22 December 2008

Pre Christmas Dinner ....Walking in a Winter Wonderland


Snowstorms battered Quebec, Ontario and southwestern B.C. late Saturday and into Sunday, the first official day of winter, while an evening blizzard swept through the Maritimes.
"If you're in a satellite looking down on Canada, it would be white from coast to coast to coast and it would be frozen," said David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada. "There's no area that can say that winter hasn't really arrived."On Saturday, airlines at Pearson spent the day clearing a backlog from more than 300 flights that had been cancelled after a snowstorm swept through on Friday. New winter storm warnings from Environment Canada were issued Sunday for much of southern Ontario, southwestern Quebec and the Maritimes, as well as southern British Columbia. Freezing windchill warnings were issued for the Prairies and northern Ontario. Up to 30 centimetres of snow were expected Sunday evening in parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In the south coast of B.C., 15 centimetres fell Sunday and another 5 to 10 centimetres were expected over night, Environment Canada said.
Snowfall and blizzard warnings, along with wind warnings for Vancouver Island, have been issued for parts of the Fraser Valley.The temperature dropped to –15.2 C at Vancouver International Airport on Friday night. Forecasts for some regions in B.C., such as the Yoho and Kootenay National parks, included frostbite warnings as the wind chill is expected to make it feel as low as –48 .

If this sounds like news from "The Great White North" you are right. This is what other countries expect of Canada during the winter months...but believe me it isn't usually like this.

Although it hasn't put a damper on our Christmas spirit. You just have to be that much more diligent and careful driving when you venture out. Yesterday I was inside all snug and warm cooking up a storm of my own in the kitchen. "The Boy" came over for a dinner and some celebration before he heads north to his home town. No photos were taken of this feast but we had Crab Cakes with Chipotle Mayonnaise, Prime Rib Roast with Herbed Yorkshire Pudding and Two Mushroom Gravy, Garlic Roasted Potatoes (for Little Burnt Toast), Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Chives (for the rest of us), Steamed Carrots and Sugar Snap Peas and for dessert Eggnog Creme Brulee.

We sipped on my "They Asked for the Recipe Punch" and an Okanagan winery Shiraz. "The Boy" gifted me with Ina Gartens latest cookbook, 2 bottles of wine and an abundant bouquet of flowers with green orchids included. Spoiled I was... but not as spoiled as Little Burnt Toast. She should hold on to this one who treats her like an angel and "mom" like a queen...wink...wink...
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31 comments:

  1. I'd love to see that much snow! Here, it all went away...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Absolutely sounds like a dinner I would love to eat. Wouldn't it be nice to fly around and have dinner with all our bloggie friends...sounds like a beautiful holiday feast.

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  3. the great white north sounds wonderful, but i think i'll be content with the not so white mediterranean!

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  4. I saw the cheese photo with the leaf on top and got very curious. We have quite a bit of snow too :)

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  5. I can't even imagine how it is when it's -48. I am freezing just with the thought. It's getting colder in Athens as well but we shouldn't complain as it still is above zero. "The Boy" is lucky to have you and LiBuTo as well. You treated him like King with all those delicious food.

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  6. We're getting hit really hard in the PNW. This will be my first white Christmas in Portland, in my whole life. Great time for Yorkshire pudding, indeed.

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  7. It's not just Canada. New York got dumped with plenty of white stuff this weekend as well. It was snow, rain, snow, snow, rain, sun FREEZING COLD. This was before the official start of winter.

    I envy your delicious sounding dinner. I wish my family was that traditional.

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  8. I love snow,!!!! we have ony hot, very hot!! buaahhhhhh!!!! I want a snow Christmas!! Your pictures are lovely I whish you a Happy and nice Christmas!!! Gloria

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  9. It is a winter wonderland...it is very beautiful. But after years of living it (the beauty and the frustration), I'm very happy to look at your photo while I sit with my window open in Florida. Happy holidays to you and yours.

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  10. Chicago is covered with snow and ice, too. We are below 0 today. Brrr! The Boy sounds like a keeper for sure :) Glad to hear your holiday season is off to a great start. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  11. Believe it or not I miss a good snowstorm. Not life in the snow but a couple of days snowed in would be very cool! Sounds like a great meal you guys had!

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  12. I just can't imagine all that snow! All the best for the festive season Val. Thanks for providing me with lots of droolworthy recipes the whole year!

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  13. Your dinner sounds wonderful Val. Pennsylvania is getting hit with FREEZING weather here. Not much snow yet but that could change wednesday! Happy Holidays Val!

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  14. Greetings from your neighbor to the south ... also part of the Great White North! Ha! I'm actually enjoying the beauty of the snow; however, my town is not equipped to handle it so we've been homebound. Anyway ... sounds like you had a FEAST! Oh my gosh, it all sounds so good. I think I actually moaned out loud when I read "Eggnog Creme Brulee"! You're right ... this "boy" is a keeper! Keep warm!

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  15. what is up with this weather???? happy reading of the new ina, i'm jealous!

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  16. yep, i look out my window and all i see is snow, snow, and more snow. then i turn around and look into my kitchen and all i see is cookies, fudge, and more cookies. :)

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  17. I want snow! Instead we have fog and drizzle. Happy Christmas to you x

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  18. I had only twice snowy Christmas in my life, Was beautiful, Right now we are melting here .
    Merry Christmas, Val, for you and all your family.

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  19. What a wonderful-sounding Christmas feast! Rib of beef is such a favourite.
    I hope that the cook book arrives soon - I'd hoped it would be with you before Christmas.
    I hope you have a wonderful time and a Happy New Year!

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  20. Well, of course he'll stick around if you keep feeding him like that! ;-)

    This looks beautiful.

    BTW... I sent you some bloggy love as well as contributed to some of your favorite causes a couple of days ago.

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  21. I think at last look we are 19 degrees colder than average. And everything's coated with a very thin layer of ice. It would be miserable except like you say it's great for getting in the Christmas spirit!
    Dinner (and the Boy) sound terrific!

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  22. Minus 20 with the windchill this morning, going up to 6 with heavy rain tomorrow. Crazy.
    Your feast sounds absolutely wonderful, great gifts too!
    Have a joyful holiday season,
    Natashya

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  23. Lovely collage. Love the snowy scene and the cheese too. Have wonderful holidays!

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  24. never had any white christmas experience... it sure does look lovely... happy holidays to you... :)

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  25. Woooooaaaaaawweeeeee!!! This would be my cry going down the slope :D. How I would love to have that snow for a while!!!! And my daughter would pay for it... I'm sure ;D

    A lovely Xmas setting, delicious food and a wonderful Xmas tree!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS GIRL! Much love from here♥♥♥

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  26. "The Boy" is very lucky to have you cooking for him! What a great dinner. All your food looks so good here Val. Have a wonderful holiday with your family!
    xox, Marie

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  27. Woah...this boy sounds like a keeper. Sounds like a great dinner. We're working on a "plan b" in case the highways are too rough to get to Giz's place tomorrow or Thursday.

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  28. Sounds like an amazing dinner. "The Boy" sounds like a keeper. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family Val!

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  29. Your description of the preXmas dinner is dreamy. I'm watching the snow fall yet again and my only wish for these holidays is for the weather to cooperate so that Psychgrad and R can get here.

    Happy Holidays!!!

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  30. Holy guacamole, that weather forecast scares me silly! Any visits I make to Canada will have to be outside of the winter months!!

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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