Where the hell is Oakville???

Outside of Toronto!

Have fun and report please.

North of the 49th and a burb of Toronto! I want pics....the good ones..lololol...!!!

David

Oh HI! (Waving frantically.) Wish I was there, although I am completely in spirit! Can't wait to hear all about it...

I missed the notice of the trip....I thought maybe California??
Yoo hoo!!!! Be good now....ya hear???

Ratz! I'm missing another good time. Have fun for me too.

I'm so Jealous! But happy for y'all, too. Have lots of fun!

Sally

OMG...Sharon, Annie and Woodie.....together......epic!

Can't wait for the pic's!

Nancy

I am insanely jealous! you all are going to have a blast and send LOTS of good pictures!

Alexa

Hellllloooooo from Toronto! Annie, Elery and Ken and I got the very last train out of Oakville back into the City last night - 11:30 p.m. and if it hadn't been for the train schedule, we still would have been sitting at Sharon and Clive's table eating, drinking and talking.

To say that we all had fun would be a gross understatement. Sharon and Clive's hospitality can't be beat, they just have the knack to make you feel comfortable and welcome and part of the family. We also met Chris and Amity and Chase and Maddie :)

Meeting Annie and Elery was soooooo much fun! Its truly a very special moment to meet somebody in person that you've talked to for a couple for years and you feel like you know them already (and actually you do!). We were on the train platform and were looking for them - I told Ken to look for a short girl with red hair and he kept pointing out various short girls to me - he's colorblind so the red hair was harder to spot, LOL. We didn't find them and were disappointed and so we boarded the train and sat down and the second before the door closed, Annie and Elery breathlessly rushed in and sat down right next to us, unaware that it was us :) A big coincidence that they got into that very car on a big, long train!

Sharon cooked a delicious dinner which started out with stuffed mushrooms and a variety of Canadian cheeses and some great olives and a few cocktails. Then we had some fun with her brand new digital instant read meat thermometer (you know, she's a little on the elderly side and so she couldn't figure out the new technology to make it work) but finally, we ate dinner. Roasted red pepper soup, salad (esecially for Ken with blueberries and nuts), herb crusted pork roast, roast squash and beets and mashed potatoes - followed by her spectacular cheesecake which was beautifully decorated with fresh fruit.

Since I won't be home for 2 weeks, I can't post any pics but I have a couple of good shots and one great one of the cheesecake and a few of Sharon putting Annie to work in the kitchen.

Thank you Sharon and Clive for a wonderful, memorable evening! Til we meet again!

Wow, how much fun! It sounds like you had a great evening and I know first hand how much fun Anne, Elery, Sharon & Clive can be! I knew that you had this trip planned, but I want more details!
LOL

Wow, I am so jealous of all these fun forum get-togethers! LOL

What a lot of fun, I can't wait to see photos!

Linda

It sure was fun, at least Clive and I thought so! You really would have thought the 6 of us had known each other forever. I was particularly happy to see the "boys" get on so well. Clive truly enjoyed Ken and Elery's company.

Both Woodie and Annie were overly generous with the treats they brought. Woodie and Ken brought some fabulous Canadian wines, ones that I had never tried but will be sure to have on hand from now on. Annie and Elery also brought a gorgeous bottle of Canadian wine as well as two very neat cheeses. I'll let Annie tell you more about them and where she got them.

Clive took our pics so they are on his camera and he hasn't had the opportunity to upload so hopefully he will get to that later this evening. He only took one or two, I think Annie may have been the snapshot queen so hopefully she has some decent ones to share.

Thanks to Woodie, Ken, Annie and Elery for a great evening......and there's no real need to talk about the meat thermometer episode except to say.......cross your legs ladies!!!! LOL

"sat down right next to us, unaware that it was us :) How cool was that, kismet!

It sounds so wonderful.

so nice to read all this !!!

OK here we all are after dinner but still "sipping"....

We just got home, or at least, we're back at Elery's, so i can post pictures tomorrow when I get back to MY home! I got a good picture of sharon, and one of the back of woodie's head, LOL, and pictures of the food.

sharon and Woodie both had gifts of course. i didn't and I felt like a schmuck, because I left mine sitting on the dining room table at home, next to my jacket which I also forgot, so now I'll have to mail them.

It probably was just as well because Woodie's contained something that they probably wouldn't have let me take though customs!

sharon assured me that they wouldn't ask me anything when I cam into Canada, so i was surprised when they asked for my passport. I then had an exchange with the very nice gentleman at customs:

do you have any luggage?

2 suitcases.

Where are you going?

Toronto?

Why?

I'm visiting friends.

What is your friend's name?

Sharon.

How do you know her?

We're on a cooking forum together.

so what are you going to do? Are you cooking together?

No, I'm going to her house for dinner, she's cooking.

What are you having for supper?

Um.........(long pause) I don't know but she told me that if I didn't hurry and get there I'd miss Happy Hour.

Oh, well go ahead then, and have a good time.

Elery said he was "messing with me", but sharon told me that he would never have held me up long enough to miss Happy Hour, a Canadian border guard would never let me miss that!

Sharon made a wonderful meal, with roast pork, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, her wonderful red pepper soup, and a magnificent cheesecake. I do have pictures, I'll post them too, as soon as I can. The cheesecake Elery said was the best he'd ever had, it was not too sweet and it was heavy and kind of "crumbly", and rich with cream cheese. Clive was so kind to me, he made coffee to go with the cheesecake. Poor Sharon had hurt her back, so we probably should have just taken dinner to her but it didn't stop her from making a wonderful meal for us.

clive was a great barender too, with vodka and orange juice for Woodie and ken and red wine for Elery and Sharon, a beer for clive and he was kind enough to mix me half a glass of white wine with half a glass of soda because I'm such a friggin' wuss....

I've wanted to meet Woodie for a long time, and she and Ken were so nice and it seemed like I'd known them forever. I think we talked about everything from our kids to our pets to boats to hobbies to farming.

elery says he has not met one single person from the forum who hasn't been fun and delightful and grreat to be with. Of course not, we're just one darned great bunch of people...

Annie

Sounds like a fun get-together! Sharon's menu sounds delicious -- I'd love to get that red pepper soup recipe. Funny story about the customs agent, Annie!

OK, we want more pics ASAP!
Teresa

I just love reading about get-togethers. Good friends, good food, good times. You are all so adorable!

(That is to funny about sitting next to each other on the train.)

Annie, glad to know our borders are so well protected.

On my, that menu sounds divine! I also love reading about forum get-togethers and look forward to more pictures!!

All my favorite peeps in one town! How could Oakville possibly be big enough for these personalities!!!

I don't know which is making me laugh harder, the thermometer comment (cross your legs) or Annie saying 'schmuck'.

Phood! Phood porn please!

Sounds like a fantastic time I wish I could have been there. And yes, we need to see more pics - the menu sounds incredible.

Alexa

How fun! Annie, I bet that border guard was hoping you'd invite him along!

Sally

sounds like soooo much fun!!!!! Can't wait to see more pics = and Annie, I love your border crossing story. :-) I miss Sharon and Clive...:-(

Sob.

I'm a little (read ALOT) jealous! It sounds like a wonderful time.

I've met everyone except Elery! And from what I've heard he is like one of the group! I know you guys had a great time together.

I can't wait for more photos and more about the thermometer episode! LOL

I'll raise a glass of iced tea to the happy people. To the thermometer. And the sisterhood.

Sol

What a nice story! And such a coincidence Woodie that Annie and Elery sat with you on the train.

I can imagine that Sharon made a perfect dinner and I don't wonder that you all got along so well together since you sound like such great friendly folks.

Looking forward to more photos!

SharonCb

What the?! How did I miss this?

Awww, y'all look so cute together. More pix please!

Thanks for the reports...that's a great group pic of everyone. I'm not touching the thermometer thing...LOL!

Teresa, my group loves that soup....sometimes I garnish it with a dollop of sour cream.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Source: Sharon(chase)

4 Red Bell Peppers,roasted, seeded and peeled
2 TBSP Butter (or margarine)
1 Red onion,chopped
2 Garlic cloves,minced
4 cups Chicken broth
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
Salt & Pepper to taste

Saute onions and garlic in butter until soft. Add red peppers. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Add broth cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add lemon juice. Process in food processoe until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Place back on stove until ready to serve.
NOTE: To roast the peppers place whole peppers under the broiler or on a hot grill. Turn peppers until blackened on all sides. Place hot peppers in a plastic bag and tie shut. Whne the peppers have cooled completely remove from the bag. Remove all the skin and seeds.

Looking forward to more pics!

David

OK, this got really long, so I'll start a new thread with pictures!

So, Jessica, you stayed with me for a week, and Carol (dishesdone) has made me an official imaginary guest at her table for several holidays, why do you think I said "schmuck"? LOL

Oh, and there is a local family, Ashley dated one of the boys for a second and a half. Their last name? Schmuck. Yeah, I'm not kidding!

Annie