Hello Blog Friends!
I decided to go with today’s “traditional” title as Sexagesima is so much more interesting than the more contemporary “Ordinary Time”. Being truly launched into February, that means we are also launched into Season 5 of the Day Camps Cook-Along.
Episode #1 went off well last Saturday despite a few wonky Internet issues as Chef Michelle was joining us from Exeter UK. Fortunately she only lost connection for a brief period and in the end all 5 of the participating families had successfully assembled Fruit Crumbles and popped them into their ovens.
For Episode #2 ,this afternoon, Chef Jessica will be logging in from a new location as she and her husband are currently working on refinishing a table at her Dad’s house so she will be leading the session from his kitchen. Since that is in the suburbs of Montreal I think the Internet will be more secure, although with winter weather one never knows 😊.
As well as sending out all the documents connected with Cook-Along, this week has also seen the completion of the 2023 Day Camp Program Supply List. It is now in the capable hands of Jillian who will be transforming it into a fancy chart, ready to be sent out to host communities. Sadly, still no responses on the application form however at least 2 communities have let me know they will be applying soon.
In a way it is just as well since, last Tuesday evening, Guylaine and I met to discuss file-sharing options for the program materials, which might entail some retooling of the application form as there is a possibility of host communities paying for the program through a link connected directly to the CTM Website. Guylaine has agreed to run some tests before a final decision is made and so if we are blessed by receiving any applications in the next little while we will just process them using the current platform.
Next Wednesday I will be meeting with our Alumni Mini Lenten Retreat Speaker, Robert, to discuss how the schedule will unfold and on Tuesday morning I’m meeting with former committee member Gillian so get some feedback from her on our initial Retreat plans, so that can also be fed into the meeting with Robert. I have already drafted a flier for the event, because it is only 6 weeks away EEK!!!! And it is best to ask people to save the date as soon as possible.
Outside of office time I have finished the sewing (on my new machine 😊) of 3 clergy shirts for a retired priest. I am not fond of making clergy shirts as they are quite complicated and since the only “pattern” I had to go by was a shirt of her’s that she still wears and so could not be taken apart, the cutting out process was more than a little difficult 😊. The next project will be to sew a machine cover as Bernina provides a free pattern to new owners for making a custom cover. I have also been asked to make a hoodie for one of my Godsons and have the fabric on hand but am waiting for his Mum to send me some matching thread.Several special friends, plus 2 of my Godsons, have birthdays coming up in the next couple of months and there are also 2 Day Camp alumni babies on the horizon so I know my machine is going to be in almost constant use 😊.
And in just a couple of weeks I shall also be starting my Lenten discipline of crafting Pysanky. Tomorrow afternoon I plan to look through my books of pysanka designs and make some choices for this Easter.
With episode #2 of the Cook-Along scheduled to start in a couple of hours, followed by some friends coming for High Tea at 5pm I have curbed my baking zeal and am only making some fresh scones (for the Tea), an Apple Pandowdy and a batch of Cream Crackers. Everything is now out of the oven so the next item on today’s agenda is a brisk walk with my furry friend in the hopes of tiring him out just a bit (ha! ha!, fat chance 😊) before the afternoon’s activities, so it is time to close off with our recipe.
One evening this week I made a dish from the Shaanxi Province of China -Yo Po Mian. The dish is super simple but the exciting part is first making fresh wide noodles. These are quite easy to make and are really tasty so do give this dish a try!
Yo Po Mian
- 1 batch fresh homemade wide noodles
- 4 heads baby bok choy, trimmed and sliced lengthwise into quarters
- 4 cloves of garlic, grated
- 4 Tbsps. coconut oil
- 1 tsp. dried chilli flakes
- 3 Tbsps. Tamari
- 2 Tbsps. balsamic vinegar
- 1 handful cilantro leaves
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Combine the Tamari, vinegar, garlic, chilli flakes, garlic and cilantro. Set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil add the noodles and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring them with chopsticks to cook evenly. Add the bok choy during the last minute of cooking. Drain and divide between 4 bowls. Place the oil in a small saucepan and heat until very hot. Divide the Tamari mixture evenly between the 4 bowls and pour an equal amount of the hot oil over each bowl. Gently stir each serving to combine the ingredients and serve immediately. Yum 😊.