The Times They Are A Changin'

It amazes me how quickly things can get out of hand.  It use to be that decorating for Halloween meant you left the porch light on, so kids knew you had candy.  Today, Halloween decorations rival Christmas.

Mind you, I am not complaining.  It is easily one of of my favourite times of the year,  I can feel the excitement in the air.  Even in my forties, I still have to make a trip down the Halloween aisle when I am at the store.

Well it use to be an isle, now it is more of a section, or an entire store.  Over the past few years, I have looked forward to the "Halloween Shop" opening up at the local mall.  This year, we have at least five such stores, and they are not just a small store at the mall, but have taken over old Future Shops and Targets.

I can remember when my Father's idea of decorating the house for Halloween meant changing the white flood light over the front porch for red or green.  And when we got a portable tape player, yes tapes not CDs, he would put it in a front window playing scary sounds or Halloween music. 

In our neighbourhood there are a fair few houses that are decorated (and lit up) for Halloween. Happily, I can say they out number the housed already decorated for Christmas.  We even have a blow up cemetery, complete with blow up Spectre of Death, black cats, and Frankenstein's Monster.

I am looking forward to tomorrow as much as the kids.  I will enjoy running errands with my wife and seeing which store allowed their employees to dress up, and how many employees do.  However, I am likely looking forward to Sunday morning just as much....Halloween chocolates fifty per cent off or better!

Pull To The Right

Today is going to be a two post day.  I did not start this blog with the intent of ranting , raving, or using it as a soapbox.  However, yesterday, I saw thing that I just felt a need to comment on.

Way back when I was getting my driver's license, I took the Young Driver's of Canada training course.  While I spent countless hours driving randomly around town, I also spent two days in the classroom learning the rules of the road.

One of the lessons I recall was when you hear a siren or see flashing lights, pull over to the right and allow the Police car, Fire truck, or Ambulance to pass by. Seems simple enough, right?  Get out of the way so they can go do their job.

Yesterday, my wife and I were out running some errands.  As we approached an intersection, we heard the sirens and pulled over to the right.  As did the few drivers in front of us, giving the Police Officer a clear path through the intersection.

However, the light was red, and the officer sat there with his lights flashing and siren blaring as traffic going the other way continued through the intersection.  I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, after all, we live in a city where stop signs seem to be optional.

As I write this, I am remembering a similar story.  My parents had come to visit me (in another time and place).  My Father having pulled over and stopped to allow a Fire truck to pass got honked at for holding up the car behind him.

Currently, it is a requirement for persons over 85 to test annually to retain their license.  Personally, I think a similar system should be introduced for the rest of us, where you have to test every five years. I do not think a refresher of the rules of the road would be such a bad thing.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Enjoy this fall and winter season with a classic comfort food brought to you in bowl.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 tablespoon butter
• 2-3 tablespoons flour
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 celery ribs, diced
• 1 x 10 ounce bag frozen peas
• 3 carrots or 12 mini carrots, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups half & half
• 4 cups water
• 2 ½ tablespoons chicken base
• 4 teaspoons Montreal Steak seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, once water is boiling add in potatoes and cook until tender. 
• Strain potatoes from pot and set them aside in a bowl.
• In a large pot, over medium to high heat add butter, once butter has started to melt add in carrots, cook for 1-2 minutes, then add in onion and celery, season vegetables with 2 teaspoons of Montreal Steak seasoning. 
• Cook until onions are translucent. 
• Add in water and chicken base, bring is a boil. 
• Let it cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
• In a water bottle or cup with lid add ½ cup of half & half with the flour, shake vigorously. 
• Add in the remainder of the milk to the pot and then add in flour mixture. 
• Add in frozen peas, potatoes and cubed chicken, season with salt and pepper and add an additional 1-2 teaspoons of Montrell Steak seasoning. 
• Let it simmer 30 minutes, until the soup starts to thicken.
• Remove from heat and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to cool, then serve.

Let Chaos Reign

We are three weeks away from receiving the keys to our new apartment, and twenty four days away from our date with the movers. Sure three weeks seems like a long time, but before you know it it will be the night before the movers arrive.  So this morning, we started packing.

I think we will be on a fist name basis with the clerk at U-haul before we are all said and done. Yesterday, we were in there for the second time in the last three weeks getting more boxes.  Today we have to go back and buy more.

My wife has packed up two of the four bookshelves in the spare room.  That has taken care of the extra ten boxes that we bought yesterday.  She has also, so far, culled two shopping bags of books to be donated.

It will be hard when I get to go in and clear my two shelves (yes I get a whole two shelves).  I do not mind admitting to being a bit of a hoarder.  Although I have always done so out of sentimentality.

For example, I keep trying to think of locations and uses for my wife's old dresser (also stored in our spare room).  Perhaps it can go in our new store room and be filled with crafting supplies, or in the kitchen as an extra workspace and storage. My wife's response, is much more practical than sentimental, she said "If we ditch it, then it is one less thing to move and find a new home for."

I guess that is why she is in charge of the packing and I am following behind cleaning.

Apple Cinnamon Porkloin

My wife bought a porkloin to make pulled pork. However, she bought it at Costco, so I have three more of them to deal with.  As Fall is upon us,  I found a recipe that will fill the whole house, with a warm apple-cinnamony aroma.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds porkloin
• 1 apple, sliced
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 yellow onion, sliced

Directions:

• Slice slits into porkloin horizontally, about 3/4 through meat. 
• Fill each slit with an apple slice and drizzle honey over top. 
• Sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Transfer porkloin to slow cooker. 
• Layer onions over top. 
• Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
• Serve with mashed potatoes.

Done My Civic Duty

Today's post is going to be quick and simple. My wife and I went and did our civic duty this morning.  We walked down the block to our polling station, braved the line, and voted.

I think I was more excited the first time I voted than the first time I had a drink (legally).  I have voted in every municipal, provincial, and federal election that I have been eligible for since I turned eighteen.  I have casted ballots, over the last twenty eighty years, to elect governments in four different cities, and three different provinces.

I think today's election will be interesting.  Last weekend's advance poll saw a 71% increase in voter turnout, and I hope tonight's results echo that increase.  I cannot not wait to sit back tonight and watch.

Now I would never use my blog to promote a political party or candidate.  I would, on the other hand, encourage all eligible voters to get out there and cast your ballot. After all, I have always believed that if you do not invoke your right to vote, you have lost your right to complain
.

"Stock"ing Up

My wife had to work today, so I am taking advantage of the free time to finish clearing Thanksgiving out of the fridge and making turkey stock.  Prior to last Labour Day, making my own stock never crossed my mind, I cannot recall my parents doing it either.  Yet here I am now working on my third batch of turkey, I have a container of chicken stock in the freezer, and I would like at some point to try and make beef as well.

And it is not that I just make it, I use it.  I used some of my own turkey stock to make a soup for a church luncheon.  Another container full was used as the base for the stuffing on Thanksgiving.

The only downside, I suppose, is once I have made it and frozen it, I will have to cart it over to our new apartment when we move.

Honey Teriyaki Hot Wings

Sweet and spicy wings baked to crisp perfection.  The perfect house warming appetizer.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1 1/3 cups soy sauce
• 1/3 cup Mirin rice cooking wine
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 2-3 tablespoons Sriracha, optional

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
• Lightly oil a 9×13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
• In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. 
• In another bowl, whisk together soy sauce, Mirin, honey, garlic, ginger, Sriracha and cornstarch mixture.
• Arrange wings in a single layer onto prepared baking dish. 
• Pour the sauce evenly over the wings.
• Place into oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, using metal tongs to turn at halftime. 
• Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the wings are slightly charred.
• Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

We're Movin On Up

Well we're movin on up.  

To a deluxe apartment in the sky.  We finally got a piece of the pie.

Today is a two post day.  I have been waiting, not so patiently, for over a week to write this post.  I can't wait until Friday to get it written.

Last week, my wife and I submitted our application for a new apartment.  Yesterday, we got the good news, we have been approved.  We are moving to a concrete high rise with all the amenities.

While we are technically downsizing, going from a two bedroom to a one bedroom, our new apartment is actually about 100 square feet bigger than our current one. Yet, we will miss that second bedroom, just to hold all the stuff we have accumulated over the past few years.

Speaking of stuff, while we are both excited about the move, neither of us are all that excited about having to pack everything up.  The brunt of it will fall on me, after all I am the one who is home.  But my wife, who works incredibly hard, will give me a boost on weekends.

Our new apartment is all inclusive (rent includes all utilities), comes with a dishwasher, and even has a theatre room for watching movies.  We will be on the ninth floor, with incredible views of the river valley and the football stadium. However, I think the most important amenity we are gaining, is finally having enough pride to invite people over.

Thankful

It is Thanksgiving weekend, and I am looking forward to turkey with all the trimmings on Sunday. Now, based on my blog's stats, around 15% of those reading my blog are from outside North America.  So, perhaps for those readers a quick introduction to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada (and the United States) as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.  It is celebrated on the second Monday of October (or the fourth Thursday of November in the United States).  The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving are sometimes traced to the French settlers who typically had feasts at the end of the harvest season and continued throughout the winter season, even sharing food with the indigenous peoples of the area.

On television, and in the movies, any program revolving around Thanksgiving has the obligatory scene around the table where the central cast all say what they are thankful for.  I do not seem to recall such a tradition in our home.  In fact, Thanksgiving Dinner was one of the few times of the year where we actually said grace before the meal.

So I have decided what better place than here to say what I am thankful for...

A roof over my head and food on my table.
My wife, who is my rock when I need it most.
Family and friends that always stand by and supported me.
and finally, people that are willing to read these ramblings of mine.

Thank you.  If you are celebrating Thanksgiving (or will be in the near future for my American readers) enjoy your day.  If not, think about turkey with all the trimmings for Sunday supper this week,  it is all going to be on sale!

Twisted Taco Cheeseburgers

Here are tacos with a twist! Or are they cheeseburgers with a twist? Either way, this is one beefy, cheesy, delicious dish!  With this recipe, as always... Kraft recipe, Kraft ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. (450 g) extra-lean ground beef
• 1 pkg. (35 g) 40%-less-sodium taco seasoning mix
• 4 large flour tortillas
• 4 Kraft Singles Cheese Slices
• 4 lettuce leaves
• 1 tomato, cut into 4 slices
• 1/4 cup Kraft Rancher's Choice Dressing

Directions:

• Mix meat and seasoning mix just until blended.
• Press into 9-inch patty on sheet of parchment paper. 
• Cut into 4 wedges. (Do not separate wedges.)
• Flip meat, with parchment paper, into large skillet; remove and discard paper. 
• Cover skillet; cook on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until meat is done (160°F), turning after 5 min.
• Place 1 Kraft Singles near edge of each tortilla; top with 1 cheeseburger wedge. 
• Place lettuce next to cheeseburger wedges; top with tomatoes, then drizzle with dressing. 
• Fold each tortilla in half to cover filling, then in half again to make wedge-shaped sandwich.

Christmas Etiquette

I try not to do this very often, but this morning I feel the need to rant a little.  Last night, while taking the dog for his bedtime walk, I noticed that there are already Christmas lights up in our neighbourhood. Really, we need to start decorating at the beginning of October.

Christmas is only a mere 83 days away, that is 11 weeks or close to a full 3 months.  How am I supposed to, not only find but, maintain my Christmas spirit that long.  At this rate, I will be tired of Christmas before December.

We still have to get through three holidays before Christmas.  I realize that Thanksgiving (unless you are the grocer), Halloween (although it has to be a close second), and Remembrance Day are not the big money spinners that Christmas is. Yet we have deemed them worthy of celebrating.

I think the Americans have the right idea, they celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of November, and have created a two day celebration. Day one is a day for family, being thankful, and football.  Day two is the unofficial start of the Christmas season, and time to start shopping.

Our family has always run on a similar timeline.  I seem to remember Christmas decorations coming out around my Mother's birthday, a month before Christmas.  A date my wife deems is still to early.

Although really I cannot put all the blame on my neighbour.  There are plenty of store out there with Halloween down one side of the aisle and Christmas down the other.  Give them a few more years and the mall will be playing Christmas music on my birthday at the end of June.