Stuffed Sweet Dumpling Squash

This was really easy! Just bake the squash with a quinoa/onion/pistachio/date/cinnamon stuffing.

Hollyburn Peak

The day started off cold and overcast, so I bundled up with a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a thick hoodie, and a jacket, in anticipation for our hike on Cypress Mountain. I was certain it would be cold at the 1300 metre peak, since it was already chilly in the city at sea level. As we drove up the mountain and broke through the fog, however, the weather completely changed. We were surrounded with bright blue skies and not a cloud in sight, except for the ones underneath us.

I slowly shed my layers one by one, until I was left with just my t-shirt on. It was HOT, almost as if it was summer. I felt like a fool carrying all my extra layers in my backpack instead of leaving them in the car! 

The hike up Hollyburn Peak was beautiful and full of autumn colours. The peak gave panoramic views of all sorts of mountain ranges around us, including the Lions. The fog was like a sea underneath the mountain. As we drove back down, it felt like we were entering a completely different climate. We left summer, and I sadly had to put all my layers back on again as the sun disappeared behind the fog.

Ocean Perch, Shaved Fennel Salad, and Roasted Acorn Squash

One of the easiest, fastest, and relatively cheap fancy dinners we've made so far -
- Pan fried ocean perch ($7 for a whole fish, filleted by request at the fishmonger)
- Shaved fennel salad (from my CSA box) with sundried tomatoes ($3 for big jar)
- Roasted acorn squash (from my CSA box) with a chile vinaigrette (<$2 for chile, cilantro, and lime)

Total time: < 45 minutes

We had gone for a nice dinner at a restaurant in Nanaimo the night before, the restaurant being rated 4.5 stars on tripadvisor, but when Leonard asked me which meal I thought was better, I thought our home made meal was on par with the professional dinner! Tasty and simple.