It's the last weekend of August Dear Reader and I am just back from a much needed vacation.  It was just my husband and I for a whole week!  I love my kids but must admit it was lovely to spend time together as a couple - not Mum and Dad.   We lived off the bbq as the cottage didn't have a stove.  I will admit this made me a bit anxious at first.  As a food blogger I feel like I have an umbilical cord to my stove, you understand, right?   I soon discovered how freeing it actually was to not have a stove and we certainly didn't starve! This city girl began to look forward to the morning visits from a crane and the afternoon visit from a family of swans.  It was relaxing to just sit with a cup of coffee and take in the beauty all around me.  A week away sitting on a patio overlooking a lake does wonders for one's soul.  Even for a girl who is terrified of bees!

Cooking for two was a bit of an eye-opener.  Clearly, I am going to have to master portion control when my sons do actually move out.  We made the meals together which was oddly romantic...making foil packets of potatoes and vegetables to accompany steaks or pork chops.  I embraced the simplicity!  Most meals had a side order of Scrabble on the go....

My husband and I have been together a long time...A week away with just each other for company most of the time might have been a challenge.  When life's distractions are miles away and the blackberry is at home on top of the fridge, it is much easier to decompress.  We both enjoyed the quiet time reading, playing Scrabble and just being together.  Whew!  No need to panic when our boys eventually move out!

Mid-week we went into Bloomfield for lunch at Agrarian.  Last Fall we discovered this restaurant during our escape to the Waring House.  I am still thinking about the winter vegetable velouté that I had that day.  This time, we shared roasted red pepper, tomato and fennel soup, a grilled cheese with caramelized onions and fries.  I will be thinking about that soup now for a long time too.  I enjoyed a Negroni too!

Next, we headed to Kingston ( yes, Kingston Dear Reader.  Again.)  But this time we went to Fort Henry for the Sunset Ceremony. We took a ferry...and shared an ice cream while we waited for it to depart.

The next day it rained.  And rained.  And rained some more. 

The next day the sun was back and we went for a walk and came across this tree with a really gnarly trunk.

It was really hot and humid the week we were away.  Fortunately, the cottage had central air (but no stove, go figure!)  I christened the cottage "the igloo" as my husband had the a/c jacked the entire time we were there.  40 degrees outside and -40 inside.  He was a happy man!  Sitting out on the patio required something cold and refreshing to sip on.  I came up with this....don't worry if you don't like grapefruit - the Moscato wine sweetens it up!

Citrus Sangria

1 750ml bottle of Moscato wine
3/4 cup lemon vodka
1/4 cup Triple Sec (or other orange liqueur)
3/4 cup grapefruit juice
Lemon-lime pop, such as 7Up or Sprite
1 Orange, sliced and quartered

Mix the wine, vodka, Triple Sec and grapefruit juice in jug.  Add sliced oranges and stir.  When ready to serve, pour into wine glass, add ice and top up with lemon-lime pop.  Garnish with orange slice.  Makes 6 servings.  Be careful!  This goes down way too easy! 

Last summer my husband Adrian went golfing for the first time.  It was a work thing and he really didn't have a choice but to go.  Most of his co-workers play fairly regularly so he was at a definite disadvantage.  A few days before the outing, we headed over to the golf range with a set of borrowed clubs.  For years he had coached and played soccer, in fact, he ran a youth soccer club for many years while our own boys were growing up and playing.  Golf had never held any interest for him.  Well, now here we are a few years (ok...more than a few) older and wiser.  Things have changed.  There was a time when the Golf channel was met with scorn in my home and now Dear Reader, my tv is never off of it.  Every weekend, he and our oldest son Brian head off to the golf course for nine holes. 

Just like that, I have become a golf widow. 

Now Dear Reader, I have a patient husband.  You've been to various markets and small towns with me since we met here in the cupboard.  On this day we were working our way to Brighton to visit our niece and her family when we stopped at our fourth yard sale of the day.  Now, what was different about this yard sale Dear Reader was he beat me out of the car!  Normally, when we are off on dander, he patiently hangs around, playing with his phone and taking pictures for me.  When I caught up with him, the reason was obvious.  As far as the eye could see were golf clubs and golf bags and golf balls and my husband was happily chatting away with the elderly gentleman who was so enthusiastic about golf, (clearly!) and told us it was a great couples game and that I should play too.  Before I knew it, I was outfitted with a set of leftie clubs, a putter and a bag for the grand total of $45!  He definitely didn't want me sitting at home waiting for my husband.  I am quite content with my well-loved clubs...the boys on the other hand have since went on to buy pretty fancy clubs with exotic names like Vapors and Cobras.  I have know idea what they are but they are excited with their new toys and play with them every chance they get.

Since the season began, those two have not missed a weekend.  They are up and out early.  Really early.  Too early for me.  I get up to an alarm Monday to Friday...I begrudge doing it on the weekend.  I have been a few times, but honestly, I am quite content to go occasionally.  Besides, I enjoy what I call introvert time.  It is a chance to read, blog and be still in peace.

So off they would go every weekend for a few hours.  And then they would arrive home absolutely ravenous!  I decided to pack a breakfast picnic of sorts for them.  A thermos of coffee and something to nibble as they try to make par.  It would have to be easy to transport and easy to eat on the go.  Breakfast sandwiches have been done to death so I started playing with biscuit recipes.  How about a biscuit that incorporates bacon and cheese into the mix?  Uh...yes please!  I topped them with a smear of good Dijon mustard and black forest ham and voila! Good to go.  Wrapped individually in wax paper and stashed in the cooler pocket of the golf bag.  Brownie points for Mum!

Bacon, Cheddar & Chive Biscuits
Makes 12

6 slices bacon
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus additional melted butter for brushing
2 1/2 cups (packed) grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup fresh chives, chopped
1 3/4 cups buttermilk


Preheat to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.  Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Transfer the bacon to paper towel lined plate to drain and cool slightly.   Chop coarsely once cool enough to handle.

Next, in the bowl of a food processor combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Pulse for 5 seconds. Add the butter cube and blend until coarse meal forms, about 30 seconds. Transfer the flour mixture to large bowl. Next, add the cheddar cheese, chives, and chopped bacon and toss together to blend. Gradually add the buttermilk, stirring to moisten evenly.  The batter will be sticky.

Lightly flour your hands, and drop about 1/2 cup batter for each biscuit onto the parchment lined baking sheet, spacing batter mounds about 2 inches apart.

Bake biscuits until golden, about 18 to 20 minutes and tester inserted into center comes out clean.  While the biscuits are still warm,  brush each biscuit lightly with the melted butter. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve biscuits with a smear of good quality mustard and shaved ham.  Or, if desired, a smear of butter and a cup of tea.  Enjoy!

I think these would be perfect for an afternoon tea on a pretty cake stand.  They are the perfect size and would lend themselves to a variety of fillings.  The possibilities are endless!

Bye for now!
xx