Moroccan-spiced cauliflower

In a search to find a way to make cauliflower appetizing to my husband - without using Indian curry spices (which I don't like), I found this recipe for Quick Moroccan Vegetable Couscous. But we already have a Moroccan spice mix that we like - so we used that instead.

Moroccan Spice Mix
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon ground tumeric
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

One head of cauliflower, cut into florets (about 4 cups)
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
1 Tablespoon of spices
1/4 cup broth

Heat oil in a large skillet. Increase heat to medium-high. Add vegetables and sauté until vegetables just begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add broth. Partially cover skillet; simmer until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add spices and simmer for a few minutes until done.

Swiss Chalet - shame on you for bad customer service

I love Swiss Chalet but I'm shocked and appalled at the terrible customer service that my father received on a corporate order of almost $200.

The order was delivered without any utensils and there was none at the delivery location. Suddenly a casual lunch for VPs from HQ turned into a fiasco - and quite embarrassing. The only recompense he was offered was $5 off his next order. My Mom tried to complain but was just given the run around to fill out a one form after another.

After this experience, my father won't be ordering for a business function ever again.

Check out the whole conversation on Facebook!

What I did during my Christmas vacation

There was time with family...

 

Baking and decorating cookies.

A visit to Toronto's Distillery District...

On Christmas we had dinner at my parents house. On Boxing day we had breakfast and a late lunch with everyone at my sister's house. Chloe received lots of toys - which we all had fun playing with! :) Max, my parents and my brother went to see a comedy show at Second City - SO funny! Max and I went to the movies with two of my cousins to see New Year's Eve. It was good! Better than Valentine's Day. Watched many movies at home with my family including Rio (really good), Arthur Christmas (loved it), Dot it with an I (which was weird), Ides of March (good but sad) and the Muppets movie (awesome).

My Dad sums it up (much better) in detail:

• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day with the whole family
• Third day of Christmas
• Fourth day of Christmas in Toronto
• Fifth day of Christmas in Niagara's wine country
• Sixth day of Christmas

Max and I were at my sister's house on New Year's Eve. Yesterday, my family had dinner together at a Chinese restaurant before we went our separate ways... my brother back up to the frozen north... Max and I going south to Virginia.

Happy New Year!

Highlights of 2011:

• Helped my Dad start his blog, open a shop on Etsy, and create a Facebook Page for Bayshore Woods
• Weekend trip in March to Costa Rica with Max and some friends
• Short trip to Salt Lake City for work which included getting together with a friend from high school
• Week long trip in May to Kansas for my high school best friend's wedding which also included the filming of a Food Network show
• A whirlwind weekend in New York for my birthday including two fancy dinners and a Broadway show
• A short but hectic trip in June to Las Vegas for work
• Week long trip in July to Canada to meet my niece and spend time with my family
• Week long vacation in October with my husband in the Caribbean on the Disney Magic
• Two new additions to our family in October - our new kitten Momo and a lizard that we named Mr. Gecko
• A Cirque du Soleil show for Max's birthday
• A week long visit with my sister and my niece for Thanksgiving which included going to see Santa, ICE! at National Harbor, and a photo shoot
• Another whirlwind weekend in New York in December to see the Rockettes and a one man Star Wars show on Broadway
• Discovered an egg in our lizard's cage, so the name has been changed to Ms. Gecko
• Two week vacation in December to spend time with my family in Canada for Christmas and New Years
• Completed some knitting projects that had been languishing for some time
• Saying goodbye to friends (because they moved) and meeting new ones (at the West End Farmers Market)
• Reading some really great books like Water for Elephants and Peony in Love
• Watching some really great movies like Midnight in Paris and The Help

What's in store for 2012:

• No resolutions but I want to check something off my bucket list
• Momo gets "fixed" this week
• Weekend trip in February to visit my niece in Canada
• Most likely a weekend trip to New York in March or April
• Maybe a visit from my sister and niece in May
• A possible trip to Atlanta in June
• Probably a week long trip to Canada to see my family in July or August
• A weekend trip to Philadelphia in October for a friend's wedding
• A visit with my parents over Thanksgiving that will apparently include renovating the half bath in the front hall
• Hopefully a trip to Hawaii... not sure when but I really, really, really want this to happen before the year is out!