COUNTDOWN ~ Smoking Pies

DAY 333



I had a special order for two coconut cream pies for the birthday of a family member. I make my own pie crust from scratch. That is always a hit or miss...just can't get the amount of cold water just right. It is either too wet or not wet enough. It was almost perfect but the first bit of pastry ripped as I lowered it into the pie plate. Some patching needed to be done but was fairly pristine by the time I finished the fluted edge. My hubby bought me a "pie chain" that is used to weigh down the pastry while baking the shell so it doesn't puff up and shrinkage from the edges is minimal. As I was doing two and had only one chain, I took out my trusty dried beans as a weight. I used waxed paper to keep the chain and beans off the surface of the pastry so that it didn't stick. The oven was set to 450oF. After a few minutes I noticed that smoke was circulating inside the oven. On closer inspection I didn't see any flames so just allowed the pastry to continue cooking. I was concerned and opened the oven door several times to make sure I wasn't creating a camp fire...all the while spewing smoke into the kitchen and onwards. Poor hubby emerged from the bedroom and thought something was wrong with his vision...and asked what I was trying to do once he realised the entire upstairs was engulfed in a blue haze.(LOL). Didn't set off the smoke alarm though, which was great because I would of had to deal with a dog that quakes so bad at the sound you would think she would shed her skin (story for another day)! Long story short the last time I used the oven I cooked sausage (uncovered) and, of course, they spewed their oily guts all over my oven...hence the smoke!

Now, this is a self-clean oven and Allie has not indulged in this time-saving feature. Scared, damn right...not fathoming the idea of really setting my kitchen on fire. I thought I would check online for a method that would allow me to not have to use the self-clean feature but not cause any damage to the interior of the oven. Good old baking soda (make a spreadable paste by adding water); leave on 12-24 hours; use a non-abrasive scraper to help remove lifted residue; can finish clean-up with vinegar. You must use rubber gloves which is only common sense and of course lots of elbow grease. There are instructions on how to clean the racks separately; involves your bathtub, large towels, hot water and dishwashing detergent....again, time and elbow grease! I'll have to pencil that into my calendar.

Back to the pies...no issue preparing the custard so I was quite proud of myself. Wasn't quite set so methinks cream pies should be made the day before rather than day of an event.

COUNTDOWN ~ A Blessing

DAY 335

Today we received a special blessing in preparation to continue as ministers of communion. Our current priest brought us up to date on what is expected in this ministry along with a question and answer session. Father is quick and efficient with his delivery of the mass and instills this in all the ministries. We always waited until the congregation exchanged handshakes offering peace before going to the Tabernacle, now we are to go to the Tabernacle once "Our Father" has been recited and then proceed to the alter. We were instructed of the proper reverence when approaching the Tabernacle, as well as removing and replacing the ciboriums properly.

This was a good day to meet up with friends we have made and to connect with those we don't see often as they attend mass at a different time. We noticed that there were several new ministers, which is wonderful. Father did comment that our church was rich with people willing to volunteer their time.

COUNTDOWN ~ Niagara Escarpment

DAY 336

The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs predominantly east/west from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. It is composed of the Lockport geological formation of Silurian age, and is similar to the Onondaga geological formation, which runs parallel to it and just to the south, through western New York and southern Ontario. The escarpment is most famous as the cliff over which the Niagara River plunges at Niagara Falls, for which it is named.


Niagara Escarpment

The Niagara Escarpment is the most prominent of several escarpments formed in the bedrock of the Great Lakes basin. From its easternmost point near Watertown, New York, the escarpment shapes in part the individual basins and landforms of Lakes Ontario, Huron and Michigan. In Rochester, New York, there are three waterfalls over the escarpment where the Genesee River flows through the city. The escarpment thence runs westward to the Niagara River forming a deep gorge north of Niagara Falls, which itself cascades over the escarpment. In southern Ontario it spans the Niagara Peninsula, closely following the Lake Ontario shore through the cities of St. Catharines, Hamilton and Dundas, where it takes a sharp turn north in the town of Milton toward Georgian Bay. It then follows the Georgian Bay shore northwestwards to form the spine of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island, as well as several smaller islands located in northern Lake Huron where it turns westwards into the Upper Peninsula of northern Michigan, south of Sault Ste. Marie. It then extends southwards into Wisconsin following the Door Peninsula through the Bayshore Blufflands and then more inland from the western coast of Lake Michigan and Milwaukee, ending northwest of Chicago near the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Source: Wikipedia

COUNTDOWN ~ Snowy Adventure

DAY 337

One day late...this post! Had an adventure. In my infinite wisdom I decided that I would like to go to the One of a Kind Christmas show at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Well...driving to Toronto is one thing but leaving at rush hour not so enthralling. Hubby suggested we take the GO Train from Burlington which would cut down on the driving and would minimalize the amount of time we would spend on the "highway".  First hiccup...no parking spaces left at the Burlington station...booted to Appleby line station and wah-hoo...parking up pretty close too! It was a bit of a hike from the train stop to the Direct Energy Centre located at Exhibition Place....once inside the doors another hike to the actual show itself in the Centre. It boasts one million square feet of convention space...that's big! When you live in a small-ish City where you park practically at the front door and it takes you two minutes to get to the back of the store...yah...this is big. We careened down the aisles oohing and ahhing at the different artisans. We were intrigued by special wooden puzzles, crockery tea pots, red hats, metal art and wooden furniture creations. These were truly artists - no two of a kind, similar in the fact that the material was wood, clay, beads and/or precious metals - but all had their own style and colour. Alas, we did not purchase anything other than lunch! Our trek back to the train was a little labored as the joints were protesting. Second hiccup...we boarded the train but had to exit after the third stop to wait five minutes for the next train which was an "all stop" train. Small town panic setting in! Arrived at the Applyby Line station without further ado and drove off into...third hiccup...the traffic and a storm. The storm seemed to be concentrated right at the Escarpment line, once we passed Vineland towards Welland the snowfall was less fierce. Further on into the evening we did get significant snowfall.


CN Tower in background ~ Train Station Exhibition Place

COUNTDOWN ~ Lunch sans conversation!

DAY 338

What is lunch sans conversation you ask, well it is eating without talking. Why isn't there any conversation you quiz...well it is a room filled with individuals enjoying their meal so all you can hear is the clinking of the forks against their plates, the decided scrape of their knives as they slice through the meat and bread in addition to their spoons twirling the milk and sugar into their coffee . As well, it could be because the chair opposite me is empty. Why is the chair empty, your curiousity aroused....because my friend didn't show up!

Betty's Restaurant Niagara Falls

COUNTDOWN ~ Two Days Closer

DAY 341 339

A coworker suggested I put a Countdown Clock on my blog. I think I was successful but it showed that I am at day 339....I'm two days closer to retirement...WOO-HOO!

COUNTDOWN ~ Movember Donation Reminder

DAY 342

Have you donated to your favourite "handlebar hunk" visit: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/index/search/?q=City%20of%20Welland

Checked out my candidate today and he has an impressive presentation...worth a donation me thinks!