Vancouver Friday and Sat: Family

I have always loved visiting Granville Island ever since my Auntie Heather used to haul Starbucks coffee beans across the border to sell in her little coffee store. It also helped that she sold Smarties by weight and had a barrel of Smarties in the shop. I was excited to show Justin the cool warehouse market, which was similar to Pike Place.

Unfortunately, Granville Island has expanded ridiculously. I heard that inside the warehouse, it is still a cool mix of bakeries and fish markets, but we never made it that far. Parking was impossible, and the whole area was a mass of cheap gift shops and chain restaurants ala TG McFunsters. We gave up - so much for butter tarts.

We had a nice dinner at Aunt Heather's. She cooked enough for 3 meals. I was polite and did not photograph at the dinner table.



Saturday we had a small family reunion. My mom had 14 brothers and sisters, so I have 72 first cousins on her side. This was definitely a small get-together. My mom's sister came down from north Vancouver Island and her brother came from Kelowna. We had a nice lunch in the hotel restaurant by the harbour.

It was your typical American/Canadian fare - salads, sliders, burgers.



Most of the family ordered the taco salad



I did get into the ahi sliders, mostly because of the wasabi mayonnaise. I am seriously obsessed with wasabi.



Really, people go to unbelievable lengths to humor me and my food photography



Sticky Toffee Pudding, one of the wonders of British colonies



This is a gooseberry



As I was changing out lenses, a cousin impulsively hugged me, and my lens went flying. What is up with Canada and my camera lenses? Canada hates my camera! I was so traumatized I didn't go out partying with my cousin's women's hockey team that night. And that's not a drinking party to miss.



My Uncle Pat was a prison guard, and scared the hell out of us growing up. I don't think I saw him smile until I was in my 20s. He does have a nice smile.



The three closest siblings, Auntie Loretta, Uncle John and Mom



My Auntie Loretta is an amazing cook. I have been making her recipes for years.

AUNTIE LORETTA'S MACARONI SALAD

2 cups macaroni
1/2 cup diced ham
1/2 cup diced cheddar cheese
1 stalk celery, diced
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1.2 teaspoon black pepper

(she adds 1/2 green pepper, diced and 1 teaspoon salt, which I leave out. The ham makes it salty enough for me)

Cook macaroni in saled water for 7 minutes. Drain. Run cold water over macaroni until it is cold.

Mix remaining ingredients into macaroni. Add more mayonnaise as desired.

Allow flavors to blend several hours before serving.