Fred and Morty

For Christmas I adopted two tuxedo male brothers.. Fred and Morty. Black faced Fred, and pink nose Morty. They lived in a shelter in a cage for one year. They were 18 months when they came home. The are both very fearful, we think they were abused in their first 6 months before they went to live at the shelter. 

We are trying to teach them about being outside, I would like them to be outside cats, but I am fearful they will run away, or out on the road. I had them out on leashes yesterday but two cats on strings are very hard for one person to handle.

They were out loose this morning but it took Mark and I a long time to catch them to bring them back in. Fred screams at the door to go out..

They are a handful but they are sweeties!

Fred & Morty

Ice Pan Walking on Superior

Grey Day

It was a chilly damp, mild day today, but the wind was very cold down at the Lake. There is ice building up on the shore, it seems to change every day. I love to hear the tinkling sound of the ice as it undulates with the wave action underneath. Beauties!

My Version of my Gram's Pork, Barley and Sauerkraut Stew

I made this delicious stew for dinner last night. My Gram L. used to make it years ago when I lived with them while I was in college. My Grandpa used to make their sauerkraut, yum! It is an old Polish recipe, but I had to wing it from memory and taste. It is pretty close to what I remember.

Pork, Barley and Sauerkraut Stew

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 large onion, chopped

1 bulb of garlic, chopped

2 pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat, and cubed

3 litres of chicken broth

1 cup uncooked barley

4 cups sauerkraut

salt and pepper to taste

In a very large pot heat the olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until softened. Add the cubed pork and continue cooking on medium heat until all the meat has been browned. Add the broth, and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for an hour or so. Add the barley and cook with the pot covered until the barley is tender, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sauerkraut with the liquid, and cook for half an hour more, season with salt and black pepper to taste.

It is ready to serve!

It makes a lot, but we (three of us) had it for two meals with a little leftover for tomorrows lunch.

Enjoy!

Water Spout on Lake Superior

Yesterday afternoon as I was cooking our Thanksgiving dinner Mark spotted this water spout, funnel cloud out on the Lake. There wasn't much time for me to get a few photos of it as it was moving east on the Lake. The hospital blocks our view, but it was pretty cool to watch it while I could.

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes in Peppers

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes in Peppers

Yesterday morning, as I was browsing through Nigel Slaters book

 Tender, Volume 1, I found this yummy recipe that I based last nights dinner on. 

My sister and her husband were going to stop in for dinner, on their way home from a vacation. I needed something I could have ready for when they arrived, so they could eat and run..

Oh my, they tasted so delicious, it is my new favourite recipe, and very simple indeed! 

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes in Peppers

serves 8

6 large sweet peppers

cherry or grape tomatoes, 2 containers, I used a mix of red and yellow

olive oil

basil leaves, 2 handfuls

Preheat the oven to 400° F (200° C). Cut the washed peppers in half lengthwise, discarding the seeds and white core. Put the halved peppers cut side up in a roasting tin or baking dish. Cut the washed tomatoes into halves or quarters, depending on their size. Divide the tomatoes between the peppers, and season with salt and black pepper. Pour a little olive oil into each pepper and bake until the tomatoes and peppers are lusciously soft, about 45 to 60 minutes.

Puree the basil leaves in 1/4 cup (70 ml) of olive oil. I used a food processor then sieved the mixture to have a smoother oil. Pour into the peppers, this basil dressing will mingle with the warm tomato juices.

Yum, enjoy!

In the future I might add a little minced garlic to each pepper half with the tomatoes before baking, mmm.

Morning Visitor .. Having Breakfast

red squirrel eating one of our neighbours apples

it didn't like how close I was getting

so, I backed off..