You don’t have to go far from home or be away a long time to have a good holiday. I was away for four days and although it wasn’t a luxurious cruise, I was away from housework, the phone, and the usual routine — and I had all the goodies of a great cruise.
The food might not have been elaborate as I’ve had on cruise ships, but it was just as delicious and I didn’t gain an ounce.
The holiday was at a friend’s cottage on Lake Huron and we sat on the deck, watched the water and the beauty of the changing colours made by the clouds overhead. The weather was perfect except for a coming evening storm that rippled across the water and entertained us.
And we met people; an interesting couple with two young boys, one their own and his guest for the day. We went to Purdy’s for their famous fish and chips and as there were just the two of us at the table we invited them to sit with us.
It never ceases to amaze me wherever we go someone turns up that either had a family in St. Marys or knew of it. Our newfound friends came from London and knew Mel Douglas.  Although they had never been to St. Marys, Mel had told them about his hometown. Everyone seems to have come from a small town and as Dr. Northrop Frye said, “St. Marys is everyone’s home town”.
On a cruise there sometimes are contests and someone wins something, well on this trip I even won a gift, I had to go to a store in Grand Bend, as I forgot to bring a toothbrush, and the cashier gave me a $20 gift card from Tim Hortons. Of course I was then able to treat my hostess to afternoon coffee.
As far as scenery goes, what better than driving up to Lake Huron, the farmers’ fields were absolutely lush. I remembered my father saying when he stayed with me one summer and I drove him around the countryside: “this is the surely the land of milk and honey, it’s the Rhone Valley of Canada”.
To top it all off “THE PRICE WAS RIGHT!”
Chicken Salad Supreme
Tired of the barbecue? Try this delightful salad that will feed eight.
2 1/2 cups diced cold chicken (cheat and buy a ready cooked one)
1 cup celery, chopped fine
1 cup sliced white grapes (or green)
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
2 tbsp. fresh minced parsley
1 tsp. salt
1 cup mayonnaise, combined with 1/2 cup cream, whipped
Combine and serve in lettuce leaves with thin slices chicken on top. Garnish with sliced stuffed olives.
We seldom hear of molded salads anymore but a molded chicken salad can be made using the same above first eight ingredients, plus:
1 1/2 tbsp. clear gelatin
4 tbsp. water
1/2 cup chicken stock
Soak gelatin in cold water for 5 minutes, and dissolve in hot chicken stock. When cold, add mayonnaise and whipped cream and stir and fold in the chicken mixture. Pack into a mold and let set.
A Summertime Salad
1 quart diced white chicken meat
1 cup grapes, seeded and cut in half
1/2 cup salted almonds
1/2 cup mayonnaise mixed with 1/4 cup cream, whipped
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp. capers (optional)
Toss ingredients together. Serve on lettuce leaves or place in centre of an avocado mousse mold.
Avocado Mousse for 8
1 tbsp. gelatin dissolved in 2 tbsp. cold water
1 package lime jello
2 cups hot water
1 cup mashed ripe avocado
1/2 cup mayonnaise mixed with 1/2 cup cream whipped
Dissolve gelatin mixture and jello in hot water. When starting to set add remaining ingredients, pour into round mold with an open centre. Can be served alone with fresh fruits.