I was having trouble falling asleep the other night, and I got to thinking about food I remembered as a kid. Figures, I'd be thinking about food while trying to fall asleep! Maybe I was just reminiscing. These aren't in any order, and may jump around, but that is what happens when you are really tired.
Once in a while, we'd have soup and a sandwich for supper. Not just any sandwich... an oven-grilled grilled cheese sandwich! I remember watching the cheese melt when not stirring the Campbell's mushroom soup. Dad would sneak me his mushrooms. Mushroom soup is still my favourite.
Speaking of Campbell's mushroom soup, I remember taking a thermos with soup to school for lunch. It stayed warm until lunch time. I'd break crackers and add them to the soup. Once I forgot to close the lid properly, shook the thermos, and had a mushroom soup shower.
Another thermos favourite was spaghetti. Mom would make extra spaghetti, warm it before I went to school, and it would still be warm for lunch. I think I was the envy of the class because I had a warm lunch. She'd even put parmesan on top!
When mom got one of those ToastMaster thingys, I loved making grilled cheese sandwiches and jam sandwiches. I loved when the cheese oozed out and when it made the cut mark because the cheese was super crunchy. The jam was just like toast and jam and was usually cool enough to eat by the time I finished the cheese sandwich.
One of my favourite snacks was a spice cake that mom would make. I found out that it was just a cake mix, but it was so tasty! I keep a box on hand just in case I need a fix. One day I'll find a good recipe and make my own.
I remember on our visits to the Maltese "area" of Toronto when we'd go to the Malta Bake Shop. We'd go there for pastizzi. Being young, the pastizzi seemed huge. I would eat the pastry in layers and eventually have a mound of ricotta. Sometimes I still do that with the pastizzi mom makes.
Every Christmas before our next door neighbour, Tommy, passed away, we would visit to wish him and his wife a Merry Christmas. He would always have a box of red delicious apples from Algoma Orchards for me. I remember on the drive home eating at least one of the apples. I've started a tradition of buying one red delicious apple around this time of year.
Growing up, I was quite a picky eater. Still kind of am, but I've gotten MUCH better. When mom would make torta tal-pizelli, I would prefer to eat the crust. It had just enough of the flavour of the filling. Now I eat the whole thing, but still eat the crust separately. Old habits are hard to break, I guess!
I've always had a soft spot for fresh bread. I love the smell of it, the texture of it, and the taste of it. When mom and dad would get a fresh loaf of white (yes, white) bread from the bakery, I would eat it with just mayo. Please don't think less of me. I would eat a few slices with nothing but mayo on them. It was so good!
On our Saturday shopping trips to Oshawa, we would often stop at the Taunton Bakery for bread and apple fritters. I know they were bad since they were deep fried, but I just loved eating the edge pieces. I didn't want the soft doughy parts, just the edges. I haven't had one in years. I don't even know if they even make them anymore.
The kids at school always thought I was weird because I'd sometimes bring some fresh coconut for a snack. When dad would get one on our grocery shopping trips, I would watch him hammer it after draining the water. It was hard to eat, but I enjoyed it. I haven't had a fresh coconut since. I'm a big fan of coconut, so I think we'll have to experiment with one soon.
Well, as odd as some of my memories have been, I hope you've enjoyed my trip down memory lane.
Lisa
Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Mocha Time!
'Tis the season for warm beverages, right? Since I'm not into eggnog or hot apple cider, I drink espresso. What better than to mix my two favourite drinks? Those would be hot chocolate and lattes. Simple simple drink to make if you have the equipment.
What I did was mix about a cup of whole milk(only once in a while as a treat), two heaping tablespoons (the ones for soup) of hot chocolate powder in the milk steaming carafe and steam away. I don't like my drinks super hot, so I steam until it is the right temperature for me. When that is done, I brew a shot of espresso. Again, you can make it as strong as you'd like, but I'm still green :). Mix the hot chocolate and espresso together and you have a mocha!
A nice warm and tasty drink for any day.
Lisa
What I did was mix about a cup of whole milk(only once in a while as a treat), two heaping tablespoons (the ones for soup) of hot chocolate powder in the milk steaming carafe and steam away. I don't like my drinks super hot, so I steam until it is the right temperature for me. When that is done, I brew a shot of espresso. Again, you can make it as strong as you'd like, but I'm still green :). Mix the hot chocolate and espresso together and you have a mocha!
A nice warm and tasty drink for any day.
Lisa
Monday, October 31, 2011
Malta- Day11
Today we had lunch at one of my aunts' house. She made us a feast of lentil soup, roast chicken and stuffed roast pork, cabbage, potatoes, peas and carrots. It was really good. We didn't expect anything like that when they invited us for lunch! For dessert, she had a fruit flan and warmed peaches with brown sugar. Everyone sang Happy Birthday for Joe :).
For supper, we went to a small place called Cafe Jubilee. They started us off with a plate of galletti (Maltese water crackers) with olives and a smoky cheddar. Then I ordered a spaghetti alla carbonara since I've never had someone else make it, only my own. Joe had ravioli filled with ġbejniet. They were really good! I was afraid to try them, as I am with everything, but I tried a piece of one, and enjoyed it. The sauce was a bit acidic for my liking. Aunty Mary gave me a deep fried ġbejna to try, and it resembled mozzarella sticks, only way better. Joe wants me to learn how to make them now! For dessert, we shared imqaret with vanilla ice cream. The imqaret were so hot, it was melting the ice cream! Man, the ice cream here is something else!
All this food talk is making me tired!
Ċaw!
Lisa
For supper, we went to a small place called Cafe Jubilee. They started us off with a plate of galletti (Maltese water crackers) with olives and a smoky cheddar. Then I ordered a spaghetti alla carbonara since I've never had someone else make it, only my own. Joe had ravioli filled with ġbejniet. They were really good! I was afraid to try them, as I am with everything, but I tried a piece of one, and enjoyed it. The sauce was a bit acidic for my liking. Aunty Mary gave me a deep fried ġbejna to try, and it resembled mozzarella sticks, only way better. Joe wants me to learn how to make them now! For dessert, we shared imqaret with vanilla ice cream. The imqaret were so hot, it was melting the ice cream! Man, the ice cream here is something else!
All this food talk is making me tired!
Ċaw!
Lisa
Malta- Day10
Today was a busy day! We stopped for coffee (espresso and cappuccino) at one of the many little cafés after a tour of St. John's Co-Cathedral. I was feeling rather drowsy, so we had two! I think this might be a habit that will continue when we are at home.
For lunch, we went down to the waterfront and dined at an Italian place called Pepe Nero. We started with a mushroom soup that was quite good. To think, I've never tried to make it! We then each had a pizza. I had a mushroom pizza that had porcini and button mushrooms (it was a mushroom kind of day!) and Joe had a pizza with zucchini, eggplant and peppers. It was all very filling. Aunty Mary's friend gave us għadam tal-mejtin (Dead Man's Bones). They are almond filling cookies that are in the shape of bones. They are popular around this time because of All Saints day and All Souls day. The "bones" are covered with icing. Anything with almonds is a-okay with us!
Since we weren't very hungry in the evening, we stopped at Busy Bee in Ta-Xbiex/Msida. Dad is always talking about their food. Joe finally got to try Lampuki Pie. He liked it. It apparently didn't taste fishy, but boy did it smell fishy! I just got 2 pastizzi. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with the piżelli (peas) ones. I haven't had good experiences with them while here. Mom's are WAY better. Since it was Joe's birthday, I got us two pastries to share once back at the hotel. One was a layer cake with coconut and chocolate. It was obvious that they put some kind of liqueur in the cake. I also got what looked like a canolli, but with more of a pastry shell as opposed to a deep fried crunchy one. It had a vanilla cream inside and was rather tasty too.
Boy am I going to miss some of this stuff when we come home!
Ċaw!
Lisa
For lunch, we went down to the waterfront and dined at an Italian place called Pepe Nero. We started with a mushroom soup that was quite good. To think, I've never tried to make it! We then each had a pizza. I had a mushroom pizza that had porcini and button mushrooms (it was a mushroom kind of day!) and Joe had a pizza with zucchini, eggplant and peppers. It was all very filling. Aunty Mary's friend gave us għadam tal-mejtin (Dead Man's Bones). They are almond filling cookies that are in the shape of bones. They are popular around this time because of All Saints day and All Souls day. The "bones" are covered with icing. Anything with almonds is a-okay with us!
Since we weren't very hungry in the evening, we stopped at Busy Bee in Ta-Xbiex/Msida. Dad is always talking about their food. Joe finally got to try Lampuki Pie. He liked it. It apparently didn't taste fishy, but boy did it smell fishy! I just got 2 pastizzi. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with the piżelli (peas) ones. I haven't had good experiences with them while here. Mom's are WAY better. Since it was Joe's birthday, I got us two pastries to share once back at the hotel. One was a layer cake with coconut and chocolate. It was obvious that they put some kind of liqueur in the cake. I also got what looked like a canolli, but with more of a pastry shell as opposed to a deep fried crunchy one. It had a vanilla cream inside and was rather tasty too.
Boy am I going to miss some of this stuff when we come home!
Ċaw!
Lisa
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Malta-Day9
Today Joe and I went to a place called South Street. It was a modern cafe on one of the side streets. We had cappuccino and espresso. On the side, there was a small cube of pudina tal-ħobż. That is a bread pudding that often has dried fruit in it and nuts. It is a cake-like treat. Joe ordered a sandwich that was on local crusty bread with tomato paste from Gozo, sun-dried tomatoes, ġbejniet, and pickled onions. I had a panini with chicken, lettuce, tomato and cheese. It was a very satisfying brunch.
In the afternoon, we got some imqaret to hold us until supper.
For supper, we went to Trabuxu for a fantastic supper. Joe had a penne with eggplant and I had a spaghetti ragu. The sauce was amazing! Of course, I asked the waiter to leave the dish of Parmesan at the table, and we almost finished it! Joe tried some white wine, and he liked it. It was a local wine. For dessert, I had the best strawberry ice cream I've ever had. It was made in Gozo, an island that is part of Malta. Joe had banoffi which was a banana and caramel toffee cream pie on a very tasty crust. It blew us away. I may have to attempt making that one in the future!
More adventures to come in our last few days!
Ċaw!
Lisa
In the afternoon, we got some imqaret to hold us until supper.
For supper, we went to Trabuxu for a fantastic supper. Joe had a penne with eggplant and I had a spaghetti ragu. The sauce was amazing! Of course, I asked the waiter to leave the dish of Parmesan at the table, and we almost finished it! Joe tried some white wine, and he liked it. It was a local wine. For dessert, I had the best strawberry ice cream I've ever had. It was made in Gozo, an island that is part of Malta. Joe had banoffi which was a banana and caramel toffee cream pie on a very tasty crust. It blew us away. I may have to attempt making that one in the future!
More adventures to come in our last few days!
Ċaw!
Lisa
Malta- Day 8
Today Aunty Mary brought us sandwiches, so we didn't eat out for breakfast. She likes doing it, and they are good. While we were out, we treated her to a cappuccino. I had a large one that came in a clear glass mug. It looked neat! Joe had his usual espresso. I also picked a few sweets for us to share. They were all with almond and some had a hint of lemon. I'm going to miss those!
For supper, we just went to a small place in Senglea (L-isla) since we both had our blood sugar dropping. We went to a place called Caffe di Capri (I think) and we all had fish and chips. The fish was really soft, so we think it might have been cod. It was so filling, so I only ate the olives on the salad. For some reason, the salads don't come with dressing. That was the first time we had chips (fries) since we got here.
After we got back to the hotel, we went to Pegasus, the restaurant in the hotel, and got some ice cream. Joe had ġelat tan-Nanna, and I had coconut ice cream. Oh my, that coconut was sooo good! It had little chocolate chunks in it too.
Unfortunately, time is ticking away, and this adventure will be over before we know it!
Ċaw!
Lisa
For supper, we just went to a small place in Senglea (L-isla) since we both had our blood sugar dropping. We went to a place called Caffe di Capri (I think) and we all had fish and chips. The fish was really soft, so we think it might have been cod. It was so filling, so I only ate the olives on the salad. For some reason, the salads don't come with dressing. That was the first time we had chips (fries) since we got here.
After we got back to the hotel, we went to Pegasus, the restaurant in the hotel, and got some ice cream. Joe had ġelat tan-Nanna, and I had coconut ice cream. Oh my, that coconut was sooo good! It had little chocolate chunks in it too.
Unfortunately, time is ticking away, and this adventure will be over before we know it!
Ċaw!
Lisa
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Malta Day7
Today we went to Għejn Tuffieħa, also known as Golden Bay with my cousin Noel. It was an interesting drive. We passed where they grow the produce. We had lunch at AGiOLIO which is right beside the beach. I had a bbq chicken pizza, and Joe had one with rocket leaves, Parma ham, and had Parmesan shavings on top. It was soooo good. The pizzas are thin crust, and delicious!
We stopped for coffee at a place in Birgu called Riviera del la Marina. We had our usual espresso and cappuccino. It was nice to sit and talk with all sorts of boats docked near by.
For supper, we went to a little place called Rampila. It wasn't far from the hotel so Joe wouldn't get exhausted walking. We ordered a platter with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, and rocket leaves. Rocket leaves are like arugula. For our mains, Joe had rabbit again and I had pork fillets filled with Brie, sun-dried tomato, and asparagus. Joe liked the rabbit, and said it tasted better than the one he had yesterday. It looked like they gave him a whole rabbit! The pork didn't really have the flavour of the pork we get in Canada. The pork was probably raised here, so it would obviously have a different taste. We couldn't believe the price of the water. If we had known, we wouldn't have had two bottles at €5 per bottle that was 750mL! Water in Valletta is expensive, even in the little grocer on the main stretch. I thought €1 for a 2L bottle was steep!
We had lots of adventures today :)
Ċaw!
Lisa
We stopped for coffee at a place in Birgu called Riviera del la Marina. We had our usual espresso and cappuccino. It was nice to sit and talk with all sorts of boats docked near by.
For supper, we went to a little place called Rampila. It wasn't far from the hotel so Joe wouldn't get exhausted walking. We ordered a platter with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, and rocket leaves. Rocket leaves are like arugula. For our mains, Joe had rabbit again and I had pork fillets filled with Brie, sun-dried tomato, and asparagus. Joe liked the rabbit, and said it tasted better than the one he had yesterday. It looked like they gave him a whole rabbit! The pork didn't really have the flavour of the pork we get in Canada. The pork was probably raised here, so it would obviously have a different taste. We couldn't believe the price of the water. If we had known, we wouldn't have had two bottles at €5 per bottle that was 750mL! Water in Valletta is expensive, even in the little grocer on the main stretch. I thought €1 for a 2L bottle was steep!
We had lots of adventures today :)
Ċaw!
Lisa
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