[edmonton life]

It has been 10 months of first-time home ownership and 11 months since we moved from England to Edmonton. Gosh, lots has happened in that time (new jobs, travels, friends, marriage, a baby on the way...) but what we've been really enjoying is settling into our new ( 6 year old) home. Not only have we now been excited about organising a nursery for the little one on the way, but over the last ten months, just doing the routine house maintenance hasn't been a chore but a pleasure. At last we're no longer renters and keeping someone else's abode in tip-top condition; it's our own.

Last summer (mid June), as soon as we took possession of the house, I set about planting some trees and bushes. I couldn't believe that the previous owners had lived here 6 years and hadn't planted one thing...not a flower, not a seed! I quickly found out what plants could withstand an Albertan winter and am so pleased to see that our trees have survived. I was warned that our delicate lilacs wouldn't make it (though I did pick ones that were grown in Alberta and hardy for our climate).

So far, our cherry tree, maple tree, red ash tree, lilac bushes and willow are doing well. I'm hoping the apple tree will show more signs of life soon but it is in the shadiest bit of the garden.

This summer (hopefully this weekend!) I plan to start my raised bed in which I'll grow veggies.

Besides gardening, we also wanted to get our back garden fully fenced in. For some reason the previous owners didn't bother bringing the side fences all the way to the back of the house to enclose the garden. Yesterday, a brilliant retired carpenter came and not only built us our fence, but added on two gates. I didn't want just one gate...then you're stuck in the garden on one side. This is how it looks now. We'll be able to stain the new addition in a week or so once the wood has dried out a bit more.

As you can see, there are four hinges on each gate. These are extra wide gates and the additional hinges offer that much-needed support. Also, a few of those beams on top of the gates will come off, they're there also to offer support while the cement (for the posts) dries.

And this is the view from the bottom of the garden:

And yes, there are a few patches of slow-growing grass...I have reseeded but this dry Alberta weather is not the best for grass. I'm actually looking forward to it raining!

[snow scenes]

[portrait practise]

Yes fine these are photos of my cat...but for photography practise!

 

  

 

[sunny moments captured]

Yesterday in Edmonton it was a beautiful sunny day. Just gorgeous.

 

  

I like this image because it looks like the cloud is trying to grab the tree and the tree is bending in towards the cloud.

Just look at the blue blue sky!

[winter walk]

At the end of our crescent there's a little pond (which locals call a lake) in a treed park. I love this spot as there are lots of trees so our new area feels a little older and worn in. 

Besides a few others walking, there was a cross-country skier and a family toboganning down a small hill. Now this feels like Canada.

[lemon cake with chocolate buttercream icing]

Yesterday, in between some lesson prep., a telephone interview and journal article editing, I found some time to bake a cake. Here's my lemony light cake with chocolately frosting:

 

Yes, you'll notice that a few slices are already missing...it really is that light and fluffy. Note, this is not for those of you on a diet...you need a bit of butter for this but it's good!

For the cake:

3 eggs

1 cup of butter (I used softened, room temp.)

1 cup of sugar (I used caster suga)

Zest and juice of one lovely lemon

2 cups of flour

2 tsps baking powder

Dash of salt

I creamed the butter, then added the sugar. Slowly I sifted in the flower and then stirred in the eggs (which I'd beaten seperately) and the lemon juice and zest. With a mixer I'm sure you could just throw all the ingredients in.

Pour into two round tins (that's what I had but use whatever tins you have available. You might need to adjust the timing) and bake at 350 for 30 min. 

For the buttercream icing:

1/2 cup of butter

icing sugar (enough to reach your desired consistency)

cocoa powder (to your taste)

I creamed the butter and added in my sugar and cocoa powder. I added about 3 tbl spoons of cocoa to ensure a velvety chocolate taste. We weren't disappointed.

[west edmonton sunset and construction-scape]

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

[beaumont winter sunset]

[snowed in!]

 

  

  

Snow fight!

 

And yes, my Hunters' wellies aren't quite adequate for Edmonton snow.

[views from royal alberta museum]

[snow in #yeg]

 

For those of you not using Twitter, #yeg is a synonym for Edmonton (it's the airport code btw).

[religious humour]

Now this makes me want to go to church...

Spotted on the north-western corner of 50th Street and Ellerslie Road in Edmonton.

[kitty antics]

I know, I know... a post about my cat. But...she's exploring her new home and has found a window ledge about 24 feet up....

 

Don't worry, we've put plenty of landing mats should she miss her landing when she leaps ever so gracefully...



Update: she jumped and landed unscathed.

[stuffed crab shells, potato gratin and carciofi]

You know the feeling. It's Tuesday evening. You're hungry but tired too. What can you rustle up that's tasty and doesn't take too long to prepare? How about stuffed crab shells, easy potato gratin and carciofi (artichokes)?

Stuffed Crab Shells

tin of crab meat (I certainly cheated here, it is a week night after all)
white wine
tarragon
garlic (I used 3 cloves)
shallots (I used one)
olive oil
panko bread crumbs
smoked cheddar (or whatever cheese you like, you just need a bit for crumbling)


While your oil is heating in the pan (you want a medium heat, not high), finely slice your shallots and garlic. Add them to the pan to soften and lightly brown. Once browned, add in your white wine. Bring to a soft boil and then lower. Add freshly ground sea salt and pink pepper (or whatever pepper you have to hand) to taste. 


Take your juice off the heat and delicately stir in your crab meat. Add your fresh tarragon now (or dried). I used a good tablespoon.


Now, take your crab mixture and fill your shells (or ramekins). Lightly top with panko break crumbs and sprinkle on a bit of cheese. I used smoked cheddar because that's what I had in the fridge and it worked well with the sweetness of the crab.

Put the shells in the oven (350) for 20 minutes. The breadcrumbs will crisp and the cheese will melt. When still warm, sprinkle over some chopped cilantro or parsely.

Easy-Peasy Potato Gratin

Three large potatoes (this will serve four people)
Shallots (2)
1/2 cup of cream
1/2 cup of milk
dob of butter
salt and pepper


Have a pot on the stove with your milk and cream warming with the finely sliced shallots. As it warms, thinly slice your potatoes and add directly to the cream. Once all your potatoes are added, bring the cream to a light boil and then lower. Simmer for about 20 minutes. If you find your liquid is evaporating, your heat is probably too high. You can also add a bit of chicken stock or white wine if you need a bit more liquid.


After simmering for 20 minutes, transfer your slivers of potato to any oven dish. Make sure you pour on any of the creamy sauce, filling each dish about two thirds of the way up. Bake in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes. If you time it right, your crab and potatoes will both be in the oven at the same time, and ready in 20 minutes.

Carciofi 


While your crab and potatoes are in the oven you can make your artichokes. I had four baby artichokes from the local farmers' market so they were perfect for a quick cook-up.


I just used ingredients similar to above. I sauteed a couple of thinly sliced shallots in olive oil. When soft and translucent I added some finely chopped fresh chili (I used a whole red chili). I added a couple of good glugs of white wine and about a third of a cup of chicken stock and pepper, not too much salt because of the stock. Essentially I had a bit of a broth. When that started bubbling I chucked in my baby artichokes (which had been washed and trimmed). I let that go over a medium heat for about 20 minutes (that's when the crab and potato gratin were ready).

This meal was ready in about 30 minutes. We added a green salad (romaine and fennel) for a bit of freshness to cut through our decadent crab and potato main.



And now it's almost time to sample the left-overs....

[little italy in edmonton]

One of the many highlights of moving to Edmonton is our proximity to Little (though very little) Italy and the delights this area brings. One of our favourites is the Italian Centre Shop. Visiting this supermarket is like a little taste of home (my Vasto home). Upon entering, all your senses are bombarded by a plethora of culinary treats. The sound of prosciutto slices falling onto waxed brown paper and the salty buttered taste that employees let one try before buying. Then there are the shelves, each bursting with hundreds of types of olive oils, balsamic vinegars, passata, Crodino, and anything one might need. A shopping trip here is like a little trip to Italy.   

[october skies]

[old strathcona farmers' market: edmonton]

[difference in edmonton]

As I've mentioned before, driving to and from uni gives me time to notice all sorts of differences between the village in Hertfordshire (Kimpton, just north of London) where I was living in England and now Edmonton.  Exiting the Anthony Hendy motorway (or rather, highway here) and travelling east on 100 avenue (all the streets go north and south, all the avenues go east and west), I found myself marvelling at the six lanes of traffic, all going in one direction while the next street north had six lanes for the opposite direction.

Although there are a few traffic lights, there doesn't seem to be a build-up and we flowed along nicely. Also notable each time I'm on the road is the sheer size of the vehicles. Most drivers here seem to prefer trucks though there are a few smaller jeeps and SUVs.