The Food We Ate In Cape Breton

After visiting the Lobster Factory we picked out lobster for our annual family cook out in Cape Breton

The cook out is always a highlight of our trips to Nova Scotia

This is what we brought our lobster back in
We also made a quick stop at a crab factory and grabbed a bunch of fresh crab

We brought these guys home

Then my father in law got busy with the cooking! 

Dr. J and his dad

The crab in the pot

Lobster in the pot

We ate like kings and had a ton of leftovers- 

The best leftovers ever- fresh crab and fresh lobster

Here are some of the culinary treats we made:

I made lobster broth- it needed very little to make it delicious and nutritious 

I added onions, garlic, bay leaves and celery

Lobster salad

Which for some reason tastes best on white bread buns

Crab salad 

Dr. J made lobster and crab Etouffee

It was amazing over rice

And we made crab omelette's

Delicious Memories! 

The Maritimes- Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

 Cape Breton is an island located in Eastern Canada along the Atlantic Ocean.  It is part of the Maritimes which are made up of the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. 

This region is the first to be settled by Europeans in Canada.

Map of Canada with a highlighted Maritimes region

Claimed by the French explorer Jacque Cartier- 

The French people who settled called themselves Acadian.

Cape Breton has a rich history of Acadian French, a dialect derived from the original French settlers some of which eventually moved to the Southern parts of Louisiana- 

Therefore, Acadian French is not unlike Cajun French. 

My Niece

Star Fish

Canoeing

A weathered boat

Lobster Traps

Blueberry picking

A (dead) jellyfish

These are called Lapin the French word for 'rabbit' as they are reminiscent of rabbit ears

A boat being (re) built

My older monkey rode this bike for miles around village and country- rain or shine

The monkeys enjoyed plenty of fishing

I visited the maritimes when I was younger with my parents.  When Dr. J and I were dating he took me back to where his mothers family still live.  We have gone back every couple of years since.

It is a great opportunity to spend time with family, interact with nature and eat amazing food. 

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~soulemama

Polish Food In Toronto- Cafe Polonez- Roncesvalles Village

Going home to Toronto is a mixed bag of tangibly different and always the same.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Polish neighborhood I grew up in has become a hot spot for young yuppie families. 

Within an hour of being back I was speaking Polish (another thing that never ceases to amaze me that I can jump right into it) and ordering authentic Polish food from a restaurant that is one of very few that has been around since before my time.  

Cafe Polonez has changed outwardly having undergone extensive renovations yet the food is the same taste that I call 'home'. 

My mother and I both ordered the pickle soup- hands down my favorite Polish soup

This is my dish- I ordered cabbage rolls and it came with a beet horseradish salad,  sauerkraut and coleslaw

My aunt ordered the chicken cutlet- which is actually my favorite dish at Polonez
She also ordered a tasty compote- a Polish style fruit juice

The classic potato pierogi and roasted chicken my cousin S ordered with sauteed onions & sour cream in the little cups

If you are interested in making your own Polish food I have posted easy how to's of my grandmothers recipes for cabbage rolls and pierogi

Click to check out the Cafe Polonez website

What foods reminds you of 'home'? 

Emma Donoghue- Slammerkin And Room

Many years ago I read Emma Donoghue's book Slammerkin.  A historical fiction novel it is based on a murder which took place in 1763 in the Welsh countryside.  Slammerkin, a word used to describe a 'loose woman', follows the life of a young woman who raised in poverty ultimately makes a living as a prostitute.

Although the book follows a storyline that feels familiar, I found that Ms. Donoghue's writing is vivid and unique enough that almost ten years later I am able to remember specifics about the story and characters.  I found this novel to be not unlike that of another favorite Canadian author of mine, Alias Grace by Margret Atwood.  Slammerkin can be raunchy at times.  The life of a prostitute is painful both literally and figuratively.  The character sustains gang rape and gonorrhea both of which are described in painful details.  

I've recently heard a lot of buzz about Room- Ms. Donoghue's latest novel.  I have seen people reading it everywhere in libraries, airports, pools and beaches.  My MIL bough me a copy of this novel and I read it over the course of two days.  Told from the perspective of a five year old it tells the story of a mother and son.  The story reminds me of Plato's Allegory of The Cave in which people take something which is illusion, as real- if they know no other way.  As a mother I found this story to be fascinating in terms of the education we provide for our children and doing the best with the resources we have.  

Emma Donoghue was born and raised in Ireland however resides in London, Ontario where Dr J and I both completed our undergraduate studies.  She lives with her husband and two children and has an impressive biography.  

Gathering Mussels In Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

Mussels are a prevalent seafood found 'wild' in saltwater rivers along the Canadian Atlantic ocean. Mussels are mollusks and filter iron from seawater to produce an adhesive plaque which they use to attach themselves to rocks and seaweed.  In low-tied they are easily gathered in ‘mussel beds’ found in shallow water or under clumps of seaweed that is still alive but not underwater.

After gathering the mussels we rinsed them with water and made sure to removed all the small rocks, pebbles and seaweed.

Wild caught mussels have 'beards'- a bristly growth on the seam of the shell- used to attach themselves to rocks. It is a bit labor intensive but the best way to remove the beard is to pull it off, towards the hinged part of the shell, with your fingers.  

This should be done immediately before cooking.  

Mussels are a good source of Selenium which stimulates the metabolism and immune system and protects cells from free radical damage.  They are high in vitamin B12, zinc, folic acid, iron and calcium. 

When gathering wild mussels it is important to be informed as to the conditions of the water- areas that are free of bacteria and have constant moving water are ideal.  When in doubt ask!

We seamed ours in a pot with some carrots at the bottom- a cup of white wine, garlic, onions, diced tomatoes and herbs from the garden.  Mussels don't need water added to them as they will cook in their own water.  Make sure to save the water to use as a nutritious stock.  

From the pot

To the table

Do you like to eat mussels? 

What is your favorite way to cook them/eat them?