Day: June 26, 2020

Posted in Canada, photographs, travel

Fort George, Ontario – Part 1

Posted on by traci

A year ago, I traveled to London, Ontario with Youngest. Then we visited Niagara on the Lake before spending time in Niagara Falls.

In Ontario, when you drive on the On-401, they have rest stop areas called On-Routes. The On-Routes are about an 100 km, I believe. When we traveled between Toronto and Detroit, we stopped at all of the On-Routes. So when I was planning the trip last year, I was hoping I would be able to stop at one of those On-Routes.

So what are On-Routes? It’s like the travel plazas on the different toll roads in the United States except it’s on the main highway. There is usually a Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and other food vendors. There is also a convenience store, bathrooms, and a gas station. Free WiFi is offered at the On-Routes.

Here are some of the photos from the On-Route I was able to get to last year. I apologize for the fuzzy photos. As you can see, there is also a microwave and massage chairs for travelers.

After stopping there for my breakfast, I continued on my way to Niagara on the Lake, so we could meet my friend. We were combining 2 trips into one. It was Youngest’s 14th birthday trip and also my EPIC trip with my friend. We only see each other once a year.

We decided to meet up at Fort George which is located just outside Niagara on the Lake.

A difference between attractions like that and ones in the United States is that everything was both in English and French. They had a demonstration on how to use a rifle from the 1700s in both English and French which was interesting.

Once you pay with either Canadian money or American money, you are given a token that you give to the gate master (don’t know the real name of the guy). We waited for my friend because she had trouble getting across the border. Some border patrol people give you the 10th degree while others just ask you the basic questions and then allow you to continue on your journey.

This is in the gift shop. Youngest had fun looking at all of the souvenirs.

  • I don’t recall what he had in his hand.

Beginning our tour – Fort George was a British fort that protected Canada from the Americans during the War of 1812. There are different buildings that were in the fort when it was in operation. People dress in period clothing which add to the experience.

  • Widow Campbell’s House
  • British Flag

Inside the soldier’s barracks:

I’ll continue with my tour of Fort George in another post.

Stay kind!

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in Family Recipe, ground beef, Ingredients, onions, Pasta, pasta, Recipes

Johnny Marzetti – Updated

Posted on by traci

One of my mom’s favorite meals was Johnny Marzetti. When I was Googling the history of the name of Johnny Marzetti, I noticed a lot of the recipes bake it. The difference with my recipe is that I don’t. My recipe is more of an American goulash.

It was named after a restaurant in Columbus that shut down in 1972 when the owner died.

When I made it this week, I modernized or added some depth to the spaghetti sauce that I used in the dish. I added a splash of dry red wine while the sauce was simmering. So delicious!

It’s a simple pantry item dish. Here’s what you need to make the dish.

  1. ground beef – I know the price for ground beef has increased. I get the frozen ground beef at this current time because it is cheaper.
  2. spaghetti sauce – I used a simple spaghetti sauce from Aldi. Less than a dollar for the jar.
  3. dry red wine – Doesn’t need to be expensive. Or use beef broth for a deeper flavor.
  4. onions
  5. elbow macaroni – Aldi has 3 pound boxes for less than $1.50
  6. shredded cheddar cheese
  7. Spices: Dried oregano and Italian seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste
  8. optional: mushrooms and green peppers

Johnny Marzetti

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 1 small onion, chopped or 1/2 of a medium or large onion, chopped
  • 1 (24 to 26 oz) jar of spaghetti sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. dry red wine or beef broth
  • 1 lb or 2 c. dry elbow macaroni
  • 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
  • Optional: 1/4 c. white or Bella mushroom, chopped
  • Optional: 1/2 green pepper chopped

Steps:

  1. Cook the elbow macaroni according to directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a medium sized pot on medium heat. Drain and remove from pan. Set aside.
  3. Add the onions, mushroom (if using), and green pepper (if using) to the pan. Add some oil to the pan if needed. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
  4. Add the cooked ground beef, spaghetti sauce, and red wine to the onions. Simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  5. Add the pasta and shredded cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir to combine.
  6. Enjoy with garlic bread and a salad.

You can leave the wine out if don’t want to use wine. I just used it to add some depth to the dish.

Printable Recipe

Stay kind!

Have a magical day,
Traci