Herb and garlic chicken sauté,
gnocchi with a fresh tomato basil sauce, Chicken with a herb and garlic sauce 4 large chicken breasts Salt and pepper to taste Place the chicken breasts on a secure cutting board. Use a sharp knife and cutting at an angle, remove a slice of chicken from the breast. Repeat with the remainder of the chicken breast. Each slice should be approximately 2 oz each. Place the slices on a sheet of plastic wrap leaving approximately 3 inches between each breast. Use a mallet and very carefully pound out each breast so that the breasts are an even thickness of approximately ¼...
Read MoreSWITCHED AT BIRTH
It never did seem quite right.I just do not resemble in any way anyone in my family.I feel at times my father is a little suspicious of my origins, however he has not suggested a DNA test yet. Easy for him to get a sample of mine, we share the same bathroom. I do not appear to be loved less than my brother and sister, although they do joke when looking through family photos and say things like ”Still can’t find a match for Lenny.” It is unnerving at times, although I really seldom think of it. I am taller,smarter, and better looking than my siblings. Not bragging, it is...
Read MoreThai chicken curry,
coconut rice, vegetables in a lemon grass broth, sautéed banana with lime over coconut ice cream Coconut Rice 2 cups jasmine rice 3 cups water 1 tsp salt ½ cup dried coconut 1 Tablespoon fresh grated ginger Rinse the rice twice in water and then drain. Put the rice in a heavy bottomed pan, add the water, salt ginger and coconut, cover and bring to the boil over high heat. As soon as the rice comes to the boil, lower the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes without lifting the lid. After 20 minutes, remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and serve. Red curry chicken 1 tsp...
Read MoreLost Sisters.
Why had no one ever mentioned Mum’s twin? After she passed away last month, we daughters had the job of going through the house and finding things family members had requested, sorting clothing that likely would all end up at the Thrift Store, and finally shredding all those old house bills that she and Dad had kept for the last thirty years. Why? We could never answer that question but it was common to believe they might come in handy one day, or someone might call to verify the bill had been paid. Lots of people felt they were important papers and should be kept. It certainly kept us...
Read MoreLong Term care of Seniors
For those of us that have worked in and around the Long-term care system here on the Island have known since day one that contracting out the care and food services was wrong. The quality of medical, personal and nutritional care has suffered greatly. In fact there is very little effort or time spent on the individual personal needs of those in care or the families. The following report and overview of this chronic scenario is long overdue and I congratulate Isobel Mackenzie for having the courage to tackle it head on. Thank you. Trish Summerhayes. Owner/Publisher Island Woman Magazine....
Read MoreSlow cooked ribs
oven roast fries, wilted red cabbage and apples, profiteroles with chocolate and toffee sauces Serves 4 people generously 4 racks of pork back ribs cut into 2 rib sections 2 large onions, roughly chopped 1 cup tomato ketchup ½ cup Kikkoman sodium reduced soy sauce ¼ cup yellow mustard ½ cup rice vinegar ½ cup brown sugar Water as required Place the ribs in a large enough roaster so they are no more than 2 layers deep. Add the remaining ingredients and add enough water to completely cover the ribs. Cover the ribs pan with a lid and place in a preheated oven. Bake just...
Read MoreBudgeting for Your Next Vehicle
Buying a vehicle has changed so much in the past 15 years. The internet has changed how people make purchases, including cars, by providing more access to information. We can research, make comparisons and price check from the comfort of our home, then go look at the vehicles that seem to match our needs. This is fantastic for consumers because it can save time and money! A consequence of being able to compare prices online means that Dealerships must keep their pricing competitive, not just with other dealerships in town but within all of Canada, and that means there isn’t the mark up...
Read MoreIt’s Never too Early
Yes, it snowed; today it’s raining; most every day is dark and sunless … but … the perfect day is close at hand to raise your spirits! If you’re gardener, whether novice or old hand, save the date for that magical day, SEEDY SATURDAY! Mark it on your calendar now, if it’s not already there … SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1. That’s the day to make sure you visit the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre at 747 Jones Ave. between 10 am and 3:30 pm. when all the space in and around the building will be waiting for you with ‘everything garden’ … experts, information, displays, books, and...
Read MoreDiscovering The Artist Within!
Many moons ago, I remember asking the person standing next to me at an artist’s studio party if he did anything that was artistic. He replied that he didn’tdo anything artistic, because he was only a gardener. I replied that I was also a gardener, but that I experienced gardening as painting in 3D. By considering design, shapes, colours and combinations I would create the garden of my dreams; but as a garden is continually growing and changing it becomes an ongoing living work of art. I have always been envious of artists. They take their talent for granted. It must be the way their...
Read MoreThe Lustre of ZSISKA Jewellery
Nothing leaves a lasting impression like the gift of beautiful jewellery given to express love, friendship, sentiment, or to celebrate special occasions. At PatrYka, we love jewellery’s ability to accent the attire of elegant, fashionable women who know what they want and who like to stand out in the crowd. When we found the ZSISKA Jewellery, we discovered they share our vision and craft truly beautiful, eye-catching pieces. The Founder Siska Schippers was born in Amsterdam and worked as a European gold and silversmith before she decided to make handmade resin jewellery, home decor, and...
Read MoreMedallions of beef,
with wine jus, mushroom and bacon risotto, vegetables, apple tarte Tatin with Chantilly cream. Beef 1½ pounds centre cut fillet of beef Salt and pepper as required 1 tsp oil Have your butcher cut the fillet into 12 thin fillets. If you are doing this yourself, place the fillet into the freezer for 1 hour to firm it up before trying to slice. Pound the slices very gently to ensure they are of even thickness. Over high, heat the oil in a heavy bottomed pan large enough to accommodate all of the beef at one time. Season one side of medallions with salt and pepper. Once the oil is...
Read MoreIn the middle of Everywhere
It was December in 2008. My family and I, including kids and dogs piled ourselves and “Christmas” into a borrowed van and headed off on an amazing adventure. We began by driving several hours over a mountain pass. A bit nerve wracked, we arrived safely in the small fishing town of Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the wilds of Canada. On a big, ‘ol clunky fishing boat, we travelled for several more hours, northwest toward Hot Springs Cove and Cougar Annie’s Garden to a small floating house in a bay somewhere in the middle of Everywhere. In this exquisite...
Read MoreMikulás
December 6th is a day of celebration in Hungary..It is the feast of Saint Nicholas, in Hungarian, Mikulás. Children put their polished shoes filled with hay out on the windowsill for Mikulás’ white horse. Of course they also set out treats for the old Bishop, delivering gifts to good children. At age seven a child is thought to be able to think logically and sequentially. In my seventh year, a mere two weeks before reaching that magic age, mother let me produce some rather crooked cookies for Mikulás. She said he would not mind because he is kind and loves crooked cookies. I was...
Read MoreTake Charge of Your Finances
November was Financial Literacy Month, and this year’s theme is “take charge of your finances!” We’re encouraging new and seasoned investors to take charge by playing more active and engaged roles when it comes to their investments. One way you can become better engaged is by understanding investment fees and charges. Whether you are a DIY investor or you’re working with a registered investment advisor, it’s important to know what you’re paying to buy, sell or hold an investment. This article can help you better understand the structure of investment fees, and how investment...
Read MorePause for thought
Did you know that almost half of the savings you have built up in your RRSP/RRIF (Registered Retirement Savings Plan/Registered Retirement Income Fund) could wind up being paid out in Tax at death. Tax free transfers to a surviving spouse will delay the inevitable, but won’t avoid it. First of all, let’s start at retirement. Say you have an RRSP you have been contributing to for years as you worked, or possibly, as your spouse worked (these contributions could have gone into a spousal plan for you). You can convert to a RRIF at the same time as you retire, but, you are not...
Read MoreLesson Learned
You know how when you’re in a hurry, everything conspires against you? How the lights are always red, and the crosswalks are full of ancient people pushing their walkers at a snail’s pace, so that even when the lights turn green, you’re still stuck at the intersection, waiting for the crosswalk to clear or Christmas to come, whichever happens first? Well, yesterday I was on my way to work, running late, when I realized that I hadn’t had a cup of coffee or eaten breakfast. A sensible person would have kept driving. I am not a sensible person, and I was born hungry, so I stopped at...
Read More