dill pickles

made my 1st attempt at dills in the fall
overall not bad...but i like a more 'briney' liquid
so next time a few changes
the recipe i found in canadian living cookbook
it was easy and simple
clean and pure
good quality food made simple is my fav

4lbs of small cucs (5-8cm)
6 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
1/4 cup salt
2 cloves of garlic and 2 large springs of dill for each jar

a. wash cucs well
b. bring water, salt and vinegar to boil
c. in hot/clean and sterilized jars* add 2 cloves of garlic and sprays of dill and pickels
d. fill jars with boiling liquid, leaving 3mm space at top
Optional...boil jars in water bath for 15 mins...i did this step...it will soften the pickles a little
e. seal with hot/clean and sterilized lids
f. leave to rest on counter over nite, checking for seal 'suck' in the morn...refrigerate any unsealed jars
g. allow to 'pickle' for 4-6 weeks
*i used 12 x 500 ml jars and two 1 lt jars...the little jars are good for gifts...but i like the larger jars for capacity

sterilizing jars 101(canadian living)
+wash jar in hot and soapy water
+place jars on baking sheet, with all tools in 225F over for 15 mins
+place lids and screw tops in boiling water for 5 mins
+optional...boil jars in water bath for 15 mins

food glorious food

an ode to my favs...not that i have met a food i dont like

1. dim sum
2. swiss chalet
3. sushi
4. french fries
5. bacon
6. ice cream
7. butter tarts
8. olive garden bread sticks
9. clam chowder
10. fresh bread with butter

mint jelly/sauce

i wanted to do something with all the mint i have growing in my herb garden
i grew up with a combo of mint jelly and mint sauce served with lamb
i didnt find a recipe online so i made this 'hybrid' one up
i didnt want it to be too solid, nor too runny, so i played with the amount of pectin
i also wanted the combo of sweet(sugar/mint jelly) and sour (vinegar/mint sauce) to be right
it looks good in the jar...i have yet to try it

1 cup pyrex glass measuring cup loosely filled with picked/washed mint leaves
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
30g (half a 57g bag) pectin powder

1. wash and pick mint
2. add mint & vinegar to food processor and 'whiz' till chopped
3. pour into pot, add water, sugar and bring to a boil
4. boil for 5 minutes, stirring
5. turn off and let steep for 10 minutes
6. prepare sealer jars/lids
+place clean jars in 350F oven for 10 minutes
+place lids in pot/water and bring to a boil for 10 minutes
7. after 10 minutes add pectin to mint mixture and bring mint back to boil for 1 minute, stirring
8. pour mint jelly into sterilized jars with pyrex glass measuring cup
9. place lids on top and tighten
10. place jars in boiling water and seal for 10 minutes
11. remove jar and let cool for 24hrs without disturbing

makes 8 x 125ml jars

fav films of all times

i thought i had this post and i would add to it
but i dont
now i do
recently having attended some TIFF screening at the 2010 extravaganza
i was moved to make it happen...and i came across 'best in show' the other nite on tv and wanted to add it
i love film
always have
i had a teacher in high school who had a film class and he really opened my eyes to film as art
i feel i connect to film on many fronts
first as a story form
second as a art form
and thirdly as entertainment
so my favs include...in no particular order...

-best in show

-brokeback mountain

-hanging garden

-

this is a post in progress
i will add i as i remember/find

the social network

just finished reading kristen chenoweth's bio/auto
and in related news...lovin her ex's (aaron sorkin) new movie trailer
http://www.thesocialnetwork-movie.com/
check it out...a good trailer is a art form...and this one grabs me

joan rivers : a piece of work

oh my god
i love joan rivers
couldnt tell you when it started...just always have
and her new doc FINALLY was released in the t-dot
i was at the first screening...
needless to say i laughed, i cried and i ate soem milk duds
go see it
it is awesome and astounding!

The Parting Glass by Liam Clanc

Of all the money e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should go and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall,
Then fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.

songs that pause me

1. everybody hurts -rem
2. hallelujah - kd lang
3. someone to watch over me
4. both sides now - jodi mitchell
5. stuck in the moment -U2
6. wont back down -tom petty
7. smile -charlie chaplain
8. true colours- cyndi lauper
9. clair du lune - debussey
10. not ready to make nice -dixie chicks
11. somewhere over the rainbow -judy garland

82nd oscar picks...

rich’s oscar picks..not predictions...ps-i vote with my heart!

best picture=
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
rich note: i could live The Hurt Locker

best director=
Kathryn Bigelow/The Hurt Locker
rich note: viewed all five of these films

lead actor=
Jeff Bridges/Crazy Heart
rich note; i havent seen the colin firth performance

supporting actor=
Christoph Walltz
rich note: the only other performance i have seen in this cat. is Matt’s

lead actress=
Gabourey Sidbe/Precious
rich note: i would always support giving Meryl an oscar...and as julia child...SHUT UP!

supporting actress=
Mo’Nique/Precious
rich note: Mo’Nique’s performance scared the shit out of me

animated film=
The Princess and the Frog (loved the musical of it and the hand drawn animation)
rich note: didnt see Fantastic Mr Fox (have read the book) or The Secret of Kells

adapted screenplay=
Precious

original screenplay=
Inglourious Basterds

rich’s wishes= to see more docs...that the only foreign laug. film i saw wins ‘The Milk of Sorrow’(Peru

doggie cookies

so i attempted dog cookies for the 1st time
a BIG yellow lab owns my house and it was her 5th bday
not sure why i havent done this before
i did some research online and then kinda came up with a combo recipe
she loved them...needless to say...after all she is a lab

MOMO's bday cookies

1 apple
2 tbsp of peanut butter
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
water to bind

in food processor chop apple
add peanut butter, flour and oat
mix to combine
add water as needed
wrap batter in plastic wrap and put in freezer for 20 mins
heat oven to 400ºF
line baking sheet with parchment paper
slice dough into 1/4' slices and place on paper
bake for 20 mins...turn oven off and leave in oven for another 20 mins
store in an air tight container

facebook

i think i figured it out
it is facebook that keeps me from loving you blog
it is its fault you have been neglected
i am sorry
i will try to change this
please understand

avatar

not sure how much i like you avatar
i did get lost in you
i did laugh at your cliches
i did love the bioluminescence
i loved it when the audience clapped at your end
time will tell
and giovanni ribisi returns to the BIG screen
hmmm

our mother...

earth things that absorb me...
happy earth day 2010
1. sunsets
2. windy days
3. late night thunder storms
4. the northern lights
5. stars
6. snow
7. water
8. beaches
9. seasonal change where i live
10. trees

2010

one year a go i started this blog
one year later i have done a pretty good job
while i didnt get to it every week...i almost made once a month
so i shall continue in 2010...one a month... will do my best!