Getting the ship in Shape

Just popping in quickly before I make the big grocery order and spend about $10,000. I am hopeful that I can get everything we need and come in under the $10,000. The fridge, freezer and pantry are pretty sparse so we need everything. Lorraine (my sister, best friend and publisher) is here onboard the Spruceglen while we are doing the fit-out in Port Colborne. I am so grateful that she is here. Her organizing skills are transforming the galley and by the time the rest of the crew come back, it will definitely be in "ship shape" .

Lorraine has been busy at work. I am beyond grateful. I wish I could stay here all year.

I like this photo and how the industrial products match the beautiful sunrise.

We are also having fun and it is such a gift of time to be together. I start my day at 06h15 and Lorraine joins me around 08h00. She has some fun t-shirts and they usually make me laugh when I read them. I take a picture of her and send it to a friend who also thinks her t-shirts are funny and then they send a corresponding song to the t-shirt of the day. This morning I took the photo of Lorraine and sent it on to our friend. When I sat down to write to you, I opened my laptop and on the screen was a memory photo of Lorraine from 16 years ago. We thought you would like to see the before and after.

Lorraine before and after. In 2014 she started a new eating lifestyle.

The photo was taken at our restaurant in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Ten years ago we both gave up eating refined sugar and processed foods, the results have been amazing. The next cookbook we are working on will have the delicious recipes that we make in our day to day lives. I also make these meals for the crew who are trying to eat more carefully. I often get comments that they like these new recipes. We look forward to sharing them with you too. Today we are working on the stuffed pepper recipe and stuffed cabbage rolls. I made stuffed cabbage rolls for the crew and for us made slight changes and instead of adding rice to the meat I added riced cauliflower. Lorraine gave them a two thumbs up. She said the stuffed pepper was also amazing. I use poblano peppers and I stuffed them with Italian sausage and riced cauliflower, I smothered them in homemade tomato sauce and they were delicious. It is fun and tasty trying the new recipes. I ate my stuffed pepper and cabbage roll with the leftover beet salad. They went well together.

This recipe will definitely be in the next book. Cabbage rolls made with Italian sausages and riced cauliflower. We smothered them with sauerkraut and homemade tomato sauce.

Yesterday I started my day making blueberry muffins. For lunch I made a new soup, curried cauliflower. It came out really nice and the galley smelled so good. I made individual tomato tarts and served them with the most delicious Antipasto salad (The salad will be in the new book). The second choice was a spinach-bacon frittata. I love making frittatas, it's an easy meal and a great way to use up leftovers in the fridge.

For supper I made baked ham, scalloped potatoes, cauliflower with cheese sauce and Lorraine made her beet salad (one of my favorites and definitely going into the next book). It was a busy day and Lorraine made a lot of progress. Today we will continue after I finish making the order. Have a great day. See you tomorrow.