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...