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The weekend has come and gone, and the Good Food Festival is history including all the herbed egg salad we served on crackers.
Wish I could say the same about the skunk smell in our house! It is disappearing, but it is not gone completely.
Over the weekend while I was working at the GFF, Murray scrubbed and cleaned, did laundry, hung clothes and blankets outside, sprayed the couches and cushions with Fabreze, bathed Cocoa a few more times, cooked bacon and baked a frozen pie – anything to reduce the burnt rubber and garlic smell Cocoa brought into the house after his encounter with a skunk. (Hey, with all the cooking and cleaning going on in my absence, maybe this skunk incident wasn’t all bad!)
Probably what worked best to remove much of the offensive odour was the ozone air purifier Murray rented. It was so simple to use. Just plug in and let it do its thing (whatever that actually is……releasing ozone into the air and taking out the skunky stuff, I assume). It also wasn’t expensive – $30 and we had it from Saturday morning until this morning (Monday).
As for the coffee solution I mentioned in my last post, I think it helped a little. In addition to putting a dish of it in every room in the house, I also put some in my vehicle. There was no need to stop at a drive-thru over the weekend as my vehicle smelled like Tim Hortons.
It’s been relatively nice weather for the past few days so being able to open up the windows to let fresh air in helped a lot.
It would seem that skunks are an active breed, at least according to the number of traumatic tales you’ll find on the internet of people trying to rid their pets, homes and clothes of the obnoxious odour these critters can unleash. Should you need advice, or if you just want to prepare yourself now for such an encounter (while you’re not in panic mode ’cause you know it’s the kind of thing that will happen late at night or on a public holiday when all the stores are closed!), you’ll find lots of suggestions for removing skunk smell from your house online.
I find it interesting that many of these suggestions use something edible/consummable as a solution. Obviously there are uses for coffee, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice (and no doubt other foods) beyond drinking or eating.
Cocoa, my BFF (best furry friend), was sprayed by a skunk in our back yard last night around 10 p.m. – just as I was gathering up what I needed for my cooking demonstration at the Good Food Festival today and Murray was marking Geography tests. I was tired and had wanted to get to bed at a decent time as I had to be up early to get to the GFF to finish setting up our display. It was not the ideal time to have to bathe a dog and fumigate the house!
Yes, Cocoa got a few feet into the house before I realized he’d been skunked. Even just a few seconds in the house meant a nasty assault on our nasal passages that just about put Murray into hysterics. He has a keen sense of smell (to put it mildly!) and hates despises things that smell bad. His list of “gross” smelling things includes garlic, onions, sweet peppers, cucumbers, body odour and rotting garbage. (I’d like to know who wouldn’t have the last two items on their list!)
Of course Cocoa was quickly banished outdoors where he whined and cried, not able to figure out why he couldn’t come in and lay on the couch. I attempted to console him from the other side of the patio door which only dialed the howling up a few degrees. Meanwhile Murray jumped in the car and went off in search of tomato juice and deodorizing shampoo.
Drying off after the umteenth bath!
Cocoa, who hates baths, was subjected to multiple baths last night. First, two outdoors including a tomato juice scrub down and a bath with deodorizing shampoo and ice cold water from the garden hose. Then, into the house for another shampoo and conditioning treatment.
When we finally got to bed around 1:45 a.m., the smell of Skunk Eau de Parfum had fully permeated the house. Sleeping was impossible.
The next morning Murray and I knew we smelled as bad as Cocoa. The permeating power of skunk stench is truly something. As I drove to the GFF, I wondered how I’d be able to work at our display without making everyone gag!
But I’d forgotten one thing! The food aromas at the GFF are quite varied and very strong. A plethora of unique smells (some good, some less so) is continually wafting through the building. Many vendors are showcasing aromatic ethnic dishes, cappuccino machines are being demonstrated, cooking demonstrations are happening on at least three different stages, and on and on……
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before my skunk smell just fit in with the multitude of other aromas. Or so my colleagues kindly said. I did notice they kept a safe distance from me for most of the day, as did my parking attendant friend.
Things we’ve learned since the skunk incident:
* Bathing your dog in tomato juice is apparently an old wives’ tale. (I wonder where it originated!) It doesn’t do much except waste a perfectly good bottle of tomato juice which would be better served being made into a few Caesar! Believe me, you’ll need at least one!
* Instead of a tomato juice bath, we tried one of the suggestions Murray found on the internet (there were many!). First soak your BFF thoroughly with water, then bathe him in a mixture of 4 cups (1 L) hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup (125 mL) baking soda and 1 tsp (5 mL) liquid detergent (make this mixture just when you are ready to use it). Don’t let the solution get in your BFF’s eyes. After 10 minutes, rinse the solution out thoroughly. Be warned that your dog might come out a shade lighter after this treatment! Thankfully Cocoa still looks the same. He was rinsed after about 5 minutes as Murray had forgotten the timing part of the instructions. The shorter time probably helped perserve his colour. As well, I know Murray did a really thorough job of rinsing Cocoa.
* Murray also stopped by Cocoa’s vet today to see what they recommended and he picked up a special shampoo – Orange Apeel Deskunker Shampoo. I think Cocoa got bath #5 with this shampoo!
* Getting the smell out of your house and clothes is an effort. There are lots of suggestions online about how to do this. Some options work for some people and not so well for others. I’d heard about Lampe Berger lamps which are supposed to rid your home of unpleasant odours and make it smell fresh and lovely, so I rushed over to Household China & Gifts in Waterloo after getting back from the GFF tonight to pick one up. But instead of purchasing one, I came home with the following tip from the sales person. She thought it might work even better than the lamp, and it would be a cheaper solution. (I was most grateful for her honesty and sincere desire to help, not just make a sale!) Here’s what she suggested: In a small empty container (e.g. a small yogurt tub), stir together 5 teaspoons of instant coffee granules (a cheap brand is just fine) with a small amount of water to form a paste. Place a container with this mixture in each room of your house. Apparently within 24 hours the skunk aroma will have left the building.
I’ll let you know how this smelly story ends.
If you live in the Toronto area, the place to be this weekend is the Good Food Festival at the International Centre (near the airport). Well, at least that’s where I’ll be. You’re invited too if you want to sample new food products, watch cooking demonstrations, and pick up some good bargains.
This will be my 15th year working at the Egg Farmers of Ontario‘s display. I’d hate to count how many samples of pickled eggs, hash brown omelette or pizza frittata I’ve doled out over the years or how many times I’ve explained that cholesterol in our food has little effect, if any whatsoever, on our blood cholesterol levels.
Today when I got out of my vehicle to unload the boxes of recipes and sampling supplies (we’re serving herbed egg salad this year), the parking attendant who monitors the loading dock area came over and gave me a hug. Sure, we do two or three shows every year at this venue and I usually see her at each event. She’s a real sweetheart! But seriously. Hugs from the parking attendant?! Have I been doing this for too long???
I’ve had tea at the White House a couple times in the last few weeks.
Before you start thinking I must be politically well connected, no, I wasn’t in Washington sipping tea and exchanging pleasantries with Barack and Michelle at that White House. I was in Waterdown, Ontario at this White House.
Tea at the White House in Waterdown, Ontario
Both times I visited Tea at the White House, I sat in the front room which surprisingly, given the size of the room, is able to seat 14 people. There’s not a lot of space between the tables, but considering the number of guests that came and went on both my visits, the tea room is a popular place and needs as much seating as can be squeezed in. (I’d recommend making reservations if you plan to visit, especially at lunch time.)
The menu can be viewed online. When we visited on Easter Sunday, I had the High Tea.
High Tea (for two) at the White House
I’m not sure why it’s called High Tea as it’s actually an afternoon tea complete with sandwiches, scones, Devon double cream and preserves, loads of fruit, and sweets. Murray and I enjoyed it as an early supper, but if we’d visited in the early afternoon, we’d probably have shared a single order.
The scones are really good – very tender and with sugared tops. You can purchase scones to take home. I was tempted but managed to refrain, opting instead to purchase some loose tea – Darjeeling Margaret’s Hope Estate Black Tea and Gingia Assam Black Tea – in tin containers. (If you bring the containers back for a refill, you can purchase the next batch of tea at a discounted price.)
On my second visit a week later, I chose the soup of the day (a tortellini and vegetable soup) followed by the Devonshire Cream Tea – two scrumptious scones with Devon double cream and preserves. (Love those scones!)
I’d like to try the Gloucestershire Sandwich & Cheese Platter on my next visit. One such order had just been delivered to a table we squeezed past on our way out and the assortment of sandwiches, cheeses, crackers and fruit looked very inviting.
Tea at the White House is also a retail shop and offers loose tea, tea accessories, books about tea, and even tea-based beauty products for sale.
You can read reviews for Tea at the White House at Restaurantica.
Tea at the White House
279 Dundas St. E.
Waterdown, ON (on Hwy 5, north of Hamilton and on top of the escarpment)
L0R 2H0
Ph: (905) 690-9987
We may have finally discovered why many of us find it so hard to lose weight and why we suffer from serious heart health issues!!
If the food images on the web site below truly reflect what some of us are eating on a regular basis, then I’m guessing it’s what we’re putting into our mouths that’s the problem! DUH!!
I was going to mention some of my favourite images on the site, but they’re all too good….I mean bad….I mean bizarre….I mean REALLY – do people actually eat some of this stuff?
Apparently the creators of the web site now have a book deal and you and your photo of calorie and fat-laden, heart attack-inducing food could be part of it. (A little weight management tip: once you’ve taken the picture of the aforementioned food, try to refrain from eating all of it!)
Check it out…..
A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to exchange the cool spring temperatures in Ontario for a few days of warm but windy weather in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Murray was on Spring Break so he went down a few days ahead to take in a Florida Panthers hockey game. Work obligations meant I flew down a few days later to join him.
The view from the balcony of the Canada House condo we rented in Fort Lauderdale. Not too hard to take!
The view the other way!
It was very windy every day! Perfect weather for kite-boarding. No, I did not attempt kite-boarding. I did not have a death wish or want to spend my mini vacation in the hospital. I was perfectly happy watching the kite-boarders ride the crashing waves and do flips and flops from my comfortable chair on the condo balcony.
Can you see all the kites in the picture below? The boarders were out en masse every day, all day.
How about those waves? They were much bigger than they look in this picture!
We did lots of driving about including a trip to West Palm Beach and down through the Keys all the way to Key West. Nothing like zipping about in a convertible with the breeze (more like gale force winds!) blowing through our hair!
A couple of pina coladas and a shared platter of calamari at Sunset Pier restaurant in Key West made for a perfect afternoon snack. This outdoor restaurant belongs to the Ocean Key Resort and Spa, which looked like a really nice place to stay. The views of the sunset from the pier would have been lovely.
Pina Colada (Sunset Pier Restaurant in Key West)
To make a pina colada, combine 1-1/2 cups coconut cream, 3 tablespoons crushed pineapple, 1-1/2 oz light rum, and 1 cup crushed ice in a blender. Process until slushy. Pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry. Sip slowly….sitting on a pier on a warm sunny day….looking out over the Gulf of Mexico (or any other large body of water)….with not a care in the world! I should really do this much more often…..
Fried calamari with cherry pepper dip (Sunset Pier Restaurant in Key West)
Key lime pie (Two Friends Patio Restaurant in Key West)
The key lime pie at Two Friends Patio Restaurant in Key West was excellent! I also tried the conch fritters as they appeared on every menu and seemed to be one of Florida’s national dishes. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy them very much. Simply described, these are deep-fried fritters made with conch (a type of snail), flour, green peppers, and other seasonings. They were probably well made, but the texture and taste were just not to my liking.
A few other restaurants we enjoyed while in Fort Lauderdale -
* Flanigans Seafood Bar and Grille – great ribs!
* SeaWatch – great seafood and ocean view!
* Aruba Beach Cafe – great ambiance and ocean view, generous portions!
Chili Cheese Dog
A chili cheese dog would have been the appropriate thing to munch on tonight while watching the series finale of Corner Gas and the conclusion of the show’s successful six year run. Instead I sipped on Darjeeling tea and the last slice of lemon meringue pie left over from Easter dinner.
Much of the zany activities of the quirky characters on this beloved Canadian sit com took place at Corner Gas (the gas station in the small fictional town of Dog River in the not so fictional province of Saskatchewan) or at The Ruby Cafe next door. Brent, one of the main characters in the show, ate a whack of chili cheese dogs at The Ruby over the six years. (The Ruby was the kind of place that would also have served lemon meringue pie!)
A chili cheese dog is simply a hot dog doused in chili (from a can or made from your favourite chili recipe) and topped with grated cheese.
We’re not talking gourmet dining here. Just plain good food. Or so Brent would tell you.
If you’ve never had one, it’s pretty simple to make. And, Brent would likely also tell you, a chili cheese dog is no doubt well worth whatever effort you put in to make the chili – whether from scratch or a can.
If you want to make your own chili, you have some options….
* use tomato sauce, canned pureed tomatoes, canned condensed tomato soup or chili sauce instead of ketchup
* omit garlic and/or onions
* add canned or cooked kidney beans
* add cumin or sauteed green peppers
Chili Cheese Dogs
(Makes 4 servings)
2 tablespoons (30 mL) olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pound (450 g) lean ground beef
1 cup (250 mL) ketchup
1 teaspoon (5 mL) chili powder
2 tablespoons (30 mL) yellow mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 all-beef wieners
8 hot dog buns
1 cup (250 mL) grated Cheddar cheese
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add garlic. Continue cooking until onion is soft and translucent, another 2 or 3 minutes.
Add ground beef, breaking it up with the back of a spoon; cook, stirring frequently, until browned, about 10 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, chili powder and mustard; simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. (Add more ketchup or a little water to thin, if desired.) Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, grill or cook wieners as desired. Grill or toast hot dog buns, if desired.
To serve, place a wiener in each bun. Top with chili and Cheddar cheese. Open mouth wide and enjoy!
Egg in a Nest Muffins (image from Egg Farmers of Ontario, circa 1990)
This “recipe” for Egg in a Nest Muffins has been around for awhile. Perhaps you can tell by the dated look of the picture. I scanned it from a photograph found in the archives of the Egg Farmers of Ontario; it was probably taken about 20 years ago. But the idea is still a good one and a fun festive way to say “Happy Easter” at breakfast tomorrow.
With this easy multi-tasking recipe, you hard-cook eggs and bake muffins at the same time. If you want to make things super-easy, use a muffin mix instead of your favourite muffin recipe.
Fruit, yogurt and juice would complement these protein-packed muffins nicely and make for a simple but delicious breakfast that will allow plenty of time to hunt for treats left by the Easter Bunny.
Egg in a Nest Muffins
Ingredients for your favourite muffins
Medium or large eggs, in their shells (1 per muffin)
Prepare muffin batter. Rub eggs lightly with vegetable oil. Fill lightly greased or paper-lined muffin cups with batter. Gently place one uncooked egg, in its shell, partially into each “muffin”.
Bake in a preheated 400F (200C) oven for 18 to 20 minutes.
Let cool 15 to 20 minutes before serving as eggs will be hot.
To eat, remove the egg from the muffin, peel off the shell and enjoy with the muffin.
Tips:
* For a pretty Easter look, use paper liners with an Easter design and coloured eggs. A little of the color may bleed into the muffins, but it won’t affect the taste.
* Serve warm or cold but refrigerate if not eaten within a couple hours.
Fish and chips from The Fish Hut in Kitchener
Eating fish on Fridays during Lent or specifically on Good Friday was not part of my religious upbringing and is not now within my current religious traditions, however there we were tonight, in line at The Fish Hut in Kitchener, waiting for our take-out order of fish and chips.
The Fish Hut is our favourite place to go for fish (halibut) and chips. Tonight it was the location of choice for many others as well. The place was hopping! In fact, it was so busy the phone went unanswered as the staff steadily fried vats of fish and chips and rang up sales. Before heading to the restaurant, we had tried calling a couple times to see if it was open, but no one picked up. We decided to drive down to check things out and found the OPEN sign shining brightly and cars coming and going.
The restaurant (take-out and eat-in) is not big, and the place is not big on ambiance, but the fish (at least the halibut, which is all we ever order) is very good. The batter is crisp, not overly greasy, and not so heavy that you can’t even taste the fish. The hand-cut fries are also good. We typically share a two-piece dinner with an extra piece of fish.
I imagine that most people who came and went through The Fish Hut’s doors this afternoon and evening were Catholic as it has been their tradition to abstain from eating meat on Fridays, especially during Lent. However, surely some of those who left clutching their brown paper bag filled with fried fish were Protestant like me.
Why was I dining on fish on Good Friday? Perhaps religious solidarity with my Catholic friends and neighbours. Or maybe it was a way to commemorate the day and its religious significance in a very practical way. (Fish has meaning to Protestants too!) Or it could be that I just didn’t feel like cooking, or that we just had a hankering for fried fish. And possibly, it was just something to do.
Whatever the reason (probably a combination of all of the above!), the fish and chips tasted especially good tonight. If you live in Kitchener, you just might find me there on another Friday night. Or perhaps a Thursday…..or a Wednesday……
The Fish Hut
24-450 Westheights Drive
Kitchener, Ontario
(519) 584-2325
If you’re like me and often wonder which type of wine to serve with a particular food, I’ve found a helpful tool for us to make this decision a whole lot more easily!
Wine sommelier and writer Natalie MacLean has created a Wine and Food Matcher that will help us choose the most complementary wine and food pairings. The Matcher is on her website, Nat Decants. It’s fun to use and there is quite an extensive range of wines and foods included. Use it to find an eggstra-special pairing for your Easter menu this weekend.
Natalie’s website has lots of other interesting information about wine as well as recipes.
