Cucumber Agua Fresca Gin Fizz

The inspiration for this little cocktail started with a cucumber sale at the local grocery — the idea grew with a craving for a gin fizz, and then peaked 2 weeks ago when I found a great last minute deal to Mexico — which is where we’re going in about an hour.

I’m sitting in the gate at the airport, finally getting around to posting the recipe for this refreshing, and vitamin-enriched drink.  I know that some of you are thinking that maybe tequila would have been a better booze to match with my Mexico-inspired cucumber agua fresca with a touch of lime — I’m thinking, that whatever alcohol you pick, it will result in a cool, fortifying afternoon drink to sit back and relax with on the deck.

Spare Howard and I a thought while you’re chilling out, will you?  We just checked the weather forecast, and it looks like we’re in for a week of Mexican thunder and lightning.  Maybe that’s why it was such a deal…

… Continue Reading

Tuesday Dooze – Makin’ Faces

I guess that’s one way to scratch an itch… … Continue Reading

Video – Dirty Water, Dangerous Fish in The Mekong River

Do you know where your fish comes from?  Start asking.

“Dirty Water, Dangerous Fish” makes a powerful argument for knowing the origins of your food.

The Mekong River in Vietnam is the source of much of the farmed catfish (aka basa) sold in North America, Europe and Japan.  It is also one of the most overcrowded and polluted waterways on Earth — a place where cement plants and salt factories stand side by side with residential housing, agriculture and aquaculture.  Where industrial pollutants, sewage and waste water drain freely from the river into the fish ponds and back again.

A short yet powerful video that may change the way you eat — at least I hope so. … Continue Reading

Sandwiches @ Morning Bay Vineyard’s Artisan Market

I’m serving up lunch at Morning Bay Vineyard today from 12 to 3…on offer are Bacon, Lettuce and Roasted Tomato with Rosemary Mayo, or Eggplant Parmesan with 3 Cheeses Roasted Garlic Mayo.  Both come on fresh baked foccacia (it’s cooling on the rack right now), with fresh carrot pickles.

I’ll toot my own horn quickly by saying that I make WICKED sandwiches.  Come up to the top of the Harbour Hill Road on Pender Island and taste for yourself.

Come join us!  Taste & buy some great Pender wines, shop for art & cards by Amy Heggie, preserves and bread from Gulf Islands Gourmet, get a chair massage or some handmade beauty products from Trish.  I hear there’ll be jewellry too!

Wild Food Article for August – Grape Leaves

I write a monthly article entitled “Wild Food” for Avid Magazine, based here on Pender.  This month’s article is all about using, and preserving, fresh grape leaves.  (The link is to a pdf, and may take a few seconds to load.)

Pender has a “Mediterranean” climate, meaning that we get more sun, higher temperatures, and less rain than Vancouver and Victoria.  Grape vines grow well here — if you don’t have one in your own garden, you’re bound to know a friend or relative with one!

I was a bit late getting around to collecting the leaves from our vine this year, but it’s been a little cooler than usual, so I still found lots of palm-sized tender leaves near the end of the new growth on each stem — those are the ones you want. … Continue Reading