Toronto…

Probably all of you know by now that I am Canadian and come from a city just outside (about 10 minutes) of Toronto.  I wasn’t able to make it up there last year and it hit me really hard so I was determined to make it up there for my Brother-in-Law’s and sister’s birthday this year…

We hung out with dogs and family…

Went to the beach on a very hot and hazy day…

Swam in Marlene’s pool on a very hot and sunny day…

Played at the Ontario Science Center (see how tall and thin we are?)…

And we ate, oh did we eat…

Recipe to come…

Next up is the grand finale!  And what a finale it is…

Pennsylvania for the 4th of July!

Well we had a great time in DC but really wanted to be far away from the city by the 4th of July.  We were there on the 2nd and the city was already gearing up!

We headed to where Tony is from and spent 5 fun filled days with family.

We picked wild berries…

We played with cousins…

Took some time to smell the flowers…

We had mojitos…

Ran in fields under clear blue skies…

We ate, lots…

We went to the girl’s first drive in movie…

We swam…

We had birthday cake…

Made fire dogs and s’mores

Caught fire flies… 
Watched fireworks being shot into a clear night sky… 

From here Tony sadly headed home and I went on to Toronto with the girls…Much more to come!!!

Summertime…

It is summer in the northern hemisphere and I have really been enjoying it to the absolute fullest.  Eating, hanging out with friends (old and new) and family, traveling and eating some more. 

I have picked out some pictures to highlight the first couple of days of our trip to Washington, DC and then to Pittsburgh before we headed to see family for the remaining 2+ weeks.

Washington, DC

Checking out the dino’s at the Smithsonian

Crashing the Smithsonian staff picnic in the National Mall

The White House bee keeper’s collecting honey

Pittsburgh, PA (The Strip District)

Best little donut shop!  Tiny and with little donuts…

German Chocolate

Favorite spice shop ever!

Best sandwiches ever!  White bread, French fries, coleslaw and your choice of meat…very efficient these Pittsburghers!

Pastrami somewhere under all of the sides…

Greek treats from one of the street vendors.  Delicious!!!!

Greek street vendors…

Once we left Pittsburgh we headed to Tony’s family to celebrate the 4th of July and Kyra’s 10th birthday.  More to come…

Wordless Wednesday

Is it Mojito time yet?

 

What We Ate with links and recipes…

So I posted a teaser the other day of all f the food that we ate over the Memorial Day weekend but right after that my computer developed a virus and it took me until Friday of last week to get everything figured back out.  I was so lucky and ended up not losing anything but some of the files are different and I had to reinstall some things.  Anyway as promised…

Starting from the upper right hand corner and going clock wise and finishing up in the middle:

  Tzatziki sauce – this is typically used with souvlaki and gyros but we used the leftovers all weekend sometimes even as a salad dressing!!!

 Greek Salad – Really simple dressing that is fresh and quick to make.

 Marinated Shrimp Salad – So simple and the best thing is you make it the night before and allow it to marinate all night.  Then just take it with you the day of the party.

Watermelon infused with watermelon Vodka:  Simply take a whole water melon and cut a hole in the skin just large enough for a funnel to fit in.  Do this about 12 hrs before serving.  Fill the funnel with watermelon vodka and allow the watermelon to absorb it.  Keep doing this until the desired amount is in the watermelon.  Chill and slice immediately before serving.  Place a cork in the whole for transporting to the party!

 Pork Souvlaki:  This is the souvlaki recipe that I got from my friend Peter over at Kalofagas.  It is the best I have ever tasted and made by me at home!

Bread – We bought it from our favorite German bakery and brushed it with garlic infused olive oil and grilled it…

 
Michelob Ultra – Yummmmmm!

Summer Berries with berry reduction and whipped cream (recipe to follow in a day or so)

Happy Summer!!!

Finally my computer is back to normal and “healthy” banana bread!

I have had some major issues going on with my computer and the bank for the past week.  My computer was attacked by a virus and then my bank account was compromised so they cancelled my access…been a fun week trying to get everything back to normal but at least my computer is up and working!!! 

Most of you know that I have been trying to eat healthier and lose some pounds that have been steadily creeping up. Well, I am proud to say that I am now down almost 20 lbs from what I was at the beginning of the year!!!  Feeling much better and liking the way that my body feels and looks!  One of the things I have been doing is not baking so much but when I do to substitute some of the fat for apple sauce, bananas or pumpkin puree.  So the other day when I had some oldish bananas I set to work…

Banana, Strawberry and Chocolate Chip Quick Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup banana, mashed (about 2 medium sized bananas)
1/4 cup milk
2 cups all purpose flour (next time I will try 1/2 of it whole wheat flour)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks (I used semi-sweet but you can use what you like)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F

• In a mixing bowl mix the apple sauce and sugar.
• Add the eggs one at a time and beat well after each one.
• Add the banana and the milk.
• In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and salt and add to the wet mixture until just blended.
• Using a spoon mix in the strawberries and chocolate chips
• Pour into a greased 9X5X3 inch loaf pan and bake in your preheated 350 degree over for about 1 hr and 10 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
• cool for 10 minutes in pan then remove to cool completely on a wire rack.

***Based on 16 slices from the loaf of quick bread this is 3 WW Points

What we ate...

Hopefully I will be able to get a full post up soon...wish me luck!

Oh, and that watermelon? Filled with watermelon Vodka!!!