Growing Tomatoes

I planted three tomato plants about 5-6 weeks ago and they've been growing like weeds, but I'm afraid that: a) I didn't plant them deep enough b)I over-watered (it rained like crazy for a couple of weeks) and c) I didn't plant in big enough pots (I don't have a yard). Because of these things, I'm seeing some fruit, but not a lot, mostly in big clusters (this is normal, I'm sure) and the bottoms look like this:



We did have a crazy snail infestation, but that's been taken care of and I've planted marigolds to help with any bugs...

Any suggestions would be lovely!

Fresh Cherry and Apple Crisp

For a few weeks now I've been on a diet, of sorts, having Isagenix Isalean Shakes twice a day and having a low calorie lunch or dinner, depending on the circumstances. This is working (though I'm realizing I'm a bit more ornery than usual), but I find myself really missing the activity of cooking, especially with so many fresh herbs out in my faux garden.

In any case, we were given a bucketful of fresh cherries, so we're incorporating them into our shakes, but Saturday is my day to make whatever I want without feeling any dieter's guilt - Saturday is my favorite day...

Fresh Cherry and Apple Crisp

Toss:
4 apples, peeled and sliced
2 c. cherries, pitted
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 c. sugar
zest of 1 orange
Arrange in a baking dish.

Combine:
1/2 stick butter, softened*
2 c. instant oats
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 whole nutmeg, finely grated
Sprinkle over the fruit mixture and bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.

*You should probably use a whole stick of butter to get the proper crumble texture, but I only used half.

Eating Montréal - Fairmount Queen Elizabeth Hotel

Our time in Montréal was interesting, but there's no doubt that the artful execution and quality of the food is unlike anything I've ever experienced. One particularly amazing dish was the cream of mushroom soup in the hotel restaurant Le Montrealais Bistro-bar which is also is where the room service comes from. When we go on vacation, we don't spend a lot of money, but we always splurge on local cuisine, particularly room service if the hotel is a little extravagant.


Steak sandwich from the restaurant inside the Fairmount Queen Elizabeth (room service). This sandwich was simply steak and bread and it was the single best thing I had to eat while in Montréal.


Scallops with sun dried tomaotes and portabello mushrooms - room service


Large Pizza - room service


Small Pizza - room service


I didn't get to taste this napoleon, but I was assured that it was incredible.

Pastry in the underground mall underneath the Fairmount Queen Elizabeth hotel. We walked down every day to take a look at the insane French pastry. I was in foodie heaven...