Beautiful Days in PEI!

Liam and I at our beach.. It was his first time at the ocean and he loved it. Couldn't wait to see what that rolling water was all about. Time to give mommy a dog lick of appreciation for this great walk in new territory - all those smells.. the tail was a wagging!

Vast blue skies, an ocean breeze and red sand...

There is a great rug hooking show taking place in Summerside at the Eptek art Center until October 19th. If you have not been yet, please do not miss this show. It is absolutely wonderful with so many gorgeous rugs. There are so many talented rug hookers on the island. Sorry no pictures! You have to go see for yourself.

As I was in town I made a trip to a couple more places, Homestead Antiques on Fitzroy Street. I have been meaning to go for a couple of years now and finally got there this time. It is a treasure trove of primitives and reproduction antiques. I walked out with a couple of storage boxes for my sewing room (on sale too) and a Colin's Sheep. I collect them so was happy to get one here and not have to pay shipping. You can see them here.. Colin's Creatures.. these are some of his seasonal sheep - a little whimsical. I have one as an elf from last year.

The next stop was the harbour to pick up some fresh lobster meat. I had a yearning for some lobster rolls. Really they are so easy to make and I paid $9.30 for enough meat to make two. So tonight I made a mixture of lobster, celery, sweet onion and Hellman 's mayonnaise. Seasoned it with salt, pepper and grated rind of lemon. Got my rolls (have to be the ones that can be toasted on each side), layered baby spinach and added the lobster. so yummy! As a side I made fresh island potatoes, boiled with skin on, mashed with skin on, milk, butter, summer savoury and some garlic scape.. oh heaven..

Just so you think I have not been thinking rug hooking - did a new design of a cardinal on dogwood (on the website here) and I also have one on pine cones (not yet on the website) and have lots more ideas to get my own designs out there. Have a great evening....Joni

Culinary Studio in PEI

Annie's Culinary Studio in New London, PEI

This year I took two classes at Annie's. She bought this old church in New London two years ago and renovated the interior.It contains a professional kitchen with a long, large store counter that divides the space into two. The other part contains a long antique banquet table where we get to sample what we have cooked. There are antiques and memorabilia of the church spread around the walls along with some comfy chairs. It's a beautiful, relaxing place to learn some new cooking skills. Chef Norman is a fountain of knowledge and only too willing to share what he knows. I have had two wonderful lunches as a result of the classes and have enjoyed it so much. 

Last week I took a course on cooking with potatoes. So we made potato bannock (this is going to be my go to quick bread), potato latkes that were topped with Island smoked salmon, capers and a herbed sour cream, chocolate potato cake to die for and lastly potato gnocchi. I never knew it was so easy to make. 

I brought some of the gnocchi home and tonight I made a bechamel sauce with red onions, red peppers, yellow/green zucchini,some island summer savoury and garlic. It was fast - easy and delicious! Definitely will be making more gnocchi at home and freezing it in portions. So much tastier than the store bought kind!

My version of homemade potato gnocchi

Yesterday I took a course on soup making.. it was a potato bacon chowder with smoked island trout and the second one was a Middle Eastern soup called Harira - a traditional Ramadan Soup which was so exotic in flavours and so delicious. It had lentils, chickpeas, rice, tomato and onion with spices I would not normally put in soup - cinnamon, cumin, ginger and tumeric.
Along with that we had 15 minute bread which was a course I took last year and the only bread I make - so easy.

Taking a course at Annie's is always so exciting and can't wait to see what she has planned for next year!