Happy New Year

Hello and Happy New Year! 2012 is almost gone and of course we are all supposed to reflect back and decide on our biggest and our smallest moments. Radio stations, magazines, and even Facebook are doing the same and in the case of the latter, inviting you to do so as well.

Resolutions are made at this time with steadfast determination that will probably fizz out three months from now...again. Why do we do it? Why do we put ourselves through the frustration of failure yet again? We know we won't stick with it. Science has shown that we tend to take up to thirteen tries before something becomes a routine--and that is consecutive tries, screw up once and you start over. We don't respond well to ultimatums as a rule and a resolution is somewhat of one. We lay it on the line for our psyches but we don't really mean it. If we did, it would be something that we adopted as a life style choice rather than an imposition or punishment. It is also a rather negative thing isn't it? We acknowledge our regrets and vow to do better. We dig up the things we didn't exactly perform well at and structure a goal around its improvement. I say, make New Years Goals instead of resolutions. Acknowledge what went right for you, what was a wonderful experience and vow to repeat it. Set a goal that you know you can do and set another one once you do. Never mind what you failed at--we will never run out of those moments to dwell upon the rest of the year. Right now, it's all good.

This set of articles throws some help to you for meal, drink and entertaining needs and I give you a few ideas for curing the hangover some of you will have tomorrow. Over indulging is inevitable tonight but I do urge you to be responsible, for your own sake and others. Please don't drink and drive.

Have a great evening and a fantastic time tonight, whatever your plans. I hope that 2013 is a better year for everyone than 2012 and that you be happy, be safe and be well.

Michelle


Go to:
Holiday Entertaining: Feeding your Celebration Guests
How to Get the Kids Involved
Curing the Hangover Blues
Massaging the Blues Away

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How to Get the Kids Involved

If you are hosting a family get together with or  without a meal, it is a great idea to include the children in making the party arrangements and during the get together as well. They can help out in a number of ways but to make it interesting and fun for them and get some cheap labour for you I've outlined a few ideas that they can do.

One of the most common things to do in a new year is to bury a time capsule. This can vary from an individuals contribution to a whole cities' endeavour. The kids can gather containers that are suitable such as  coffee cans or cookie tins. They can use metal paint to decorate the tins or simply fill it with their items as is. It's a fun idea for the whole family to get into including making a small ceremony for the burying.

Noisemakers are de rigueur for a New Year's celebration and the kids can make their own. Simply decorate a can( a bean or tomato sauce can is good) with paint, stickers and other embellishments. Fill the can with beads and bells and then seal the can with a pie plate and tape. Top with bows and ribbons. It is absolutely okay to go over the top with this one!

Your kids can make a personalized calendar with your help, from artwork they have created and you scanned into the computer or a picture from your hard drive and edited with photoshop. Simply attach the photo to a cardboard backing and add on pages taken from another calendar. We all get calendars this time of the year so just remove the photos that came with it from the rest of the calendar and recycle or reuse them in another way.

Your kids can also help out with hosting duties. Have your children greet guests at the door, take their coats and show them where to put their boots. If this is to be a dinner party, they can escort the older guests to the table; boys escorting the ladies, girls helping the gentlemen. Being treated as an adult and being able to act as an adult does, helps to make the moment more special.

If there are other children present then they can introduce the children to each other and show them the activities planned for them. Have a room separate from the adults with snacks and drinks just for them. Plan games that mix it up with active fun and sit-still brain games. Have some fun and inexpensive little gifts to give out as prizes. See if you can either hire a babysitter for the night or rope in an older sibling or relative to keep an eye on the room, depending on the ages of the children present.

Above all, keep the night fun and exciting for the kids and not only will things go relatively smoothly for you but it will be a memory they can take with them forever.

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Curing the Hangover Blues

No matter where you look online and in lifestyle magazines right now, you will find a multitude of 'cures' offered for the inevitable New Year's hangover. Unfortunately, not all 'cures' actually do anything or anything good for you. Of course there is the obvious way to avoid a hangover = by drinking lightly or not at all. But not all of us will do that when it comes to celebrating the ringing in of the New Year.

If you do end up drinking too much, the resulting effects can vary from person to person but generally you have a headache, body ache and a queasy stomach. 

Some people swear by eating a greasy breakfast the next day or for myself, eating one before going out (crazy I know). Others stick to something light and easy to digest the next day. I suggest some honey toast or some instant oatmeal as your body needs some carbs right away and your queasy stomach may not be able to handle anything more difficult to digest. Of course, let's give our livers a break and stay away from anything high in fat.

Taking a multi-vitamin to replace some of the lost nutrients from your overindulgence is a good idea. So is drinking plenty of water or even something like gatorade which replaces lost electrolytes. Ensure or Boost or other meal replacement drink is an option but avoid the caffeine based sports drinks. You are dehydrated already so having a diuretic is not a good idea.

The old remedy of Alka-seltzer is a good one for some but for others the addition of other ingredients in it may upset the stomach even further.

Ultimately the best cure is bed rest and lots of it. If you can get away with sleeping the day away and maybe indulging in a bit of personal time with a partner, I highly recommend it.

Soothing the Savage Belly

If you are needing a pick me up and something to sooth the overindulged belly, here are a few teas you may want to have on hand.

Chamomile for a calming aid to digestion.
Ginger tea to help you digest a large meal and to help with taming a rebellious stomach.
Anise tea for some indigestion difficulties. 
Peppermint tea to soothe and help with digestion.

Cheers and Bon Nuit!

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Massaging the Blues Away

Or How to Have Fun with Two Hands and a Hangover...

There you are feeling like you've been hit by a transport...twice...your tongue grew a fur coat overnight and the floor is now your best friend. What could be better at this point,(with the exception of a time machine you can take to redo the whole evening over again), than a lovely, slow and thorough massage?

Here are a few tips you can use on your partner or have them use on you to make some of the ick go away.

Sit up and relax
To get rid of some tension in your partners neck you can do what is called the shoulder press. Standing behind her seated form, rest your forearms on her shoulders and press down alternately then firmly down together as she lifts her shoulders against the pressure while inhaling. Maintain the pressure as she exhales and relaxes. She should roll her head in a slow and gentle circle while she relaxes.

Another tension easing massage to try is rubbing the back of the neck in circles. Press your finger pads into muscles alongside your partner's spine. Make circular motions from the base of the skull to the nape of the neck where it meets the shoulders. Repeat this three times. Hold her forehead and grip the back of her neck. Using your thumb and fingers, gently rub back and forth over the muscles. Increase the pressure as the muscles loosen. Repeat this three times.

A scalp scrub is a wonderfully relaxing way to ease a headache or just stress in general. Using both hands slowly scrub deeply starting from the base of the skull and working your way around her entire head.

Lay down and rest
All you need for these few massages are a firm, comfortable surface to lie on, some massage oil and a pair of willing hands.

Place some oil in your hands to warm up then apply to your partners back by gliding gently up the thick muscles on either side of the spine. As the oil is distributed, gradually increase the pressure by pressing in with your fingertips. Glide up her lower back, following the muscles all the way up to her neck; keeping your fingertips together.

At her lower back, place your thumbs to either side of her spine and press. Make circles with your thumbs and work your way up to her neck. Use your fingertips on the muscles around the neck and across her shoulders.

Music and Other Fun Stuff

Beethoven's Piano Sonata #29 in Bflat, Op. 106 is a lovely tune to relax to and so are a lot of other classical works. However, yours or your partners favourite music is probably the best to choose when trying to release some pain and tension. Some need peace and quiet along with absolute darkness so having a sleeping mask handy is a good idea, either that or some blackout curtains/blinds.

Aromatherapy is also great for relaxing so have a few candles or oil burners on hand and lit to aid in the de-stressing. Incense is all right but some people can be sensitive or even allergic to the smoke so play it safe and ask or better yet, avoid it altogether.

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Dreaming of a White Christmas

Well, here we are again after an interesting two weeks. The weather down here has not cooperated, almost as if someone hit reset and we missed winter. Ah well, there are a few days left for some snow to fall. 

I took off last Sunday to visit my parents in Carleton Place, Ontario for a pre-Christmas get together. Since they have moved, I have tried to visit at least twice a year but for the last two years it has just been myself going up to see them. It makes for a long drive by myself but that just means it's thinking time. I don't know about you but I do my best thinking in two places--one is behind the wheel and I'll let you guess when the other is...Bah-dum-dum.

Carleton Place Nursery

 While I was up there, freezing rain fell and covered everything with a fine layer of ice. It looked fabulous but was a bear to drive on. We paid a visit to Carleton Place Nursery in my uncle's quest to find a fibre optic tree...Yeah, you guessed right, he's a snowbird on his way to Florida. The nursery has a lovely Christmas shop and whoever decorated did a wonderful job. Each tree was a part of a theme and I loved them all. That is a problem I have every year--which theme to use country or glittery or all blue or silver...you get the point. In case you're wondering, my tree is all silver this year with turquoise and lime green accents dotting the rooms. They also had quite the collection of kitchen gadgetry and gifts that are sure to please. I picked up something for family there but I resisted buying for myself or I would have been there all day trying to decide.

I found myself a new stocking! I was chuckling to myself at the thought "Now, that gives new meaning to Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas" that I couldn't take an in focus shot of the thing!

We also paid a visit to the local butcher shop where I picked up the most delicious sausage! It's all handmade in the shop with attention given to unique and tasty combinations. I chose Leek and Feta pork sausages but the chicken and blueberry caught my eye. Maybe next time. The ones I took home with me were a big hit and I'll have to get my parents to get me some more and send them along.

Check out my new BBQ, isn't she a beauty? Found this on display outside of the butchershop. They had a few models of wood pellet burning BBQ's but this one's my favourite. One day I'll move up from charcoal to wood pellet but as of now, I'll have to stick with my wee charcoal grill.

There's just something reassuring about a blatant no bones about it, unabashed display of carnivorous behaviour.

Seriously though, why not slave over a hot grill with a bit of style and humour?

It certainly would be a party conversation starter, wouldn't it?

I love the attention to detail!

Well, that's it for this batch of posts. Hopefully time will allow me to post more before Christmas but if not I want to wish each and everyone out there a Merry Holiday, Happy Christmas, Joyful New Year, Cheerful Solstice, Yummy Kwanzaa, Fruitful Ramadan and anyone I may have missed. Yeah, a bit of facetiousness as I find the whole concept of being offended by well-wishing a mite ridiculous.

Whatever you want to call it, however you celebrate at this time of year, I hope you have a wonderful time.

Be safe, be happy, be well.

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Walk through the Garden

If there is one iconic place in London that has reflected the changes in the town and the world in general, it's the Covent Garden Market in downtown London. From getting a fantastic cup of coffee to finding a vast assortment of artisan cheeses to sitting with a burek and a good friend for some people watching, this place has a lot to please.

Indoor/Outdoor Market  130 King St London, Ontario

Named after the famous market in London, England, it has been the location of a marketplace since it was recognized as London's Official market in 1846. In 1853, a market building was built and in 1903 it was threatened with demolition but received a renovation instead. In the twenties the market square was a favoured place on Saturday nights with the revellers and party crowds. It was also very popular with the 'buskers' of the time including preachers and charlatans. A few changes over the years saw the market bazaar close, the 1853 building demolished and a new parking structure/ground floor market arose in 1956. In 1999, the present market was built on the same site with a design reminiscent of the 1853 building.

Chris's Country Cuts   Covent Garden Market   London, Ontario

Every year for the last three we have been getting our Christmas pheasants (3) from Chris's Country Cuts at the market. We have always received quality good at a fair price and the service has been friendly and helpful. We ordered our birds and took away some jalapeño pepperette-style sausage and it was quite good. They have a wide array of meat products to offer and the combined experience of the gentlemen who are the cornerstone of the business almost guarantees you leave with the fixings for a great dinner.

Smith Cheese   Covent Garden Market   London, Ontario

My favourite place to get some great cheese and compote is Smith Cheese. Those that read my cheese article will know how much I appreciate good quality artisanal cheeses and this is where I get it in town. Be sure to stop by and pick up some Monforte's Tuscano, my favourite sheep milk cheese and for a lovely alternative to typical Gouda, some Gunn's Hill Gouda made from sheep's milk as well.

There would be an outdoor skating rink if the weather was right

During the winter there is a popular outdoor skating rink for everyone's enjoyment and for a bit more lively entertainment, across the street is the newly named Budweiser Gardens, formerly the Labatt Centre where sports and music are on the menu.

Coming to London for Christmas? Don't forget to come walk through the garden for your gift-giving needs. I'm sure you'll find it an interesting and a great place to shop both locally and globally, if that is your thing.

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Wrap Party

There is just something about a tree with glittering, shiny and colourfully wrapped presents laid out beneath it. As children we cared little about the how-to, the expense and the time involved with carefully wrapped presents, we only knew the sparkle and frippery signified an abundance of new stuff; symbols of the adventure and mystery to come. As adults, let's face it--I'm probably talking to the ladies here, using the right ribbon with the right bow with the right paper has taken on a significance comparable to matching shoes with a purse. It's all about the bling. Why? Who cares? The bottom line is that a pretty present is a delight to all who receive one as the care we take with the wrapping can be indicative of the care we feel for the person receiving it. And it's just plain fun to do.

I love thinking up new ways to do something creatively and wrapping presents offers a plethora of opportunities for creativity. Just grab a magazine geared to women, or visit their websites and you'll be left with more ideas than you could possibly utilize in three lifetimes. My favourite thing is to add little trinkets and doodads to gift tags and to slip in small christmassy items in a gift basket or bag. The trick is to include an item that reflects the receiver personally, for example, a kid that loves soccer could get a "bouquet" of pencils topped with soccer ball erasers with a whistle and lanyard acting as a bow embellishment.

This year my focus is on using unique and cheap wrapping, emphasizing the cheap or even possibly free. There is an ancient japanese way of carrying everyday items as well as parcels that can be applied very well to wrapping presents. It is called furoshiki and it consists of a square cloth, either reversible or not, that is then sewn to finish selvages or to add styling. They can vary in size depending on both the size of the gift to be covered and the usefulness of the cloth after receiving it. The gift receiver can then use it themselves as a furoshiki on market day or numerous other errands involving carting things about. They can also use it for wrapping their presents next year and thereby spreading the re-usable message and alleviating their money burden somewhat. For a how-to on wrapping with a furoshiki go to canadianliving.ca/furoshiki and furoshiki.com/techniques.

Going on a nature walk with the family or just you and the dog can yield up some interesting decorating ideas for embellishing a gift. Twigs, pinecones and some good looking berries can look nice on a gift when gathered with other nature-themed items such as an animal charm, or a photo taken the day of the walk, in a keepsake frame. A trip to a secondhand clothing or retail store can provide other embellishments such as costume jewellery you can remove pieces from, ribbons, novelty items such as funky belt buckles and the like.

Here are some other ideas to help you wrap a unique and practical gifts.

• tea towels and aprons make great 'paper' for gifts for cooks
• old maps and travel posters can be re-used for wrapping 
• paper bags decorated with the kids using paint and baubles
• old boxes from shoes, tea, electronics etc, covered in fabric or paper
• scrapbook papers and embellishments can do more than dress up a photo
• old wreaths, garlands and other decorations that can be cannibalized for parts instead of the whole thing decorating a landfill.

Happy wrapping! And remember, as with most things, the wrapping fun multiplies when shared with family and friends so grab a bunch of friends, some wine and nibbles and get creative!

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Feeding Body and Soul: Soups and Stews

Quick and Easy:
Spicy Veggie Crockpot stew

Well, alright maybe only quick in the preparing but this is a slow cooker recipe so it's easy!

2 orange sweet potatoes, cut           into 1/2" cubes
2 medium parsnips, halved and thinly sliced (1/4")
2 onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped

1,2 or 3 jalapeños depending on your love of heat. I used three with seeds and membrane. Hot!!!!

1 can each, rinsed
        black beans
        chick peas
        Romano beans
        Fava beans
2 tsp curry paste, rounded
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
450 ml stock

Throw it all in a large crock pot and set to low for eight hours.

Quick and Easy:
Tomato Curry Soup

I do have another recipe that is similar and uses canned tomatoes or stewed from your freezer. It is different enough that it's simply a matter of what is better for your taste buds. I like them both but this version is "meatier" for lack of a better word. But word of warning--this is a creamy soup with the accompanying fat content. If you are watching your fat intake please don't substitute the real ingredients for chemicals. Use skim milk if you like but stay away from butter substitutes. That's death in a plastic tub.

To eat this relatively guilt-free is to eat it on a day you haven't gone overboard on the fats or for lunch on a physically demanding day. Don't eat this three times a week along with the trips to McDonalds. 

Common sense= fat fighting the healthy way.

3 cans condensed tomato soup--use the can for the next three measurements
2 cans of milk
1 can of broth (I use beef)
1/2 can of cream
1 tbsp curry paste, rounded +1 tsp
2 sweet onions, halved and thinly sliced
butter
olive oil
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp your favourite garam masala blend
8 hard-boiled eggs, quartered lengthwise

Sauté onions until soft and translucent. Add ginger and cook another 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine cream, milk, broth and the first instalment of curry paste. Whisk and heat on medium low.

Add tomato soup, salt, pepper, garam masala and the last tsp curry paste to the onions.

When both the cream mixture and the soup are hot, mix them together. Add more broth if a thinner consistency is desired.

To serve:
Ladle soup into a shallow bowl, being careful to snag some onions. Drop 8 egg-quarters into the bowl. Serve with naan bread or simple homemade crackers.


Quick and Easy:
Caramelized Onion and Sweet Potato Soup

This light-tasting, warming and satisfying soup I developed one winter when I grew tired of heavy stews and casseroles. You can serve this with a chunk of pumpernickel bread or a thick buttered slice of country bread.

1/4 cup butter
1 tbsp olive oil
4 cups chopped sweet onion
1 tbsp packed brown sugar--use any 'though I prefer Demararra 
1/2 tsp freshly ground allspice (two to three berries)
pinch salt--use kosher or sea salt for better health and flavour
3 cups chopped sweet potato--strive for the deep orange type rather than the yellowish.
3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp dried thyme or 11/2 tsp of fresh
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 leek, split and rinsed, chopped, optional

Cook onions in lidded pan with the butter, oil, brown sugar and the first instalment of the allspice and salt. Cook until caramelized. 
In soup pot place potatoes, broth and the second instalment of allspice, salt and the thyme and pepper. Add onions and leek if using. Bring to a boil; lower temperature and simmer for 20 minutes until potato is tender. Process smooth with an immersion blender.


Quick and Easy:
Onion Stew with Dry Mead (or Smithwicks style Irish beer)

I wanted to develop a soup/stew that was hearty and utilized some mead I had come across. I had used the Blueberry Mead for the mustard I canned but needed to use up the dry mead as well. This is what I came up with.

3 large sweet onions, Vidalia preferred, chopped
3 yellow onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups pearl onions, skins removed and stemmed
2 medium carrots, halved and sliced
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
1 tsp each thyme, savoury, herbes du provence
1/4 tsp salt and pepper
8 cups meat broth*
1 cup dry mead or 3/4 can Smithwicks
2 tbsp brown sugar
good dollop light honey
butter
2 tbsp flour
2 tsp worchestershire sauce
2 bay leaves

Saute and caramelize the onions, garlic and pearl onions in butter, brown sugar and honey for 45 minutes. Add dried herbs halfway through cooking. After 45 minutes, add more butter if necessary then add the flour. Cook for at least two minutes to get rid of the flour taste. Add stock, worchestershire, and mead or beer, scraping up any brown bits. Add in the carrots and celery. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 1/2 hour or until vegetables are tender.

To serve:
Rip an artisanal bread into large chunks. Serve a chunk along with a piece of sharp, old cheese and a green salad.

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Holiday Entertaining: Feeding your Overnight Guests

This is the time of year when overnight guests (welcome or otherwise) and weekend-er brunch visits so it pays to be prepared well ahead of time. One of the fun parts of having guests is getting to play host(ess) and plan out the visit. To an organization geek like me, making the million lists dissecting the visit to a nano second is an experience better than...ahem, chocolate.

Honey, I'm Home

Whether your guest is an unexpected cousin you see once a decade or your mother-in-law, you as host(ess) have a multitude of duties and responsibilities. Ranging from bare minimum etiquette to "Hey Martha, I want your job" perfectionism, these amenities and services that you provide your guests are vital. Starting to sound like you are running an Inn or B&B? Well, yeah. Why not? In both cases you are offering shelter and food to a guest in an overnight situation. In ancient times offering shelter to a guest was no light matter--you were in a sense offering your life as surety of your guests safety and the fulfillment of their physical needs such as a bath, meal and bed or pallet on the floor. The satisfaction and health, literally, of guests to your household was of reputation breaking or making proportions. Today, things aren't quite as serious but all the same, the duties of bath, food and a bed remain unflinchingly paramount.

It all starts with the welcome at the door. If you are not artistically inclined, no worries. Stretch yourself enough, or at least stretch your pocket book to purchase a wreath for the door and leave it at that. If you have the time and the inclination to get crafty--go nuts--lights, topiaries, wreaths, whatever, just get creative and had fun, with style and taste of course. A warm greeting goes a long way to making someone feel wanted and a part of things rather than as a piece of baggage you need to store somewhere.

Afternoon and evening arrivals should be greeted with the smell and taste of a warm and bracing drink and tray of nibbles. Awkward conversation can be diverted immediately upon the arrival of food and drink so make sure to offer tasty tidbits to fuel at least a few minutes of conversation. Some visits don't require the societal niceties, such as the visit of a college buddy or your sister but most will require some straining of what gracious entertaining muscles you may have (think boss, neighbour or church member). Having an instant conversation ice breaker on hand is priceless.

Your overnight guest should find a well made bed with extra pillows, blankets and throws. Some people have allergies going both ways--some to feathers, some to the poly fill--so it is a good idea to find that information out before hand and offer that if they come without provisions of their own. I myself always travel with my own pillow for my head, as I have neck nerve issues and one I use to separate my knees at night, as I have RLD (restless leg disorder) and I find the pillow helps. Don't assume however, they will travel thusly burdened themselves. Here is where you can either go overboard or offer the minimum. You can take your cue from a hotel room and stick a coffee/tea maker, hairdryer and new bathrobe if your guest is staying longer than one night. Conversely, you may want to only stick some thick towels and a magazine in the room. That helps for guests you don't want making themselves at home!

The same can apply to the bathing needs of your guest. All that you the host(ess) would have to do most of the time is supply thick and fluffy towels. However, you may want to keep handy a few new toothbrushes, a new tube of popular toothpaste and a new comb. Anyone who has traveled beyond their doorstep knows that no matter how carefully you plan and pack, something will be left behind. As well, if your guest is a close relative, odds are they are assuming they can use your supplies, unless they have special needs that you just can't cover. No body loves you like your family!

If your guest is someone special or if you are just the type to be crafty and love to give gifts, a little something left on the bed or side table for your guest to take home with them is a wonderful idea. It can be anything from a box of local handmade chocolates, to a handmade christmas ornament or my favourite, beeswax candles bundled in threes and tied with raffia or jute and hung with a tiny "dollarstore" charm. ( In quotes, as most things from a dollar store are made in China. I would recommend not buying these types of things new. Buying them and other small trinket items used repurposes them, cuts down on new items being made and the money spent goes into the local economy rather than to a foreign company.)

Rolled Beeswax Candles
Beeswax candles will burn cleaner and with less impact on air quality. You can pick up natural sheets and the cotton wicks at most craft stores.

• Cover your workspace with waxed paper sheets
• Use a hairdryer to warm up the wax just until it is pliable
• Lay one length of cotton wick along the edge of a sheet and fold over about 1/8" of beeswax, pressing to seal.
• Continue rolling up to the end of the sheet
• Trim the wick 1/2" from the top and even on the bottom
• Tie in bundles of three with jute or raffia
• Thread a charm or trinket onto the same material and tie to the bundle

Include a little card and a candle holder for the receiver and it will be a lovely take home gift. Alternatively if you are the guest, this would also make a lovely host(ess) gift.

You can also get your kids into the fun by making some salt dough ornaments.

Salt Dough Ornaments

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 cup warm water

Put salt and flour into a bowl and add the water 1/4 cup at a time until a rough dough is formed. Dump out on floured board and knead until smooth and pliable. Use your favourite cookie cutters and stamp out your ornaments. Poke a hole for the string. Place dough onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake at 300F for 1-11/2 hours.

Let cool. Paint and embellish. 

Road to Happiness is through the stomach

Now that your guest has slept soundly and bathed well, they're going to be hungry. Be warned that even if you have a guest that says "Don't worry about me, I never eat breakfast" as soon as they see others eating they will want to, at least, munch on a little something. Have some homemade granola and yoghurt as well as some winter fruit salad made from apples, grapes, frozen whole berries and a bit of maple syrup for sweetness. Try to avoid exotic imports for the obvious reasons (I covered that in another post). For those that wish a hearty breakfast there are the standard  2 eggs, bacon, homefries and toast or french toast with sausages or you can get a bit adventuresome and make the following:

Peameal Bacon and Egg Shell Pasta

with Hollandaise sauce

18 jumbo pasta shells, cooked and rinsed in cold water, drained

1/2 cup goat's cheese, crumbled

6 eggs, scrambled but still very soft and runny

4 green onions, minced

1-2 tbsp Miracle Whip or mayonnaise

salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp water

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

2 tbsp chopped fresh dill or 1 tbsp dried dill

1 tbsp butter, melted

8 slices of peameal bacon, fried (cured, pickled pork loin)

Combine goat's cheese, onions and Miracle Whip; stir well. Gently mix with the scrambled eggs and fill the shells. Place shells in baking dish; add the water to dish. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes at 350F.

Combine the cheese, breadcrumbs, dill and butter; sprinkle over shells. Continue baking, uncovered, for 5 more minutes.

Blender Hollandaise sauce:

3 egg yolks

pinch cayenne pepper, ground

2 tbsp lemon juice

3/4 cup melted butter

1 tbsp chopped fresh dill or half amount of dried

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

In blender, blend all ingredients except for the butter, for 10 seconds. Continue blending while slowly adding the butter. Serve immediately.

To serve:

Pour some sauce onto the plate anyway you'd like but I prefer a broad swath that will offer sauce for every mouthful. Place one slice of fried peameal bacon on the sauce and top with 2-3 shells (these are very rich and filling). Drizzle a bit of the sauce over the egg shell pasta.

Goodbye is such sweet sorrow

Saying a fond farewell to your guest is another opportunity to do your host(ess) duties by gifting them with a doggie bag of baked Christmas goodies. For guests with children, include some candy and a little toy.

I wish you much fun and success in your holiday entertaining. If you are to be a guest yourself, remember what the work entailed, be appreciative and bring a little something for your host(ess).

Merry Christmas!

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Head Issues: Winter Sport Safety

Increasing the odds

The winter months are naturally the ones that see the least amount of physical activity from both adults and children, even though winter sports rank as some as the most fun to be had in the snow. However, there are plenty of enthusiasts of winter sports to ensure that hospitals and family doctors are kept busy during the winter season. According to the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC): brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children and are the leading cause of death among skiers and snowboarders.

Almost all winter sports have a potential for injury to the head. The speeds reached in skiing, sledding (snowmobiling) and tobogganing can be comparable to a car travelling through a school zone. We know the tragedy of human flesh meeting a vehicle so we can imagine the effects of that same flesh hitting a large rock or tree. Brain injuries, if survivable, can lead to further complications in behaviour, memory and learning. Unfortunately they are also sometimes passed off as not serious if symptoms don't show immediately. This can delay treatment and worsen the effects of the injury often to the point of death. All head injuries should be prevented as a first measure with a helmet and safe behaviour but if an accident does occur then the head injury should be seen by a doctor no matter how seemingly insignificant, especially in children.

How to pick a helmet

• Look for a CSA, CE or ASTM certified helmet (Canada, Europe and USA respectively).
• Make sure of a snug fit with room for no more than 1 finger between the strap and the chin. Don't wear a hat underneath the helmet as, according to experts, it affects the fit. There should be no movement of the helmet regardless of how you shake or tilt your head.
• Use a hockey helmet for skating. A hockey helmet/ski helmet has been designed for impacts typically occurring in falls on the ice. Falling on snow, ice or pavement have different points of impact and the helmet design must cater to each type of sport--ice, snow and otherwise (such as bike riding and skateboarding).
• Use a ski helmet for skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing for the same reasons as listed above.
• Don't buy a large helmet hoping the child will 'grow into it'. This is not a one time purchase. 
• Goggle wearers need to ensure that there is no more than 2 fingers width of gap between the helmet and the top of the goggles.
• Know that after an accident the helmet will need to be replaced. As well, the environment will damage the helmet and it must be replaced regularly to ensure adequate head safety.

Right place at the right time

A large part of avoiding injuries while engaging in winter sports is to be sensible and make the right choices when doing them. When skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing, choose hills that are away from roads, parking lots or other danger areas. For skiing, stay upon the marked boundaries and try to ski only on hills that see proper maintenance. 

Natural ice skaters need to ensure that the lakes, ponds and rivers have at least 4 inches of smooth ice before skating on it. As well, if do not venture out on ice after a warming spell of a few days. Just assume it isn't safe and find something else to do. Children need to be aware of skating protocols such as skating in one direction and at the same speed as the rest of the crowd. If they can't keep up, they must skate on the far outside of the circle. 

One last note

Wear the appropriate safety gear depending on your skill level with the sport in question. That could mean anything from goggles to knee pads. While the padding and helmet will help to lessen the effects of any injury, learning how to fall properly will be beneficial as well. Learning how to fall is important for protecting your vulnerable body parts. Remember to keep arms and elbows flexible. It is instinctive to put your arms out to break your fall but by not stiffening up you can avoid a bad wrist fracture. Land first on your hands with flexible elbows bending into the fall; roll onto the back of the shoulder and continue the roll onto the flat of your back, if necessary, to stop movement.

Make sure you take plenty of water with you to avoid dehydration. Even though it is cold out, we still sweat through exertion. Wearing heavy winter clothing and carting about necessary equipment and gear for the sport all ensure you use up a lot of energy so a healthy carb snack along with the water is a good idea.

Have a safe and healthy winter season!

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Wood Stoves: More than just home heating

Who can resist the allure of a wood fire? The crackling of flames as they dance upon the logs; the flickering warm glow casting shadows around the room; the smell of fragrant seasoned wood imparting a sense of comfort; the feeling of warmth and security as you nest by the fire. These are some experiences that have been with us since Og first rubbed two dry twigs together and burned down a forest—thus inventing fire…and um, cooked meat.

Warming thoughts

When we started clumping together in groups in newborn urban centres we began to get away from burning wood for heat and cooking. Wood was hard to come by in cities and so the change to coal then electric and gas came about. When we moved to cities and into the resulting poverty, we lost self-sufficiency.  Let’s face it, when we give up self-sufficiency for the so-called benefits of urban living, we set ourselves up to be taken advantage of and to be gouged out of our hard earned dollars. In our rural setting outside of London, we pay more for delivery of hydro than we do our actual usage, through most of the year. That usually leads to no bill being less than $120--$65 for delivery and the rest for usage and taxes. We have an oil furnace that costs on average $900 to fill up and we use 1 1/2 tanks during a cold winter. We use an electric fireplace on the cool nights to push the time we turn on the furnace back as much as we can. The simple replacement of wood for oil would lead to tremendous savings that belongs in our own pockets.

As towns became cities and as immigration took on tidal wave proportions, safety over open fires became a serious issue. During harsh times, anything flammable was burned and many lacked the necessary equipment or the means of maintaining equipment properly for safe wood burning. Bylaws began to creep up and soon, wood burning took on a negative aspect that has never really faded. A lost of us have fond memories of huddling around a fireplace or an old wood stove after a day spent tobogganing or for myself, sitting around ours in the farmhouse kitchen, munching on my porridge before I headed out the door for school. However, today we do not consider wood as a fuel source—indeed we have been trained to believe by well-meaning yet misguided people that the cutting of trees for any purpose is morally offensive. As well, we have been taught that wood is not very efficient or at least not as efficient as gas, oil or electricity. Neither is actually true.

If you own your own woodlot or you have done your research into the practices of the business you purchase your wood from, you can be certain about what kind of sustainable harvesting is being done. As long as intelligent and chemical free management is in place, wood burning is the greenest heating and cooking option next to a solar oven. A local and small business is a great option to lowering emissions from transport as they will do a limited amount of delivering, if any. Wood is also a replenish-able resource unlike petroleum and only the sun and wind can beat wood for the ease on the bank account every month.

Search for Heat

There are many dealer of wood stoves in Ontario for both home and especially cottages—we love our summers and falls at the cottage here. There are a couple of stove manufacturers and restorers as well, most notably Elmira Stoveworks. 

The first step in locating a dealer of stoves is to search for one that has been in the business quite a few years, burns wood themselves and has a showroom equipped with burning models. Once you have found a dealer you believe you can trust, choose, with his or her help, a stove that is suitable for your needs from companies that have been around at least 20 years so you can probably rely upon them honouring warranties and having replacement parts in stock, now and in the future.

When considering a wood stove for cooking as well as heating, there are a few points to think over when choosing your new stove.

•      Avoid top loading stoves as they can be messy both to maintain and for the exhaust it spills out when loaded. Loading is haphazard at best as precise log placement is next to impossible. Also, to manage the fire you must move pots out of the way, which can be frustrating and potentially dangerous.
•       Decide if having a water reservoir is important to you. The same goes for the warming closet that is found above. Both are aesthetically pleasing to an old-fashioned type stove but they are an additional expense.
•      Consider purchasing heat shielding as it can reduce the amount of clearance needed from combustibles.
•      Look for a stove that has a north/south loading as there is less risk to logs rolling against the glass door and you can load more logs for full time winter heating. An east/west loading stove can only be filled half full due to the logs falling against the door. This type would be more suitable for milder winters or for use mainly in the cool months rather than the true cold of winter.

Hand and Home.
William Benet Seitz. Bull Finch Press Book. © 1994. p 69.

Materials

There are three main types of materials for wood burning stoves: welded steel, cast iron (with or without enameling) and soapstone. Some say that there is no difference, in modern stoves, between the cast iron and the steel but I have to disagree. Without having prior experience with a steel stove and limited exposure to a cast iron one, I am no expert but any cook can tell you that a cast iron pot and a steel one will behave differently under heat. Stands to reason that the same logic would apply to stoves.

·      Steel—heats up quickly and tends to be more economical

·      Cast iron—takes a bit longer to heat up but radiates heat longer and in greater amounts

·      Soapstone—different story. It absorbs heat and releases it slowly which equalizes heat output better than steel and cast iron. Soapstone would be a suitable choice if you are needing constant burning with not many cold starts all through the colder days of fall and winter.

You can choose a stove that either uses a catalyst to clean up smoky exhaust or a “non-cat” that uses special firebox features that accomplish the same thing. A “cat” style stove can burn cleaner but is also more complex to use and the regular maintenance costs will be higher, with more effort required form you. A non-cat is simple to maintain requiring no mechanical aptitude and allows for different lighting styles.

Placement and System Design

Whether you are installing a stove in an existing house or in a new build home, there are some system design considerations, one of which is stove placement. A stove or fireplace should ideally be located in a main room that you spend most of your time in. It should have a heating capacity suitable to the room—this is where your dealer can earn his money as heating capacity can be a variable thing to calculate and it takes a seasoned professional to know just how to do that.

To help retain and release heat well, use materials such as brick, stone or poured concrete on the wall behind the stove and for the hearth floor coverings. A non-combustible floor is required under and around the stove so why not make it something aesthetically pleasing as well as functional (rather than the option of plain grouted tile or sheet metal). A poured concrete wall would be ideal for a new build home; even better, a concrete wall that receives winter sun as this will help to further reduce heating costs.

Stove placement necessary for the straight run of stovepipe and chimney and clearance of the stove with combustible materials are two other considerations. Another, and to my mind very important, is the location of a path to and from the woodpile. Wood, especially a winter season’s worth, is heavy, awkward and tedious to carry any distance. Try to keep supply and demand on the same level and you can use a variation of the milk door to increase efficiency further. If it is necessary to store the wood on a lower level then utilizing a dumb-waiter style system would be advised.

Chimney placement and the clearance from combustibles for safety reasons, are the rather more important issues even if a sore back and aching knees are to be avoided at all costs. A chimney and stove pipe should both be on a straight run instead of one with bends and horizontal runs. Also, running the chimney inside is better than having a chimney installed outside of the house. This will cause sluggish fires and smoke rolling out into the room when the loading doors are opened.

The following points are from the Ontario Building Code and CSA

The Ontario Building Code stipulates that a wood stove can be vented into a code-compliant masonry chimney without a stainless steel liner. A stainless steel liner is typically recommended (or mandatory) when:

·      The customer is looking to improve the draft

·      The tiles in the masonry chimney are cracked

·      Chimney must clear the roof by at least 3 feet, and at least 2 feet higher than any roof line or obstacle within a horizontal distance of 10 feet (3 metres).

·      You must have working smoke detectors on hand at all times.

Main Clearances for wood stoves:

·      Loading doors: 18 inches off non-combustible flooring

·      Sides: ~ 8 inches

·      Corner or Rear: Anywhere from 4” to 48” (depends on the stove)

        Non combustible flooring:

·      Flooring such as sheet metal, grouted tile or mortared brick and stone.

From  http://www.friendlyfires.ca/html/CMFiles/101F_WoodFAQs.pdf

Firewood and Ashes

It is important to choose a stove that is well designed for ease of loading the firewood and for ash removal. Look for a stove that has a low firebox floor—at least 3 inches below the door to keep live coals and ash under control when loading new logs and raking coals. Ash pans can be convenient if they are of an adequate depth to limit spillage. Alternatively a bucket and small shovel will suffice, often with cleaner results.

Using your woodstove and fireplace

You should either inspect your chimney yourself or hire a company who specializes in chimney cleaning before each heating season begins and twice per year for a wood burning cook stove that is in regular use. In a heating stove look in the chimney for breaks, cracks and missing masonry, birds nests, wasp and hornet nests and any creosote deposits once a year before using the stove. Not burning your stove properly or not burning seasoned wood can lead to a build up of creosote. Make sure you are burning only seasoned wood. Seasoned wood is wood that has dried for at minimum six months but ideally for one year. You can buy a moisture reader to test the wood before you buy/use or you can learn the signs of seasoned wood such as cracked ends and a light gray colour.

Most modern stoves will take wood that is 16 inches in length and it is advised to split your wood into pieces that are four to six inches in diameter for better burning. Never overload your stove—add just a few pieces at a time after the fire has caught (onto wood other than the kindling).

Remove hot ashes and coals carefully and store in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Do not put on or near combustible materials.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of what some die-hard petroleum addicts will say, heating with wood is an efficient and lovely way to warm your tootsies. If your wood comes from a responsible supplier, and your stove is installed correctly and functioning safely, then you can rest easy that it is also a very green option.

There are a lot of gorgeous styles to choose from and the anticipatory delight that tingles through you at the thought of many nights by the warm glow of burning wood will keep you company as you shop for your hearth’s delight…sorry about that.

Hitting the showrooms can be a fun and learning experience and shouldn’t be a time of stress. Take your time to select a knowledgeable dealer, know the size of the room you want to heat, arm yourself with intelligent questions and your experience becoming a self-sufficient energy provider will be a good one.

For tips on lighting, loading and letting the fire burn see www.MotherEarthNews.com for the article linked here.

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