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Tuscan Kale Salad for French Beach Picnic



What is nicer than a picnic on an ocean beach.  The food!  It was amazing! 



Meredith made wonderful crostini smeared with soft goat cheese drizzled with white truffle oil and garnished with fresh thyme.  Divine.  They were so nicely presented with a sprig of fresh thyme atop.  And, more truffle oil to drizzle at our pleasure!  We all loved them.



Scott made a wonderful Tuscan Kale Salad.  I am now calling it Scott's Kale Salad.  So simple and amazing.  I will be making this every time I find fresh kale at the market.  I loved it.  The kale was so nice and tender and delicately flavoured with the vinaigrette.  You can see it in the middle bowl of the picture above.



Scott's Kale Salad
4 - 6 cups kale, julienned

juice of 1 lemon

2 cloves garlic, mashed

3 - 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt, pepper, hot pepper flakes

2/3 cup grated pecorino, asiago or parmesan cheese

1/2 cup toasted panko bread crumbs



Make a vinaigrette with the lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and hot pepper flakes.  Toss with the julienned kale.  Top with grated cheese and panko.  Serve.  (This can be made up to an hour in advance with great success).



So this is our plate.  Beautiful fresh green beans marinated in a tarragon vinaigrette, Scott's Kale Salad, fingerling potato salad with fresh garden peas and Salt Spring Island mustard sauce dressing, and tandoori chicken.  What is not showing is the wonderful lamb sausage with carmelized onion chutney.




Meredith, Scott and Jack deep in conversation.  You can only catch a glimpse of the lovely wicker picnic basket.  We had china plates, stainless cutlery and cloth napkins.  Perfect picnic.  And such a civilized Jack, the dog.  Can you see the truffle oil?




What is a picnic without a fire?  It was a cold and windy day.  The fire kept us at the beach for at least three hours.






The rugged French Beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Vancouver Island.


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Sunny Days on the Islands




From the ferry to Denman Island











Waiting for the ferry.









May as well enjoy the ferry wait.





Beautiful sea air while we wait for the ferry.









The beach at Tribune Bay on Hornby Island







Beach massage ... $1 per minute





Yes, this man does have a gun.  His T-shirt says RCMP.  This weekend the beach has become a bit of party place.  Just keeping things happy for everyone.





Oldest beach game on the books...let's bury him!





Adieu, adios, farewell....


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Salt Spring Island Market




Young beet greens.



Mache





Rainbow of beets





Summer squash





Fennel





Beautiful carrots.





Myriad of mushrooms
I had a fabulous few days on Vancouver Island.  I was whisked away from the airport to the ferry immediately upon my arrival at 8:30am in to Victoria.  It is a relatively short, but lovely, ferry ride to Salt Spring Island and then an equally short and lovely drive to the market in the town of Ganges.



You enter a sort of time warp on the Gulf Islands.  Channel the 60's and 70's and you will be right in step.  I felt as though I was obsessed with taking pictures but in the end, there are so many I missed.



Like at a little outdoor cafe.  There it was on the chalkboard, Valdy, performing tomorrow night.  I am a flower child of the 70's and Valdy was big.  Really big.  Check out his tour here.  This must have been one night of his Mystery Tour.  Imagine, Valdy in such an intimate venue.  I am impressed.  He now lives on Salt Spring Island.  As does Robert Bateman and Randy Bachman.  Reportedly Barbra Streisand and Kevin Costner have homes there, also.



Enjoy the market.....



 Ulrieke Benner makes the most beautiful and artistic felted wool and silk scarves, shawls and jackets.  Wearable art, she says.  I agree!








Don't ya love it... Traffic Jam!



This was a market with young children participating with their baking and goods.  There were interesting places to buy lunch and snacks, artwork and such.  And entertainment.






Now if this isn't the oddest thing you have ever encountered!  This man had a diggeridoo and was somehow balancing your energy?  I don't know!


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Tea in a Chinese Garden - The Tower of Cosmic Reflections