Thursday, April 24, 2008

What more can I say?


My Name is Adele Lynn Oliver. I live in Hamilton, Ontario with my beloved partner Steve, and our kitty Coltrane. Our apartment is small but colourful on a street with barely any parking. I am the Senior Customer Service Rep for a private jet charter company, I organize people’s lives and keep everything else organized and stocked. Who am I really? I think I was a Chef in a past life, or a fish, I could do both equally well.

Born into a typical family structure, Mom, Dad and Brother. I liked mud, and playing outside, dress up and lying. I lied, because I liked to colour on walls and suck random objects up into the central vac system. I broke my arm at 6 yrs old, hated track and field from the get go, and found that public school was NOT for anyone who stands out.

I graduated College with a Diploma in Outdoor Adventure. I pierced everything I could, and then took them all out. I have a ½ sleeve tattoo among others. I have 0 gauge wooden plugs in my ears. I only show 1/8 of my personality at work, because mainstream business, has not modernized itself enough to incorporate modern-day urbanized citizens into their workforce. Yeah, that’s right!

Growing up every summer was a different job, single serving lodging. I’ve been a farm hand, Ontario Ranger, Boat Tech, Kitchen girl, Raft Guide, Rock climbing Instructor, and Deli Manager. After college, on a whim, I quit my job and flew to Taiwan to be an English teacher. After escaping psychological trauma from an under-medicated psycho roommate, I had an amazing time. Bought a scooter, saw the sights, rode the trains, navigated the markets and loved the food! I hope one day to return.


I’ve met a lot of people in my life who were a waste of time, and alot of people who have made my world a better place to be. I go to the gym 5 days a week, get angry at bad drivers, and talk to myself a lot. I battle with my weight, my demons and annyoing people everyday.

I write a blog about food, because that is where my heart is. I am an environmentalist so if you don’t recycle, stay the hell away from me, because you’re going to get a piece of my mind. I am turning 25 this year, and a quarter century has taught me to screw dealing with time wasters, and just enjoy every moment.

I’m weird, I’m me. I’m a vegetarian because eating meat creates HUGE amounts of green house gases. I am dairy intolerant. I love chocolate, guacamole, soup and wine. I don’t subscribe to TV; I don’t eat fast-food. I don’t wear cover-up, I don’t paint my nails and I break the law everyday of the week! I am artistic, creative and love to use movie quotes as my own. I like comedy, and comedians and I think everybody needs to lighten the hell up!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Sunday dinner with Friends

Spicy roasted eggplant and green peppers!

Steph and Jay were our guests on Sunday, except 'they' cooked 'us' dinner! Well, Steph did all the cooking that night. The rest of us sat and enjoyed a fresh coffee, from our in house Barrister, Steve.



Steph in action & Steve in action

Steph arrived with almost everything prepped, like a good cook. And without much more than a glance at a Whole Foods cook book, the flurry of her cooking began before our eyes. Watching her in my kitchen, I felt like I was watching myself. Wondering if that is how I looked while doing the dance of cooking. Steph had never cooked in my kitchen before, and yet she moved like fluid from one counter to the next, from one dish to the next... Me, silently watching in awe.

Our apartment just happened to be a great place for this dinner to happen, and we were more than happy to have their company.

Steph and I met through work about 3 years ago, we both c0-managed a health food store kitchen together, and found that we may have been separated at birth, a few years and 1 day apart! And it just so happened that our guys get along together like peas and carrots. We both have new jobs but can't seem to get away from each other.

While everything marinated and mixed in the fridge, we scooted off to the park for a game of Frisbee. Which got serious, when we started to compete for the most passes without dropping the Frisbee. 32 times the Frisbee was passed between 4 people, probably 20 feet apart!




Jay and Steve probably talking about fish

These guys love fish! They talk about it like little kids in a sandbox, squatted down infront of the tank, smiling faces and nodding heads, they could sit and stare and talk for hours, if we let them! ha ha ha


Spinach & Sundried tomato Tilapia, Summer Pasta salad and Spicy roasted Eggplant toss

Viola, this was a meal to remember! It was our kick-start to summer, and a really great time with friends! There is nothing better than sharing a meal with the people you enjoy to be with.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Corn Bread


Saturday Morning Cornbread

These little loaves came hot out of the oven, sliced in half, smoothed over with organic butter, and dipped into our eggs, to start a wonderful weekend! Mmmmmmm

Delicious food and sunny skies

Thai Coconut Squash soup over Rice Stick noodles


Steve and I are doing a Candida Cleanse to start off the new season. Which means for the first 10 days of our Cleanse (started April 1st) our diet is limited a fair bit. So the things we can eat, are a celebration, and last night it was our beloved Thai Coconut Squash Soup. I omitted the sugar and fish sauce and Viola! I also added 3, chopped up, leaves of bok choy for some 'greenness'.

This 30 day cleanse is pretty simple, but it requires dedication and planning because I can't just eat anything-anywhere. I like a challenge!

This morning, I got up quite early, though naturally, and managed to get some company on my run around the neighbourhood. It is a beautiful day here and so far, not a cloud in the sky. Next thing on the list, eat a wonderful breakfast!

All week I have been eating kamut puffs with almond milk for breakfast and I have to say, it is lacking in taste and entertainment. But I give myself NO time in the morning to make breakfast so Saturday's slow morning is a Delight!

OUT OF BREAD? What was I going to dip in my eggs?



Cornbread hit the spot!

I try to always keep a stocked pantry for times like this. If you have a few cookbooks and the basic pantry elements, you never need to worry about "what am I going to eat" because the possibilities are endless.

I made my cornbread into mini loaves, so any leftovers could be easily wrapped up for lunches. Plus the best part of cornbread is the crunchy crust, and you have 6 sides of crunchy with these little loaves!

I don't know where I got this recipe but its tried, tested and true!

Corn Bread

1 1/4 cup Cornmeal ( I use Bobs Red Mill 100% stone ground, medium grind)
3/4 cup Spelt Flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup Almond Milk
2 tbsp olive oil

-Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F
- Sift dry together
- Whisk wet together
- Add the wet to the dry mixture.
- Fold ingredients together gently just until mixed. The less you mix the more they will puff

Pour into an oiled 8" cake pan and bake for 25-30 mins.
or
Pour 1/2 cup scoops into an oiled mini loaf pan. Bake for 20 mins. Makes 6 loaves.

I have a great photo of Cornbread, I will add as another post, it does not want to add itself to this post.

Enjoy your weekend!