Just a few more days

Tags

Christmas, covid, Omocron, PANDEMIC, panic, PEI, Potatoes

This past week we have been thrown back to March 2020. PEI was doing very well in terms of cases and the pandemic, few cases and no hospitalizations, people followed the rules with few exceptions. On Wednesday we suddenly had 10 new cases, all related to travel off Island. Thursday another 10 cases and one Omicron, Friday 31 cases and a second Omicron case. This was the highest number of new cases ever, panic sets in, people are in disbelief, Chief Medical Officer gives a public news conference in such cases and tells islanders through Facebook live that this is very serious and ominous, the live comments had to be shut off, the abusive languages of a chorus of Karens and other idiots was beyond the pale. The narrative of their comments was, that the Chief Medical Officer was stealing their Xmas and the poor children would be scarred for life by this trauma. This is what I dislike so much about today’s public debate, the children are always used as a stick. Also this week the on-going ban of PEI Potatoes from USA markets due to a fungus. This is not a trade dispute but about plant safety, the two farms involve happen to belong to Cavendish Corp. a branch of the powerful IRVING corp. Again farmers who are facing ruin are asking for help because the children do not understand what is going on. I find that using the children as an excuse has become the weapon of the cowards who have nothing to say.

Talking of potatoes, the investigation done by soil sample will take until 2023 to have final results. This will have an impact on the economy of the Island but then again maybe an incentive to switch to other cultures.

So in a matter of a few hours, any public activity was cancelled and private gathering is limited to 10 people including the hosts and it has to be the same people not a constant mix of people. Schools are now closed for the Holidays BUT as the Premier said it is not known now if they will reopen on 8 January 2022. It very much depends on what will happen in terms of infection rate. All of this in PEI was caused by one University Student who went to a party at St-Francis Xavier Univ, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The Student Union who organized the party without proper protocols has been fined.

For PEI we have a total of 73 active cases out of a total population of 160,000. That statistically is a lot for us, given our very limited medical infrastructure.

For us, well we already had made our plans for Christmas so it is very low key and quiet. So not much worry, we stay home, we will see about 6 people during the period, we know them all.

We finished the decoration of the tree and Will is putting the final touches to our Christmas food, we have our gifts for our friends done, just a small token, but a long tradition.

So despite it all, life continues…

For all the cry babies out there, there have been much worse times in the past and I offer you this image.

PEI POTATO CHOCOLATE CAKE

Tags

cake, Canada, Chocolate, cuisine, PEI, Potatoes, Recipe

At the initiative of PEI Tourism, the government of the Provice PEI decided early into the pandemic that as people drove over from the mainland and exited the Confederation bridge in Borden, they would be given a bag of PEI goodies as a welcome gesture. Thousands of bags were assembled and everything was top quality products. Whoever came up with the scheme really thought about how to do this and put their best foot forward. In the bag which looks like a bag of russet potatoes, hey PEI is known for its potatoes, you also found a pound of coffee from Receiver Coffee Co., some jam from the PEI Preserve Co. of New Glasgow, a bar of natural soap from the Great Canadian Soap Co. some COW Chips from the chocolate store on Queen Street. etc… There was also a Potato Chocolate Cake Recipe that I am happy to share with you all.

I am sure that those of you who enjoy cakes and pies will love this one. The following recipe can serve up to 12 portions. The first ingredient on the list is one cup of PEI Potatoes mashed and hot. Enjoy!

A smile with food

Tags

ATHENS, chicken, cuisine, Food, Greece, lemons, Potatoes

I just saw this and I like Chef John and his recipes. I thought this is a great recipe and it reminded me a lot of my years in Greece.  This is a real Greek recipe and tasted it, I am sure you will enjoy it. We need good news, we need that sunshine now. So why not think happy thoughts and for those of you who have been to Greece this will for sure bring memories.

Greek Lemon Chicken and potatoes:

Ingredients for 4 Portions Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes:

1 whole chicken, about 4 pound, cut in sections,

OR 4 pounds chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on

3 russet potatoes, cut in quarters

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 rounded tablespoon dried oregano

pinch of cayenne

6 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil

2/3 cup chicken broth for the pan, plus a splash to deglaze after roasting

fresh chopped oregano to garnish

Roast at 425 for about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is well browned and cooked through.

The video will show you how to do it all:

Fondant Potatoes

Tags

Food, Potatoes, Recipe

This is a recipe I love and want to share with you, so elegant, your guests will be impressed. Very old School of cooking but so worth it using only Russet potatoes.

Just follow the recipe here and enjoy:

Only 20 days to go.

Tags

art., Ballet, Canada., Holly, painting, PEI, Potatoes, Schiaccianoci, XMAS

It occurred to me today that the Winter in PEI is a lot like the Winters in Poland.  Same gray skies and cold. Also PEI produces a lot of potatoes like Poland, in fact the Frito Lays you eat are made from PEI Potatoes from the Monahan Farms on Graham Road near Summerfield.

Another fun activity in Charlottetown in Winter is Art Classes given in Bars and restaurants, attendance is fairly high, from 50 to 125 people. The painting classes are given by established artists or art teachers. Per example the PEI Brewing Company is giving what is called ART Battle 475 on December 23. From what I have seen it goes beyond the cute pictures.

Today we started the Christmas decoration, in fact we started two days ago, a lot of prep work goes into it, a whole day polishing the 30 Sterling Silver Xmas tree balls from Neiman Marcus and other Sterling Silver ornaments like the flower medallions . Then setting up the tree and then deciding which decorations will go on this year. We have enough decorations we collected over 39 years in various countries to make 7 full grown trees. So we rotate them. While unpacking the decorations I came across tickets from 2008 Christmas Season programme for the ballet Lo Schiaccianoci at the Opera di Roma, that is Italian for Nutcracker.

Today our friend L.P. brought us a fresh bouquet of Holly branches, just beautiful. So it is all falling into place for the Holiday.

We still have to plan our Christmas Eve and Day, what will we do? I do not know, but am sure something will fall into place, am not averse to having just a quiet dinner at home.

As for Xmas gifts, I do not want anything, I have everything I want and then some. Same for Will, we are happy with our lot.

close-up our Tree 2016 edition.

The decorations and ornaments are from Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Sicily, Ireland, UK, Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Hong Kong, USA, PEI, Canada, handmade, most one of a kind by artisans and bought in privately owned shops or local markets.

 

A year ago, August 2015

Tags

Anne of Green Gables, Anniversary, Atlantic, AZ, Cavendish, Charlottetown, Friends, moonshine, PEI, Phoenix, Potatoes, tourism, visit

In late July 2015 in the wee hours of the morning at the Ottawa General Hospital E.R., Will suddenly said to me, you know we have never been to PEI. We visited all other territories and Provinces, in my case with the exception of Newfoudland. I was not expecting that sort of suggestion but two weeks later we were off to PEI.

The week we were in Charlottetown and PEI saw the Annual celebration of Old Home Week and the Gold and Saucer Cup Harness races which has been taking place since 1888, Parades and much celebration in the Capital City. This is when we had the first idea of moving here. Our friends in PEI did warn us to visit in Winter, pointing out that the Island is much different, there are no tourists and the tourist shops and sites are closed. So we returned in February 2016 to see what life was life. The fact that there were no tourists did not bother me at all.

For many Winter weather is the big obstacle, however being Canadians, Winter is Winter no matter where you are. My family has been in Canada since 1662, we have had a few winters. We left a bitterly cold and icy Ottawa and flew East to the Coast. The weather in PEI was much milder, cold rain, grey skies and fog was the norm. There was snow but none of the icy conditions of Ontario, it was an Atlantic sea side climate. There was plenty to do, arts and culture are dominant here. Life was more quiet but you could still shop and be occupied with various projects. We moved to PEI in May and now a year later we are established here. I got a job at the Art Gallery http://www.confederationcentre.com/en/

This week we are welcoming to Charlottetown friends from Phoenix AZ who are visiting us in our new home. https://sporeflections.wordpress.com

There will be much activities, I told them that we could go to the Fringe Festival straight from the airport at 11PM. to sing Karaoke style the score of Hamilton. I also bought PEI Island Red Beer, they want to try some of the craft beer of the Island. Tomorrow morning is the Farmer’s Market, then a garden party in New Glasgow. Theater tickets for 3 plays, visit to a distillery, we make absinthe and moonshine on the Island 75% proof, there is also wineries. A visit to Cavendish to see Anne of Green Gables farm, and many more sights.

How time flies when you think of it, a whole year and such a different life now.