Belgian-Style Stew

I've been trying different seitan recipes to find one that I really like better than all the others. So far, they've all been pretty similar. How do they do it in restaurants? It always seems perfect.

I've never made it in a crockpot before, so I gave that method a whirl. The recipe was in Fresh From The Vegetarian Slow Cooker. Here are all the ingredients in the slow cooker before.


And after.
It didn't puff up as much as with the stovetop method, but then it didn't deflate after cooling either. This one was pretty dense. Again, I hadn't found the texture I was looking for.

I decided to use some of this batch in a recipe I found on Robin Robertson's site called Belgian-Style Seitan Stew With Dark Beer.



I had some Guinness, because what self-respecting Irish girl doesn't have a Guinness or two in her fridge? (Seriously, I wasn't drunk when I took this picture. I hadn't even opened the can yet. It's just me being my lopsided self.)

Then, I HAD some Guinness. Like wine, it helps the cooking process.

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This recipe was very simple and easy to make. The sauce was thick and slightly sweet.

I served it over noodles like the recipe suggested and also had some garlic roasted beets and an oven roasted broccoli, cauliflower, pepper mix.

The setain was tasty enough, but quite chewy and a tad tough it seemed to me. The flavour was fine, so I may try this again, but use the simmer method.
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The beets were really good, as always. I make these fairly often. I posted the recipe a couple of months ago.

This vegetable medley was very simple to make. I tossed broccoli, cauliflower and peppers with a splash of olive oil, sea salt and some pepper; spread it out on a cookie sheet and threw it in the oven. After about 10 minutes, I gave it a stir, let bake for about 5 more minutes. When I took it out of the oven, I transferred it to a bowl, drizzled balsamic viniegar on it and tossed. That was it & it was so tasty.

Washed it down with a bit more Guinness and we had a very filling meal indeed!

Best Split Pea Soup

Shortly after I got my copy of La Dolce Vegan I discovered in it the best split pea soup recipe.


It doesn't have very many ingredients and it's a snap to throw together.


Once it's all in the pot, let simmer for 45 minutes or so and that's it!

This pea soup is so GOOD, I bet even Megan would like it.


It makes the perfect amount for our house. Jim & I each have a bowl and there is just enough left over for my lunch.

Leafs Game Night

It was game day! Woo-Hoo! In the morning, we took Simon to the dog park for a good run.

As you can see, there was a bit of snow left, but it was melting fast. That translates to MUD!




Simon got very dirty, very fast. His whole chest & belly were caked with dirt, but he had fun and that's the whole point of going.

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Once we got home & got him cleaned up, he was pooped. He took his bone and went to bed.

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We stopped at Mexicali Rosa's for an early dinner. Mama Rita had given us a gift certificate at Christmas and this seemed like a great day to use it.

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We started with big margaritas. I love these cocktails. Made with tequila, triple sec and lime juice it's citrusy goodness.
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I usually get gorditas, bean tacos or fajitas, but opted for something new today. Above we have a roasted vegetable quesadilla, Mexican spiced rice, re-fried beans and a cooling salad. Jim got the same thing except his quesadilla had shrimp. The food here is always good and today was no exception. I couldn't eat all that was on my plate. It was a huge meal! Besides, I had to save room for dessert.

Deep fried ice cream! It's a ball of vanilla ice cream, rolled in cinnamon spiced granola cereal then quickly deep fried. It comes with a choice of toppings, but really, why would I want anything other than chocolate? This photo is of Jim's ice cream because I get mine without whipped cream (not a big fan) and his looked better.

Once we finished our meal, it was off to the game! We had such good seats, it was crazy! The place was - as with every Leaf game - sold out. I'm posting some photos that most of you probably won't be interested in, but some friends & family who visit my blog will be very keen to see these.

The player I most wanted to see in action, Martin Brodeur. He is the best goalie in the NHL and is well on his way to breaking long standing records. He's is just phenomenal.
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The Leafs goalie for the night was starter Andrew Raycroft.

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What do you do when the action is at the other end of the ice?

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Stretch a little...

Look at your stick.....

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Wait....

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Then before you know it.....

I remember someone I used to work with telling me their uncle ran into Curtis Joseph in a restaurant bathroom back when Cujo used to play for the Leafs. The uncle asked him what it was like being a goalie in the NHL and he said when the action is down at the other end and you have a spectacular view of the ice, it's the best place in the world to be, but when you see those huge guys skating towards you, ready to whip that puck at you, you think "Oh crap."

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Of course, Wade Belak had to make amends for this incident and kicked Cam Janssen's ass.
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Back to the game.

Just for Kleopatra a picture of Darcy TUCKER! (that's with a "T" Kleo!)

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Captain Mats Sundin.

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Downstairs in the hallway, we found a picture of another captain...our pal, Doug Gilmour.


One of my favorite members of the Leafs organization is Carlton! Here he is during the first intermission.

Carlton got his name and number from Maple Leaf Gardens which is located at 60 Carlton St. in Toronto.

On our way out, we saw another "friend" of Kleopatra's doing his post game show for Leafs TV. Another former captain, Rick Vaive.

All in all we had a great night. It was a good night with the Leafs coming away with a win. Final score 2-1.

Erin Go Bragh!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
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There are two kinds of people - those who are Irish and those who wish they were.

My maiden name is Bagnell and my ancestry is Irish. My (not sure how many greats) grandfather, Thomas Bagnell, immigrated to Canada in the 1800's; probably during the potato famine. We believe our family may have come from here. This town even has it's own website. I've never been, but feel the pull to go "home." I'm hoping before I die, I'm able to make it.

The Bagnell family has had some noteables in the past. A couple of recent ones are members of my family. One is my cousin Larry who is the Member of Parliament (or MP) for Yukon.

Also, my dad, Eric, is a well known and respected New Brunswick photographer & filmmaker. He worked for many years with the Provincial Government as well as with the now defunct Fiddlehead Films. With them he did many documentaries and television commercials including working on a commercial for the fire department that won a North American award. He is also one of the founders of New Brunswick Filmmaker's Co-operative and he also served as president and was director of the board for 3 years. Dad, along with his friend, Charlie McLellan, did the first award winning film for them. Over the years he also supplied some film & photographs to the National Film Board of Canada. I remember when I was still living at home, we'd sometimes have an evening of screenings. Dad would pick out some films and we'd spend the night watching some really good ones, some not so good and some just downright weird. It was great fun and I always looked forward to the "Bagnell Screening Room." Through the years, he has done so much that the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick has "The Bagnell Collection" containing loads of Dad's work.
Just a side note - remember me mentioning a few times about Jim's Aunt Peggy? Well, Aunt Peggy used to work in the archiving dept. at TVO. If someone needed specific footage or a photo, then Peggy was the one who would hunt it down for them. She knew my father's name from searching out film & photographs. She'd even used some of his stuff. How neat is that? Also, when I was in high school we watched one of Dad's films in geography class. He did all of this while building a house and raising 4 kids. He still lives in the house today.
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There he is. My little darling. It's Simon himself. The one for whom the blog was named. Isn't he cute? So soft and warm and cuddly. Uh-huh. Look what he did to my lucky leprechaun!!
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That makes me resort to two of Ireland's best cure-all's.

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Did you know....(remember - I love trivia) more Guinness is sold in Canada than in Ireland! Ah, yes. The almost black beverage with it's thick foamy head. Jim says there's no need for dinner. Have a Guinness, it's like a meal in a glass.





The other famous Irish beverage that's so wonderfully smooth, creamy & tasty - Baileys!

I bought the new caramel flavour and I think I might like it better than the original! It's fabulous in coffee and how many desserts now incorporate this delicious drink into their ingredients? A lady was into the LCBO the other night buying some Baileys and told me that she found a terrific recipe on the internet for Baileys chocolate cake. There is Baileys in the cake and in the frosting! I'm trying to hunt it down! My sister adores this liqueur and I'm sure she'd like the cake.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing season
bring the best to you and yours!

I hope you all wear something green and enjoy the day!

For your added pleasure, I'm including some videos of wonderful Irish entertainment. Crack open that Smithwick's, pour a finger or two of Bushmills or add a dollop of Baileys to your coffee, kick back, relax and enjoy a few of my favorites.