VEGAN DARK CHOCOLATE CANDIES

 I decided to make two kinds of dark chocolate candies today. I think I am perfecting my tempering of chocolate. I made dark chocolate with pecans inside in the shape of a shell. Then I made dark chocolate stars that had vegan cherry pomegranate jam inside. These are my favorite. When I bite into them the jam just oozes out. This was a fun experiment. 

I did my Orencia shot last night. I know it is too soon to feel better. I also did my B12 shot for the first time in a few weeks and I think that made me feel better today. It will be a short term fix but I felt better today and that is a step. I wasn't so tired. I am still really sore and I have painful joints but I didn't want to fall asleep all day. Each step is a step!

I took Lucky on a long walk today since it was a nice day and I had some time between meetings. Then this evening I worked on my tax prep. I am almost done. 

Until tomorrow...

VEGAN NO MILK CHOCOLATE CANDIES

 I decided to use the new candy molds I got for my birthday today. I used the vegan milk chocolate to make little filled candies. One dozen were filled with golden raisins and the other dozen were filled with peanuts and a touch of sea salt. They are like larger Raisinettes and Goobers. They taste so darn good. As you can see the they are in the shape of smiley faces and roses. 

I made these in between work meetings. Lucky went to the park so I had more time alone. That was my whole day.

The pain level is not receding. It is bearable but not fun. I forgot what this type of pain felt like. I think this is my body letting not get too comfortable. I had pain prior to this flare cluster but not in 20 years.  

I did not get to do my Orencia shot last night because I received an unexpected phone call that threw me off my plan. I am planning on it tonight. 

Until tomorrow...

GOING BACK ON ORENCIA TODAY

 I am going to go back on the Orencia today. I am hoping it will stop the pain I am having in my: hands, wrists, hips, feet, legs, and forearms. I am over feeling like this and I know it will end soon but I want it to end sooner than soon. Ha ha. 

So fingers crossed this works. 

Today was Lucky's 13th birthday. I got her a cute scarf for the day. She was happy that on her walk she got to see some folks she hasn't seen in a long time. She also got some treats from me. 

I didn't get to cook today. I had work and a foster meeting. Then birthday girl stuff.

Until tomorrow...

VEGAN BOX DELIVERED

 Today my vegan box was delivered. I signed up for a vegan subscription box last month. The box comes once a month and includes items like chips, chocolate and food items. This month it included: Pioneer Chips, Pine Pollen Lemon Raw White Chocolate, Blakes Seed and Fruit Bar, Bakery on Main White Chip Raspberry Swirl granola, Nairn's Chocolate Chip Oat Grahams, Oskri both the Coconut and dark chocolate coconut bars, Nut pods creamer, Longieve protein crumbles, Drizzilicious salted caramel bites and Miso Good. Plus, we helped two sheep!

 I already tried the coconut dark chocolate bar and it tastes like a Mounds bar. 

It was a big birthday day today for two people in my life so I had lots of birthday greetings to do. 

Other than work, that was all I did today. 

Until tomorrow...

NOT A FUN DAY

 Today was not a fun day. After eating breakfast and taking a bath, I sat down and started on my tax prep. I am more than 1/2 way done. This year is easy since I didn't really do anything, that helps. 

I rearranged a bookshelf in the kitchen and moved some cookbooks around. Then I took a plastic container that I had and put some of my baking items in the container and put the container on the bottom shelf of the bookshelf. I am working really hard to organize all these new and exciting baking and cooking items. I am tired of having them sitting out and getting in my way. I believe in having a place and keeping it in it's place. 

That was my whole day. No walks no fun. I did throw the ball for Lucky in the house. She loves doing this. She is really funny when we play this game. I throw the ball and she has to run after it. She slides on the floors. She gets confused about where I throw the ball. She is learning that she needs to return the ball to me and drop it. This has taken years to teach her. She really wants to keep that ball to chew on. I think I have dis-proven the adage that "old dogs can't learn new tricks".  I also have been teaching her to go to the kitchen when she really wants to go hide. She is a smart girl.

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWO HUNDRED TEN OF COOKING COURSE

 I had such big plans for today but not too many of those plans came to fruition. I wanted to finish the chocolate dessert that has been taking up real estate in my fridge for a week and I did do that. I wanted to start my taxes but I did not do that. I wanted to run the dish washer and wash the dishes and I did that. I wanted to do a load of laundry and I did not do that. I wanted to take Lucky on a short walk and I did that. So I got some of my wants done. 

I finished the chocolate dessert cup done finally after 1) the whipped cream dispenser didn't work and I had to get a new one shipped to me and 2) the store didn't have any vegan soy cream to make the recipe. I tried another way to make the chocolate espuma but it didn't seem to work so I bagged the recipe and made coconut chocolate pudding instead. It looks fine but it isn't as light and creamy and I didn't get to use my fun new gadget. 

The bottom layer is a chocolate "biscuit" like a cakey layer, then the next layer is the chocolate pudding and then chocolate crumble. The crumble is my favorite because it is chocolate but not too sweet and crunchy. 

I gave one chocolate dessert cup to my neighbor and have some left for some other folks. This is the last chocolate dessert for a while. I never thought I would be a little sick of chocolate.

They just announced the next chapter in the cooking course and it is American Cuisine. It should be interesting to see what Europeans think is American Cuisine.

Until tomorrow...

PAD KRA PAO FOR DINNER

 Today was so great. Lucky returned to walks with the dog walker. I had three hours of peace and quiet. I love my dog but she has gotten so needy since the lock down. But a lot has happened in her little world since lock down: her best friend died, her mama is suddenly around ALL the time, she spent a whole year only going on walks with the dog walker, people had their faces covered and that was confusing, and mama has been around all the time. Now some times mama goes out without her and she doesn't understand why she is left behind all alone. Before she was left behind with Happi. Lots of transition. She is now two years older. 

I ended up having a two hour meeting but I also got to have the bird (Sunny) out of his cage for a little bit (I can't do that with Lucky around), I cleaned Sunny's cage and I ran the Roomba. 

It was a productive day. I made Pad Kra Pao for dinner. It has tofu, mushrooms and I added broccoli. I made udon noodles to eat with it. It was really good and filling. 

Until tomorrow...

CHOCOLATE PUDDING IS MAKING ME FEEL PRETTY GOOD

 We got rain. Not much but a little and may get more tonight. I know for the rest of the world getting rain is no big deal but for us getting rain is always a big deal. If we don't get rain in the winter, we have to ration water in the summer. That sucks so much. So rain! 

Lucky and I went for a walk between the rain. We had to make it fast because we were expecting a package delivery. 

I was only expecting the book I bought but I also got some lovely baking pans from my brother and sister-in-law and family. I also got a box of goodies: homemade jam and a bag from someone else. 

My book is all about Chocolate. It is such a beautiful book. It shows how to make all sorts of chocolate goodies and chocolate creations. I am in awe. I can't wait to make some of them. 

It was another slow day of trying to feel better. Now that I am off the antibiotics, I hope I will feel better quickly. Meanwhile the chocolate pudding is making me feel pretty good.

Until tomorrow...

VEGAN CHOCOLATE PUDDING

 What a day?! I waited all day to get my food delivery so I could finally finish my chocolate dessert. The delivery arrived and the one ingredient I needed (and the whole reason I made the order) was not in the order. So I can't finish the dessert. Well, maybe I can but not with the same ingredients. The chef says I can make due with a combination of other ingredients. I guess I will try tomorrow. 

So today I made Vegan Chocolate Pudding. It was super easy and so delicious. I used a combination of a few recipes and made my own pudding. 

I took Lucky for a walk and she did not limp one time. I told the dog walker she is cleared to go with him on Friday. I can't wait. She has been driving me crazy. She has so much energy that she needs to burn off. 

Until tomorrow...

SURPRISE GARDENER VISIT

 Today was a day of surprise. My gardener called to see if I wanted him to come and fix my drip system. My drip system had one of the thingys come off and when I turned it on the water shot into my neighbors yard. He came by and fixed my system and weeded the whole yard. Since the last rain the dreaded clover popped up again. I know he told me to spray it with vinegar but with my sore hands there was no way I could spray my whole backyard with vinegar. The clover was everywhere again. The gardener brought his sweet pit bull named Veronica and she stayed in the backyard while Lucky stayed inside. I thought Lucky would go crazy with another dog out back but she didn't even seem like she noticed. I think having a doggie daycare a couple houses away has made her immune to dog noises in the backyard. Those doggie daycare dogs are always barking at her and she just ignores them. The backyard looks great!

I spent some time inside working on the kitchen. Since I moved everything out of the kitchen due to the ants, I rearranged everything when I put it back. I now have a breakfast area where I have my tea pot and toaster oven. Then I have all my baking equipment on my main counter. This will allow me to finish the few desserts I have to finish and move on to making bread. I need space to make bread. 

I made a Chickpea, Kale Tomato Soup tonight. It is so delicious. It was supposed to be made with fire roasted tomatoes but I like it better with regular tomatoes and some sriracha. It is just the right amount of spicy. 

My neighbor came by to get his cookies and his review is "DAMN THOSE ARE DELICIOUS. 3 gone already." That was 2-hours after he picked them up.  He was touched that I designed them with his college logo.

That was my whole day. 

Until tomorrow...