Supper Onion Pie

This recipe has been a favourite of ours since the first time I made it. Sweet Pea had been going on about the British foods he missed and I, still in the first flush of romance, thought I'd try this recipe from Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess. Well, he loved it, I loved it and we've been making it in some form for years now.

The recipe is pretty simple: softened onions atop cheese scone dough. Variations can include a mashed potato crust (for those following the GF diet), leeks or other onion varieties, different cheeses and herbs. We've found that any variation is good, but with the original, brown sauce is an important condiment.

Supper Onion Pie

4 med red onions - cut into eighths 

1 T olive oil

1 T butter

salt and pepper to taste

3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 cup + 2 T sharp Cheddar cheese or Gruyere, grated

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

3 T butter, melted

1 tsp dry English mustard

1 lg egg, beaten

8 - 10 inch oven proof skillet, a 9 inch pie plate or casserole dish buttered 

set oven to 400F

in a large pan (or the skillet) heat the olive oil and butter and add the onions, cooking over medium heat for about 30 mins. Stir regularly - they should be soft and colourful. season with salt and pepper, add in the thyme. Turn into the pie dish and scatter about 1/3 of the cheese over.

Add flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl with the cheese.

In a measuring cup, measure milk, add the melted butter, mustard and egg. Mix well and add to the flour bowl. Mix up the dough - it should be sticky and I always add a little extra flour just so that I can roll it out.

Roll dough out on work surface, pressing into a circle that would fit over the pie dish. Transfer to the dish and seal the edges.

Put in oven for 15 mins, then lower the heat to 350F and bake for another 10 minutes, the top of the dough should be golden and crisp. Let it stand for a few minutes and then flip it onto a plate to serve.

Serves 4 people.

ya nae wanna slip him ...

The headline said "Snow Chaos". I threw on my parka (so glad our shipment finally arrived!), hiking boots and went outside with Belle. It was a bit like a winter wonderland, sort of what we in Canada would see in November - all white and new, the snow like a sprinkling of icing sugar. 

One thing that was very different was the population: no speeding, no slipping on sidewalks, no car accidents. Everything seemed very orderly, very British. In the park, they were even putting down sand on the paths proactively something I have never seen before. 

It's been snowing on and off all week and it's been lovely. A light dusting, all very pretty and not too cold with most of it melted by the afternoon. The Links & Meadows, where we walk most days, have all kinds of snow people: men, women, families. I counted five different groups making snowmen while we were there.

Belle loves this weather, even if it's very windy, she'll romp for as long as I can take it. As we were sliding home from the park, me tugging at the unwilling pup's leash, an older gentleman saw us, "careful now, ya nae wanna slip him..." 

Isn't she lovely?

Here's Belle ... isn't she sweet? She's adjusted to Edinburgh and knows her way around the neighborhood quite well. I feel this means she is clearly a genius, Peter thinks it means she knows where the food is. It feels a bit safer walking around here with her, I get the feeling that no self respecting Scot would ever hit a dog.

Sweet Pea has taken her onto Arthur's Seat a number of times, which she loves and come home smelling of god knows what. So, yeah, happy days for the wee pup.

The tub here is deep enough that we can bathe her inside without her leaping over the edge and throughout the house (always a pleasant risk at bath time).  

another language

Happy New Year! Hello Year of the Ox! Happy Belated Robbie Burns Day!

I've been pretty out of it for the past couple of weeks since we've had a steady stream of house guests since returning from Ireland. To quote Carla from Top Chef "my zen is zonked".

But, life goes on and, in addition to everything else going on, we are contemplating buying a car. I know! surprises me too. So, we've got to figure out the hows and wherefores of the parking permit. Now this is not difficult by any standards: call a number, get transferred, have the process explained to you, etc. Then I asked directions to the office to pick up the form.

The office is just off the Royal Mile, which is easy enough. And then the woman on the phone said something about the office being near the budgies. Budgies? What budgies? Clearly I misunderstood  - unless there are wild budgies around here that I have yet to find and boy! wouldn't visitors enjoy seeing wild budgies? There can do a whole festival around the budgies, this would be a great tourist attraction, no? Anyhoodle, I did ask her three times to repeat herself and there are only so many times you can say "pardon me" without coming across a little slow. So, I said "right then" and hung up and have been wondering what budgies could possibly mean.

It took Peter 24 hours to guess that she meant the bridges.

Welcome to life among the Blue People

I am a pale person. I have never tanned, any colour on my face is usually the result of too much sun and quite painful. Many people over the years have told me that my lack of colour is basically a lack of discipline: if I worked at it, spent time and money, I too could get a healthy colour. Explaining that I have tried sunless tanning, baby oil, "natural looking" bronzers, vitamin A and that I lived in Africa (where, surely, I was exposed to enough of the "right kind" of sun) all to my detriment and; that, in my 30s i have accepted myself and am ok with the skin G-d has given me, is not acceptable to these people. My natural pallor indicates that I am sedentary, "sun paranoid" and probably unhealthy.

Until now.

Moving to Edinburgh has been a revelation on many fronts. I have realized that American television production values are really the best in the world, that internet access means something else entirely in Europe and, that a "heated" apartment is a radically different concept in Canada. The revelation that has comforted me the most is that I now live among a pale people.

Now, obviously, there are people of colour here - Edinburgh is not a completely white society. Many salons have tanning beds, spray tans and "fake bake" for those who want to wander the darkened streets looking like they just came back from Ibiza. There is also a home grown industry that takes people to the sun filled and sexy Euro destinations, so who knows? Maybe these tans were earned the righteous way: on a beach.

For me, it's the relief of knowing that, this summer, I will not be alone in my pale-ness. People will not come up to me in the super market and ask me if I'm sick because of my pallor; I will not be accused of not liking fresh air because I don't want to sit in the sun at noon; explaining to people that I don't want to walk on the sunny side of the street? asking for a shady spot on a terrace? doesn't matter! it's all shady! and we're so far north that any sun will only contribute to my Vitamin D intake.

I was speaking to a native of Edinburgh today and told him how exciting I found the fact that everybody looked like me. He smiled, laughed and said "ah yes, welcome to life among the blue people". and here I am.

Back in Black

We're back online! Again, some more ...



I was encouraged by a friend to try this again, so here I am. I'm a bit ambivalent: anyone who's my Facebook friend can guess that. The whole concept of an online presence kinda freaks me out. I'd love a place that I can use as a scrapbook, a bulletin board without the constant barrage of comment, reinforcement and god knows what of Facebook (can you tell I'm a Facebook burnout?)

It's been about 18 months since my last post which is a long time ago. Lots has happened: I'm not going to recount everything in this (or any) post. It would be silly in many ways, most people reading this don't need a rehash of my history. It'll come in bits and pieces, if it's supposed to. If not? Better left unsaid (or un posted).

I don't want this to become one of those "look
at me, at what I have & what I've learnt and aren't I great?" blogs (aka "bragging" - tm the ever wise Devlin) yeesh. Oprah's fine but good heavens! Some stuff should be private or at the very least not open to everybody's discourse. What have I learned in the past 18 months? That life is both greater and smaller then one can possibly imagine ... I'm older and wiser but that comes with a whole lot of experience and situation that isn't always pleasant. Hearing people babble on about their enlightenment en masse is really unappealing to me, and I assume most people really don't need to hear about my stuff anymore than I want to chat about it. If you are interested? Feel free to leave a comment.

Some things should be mentioned at the start of the new and improved SadieBelle: Sweet Pea and I were married this spring and are now living in Edinburgh, Scotland. We've been here for about a month: so far so good. Belle's with us and pretty much the same: stubborn, hilarious and always herself. Hard to believe she's 10 years old! A mature pup, indeed. I thank heavens everyday for my little family and how fortunate I am that I have them in my life. That's it, that's all...
xoxo

Belle update and other news

Belle is doing well. She's settled into living in the Plateau and, as long as Portugal doesn't do well in any upcoming soccer matchups, it should be a peaceful summer. It's springtime, everything's wet and she isn't a fan of such things so walking is a bit of an issue. She didn't even poop yesterday because it was raining too hard. We had some issues this winter with her health: she just wasn't "right" so we went off to the vet. She was discovered to be jaundiced and the vet decided that there might be some liver issues (ie cancer or hepatitis). We ended up having a harrowing Valentines Day: Sweet Pea had an echocardiogram that day and Belle had to be driven (in the middle of a snow storm) to St Hyacinth for a biopsy. Both are fine: Sweet Pea is "too thin" (sigh....) and Belle has some gall bladder issues that need medication but in the end she's fine. Here's a photo of my two on Mt Royal after a snowstorm

and finally: j'ai vote hier! I love voting. I don't really trust people who don't vote. I realize that it's not always exciting to follow politics but to dismiss it? Kinda dumb, IMO. Prior to the election I didn't know who to vote for. Usually I vote NDP but this time there were no candidates available and I was just flumoxed.

Here was the breakdown of the choices:

* ADQ: I want to like Dumont, but he made waaaaay too many mistakes during the campaign & we're in a big enough mess. Also, it seems to be a one-man show and that's not cool. The fact that they did so well and formed the opposition is a little scary: we'll be talking about reasonable accommodation for a very long time.

* Liberals: I can't vote Liberal. It's beyond reasonable. I just can't do it. Fortunately, others can and they're in a minority government position.

* Parti Quebecois- a bunch of lefty intellectuals? What's not to love? And Andre Boisclar is pretty charming, I love the fact that he seems like he could go to a rave at any given moment. isn't he cute? doesn't he look like a mix-and-match separatist Ken doll? I also hate how "character issues" become such an issue whenever there is a gay candidate. It's such bull. It's not like the hetero politicians in this province (or country for that matter) have been choirboys. Anyway, even though they kept banging the separation drum I was teetering. Until the slant eyes comment, then it was all downhill and I realized that they was no way I could vote for them.

* Marxist Leninists- these are STALINISTS! didn't even know such things still existed. They support NORTH effing KOREA! they are connected to the larger Canadian party & have union connections to the Steelworkers and the Postal Workers so I was almost on board, but North Korea? come on!

* the Green Party: ummm... no! I won't vote for refried Conservatives who mask themselves as progressives

* Quebec Solidaire- more lefty intellectuals. Yes, they are pro-separation but in a vague community activist way. Basically, they give the impression of being lefty Kubaya types.

Readers, I was going to vote for the Marxist Leninists. Basically, I ended up decided on the way to the polls to vote for Quebec Solidaire. They didn't win any seats, came in 2nd in a couple of ridings, which considering they became a party in 2006 ain't bad. I don't know how I'll vote or even be involved in the upcoming federal elections. My head hurts thinking about it. I was seriously considering setting my ballot alight in protest at the paucity of choice. vive la difference!

So, there are a lot of things going on here...
When I first started the blog I'd broken up with my boyfriend, was running a marathon, moving away from Montreal and starting law school. Most of the events were chronicled here, with a more than a touch of drama.
Almost two years later, I'm living with the gentleman in question, here in Montreal. I have yet to complete my second year of law school. My interests have been refocused and I've been trying to figure out the place of the blog in that. I'm still running (not looking at a marathon anytime soon, though), cooking more (discovering the world of gluten free goodness has been exciting) and I've even rediscovered an old hobby: knitting. I'm also finding myself more political and rant-y. All of these add up to a blog that's more (and less) than what it was when it was a girl/ dog/ law school blog.
There will be more in the next couple of weeks and I'm sure there'll be some growing pains. But- I think it'll be worth the effort.

If you wanna be happy...

5 THINGS TO EAT BEFORE YOU DIE

The question has been asked of food bloggers: what 5 foods should you eat before you die? The answers, given by food lovin' bloggers from around the world, are as varied and interesting as the foodblog world. As a wanna be foodblog writer, I have been thinking of my own answers and ideas.

Food, for me, has always been as much about the place and the people as about the food itself. I have an amazing number of food memories in which I don't remember the food as much as the setting. More on that later. Here is my list of foods that I have come to love and believe everybody should try at least once:

1. Green Papaya Salad The mix of hot and sweet, salty and sour make this my favourite Thai salad. I've tried a number of recipes, some better then others, but at the end of the day, it's the smell, texture and overwhelming yummyness of the first taste that always does me...

2. Basil Sorbet yes, it does sound odd and not really dessert-like. Well, it's not supposed to be: a palate cleanser after a big meal, it should be savoured in small quantities (maybe with some fresh strawberries) just as a little pick me up. fabulous.

3. Dark Chocolate Truffles (preferably homemade) chocolate is an ancient food of the kings, a gift of the gods. Chocolate has been shown to be an anti depressant, good for the heart and an aphrodisiac. need I say more, seriously? Anyway, not everyone likes dark chocolate (which is high in antioxidants- which prevent cancer), preferring the overly sweet, milky concoctions found in the corner store. Regardless. Everyone should have good chocolate at least once. My friend Lulu showed me how to make tuffles a couple of years ago and there's no looking back.

4. figs with parma ham and buffalo mozzarella with lemon and honey I found this "super sexy salad" recipe on Jamie Oliver's website over the summer and found it so ridiculous that I had to try it. Sexy? Figs? well, the ingredient list sounded good- fresh figs, parma ham and buffalo mozzarella drizzled in lemon and honey and the rest is history. I love this combination and suggest everybody invest in the food importation business: I'm gonna need some fresh figs year round.

5. ???? I dunno. I love olives and garden ripe tomatoes in season and new potatoes (ok- I love all potatoes) and seafood ... blueberries and custard and raspberries and tortes (made without flour! woo-hoo!)
this past year has opened some amazing food doors for me: finding a new life without gluten has been both strange and wonderful. So this one is blank- need to find out the fifth food worth living for.

and-- with my list (kind of) complete--- TAG! you're it!

on purpose

I have, throughtout my life, wanted many things for and of myself:
to be carefree; to not worry so much about being liked, or getting approval from others; to be a good daughter, student, girlfriend, dog owner; to be able to wear long dangly earrings and hippie clothes; to be a successful lawyer...

All that in aid of saying that there are some changes are being made around here, my friends.
First, as you can see, the template and a couple of other blog renovations.
Other moves are bigger, albeit more subtle. So- bear with me.


This summer has been awesome. My classes, while not the most stimulating all the times, have really helped my French. I've enjoyed volunteering at Santropol and working at Stanton's (ok- maybe I didn't enjoy that part, but lip gloss isn't cheap).
My mother's arriving tonight, we're going to Ottawa so things are going to be even more chaotic for the next couple of weeks. After that things should be a little more timely around here...


And love don't play any games with me
Anymore like she did before
The world won't wait, so I better shake
That thing right out there through the door
Hell, I still love you (Ryan Adams)

Still Life and Recipes

In an attempt to channel my deepening love of all things foodie, and to use up film prior to going to the Lifetime Commitment Ceremony, I took a bunch of photos. Most of them didn't turn out too well (aka the anchovy shots), but a couple did. Please note the beautiful herbs- my balcony garden is gorgeous. I'll try and post more pictures as time goes on- my tomato plant? fantastic.

Here's what we're eating

*Roasted Vegetable Salad*
~ I got a version of this recipe from the Fields of Greens cookbook years ago. The original called for a lot of ingredients (including Champagne vinegar) which seemed along way off many years ago in Halifax. None the less, I was addicted to roasted vegetables and have eaten variations of it over the years
roast a mixture of veggies: garlic,
onions, zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, mushrooms (or others). when done, slice, mix together & toss with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, pepper, fresh basil.
let it sit for awhile for all the flavors to mix and enjoy!

*Basil Sorbet*
~ I read about this recipe shortly after planting my herbs and fell in love with the idea. It's so wonderful, perfect after a meal, with fresh strawberries or on it's own. The one problem? It melts quickly in the heat!

1/2 c sugar * 1/2 c water * 1/2 c lime juice * 10-15 leaves of basil
make a simple syrup by boiling the water & sugar together for 5 mins. allow to cool & blender with the lime juice. When it's lovely & frothy add the basil juice and blend until it's a gorgeous green colour. Put in the freezer, allow to freeze and then blender again. Allow to freeze throughly before serving. yummy!

Today
The vegetables would like to be cut
By someone who is singing God's name.

Because
Once we were all tomatoes,
Potatoes, onions or
Zucchini. - Hafiz

Summer Lovin'

The Lifetime Commitment Ceremony was wonderful. One of the best weddings I've ever been to. The coolest thing about the actual ceremony was that because they had chosen not to follow any particular tradition, they were able to incorporate what they wanted and include the people they loved. Everyone wandered around on a bit of a high afterwards. Anyway, it was great,camping was good (cold but good) and my home in Ottawa is still standing (and is relatively clean, even). So yippee!

Back at the ranch, Sweet Pea's parents are staying with us. They are showering Miss Belle with love which she appreciates. She's been more difficult lately (more on that another time) so it's nice to have people who are ok with dogs and understand their temperments somewhat.

I've enjoyed meeting them & we've had quite a bit of one on one time since Sweet Pea's been at work while I've been out of school. They're lovely people, one can see where Sweet Pea [SP] gets his mannerisms. It's been a little like camping in that we're in the living room for the most part. I've managed to get stuff done but sometimes a girl wants to hang out in her sweatpants, watch bad TV and eat ice cream out of the carton, no?

Mrs. Pea has made her opinions known about Christmas and babies, but it was done in such a way that, while firm, was none threatening. Mr. Pea was a little bit more relaxed in the conversation, but all in all it was rather funny. Especially since I don't really care about Xmas (they're welcome to him by all means) and babies are a long way off. Anyway, they care about their son and wanted me to know that. and they leave Tuesday.

The Mark of Cain

... so I woke up Sunday morning to find a bloody gash on my forehead. Something had bitten me in the middle of the night and I had scratched it. Because of the extreme heat it won't close and heal- I keep sweating & it? keeps oozing. yuck. it's like a third eye or something. Oh sure, you're saying "stop exagerating- it can't be that bad". well... y'know when you're talking to someone with a horrible deformity/ growth/ cold sore and it's all intense eye contact so you don't stare at the growth or something? people are doing that to me. Half the time I forget I've got the mark of the beast on my forehead, see myself in the mirror and "ACK"! I'm going to a wedding (or rather a "Life Commitment Ceremony" more on that later) and considered getting a cute bindi or something to cover it so that the pictures wouldn't have an open wound in them. but that's kind of Gwen Stefani circa 1998. Besides- I rocked that look hard back then & try not to duplicate. So if you see me- be kind.

On another note, my father has a protrusion on his forehead (this is a new thing-kind of freaked me out the first time I saw it) but in typical fashion he has christened it his unicorn horn so- maybe this is the start of something big. Besides, becoming a unicorn is better than being cursed by G*d.


WORK started working some shifts at Stanton's in Westmount. good to see a lot of people. and my blog has been discovered by some of the runners there. which is cool- slightly nerve wracking. since no one ever comments I always assume this is some kind of black hole. I'll try not to edit myself and keep going here. and compliments on my writing? are awesome & appreciated - thanks A!

THE NOT WEDDING
off to Derek & Simone's Life Commitment Ceremony this Weekend (or not wedding as we call it in my house). This involves a roadtrip, camping, a stop in Ottawa, some school buses and a vegan meal. All in all, an adventure and a good time. The lovelies are, of course, relaxed about presents. I am making some pantry items for them (Red Curry Paste, Chilli Oil, Mango Chutney) and enjoying it. and i may have discovered a fantastic chutney recipe... will keep y'all posted.

lot's more news on the way- gimme time folks!

What is it? You need some chap stick or lip gloss or something? Because your lips keep getting stuck on your teeth. Or is that your idea of a smile? - Joanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) from Tequila Sunrise

~ only one of the best movies ever also, a fantastic cocktail:


- 2 oz Tequila
- 4 oz Orange Juice
- 1 oz Grenadine
- Glassware: Highball Glass

Mix ingredients in a mixing glass with ice cubes. Strain into a highball glass over crushed ice.

A Scar on my Porcelin Skin

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead- Stars

I love this band, the album (Set Yourself On Fire) & the song... so good

Sweet Potato Salad

Inspired by DD, my foodie friend/ training partner, I made a Sweet Potato Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing.
After swim practice (warmup of 550+ 3*400), I sauteed some shrimp with garlic and chilli garlic sauce on top of the salad. Fantastic! next time I'm going to experiment with a Chipotle-Cilantro- Lime Dressing. Oh! how I love the sweet potato. and in my brave new GF world, I'm going to be eating a lot of them.

The past month has been slow. It's hot and I move slower anyway but then I've felt drifty, sleepy and not really clear of what's going on.

My tri has come and gone. It was the nastiest day I could have imagined and I loved it. So, that's something I'll be doing again.

Marks have come back and, while my legal genius has yet to be recognized I am happy with the results. that being said, I'm questioning what's next. I love this- but the parts I love aren't necessarily what's rewarded. I have to figure out how to get there. Hmmm...
I will definately be eating Sweet Potato Salad though. Here's the recipe:

Sweet Potato Salad
2-3 sweet potatoes- chopped, cooked but still maintaining their structure and consistency (not too soft, in other words)
red peppers- chopped into chunks
red onion- chopped fine
DD sugested celery (I'm not a big fan-seems a bit of a wasted vegetable), maybe lightly roasted corn, some black beans or carrot would also work

Honey Dijon Dressing
2 Tbsp honey
2 tsp dijon mustard
oil/ apple cidar vinegar/ salt & pepper

or, Chipotle-Cilantro & Lime Dressing
chipotle pepper- chopped fine
chopped cilantro
juice of 1-2 limes
oil - touch of mustard
salt & pepper

another day

in a few hours I write my final exam: I feel the usual mixture of excitement & dread. Today's going to be awesome: write the exam, have a job interview immediately afterwards (I know!), meet up with people and the celebrations begin!

But, before all that, this is a bit of a special moment for us here at SadieBelle because it was one year ago today that we had our first post. One year and 43 posts later we're still here.

It's been quite a year: ran a marathon, moved cities, started law school, renewed a relationship, did moot court, started training for a triathlon, discovered I was celiac and written more exams in the past 6 months then I had ever done before.
What next? well, I'm going to Disneyland. Not really, but I suspect I won't be posting as much as I have this month for awhile (it's a great distraction when you're at the computer for 12 hours a day). I think I'll read some great books (thanks for the suggestions, all) and cook and continue training and walk Belle a lot. Then I'll be back, lot's to talk about really: relationships & truisms, Mile High (still the best thing EVER), Belle's aching to give her views, Miss Legal Manners has a few things up her sleeve, I need to chat about the tri, there are recipes & of course, year one round up.

Take care-I'm going to bed.
SB

wise words

"Always be ready to kill your students"
- Grand Master Masaaki Haatsumi, ninja master

I think sometimes that law profs think like that: make sure the students sweat and are tortured by the end of the month. It's a combination of fear, mind bending and boredom. My last exam is tomorrow. And then- still don't know. I do believe that tequila shall be involved, however.

suggestions

summer is fast approaching and with the chance to READ BOOKS! real books, not text books that involve Lord Denning rambling on and on, etc, ad nauseum.
I'll take any suggestion for a reading list- email me or leave it in the comments. I will read just about anything but I don't love horror/ fantasy/ sci fi. other than that? you're on

countdowns

There are a lot of things I am counting down right now. We present:
Sadie Belle by the numbers...


2 exams left
5 days until exams are over
1 year of law school, over!

26 days until my first triathlon

3 "walks" a day
walks we take when it's raining: 0
bags / day: 3

it's one a.m. i must be alone here...

... only a slight paraphrase of Matchbox 20
I have less than 9 hours before my first exam starts, I'm freaking out, rewritting my summary (yes, again, thank you very much- this new habit of constant rewriting is getting to me)
I need to reread the FOI paper beofre I hand it in- I do manage to blast Stephen Harper & the Conservatives, so I'm sure she'll be happy.
still very tired. feeling very disastisfied with myself- haven't been able to get out much (except for mini walks with Belle) I'm still sick and my allergies have kicked in. I've been thinking about getting all my hair chopped off- very short like I used to wear it-- any thoughts? let me know...
other than that- mistake calls! and i, for one, listen...