Not at the local Sobeys but the Sobeys up in the city and I was kinda surprised and hope that the sobeys here don’t go selling pet food too because we do have pet food shops here like the Ascension Pet Needs next to Car Quests where Jungle Jim’s is.   Love Sobeys but would hate if we lose a local business if they start doing that.

In the city, the population is greater, so they can afford to have a Sobeys that carries pet food but not in a town with less than 7000 in population.

I don’t own a pet but if I do, I would want to support our local business just because they know more than your ordinary cashier at Sobeys and they can do special orders for you as well.

I love Sobeys for their groceries but no don’t bring in the Pet food, just like don’t get into movies  – because there are local stores like ours who does movies.

Hehehe!!  on sale from $6.99 to $6.99 – hahah! my laugh for the day but the salmon was pretty good.

We were invited to a Christmas party by a business acquaintance and it was not in town – but in the city.  We didn’t have any trouble getting there but I wished they had arranged for transport for us because we were not very familiar with that part of the city.  Anyhow, we made our own arrangements for transportation and even though it’s not quite like the  limo service tampa fl  , it was still pretty good.  I was all dressed up – for the party and didn’t want to be waiting for a cab – no way!  I wanted to party in style – the hotel rooms were paid for and so was the short air-flight that we took – but I don’t understand why they didn’t arrange for a limo for us – that baffles me really. After the party, there was no cab available to take us back to the hotel and once again, I wished a limo service was arranged, the next time we go for this kind of party, I’m going to make sure we have a limo service to and fro the party.

PB and I took a ride up to the city with his new bike to visit the Farmer’s market a few weeks ago.  He loves his  Spidi  accessories and we arranged to meet up with his cousins up in the city – to find some good food and take in the good weather and sunshine.  It’s great that we have Gary now and we can go up to the city anytime we want – and as for Chloe, she went over to Grampie to spend a day there.  To tell you the truth I was never one for riding on a bike too much till he bought this one – it’s a really comfy ride.

The only thing I don’t like about biking is I can’t bring back a lot of things from the Farmer’s market when we were there – I wanted to bring back flowers – and all kinds of food – but alas, as you can see – I can’t carry alot on that bike.  But we did eat a lot and drink alot and had good company for a good few hours and it was time to go home.  Summer has just begun and we’ve already gone up to the city twice and gone for a short holiday – I’m loving this summer very much.

It had been a busy week – sorry I didn’t update my food blog but it doesn’t mean that I wasn’t eating – i was eating a lot! with friends and family.And most importantly – this meal at Rudders because a very special boy just graduated from Grade 12.  We were so honored to be invited to celebrate this special day with Josh.  Josh is Chloe’s very special friend – Best Friend Forever For Life.

Hyunjin my Korean friend was invited by Lynette as well.

This is Lynette’s mom – Ros – we drove all the way from the city to attend Josh’s graduation.

Hyunjin bought some flowers for Josh – Josh was smitten.

And another shiny present for Josh from Hyunjin.

Josh and his father – Scott from Nfld – he flew all the way from Alberta to see him graduate – what a lucky boy Josh is.  Very loved by everyone.

Josh and his handsome grandfather – Charlie.

Chloe grinning from one end to another with her BFFFL.

Now the good part ! the food! yummy steak – rare for Lynette.

Fish and chips for Chloe and Josh.

Charlie’s steak

Ros’s fishcake and spinach salad.

Pan fried scallops with spinach salad for Hyunjin.

I had the same as Hyunjin but I had a ceasar salad instead.

Scott had the seafood platter, with lobster bisque and another salad.

Chloe’s dessert of Moon mist ice cream with chocolate sauce.

And the rest of us had the home made praline cake – it was yummy!

And here was Josh reading the card made by Ros – handmade and he was reading it.

More cards and presents of money for Josh for all his hard work.

Hand made card by Ros and heartfelt message.  Thank you for inviting us to join your family for dinner Lynette – this was a wonderful time we had.

The crab came from my father-in-law and the Sambal paste came from Jen from passion4food.ca.  Father-in-law had a few bagful of crabs left on his doorsteps and he had already cooked it – he gave me some to bring home.  So today, I stirred fried it with sambal sauce from Tean – and it was darn yummy!  gotta loved the father-in-law for sharing his food with me.

Spring is here and I’m hoping that the weather will cooperate with us – so that PB and I with Chloe of course can go to the Farmer’s Market around the county area.  I loved the Farmer’s market so much – because it’s the best place to get all the good food – and home made with the best ingredients.  And as for Chloe she loved all the handicraft made by these very talented and artistic people.  There are some  farm stools we saw last year and we didn’t get them and regretted much – so this time round – we are going to get some for Chloe and her friends. We are also trying to get some lawn chairs – that are hand-painted for our lawn because we are going to be landscaping it this spring.  I look forward to buying all these wonderful things at the Farmer’s Market.

It’s not often that one see such a huge and old lobster – this one is so huge – I’m guessing it must be like 100 Ibs!

Normal lobsters are like 5Ibs – can you imagine eating 100 Ibs of lobster?  i love lobsters but I don’t think I would eat that humongous lobster – would you?

I loved to use the oven to bake my food – from fish to garlic bread but you and I know that heating the oven up and then baking something for 10 -20mins is really a lot of electricity used.  So I try to use the steamer instead more often – because the charges for our electric bills during the winter are very expensive.  Unlike a friend who lives in NJ – they have nj electricity that promises savings for those signed up with them.   Here, we don’t have a competitive rate – therefore, I have no choice but to use my oven efficiently.

So you asked how do I do that?  well, if I wanted to use the oven that evening – I make sure that it’s not just one thing that I am going to bake.  I will bake my chicken wings or cookies or whatever I need for the next few days  – so that I don’t have to turn on my oven for just a 12 mins baking of a fish and then shut it right off.  These days, you really have to save as much as you can – when it’s over the roof when it comes to electric bills.  So like all others, we always asked ourselves – to keep the family warm or eat?  I say keeping warm is very important – wished we had a competitor here for Scotia Powers.

Ever since coming to Canada – I’ve to learned to cook for myself – but one thing awesome about cooking here is I never have to cook for PB – why?  because he likes his own kinda food – like potatoes, carrots, some chicken – not a lot of beef or sandwiches.  So I never have to worry about cooking for him – he can eat a sandwich in the morning, sandwich for lunch and another sandwich for dinner.  Yup!  he isn’t adventurous at all with his food – but every Sunday – he will cook potatoes, carrots – some sort of meat for supper – for the entire family – so I can’t really complained right?  Sure it is monotonous but better than my dad – having only cooked for his children once in our entire life – so I count my blessings.

I loved a good garlic bread – and found one that I liked very much here – so sometimes we also have garlic bread but not every weekend.  And for lunch we dine out on Sundays – although PB doesn’t really like eating out either.   So yes, for someone who lovesssssssssssss food like myself and being with a man who eats to live – well -  quite bizarre right?  but he has improved over the years – and he makes it a point to bring me and Chloe out to eat every week – although there are limited restaurants that he likes.

Now why didn’t they have food like that when Chloe was a baby?????  it certainly would have made it easier for us when we had to travel – because Chloe was very fussy about her food even when she was a baby.  She would even eat the congee I made – and I even double blended them – and still she wouldn’t eat them *slap forehead* – so most times we had to rely on Heinz.  You wouldn’t believed how much Heinz that kid ate, so it would have been nice to have a choice.

Babies are so lucky these days – but is it healthy to eat stuff like that?  I think they should be – because Chloe didn’t have any problems with the corn, carrots and squash she had from Heinz.  It was milk and Heinz food most times – until she was about 2 years old –  but then she still didn’t want to take a lot of solid food – so we had to give everything to her very slowly.   There were some sweet potato pie as well – and lots of fruits, of course I didn’t buy any – but it would definitely be something mothers to be can look into – if you have a fussy kid like mine.

I have to admit that since coming to Canada – I haven’t been too concern about the dress code when I go out for dinner or lunch.  Quite the difference as compared when I was working in Singapore – that’s for sure.  Well, in such a small town – and also because of PB’s nonchalant attitude towards look – I too – dress down for the sake of matching up with him.   But that doesn’t mean that it is right – especially when casual smart is asked when you go into a restaurant or fast food like Jungle Jims or Boston Pizza & Pizza Hut.

But when we were invited for wine tasting a few months ago in Halifax by a well known food enthusiast – I made sure that PB dress up appropriately – not jacket and long sleeves but casual smart as expected.   He had some titanium accessories that he never used – and we decided he would use it this trip – to make him look more appropriate.  As for myself – I put on my nice suede jacket and my new fall boots and jeans for the wine tasting and for the wine tasting – i put on make up as well – not just lipsticks!

I don’t know how others dress for dinner or an event – but I think dress codes are given because you have to respect the restaurant the the people you are having dinner or drinks with.   Some people might not look dressing up – but some accessories can definitely make one’s look more formal than you think.  I love titanium accessories for man and I’m glad PB had some – so that whenever we need to attend something special – all I need for him to do – is put on his jeans – a simple long sleeve shirt – no ties – but definitely his titanium cufflink – now that’s the perfect casual smart for man.

I don’t know about you – but as a food lover – I too love the kitchen gadgets – so when I saw this – I just had to buy it.  Cost about $4.99 I think – but don’t quote me.  Can you guess what this is ? or  what it is use for?   First person to guess correctly will get one of this home gadget mail to you wherever you are.

PS:  Yes! this is a corn zipper ! and the winner is Anthea

Happy Halloween to everyone from Chloe!  but today Chloe has a special assignment – besides giving out cookies to her friends in school.   Halloween is a big thing for some people and to one couple – this Halloween will mark a really special day for them – because both of them met at a Halloween party – so Chloe’s cousin – is asking the hand of his girlfriend tonight and Chloe has a  diamond ring in one of the cookie treat bags.   Chloe’s cousin was looking at diamond engagement rings from Reeds for a long time now and finally bought one that is within his budget and since Chloe is so cute and adorable – his girlfriend is not going suspect anything when Chloe gives her a treat bag tonight.  Pretty cool if you asked me – so tonight – we are all going to gather at the cousin’s house where the Halloween party will be – and his girlfirend won’t suspect a thing – hahhaa!!  i’m so excited!   Happy Halloween everyone!

Halloween is but a few weeks away  – are you ready for Halloween?  I think we are quite ready – this year – we have our store all dressed up and we even bought a special candy bowl for Halloween.  What so special about it?  watch the video below and you will see.   I’m thinking of wearing a  sexy red wig on Halloween day – when the kids come and get their candies at the store.  What do you think?  after all – not many Asian have red hair right ?  Chloe is gonna be a witch this year.   I think I will be a witch mama with red hair.

I’ve already tricked a few customers today – and not only the children but the big people too – hehehehe!! cheeky eh.

We didn’t really dress the window a lot – because Chloe doesn’t like it to be too spooky.

But we do have a freaky skeleton in the window.

And more skeleton heads at the front counter – I think I might get some pumpkins from Chloe’s grampie and decorate those with Chloe and put them at the entrance.

So I go to Tim’s for coffee quite often – for years – and only last year did I know that the girls collect tips there.  I also didn’t know that when you order take outs – it is also alright to tip the person who took your order – which I also found out from the Zhu’s from the Chinese restaurant last year.  So i started tipping both at the coffee shop and at the Chinese restaurant – which was quite alright – it’s always a dollar or less – whatever change I have left.   But last week – I was getting ice cream somewhere out of town – and the person who waited on me asked me -” do you want your change?”   I actually didn’t hear the person and had said “yes” but in a spilt second – I realised what she was asking – and replied ” no – no you keep the change.”

Truth be told I was quite shocked to be asked “if I wanted my change”, it wasn’t a big amount – maybe 50 cents or so – but in all my years in the hospitality industry – as well as being as well traveled as myself – I’ve never been asked that question.  I didn’t know what to make out of it – have you been asked a similar question before?  is it the norm now that it is customary to tip – as long as you are getting a service – whether it is an ice cream or at Macdonald’s?  or Dairy Queen?  or when you get a coffee at Starbucks?  should I be expanding my tipping etiquette?  Pray share!

You’ve gotta love a restaurant that served such big portion of food for very reasonable price right – well – we love Peg’s because of this very reason.  The staff are friendly and the restaurant is very nice – with great ambiance and food is great too  - what else can you ask for right?  Anyhow – the week we had supper with our friends – was the week I had this – the next day that is – because PB and Chloe just loved Peg’s.  I didn’t finished it of course – as soon as I saw the huge slab of meat – I cut them into half and doggy bag this for another meal.  Love the potatoes of course and the ribs was good too – but I prefer baby back ribs – the ones you get from  Tony Roma’s.  So the next time I go to Peg’s it will be another dish – that’s for sure – but for those who have a huge appetite – you know what to order.  I think the ribs were like $16.95 if I am not wrong and as usual it came with soup and garlic bread – love their garlic bread too.

My mother used to say that if you want to have a happy marriage and keep the husband at home – is to make sure you know how to cook – and to a certain extend it is true – but like you all know my mother is not always completely correct.  Now here’s a way to keep a happy marriage and an everlasting one.  So for those who wants to have a happy marriage – watch the below clip – very, very wise and true advice and it would make you laugh till you fall out your chair.   Make sure you let me know if you enjoyed it – so that I can tell my blogging friend – sasha – about it and thank her.

We had wanted to bring everyone out for a picnic last weekend – but alas – it was raining and our RV broke down halfway to Grammie’s place – lucky for us – we have breakdown service that took care of everything and even sent us to Grammie’s. Therefore, if you are planning to use your RV  a lot this summer – you probably should look into some breakdown insurance like we did – best investment ever.  Anyhow,  we had KFC at Grammie’s instead and it was just as good.  We normally have KFC when we don’t want Grammie to cook or wash up – that way – she can take a rest.   I usually have the wings – coz’ i loved wings more than the other part of the chicken – crazy eh.   We also bought a salad from M & M’s meat shop that I had forgotten to take a picture of – hopefully, the next time I am at M & M’s i would remember to take a picture to show you all.  It was a ceasar pasta salad – pretty nice and sourish.