Tinkerblue

A gourmet safari on Salt Spring Island

July has been quite the month for weekend trips for us.  The weekend after Penticton we flew to Vancouver Island to spend the weekend with Dave's parents and some friends.

What better way to spend a Saturday than with on a gourmet safari?  We loaded into the car and caught the ferry to Salt Spring Island.  Our itinerary for the day went something like this...

Salt Spring Island Market - tasting blue cheeses from Moonstruck Organic Cheeses, bread from Salt Spring Island Bread Co., goats cheese from Salt Spring Island Cheese Company, cookies from Bite Me Treats, Ty's Tapenade (I bought the artichoke and lemon), Jams, and sauces. 

Poor hubby and Joanna.  All they wanted was a cup of coffee. The first stall had no hot water, the second had run out of cups!  Finally at the 3rd place they found coffee.

We grabbed a dough dog for hubby, and a dough boy for Joanna, Barb and I to share from Lorraine's Kitchen, and wandered through some of the stores in Ganges. 

We saw hubby's dream property in the realtor's window.

Aviators/ Farmer's dream-come-true. This original gulf islands farm, circa 1900, has everything, a charming cottage, garden house, orchard, barn, workshop, airplane hanger,with a 1500' grass landing strip.This 28 acres parcel is very sunny and mostly level, cleared, ideal for a small farm, animals or crops. A very rare and captivating offering.    Only $1,350,000.00.  If any has some spare change and would like to buy us a gift you can contact the realtor here. 

After drooling for a bit we head out to continue our gourmet safari.

Salt Spring Vineyards.  The labels were a hit - they have a float plane on them.  The tasting was good and included local cheeses and breads.  We bought a bottle of Blanc de Noir and a bottle of Morning Star (a sparkling wine).  Not many wineries in BC make a sparkling wine.  I think it's a perfect summer drink.  They also have a very nice blackberry port.  Salt Spring Vineyards is now my favourite. And Bill Harkley, one of the owners is a pilot, so that makes it a hit with hubby.

Garry Oaks Winery.  Not as entertaining as Salt Spring Vineyards.  Staff were friendly enough but not as enthusiastic.  We did like the wine.  We bought a bottle of Prism.  A blend of chardonnay and Gewürztraminer.

Salt Spring Island Cheese.  Very yummy handmade goat and sheep cheese and stuffed olives. Between us we bought sun dried tomato, a pepper, a blue cheese, montana cheese, and some olives.  They also have a very tasty spicy chili feta.

Time to head home for dinner. 

And homemade Nutella ice cream.  Barb, I need the recipe...nutella, condensed milk....

We finished off the day with frappucinos, margaritas and a hot tub.

Next weekend....Texada Island.

Don't forget to watch out for slow moving slugs!

Sign of a Good Wine

What's a sign of a good wine?

Well there's all sorts of technical terms - tanins, varietal characteristcs, acidity, oxidation, 'the nose', etc etc.  Which we know absolutely nothing about.  Although hubby did give me a copy of the Dummies Guide to Wine.

So how do we know a good wine?  We don't really.  We just know what we like the taste of.  So we keep tasting, when we find one we like, we buy it.  How do we choose which wineries to visit?  Well we have a very complicated and detailed formula:

Maybe we been to the winery before and enjoyed it?

Tinhorn Creek is on the top of a really big hill.  Last year we pushed the bikes up the hill.  This year we drove.

Maybe it was recommended to us:

The staff at Quinta Ferreira suggested we stop by Silver Sage - good choice. They have a dessert wine that has a chili pepper in it.  It is very appropriately called Flame.  And yes, we bought a bottle.

Possibly the sign for the winery amused us.

See Ya Later Ranch is pet friendly and they donate 50c for every bottle of 2006 See Ya Later Ranch Jimmy My Pal  to the SPCA.

Probably there was just something that yelled at us, "Hey, come in here."  The doors, like these at Quinta Ferreira:

The bathroom.  At Oliver Twist they even provided reading material:

And they had an amusing mural depicting various wine experts.  In the section below you can see the tourists, and the teacher and her students :

 

Definately if the owner or winemaker or for that matter anyone connected to the winery is a pilot.  That's where The Blasted Church comes in.  Oh and because we like their signs and their wines.

I'm not going to go on about each winery.  We enjoyed them all.  The staff were friendly.  The wine was great.  We bought 2 cases!  We recommend them all.

A Gingerbread Hotel

When we went to Penticton for the Canada Day long weekend we stayed at the Empire Motel.  Dave has stayed there numerous times for business.  He first found the hotel because it was right across the road from where he had to work.  He kept going back because it was cheap. 

(Stenciled above the door inside the room)

He also kept telling me I would like it.  We finally stayed there last September.  He was right, I liked it.  So when we decided to head back to Penticton, it was the first place we called for reservations.  Yep, called.  They have a website,but you can't make a reservation online.

(there were plenty of hooks to hang towels, coats etc)

I'm not sure why I like it, it's not really my taste.  If we were just driving past, we probably wouldn't have pulled in.  But it makes me smile.  It makes me think of Hansel & Gretel or Heidi!  The staff are very friendly, it's a great location, walking distance to the beach, they have a pool, childrens playground, BBQs, wagons tow your stuff to the beach and a playhouse.

(We had a non smoking room!)

The rooms are not particularly fancy, but they are clean, have a fridge, and decor that can only be described as quaint or country.   The price is good.  We like it, we'll go back and we'd recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Penticton.

A plethora of pycnopodia

Back in June, we had the opportunity to take some new friends flying.  Greg and Alecia are new to BC and new to flying.  We were hoping to go to Tofino on the west coast but it was too windy to be comfortable. 

Instead we headed to Texada Island for the day.  Texada Island is the largest of BC's Gulf Islands.  By car it takes a full day and at least 2 ferries to get there.  Flying is much quicker and prettier.

From the airport at Gilles Bay we walked down to the beach.  It was about 15 minutes on a well marked path.  Well it was a well marked path once we found it.

Alecia and Greg had brought luch with them.  So we found a comfy log, Greg pulled up the perfect table and we enjoyed good company, cheese & crackers, tiny pita sandwiches, brownies, fruit and wine.

We went for a walk along the waters edge.  It was too cold to swim, but we did get our feet wet. There were starfish everywhere. 

Most were well above the water line.  I'm not sure why, I'm not sure if they were alive or not.  Nicola, where are you when I need you?  (Nicola is a marine biologist, she'd know the answers).

And then there was this character. 

We didn't see him. Not until I stepped less than an inch from his head.  Did he create a fuss!  He jumped and flapped his tail against my knee a few times.  I though hubby was attacking me with some seaweed. Hubby, Alecia and Greg were laughing so hard.  Once the ugly, slimy fish realised I wasn't really a threat, just a klutz, he buried himself back in the sand.

We spent some time investigating the tidal pools and discarded shells- moonsails, clam shells, crabs, muscles, oyster shells.

And then it was time to pack up and head back up to the airport.

Alecia got to fly us across the Strait. (Greg flew some of the way there.)

I hope Alecia and Greg enjoyed their day.  Hubby and I did.  Hopefully later in the summer we will get to take them to Tofino.

What's in your stocking?

Still working on my Christmas in Progress list.  I'm not really sure what's going in these yet.  I've got a few months to decide.  Something light, because they will be winging their way to some overseas friends. 

Cindy or Jane, if you are reading this, Look Away Now!  Or read it and forget it.

I'm trying to find different was to wrap gifts.  Usually I give up, and just use good old wrapping paper.  I picked up these kits during the Michael's Easter sale. 

They really don't count as crafting.  Almost every thing is done for you.  The stocking is sewn, the decorations are precut, and the glue is provided.  All I had to do was glue on the flowers and snowflakes, and cut out the letters, peel off the backing paper and stick them on.

I didn't really realise the flowers and snowflakes were precut, or I might have bought more kits to make with some little girls and boys closer to Christmas.  I didn't because I was thinking I'd have to do all the cutting, but there's very little cutting involved. And little ones could paint the names, or have no names.

Live and Learn.

Storing stuff

On and off over the last few months I have been trying to organise my craft stuff.  I haven't been inspired to craft recently, and I think part of my problem is my supplies are everywhere.  Its in boxes, baskets, bags, drawers and not very well organised. Some is in our home office, some in the dining room, some in the garage and yet more at the hangar.  So I can never find anything when I need it.

My mother in law has a dream craft room.  I have a mess. We're working on it.  Hubby's building me a craft room in the end of our garage. But it'll take awhile.   So for now:

• everything has been cleaned
• sorted
• put in boxes
• labelled
• and moved to what will eventually be my craft room

Now that I know what I have and where it is, maybe I'll craft some more.

How do you store your sewing, craft, art stuff?

I like these.  I don't need them, have no where to put them, but aren't they cute. They're from West Elm.

It's 5 'O Clock Somewhere

Remember the Margarita maker we borrowed for my birthday?

Hubby really wanted one but it's really, really pricey, and we couldn't justify spending that amount of $$$ on a 'nice to have'.

When we were in Vegas we had dinner at Margaritaville.  While we were waiting for our table we wandered the shop, and drooled over their display.

Well now we own one! My very generous in laws surprised hubby with one of his very own as a birthday present.  Hubby's birthday is in December, but they decided it would be more fun if we had it for the summer.

It's had a workout.  Margaritas, frappucinos, slushies, pina coladas, frozen lemonade, raspberry smoothies, protein shakes...

This is hubby and his mum enjoying a naughty frappucino:

• Milk
• Kahlua or Bailey's
• 1 scoop frappe freeze mix
• ice

Our favourite margarita to make?

The Best Margarita (from Margaritaville):

• 2 oz tequila (we use Casadores)
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 2 oz margarita mix (we use Cuervo's)
• ice

And a low fat version from Hungry Girl.

• 6 oz. Diet Sprite Zero
• 1.5 oz. tequila
• 1/2 tsp. Crystal Light powdered drink mix, I use lemon-lime or pink raspberry lemonade
• 1 oz. lime juice
• ice

Sweet and Spicy

Tuesday was a holiday here for Canada Day.  My office gave us all Tuesday off, and also Friday afternoon.  Lucky us, we had a 4 1/2 day weekend.  More about that later.

I recently discovered Cooks Illustrated magazine.  The cover of the July/August issue caught my eye and made it's way into my shopping basket.   I was salivating over the article Improving Enchiladas Verdes and I couldn't wait to try it out.

We love Mexican food.  And these enchiladas lived up to all our expectations.  Usually when I make enchiladas the sauce comes out of a bottle or a can.  Not this time.  I broiled the tomatillos, and poblanos, and pulverised them!

Hubby gives them the taste seal of approval.  I give the easy to follow instructions a big check.  So the enchiladas verdes are going in our make again file.

I like how the magazine tries out all the variations and shows me the mistakes.  To make sure my first success was not a fluke I tried another recipe.  From the summer grilling issue, the raspberry bars.

They too lived up to their title, 'The Best Raspberry Bars'.  No too tart, not too sweet, not too crumbly, just right.  Best served alone or warm with  scoop of vanilla icecream.

Bon Appetit!

??? sleeps until Christmas

Not enough.  I can't believe the year is already half way over.  Where did it go?

I'm still working my way through that Christmas list of mine.  This was my May project for Christmas in Progress.

Originally I was going to bundle these up, tie a ribbon round them and give them as gifts.

But if I give them at Christmas, then they won't get used until next year.  Maybe I'll use them instead.  Or maybe I'll gift them in November as a 'get ready for Christmas' gift.  However I did have one friend tell me she'd be insulted if I gave her a bundle of cards.  I didn't ask why.  Would you be insulted?

The first group of cards I made in a card making class that a girlfriend and I attended at a local scrapbooking store.

They look pretty but they are time consuming, fiddly and somewhat bulky.  Look closely (or click for a larger image).  There was stamping, inking, crinkling, distressing, brads, ribbons, stickers, diecuts, pop up dots, glue, double sided tape, and little beads.

The rest I made up as I went.  I use these 5 stamps a lot.  Every Christmas.  I think my family and friends are sick of the seeing them. They are made by a local company - The Old Island Stamp Company.

Christmas Message, Peace Forever, Bethlehem, Snowman Scene, and Mountainscape (this one has been discontinued). I have a bunch of other Christmas stamps, but they don't get used anywhere near as much.

I like the stamped cards because they are simple and quick to make. I can make 10-20 in one sitting. The pink snowman was my version of the blue one made in class.  You can see larger images by clicking on the photos below.

Do you make your own cards?  Do you buy your cards?  Or do you not send cards?

Don't cupcake and drive

When I bake cupcakes it's usually chocolate or vanilla. 

Umm, I don't remember the last time I baked vanilla cupcakes. 

But I've found a new favourite.  Tangy and sweet, light and lime-y.  Margarita cupcakes.

(non vegan recipe)

I orginally found this recipe which was taken from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I was searching for egg and dairy free recipes.  Normally egg/dairy free cakes are quite dense or dumpling like.  This is better than normal, and most friends don't even notice a difference until it's pointed out.

I still prefer something a little lighter and fluffier, and now I don't have to avoid eggs or dairy completely, so I found this recipe . 

(vegan recipe)

I took both versions to work recently for a potluck (in Bob the Builder, Garfield and snowflake liners - I was using what I had), and both were a hit.

These would make a great summer treat.

Improvements?  Salted rim and a paper umbrella. Maybe a little colour in the icing.  Or a slice of lime as a garnish.