a peek inside the fishbowl

Awhile back I wrote a blog post about grilled cheese sandwiches that spurred a torrent of comments. Little did I know that so many of you would be so incredibly passionate about this touchy subject and have so many opinions on how to make this Canadian classic. ;)

I got to thinking about BLTs today. (I think a lot about my lunches, you know this about me, right?) The big thing nowadays is BACON, isn’t it? It’s bacon this, bacon that, bacon everything: bacon jam, and bacon doughnuts, and bacon chips. People are bacon crazy, myself included. I know I’m not alone in this. Awhile back I uploaded a recipe for candied bacon that created quite a stir. Well, TODAY I had a craving for a BLT with that very same bacon but I didn’t feel like making a family-sized serving as pictured in a recent post of Rebecca’s. (No offence Becky, but a pound of bacon cooked = a pound of bacon eaten. By me.) :)

So I snipped one thick piece of bacon in half with my trusty kitchen shears, placed them a small pan, sprinkled them with a heaping teaspoon or so of brown sugar and a very healthy layer of freshly ground peppercorns… and set it to fryin’.

A cautionary warning in case you want to try this yourself: do NOT turn your back on these babies because they will burn faster than you can yell “WHY IS THE SMOKE ALARM GOING OFF.”

My bacon was a hair away from burning but I saved it in the nick of time. For what it’s worth, my BLT contained these elements:

• Two slices of multigrain bread from Rideau Bakery, untoasted
• Most of a perfectly ripe avocado (mashed)
• Tomato slices (must be room temperature!) with a bit of freshly ground pepper
• Crisp leaf lettuce (must not be wilty!)
• The aforementioned bacon

That’s it! And it was delicious. What about you? If you’re making a BLT, do you have any “must have” elements? I’d love to hear about it.

p.s. don’t forget to enter the giveaways I have going on this week for original art from Alison Fowler and a Kobo Mini!

I know a lot of Fishbowl readers are on the lookout for great childcare options here in Ottawa. That’s why I wanted to share this information with you from Fishbowl patron, Ganon Preschool. Selecting the right preschool for your children is a huge decision, and it can be so daunting too. I remember those days, and how stressful it is not knowing what your options are. Well here is one for you to consider. :)

Ganon Preschool runs licensed morning programs for 2-year olds, 3-year olds, and a Junior Kindergarten, PLUS, it’s probably one of few places that incorporates swimming lessons (in the Soloway JCC indoor saltwater pool) as part of the program. (Cool eh?)

The Ganon Preschool is open to everyone. The philosophy is that children learn through play and that it nourishes every aspect of children’s development and forms the foundation of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills necessary for success in school and in life.

The Ganon curriculum is based upon:

• Learning through play
• Integrating languages
• Balanced teacher and child-directed activities
• Age appropriateness
• Individualized programming
• Building community

Afternoon Enrichment Programs run from 12:30-3:30 and are open for everyone. Classes are designed to stimulate young minds, encourage creative play and keep kids fit. All classes are under the supervision of E.C.E teachers and qualified professionals. In the afternoons, parents can choose any combination of the following:

Monday – Creative Kids (Multimedia Arts) or Small Samurai Karate with Stronger You Martial Arts School.
Tuesday – Fit Kids (Sports) or Funky Feet (Dance)
Wednesday – Monkey Rock Music
Thursday – Splish Splash, Instructional Swimming lessons in the SJCC pool.
Friday – Discovery Kids (Science)

Ganon Preschool strives to give their kids the foundation to do good deeds, support one another, build community, give to others while also learning and growing physically, emotionally and cognitively.

The Ganon Preschool is located inside the Soloway JCC at 21 Nadolny Sachs Private (one block south of Carling and Broadview). For a private tour of the Ganon Preschool contact Preschool Director Lauren Lee at (613) 798-9818 ext. 280 or at ganon@jccottawa.com.

Registration for the 2013/2014 school year begins in February!

I’ve been busy this week, busy alternating between (a) burying myself in writing work and (b) recovering from a cold. Seriously, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster, and it’s been going something like this:

“YAY, I’m WRIIIIITIIINGGGGG and I LOOOOOVE IIIIIIT!”

And then ten minutes later it’s: “Oh boy, I think I’m running a fever.” And then I’d lie down, and then get back up again to check my email. Rinse, and repeat.

I’ve been doing everything I can to get better quickly because I just can’t afford to be sick any longer. I need to BANISH THE SICK. Gah. I see more chicken noodle soup in my future.

This week’s Good Eats recipes look pretty darn delicious if I do say so myself. Once I get my appetite back I might actually consider making these:

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