Dinner with Friends

On Saturday evening we went over to our friends' Colin and Erica's house for dinner.  When we walked into the yard, we were immediately hit with the most amazing smell coming from their smoker.

#clearlymakingneighborsjealoussincetheygotit

Colin has had his smoker for a while, so he is a good resource for Christopher who has just started playing with a smoker recently.

We visited while snacking on broccoli with dip, and cornbread.

Dinner included incredible, perfectly cooked diablo shrimp:

They had quite the kick 🔥, and both Christopher and I absolutely loved them.  We are suckers for spice!!

We enjoyed the shrimp alongside smoky ribs and corn on the cob.

Key lime pie for dessert:

What a great meal!  We always have delicious food, and a wonderful time when we go over to Colin and Erica's. 

How is your week going?  

How much heat can you handle in your food?

A Week of Camping

We spent all of last week camping in Manitoba, at Riding Mountain National Park (Clear Lake) in the Wasagaming Campground.

 

 

The day before we left, we went to the park for our darling niece Remi's 3rd birthday.

We played in the park, and enjoyed hot dogs, sausage, sides, and cake, served up by my brother and Jessie.

After the party, we went home to pack most things into the car (other than propane and coolers), so we could take off right when Christopher was home from work the next day. 

On the day we were leaving I baked chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal bars to take along and share, as our friends were going to be there too! (There were 11 adults including us, and six kids.)

I'm the camper in the family, and would happily rough it, but Christopher leans more toward luxury, so our camping compromise is an oTENTik.

We've stayed in these a couple times before.  They are basically like little cabins, with a few big beds, a table, and a bench.  This one is winterized, so it also had a wood-burning stove.  That's it for inside.

Outside there is a picnic table, BBQ with tools, and a fire pit.

Our pals were about three streets away, as they all stayed in the camper/ trailer area.  We'd consider renting one of those some time, but we really like the oTENTiks, as they are so easy.

The weather was great for the whole week, but it got cooler at night.  We didn't sleep well on this trip unfortunately, and were often up tossing and turning, so we ended up sleeping in each day.  Usually we were making breakfast around 11:00, and sometimes later.

 

A couple of mornings we went out for breakfast to one of the restaurants.

Once we were done eating, and the dishes were done, we'd usually sit and read while waiting for the showers to become available (they were usually being cleaned at this time).

After we both showered it was usually around 2:00.  Then we'd drive into town for ice and to pick up food for supper, and one day we grabbed this pizza for lunch:

We also made sure to stop in at my favourite bookstore/ coffee shop.

After our adventures in town, we'd make lunch if we were hungry:

And then we'd gather up some snacks, bevvies, and our chairs, and head over to our friends' site.  It was so fun to spend time with the kids, and have many snuggles and laughs.  The little ones were definitely a highlight of the trip; they are all so funny, adorable, and absolutely lovable.  We are so grateful to be a part of their lives, and watch them grow up.  Whether they were nuzzled up in uncle's arms falling asleep around the fire, making him laugh with their silliness (and vice versa), singing and dancing with us on the way back from walking for ice cream, or getting their hair brushed or braided by uncle or auntie, they sure put smiles on our faces.  We are truly blessed to have family and friends with the best kids ever!  We really value the time we get with all the babies and children in our lives; it's always the time with them that we later reminisce about.

After playing/ visiting for a couple of hours, we'd head back to our campsite to start on supper.

Once the dishes were done, we'd go back to sit around the fire with everyone, to visit, play, and snack on chips and s'mores.

Overall, it was a happy, successful camping trip.

We were home on Friday afternoon, and after unpacking the car, we headed straight to the backyard to kick back with some more outdoor time.

Did you do any camping this summer?  Do you plan to? 

Backyard Dinner with Friends

Last week we had our friends Matt and Alissa over for dinner.  They walked over after Christopher was home from work.

We started with some edamame dip and rice crackers, cheese and grapes, and an artichoke olive spread on homemade baguette.

Then we grilled up some marinated pork, and had banh mi tacos with spiced crema, and cucumber salad on the side.

For dessert I made a key lime pie:

 

A summery meal enjoyed outside with great friends - it's one of my favourite things to do when the weather is nice.  As luck would have it, we're just about to leave the house to enjoy dinner with another wonderful couple.

I don't want summer to end.

I have two more weeks of holidays, and I plan to enjoy every minute.  

How's your weekend going?  Have you dined with friends recently?  What are you looking forward to for the week ahead?

Smokin'

We are currently in a heat wave.  It's smokin' hot out!

Speaking of smokin', Christopher's dad dropped this off for us:

We put it to use right away, making a smoked chicken, and some smoked salmon.

I knew what we needed for the smoked salmon ...

Everything bagels!

Necessities for bagels with smoked salmon:

Red onion, dill, capers, and cream cheese make for the perfect smoked salmon bagel.

I ate bagels all week for breakfast - mmm!

A little extra everything topping, because you can't have too much.

What is your favourite type of bagel?  Do you have a smoker?  Do you liked smoked food?

Something I am Absolutely Terrible at

I can't start this post without giving a big shout out to my Christopher.  He is the most supportive, go-along-with-my-crazy-ideas, let-me-run-with-it, sweetheart man, and I am so grateful for him.

As you all know, we like to cook and entertain.  The problem is that I have absolutely no clue when it comes to knowing how much food to make.  You'd think after many years I would have this figured out, but no; I am absolutely terrible at it, and we always end up eating leftovers for days.

Long time readers will know that I go a bit overboard sometimes all the time (ex. when I am baking Christmas goodies).  And those who have been here for dinner or a wine and cheese party, will be well aware that I am completely incapable of predicting how much food is needed. 

Like, not even in the ballpark.

I know there is a little something called Google.  But, when Google tells me that I need 1 - 1.5 ounces of each cheese per person for a party, I inevitably read that as 1 - 1.5 blocks of cheese per person. 

Any Internet search I do always ends up with me thinking: Dear Internet, quit trying to starve my guests.  I know this is irrational, but I can't help it.

A conversation between me and Christopher last week while I was prepping for a family BBQ:

Me: "I made chocolate pavlova for dessert.  I don't think it's going to be enough.  I might need to make another one."

Christopher: "It's definitely enough.  You don't need to make another one."

* Christopher comes home from work *

Me: "There is another pavlova in the oven."

Christopher: *laughing* "Yes dear."

This is one of a billion conversations that has gone exactly like this.  He never gets mad.  Never gets frustrated.  Never rubs it in when there is more than one pavlova left over at the end of the night (and there was).  So thank you, Christopher.  I love your patience, and I love you.

Last Thursday we had my family over for a BBQ.  We were hoping to have this on a weekend, but everyone in my family works different days/shifts, so the only day that worked for everyone was a Thursday, which means I was left to my own devices while Christopher was at work.  I baked buns, got some sides ready, and made two pavlovas.

We snacked on some meat and cheese, chips, pico de gallo, and coconut shrimp outside.  The plan was to sit in the backyard all evening, as we love to enjoy the space while we can, however the wind was too strong, and it started to rain, so we had to move inside.

The main course was BBQ chicken (*note to self - planning 3.27 thighs per person is way too much, especially when four of the people are kids, and we're also having meatballs), sweet and sour meatballs, rice (I made two batches ... only needed one), buns, coleslaw, and corn salad.

Three of the kids ate at a table in the kitchen, and nine of us crammed around the dining room table.  Remi was initially at the kids' table, but just wouldn't have it.  She needed to be with the adults.  Haha!  I felt the exact same way when I was her age.  I used to hate being put at a kids' table.

Dessert:

Times two.

I don't know if I will ever know how much food to make for guests.  And please, never leave me in charge of ordering for a group.  If you've heard the story of me ordering Domino's for just the two of us, you will understand.  The largest group I have ever had to order food for was about 40 people, years ago with my friend Bonnie.  We figured at least 30 large pizzas, plus cake and snacks would do the trick.  Either she has the same issue as me, or she is an enabler like my husband, haha! 

I should never, ever be in charge of this stuff.  Catering or working in a commercial kitchen would be a nightmare job for me. 

Are you good at estimating the amount of food needed when cooking for others?  How about when just cooking for your family?  
When ordering in?

(My friend at work still likes to laugh at the time I ordered in Chinese food for Christopher and myself.  I ordered the Dinner for Eight).