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Chef Jason Bangerter’s Braised Canadian Beef Cheeks-Creamy Polenta-Crispy Tasty Bits

Chef Jason Bangerter’s Braised Canadian Beef Cheeks-Creamy Polenta-Crispy Tasty Bits

When Jason agreed to share a recipe as part of the Chefs #LoveCDNBeef recipes featuring Canadian Beef, we had a little back and forth on what cut of beef he would use.  “Might do tongue, liver or cheek. What about veal sweet breads? ORRR would you prefer something more mainstream like rib eye?” I responded “screw mainstream!  I warned them we'd be playing odd bits ;-> “   “Them” being you of course, my kind and gentle readers, who are generally not-so-mainstream. And that’s one of the many reasons I love you!  Besides, mmmm tasty tasty odd bits! 

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Grilling Vs Marinating Vs Simmering Steaks. #LoveCDNBeef

Grilling Vs Marinating Vs Simmering Steaks. #LoveCDNBeef

Everyone knows what a steak is. Or do we? This month’s Canadian Beef Ambassador task to write about grilling, marinating and simmering steaks got me thinking: “What is a steak?” If it were simply a single cut of meat like a brisket, for example, then every piece would come from the same part of the cow. It would all be predictably tender or not. Every one would have the a similar behaviour when cooking, similar response to marinades and a similar level of flavour. (Though that is another discussion for another day!) But steaks don’t roll like that. (In fact,…

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Tips & Tricks From Lex The Roofer

Tips & Tricks From Lex The Roofer

I promised I’d share some of the roofing tips I learned while spending a week on dad’s roof. So here you go: Rolls of tar paper will fall. On you.  Rain will fall. On you. Work from bottom to top. 1 cutter and 1 nailer gets the job done more than twice as fast Zinc flashing seems to keep shingles in better shape longer.

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Up On The Roof

Up On The Roof

The first roof I helped roof was on my god-father, Ferdinand Vigneau’s camp. I was 3 or 4. Walking across the roof of Ferd’s camp, carrying nails to my father and waving at the very infrequent passers-by at the bottom of the Moss Glen Road, I felt so useful, capable and empowered. (yes, I know it sounds so neo-fem, but it’s the best word to describe how I remember feeling standing on the end one pudgy hand clamped around those galvenized roofing nails and the other waving.) The last roof I helped roof was on our house on the island…

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Littlest Aardvark Meets Duct Tape

Littlest Aardvark Meets Duct Tape

Littlest Aardvark Meets Duct Tape — Originally uploaded by LexnGer Given the number of people on the island and the number of kayaks, we had a 2:1 ratio.  So I decided it was time to put the Littlest Aardvark in the water. By the time I was ready to put paddle to water and shove out from shore, the stern of the boat was filling up with water. And not just a little water. The Aardvark is a handmade wood and canvas kayak. (Not made by me). Unfortunately canvas splits when it's too dry and too tight. Canvas rots when…

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Hand Made Noodles at Sun’s Kitchen

Hand Made Noodles at Sun’s Kitchen

Click to Play One of the cool things we ended up doing this weekend with Rockr & Junkii was hitting the Pacific Mall. We’ve gotten lots and LOTs and LOTS of recommendations for the food there and we’d just been aching to sample what’s available.  The food available covers most of the traditional Asian cuisines and when you reach the second floor it’s hard to miss the smell of fresh waffles wafting down the narrow aisles. After cruising all the restaurants, food kiosks and vendors in the food court, everyone except Stephen ended up in front of Sun’s Kitchen ordering…

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Above The Nose Please!

Above The Nose Please!

This tryptic was taken to show, without a doubt, why I'm constantly railing on about photographing me from "above the nose". Above the nose please! Shot 1 – below the nose;    Shot 2 – at the nose;    Shot 3 – above the nose. (And in case you missed it, I look better in Shot 3. Not great, but better. ) By "below the nose", aka "up the nose", as in the first shot in this series, you will literally have the camera angled up the nose.  If you are about the same height as your subject, this will…

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Above The Nose, Please!

Above The Nose, Please!

This tryptic was taken to show, without a doubt, why I'm constantly railing on about photographing me from "above the nose". Shot 1 – below the nose;      Shot 2 – at the nose;             Shot 3 – above the nose. (And in case you missed it, I look better in Shot 3. Not great, but better. ) By "below the nose", aka "up the nose", as in the first shot in this series, you will literally have the camera angled up the nose.  If you are about the same height as your subject, this will be the angle you get from…

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It’s Right To Be Wrong

It’s Right To Be Wrong

This morning I woke up to find the following email and I just had to share:  (blogged with permission, of course!) Am in Starbucks New York with probably the worst barista on earth and the most ineffective ordering system… so they got my order wrong…but the surprise drink I did end up with is surprisingly awesome……..and then I read the following little passage and I’m thinkin’ she’s now the best barista in the country….:-) mind you it’s New York so I figure anymore of this from her and likely about 10 people are gonna beat the crap outta her with…

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Before You Hit ‘Send’

Before You Hit ‘Send’

You might want to review your subject line in conjunction with your “From” name.  Consider for a moment the imagery that is evoked by the following: Cascades Tissue Group  Heidi Hollinger passes it on  05-Sep-2007  11K While, I’m sure Heidi is a lovely person, I don’t really want to know that she shares her tissue.  ick! Technorati Tags: tissue, cascades tissue group, marketing, mexicat, email Photo by Mexicat

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Be Healthy. Go To Sleep!

Be Healthy. Go To Sleep!

Two of my favourite men in the world got poked and prodded by doctors this week, so I think it’s a good time to remind everyone of the health and healing benefits  of quality naps, deep sleep and general lazing about. “Part of sleep’s effect lies in hormones. During deep sleep, the production of growth hormone is at its peak.”says William Collinge, M.P.H., Ph.D. in the CNN Article Sleep’s Healing Properties.  He adds “Melatonin, often called the sleep hormone, is also produced during sleep. This hormone inhibits tumors from growing, prevents viral infections, stimulates your immune system, increases antibodies in your…

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Be Healthy. Go To Sleep!

Be Healthy. Go To Sleep!

Two of my favourite men in the world got poked and prodded by doctors this week, so I think it’s a good time to remind everyone of the health and healing benefits  of quality naps, deep sleep and general lazing about. “Part of sleep’s effect lies in hormones. During deep sleep, the production of growth hormone is at its peak.” says William Collinge, M.P.H., Ph.D. in the CNN Article Sleep’s Healing Properties.  He adds “Melatonin, often called the sleep hormone, is also produced during sleep. This hormone inhibits tumors from growing, prevents viral infections, stimulates your immune system, increases antibodies in…

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