Ice lake~

Picnic Anyone? -10 F.

Our mailbox w/ it's winter hat~ tough shot at -10..and freezing hands.

It was so cold January 4th and 5th..how cold was it you ask?
-10 F..

it makes the lake beautiful..
going to the mail frightful..

having tea..delightful;)

And it brought the last season of Dowton Abbey to our television screens..
I am looking at all the small details even more..

and loving Mrs.Hugues and Mr.Carson last night..now I am not going to say another word..in case some of you PVR it and have not gotten around to it;)


I really enjoyed the above veal dish..it's from that book I like so much..3 Times A day~Go look the site is up in English too now..they just had a baby girl..such an exciting time in their lives..
Italian Veal Polpette..
I just love pasta and I love a nice broad tagliatelle with a rich sauce.
Always my kind of meal..and always one of my very favorites.

It is the perfect weather for this kind of food..and I always warm the plates..Jacques does too..
Here I am talking about cold weather..snow..and yet I've added an old photo I found of my brother John and sister Michèle.. in summer..they are both gone..Michèle was 5..(I cannot even imagine what my parents and brothers went through..devastating..look at that face..she's the wee one w/ bent arms... and my brother was in his 40's.He would be 72..
You are looking at how kids swam;) In our backyards..in Mtl ..in the 40's.I am imagining that back rectangular thing is a sandbox.Look at all the washtubs!
Now Littles swim in pools .. soak in hot tubs..many have their own..~
Such a different time.
I love when I come across these old shots.Treasures.
That was McClynn street.Our backyard.

My daughters find the cutest tea cups:)
And a dear young girl the best tea..perfect for the first epi of DA~

Epiphany  was January 6th..yesterday..so our tree will be put away soon..

It is a tradition to make a Galette Des Rois..I love making them..but I knew it would be the 2 of us..  and I still have shortbreads and magic bars and nanaimos♥..so again I made a mini one..for him alone..
and this year..I stuffed it w/ Dulce De Leche..you can go way off the beaten track w/ this dessert..there are no Galette Des Rois policemen in homes..and Jacques likes DDL..I am an almond anything lover..he is an anything lover;)
And since I was not having any this worked..I love the little good luck charms inserts;)
When you make a large one..w/ a larger crown..the person who finds it..wears the crown!

For the veal...
La recette~

1 28ozs can of San Marzano tomatoes..or equivalent quality.
A bit of EVOO
1 yellow onion  very finely chopped
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 cloves of garlic freshly chopped
3 tbsp freshly chopped basil
Pasta of your choice

For the polpettes

1 lb ground veal
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 egg
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil  (more for serving)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese..(more for serving
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.


How to~

Pour the tomatoes in a bowl and crush with a fork.Set aside.
In a pot over low heat ,heat a bit of olive oil and sauté the onion until soft and translucent.Season w/ salt and pepper.
Add the garlic and cook for 3 more minutes.
Pour in the tomatoes and bring to a boil..simmer for 30 minutes..Add the basil..adjust seasonings if necessary..and set aside.


In a large bowl,combine all polpette ings.Season GENEROUSLY w/ salt and pepper. and shape into 8 meatballs.
Carfefully place the meatballs in the sauce and simmer ap 30minutes..flipping the polpettes halfway through cooking.
Serve the polpette and sauce over your prepared pasta of choice sprinkle with basil and parmesan cheese..

***************I add crushed chili flakes to the sauce..and have a small vessel with additional at the table.
The trick to delicious dishes like this..is to taste..taste the sauce and make sure it is well seasoned..no one likes bland ;)
And warm your plates first..especially if you live in QC:)
Every warm meal we eat..no matter who is cooking..we like to warm our plates..the food stays warmer..cold hands like mine can be warmed on them too as a bonus~

Enjoy~