July 03


A day in between
The 3rd of July is a day in between the 1st. and the 4th, between Canada Day and Independence Day. Here on Campobello, people celebrate both. We are too close to the U.S. for not taking part in both celebrations. On top of that, this year the town of Lubec is having its Bicentennial Celebration these days. It's a time where lots of tourists are coming onto the island. Lubec is gonna have its 4th-of-July Parade today while Eastport has its parade tomorrow.


I have promised Bea to let her in on this blog, so here she is again with her kitchen talk.

In the Kitchen Corner

Today I tried to figure out why in the world am I writing about my dinner cooking?  Was it Peter and his blog? 

"It is so much fun!" he often remarks, and he undoubtedly spends a lot of time in front of the screen. 

Who knows. Maybe I got a bit jealous?

As I was preparing dinner AGAIN, standing at the kitchen counter, I wondered.

What is wrong with most cookbooks or recipes?

Very simple - for the most of the time the ingredients listed are not readily available in my kitchen. I would have to buy them first.

And afterwards - items specially bought for the occasion, like coconut milk or sesame oil, would be sitting in my pantry with a meagre chance they get used again in the near future. What a waste! 

Why aren't there recipes for the frugal cook? Any ideas how to utilize the stuff that actually is in the fridge and pantry?

Having reached that point, I was hit by the idea.

If I wrote about my plain ways of cooking I might "push a button" and find some inspiration out there in the world wide web. And - maybe I would have some FUN in to the bargain! 

So far about my contemplations, now to the food:

Ingredients:

5 small potatoes, 2 carrots, 1 corn ear, 2 small flower heads of broccoli.

Leftover pork roast found in the fridge.

Peter bought strawberries today, they come handy as dessert.

In one pot: Set potatoes to boil, add carrots and corn ear. After 20 minutes add the broccoli. 

Rinse and hull strawberries. Sugar after taste. Set aside.

Slice roast and steam about 3 min in 1/2 inch of water. When warmed up set roast pieces aside.

Use  this water to prepare a sauce with starch, milk, salt, pepper,1 tbsp each mustard and ketchup. Flavour with a tsp of balsamic vinegar and 1/2 tsp of thyme. 

Put slices of roast back into the sauce to keep them warm until serving.

Whip a 1/2 cup of whipping cream for the dessert.

Potatoes are ready by now and we are done.

By the way, we went shopping and my food sources are replenished. Tomorrow I have to do some roasting, I guess. 

July 01 CANADA-DAY  


HAPPY CANADA-DAY!!
It's Canada Day and I should give an account of the events unfolding here on Campobello, but it is way too early to do that, so I will add-on the days happenings later.


At first I must introduce you to something new and exciting. My wife is on fire!!!  No, really, she got the bug of my blogs. And all-of-a-sudden she has an idea which I have never thought of. FOOD, COOKING + KITCHEN. 
Even though she is not the only one preparing our meals, I partake from time to time - if I feel inspired. But before I confuse the matter I let her take over this page and you can see by yourself what this is about.

The eternal question: What do we have for dinner today?

Hi, I am the crazy blog-writer's wife. My name is Bea!

My father was a chef by profession and he used to cook and bake for us all his life. I could say that I am rather spoiled that way. He didn't like us to interfere in the kitchen, except when we had to do the dishes afterwards. :-(  Therefore I learned cooking mostly by trial and error. The only advantage: I knew how it should taste and look like when it was done. My husband says that I do cook good - if I am in the mood. 

To set things straight: I have not much patience with cooking, the task is not my favourite and it is rather repetitive. But - since we have to eat - it is a necessity. 

I certainly do not plan meals ahead. I open the fridge door, peek inside and inspiration hits me - or not.

I try to keep my cooking in a time frame of about 30 minutes. Good for a life spent most of the time in a motor-home.

You will look in vain for fancy cooking pans and pots in my cupboards, though you will find  a wide variety of herbs and spices.

My cooking bears a strong print of European cuisine. We eat meals that are mainly of  German or Norwegian character. You will not find fast- food or deep-fried stuff on our plates. 

Since we are only two people at the table, all roasts or meat-loafs and things I make will last for several meals. 

Enough talk, let's get started.

So - I usually start dinner with opening the fridge and take a look.  What do we have available? 

Red potatoes, diverse remains of vegetables and fruit and 2 leftover hamburgers. (We have to go on a shopping trip tomorrow!) 

I find 1/3 iceberg lettuce, 1 tomato, 1 apple, 1 carrot, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 lemon

OK - here we go:

Set potatoes to boil. It takes about 30 minutes for them to get done.

Tools: cutting knife, old fashioned grater

Next: cut the iceberg lettuce, mince an apple and one carrot on the grater, cut half of an avocado and one tomato into bits. Give all together in a salad bowl.

Before I start the dressing I put the hamburgers into a small pan on low heat to just warm up.

 2 tbsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp olive oil, juice of half a lemon, salt, pepper and herbs (dill, parsley and basil) preferable fresh, but mine are nearly almost dried ones. A handful of unsalted, roasted sunflower seeds and that's it. Toss and set aside. 

Meanwhile the 

potatoes are boiling, the hamburgers are warming up and I can start doing the dishes. 

Since we have no dishwasher I like to clean up while I am waiting for things to get ready.

Dessert: Strawberry/Kiwi Mousse (frozen leftovers, from a week ago)