my favorites in march

So, March really blew up didn't it?

I hope you are safe and well, and staying as positive and calm as you can.  

It is hard some days.

Here's a list of things I enjoyed in March, one of the longest, strangest, upsetting months in the history of the world.

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by the book podcast - a quasi self help/info podcast where the 2 hosts choose a self help book to live by and share the results on the show.  Very fun, occasionally sad and startling.  For someone who has a ton of self help books lying around but never finds the time to read them, I like this one.

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hula seventy - a magical spot. The author finished up a year of daily lists late last year, and February 1st of this year began a year of daily small stories.  This blog has buoyed my spirits more than once the past few weeks.

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Carbs, but especially fresh bread baked by The Mister.  

The Mister is coping with all these goings on by baking a lot of bread.  

I am coping by eating a lot of bread.  

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Disneyland rides on Youtube.

Our family is a big fan of Disneyland, and watching youtube videos of their rides (as well as Harry Potter land and Universal Studios) has brought some fun and laughs to some of our nights.

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Hearts and Rainbows

A big big thank you to all the heathcare, first responders, city and provincial workers, store employees and all who are putting themselves out there to provide services for the world.  

You are truly the best.

Have you made Dalgona Coffee yet?

One of the "perks" to have youngish kids is we have no social life outside the house, so staying inside on weekends isn't too much work for us.  I was surfing the internet one weekend night and I read an article about this iced coffee recipe from South Korea that uses just 3 ingredients to make a delicious and funky looking iced coffee.

I did some googling and went with this version, the main difference from other versions being using hot water instead of ice water.

It is super simple - you mix 2 tablespoons each of instant coffee granules, sugar and hot water in a bowl and either whisk by hand or beat with a mixer until it becomes much lighter and thick and billowy.

You pour a cup of milk into a tall glass, add a couple of ice cubes, and spoon the thick coffee mixture on top.  Take a couple of artful shots of the drink (not cruddy ones like mine) and then mix the coffee cream into the milk and drink.

This is SO GOOD and SO EASY and provides a few minutes of fun and then a delicious drink - even the kids liked it, as seen above as The Girl chugged some down.

I could definitely see making this in the summer and it'll be way cheaper and lower in sugar and fat than buying an iced coffee out.

Book Club - Dear Girls by Ali Wong

2020-13

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I also understood why my mom wasn't into processing her feelings, and how she was taught to just get over tragedy.  To survive, she had to belive things like depression and alergies were a choice.  In a culture entrenched in wartime, those who chose to be unhappy or to refuse gluten didn't last long.  

My dad would sometimes say things to my mom like, "Devil, get away, for I am God's property!"

Book Club - In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond by John Zada

2020-12

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As we drift into the head of the inlet with sights set on the distant shore, a firm resolve takes hold of me.

I start making plans for my return.

"This is our backyard.  We know it better than anyone else.  That should be proof enough."

"But your word alone won't convince others." I say.

"That's all right, we're not trying to convince anybody."

"The Great Bear Rainforest, this whole coast, is the Noble Beyond.  This is the land of serendipity, man.  The ultimate landscape of myth, magic and metaphor."

Book Club - The Coven of Mystics by Ted Naifer

2020-11

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The forest stirred suddenly, and Courtney felt an awful thrill tickle her spine.

Something was coming.

Courtney wished for some days afterward she hadn't asked.  It seemed there were some things she didn't need to know after all.

Book Club - Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

2020-10

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"But I don't know if she has it in her anymore to be a part of anyone's happiness."

Have been home for three hours.  Already miss you.  This is some bullshit.

You're brave.  I could use some of that.

Book Club - Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

2020-9

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If I had died today, what would my eulogy say?

"You always say such lovely things to me, Red.  Do you say them to yourself?"

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hi.  How are you?  I hope you are ok.  I hope you're doing your best and taking care.  Drink lots of water but cut yourself some slack if you, like me, have eaten more than one cookie before breakfast this week.  Wash your hands lots and look in the cupboard to see if you have any lotion to combat lizard skin hands.  Be kind when you are out at the store.  Let seniors go ahead of you.  Help others find what they need.  Don't take more than you need.

Try not to worry too much about what you can't control.  Don't spend too much time on social media.  Listen to music.  Read books.  Make art.  Move your body.

Make these cookies!

Joy The Baker calls these The Best Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie, and I think she's right.

Delicious!

Something I Like - Instagram Dance Parties

For the past few days at 2 pm (pacific) Mark Kanemura aka @mkik808 on Instagram has been holding virtual dance parties on his Instagram Live.

I've been following him for a while now - he is a fun and positive person on Instagram and has does the best dance and costume posts.

Now with all the craziness and indoor times, his dance parties are something we all look forward to every afternoon.  The Girl dresses up and we all sing and dance and huff and puff.

Check out @mkik808 on Instagram!

Cookbook Cleanup Book 15 - It's All Easy

Next up is It's All Easy by Gwyneth Paltrow.  This is her 3rd book, and the one I have cooked the least out of.  This is one of those books that I would love to really love and cook out of lots, but my children would never allow it.  But we are working on it, and them, and we tried 5 recipes.

First was Shrimp Stir-Fry, (with some alterations to the sauce) with shrimp and snow peas.  It was easy to make and very good.

Next was Turkey Meat Loaf which again, with a few modifications - was really really good.  I would definitely make it again.

From the breakfast section we tried Breakfast Crepes (aka pancakes) which again, were easy to make and very good.  The kids loved them.

I put the Chicken Enchiladas on the menu one night, but when the night came they seemed like too much work, so instead we made the sauce - left out the spice for the kdis - and served the sauce with ground beef for tacos.  It was good; The Boy was crazy about it and finished off the leftovers for lunch the next day.

I love chia pudding, so I tried the Ginger Chia Pudding with ginger and coconut water.  Easy to make and delicious.

We enjoyed everything we tried and nothing was difficult or complicated.

There's definitely more dishes I want to try - Zuni Sheet Pan Chicken, Noodle Pot Soup, Chicken Salad Nori Wrap, Chocolate Mousse (made with avocado and almond butter), Balsamic Macerated Berries with Cashew Cream, and many more.

This is a good book with some interesting ingredients and lots of nice photos.

It stays.

Cookbook Cleanup results so far - Bookshelf - 8  Donated - 7

Snapshot - Sunday activities

staying home, avoiding contact, baking cookies and bread, drawing, always doing laundry, 

reading books, making soup, fortnight on xbox, looking for leprechauns, 

youtube dance parties, lego, sitting in the sun.

Book Club - The Night Things by Ted Naifeh

2020-8

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"There are worse things than solitude." She thought to herself.

After all, what was more likely?  That the world was filled with complete doofuses?  Or that there might be something wrong with her?

butternut squash orzo

I made this squash orzo risotto one Sunday last month and it was so delicious and pretty that I wanted to try to get a good photo - and the sun was so strong so I took the dish out to the back porch in the sunshine, snapped a couple of pictures that I didn't crop the rugs bits out of, and stood and enjoyed the warm February air.

Spring is almost here, and I can't wait!

Snapshot - Bacon and Tomato Jam

Bacon and tomato jam, brie on a toasted bun.  Happy place.

Book Club - American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

2020-7

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In the months to come, Luca will sometimes wish he hadn't squandered these early days of grief.  He'll wish he'd let it pierce and demolish him more.  Because, as the forgetting part takes anchor and stays, it will feel like a treachery. 

Luca can smell the wood of the fire, the cocoa and cinnamon of the chilate, and that's how he knows Rebecca is magical, because she can transport him a thousand miles away into her own mountain homestead just by the sound of her voice.

That night Luca sleeps the best kind of sleep, he sleeps without dreaming.

my favorites in february

here's a list of the things I enjoyed in February - 

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music - 

Havana Meets Kingston

We went to Sunrise Records in the mall and I bought this on impulse, and it was a good choice.

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on Netflix - 

Cheer

I'm sure I'm one of the last people to watch this - so good and sad and uplifting.

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on Amazon Prime - 

 

The Farewell

A beautiful movie about family and love.  Watch it.

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aromatherapy - 

headache relief kit from Saje

The Mister knows me, and thoughtfully bought me this kit for Christmas.  February saw me hosing myself down with the Stress Release Mist and Peppermint Halo.

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ok, let's try this again - 

Really good cookies

I think by now it's obvious to tell my family and I love cookies and especially chocolate chip cookies.  Sure it's nice to have an oatmeal cookie now and then, or a delicious ginger cookie.  Sugar cookies are okay sometimes, and who doesn't love a good shortbread - you can add chocolate to them too!  But we really really love chocolate chip cookies.

In fact, look at what I came across while doing a cookie search on my blog for the above chocolate chip shortbread cookie - a post from 14 - 14!!!!!!!!!!!!  years ago that confirms my love of the CC cookie:

I mean, come on.

So last weekend I was messing around on the internet before I got going for the day and I came across a cookie recipe that sounded really good - Bakerella's Major Mini Chip Cookies.

I deviated from her recipe by not making them giant size, and I didn't have any mini chips, so mine were regular sized delicious cookies jam packed with tons of delicious chocolate, and what could be better????

Book Club - Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

2020-6

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Someone else’s opinion of you is none of your business.

Comparison is the death of joy, and the only person you need to be better than is the one you were yesterday

Our words have power, but our actions shape our lives. 

Work treats - Almond Joy Cups

Work has been very busy and stressful lately, so we put together a little group to bring in weekly treats for a month or so for a little pick me up.  

I was worried about what to pick because this is a larger group than my usual core work group than I bring treats for, and this larger group included vegans, gluten frees, AND gluten free vegans.

But right away I found a recipe that I'd saved on Pinterest that I would likely not have made otherwise because it's coconut heavy which is not a favorite of The Grandfather and one of my core group at work, AND it is vegan and gluten free, hooray!

These Almond Joy Cups are actually pretty easy and only 5 ingredients - coconut, maple syrup, coconut oil, almonds and chocolate!

I made a test batch for friends and family to sample and it was given the thumbs up, so I made 3 batches for the group with the help of The Mister, and the "help" of The Girl.  The Boy was waiting in the wings in case I needed another tester.

I added a pinch of salt and an extra splash of maple syrup to the coconut base and I liked it.

The treats were well received at work and I miscounted and brought in an extra 2 so, whoops, a bonus for the hard working cook!

Book Club - The Book of Gutsy Women by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

2020-5

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"Here's to gutsy women.  May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.  And may we thank and celebrate them."

"If you hear the dogs, keep going.  If you see torches in the woods, keep going.  If they are shouting at you, keep going.  Don't ever stop.  Keep going.  IF you want to taste freedom, keep going."  Harriet Tubman

"Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may chose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday.  You can't be what you can't see."  Sally Ride

Why are women's celebrations of hard-fought victory so often treated as unseemly when there is absolutely nothing wrong with them and so much that is right?