STRESS IN JAWBONE

Two weeks ago I started getting this pain in my jaw well not really my jaw but in my gum line and jawbone. I thought this was maybe another cracked tooth or a cavity. So I started to get a little bit nervous I was going to have to do another run to the dentist and I was not happy about that. I wore my mouthguard diligently and I got some Orajel and put it on the spot.

Then last week it suddenly occurred to me that it was stress. Stress that was causing me to have this pain because I was grinding my teeth all night long and this was causing me to have pain in my gum line and my jawbone all the way up to my eye. So what I needed to do is get rid of the stress.

Now around this time we all have been having stress. It was around Thanksgiving, it was right after the election, Christmas is coming, and every time you turn on the TV all they're talking about is Covid infection rates rising. I had one added bit of stress and that was I was investigating solar panels and the added cost of that. I decided that the thing I needed to do was try and get rid of as much stress as possible. The first thing I did was I stopped the solar panel discussion. Then I began trying out things like yoga. Thanksgiving was then over so that was dealt with. I decided I'm not going to stress about anything about Christmas so I've taken that out of the stress bucket. Magically the pain in my mouth went away. It was not a cracked tooth or a cavity, it was stress. It is amazing to me what the mind does when you don't even realize it or when you're asleep and how your mind turns through things that you're not even aware of. My mind goes through stress, it works things and causes me to grind and grit my teeth. This is why I wear a mouthguard. But it's all gone now and the stress has flown away.

Until tomorrow...

CHERRIES GARCIA ICE CREAM

My day started with no wifi. Ugh. Then it came back on. Then off. Then on. Then off for hours. Double Ugh. 

My friends kid came and took my bird, Sunny, to get a pedicure, wings clipped and beak clipped. I also needed some food. The kid was excited to show me his new used car. While they were gone, I cleaned Sunny's cage (it needed it) and then retook a photo for the Christmas card. The photo I took a few days ago turned out to be a tad out of focus. This photo turned out much better. 

When the kids returned we talked for over an hour. I was at the top of my stairs and he was at the bottom about 15-20 feet away. 

Then I made the first part of the Cherries Garcia Ice Cream and got it in the fridge. Four hours later I got it in the ice cream maker. I put the cherries in and then the chocolate chunks. The cherries made it a pink color. It tastes good. I only had a quick taste. 

It's still soft and will harden in the freezer. The cherry juice made it softer. It was only about 1/2 teaspoon.  It will taste terrific.

Until tomorrow...

THREE MONTHS OF EXERCISE ANNIVERSARY

 This week was the first week of me exercising for 45 minutes five times a week.  Biking for 45 minutes is not that much of a difference from 30 minutes.  I have been biking between 8 and 9 miles for 45 minutes.  Walking 45 minutes on a treadmill is a little harder.  It is very hard on my hip joints.  By about 40 minutes I am almost limping.  Then it takes a few days to recover.  I had the same problem when I started walking 30 minutes so I need to get used to walking longer.  

I think the longer I work at exercising and increasing my time and speed will help.  I need to just stick with it.  I just finished working out five times a week for 12 weeks.  That is 3 months!  I have not worked out for three months continuously since college when I was on the swim team and I swam every day!  We won't talk about how long ago that was.  

I have been doing various types of exercise.  I think that is the trick.  I bike on the stationary bike, I walk on the treadmill, I walk to a walking DVD that has a number of different types of walks, I do Zumba, I do floor mat work, I do yoga, I meditate, and I hoola hoop.  The diversity helps keep it fresh.  I have other DVDs and VCR tapes I haven't tried.  I just need to keep it up even after the Covid shut in time.

Until tomorrow...

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTMAS SHOWS

 I took a break from cooking today after hours of cooking yesterday.  I spent hours watching some TV before I started on mundane household chores.  Then I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes.  I feel like after all the food yesterday I should have ridden much longer.  Although I did skip the dessert yesterday.  

I was excited when I got my delivery of toilet paper today.  I never thought getting a delivery of toilet paper would elicit such excitement.  I think I have enough toilet paper to last through January if I conserve.  Another thing I never thought I would be saying.

I spent my evening watching old Christmas animated shows.  It is so sad that network TV is taking these shows off television.  These shows were good and had a message about being good to each other and putting others first.  Something I think this world needs right now.

Until tomorrow...

DAY THIRTEEN COOKING COURSE & HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 Happy Thanksgiving!  While being alone with my dog and bird, I decided to mostly cook today.  

I first made Bean Cream Soup.  It had a few glitches but it tasted really good.  I have plenty for a few days.  I am excited to eat it tomorrow.

This photo is a Bouquet Garni.  I never made one before.  It is where you put all the herbs and vegetables wrapped in a leek and tied with a string.  Then you put the whole thing in the broth or soup while you cook it and hang/tie the string to the pot so you can fish it out later.  This one has carrot, celery, parsley, basil, sage and rosemary all tied up in a leek.  I would have garlic too but I can't have garlic.  

Later in the day I made Pumpkin Risotto.  By then family and friends were calling and I kept having to stop to take phone calls so it probably didn't turn out the way it should have.  It was really good but there were also issues.  I used Arborio rice instead of the rice they said (it was supposed to be a substitute) but it took longer to cook.  If I make it again, I will prepare for the longer cook time.  I had two servings it was so good.

I watched my favorite Thanksgiving movie: Free Birds about some turkeys who go back in time and try to stop the first Thanksgiving from eating turkey.  

Overall, it was a nice day.  I know some were worried I was alone but I am alone most holidays and I am okay with it.  I got to zoom with some family members and had phone calls with others.  

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWELVE COOKING COURSE & SOLAR POWER

At 7:30 am I was woken by a doorbell ring from Amazon. My package of juniper berries and agar agar powder arrived. I was so happy! I will be able to cook the items I want for Thanksgiving. 

Agar agar powder is a vegetarian gelatin. It is used in a bunch of the recipes in my cooking course. I had never heard of it before. 

My brother B set up a meeting with a solar power company today. I wanted to put in solar power years ago when I did my construction but solar panels were super expensive and very large. I was discouraged from putting them in at that time.  The meeting today was informative and now I have to make a decision. I really want solar power to save the environment and to save money. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY ELEVEN COOKING COURSE

 Today was supposed to be a full day.  I had groceries being delivered, a meeting and the first trial day of yoga. The groceries came on-time and everything was in the bag!  So exciting.  The meeting was postponed for a few weeks at the last minute and I ended up having the whole afternoon free.

I used the time to plan for the next few weeks of the cooking course.  Participating in this cooking course takes a significant amount of planning.  I have to make sure I have the correct equipment and supplies.  Then I have to buy the correct ingredients. Some of the ingredients are not available in the supermarket so that means I have to special order them from an online store. Sometimes the ingredients so not arrive for weeks so I have to do logistical planning to make sure I don't get ingredients that will spoil when I don't have the other ingredients.  So planning is a major part of this course.  Today I made a list of the items I need for the next few chapters that way I can start to plan what ingredients are duplicates and what ingredients I can get ahead of time.  

I was supposed to get a delivery of juniper berries today but I got a notification that they were delayed in Austin, Texas.  I am hoping they will arrive tomorrow so I can cook with them on Wednesday or Thursday.  

Then I tried a free yoga class.  I said tried.  I have never been able to do yoga.  It is too hard on my wrists, hands, hips, ankles, and knees.  I know people always say that yoga is good for people with RA but I don't see it happening for me.  Just sitting on the floor is so incredibly painful.  Then I can't lay my hands flat on the floor so I have to put the weight on my knuckles and that is not good.  The transitions from one position to another were so hard, I can't move my joints that fast.  I did it for 23 minutes and then I gave up.  Oh, well.  I did increase my stationary bike riding to 45 minutes from 30 minutes.

Until tomorrow...

DAY TEN COOKING COURSE

 I spent some time in the kitchen today.  First I made a dish from my cooking course then I made ice cream.  I made Potato & Leek Soup.  I used the vegetable stock I made last week and put in some potatoes and leek and voila I had a soup.  It tastes fantastic!  I had a little for lunch and a cup for dinner.   

Then I made chocolate ice cream.  I mean chocolate ice cream.  It is SO fudgy and chocolatey.  It is like eating a brownie in ice cream form.  

Until tomorrow...

KEEPING IN TOUCH

 I spent most of the day zooming with friends and on the phone with a friend.  I am trying to connect with people more.  During the early days of Covid-19, people were so quick to call and talk and zoom.  Now eight months later, people have gotten back to their lives and the calls and zooms have slowed or stopped.  But some of us are still here, locked inside.  Even though we may not have much to say, it is nice to hear from people.  I am doing more to connect with people.  

I send postcards and notes.  I post my cooking pictures.  I text friends and family.  I try to keep in touch.

It is important to keep in touch.

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINE COOKING COURSE

 I made Vegetable Stock today.  I always thought "why bother? I can buy it in the store."  But now I see why.  The vegetable stock I made is so much tastier!  It was so easy to make in the crock pot.  I just put the ingredients in the pot and set the timer.  When it was done, it smelled so fragrant.  

Here is the finished product.  It made quite a bit of stock.

Now I will be able to make other items in the cooking course.  The next thing I am going to make is the Potato & Leek Soup.

Until tomorrow...

SILVER SPARKLY CHRISTMAS TREE

 I had the beginnings of another headache today so I had a rest instead of cooking.  

There were three deliveries today.  My new (and free) Google Nest Mini showed up.  I got it for buying something else months ago.  I was excited to get it not because I need another thing to play music but because Echos don't really answer many questions.  Echos can tell you the time and the weather but they can't answer Google type questions.  The Google Nest Mini will be great for those questions.   I am happy about this free gift.

Then my prescription arrived.  Then my Christmas tree arrived.  Yup, I bought a Christmas tree.  I love a real Christmas tree but this year this will not be possible.  I have a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree that I have used for years but it is getting old and worn.  

This year I decided to go old school and get a silver Christmas tree.  I always wanted one and I had this one in my shopping cart for a year. Well, finally it went down in price and I bought it.  It is a 6' silver sparkly Christmas tree.  It comes with its own stand and Christmas balls.  

So, it will be a disco Christmas this year.  I love a sparkly Christmas and if there was a year that needed to be sparkly, 2020 is the year.  I can't wait to post a picture of it.

Until tomorrow...

DAY EIGHT COOKING COURSE

 I made Pappa Al Pomodoro - Tomato and Bread Soup today.  I took the Pomodoro Soup and cooked it with bread and made the soup.  Then I made grilled cheese to eat with it.  This was supposed to be my lunch yesterday but I didn't feel well yesterday and the last thing I wanted to do was cook.

Now doesn't that look like a terrific and satisfying lunch!?  It was so good.  The grilled cheese was so gooey and the soup was tart and tomatoey.  Perfect for today

I finished the project I was working on for months today.  I feel like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.  It is such a great feeling.

Until tomorrow...

FIGHTING A HEADACHE TODAY

 I had a headache today.  It is weird that since Covid-19 I have had few headaches and migraines.  I guess it is probably the ability to sleep late and eat when I want (probably too much).  I don't know what brought it on today.  Maybe the weird weather?  Maybe the change in food I am eating with the cooking course? Maybe it is the weird sleep since Lucky has been sick?  Who knows? I took a nap for a few hours and I felt better but not well enough to cook today.  I held off because I felt like I didn't have enough energy.

Tomorrow I will resume the cooking course and make something wonderful.

I am waiting for a delivery of tea lights.  They are special tea lights that I saw online.  They are battery operated and they are on a timer.  I can set them to twinkle for 6 hours and then they turn off.  I had an idea this year that I would decorate my house with an old idea.  They are called luminaria or farolito
is a small paper lantern (commonly a candle set in some sand inside a paper bag) which is of significance in the U.S. state of New Mexico in southwest United States at Christmas time, especially on Christmas Eve.  I thought I would make my own bags with cut outs and use the battery operated tea lights with sand.  This will be a fun art project.

I also bought some tea lights for the inside of my house.  I love real candles but sometimes candles are dangerous and I worry about setting the house on fire.

Little Lucky is still not eating normally.  She didn't eat breakfast and ate only some of dinner.  She went with the dog walker and he said she was acting normal so I am not too worried.  

Until tomorrow...

DAY SEVEN COOKING COURSE

 I decided I wanted to make Vegan Pomodoro Sauce today.  It was a cold and rainy day here and I was in the mood to curl up on the couch and not do anything.  Lucky's tummy is better today so I got to sleep in.

To make the sauce I cut up the tomatoes and put them in the pan.  I let them cook and then I blended them.  I tried to press the cooked tomatos through the sieve to remove the seeds but I don't have one.  I have a strainer but the mesh is so closed that nothing went through.  I ditched the strainer and just left the seeds in the sauce.  

The sauce tasted delicious.  It was my first time making pasta sauce and I see how easy it is.  I guess I won't be buying sauce in a jar anymore!   

I decided to put the sauce on the polenta from last week.  It made a wonderful, tasty lunch.  

Until tomorrow...

VERY UNHAPPY PUPPY

 Poor Lucky woke me up this morning at 5 am with a tummy ache.  Then she woke me at 6 am.  Then at 7 am.  Then I got up at 8 am.  She was crying and whining and walking around.  She went upstairs and downstairs.  She was a very unhappy puppy.  

Yesterday she was having a hard time breathing again.  A few months ago she had a upper respiratory infection and had to be on antibiotics for months.  She hated the antibiotics even though I had them flavored with chicken and bacon.  She didn't fall for the masking of the flavor even with a stuffy nose.  She sniffed it out if I put it on her food and hated it when I shoved it down her throat.  She started having a hard time breathing again and I gave her the antibiotics again yesterday.  It upset her stomach overnight.

I called the veterinarian this morning and he suggested I give her antibiotics again (already done) and he said she might get an upset tummy (already has one).  He didn't seem worried and said to call back in a week or two to give an update.  By the time she returned from the dog walker she was ravenous and ate all her food.

Because I spent my whole morning taking care of the dog baby, I had to skip my cooking course today.  Call it a sick day taking care of my dependent.  Tomorrow I will work on Pomodoro tomato sauce. 

Until tomorrow...

VR TRIP TO GREECE AND TURKEY

 I took a break from my cooking course today.  I needed a break.  I also needed to cook some food to sustain me for the week.  I don't always make enough with each cooking course item to have enough for a few meals.  I made Vegan Curry Butternut Squash Soup with Kale.  I made this before and it is one of my favorites.  It is really good when it is cold and rainy which it is going to be this week.  It has a kick with some dried red chili flakes.  I had 1/2 of a butternut squash leftover from making that delicious Moroccan Stew a few weeks ago and it needed to be cooked before it went bad.  

I was supposed to do a Zoom meet up but something went wrong with the invitation and I got frustrated and decided to skip it.  I miss my friends but sometimes the frustration is not worth it.  I don't think the person sending out the invite knows how to do it.

Instead I spent sometime with my VR Glasses.  I explored Kavala Castle in Greece and Damlatash Cave in the Alanya district of Antalya Province, in southern Turkey.  I love seeing the places through my VR Glasses but today I got a bit dizzy.  I think I need to limit looking at the ceilings of the sites.  The view from the Castle in Greece was amazing with blue waters and made me want to visit there.  The caves were amazing but I got a little dizzy looking all around.  When we were kids we went to many a cave while camping.  I learned all about stalagmites and stalactites during those trips.  I loved going in the caves as a kid.  We only worried about slipping on the wet rocks and bats getting in our hair!  I remember it being a lot of fun.

Until tomorrow...

DAY SIX COOKING COURSE AND HAPPY DIWALI

This is a Mushroom Salad from my cooking course.  It was an easy recipe to make but it was so flavorful.  It tasted like a salad that you get at a restaurant.  I think the lemon zest and the fresh basil made it pop.  It was also very refreshing.   You can't really see it but there are tomatoes under the mushrooms.  There are tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, basil, lemon zest, olive oil, salt and pepper. 

I also made Coffee Ice Cream with my ice cream maker.  I finally finished the other two ice cream flavors I made a few weeks ago.  I decided Coffee with Chocolate Chunks would be delish. The coffee ice cream didn't come out as I thought it would; it tastes like an iced coffee with lots of milk in it.  Not exactly what I was going for but still good.  Next time I will add much more instant coffee.

Happy Diwali!  I read this great quote about Diwali today: Diwali's meaning is finding positivity in the moment, and being grateful for health and happiness.  I think that is a great reason to have a day.  I have been working on having a Diwali-type day every day.  I am trying to be positive through this experience and with my gratitude journal, I try and find gratitude in big and little things every day.  

I tried to watch a webinar on Stock Options today.  I am horrible about most things financial.  I know nothing about the stock market.  I thought I would learn.  I am here to admit I fell asleep 30 minutes into the presentation. Probably before.  At 30 minutes is when I woke up.  I was SO lost.  Strike price, OTM, Long...  It is worse than having to learn hockey terms.  I gave up and left the webinar.  

Until tomorrow...

DAY FIVE COOKING COURSE

 I spent my morning doing some reading for my cooking course.  I learned about Italian pasta and pizza and the history of Italian food.  Then I planned my next cooking adventures.  I have a refrigerator full of vegetables and I need to make sure I use up the veggies that will spoil first.  

I put the pumpkin risotto on hold while I use up more delicate vegetables.  I plan on making a Mushroom Salad to use up the mushrooms from the Polenta dish.  Then I have a bunch of tomatoes that need to get used so I am making Pomodoro Tomato Sauce that I will also use to make soup and ragout.  

It rained this afternoon.  It rained!  It is supposed to rain all night.  It has been so long since it rained for a sustained length of time.  I am not a fan of sustained rain but I have kind of missed it.  I will take it for a night.  I know the weeks of rain are coming and with Covid-19 lock down it is going to be hard with dark days and days of rain.  I think soup and homemade pasta are in order!  Just the thing for a cold rainy day, don't you think??

Lucky went to the beach in the rain today. Isn't she cute?

Until tomorrow...

DAY FOUR OF COOKING COURSE

 I understand my excitement for the cooking class is not everyone's cup of tea.  We are all going through a transition in our lives that we did not see coming.  I certainly did not think that in 2020 I would spend a better part of the year inside my house.  My year did not start out so great: I had my fall in December 2019 over the holidays which bleed into the New Year with me having to decide whether I was going on my long planned trip to Florida to spend New Year's Eve with family.  I finally felt well enough to take the trip and had a really good time until I got the call that my mother was in the ICU.  That sent the end of the vacation into chaos and concern.  I got home and my contract ended with my client (thankfully) but then I had no long term clients.  Happi got sicker and I had to transition her to pet heaven the week before Covid-19.  Then I got pneumonia and had to enter an emergency room at the beginning of the Covid-19 scare. 

That was the first THREE months of 2020.

To say that the next eight months have been significantly less exciting has really been a relief.  I really could not keep up that pace.  

This is why having something in my life like this cooking course is exciting for me and I understand probably not as exciting for you.  I am able to cook food that is interesting and out of the ordinary.  Yes, I could do it from random Youtube videos but with this course I am doing it as a class.  It has brought some happiness and cheer into my life even though I am still inside eight months later.  It also gives me something to look forward to for the next six or eight months.

On that note, today I made Polenta with Mushrooms.  Funny thing, I never made polenta before.  I always bought it from the store.  It is really easy to make.  I used corn meal ground from a mill near my home.  It made the polenta very rustic and not so creamy.  I could not find the mushrooms they used in the recipe but as the course says, substitute when you have to.  They still tasted great.

I ate it for lunch and it was very tasty.  The mushrooms made the dish.  I have more polenta for future meals.  I found out polenta can be frozen for short periods of time and reheated.  

I watched a Youtube presentation about jellyfish that was super interesting.  I am finding more and more webinars and presentations that are educational and interesting and creative.

Until tomorrow...

DAY THREE COOKING COURSE

I made Sweet Potato Gnocchi today.  The gnocchi was not as easy as the man in the video made it out to be but I can see that if I made it 10 times I would be able to do it faster.  First, I had to figure out the proportions since my sweet potato was the size of a Big Mac.  Really it was the size of two sweet potatoes.  I cut it in half and added three small potatoes (for starch).  I worked out the problem with the food processor, I think I didn't put something in all the way when I mashed the sweet potato and the potatoes.  Then came the putting my hands in mash.  Let me be honest, I am not a fan of getting my hands dirty.  Plus, I had to keep adding flour to the mash and how do you do that if both your hands are full of sweet potato mash??  I sorted that out and kept going.  I got the mash to become a ball of manageable mash and started rolling out the mash to make the gnocchi.

Aren't they adorable?  A little "rustic" they say but looks aren't everything.  Taste is most important.  I made a bunch of these little guys.  Then it came time to dunk them in boiling water.  Next time I need to put the water on while I am cutting the gnocchi.  I let the gnocchi get warm and they started to stick together and they all didn't come out looking like gnocchi!  Remember taste is most important!  

I boiled them all and ate my first batch.  The other batches I either saved for tomorrow's meal or I froze for another day's meal.  I can only eat so much gnocchi at once.  It is good but heavy.  

Here is Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Walnut Pesto.  It was very good.  I really gobbled it up after cutting and cooking all those gnocchi.  I could taste the sweetness of the sweet potato and the tangy flavor of the walnuts.  This will be another meal later this week and for a few weeks in the future!

I am really enjoying this cooking course.  I have to be careful of my hands though.  I can't have too many "hand" intensive things in a row.  The gnocchi was very hand intensive with the rolling and cutting.  I think I will have to space out which recipes I do to not irritate my hands from my rheumatoid arthritis, especially now with the change in the weather.  It has been in the mid-50s this week which is unseasonably cold here.  Pacing myself is key.  I think two things: 1) the good food is good for my diet and whole body and 2) doing something I enjoy and am passionate about is good for my positive outlook.  A positive outlook during Covid-19 is key to staying healthy in mind and spirit.   

It is also my niece's birthday today and I got to sing Happy Birthday to her with the family over the phone.  They sent me photos of her special cupcake and the most beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece that she made.  Happy Birthday R!  I love you so much!

Until tomorrow...

DAY 2 COOKING COURSE

I realized that if I am going to do this cooking course I would have to schedule my day each day to make sure I had enough time to work, exercise, and work as well as all my other tasks such as eating, taking care of animals, showering, leisure activities, education webinars, and medical appointments.  Oh, yeah and sleep!  I want to make sure that I don't waste this chance to learn as much as I can during this course.

I decided to make Walnut Pesto today while I waited for my grocery delivery.  Walnut Pesto has very few ingredients: walnuts, basil and oil are the main ingredients.  I made it and while I made it I realized that I need to clear off my kitchen counters.  My counters have become cluttered during the pandemic with all the extra stuff that I bought and have showed up.  I need to find homes for things.  Maybe it is time to clear out some of my cabinets.  

The walnut pesto turned out pretty well.  I made it today because I am planning to make gnocchi tomorrow.  The walnut pesto would be so fantastic on it.  The pesto tastes like a nutty dressing to be honest.  It is the kind of pesto I can eat since I can't eat garlic.  

I received groceries today so I can make a few actual recipes in the next few days now that I have the ingredients.  

I am currently on a webinar about Ruth Asawa. Ruth was an American sculptor.  Her family immigrated from Japan and she was born in the USA.  Her family was interned during World War II.  She became an artist after being told she could not become a teacher because she was Japanese.  Her art is shown at the major art museums.  

Ruth Asawa Wikipedia

 It is so interesting to learn about new things.  I am learning so many new things that I would have a hard time attending in person pre-Covid-19.  I hope the world learns from this remote world.

Until tomorrow...

FIRST DAY OF THE COOKING COURSE

 I put time aside this morning to review the course materials.  Last night I saved all the course materials and shopping lists from each course.  I am trying to be organized so when the course is over I will have all the materials to review and revert back to when I need them.  The course teaches how to cook vegan:

• Brunch
• Cheese
• Fine Italian Pastries
• German Classics
• Healthy and Easy Plant-based food
• Italian
• Japanese Sushi and Ramen
• Korean
• Mouthwatering Desserts
• Pastry Essentials
• Raw Food Essentials
• Raw Food Fundamentals
• Swiss Chocolate and Sweets
• Thai
• Vietnamese

Since the course is a  self-directed, on-demand course I can skip around depending on my time commitments and items I have available for cooking in the house.

I think I am going to be hung up the most by the grocery situation right now.  Today I can only make a couple of things in the course because I have so few items from the grocery list in the house.  I look at a recipe and I have all but one item.  Or I have all the items but I don't have the necessary tool to make or cook it.  So there will be some hurdles along the way that will have to be overcome.  Now I am glad I went with the year long course instead of the 6-month course.  

I will take photos and show the finished product whether the dish is a winner or an epic fail.  That is all the fun with cooking, trying something new.  

I was going to make Nut Milk today since that looked easy. I went to the cabinet and found that I only have a small bag of walnuts.  I used to have a large quantity of almonds and pecans but I guess I ate them.  It is obviously time to stock up.  I saved the walnuts for the Walnut Pesto I intend to make another day.

Now I am starting out with a dish that I have all the ingredients: High-Fiber Quinoa Bowl.  Not fancy but I have to start somewhere.  It is in my comfort zone since I make grain bowls a lot for lunch. This time I can't cheat and use bottled dressing and leftovers.  I am going to follow their recipe and see how where it takes me.  I am also going to make enough for two meals so I have lunch for tomorrow.  Part of what they teach is to plan ahead.

This grain bowl was fantastic.  I ate it hours ago and I am still not hungry.  It filled me up and tasted great.  It had carrots, kidney beans, lima beans and quinoa. Then there is a dressing that has tahini, lemon, basil and apple cider vinegar.  I thought the apple cider vinegar would be horrible but it isn't at all, it gives it a zing.  I made extra quinoa so I can have another grain bowl tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

STARTED THE COOKING COURSE

 Well, I decided to proceed with the cooking course. I tried the 7-day free trial and I really enjoyed the videos.  Today was the day I was supposed to try one of the recipes but something happened like a transformer blew and I lost electricity for 2.5 hours.  Once the electricity was turned back on, I had to catch up on the other items such as resetting my clocks and taking care of laundry (that was midway when the electricity was cut) and cooking seemed not as exciting that late in the day.  

The gardener came today and cleaned up the backyard. It looks wonderful.  We did not get to install the drip system because the timer is not working.  I opened up the box and plugged in the timer and nothing happened.  It just did not work.  I will have to call the manufacturer tomorrow and see what they can do.  Then once I can get the timer fixed/replaced I can have her come back and put the drip system in.  But the yard looks great for the winter and we talked about plans for the Spring.  We are going to remove a plant that has gotten to big for the space and replace it with a flowering plant that is more indigenous and water tolerant.  We are also going to plant some plants in the sand pit where the pond used to be.  I was told  when I filled it with sand that nothing would grow there.  Well, weeds and small plants keep growing there so we decided that since they can grow there, maybe some sand-based plants can grow there as well.  Such as a type of strawberry.  It would be nice to have some plants in the space instead of just sand.  

Seems that the fireworks are back in the neighborhood.  Folks started shooting off fireworks Saturday night and it has not stopped.  Poor Lucky was never bothered by them much before but these are very close and she is barking her head off with each boom.  I hope it stops soon.

Until tomorrow...

NEW PRESIDENT ELECT

Those of you who know me, or who have read my blog for a long time, know that my being inside because of Covid-19 was exceptionally hard today. I wanted SO much to go outside and join the folks celebrating in the streets. When the election results news broke, I went on my balcony, rang my bell and yelled with everyone else. The celebrating went on forever. 

Then people went down to a meeting place and started dancing and cheering. I could hear them from my home. Then the helicopters came and they circled for hours. I wanted so badly to go out and join them. I found a person who was live streaming so I could watch but it wasn't the same.

I remember when Bill Clinton was elected and how we danced in the streets. Finally, someone was going to do something about the AIDS crisis. Now it is Biden who is going to do something about Covid-19. 

I was sad I was missing out on the celebration but I celebrated in 1992 for Clinton and 2008 for Obama and I am sure there will be another time to celebrate in my lifetime. I am home, safe and I will hopefully be around to see another president get elected. 

Until tomorrow...

THE BACKYARD WINTERIZING IS COMPLETE

 I finished up the disassembling of the backyard today.  I needed to box up the fountain and store it in the new storage closet.  I put away the cushions from the deck bench.  I boxed up and put away the umbrella from my picnic table.  I sorted through the mystery box I found in the new storage closet.  I found party supplies like napkins, cups, utensils and candles.  There were all sorts of leftover handles from my construction project and a missing part from my shower.  I put these items all away and threw away the junk (including a dead spider).  

I then cleared out assorted items I had been keeping on my back stairs.  I needed to make it easy for the gardeners visit tomorrow.  She is coming to install my drip watering system and timer in the backyard.  Then she is going to clean up the landscape.  Get the backyard ready for the winter.  I think Lucky is liking the backyard with no furniture.  She is running around like she is free.  I think it is easier to see if there are predators when the furniture is gone.

Until tomorrow...

DISASSEMBLED THE BACKYARD

 I got up this morning and made Vegan Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala.  I had to leave out the Tofu since I didn't have any but I added more cauliflower and peas.  I haven't fully tasted it yet because it is for tomorrows dinner but it smells delicious.  I am going to make brown rice tomorrow to eat with it.

Once I got the Tikka Masala cooking in the slow cooker, I went outside to disassemble the backyard. First I took apart the hammock frame and put it in the hammock carry bag.  Then I went to the little room under my stairs and cleared it out.  It is an unfinished storage room that I really never thought about before.  I looked at it a few months ago and noticed it had junk in it but it was dry and clean for a room that has a dirt floor and an insulation ceiling.  

I took out a box from the storage room and was shocked by what was in it.  It had a bunch of things I have been looking for.  Months ago pre-covid, I made pizza and looked for the Tupperware container that holds leftover pizza.  I looked everywhere.  It was in this box!  Along with some other things.  I cleaned the storage room out and made room and moved in the now clean backyard tables and chairs.  I will also be putting the fountain (once it is completely dry) in the room.  I have some hot tub items in there also.

Then I cleaned up the backyard and it is now ready for the gardener who is coming on Saturday to install my watering drip system and trimming back the growth.  I am trying to get the backyard ready for the winter and the rain.

After all that, I didn't need to workout.  I was sweating through my clothes and walked 1700 steps according to my watch.

Until tomorrow...

TAKING IT EASY TODAY

I woke up today and my back was a bit sore.  Ever since I took a tumble down the stairs, I have been having intermittent back pain.  I decided to take it easy with the backyard furniture situation for one day and take care of it tomorrow.  I have one more day before the rain comes.

I spent some time watching some cooking course videos.  I learned how to make ramen.  I can't wait to try it.  I ordered an essential ingredient for making vegan ramen and it will arrive in a few days. 

My supermarket delivery arrived this evening.  Once again, no tofu.  I was going to make curry with tofu tomorrow so I will have to rethink that recipe. I got most of the things I ordered so that is a positive.  

Until tomorrow...

ÉLECTION DAY

 It’s Election Day and I decided that this year it was best to stay busy. I cleaned off the stuff in the backyard. I started with the cushions on my deck. I took a brush and some cleaner and scrubbed them. Then I rinsed and set them out to dry.  Then I moved to my Adirondack chairs and drinks table. I scrubbed and rinsed them. I rinsed off my new hammock frame and new fountain. Once everything was clean, I set them in places to dry. It is supposed to rain this weekend so I want to get everything put away before. Last year I didn’t get things put away and it started raining and I had to wait days for things to dry out. 

Tomorrow I am storing the items for the winter. I already took down the table umbrella. Things last longer when I take them down and store them. This year I am planning to clear out a storage area under my stairs that has not been utilized before except for a few things. It is a dead zone with dirt floors but perfect to store tables and chairs. 

I then watched more cooking videos. I am excited to make walnut pesto.  I may have all the ingredients to give it a try. It looks to creamy and delicious. 

I spent the evening watching (and not watching) the returns with my zoom friends. It was fun listening to music and talking.  

Until tomorrow...

COOKING CLASS DECISION

 I have been thinking about doing a cooking class, specifically a vegan cooking class.  I did some research and checked out a few different cooking classes.  I settled on a vegan cooking class yesterday and today I signed up for a free seven day trial.  I spent a hour going through the different chapters and videos.  The cooking class I chose is a six month, do it at your own pace course.  They provide the videos, recipes, instructions and you do the courses and get a certificate when you finish each section.  There are hundreds of recipes to view and follow.  The sections are all vegan: sushi, desserts, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, German, pasta, brunch, raw food, chocolates and more.  So many recipes I have no idea how to make.  I am excited to make gnocchi and sushi.  I will decide this week if I am going to participate in this cooking class for six months.  I am tired of making the same things over and over.  I need some new recipes in the food repertoire.  

Until tomorrow...

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM THIS TIME

 I decided to make peppermint chip ice cream today.  I am not sure why peppermint chip ice cream because I have been talking about coffee ice cream for a week.  I just got a bug this morning to mint ice cream.  I finished the Oreo cream ice cream last night (I ate way too much in honor of Halloween) and wanted to make more.  I like having two flavors in the house.  I get bored too easily.  I really have it down how to make the ice cream.  I have found the cheapest way to make vegan ice cream.  I think I am going to see if my brother can help me figure out the price of a batch just for fun.  I bet it isn't much more than one pint of a Ben & Jerry's.  And I can make what ever flavor I want.  I am getting better at the flavors.  I am trying different combinations.  I think Chunky Monkey is in my future!  I have all the ingredients.  

My peppermint chocolate chip ice cream is the natural version.  I didn't have green extract to make it green.  It tastes delicious and I can't wait to have some.  It will be so refreshing. 

Until tomorrow...