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I am not Originally from the Valley and i was showing my new Australian friend around the Comox Valley so i needed to be more informed myself of the history before i could show her around. We decided that the best place to find more History would be a Museum so, we walked down to the Courtenay & District Museum on 4th St.

As we walked in we were greeted by a welcoming Lady who informed us we would only be charged by Donation. These days you hardly find any activities by Donation, we figured this is a steal of a deal. We payed our dues and headed on in for a lesson in History.
I felt like a kid again, excited and giddy and eager to take in as much Information my brain can handle. The first exhibit we stopped at was the Elasmosaur. Discovered at the Puntledge River in the Winter of 1988, by two Amateurs, Mike Trask and his 12 year old Daughter; this ancient Marine Reptile was Extinct since the end of the Age of the Dinosaurs. I thought this was really neat that i have swam in the Puntledge River, where this Marine Reptile was discovered. Not too many people can say that!

The next area we ended up at was the "Open to the Public" Exhibit. These are Donations that have been given to the Museum to show the Community more about how past people have lived here in the Comox Valley. Some of the things they featured were tools for making butter, sewing machines, embroidery and pictures and panels explaining how they were used.

The most current Exhibit is in regards to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC. It showcases all the past sports using equipment and pictures to depict how sports were played here in the Comox Valley long ago. Sports from all varieties were played. Field hockey, horse Racing, fishing, snowshoeing and of course basbeball were all very popular.

I think the Courtenay & District Museum is a great place for anyone young or older. Whether it brings you down memory lane, or gives you a chance to find out more about the Comox Valley, the Museum is a fun, inexpensive place to spend a rainy afternoon as we did. I reccomend checking out the direct site to find out more on upcoming exhibits and events, but better yet i reccomend visiting the Courtenay & District Museum yourselves to take a break from the technology and learn about the many fasinating ways people in the Comox Valley thrived and survived.

Lately I have been eating Greek and any other Mediterrean foods i can get my hands on. I would definately consider myself a bit of a glutton lately but the food i have been munching on is a lot more heart friendly than most foods i crave. February is Heart Month and we should feed ourselves with Heart Healthy foods and snacks. It is not always easy to change our frame of thinking but with practice we can learn to change our palates for the better.

I used to have a problem changing the flavours in my foods, as a matter of fact i did not even like hummus until last month because i was ignorant and never tried the good stuff (homemade). One try was all it took to become addicted to hummus i was a tzaziki lover and now i am afraid i have crossed over and never looking back.

I made a platter of Greek marinated Barbequed Chicken, side of kalamata Olives, feta cheese, homemade hummus and the salad is courtesy of Zi Zi’s Mediterrean Cafe here in the Comox Valley so delicious and made of shredded cabbage, red and green peppers, black olives and tomatoes. A simple dressing of olive oil and lemon juice adjourns this colourful salad as well as a special herb blend. Simply divine.

Here is the Recipe for the Greek Barbequed Chicken:
2-4 bone in skin on chicken breasts (more flavour)
quarter cup of olive oil
half a cup of kalamata olives
4 cloves of garlic
3 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of paprika
salt and pepper to taste
parsley

Take half a cup of Kalamata olives pure in food processor with two cloves of garlic.
In casserole dish mix olive oil, two cloves of garlic lemon juice, paprika, salt, pepper, parsley, and olive garlic tapenade from processor. Rub all over chicken breasts place skin side down let marinade all day.

Place on Barbeque or in Oven until Chicken juices run clear
Barbeque about 20 mins on high (10 mins on each side) or 40 -45 mins in the Oven.
MMMMMM sooo good and oh so easy!

Well, my husband’s boss gave us some of the most delicious smoked salmon yesterday. Wow what a treat – I have not had Smoked Salmon in years! Lunch is a hard meal for me to prepare sometimes; I always put a lot of effort into dinner, but hardly ever lunch. So today was one of those days I could not make up my mind – was it going to be a bowl of soup? A sandwich? Or perhaps we were going to pick and nibble at whatever we could find? Then I remembered we had that smoked salmon I had been eying and drooling over since it was given to us. So I looked through my fridge and freezer and this is what i conjured up:

I found pita shells, half a wheel of Natural Pastures brie, one tomato and green onions. So I thought a personal pizza would be fun and easy to make for lunch. This would be like no other pizza – it would be gourmet and rich. Not that I eat like this on an everyday basis, but who doesn’t have a craving for something elaborate? I needed a sauce and tomato sauce would not do – the acidity of the tomato sauce would not balance with the smokiness and richness of the salmon, so I thought I could whip up a quick aoli made of mayonnaise, garlic powder, lemon juice and a splash of hot sauce. I assembled all my toppings, threw my pizza in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes et voila! My creation West Coast Smoked Salmon Pizza! Hope you will enjoy this as much as we did.

The Picture is featured in Recipe of the Week.

I have been saving every penny I make lately because I know the economy is not booming quite yet. That being said, not spending money equals to not heading out for entertainment anymore. These days my television is my theatre and my kitchen is used more often to make take-out rather than spending money on eating out. At the same time, though, it is nice to get out and enjoy the weather. Staying in one’s house for too long can make even the most stable person go crazy (ha ha ha)! I had made up my mind and I made a picnic lunch for my husband and I before we headed on down to the Comox Harbour.

The Comox Harbour was a nice place to set up for a picnic and short walk because there some covered areas along the dock to sit and just enjoy the view of the ocean. I like to come down to the Harbour to appreciate the simple things in life and to remember what the Earth has given us for free. We actually did not pack a large lunch either just a few small items:

Picnic Basket

Greek Chicken Pita Pockets Homemade Brownies

Two Apples

Diet Pepsi

I was very happy to be out rain or shine. Although it was cold and slightly raining, it helped that we had coverage for our picnic. Our picnic was an adventure and was not expensive at all – especially if you make your own stuff at home. When you go to the grocery store to get the items you need, it can get really expensive. I like to utilize any leftovers or ingredients I have in my cupboards to make it as inexpensive as possible. I thought about this after the fact, but I should have made homemade cocoa and filled a thermos – that would have kept us warm for sure.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a great time. You can make it a weekly adventure to get out and Explore different parts within your community.

Recently I had taken some boneless pork chops out of the freezer and could not quite decide if I wanted to make the pork chops with mushroom sauce served over rice I make on a regular basis. I do not usually cook much with pork but decided that with my palate changing the older I become, the more flavour, spice and texture I crave in my meals. I did not want my regular plain ol’ pork chops with mushroom sauce. I wanted to spice it up (literally), so I decided that tonight I was cooking sweet chili pork, stir-fried served over vegetables and noodles. I can’t believe I was trying something new – especially after I realized I did not have all the ingredients to make sweet chili sauce. Let’s see how I made out…

You’ll Need:

5 boneless pork chops

1/3 cup of peanut oil (or canola)

salt and pepper

cornstarch

3 garlic cloves

assorted veggies (carrots, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms)

1 package of smart spaghetti noodles

Sweet Chili Sauce:

I pretty much used what I have on hand in the fridge…

1 cup of ketchup

1/4 cup of water

1/3 cup rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons of brown sugar

3 tablesppons of soy sauce

Thai Garlic Chili sauce (Very Hot) – try 1 or 2 tablespoons if too hot

To start you need to season the boneless pork chops with salt and pepper and slice into 1/4 inch slices as in picture below.

Next use sanitary kitchen tongs and lightly coat pork slices in cornstarch (small batches work best).

Heat peanut oil at medium-to-high heat (careful not to burn oil); add pieces of coated pork spread out evenly in wok. Add chopped garlic during the last two minutes of cooking so the garlic does not burn. Cook until crispy and juices run clear.

Once all pork is cooked, set aside in bowl lined with paper towel to rest.

After vegetables are rinsed, turn heat on to medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of water; add cover to steam. Cook until veggies are cooked but are still bright in colour and not over-cooked.

As veggies are steaming, add 1 cup of ketchup, 1/4 cup of water, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and Thai Chili Garlic Sauce to small pot on medium heat. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes before putting cooked pork slices back into wok and toss with Sweet Chili Sauce. Serve over vegetables and noodles. Use the remaining sauce to toss with the noodles to add more flavour. Enjoy!

I can’t believe it is the time of year again to celebrate great food, new wines and old friendships. There will be so much going on and so much to see, and I hope I can attend most of the food and wine festivals this year located on Vancouver Island. Last year I was able to attend the Mount Washington Alpine Resort Food and Wine Festival thanks to my sister-in-law and it definitely opened my eyes to appreciating and supporting local food producers and wineries.

There are many festivals to attend this year including the Parksville Uncorked Wine 2nd Annual Wine and Food Festival from February 25th-February 28th. There are many accommodation packages you can choose from but tickets sell out early so the sooner you buy, the better. The site you want to check out is the official one for more information.

Another great local festival to check out is located on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. Check out the Tofino Wine and Food Festival from June 5-7, 2010. Not only does this festival support and celebrate great food and wine, it also contributes to the Tofino Community Children’s Centre with a silent auction. This is a definite example of giving back to the Community in more ways than one. If you would like to find out more details of the Tofino Wine and Food Festival check out Tofino Time magazine.

The best part of living on Vancouver Island is our instant access to fresh seafood of all kinds. Each year the Comox Valley plays host to the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival, teaming up with local wines, food producers, and culinary professionals. Wine, fresh food, entertainment and an education in our food and culture is definitely a recipe for a great time. The festival starts June 19th and ends June 20th. Just don’t forget your bib! If you want to get any more information regarding The Comox Valley Shellfish Festival, check it out online.

I hope everyone takes the time this year to get out and support your local community. Most of the Island’s town play host to these kinds of festivals, so check with your local tourism site and find out what is available to you. Also be on the lookout for kid-friendly events – they are usually free and gives you and your family a chance to spend time with each other.

Cheers!

I work at this really neat place called the Avalanche Bar and Grill in Courtenay, B.C. I think this is a great place to come down to if you want to just chill out and have a couple of cold beers on tap or listen to live eclectic music, new hip hop groups or perhaps to have a laugh at the local and out-of-town talent every third Thursday on comedy night.

The variety of music and shows they put on are endless and are a great variety for young and old. If you are a musician and want to just get out and jam, the Avalanche hosts a jam night Tuesdays starting at 8 p.m. Also, if you are in no mood to cook before you come on down, try the bite and beer special.

Just recently, the Avalanche Bar and Grill was nominated as Australia’s top 100 places to go to. On January 25th they threw an “Aussome” party celebrating Australia Day – which I found out is just as much a big deal as Canada Day! I was very pleased to see people dressed up wearing Australian flags in their hair, decorated in gold and green, and temporary tattoos plastered all over their bodies to support the one day they all love. Though far from their home, they were able to celebrate in their second home at the Avalanche.

This is what is happening this week at Avalanche:

MONDAY: Karaoke starts at 8:30-ish

TUESDAY: Jam Night starts at 8

WEDNESDAY: Pool and Poker starts at 7

THURSDAY and FRIDAY: DJ Brian Expert (no cover)

SATURDAY: UFC starts at 7

SUNDAY: Super Bowl – Saints vs. Colts (Come in and win some great prizes!)

Check out more information on their website!

Hope to see you all soon!

(Next week i am going to feature another local hotspot here in the Comox Valley. Make sure you keep on reading.)

I was craving some African/East Indian Cuisine tonight, yet I was not eager to open my wallet for takeout. Instead I decided to make some coconut curried chicken. The recipe is as follows:

Ingredients:

2 pounds of skinless boneless chicken breasts or 5 boneless chicken thighs

1 teaspoon of salt and pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons of curry

3 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 1/2 cups of tomato sauce

2 cans of coconut milk

handful of dried apricots

3 whole tomatoes diced or 1 can of diced tomatoes

Directions:

Step 1: Heat oil in sturdy large pot at medium high heat. Add curry powder and garlic cook for no longer than two minutes as you don’t want to burn garlic.

Step 2: Add chicken to curry and garlic and let the curry coat the chicken at medium heat browning the chicken at the same time. Chicken does not have to be cooked all the way through.

Step 3: Now just pour in the tomato sauce, coconut milk, and tomatoes, salt and pepper. Let simmer at low heat for one hour until chicken is fork tender.

Step 4: Add garnish of cilantro, and dried apricots at last moment, and serve with Basmati rice.

This is the perfect dish for a cold winter night!

The reason I call this curry in a hurry is because of the quick, easy preparation, especially if you are in the mood for something warm and comforting. This dish is also very versatile; if you like more spice, add more curry. I add hot chili paste for more heat. You can also use less coconut milk and more cream if you like. The garnishes are also endless! Diced almonds go really well with this dish, as well as cilantro and peanuts.

I hope that you find my recipe easy enough to give it a go. This coconut curried chicken is also affordable and fool-proof. I do all my cooking in one pot and save time and money – something we all need more of.

For Christmas my other half bought me a bread maker. I am definitely very excited ab out the new Black and Decker bread maker sitting on my kitchen counter and have used it four times in the past week! Who really has time to make fresh cinnamon buns, french bread, sandwich bread, cheese bread, and homemade jams and jellies? I will tell you who does – I do! It creates wonderful smells in your home and makes you feel so domestic even though you have used a fraction of the time and taken a little bit of a shortcut.

Just because we don’t always have time to prepare fresh foods and preserves at all times does not mean we can not go out and buy something that will make the preparation easier. With more people juggling children, careers, after school sports and extra-curricular activities, we do not leave our selves much time to cook from scratch. I always remember growing up at my Grandma’s house and waking up to the smell of fresh baked bread, a memory never forgotten and I would love to pass it down to my children and so forth.

So far, some of the things I have made include cheese bread and cinnamon buns (this is where the gym comes in that i just signed up for *sigh*). If only I could eat fresh bread and buns all day long without the agony of burning the calories at the gym! I suppose life goes on and I will continue using my breadmaker.

I find that the more I bake for my other half, the more he appreciates me and my knack for thriftiness. It is nice to know that instead of going out and spending almost four dollars or more on a multi-grain loaf of bread, I can produce this bread at a fraction of the price and in my own kitchen. As well, I was spending lots of money every week on granola bars; now I can send him cinnamon buns in his lunch. This bread maker is definitely more than I bargained for. Soon I will be making some beer pizza dough, so instead of taking out pizza we can make it homemade and save money.

I realize that bread makers are not always cheap but you can find great deals. I have seen some as low as $60, but still I was too cheap to even buy one for myself. I noticed a couple of thrift stores carry bread makers at an average price of $25 – not bad considering you will use it for years!