Je me souviens...

Ok so Montreal was 2 weekends ago, but here's the recap on a post I started last Sunday:

Just got back from a weekend with the girls (Sally, Saadia, Raquel and me) in Montreal. But before I give the recap, I thought I would report on last Wednesday's dinner since it was MY turn! Oh wait, no, it was Norm's turn and then mine. Anyway, here's the short version: Norm did a mexican theme with fish tacos, wasabi shrimp and chocolate peanut butter pie (from Emeril) for dessert. IT was DEEE-leecious. Gerwyn stuffed his face with 6 tacos right out of the gates. We barely had time to finish one in the time it took him. Needless to say, he was not a happy camper that night. Stomach ache all night... The following Wednesday I chose a menu out of a Martha Stewart mag: Paprika Rubbed Roasted Chicken with Dill green beans and stuffed baked potatoes. Dessert was a chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. (Gerwyn says my cookie was over baked. At least he didn't get a stomach ache!!) Then it was off to Montreal, the trip was great except it rained all weekend. We shopped (at Simon's), we ate (at Schwartz and Cafeteria), we got rained on (the entire weekend) and got massaged (by strange most likely unregistered Eastern European masseurs... it was odd to say the least). Anyway, for full details I suggest you check out sally's blog. How's that for a recap?!!

Onto last weekend: Friday night I shopped til I dropped at the mall and bought two pairs of shoes and some pants at the Gap. Saturday I went to Janet's to give Calla her birthday present and then headed back to the mall to pick up my second pair of shoes (they were ordered in) at the Bay. Coincidentally, I met Susie and Josh there who were in the midst of registering for their wedding and then Gerwyn came by on his bike and we all stopped for coffee before Gerwyn and I went to Terroni for dinner. It was SOOOO GOOD! Gerwyn practically inhaled the mushroom salad, I barely got a bite. Then his left temple started sweating from his spicy pasta that he ordered. He had to go to the washroom to "dry off". (I would agree, it was pretty spicy.) Then we walked home and digested our meals and prepared to watch Borat but ended up falling asleep on the couch so we just went to bed instead. Sunday I got up early to visit Grams and Gerwyn went for a bike ride with Vic downtown. I ended up running into Gerwyn again as I was walking back from the GO train station. (I think he is secretly stalking me...) We ended up going to my place and I made mini pizzas with grilled vegetables and we watched Amazing Race. Since he didn't feel like riding his bike back home, he ended up staying over again and we were able to have breakfast together on Monday. It was quite nice (except for having to actually get up EARLY to MAKE the breakfast..)

Whew, I think that's it. Now I'm off for some mani/pedi time with Ev and then a little Sushi at Japango, haven't had sushi for ages so I'm really looking forward to it! YUM!

Trip to Uxbridge!

This past weekend Gerwyn and I went up to Uxbridge with Susie and Josh to check out her wedding site. She's getting married at her brother Scott's house in his backyard. It was about an hour drive and on the way we stopped to visit her mom so she could meet Gerwyn and I could say hello. I don't think I've seen her for almost 10 years. Seeing her was like finding a piece of home. I have so many childhood memories at her house and although she lives somewhere different now, it still felt like "Kimball House" when I entered her apartment. Tons of pink everywhere with the occassional memento from back in the day (her encyclopedias from the late 70's, her teacups...). It was so great to have her meet Gerwyn too. She was so excited. She told me that I should get my mom's approval before I get married and I said "I talked to my mom already" and she said "not THIS mom!" It was so sweet. She asked Gerwyn all these questions about when he wanted to get married and have kids, she really put him on the spot but he was pretty good about it, didn't even break a sweat. Then on the way out, when he hugged her (of course he had to get a hug and kiss in there,) she said "you won't find anyone better." Almost makes me cry to think about it. She was such a big part of my life growing up, I'm glad I got to introduce the past to the future.

Then we headed to Scott's and spent the rest of the day in his massive backyard. It backs onto a forest and Susie had a few places spec'd out for where she wanted to get married so we took a little tour and then Gerwyn played frisbee with Josh and Susie's nephews while we talked decorations in the barn. It was a beautiful day to be out and we had a great time!

Sunday was Gerwyn's "day" so he spent the entire day cycling around the city in his new bicycle shorts while I visited Grams, cleaned my apartment and grocery shopped. This Wednesday is my turn to make dinner. I've perused all my Food magazines and settled on a Martha Stewart menu of paprika roast chicken, stuffed baked potatoes and french cut green beans. We'll see how it goes...

Yeah baby, its bangers and mash!!

Ev decided to go with an "English" theme (seeing as how she just got back from a romantic getaway with her Englishman Steeeewart) for Wednesday dinner and made traditional English Bangers and Mash. She even got the recipes from Jamie Oliver. It was very tasty. Her appetizer was an arugula salad with pinenuts, pancetta and balsalmic. For dessert, she made a "Banoffee Pie", a toffee pie with banana chunks and whipped cream. It was deeeelish. Some might even say it was their 'favourite dessert' of all Wednesday dinners. I won't mention who that someone was, but needless to say, he won't be enjoying any more desserts at my house... hmph!

Tonight I've decided to meet Sally for drinks (because we can now that she's a T.O girl again) and then tomorrow I'm off to Burford, Ontario for a dinner party at Kim's house with Trish and Saadia. A pretty quiet weekend I'd say.

Easter Weekend!

This past weekend was Easter and you know what that means... c.h.o.c.o.l.a.t.e! (Yes, I'm a bad Catholic.) Friday being Good Friday, I had the day off work so I met up with Gerwyn and we ate fish (no meat right? See, I AM a good Catholic) and watched Blades of Glory. It was hilarious. At one point, Gerwyn even fell out of his seat from laughing so hard. Friday night we had dinner downtown (Taco Bell, nope, definitely NOT a good Catholic) and vegged out. Saturday was brunch at my uncle's house. It was the biggest feast ever. What started out as a small brunch among cousins turned into a huge family affair with crab, the biggest fish I've ever seen and sushi as far as the eye could see. Uncle taught everyone how to make california rolls. Even the aunts got into the assembly line. My cousin Jenn laid out the seaweed sheets, Mad and CAt applied the rice, uncle put down the avocado and crab and Carol's mom folded em up. And of course, Mad ate all the "ugly" looking ones. Turns out, about half of them were "ugly". Then they moved onto spicy tuna and salmon rolls, just as tasty and just as quick to disappear. Plus Carol made all the usual breakfast foods, french toast, bacon, sausages, potatoes and lots and lots of desserts!! We were so full.

I left Uncle's at about 4pm to head to my friend Mae's for another Easter party. Yes, even more food. However, by the time I got there I had digested enough so that I could try a few of Mae's ribs, Mel's chicken, Ev's scalloped potatoes and even the Chinese food that Sally and I brought. Plus the carrot cake and blueberry cheesecake. Then we had a little EAster Egg hunt before Gerwyn and I got our butts kicked at Wii. (We played Tennis against Ev and Glenn. Clearly they were cheating.)

Sunday was recovery day. Got up early to visit Grams and then ate a small lunch at home before heading back downtown to meet Gerwyn. We watched "The Holiday". It was definitely a chick flick so naturally, we both loved it. (Ok, so Gerwyn not so much. It was no "Notebook" apparently.)

This week is Ev's turn to cook Wednesday dinner, hard to believe I can still think about food, but I wonder what she's going to make???