Hot Shots - December 23, 2022
Hot Shots - December 23, 2022
Severin R-B Danieli
Hello all,
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate!
We currently are in for a white Christmas here on the coast, but a little birdie told me that there is a pineapple express gearing up to roar through the lower mainland just on the heels of Christmas day.
I was out for a dog walk with a dear friend of mine this past weekend, and as we were walking around North Van, I noticed that a there was a bush with flowering pink buds on it - isn't it December? That evening Disco had their Christmas party, which was a hit. Delicious food, great location and wonderful people.
The next morning, all of BC woke up to a beautiful, but still manageable, snow fall. Jonathan and I walked to grab some bagels, some coffee and some ingredients for that evening's lasagna. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, enjoying the snow and wrapping presents.
Then, because Vancouver was feeling smug about how we handled the snow day over the weekend, we got a full on snow storm on Monday evening and remembered that we actually cannot handle it very well.
We easily got a foot and a half where we live, and it was a certified snow day.
**disclaimer: my car is fine.
Tropical needs for a holiday meal?
We've got oranges, mandarins, satsumas, lemons, limes, horned melons, mangoes, the list goes on and on!
Satsumas? Those are a perfect pop of colour on a place setting, or to add something fresh to a dessert plate.
Meyer lemons: use that to season some roast potatoes, or make a delicious cocktail with these leveled up lemons.
Mangoes: try your hand at a mango tiramisu? I came across a recipe and I am equal parts shocked and intrigued.
We've got tons of squash: carnival acorn, acorn, kabocha, kuri, delicata, butternut! As well as the full roster of yams, these include: garnet, jewel and sweet potatoes.
A roasted root veggie dish is always a hit at any gathering. Roast slices or chunks of squash in butter, add in some fresh thyme and rosemary, salt and pepper, and you are good to go.
Also has anyone tried that yam and marshmallow dish that became popular a few years ago? I've always been a bit scared of it, but perhaps this is the year I dive in.
Potatoes and onions are in abundance here at Disco.
We have: russets, various fingerlings, yellow, red and purple.
For onions: yellow, red, green, shallots, and spring onions.
I am heading to Jonathan's family Christmas gathering on Saturday, and I am going to be making one of my fav dishes: a veggie shepherd's pie.
And now for greens!
Romanesco from Lakeside farms, brussels sprouts from Creekside & Lakeside farms, and our first delivery of the season from Campos Borquez of Fair Trade celery!
We've got all the holiday classics, which include: parsley (curly and flat), kale (all three colours), all the herbs you could ever want (and some blends!), all the root vegetables, all the leafy greens!
Looks like we are going to get another snow storm tonight, followed by some freezing rain, so this holiday weekend is shaping up to be interesting!
I hope wherever you are this weekend, and whoever you are with, you get to enjoy some delicious food, good company and keep warm.
I'll talk to you all next week for the last Hot Shots of 2022! What a ride it has been. Thank you all for reading along, I so appreciate it, and writing about veggies and fruit every week is a highlight.
Big love,
Severin R-B Danieli