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It had to happen eventually.

I mean, how could it not?

#Pouteam was picked up by the paparazzi!!

Er, well, the local news anyway.

Last month we had a fairly large group meeting for gourmet poutine at Heron Rock Bistro in James Bay.  Just after we all placed our orders, we looked up to find a TV camera and grinning reporter at the end of our table.

Adam Sawatsky took some time to chat with a few members of Pouteam…some new, some old…while we enjoyed our mid-week treat.  Sandi (seen above) rallied as the spokesperson giving #Pouteam a good name.  Personally I just tried to eat my fries daintily as the cameraman surveyed our meals and our faces.  :)

Later that evening we made both the 5:00 and 11:00 news.

We’re famous!

As for the food, Heron Rock had some really fun poutine choices.  Mine was bacon and blue cheese.  Obviously, to die for. 

Oh, I also just found this write-up about the meal from Victoria Mag blogger Simon.  He and his bud were first timers and made the news!

Last Minute Egg White Quiche

Clearly, you can tell by my lack of presence around here, I’ve been a busy gal.  Being creative in the kitchen has taken a backseat to batch cooking, easy lunch salads, and toasted English muffins for breakfast.

Because I’m now working my old job in the evenings after I come home from an 8 hour day at my new job, dinners need to be easy and relatively quick to prepare.  I’ve turned to recipes that can cover at least a couple of weeknight meals to help take the pressure off come dinner time.

I don’t remember why I originally put that little container of egg whites in my shopping basket a couple of weeks ago, but when I realized it was still in my refrigerator the other day I figured I’d better put the whole thing to use before it’s due date. 

What to do with 2 full cups of egg whites?  Well, I don’t need any meringues right now so instead I thought of a quick quiche.  Or frittata.  If it doesn’t have a crust, I guess it’s a frittata.  Or crustless quiche?  Aren’t those the same thing?  Quiche-tata?

Anywho… digging around in the fridge and freezer brought me a selection of ingredients that all worked together, so a wee bit of chopping and whisking later I had this bad boy baking away in the oven.

Deeeelish.  If I do say so myself.

Crustless Egg White Quiche/Frittata

yields 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups egg whites
• 1/2 cup milk (I used 1%)
• 150 grams black forest ham (from the deli), chopped
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped
• 8-10 crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 4 green onions, chopped
• lots of fresh dill, chopped
• salt, pepper, TJ’s 21 spice salute, paprika
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Would be soooo good with caramelized onions, or roasted garlic, or bacon, or zucchini, or feta, or hmmm…well…you get the idea. 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a pie plate with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites, milk, herbs, and seasoning.  Stir in ham, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and a little more than half of each cheese.
3. Carefully pour the mixture into the pie plate, ensuring the ‘fillings’ are evenly dispersed.  Sprinkle remaining cheeses over top.  Sprinkle with a little extra paprika for colour.
4. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes.  (I checked mine at 30 minutes and it was still jiggly, but at 35 it was puffing up and at 40 it was perfect).  Let stand 3-5 minutes.  Slice and serve!

Honestly I wasn’t expecting much but this turned out great.  In fact it was even better on days 2 and 3 after having the chance to firm up in the fridge.  Basically it’s like breakfast for dinner!  and who doesn’t love that?!

Needless to say I think a few more of those little cartons of egg whites might find their way into my shopping cart again.  Easy, peasy, delish.

Shawnigan Saturday

Within minutes of changing my Beerfest plans, I received a text from Michael asking if we now had time to spend the afternoon with some friends of his on Saturday.  I knew I changed those plans for a good reason!

Turns out those friends live in a lovely house right on Shawnigan Lake!  I can’t remember the last time I visited Shawnigan.  Years I know.  Odd, since it’s only about a 40 minute drive.

The weather was gorgeous so we spent the afternoon sitting on the dock, then riding around the lake in the speedboat.  Oh, the rough life it is. :)

Our friends wanted to take the little girl from next door for a tube for her birthday.  I’ve never been tubing (and I’m not about to start now) but watching her out there was soooo fun!  We dragged her all over the lake and she held on like a trooper.

When we finally pulled her in she wasn’t even out of breath, and barely even wet!

Next up:  Michael!  I have an excellent 6 minute video of dragging him all over the lake too!  I think maybe our driver was a little more, um, ‘aggressive’ with the driving on Michael’s turn. 

After we towed him back to the dock, it was time for dinner and drinks on the patio. 

After dinner we spent some more time chatting before hitting the dark back roads home.  A lovely little getaway.  Even if only a half hour from home!

Beerfest and Brunch

Another year, another Great Canadian Beer Festival.

This year I did things a little differently.  I opted to cancel my volunteer shift at the last minute and bought a ticket to attend Friday’s festivities instead of Saturday’s.  After a short survey of my friends on Facebook I came to the unsettling conclusion that 99% of my Beerfesting friends were going on Friday…and drinking somewhat alone on Saturday didn’t seem like much fun.

Laura and I spent the day sipping our way through pretty much all of the fruity beers in the park, and taste tested our favourite stouts and porters. 

This year’s highlight for me again came from Salt Spring Island Ales…they brought along a Gruit (say it with me…Scottish accent and all…GRRRRROOT!) that was delicious, herbacious and hop-free!  Almost as good as my favourite of theirs…the Heatherdale Ale….also hop-free. 

There were a few crazy letdowns this year too.  I think some of the brewers are trying too hard to create something ‘different’.  ‘Smoky’ seemed a theme amongst the dark beers and we didn’t enjoy any of them.  A beer that starts our smelling like a horse barn probably should go back to the drawing board.

I enjoyed attending on a Friday this time and may have to consider this the new way to do it.  :)

The next morning was the perfect opportunity for a carb-heavy brunch.  A few of us shook off our Beerfest headaches and headed to The Superior Cafe for good eats and chit-chat.

It was a toss up for me between the Chorizo Hash or the Breakfast Poutine, but Michael opted for the poutine so I went with the hash.

Both dishes were so flavourful, hearty, and a little something different.  In the end I was glad I got the hash because I loved the little kick from the chorizo and the over easy eggs broken over the fresh hash browns were just what my tummy wanted.

But I’d go back tomorrow for pulled pork poutine with poached eggs and hollandaise.  I see a #Pouteam mission in the making!

The best part about doing Beerfest on the Friday? 

Having the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday free! 

Do you Beerfest?

How was your long weekend?

Ours was lovely!  We spent part of the weekend doing chores, but took all of Sunday to ourselves for a day off and a mini road trip.  Much needed!

We made a stop in cute little Cowichan Bay…where the views are perfect and the ice cream was seriously the best either of us has ever had. 

Then we dawdled down the back roads of Duncan where Michael showed me the farm he grew up on.  The cows were wondering what we were doing in their driveway.  Everybody wave!!!

Then it was down a steep trail to ‘Hell’s Gate’…where Michael and his siblings used to swim when they were kids.  Too icy cold for this gal, but I enjoyed watching Michael and his brother reminisce about their childhood.

On the way home we decided the day would be complete with a fresh crab dinner back in Cowichan Bay.  Nothing says Island living to me like a feast of crab just off the boat!

We stayed a little later than we’d planned, but the AMAZING sunset was worth it.  *sigh*

I love it when the weather and the traffic cooperate for a long weekend adventure!  What all did you kids get up to?