“Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable comparison with the products of Nature, the living cell of a plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life”.
Thomas Alva Edison

Love to you all.

Celebrating our beautiful Mother Earth

Carlos

Which is why it’s such good news that Second Harvest it putting on its sixth annual Turkey Drive with the help of hundreds of volunteers.Loblaws is generously contributing $5 for every turkey donated, up to a maximum of $10,000.

This year’s goal is 5,000 turkeys, purchased by those who can and want to, and then donated to Second Harvest.

Yesterday, at the Dupont and Christie store, we collected about 500 turkeys, which was a pretty good start.

Please help us reach our target by purchasing a frozen turkey for a hungry family. And Second Harvest spokesperson Jordan Mlynex is quick to point out that there’s another chance to donate next weekend.

Saturday, Dec. 13th and Sunday, Dec. 14th

(9 AM to 6 PM)

At these locations
Leslie & Lakeshore
Moore & Bayview
Queens Quay Market – Lower Jarvis
Victoria Park & Gerrard
Hoggs Hollow - Yonge & Yonge

Second Harvest volunteers will be in the frozen meat section to help you out.

Here’s an idea: become a volunteer yourself. The people are great, it feels very good and it’s a lot of fun.

Can’t make it to a Loblaws during Turkey Drive? Make a secure online donation designated for the Turkey Drive.

Donate generously. It’s the holidays.

Yours in the frozen turkey section of your neighbourhood Loblaws,

Carlos

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Ostras Fresca y Frita
[Fresh and Fried Oysters w/two sauces]

Chorizo w/green beans, chimichurri and piñolas

Chupe Peruano con Aji Amarillo
[Peruvian-style seafood chowder with its native hot pepper]

For Dessert

Platano Dulce y Queso Fresco
[Roasted sweet plantain and fresh cheese]

Any questions? Click here to email me

My mother and sister made 300 hallacas for family and friends. The fillings depend on who’s making them, but hallacas are usually seasoned pork or chicken, with vegetables and masa, wrapped in banana leaves. Pan de jamon, literally means “bread and ham,” but it’s actually a brioche-style bread rolled around good ham, with raisons, capers and cheese, and tastes a million times greater than it sounds. And ronsito is a 25-year-old rum called Pampero Aniversario, Venezuela’s best.

A traditional Venezuelan Christmas requires all three, which is why they came to mind these days.

I remembered that my friend Roselby worked with a Venezuelan woman named Rafaela who made pan de jamon and hallacas, and I’d had them before. They’re really delicious. So off I went and placed my order. The ronsito is for another time.

Thanks to her I’m going to have a little bit of Venezuela with me this Christmas.

I will be spending it with my beautiful wife, Stephanie, and her parents, Messalina and Lodovico.

Gracias Señora Rafaela. Que Dios me la vendiga a usted y su familia.
[Thank you so much Rafaela. May God bless you and your family.]

Wishing everyone love, joy, peace and laughter

Yours truly,

Carlos

Feliz Navidad

PS: Steve and Zena, all the best good luck in Miami

But when the food arrived at the table and the guests took their first few bites, the room fell silent and we could hear the music again. This kind of natural concentration on the food because the flavours were so captivating is exactly the kind of reaction every cook strives for.

The pleasure of cooking is only half of the equation. It’s the pleasure my guests take in eating that seals the deal for me.

Yours in good food

Carlos