Refreshed

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!