Summer Repast

Our week at the cottage was filled with wonderful meals. Trips to the Off-Shore Bakery for yummy cheese bread and to Hi-Berry Farm stand for strawberries and peas are now part of our tradition at China Beach. We were inspired by new cookbooks and clippings, and a few of us by A Homemade Life. The cottage is the perfect venue to try new things with a dining audience that is more than appreciative because you are doing the cooking for them. Not a bad public.

I don't have pictures of Shauna's amazing Asian chicken salad for the moms and Rice Krispie chicken for the kids or of Janet's wonderful buttermilk chicken. I didn't think there was going to be a food post on the blog in the early days of the cottage stay -- it kind of evolved as the week went on.

We dined al fresco one night, keeping up the Devine tradition of party in the driveway...



Raclette made a return as per Kate's request. I enjoy the kids preparing their own little trays of meat and vegetables -- and then going the extra mile to make one for their moms. A wonderful treat.



I tried a few new recipes, but was most happy to finally -- well almost -- perfect the apple tart recipe that has been haunting me since January I believe...Here's the shot that would rival the one in Ina's coookbook.



This was an appetiser medley Lianne and I put together -- her amuse bouche, lovely basil and tomatoes -- baked brie on the BBQ, a new recipe for me.



Lianne was not happy about how her amuse bouche turned out--broiler in oven didn't work; microwave saved the platter of treats. I thought they were wonderful.



Lianne wowed us with Burg's French toast -- sorry you missed that one, Shauna and MacLean. It was fabulous. The picture almost does it justice.



Look how excited the chef is to be working at this tall counter.



It was too hot to do a campfire -- we felt like we were in the fires of hell all week, but what's a stay at the cottage without smores? So I perfected the microwave version. The girls look happy. Other inspired desserts included Shauna's amazing fruit dip and Janet's baked shortbread with strawberries.



My attempt at Ina Gartner's creamy cuccumber salad -- lots of prep - draining of yogurt and cuccumbers --- and one I'd do again with some tweeking. It's allowed once you've done the recipe as stated says Molly of Homemade Life. And tweek I shall...



The girls got into the act making smoothies for us all and then freezing the left overs for some smoothie popsicles -- I was feeling a bit smug about our Newmarket recipe that is now the Southampton recipe after seeing Molly's version on her blog, Orangette. We were so ahead of the game....



DYI BBQ pizza was a bit hit with the gang -- so much so, some clamoured to have it a second time when it was our potluck-com-use-up-the-leftovers dinner. And Kate survived the flying pizza episode with not even scar...Whew!



Another creation by the girls -- Skor Ice Cream Cake -- a great one to get the kids working on and much appreciated on those hot nights.



We look forward to the time when the kids take over a meal and cook for the moms. And a new tradition was suggested for next year -- appetiser meal for the moms on the patio with cold cocktails while the kids play across the street on the rocks.

Can't wait for that one. Bon apetite, every one.