It’s a holiday weekend today, Queen Victoria’s birthday to be exact! What is interesting is that Canada celebrates this day, but the UK does not!
And it’s our wedding anniversary weekend (actually was yesterday)!
I met JT when I was 15 and knew instantly that we would be together! The day we met I went home and wrote my new name; I still have the book (it was the Book of Nothing) I wrote my new name “Eva Taylor” in script. We met through Facebook -10.2 — the Citizens Band Radio (breaker, breaker; remember Smokie and the Bandit?) it was my brother’s radio but he quickly discovered he could talk to cooler people if he had a girl on board. My Dad forbade us to use our real names so I was Leslie and my “handle” was “The Roxy Roller” and he was John “The Baracuda” both from some cool songs of the day. JT was “Blue Magic”. Blue Magic was a wee bit older than I and I knew my parents wouldn’t approve; we were together a year before they found out. I went to the library a lot; my parents thought I was very studious. At night, JT used to come over to our apartment after my parents went to bed and we’d toss love letters to each other from my second floor bedroom window (not sexts but actual love letters, the Romeo and Juliette kind). When my parents met him, they also fell in love. My biggest regret is lying to them for a year but they forgave me. After my Dad’s first heart attack, he gave JT permission for my hand, if he should ever want it. He passed away three months later.
We dated 8 years before we married (not exactly smooth sailing, but in my heart I always knew it would work out and we’d be together).
My Mom and I hand sewed a million pearls onto my veil; the night before the wedding I tried on the dress and decided to cut (yes, CUT with manicure scissors) the neckline because it was too high! I still have the dress, anyone want it?
It rained the entire day of our wedding, except for the very few times I stepped outside (thanks Dad); and by rain, I’m talking teaming, pouring, drenching rain, not the spitting kind! Even the limo driver asked if I wanted to be carried to the car! My brother walked me down the aisle. I wish I had asked my Mom too, but it wasn’t done back then, and I hadn’t thought of it. In the limo, on the drive to the church my brother offered me his savings if I wanted to escape, exact words “I’ve got enough money for you to go to the airport and buy a plane ticket outa here”. I thought it was sweet. And then I found out he offered the same thing to JT in the church! We had both declined. 🙂
Speaking of all dressed up, back in April, my friend Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella posted a gorgeous Salmon en Papillote recipe which inspired me to come up with one for Tilapia, a staple in our house, it really isn’t a recipe, just a guideline — completely customizable to your taste and what you have on hand.
Tilapia with white wine en Papillote (French for ‘in parchment’)
Serves 3
Ingredients:
- 120 g fennel cubed*
- 200 g zucchini cubed*
- 170 g red pepper cubed*
- 100 g yellow pepper cubed*
- 50 g celery cubed*
- 50 g carrots cubed*
- 3 tbsp pesto (home made or otherwise)
- 3 tbsp white wine
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 x 100 g Tilapia filets
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
- Begin by cutting three ‘heart’ shapes from parchment paper. I found it easier to cut a square of parchment, fold in half and cut a half heart shape.
- Mix the cubed* vegetables all together and divide into three portions on the parchment, placing the vegetables in towards the centre of the heart.
- Top with the tilapia filet, add 1 tbsp pesto and spread on top of the filet, drizzle with one tablespoon white wine and season.
- Fold over the other half of the heart and begin folding the edges in at the top of the heart so that the parchment seals completely (I googled how to do this and used this method). Continue with each heart. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet (just in case they leak, but mine did not) and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove and plate carefully, open the parchment very carefully because inside is very hot steam. Serve immediately.
*it’s imperative that your vegetables be cut the same size so that they all cook at the same rate. This 7-10mm (1/4″) cube was perfect for 20 minutes in the oven, they weren’t over cooked and had a bit of a crunch left in them.
Awwww.. I’m so glad I didn’t miss this one! Congratulations on your anniversary, it’s rare for marriages to last this long these days. This fish recipe is just so bright and colorful, a sight for sore eyes.. we’ve had your “wedding day” rain here for a few days now:) xx
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Thank you so much Barbara, it was indeed a lovely anniversary. We’re still celebrating with a quick trip to DC, I’ll get back to commenting when we return.
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Happy Belated Anniversary! What a lovely story! Wishing you both many more happy years together. I love the tilapia you chose to enjoy for your anniversary meal.
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Thanks Amber for your kind wishes and lovely words.
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Wonderful story of you and JT. I never quite believed knowing someone is the “one” until I met Liz. Never gets old hearing someone else had a similar experience. 🙂
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Thank you so much Jed. Years and years ago, I had a friend ask me “how do you know” and it’s one of the most difficult things to explain, all I could say is that you just know. I am very pleased that you and Liz found each other too, life is just too short to live in a compromise.
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congrats to your wedding anniversary Eva! =D
You look gorgeous on the picture with your husband.
I love anything en papillot (especially salmon), so I d surely enjoy your tilapia en papillot.
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Thank you so much Helene, it was a lovely anniversary — I cannot believe it has been 27 years, it really just seems like yesterday.
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Aw, that’s such a sweet story Eva – you and JT romancing it up, old-school style! :). Time sure flies doesn’t it? I can’t believe I’ve been with my wife for 8 years (not married all that time, but living together). I can still remember when we first got together, it seems like just yesterday, but look what we’ve accomplished in this short time?!
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Oh eva! I love your story even more than this fish and I do love this fish. Any fish baked in white wine is a favorite of mine. How neat of a story to have gone home and write your new “name” the day you met him. Its a love story for sure and here is to another 27 years!
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Eva, we celebrated #27 in April! But our story is not so compelling. Happy anniversary!
PS…your tilapia looks amazing!
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Thanks you so much Liz for your lovely words, happy belated anniversary! It was a damn fine year!
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Congratulations, Eva and JT! What a great, romantic story. I love it! And your recipe looks yummy too. I wonder if it’s worth doing just with the vegetables? I’ve never cooked anything that way, so may just try, just for the experience…
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Hi Michela, thank you so much, I can hardly believe it’s that long, it feels like our wedding was only yesterday.
Yes, I would do this recipe just for the veggies, particularly flavoured with basil pesto, you can even change the flavourings to tex mex or even Thai would be delightful.
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A romantic recipe and colorful! I love it.
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Thank you kindly.
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Eva, What a lovely love story. If only people would still send real love letters to each other. I love cooking with ingredients ‘en papillote’- locks in all the fresh flavors without having to resort to frying.
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Thanks Fran, I’m happy you enjoyed the story. It’s no wonder that I enjoy blogging so much, it’s kind of like having pen palls around the world.
I am not a fan of deep frying (I know it sounds weird but I don’t even like the taste of it) so a healthier option which locks in the flavours is a fantastic find.
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Happy anniversary! What a wonderful story, Eva, and how nice of you to share it with us. Loved your defining CB radio as an early — very early — Facebook release. Too funny! And that’s one fantastic wedding photo.
Great way, too, to cook fish. It’s surprisingly easy and I bet the vegetables you chose would be wonderful with tilapia. This was a very special post in so many ways. Thank you!
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Thank you for your lovely wishes John, I’m very happy to have shared the story, it reminded me of some of the details I may not recall day to day. The wedding photo makes me laugh about how young we looked (JT with all that hair too!).
The fish was wonderful and I hope to make it again with Norma’s great suggestion to use the BBQ as the outdoor oven.
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Oh my word Eva… your tilapia en papilotte is lovely (gorgeous veggies) but it’s your wedding story that steals the show for me. I laughed, I cried, I cheered.
The Citizens’ Band Radio…wow, I always knew you were ahead of your time Leslie! ;-). “I went to the library a lot” hahaha…. love. It rained throughout our wedding day too save the moment we walked out of the Church to a singular and momentary ray of sunshine (I also thanked my dad for that). It’s good luck they say and with 27 years on your side, it can’t be denied. I had shivers reading about you and your mom hand-sewing pearls on your veil… how beautiful is that? And the love notes from the bedroom window…. my goodness, what a story! The wedding photo is beautiful too. Loved it Roxie Roller :).
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Thank you Kelly, I’m really glad you enjoyed the story, it sure brought back a lot of fond memories for me and a few tears as I read it to JT on our drive home from the cottage on Monday. I’m sorry that you lost your Dad too, I know my Dad would have loved to walk me down the aisle but I’m glad that my little brother could do it.
Mom and I had fun making the veil (the one we were copying was about $80 in 1986 and I had already broke the bank with the cost of the dress ($750 but both Mom and JT’s Mom ganged up on me so I had no choice but to buy it). It was the first one I had tried on, go figure. I bought it in The Bridal Room at the downtown Simpsons.
Every time I hear that song it makes me think of my CB radio days!
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Happy 27th Anniversary Eva. Wow, what a beautiful romantic story!!!!! Love that wedding photo. Very handsome couple indeed.
Delicious and healthy dish as usual. Can you turn your barbecue into an oven so you are able to make this in the summer without turning on the oven?
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Hi Norma thank you for your flattering words. Yes, I often do bake in the BBQ, I fact, at the end of June we have another progressive dinner planned and this time we all have to prepare our course on the grill — I took dessert for the challenge!
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What a lovely story, Eva and I can’t believe you met when you were 15! And that your parents didn’t know for 12 months! I’m sorry your dad passed away when you were so young – that’s a huge loss. I can’t believe you attacked your wedding dress the night before your wedding! You were a beautiful bride xx
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Thank you for your kind and touching sentiments Charlie; my dear Dad passed away quite suddenly and unexpectedly — it was very hot and humid summer which I’m sure didn’t help his ticker. Plus the show they were working on had just been cancelled so he had many other worries too.
Ah yes, the crazy wedding dress — to be sure, my Mom supported my decision and cutting out a little of the neck was the right thing to do. Thank you for your lovely compliment too.
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Oh my gosh, you and JT have such a gorgeous love story! Sigh… I hope I meet someone so romantic :)))
Lovely dish (so gourmet!) to commemorate such an important time!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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Thank you CCU, I’m sure you will find your Prince Charming too!
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But who fixed the dress, it looks great in the photo..and i thought I was the only one who cut up my clothes with finger nail scissors because they are the only ones I can find at the time and I have to do it RIGHT NOW! That was you wasn’t it!! c
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Hi C, thank you for your lovely words — yes, it’s me usually fixing the dress…half the time I don’t even take it off — even though my grandmother always said to never mend your clothes while wearing them, or you will always be poor.
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I shall remember that, i am a horror for reaching down and simply ripping hems off! I will be poor forever!! c
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You and me both, but rich in love! I always joke that my second marriage will be for money ;)!
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Being together for 35 years……that’s a long, and beautiful time together. And that’s a beautiful, Romeo Juliet style fitting story. I love your wedding photo, it’s beautiful. You look so radiant, from whatever little we can see from that lovely angle 😀 I love that fish.
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Thanks Minnie for your kind words. It sure is a long time, I can hardly believe it most of the time. The day was a good day.
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What a wonderful story you two have, and you make such a handsome couple, too! A great wedding photo. Congrats on your anniversary…27 years is a long time! 🙂 Lovely tilapia and I love fish cooked en papillot. Cheers to you both.
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Thank you kindly Betsy, i can hardly believe it is so long! The papillote is indeed a wonderful technique and it’s so healthy too.
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Happy Anniversary, Eva! It’s such a moving, beautiful post… It was a huge pleasure to read. Thank you so much for sharing your sexy wedding photo 🙂
The papillote fish looks both elegant, delicious and healthy, qualities rarely found in the same dish, so congratulations (oh, and such a baking process is also lots of fun when you open the “parcels”).
(PS I hope you don’t mind me saying this but there is a small typo: it should be “papillote” with an -e at the end).
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Thank you very much Sissi, you always have such lovely words for me. I shall correct my error, and I DO appreciate it when you mention it because even though I spell check and re read, there are always a few little boo boos that happen anyway.
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Thank you, Eva. I’m glad you are not angry… (without the “e” it reads in a completely different way, hence my remark). I’m also happy when someone point out errors, but I know some bloggers dislike it.
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Oh my Sissi, I thank you and take full advantage of constructive feedback, so please don’t hesitate. I am more embarrassed that I didn’t notice the typo. Now I must google the word without the e ;-)~
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Happy Anniversary Eva! Love at first sight. I love it.
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Thank you Zsuzsa, I had no control over it, but I knew it would work out in the end. I wonder if we were together in a past life too?
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Congratulations on your anniversary. Your romance with JT made for a lovely story. The tilapia en papillote would make a great anniversary celebration dinner.
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Thank you kindly Maria, we actually had a piece of steak and a lobster tail last night for the anniversary dinner, but you’re right, this one presents so nicely it would make a lovely celebration dinner for sure.
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Awww… I love this! Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! This dish looks wonderful as well! Thank you!
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Thanks Mitts and Measures.
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Happy anniversary Eva! What a wonderful story. I just love it. It has a few similarities to how Mike and I met as well. 🙂 And it poured on our wedding day too. I hear it’s good luck (although I think they just say that so the bride doesn’t feel bad about rain on her big day!). And what a beautiful wedding photo. Congratulations. I hope you enjoyed the anniversary. I think I’m going to give this tilapia a try. We eat lots of it in our house too and I have yet to make it in parchment. It’s high time I try. Plus the kids will dig it if I cut the parchment into shapes. Have a great week!
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I’m going to love hearing of your story Kristy and thank you kindly for your lovely words. Yes, I’ve heard that it’s good luck to have rain on your wedding day; I thought I would be devastated but when it actually happened it didn’t bother me at all, so many more important things about that day, rain didn’t matter.
We had a lovely anniversary weekend at the cottage; we worked most of the weekend, painting (I decided to redecorate, but there will be a post about it soon, so I won’t spoil it).
Tilapia is such a nice firm fish, i do hope you try it in parchment, I’m sure your lovely kids would love the fun shapes too!
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how sweet…happy anniversary
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Thanks so much MM.
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Hi Eva! Happy Anniversary! Congratulations and wish you all the best 🙂
Great post and a great story, thank you for sharing. The food, well, it looks amazing as always. Very colorful dish.
Looking forward to the next post!
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Thank you kindly Tudor, I still cannot believe it’s been 27 years! The fish is down right delightful and such a healthy way to prepare too. I would even serve it to company, it looks so nice when you open the parchment.
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I loved reading all about you at JT! Isn’t that the sweetest thing about you tossing each other love letters! I got a chill! And so lovely that your family loved him straight away. You both looks gorgeous in the photo. I feel like I know you so well too 😀 And thank you so much for the lovely shoutout too! I’m so flattered that you made this recipe Eva! 😀 Happy wedding anniversary Eva and JT!! xxx
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Thank you Lorraine, a huge smile spread over my face as I read your lovely words. What a coincidence that we both gave a shout out to each other a day apart! I’m really hoping we can meet up in September when you come to Canada, I’d love to give you a real hug!
The recipe is wonderful and it’s such a nice presentation too. We had a lovely anniversary at the cottage — you’ll read all about it soon.
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hey Eva and JT, keep the good times rollin’ good buddies.
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Thanks guys, we’re looking forward to seeing you next weekend. I’ll email the menu for the wine pairings soon.
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What a sweet post, Eva!
I would go with basil pesto too!
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Thanks Angie, it really did go very well with the fish. Thank you for your lovely compliment.
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What a beautiful love story. You were a rascal back then, you Roxy Roller. 🙂
I loved this on Lorraine’s blog too.
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Thanks Maureen; I’m so flattered at Lorraine’s mention. Ah yes, those were the days!
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