Life continues to slowly inch its way to returning to normal, and I was so happy to have friends over to my place this month! Here’s what was going on:

  • I almost missed PICKLING SZN because of my Wedding Cake Project and Ottawa trip at the beginning of the month, but got organized enough to make a batch of Dill Pickles once I got back. Like last year, I followed the method in The Canning Kitchen (my bible), plus a few small adjustments from my friend Heather (that I remembered to record in the book so I don’t forget next year). They turned out SO WELL. I still want to make a batch of Bread & Butter pickles, which you can do with regular English cucumbers from the grocery store so I’m not in a rush.
  • Lydia came over to watch Bachelor in Paradise with me which is our usual summer tradition that obviously didn’t happen last year. We ordered all our usuals that we missed from Spoon & Fork and it was so fun to have her over again!
  • I got to cook up a gigantic feast for EMMY NIGHT and it made me SO HAPPY! I think I’ve mentioned that some of my lowest/saddest points during lockdown/quarantine were watching awards shows by myself; I’d just be missing my friends so much. They all made a triumphant return for the Emmys, and I made: Ina’s Pan-fried Onion Dip, Beef Bourguignon, Mashed Potatoes, My House Salad with Apples and Candied Pecans, Rosemary Focaccia, and Mississippi Mud Pie for dessert. Emmys themselves were pretty boring, but the food and company more than made up for it!
  • I guess reunions was the theme of the month, because I was reunited with my favourite pizza (and my friends Weedy & Heini) on the King Taps patio and it was even more delicious than I remember!
  • And now the regular recap of what I was cooking this month, broken down into three categories:
  • Stuff I made from the archives: I FINALLY found a feta that I like from Farmboy, so made these Turkey & Feta Stuffed Peppers and they are even better than I remember; used some late season peaches in this Peach & Goat Cheese Summer Salad; I guess I made a hard pivot to Fall cooking after this and made my favourite Broccoli Cheddar Soup
  • Some of my favourite go-to dishes: still loving this Pineapple Chicken & Coconut Rice from Pinch of Yum
  • New things that I tried and liked: I made this Maple Glazed Salmon to go along with my Peach & Goat Cheese salad, and really liked it

Other non-foodie things I was obsessed with this month:

  • I started a (very slow) re-watch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer back in August, and am re-igniting my obsession. This was my hands-down absolute favourite show when it was on, but I’ve never re-watched it and only sporadically tuned in for the last two seasons (who knows what was happening in 2001/2002, but I guess I was busy with school/work). I found Season 1 a bit slow, but was right back into my obsession with all the Angel/Angelus drama in Season 2, plus Faith and the ascension in Season 3. And Sarah Michelle Gellar is perfection! I love her so much!
  • This month I finally read One to Watch (after having it on hold at the library for months) and really liked it; it’s a must-read for any Bachelor fans! I also continued my (very slow) re-read of the Harry Potter series, and read about 1/3 of Order of the Phoenix, before stopping to read Hana Khan Carries On, which is like You’ve Got Mail, except set in Scarborough (instead of Manhattan) and featuring competing Halal restaurants (instead of bookshops). Loved it.
  • Kristine and I went to see Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings and it was AMAZING! Oh the joy of sitting in a big, dark, cold movie theatre watching a Marvel movie again!!! Made me incredibly happy!

Flashback!