Devastating news in the community yesterday.

Every child matters.

 

ranch pickles

 A food trend from Tick Tok - Ranch flavored pickles.

This one didn't seem to have the staying power of the tomato and feta pasta recipe, but this one was easier and therefore more interesting to me.

See if you can keep up.  

Get a jar of dill pickles.  Get a package of ranch dressing.

Mix them together.

Let it sit in the fridge for a day, them eat them.

One thing I did was to cut the whole pickles into spears before I added the dressing mix.  I thought it might help the flavor soak in a bit more.

Verdict - they tasted like....pickles.  So, not a bad thing.  But I personally didn't think it added a lot of flavor.  The Mister however, really liked them, so maybe it's just me.

If you like pickles, this could be a fun snack to try this summer.

cookbook cleanup books 23-25

 In which we say goodbye to one actual cookbook and 2 reference books.

The Great Rotisserie Chicken Cookbook - I've had this for a few years but only cooked one recipe, to my recollection.  It falls into that giant category that I have  - It's A Good Book, Just Not For Us.

These 2 reference books have been on my shelf for a LONG time......I was going to type an estimated number but it made me sad.  So we'll just stick with a long time.  They are both great books but....the internet. 

All these bad boys have been sent out into the world and I hope they find a good home.

Cookbook Cleanup results so far - Back on the bookshelf - 13  Donated -12

spotted sign

 

shoutout to essential oils and sprays

 ....for trying their best to keep me sane during the past year and some, and all the past years before that.

Here's what I've used up in the past month or so -

Aromaforce Peppermint oil is one of my favorite peppermint oils - I use peppermint pretty much daily against headaches, anxiety and general head fogginess.  I use it both in a diffuser as well as schmearing a drop under my nose and/or on my forehead.  Saje Deep Breath was for my diffuser; it's a good one with eucalyptus, peppermint and lavender.  I hate lavender, but you can't even smell it in this one, or at least I can't.  Saje Peppermint Halo - another great peppermint oil for headaches.

Forest Garden is a local company and this Citrus Cream oil blend is one of the best I've ever tried.  So good.  I have a bottle of their peppermint oil in my purse at all times.  Essenza Rosemary Mint came in some sort of kit.  Very minty.  Saje Rainforest - a woodsy one, not super strong.

Saje Energy Mist - I love a mist, and this is a really good one, with peppermint, lemon and rosemary.

book haul

 I had some time to kill recently before an appointment, so I stopped by Value Village to look at their used books.  In just a few moments I had an armful to take home.

 I love used books; they are (sometimes) cheap, hopefully there is lots of variety, and the best part is that you can donate them again so someone else can  have a turn.

These four above I had never heard of before, so far I've only read All We Ever Wanted Was Everything.  It was fine.

I'd heard of The Alice Network before, but none of the others.

I haven't been reading much so far this year.  I'm stressed and worn out and often can't concentrate on words on a page. 

I was excited to find Half-Blood Blues - I had this on my Amazon list for years but then it was no longer in print. 

Buy 4 books, get 1 free!  So I did, and for $50 I got 10 books.  Pretty good deal.

book club 13 - audiobook - The Trade by Meghan Quinn

 2021-13

 

another new love - everything bagel seasoning

I FINALLY got my hands on a bottle of everything bagel seasoning, and I LOVE IT.   I put this shit on everything, including:

Egg salad in lettuce leaves

English Muffin with smooshed avocado

Bell pepper schmeared with cream cheese

Toast with butter

and salad too.

I have had to start using it more sparingly, as the one store I found that was carrying it has now been out of stock for weeks, so who knows if we'll ever see it again.

snapshot - trying out my new frother :(

 

book club 12 - All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown

 2021-12

 

carrot cake with chocolate glaze

That title above would have made me keep moving past that recipe.  Carrot cake?  Great.  Love it.  With CHOCOLATE GLAZE?  What are you even talking about?  No way.  Get out of here.  Cream cheese frosting or maybe whipped cream, those are the only acceptable toppings for carrot cake.

Or so I thought.

The Grandpa found the recipe in the BC Liquor Store free magazine, and passed it on to me.  And that meant of course, that he was hoping I would make it for him.  Dang it.

I wasn't super excited, but if it wasn't good, he would get all the leftovers.

 

 Guys, it was good.  It was GOOD.  

Now I will say that it did not taste anything like a carrot cake.  If someone made it for you and didn't tell you it had carrots in it, I don't think you would know.  It just tastes like a nice cake with a delicious chocolate glaze.  And sometimes that's all you need.

Recipe: Chocolate Glazed Carrot Bundt Cake

sunday dinner - soup and brownies

 Spring is finally here, although it is still coming and going.... we've had lots of gloomy days and lots of strong wind, which I hate, and not nearly enough rain.  We need a couple of good rainy days to wash away the grime and water the grass and trees.

I was hoping to put a rainy day vibe out there for Mother Nature with this Sunday dinner - a nice light but hearty soup and decadent brownies for dessert, but sadly, there was just more wind.

I wish I'd taken a photo of the greens, orzo and meatball soup I made from Smitten Kitchen.  Absolutely delicious!  I made a few changes; the grocery store didn't have any ground poultry for the meatballs so I used ground pork, and I broiled the meatballs before adding them to the soup.  It just felt right that day.  It was a pretty soup, and so tasty.  The kids enjoyed the meatballs and the orzo, but complained about "the green stuff" (spinach).  They didn't complain too much though, because they had both seen dessert and wanted to stay on our good sides so they would get a piece of - 

 

Chocolate Mousse Brownie - so good!  So easy!

I unfortunately slightly overcooked the brownie, so the crispy edges were VERY crispy, but it was very nice and the mousse on top was mmmmmmm good.

Happy May 1!  May.  I can't believe it.