Breakfast In Bed

Good morning everyone! How about breakfast in bed with you and the kids.  Chocolate is a great treat first thing in the morning and you are getting the benefit of the fruit.  An easy suggestion to make this into breakfast:
a basket with fresh buttered toast
sausages cut into pieces that you can use toothpicks for picking up (kids love that)
cubes of cheese
chocolate dipped strawberries
Champagne glasses and non alcohol fruit cider

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Ingredients 16 ounces milk chocolate chips 2 tablespoons shortening 1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves Directions Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.  Enjoy Lorraine  www.uniquegourmetgiftbasket.com

Unique Gourmet Gift Basket: How to Preserve Valentine's Love

Unique Gourmet Gift Basket: How to Preserve Valentine's Love: No, I'm not into canning or preserving love in a jar and storing it in the cold storage. But, there must be a way of giving on Valentine's ...

Unique Gourmet Gift Basket: How to Preserve Valentine's Love

Unique Gourmet Gift Basket: How to Preserve Valentine's Love: No, I'm not into canning or preserving love in a jar and storing it in the cold storage. But, there must be a way of giving on Valentine's ...

How to Preserve Valentine's Love

No, I'm not into canning or preserving love in a jar and storing it in the cold storage.  But, there must be a way of giving on Valentine's Day and having it last like all those great homemade foods that have been canned and stored in the cold storage.
  Does anyone out there do that anymore besides me?
I love to do canning or preserving and then admiring my accomplishment.  All the jars neatly arranged on the shelf.  Sounds like I have too much time on my hands but when I give any of this to someone I take pride in the fact that I made it and I know it taste soooo good.  You can't duplicate the taste of home canning with anything you purchase in the grocery store.
When you send a gift from www.uniquegourmetgiftbasket.com you will know that I package and choose the items with the same pride.  Every gift basket I send out represents me as well as you and it never leave without the right colour of ribbon, a tuck here and there until it is perfect.  Once it is wrapped and ready to go, it has to feel right.  If I look at it and think something just isn't the right colour or whatever, I redo it.  My business is built on quality service and you can be assured that your gift will be appreciated and look terrific.

With Valentine's Day only 19 days away, order now for on time delivery.  You will find Belgium chocolate, tea, coffee, candles, peanuts, crackers, cheese smoked salmon and the list goes on.   Custom made baskets are available, just send an email.

If you have any suggestions for gift basket ideas, I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy
Lorraine

Sending Love on Valentine's Day

Send Some Love this Valentine's Day

You often hear people say,"Oh I don't need to celebrate Valentine's Day, it should be everyday."

Would you want everyday to be Christmas?

You would soon lose your "appreciation & love ."  Ahha.. the keyword!  On Valentine's Day we show our love and appreciation and even though we know someone loves us it is always special to be acknowledged.

This Valentine's Day, show someone your love.

Here are two great gifts from www.uniquegourmetgiftbasket.com
It can be chocolates, candles, bath etc or something simple like this delicate set of mugs for tea or coffee.
Order early to make sure it arrives on time and also that we don't run out of product.  You can order now and I can ship it later.  This way you know the product is available and it will arrive on time.
Enjoy giving
Lorraine

Cooking on the Woodstove

This morning we woke up to no hydro.  After being without hydro for 7 days during the ice storm of '98 we went out and bought a generator.  During the ice storm you couldn't buy one anywhere.  During that time we had borrowed a large one from a company and shared it with our neighbors.  The big concern then was keeping the sump pumps going & making sure no one stole your generator.  The army patrolled the area where we lived.
We had a bit of an ice storm last night that brought back memories of 1998.  We had a wood stove then and it amazingly kept the house quite warm.
This morning I filled up a basket with wood and got the fireplace going.  It has an insert in it that allows for a pot of water to sit on the top.
Growing up on a farm prepared you for times like this.  As a kid growing up we didn't have an electric stove until I was about 7 or 8.  Watching my mom cook on the woodstove was just the way it was and it is still easy to do.  It is a great way to do stew and the house is filled with the aroma.
After my mom died my dad did a lot of his cooking on the woodstove.  Being an old farmer he loved the heat that filled the house and he keep the fire going.  My dad died a few years ago and during his last 6 months my brother, sister and me would take turns staying with him.   I usually work shorts and a t shirt even though it was winter time.  He was never quite warm enough and I could get cool enough.
I loved cooking for him on the cook stove.  Although his appetite wasn't great he love the homemade chicken soup that would simmer away on the stove.  Before my dad got ill, he was known for "Merle's Beans".  He grew the navy beans himself  (were talking rows and rows).  He would simmer them on the stove with lots of garlic, a piece of pork, and salt and pepper.  When it was time to bake them he would add ketchup.  There was no molasses or fancy tomato sauce, just plain ole ketchup.  Everybody loved them and still today all the kids talk about Grampy's beans.  I still make them.
I've just rambled on about warm & cozy memories.  It's time to find a book, open a box of chocolates ( to keep up my energy) and sit by the fireplace.  I'll keep a pot of tea warming on the wood stove and enjoy this winter's day.
Enjoy your day



Lorraine

Cooking is Never A Regret!

Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.
- Victoria Holt

Today is a day for cooking...it's freezing rain and snow and cold.   I have a fabulous "Southern Fried Chicken" recipe that you will enjoy.  By the way, have you seen the movie "The Help".  Excellent movie.  One of the little gems I picked up was the simple comment about cooking fried chicken in Crisco.  Not sure if that is true or just fit into the script, but I am going to try it.  If you haven't seen the movie, it is a must, a delightful must.

It is definitely not shopping weather in Ontario so if you need to send a gift, take a look at www.uniquegourmetgiftbasket.com  You will find gifts for all occasions at your finger tips.

Also remember that when traveling in the winter months to keep a blanket, a candle, matches and some chocolate or candy for food and energy.  You never know when you might get stuck on the hightway.

Southern Fried Chicken

8 Chicken Drumsticks

300g flour

1 tsp onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cayenne powder

1 tblsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp dried thyme

2 cubes of chicken bouillon

1 tsp salt

500 ml buttermilk

750 ml vegetable oil (or Crisco)

Simmer chicken legs in water and chicken bouillon for 30 mintutes.  

Remove and refrigerate to cool down,

Heat the oil in a suacepan over medium heat for frying.

Mix together flour, garlic powder, cayenne powder, parsley, thyme and salt.

Submerge chicken  in buttermilk and roll in seasoned flour.

Deep fry for a couple of minutes.

Enjoy!