I did promise not to start another post with a lament about the weather but this week’s storm made all the others pale in comparison!! We had over 50cms of snow starting Tuesday morning and finishing late Wednesday. Schools and even the universities were closed Wednesday and one of the major highways had a 300(!!) car pile up that resulted in many people being stranded overnight in their cars before being rescued.Some dear friends who had a “snow day” came and helped me shovel and together we clocked in over 5 hours of work.It is really hard to look out the window and think that Day Camps are now only 3 months away!But that is Canada for you and in Montreal we rarely have anything resembling spring. One day it is winter and the next summer so there is no excuse but to be very busy doing the work of Day Camp preparation.
After coming up for air on Monday following a super-exhausting weekend caring for 3 of my Godsons, I began proofreading the 2017 Program Manual, the draft of which had arrived in my Inbox last Saturday. I’ve also sent a copy to Janice who has agreed to do a read through as my usual assistant is busy with a Masters thesis and just can’t handle another 90 page document this year! Applications continue to arrive from host communities and I’m also happy to report that I finally have two (partial) TEAM APPLICATIONS!!! Only about 18 more to go 😊In between bouts of shovelling I’ve been sending out badgering notices via email and Facebook hoping to attract some attention. Tomorrow is the Crossroads Youth Service but I’m, afraid I will not be able to stay for it since it follows directly after our AGM, which starts at 2pm.If I were to stay for it I would be out for 8 or 9 hours and Wil would have no dinner so a committee member will need to hand out promotional bookmarks and do some badgering for me!
In other news progress slowly continues in baking for the Training Retreat. Since there was only 1 hour of shovelling yesterday, I spent time in the afternoon baking two dozen bagels and two large loaves of banana bread to add to the stash!Today my baking needs to focus on refreshments for the AGM (small soft pretzels) and dessert for the Day Camp Committee Meeting dinner coming up on Monday (Maple Yoghurt Pound Cake). After those goodies come out of the oven I shall also be carefully melting the wax off the first dozen of my Pysanky. Sadly, there are only 10 eggs left since two showed hairline cracks during the dying process and had to be discarded. Hopefully the second dozen will all be perfect, providing me with a total of 22 Pyansky for Easter gifting.
With all that shovelling there hasn’t been time for many other projects this week, although one afternoon I put in some more work on the wedding outfit so we will soon be able to schedule a proper “fitting”. I’m also crafting notecards for the Retreat week, using the Taizé cross as the design, to fit in with this year’s Retreat Week worship theme. And for knitting, I’ve been working on little stripy Easter Eggs, a WAY safer gift than a Pysanka for my young Godsons!
Well I’m off to put those pretzels in the oven but first we need a recipe. When I had the oven on during the week for the bagels I made myself a favourite supper of Super Spicy Oven Fries. The fries can be served as a main course with a mixed salad or as a side with meat or chicken.
Super Spicy Oven Fries
- 1 lb. small potatoes (fingerlings are especially good!)
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 Tbsps. olive oil
- ½ tsp. coarse salt
- ¼ tsp. each cayenne and chilli flakes
- 1 tsp. paprika
Wash the potatoes but do not peel. Cut lengthwise into wedges.Combine all the ingredients on a large, parchment-lined baking sheet and toss well to mix. Roast in a preheated 425º oven for 30-40 minutes, turning several times. Serves 2-4