Having three days off in a row should be mandatory in Canada. You can get so much done! Aside from the tragedy of my washer breaking (thus halting my boisterous plan to do ALL of my laundry), I had a very productive 3 day weekend.

In that 3 days came more cookbook impulse shopping, and lot’s of cooking. I really wish I would have taken more pictures for you to see. But, really, I was just so caught up in the food itself. I am still pretty new at this, juggling 3 dishes at once and cooking-for-five situation… I promise more exciting pictures will come.

As for the new books I acquired…

-          Jamie Oliver – Jamie at Home

-          Ina Garten – Barefoot Contessa: At Home

I only *just* received the Ina Garten, so I have just gingerly browsed through it. As for the Jamie at Home… After wiping up my strangely unembarassing pool of drool from the front cover, I actually paused my excitement for a moment long enough to find a recipe for baked cannelloni. Of course, I have to do some last minute adaptations to create this. I had already spent my last few dollars on some vegetables and a beautiful bottle of olive oil, so I wasn’t planning on wasting any of it. Loosly from the recipe, I created Parsley, Almond, and Ricotta stuffed Manicotti with Cauliflower, Tomato Sauce, and Mozzarella.

It seems like quite the mouthful (pun totally intended). And it was pretty tasty. We served it with grilled zucchini and just plain romaine salad. I, of course, ate too much and couldn’t sleep. But, the family seemed to enjoy it. The pesto was missing something… I am still trying to figure out it was. I think I need to be more adventurous with herbs and spices… It’s also tough because my mother is allergic to basically everything spicy… so some food I have made comes off as bland. I will find a way around it. I would love to get a spice rack… and an indoor herb garden. Google, ho!

I am having terrible stomach cramps from attempting to make ice cream. So, I shall end this here. I will see you in a few days.

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