2015 - Niagara Falls, NY

Established in 1885, the Niagara Falls State Park is America's oldest State Park.

From the Observation Tower

The American Falls, the Horseshoe Falls and myself.

Myself and the American Falls.

Personally, the view is much more beautiful from the Canadian side.

Goat Island & Three Sisters Islands

The Three Sisters Islands were named after Parkhurst Whitney's daughters: Asenath, Angeline and Celinda Eliza.

Sources: Niagara USA, Niagara Falls State Park

2015 - Buffalo, NY

Sunday December 28
I crossed the Rainbow Bridge and drove on the I-190 to Downtown Buffalo. All shops were closed at the exception of a few restaurants. Empty town. Perfect day to take pictures. A few hours later, I took the Peace Bridge and QEW back to Niagara Falls in Canada.

Theatre District

Fountain Plaza

- Rotary Rink

The only outdoor free to public skating rink located in downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo Savings Bank
545 Main St / 1 Fountain Plaza

Architects: Green & Wicks
Style: Beaux-Arts Classical
Completion: 1901

Feature: With a dimension of 23 ft tall & 56 ft in diameter, the Dome was last restored in 1998 requiring 140,000 paper-thin sheets of 23.75 carat gold leaf, at a cost of $500,000.

Electric Tower
535 Washington St.

Architects: Esenwien & Johnson
Style: Beaux-Arts Neoclassical
Completion: 1912

JJ's Casa di Pizza
11 E. Mohawk

Lafayette Square
415 Main St

- Soldiers & Sailors Monument:
A nameless stone lady, "emblematic of Buffalo" is on the top of the 85-foot column. The eight-foot statues represent members of the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and navy surround the shaft, which itself is decorated with bronze symbols of the nation and state, the seal of Buffalo and a "drum" showing over thirty figures.

Buffalo City Hall
65 Niagara Square

Architects: George J. Dietel and John J. Wade
Style: Art Deco
Completion: 1931

- McKinley Monument:
Located in the center of Niagara Square, the 96 feet tall monument is made of Vermont marble. Completed in 1907, this memorial is dedicated to President William McKinley who was mortally shot at the Temple of Music on September 6, 1901.

Old County Hall
92 Franklin Street

Architect: Andrew J. Warner
Style: High Victorian Romanesque / Norman Romanesque
Completion: 1876

Liberty Building
424 Main St

Architect: Alfred Bossom
Style: Beaux-Arts / Second Renaissance Revival
Completion: 1925
Feature: There are 2 reduced in-scale replicas of Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty on the top of the building: one facing east and another west.

First Unitarian Church / Title Guarantee Building
a.k.a. Austin Building / Ticor Building
110 Franklin Street

Builder: Benjamin Rathbun
Style: Greek Revival (original 1830)
Completion: 1830
Conversion: 1880 by architect Franklin Wellington Caulkins

Sources: Visit Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo Architecture and History, Buffalo Place

White Chocolate and Raspberry Squares

Info
Prep Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 40 min
Output: 8 servings
Source: Ricardo Cuisine

What You Need
6 oz (180g) white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (250 ml) unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) baking powder
3/4 cup (180 ml) sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract
3 tablespoons (45 ml) milk
1 cup (250 ml) fresh raspberries

Make It
With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Butter a 20-cm (8-inch) square dish.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate, stirring constantly. Set aside.

In a bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.

In another bowl, beat the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer until the mixture is pale and creamy. While beating, add the melted chocolate and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, stirring with a wooden spoon. Gently fold in the raspberries.

Pour into the pan. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan. Cut into squares.

My Comments
1 cup of fresh raspberries is not enough. I used one whole box! Not too sweet.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Prosciutto & Apples

Info
Prep Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 25 min
Output: 4-6 servings
Source: Ricardo Cuisine

What You Need
3 Cortland apples, cored and cut into thin 1/16-inch (2-mm) thick slices
2 tablespoons (30 ml) cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 cup (125 ml) apple juice or 1/2 cup (125 ml) chicken broth
2 pork tenderloins
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
10 thin slices prosciutto
1 tablespoon (15 ml) whole-grain mustard
Salt and pepper

Make It
With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 200 °C (400 °F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In the baking sheet, combine the apples, vinegar, and garlic. Drizzle with the apple juice. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 5 minutes while grilling the pork tenderloins.

In a large skillet, brown the tenderloins in the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the foil covering the apples and add the pork. Brush with the mustard.

Cover the meat with the prosciutto slices, overlapping slightly, then fold them under the tenderloins to cover completely.

Continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes for medium rare. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve with the apples and cooking juices.

My Comments
Depending on the size, the pork tenderloins took more than 20 minutes to bake (between 45-60 min). I used chicken broth instead of apple juice. 1 tablespoon of whole-grain mustard is not enough, go with your taste. Eating only the pork tenderloin itself does not have enough flavor. Enjoy the bite with the combination of the pork tenderloin, prosciutto and apple.

Warm Beet Salad with Bacon & Green Beans

Info
Prep Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 1:15 min
Output: 4-6 servings
Source: Ricardo Cuisine

What You Need
6 medium red or yellow beets, unpeeled
1 thick slice bacon, about 1/2-inch (1-cm) thick, cut into small pieces (about 115 g / 1/4 lb)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
1/2 lb (225 g) green beans, trimmed and blanched
1 tablespoon (15 ml) balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Make It
Place beets in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for about 1 hour or until beets are tender. Drain and place in cold water. Peel and cut each beet into 8 wedges.

Place on a large serving platter. Meanwhile, in a skillet, brown bacon in 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of oil until crisp. Drain a little fat. Add green beans and mix thoroughly. Scatter beans and bacon over beets.

In a small bowl, combine balsamic vinegar and remaining olive oil. Drizzle over salad. Adjust seasoning. Serve with a pork roast, warm or cold.

My Comments
I love this healthy dish. I served it with the roasted pork tenderloin with prosciutto and apples (see recipe from Ricardo).

2015 - Cornwall, ON

Seaway International Bridge
Opened in 1962, this 1.6 km bridge is being demolished piece by piece.

RCAF Association Wing 424

 Moulinette

Blue Anchor

2015 - 1000 Islands, ON

ROCKPORT

Rockport Cruises
20 Front Street
Rockport, ON K0E 1V0

2 hours cruise for $32.00 CAD

Zavikon Island: This bridge linking the U.S. and Canada is the world's shortest international bridge measuring 32 feet.

Boldt Castle