COOKING WITH SOUL

Cooking With Soul at Beach United Church, Saturday November 30, 2013

Beach United Church offers lunch on Thursdays to approximately 60-70 visitors. We offer a nutritious meal and fellowship to low income, homeless friends and anyone who is hungry. Then, one Saturday a month, those who love to cook and learn get together  and cook up a storm. We taste test our creations, and then on Thursday the guests get a home cooked meal.

Last Saturday I was the guest chef, and my theme was Cooking along the Spanish Camino. There was a diverse group of church members, neighbours, friends and pilgrims who worked on the menu. We made Arroz con Pollo ( chicken with rice and tomatoes, garnished with roasted red peppers and olives)
 Ensalada Mixta ( a plated salad, with romaine, carrot, tomato, cucumber, hard boiled eggs, tuna, roasted red pepper and olives, plus bocconcini),
Caldo Gallego ( a soup from Galicia, with potatoes, rutabaga, kale and white beans, seasoned with smoked paprika), and
Arroz con Leche ( rice pudding).

We talked food, cooking, Spain, and the Camino. We shared stories, photos, recipes, and tips on how to walk the Camino. We all had a good time, including Oliver, who spent the morning in a sling on Mom and Dad, and Kingston, who came disguised as the Green Lantern. Kingston is 5.

There are pictures of past Cooking with Soul events- including me as The Frugal Chef -  on our tumblr blog -  http://cookingwithsoul.tumblr.com/
and pictures of our cooking on Saturday on Beach United Church facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/beachunitedchurch/photos_stream.

Here I am, with a big smile on my face, holding a platter of Ensalada Mixta.(photo taken by Abigail)

Buen Provecho!

Darlene

Wandering this fall

Since I plan to walk the Camino once again in the Spring of 2014 with my friend Wendy, I need to step up the training. I now lead walk 3 days a week. Monday and Tuesday are usually in the neighbourhood, for about an hour, and Friday is a day-long walk with pilgrims - about the length of my definition of a short day on the Camino - about 4 and a half hours of walking, ending with a lunch somewhere on the route.

On the shorter walks, I have explored Corktown Common, the Distillery, Cherry Beach, the new Rouge Park, the Necropolis, Craigleith Gardens, Chorley Park, the Brickworks, the abandoned CPR rail route up the Don Valley, Governor's Bridge and Rosedale. On all but one of these hikes, I have had friends with me.

On the longer walks with Pilgrims Practice/Progress, we have walked the Eastern Beaches, Grenadier Pond in High Park and the Humber River, the waterfront to High Park, the Toronto Islands, and the Don Valley trail to Edwards Gardens. This week we return to the Humber and walk north from Bloor.

This is a picture taken by Julie, of our walk near Wilkett Creek.

Toronto is so beautiful, and provides so many opportunities to get away from the bustle and the pavement, and so many challenges and adventures in preparation for the pilgrimage.

Ultreia! 

The National filmed us!

The CBC wanted footage to support the research into the benefits of walking for post-menopausal women ( sorry guys) and they found our group. So last Friday, October 4, they filmed us walking on Toronto Island.
It added a new dimension to the routine of the hike, and was interesting to see the producer and camerawoman work together to get the footage.
Here is the link:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Health/ID/2410490882/

We had a great pot-luck lunch at the ferry docks on Ward's Island which we really enjoyed after walking the length of the island. After the ferry ride back to the city, we walked home, with a stop at the Europe Bound outlet. Some Sicilian ice cream  topped off a terrific day of hiking.

Next week we are off to explore another Toronto beach.

This is what the beaches looked like on Toronto Island.

PILGRIMS PRACTICE HIKES FALL 2013

 PILGRIMS PRACTICE HIKES FOR THE FALL, 2013

I've been hiking outside Toronto for the summer.

July I was in  Fenelon Falls, hiking with assorted pilgrims and friends, and 2 regular groups in the town. There is a lovely trail along the lake, so it was comfortable even in the heat.

August I was in Kelowna with my daughter and her family, as you can see above. One day we hiked at the top of Knox Mountain. The views were spectaclar. Another day we walked the bird sanctuary along Lake Okanagan, where we saw and climbed Ogopogo.

Pilgrims Practice - the regular weekly long hikes, will start again on Sept 27.
Contact me at darmckeeatyahoodotcom for more information.

I am looking forward to long hikes, as I prepare for my next Camino in the spring.

Visiting the Keen Store

Today we walked the waterfront - from the Don River to the RC Harris water filtration plant, visited the Keen store in the Beach, where they took our picture, then lunch at the Camino Bistro on the Danforth. Next week, we walk on Thursday again (May 23), with a twist this time, so email me for directions.

Bridgebuilding

Friday walk  with Pilgrims Progress


Let's build a bridge!

This Friday, May 3, we are looking for adventure on Toronto Island. Meet at 9 am,  9:10 at the bridge, and bring a  fork and a pot luck item to share for lunch. Email me for details, if you need them. Only one more Friday walk, then we move to Thursday. Last walk of the season is June 20.

This pilgrim spent some time in Leon yesterday pondering why he and the other walkers he met were doing the Camino. No definitive answers, but very thought provoking.

http://pgstheway.com/2013/04/30/day-20-rest-reflection-2/

Buen Camino!
Darlene

Pilgrims' Practice

I have decided to rename the Friday group for hikers, as we will only be walking for 3 more Fridays, then switch  to Thursdays. So from now on the group will be called "Pilgrims' Practice".
 I like the alliteration, and the reference to the Canadian Company of Pilgrims.

Angela has set up her blog and is leaving at the end of the month. Here is her blog address.

http://angelalarsen.blogspot.ca/2013/04/camino-club.html





This is a photo she took on our Pilgrims' Practice last Friday in Cedarvale Park - I know her photos of the Camino will be amazing and I am looking forward to following along with her adventures.
The website for her other photos is www.angelalarsen.ca

Mike has been walking with us since January, but usually he is seated on a bike, which is how he did the Camino. He is part of a yahoo group for cyclists on the camino. Here is the link.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiago_Bicicleta/

Here is one more blog for you, in case you were wondering what there is to do in Santiago.
Johnnie Walker, who moved to Santiago from England, blogs regularly on the Camino - he works at the Pilgrims office, and his latest post is Ten things to do in Santiago.

http://johnniewalker-santiago.blogspot.ca/

Enjoy!