Thank you!
We might be related! 
My sister wonders why I have made an effort to NOT be closer. But anyone with an iota of cognizance should clearly be able to see why.
Thatās the catch, though. Iāve learned that itās almost impossible to underestimate peopleās intellectual and emotional disconnect. Most are oblivious to their own behavior. My sis & BIL certainly are, while being obnoxiously self-righteous and judgy. A pretty toxic combination.
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Happy birthday! Glad you got all your favorites before they closed.
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Woke up to snow flurries this AM, and Thursday temps are going up to 19ĖC. Wild.
Iām hosting a red carpet event on the big screen for my gal pals followed by Barbie, which a couple of them havenāt seen yet. I usually watch those red carpet shows on my own ā surprisingly, my PIC isnāt all that interested in starletsā fashion wins / faux pas 
, so itāll be a blast watching/judging it with a crowd. Iāll have it recorded since it starts mid-afternoon, and peeps are coming over at 6pm.
I have a nice variety of snacklets on offer: lovely local ciabatta, a triple cream brie & a variety of frozen apps from TJās (cream cheese jalapeƱo wontons, mini chicken tacos, lemon bars) and Aldi (pub-style battered shrimp bites), chips & French onion dip. Iāll make popcorn for the movie, and we can always order pizza if peeps are still hungry.
My darling will be operating the air fryer, and is making his wonderful PR-style sangria & possibly his equally fab margaritas ā those are pretty dangerous, tho 
#IYKYK
Should be a fun evening 
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Sounds like we both got a raw deal regarding whom we have as family members.
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But Ottawa is the Shawarma Capital of Canada! Hee hee
https://x.com/ctvottawa/status/1765678990860136505
I regret not ordering my last takeout meal in Ottawa from The Whalesbone on Elgin in Oct 2022!
Eh. Iāve seen and heard worse, TBH.
Thatās the great thing about friends: we can choose them 
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Does your sister have hoarding qualities and/or does she appreciate your cleaning out?
Apparently we are! I canāt believe Iāve been living in Ottawa for 35 years and I have never eaten shawarma ~hangs head in shame~ I will have to fix that!
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I went to the Whalesbone on Bank for oysters once years ago and they were the best oysters Iāve ever had. The oysters at the Elgin location most likely come from the same purveyors so if you ever go there Iām pretty sure you will enjoy them.
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Definitely start with Shawarma Palace. Portions are HUGE. Shawarma Palace
I brought my cousins there in 2009, for lunch, and we didnāt finish what we ordered, and we were still way too full to be able to enjoy our dinner at Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal later that night. 
Another place with massive portions 
My favourite thing to order at Shawarma Palace is actually the Vegetarian Platter, not the shawarma 
Oysters are not my favourite shellfish so I usually focus on other things. I love the chowder at The Whalesbone on Elgin, as well as their Tuna Poke Bowl.
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Yes, sheās a bad hoarder and thatās a major. issue. She seems to appreciate my cleaning and helping her in general, but there are just so many issues with her.
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Roasted achari game hens with roasted pineapple salad, pickled chile yogurt dip, and basmati rice, adapted from the Gunpowder cookbook. This is supposed to be a partridge leg recipe and grilled or broiled. I decided to roast the hens at 400F (convection) covered loosely with foil for 25 minutes and then uncovered for 30 minutes (basting with butter every 10 minutes). Came out perfect! There will be leftovers for another night this week too.
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A Tibetan noodle soup called Lhasa Thukpa with slices of omelette, ground beef, noodles, greens, from a Tibet CafƩ in Kensington Market.
I havenāt found an online recipe for Thukpa with ground beef, omelette and noodles.
Here are some Tibetan chicken Thukpa recipes. Thukpa is also made in Nepal and northern India, probably also in other countries. Iām not sure about the regional variations. This was my first time to try any Thukpa, as far as I remember.
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I made harissa-orange b/s chicken thighs baked over par-cooked spiced brown basmati rice, sauteed shallots, and coriander cauliflower. Tasty dragged through a slash of Greek yogurt and lemony peri-peri sauce. A few Kalamatas just because.
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A proper Sunday Dinner.
Roasted chicken, air-dried in the downstairs fridge overnight with s/p, and then roasted at 425Ā° for 15 minutes and finished roasting at 350Ā° for 20 minutes/lb. It had a half lemon cut into quarters tucked inside, and a butter, thyme and lemon zest tucked under part of the skin.
Par-steamed red and yellow baby potatoes, then roasted in the convection oven with olive oil and zaāatar.
Steamed green beans with butter and toasted slivered almonds.
The rest of the Stags Leap Karia Chardonnay.
One of the better birdies Iāve made, even though the skin didnāt crisp as much as Iād have liked. 
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The correct proportion of butter to potato in that photo!
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Actually salivated when I saw those potatoes .
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Devilled beef kidneys, Ć la Fergus Henderson, on toast with tomato carrot soup. Iāve never liked beef kidney, but this was really good. Offal from grass fed and finished beef lacks the manky flavour Iāve come to associate with kidney. Not the most pristine photo as we were already digging in, but you get the idea.
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