March 5 - Day 595

595 Days of Photos

And so the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end".   I want to thank my family and friends for their support and encouragement with this project.  Photography for me is no where near finished, I just feel this project has come to it's natural conclusion.  Stay tuned for the next one! 

March 4 - Day 594

Gruv-y.
Ladies & Gent's Clothing.

March 3 - Day 593

Two Bean Chili                                               Heat 1 TBSP oil over med heat.  Add one onion diced and 3 gloves garlic minced.  Saute until onioon soft, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add 1 butternut squash, peeled and 1/2" cubed and 1 bell pepper chopped into 1" pieces and 1 tsp chili powder, season with salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute.  Add 1/2 cup of water, cover and simmer vegetables until crisp tender about 7 minutes.  Stir in one can aylmers chili accent tomatoes and 1/2 cup water.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes.  Top with grated cheese and avocado.

March 2 - Day 592

Early.
Last year I took a photo of these flowers when they first popped up but that was March 16th, so we are about 2 weeks ahead this year.

March 1 - Day 591

Wise Guy.
Can't believe we are already into March!

February 29 - Day 590

Sweet Potatoes With Walnuts & Balsamic Vinegar.
Preheat the oven to 425.  In a large bowl combine 4 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes, 3 tsp veg oil and 1 tsp dried thyme.  Mix well to coat potatoes.  Pour onto baking sheet and and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and carefully add 1 onion sliced and 1 garlic clove sliced, stirring to coat with oil and thyme.  Bake another 15 min.  Remove from oven and stir in 1/2 cup walnuts.  Bake another 6 minutes.  Drizzle with 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and sea salt.  Source: Hello Magazine.

February 28 - Day 589

This is a plate.
It is made of wood.  It hangs on my dining room wall.

February 27 - Day 588

And The Oscar Goes To...
Me!  I don't care that it's a paper towel roll - my first and likely only Oscar, care of N&J's party last night. (I guessed the most winners)

February 26 - Day 587

!!!
I can't believe it's taken me 587 days to finally catch these three.

February 25 - Day 586

Gusty.
The weather made it so I had to do an indoor run today so I stopped to take a shot of the snow in motion before I headed into the arena.  It almost blew me over!

February 24 - Day 585

Hello Tulip!
A pot of tulips I purchased as part of the Lung Association's annual fundraiser.  When I came into work this morning the bud was closed but by quitting time it had opened to reveal a bit of spring!  (Even though the weather later that night would disagree!)

February 23 - Day 584

Shake, Shake Shake.
The final character on my vintage cocktail shaker.  Check out the pants, which really jus look like hairy legs.

February 22 - Day 583

Penne With Squash & Black Beans
In a large skillet over med heat fry 1 onion, chopped, 2 cloves of garlic minced, 1 bell pepper chopped, 3 cups cubed and peeled butternut squash, chopped, 1 1/2 tsp of rosemary (or sage) and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes.  Add 3/4 cup vegetable stock and bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash is tender, about 12 minutes.  Add 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained; heat through.  Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions.  Drain and return to pot, reserving 3/4 cup of cooking liquid.  Add squash mixture, toss to coat.  Add cooking liquid if necessary. Top with goat cheese or Parmesan.
I used some of the leftover squash mixture the next day to make burritos.  Yum!
Adapted from: Canadian Living

February 21 - Day 582

The Story of Peter & Wendy.
Peter Pan.  1911 Edition.

February 20 - Day 581

Evening Mass.
Not really, just a shot of St. Joe's church at night.

February 19 - Day 580

The Museum.
Julie and I take George to The Museum in downtown k-town. Here's a group shot of us via the crazy mirror.
Also on hand, Warhol's Portrait of Gretzky...pretty (bad word) sexy.

February 18 - Day 579

No Vacancy.
The neighbour's bird feeder finally gets a patron!

February 17 - Day 578

Rollin' In The Dirt.
That I've tracked in on my running shoes.

February 16 - Day 577

A Little Too Late...
Was hoping to catch the fog but I'm out just as the temperature is dropping and it's starting to clear.

February 15 - Day 576

Calendar 'Bots.

Two weeks late to flip over to February, but January's robots are too cute not to get a snap of.



February 14 - Day 575

St. Valentine.
This one's for all the lovers out there.

February 13 - Day 574

White Bean & Mushroom Stew

Heat 2 TBSP olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook 1 onion, chopped, 1 celery stalk, diced, and 1 carrot, peeled and diced until tender, about 8 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, add 1 lb mushrooms, quartered and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.  Deglaze with 1/2 cup white wine, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon.  Add 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (or whole tomatoes pureed), 1 tsp oregano (called for one sprig fresh rosemary which I did not have), 2 cups cooked chickpeas rinsed and drained (or any white beans), and 1/2 cup chicken broth or water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with a drizzle of oil.  Adapted from Whole Living.

February 12 - Day 573

It means Love.
En Francais.

February 11 - Day 572

Artichoke, Leek & Potato Casserole
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large skillet heat 1 TBSP olive oil over medium-high. Add 2 leeks, white and light green parts only sliced into thin half moons and rinsed well, and 3 celery stalks thinly sliced; cook until softened, 8 minutes. Add artichokes (calls for 2 frozen packages thawed and coarsely chopped but I only had canned), 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 8 oz goat cheese (called for Neufchatel cheese) and stir to combine. Remove skillet from heat, add 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Brush a 1 1/2-quart baking dish with oil. Chop 2 sweet potatoes (or russet) very thin.  Arrange half potato slices in a single layer, overlapping slightly; season with salt and pepper. Top with artichoke mixture; smooth top. Layer with remaining potatoes, brush with 2 teaspoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until sauce is bubbling and potatoes are golden and tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.  Adapted from: Everyday Food

February 10 - Day 571

Walk Like...
An Egyptian.

February 9 - Day 570

Sticks & Stones.
Well, mostly sticks.

February 8 - Day 569

Retro Blades.
Found in the great bathroom reno of '09.

February 7 - Day 568

Hi-ya!
Wax on, wax off, and all that jazz.

February 6 - Day 567

Side By Side.
Roasted Cauliflower with Goat Cheese & Lemon.
Preheat oven to 425.  In a medium bowl toss 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets, with 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp olive oil; season with salt and pepper.  Arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until tender and browned in spots, 15 minutes.  Let cool 5 minutes.  Return to bowl and add crumbled goat cheese and 1 tsp lemon juice.  Toss to combine.
Adapted from Everyday Food.

Sauteed Greens With Garlic.
Remove stems and midribs from 2 med bunches green chard.  Cut stems and ribs into 1/2 pieces.  Chop leaves.  Rinse well but do not dry.  Heat 2 tbsp olive oil,  2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced and a pinch of red crushed red pepper flakes over med-low until the garlic is just beginning to colour.  Ad the stems and ribs, salt and cook, stirring occasionally until nearly tender, about 2 minutes.  Add the leaves and cook, partially covered, until both the leaves and stems are tender, 3 to 5 minutes more.  Season with the juice of 1/2 lemon or 1 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar.  Adapted from: Joy of Cooking.

February 5 - Day 566

Red Light, Green Light.
Corner of  Huron and Mornington.

February 4 - Day 565

Country Livin'.
A farmer's field on a Perth County back road.  Looks more like autumn than February!

February 3 - Day 564

Spinach, Mushroom & Celery Soba Noodles.
Cook noodles and rinse, according to directions.  In a medium skillet heat 2 tsp veg oil, over med-high.  Add one cup mushrooms, halved, and celery cut into 1/2 " pieces and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, about 4 minutes.  Add one shallot thinly sliced, 1 garlic clove minced and 1 tbsp freshly minced ginger and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.  Add soba noodles to skillet, along with 3 cups baby spinach.  Toss until spinach is wilted and noodles heated.  Add 2 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp sesame oil and toss to combine.
Adapted from Everyday Food (Cooking For One)

February 2 - Day 563

Chickpea & Tomato Salad
Rinse and drain one can of chickpeas, add grape or cherry tomatoes, halved.  Dress with simple lemon vinaigrette (Dissolve salt in 1 tbsp lemon juice, add 3 tbsp olive oil, shake - may want to double dressing amount).  Top with freshly ground pepper.
Also good with chopped red onion and goat cheese or feta.  Served over a bed of baby spinach it's a nice salad meal.
Source: Everyday Food.

February 1 - Day 562

F is for February, and Finn.
The first shot of every month of 2012 shall be of the cat.  Kidding, coincidence!

January 31 - Day 561

So Long, January.
The sun sets on the first month of 2012.

January 30 - Day 560

Leave The Light On.
But not all night, let's save energy.

January 29 - Day 559

See You Later.
Alligator.

January 28 - Day 558

Double Take
You have seen this clothesline before, but not dusted with snow.

January 27 - Day 557

Bookshelf.
I've read one out of the three books pictured here.  I really need to stop buying books, at least until I read all the ones I have.

January 26 - Day 556

Vintage Chair Through The Sewing Machine Legs.
The title pretty much sums it up.

January 25 - Day 555

M'Lady.
Another quirky character from the vintage cocktail shaker.  (Sorry, slow news day).

January 24 - Day 554

Simple Beet Salad.
Rinse and drain one can of beets.  Season with salt and pepper and add sliced onions, a bay leaf and vinaigrette (dissolve salt in 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, then mix well with 3 tbsp of olive oil - taste and if it's too oily add more salt or vinegar).
Marinate for 24 hours.
This recipe also called for cloves which I did not have.
Source: I Know How To Cook

January 23 - Day 553

Three Amigos.
This reminds me, The Crow is on Netflix.  Must watch and bask in 1994.

January 22 - Day 552

Light Decadent Brownies
Preheat oven to 350F.  Line the bottom and sides of an 8 inch square pan with parchment, letting it hang over the sides of the pan.  Whisk 2 1/2 cups icing sugar with 2 100 gram packages of ground almonds, 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/8 tsp of salt in a large bowl.  Stir in 4 egg whites and 2 tsp vanilla.  Batter will be thick.  Scrape into pan.  Smooth top.  Bake in centre of oven until top of brownie is shiny and crispy and a knife inserted comes out clean, 40 to 45 min.  Run a knife around sides of pan.  Use parchment to lift brownie out and let cool completely on a rack.  Source: Chatelaine.

January 21 - Day 551

Coffee Break.
If you have to go to work on a Saturday it's only right to treat yourself to a mocha latte from Sputnik.  Wait, no.  If it's Saturday you should treat yourself to a mocha latte from Sputnik...work or no work!

January 20 - Day 550

Girl Detective Girl Dectective Girl Detective Girl Detective.
Nancy Drew x 4

January 19 - Day 549

Late Winter Afternoon.
Just leaving work, you can notice the hint of orange in the sky.  I don't know if it's just me but it doesn't seem to get as dark as early as I remember of winters past.

January 18 - Day 548

Mother T.
An addition to my stamp-photo collection.

January 17 - Day 547

Ad Man.
Mad Man on the table.

January 16 - Day 546

Butterfly.
The hinges on the old milk box remind me of butterflies.