Year: 2020

Interesting Shares From Around the World

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I have to tell you – it’s been a bit confusing for me living in San Francisco, and watching the news unfold around the world on how everyone is handling or defining the ‘going back to normal.’  While we remain in masks in California, other’s seem to be removing them, social distancing – based on photographs – is not standard either.  Among other differences, I don’t need to list here. So, where do we stand if parts of the world are abiding by the new lifestyle, and others aren’t? Who is handling anything the right way anymore?  That’s been on my mind recently.  How about you? How one scientist suggested a questionable cure for COVID-19 – read here The malaria drug that is being tested around the globe – read here  Why are more forests still being chopped down – read here Do you believe air pollution exacerbated COVID-19 – read here What’s on your list of interesting topics to read?

Food: Dinner Tonight Calls For Soup

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I woke up in the middle of the night craving creamy mushroom of sorts and with that in mind wondered what I can create for dinner tonight, since it’s been unusually cold/rain/windy in San Francisco. Also the fact, my mother told me – no more cooking with beef. So, here we go – we are having this creamy, wild rice, chicken, mushroom soup for dinner, with sliced toasted Italian bread and a glass of wine for me naturally. INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 1/2 cups dry wild rice blend 6 carrots, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 2 medium shallots, chopped 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2 cups fresh baby spinach or kale 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk 1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus more for serving kosher salt and black pepper 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted 2 pounds mixed mushrooms, roughly torn 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 4 cloves garlic, smashed zest from 1 lemon  {continued} {Featured image and recipe full credit} What films have you seen lately that you recommend?  

Decor: High Rise Masterpiece

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Hello everyone! Welcome back to Monday. Hope you had a lovely-enough weekend. I did nothing the entire weekend, except nurse a few really serious mosquito bites inflicted upon my body at the battle of my backyard on Wednesday last week.  Even through repellent, those annoying beasts feasted on me as if they’ve suffered a famine of sorts during COVID. So, as always, I am easing into Monday – with some beautiful decor style from a high-rise apartment in New York – which by the way, if I were to live in a glass-house such as this one in San Francisco, this is what it would look like. What style of home do you prefer?

Food: Pasta Carbonara The Easy Way

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Pasta Carbonara, by far, is my favorite pasta dish. But I’ve always been a bit intimidated in making it at home for fear of not setting the eggy sauce correctly. So, every chance I get, while in a traditional Italian restaurant in San Francisco, or Italy 😉 – I order the dish – leaving the bountiful flavors in the hands of the chef. But, in light of our situation, and my fear of order take-out right now, I am attempting to make this dish for our Friday night dinner following this easy recipe. Ingredients and Step-by-Step: Go here 3 Tbsp. kosher salt, plus more 4 oz. guanciale (salt-cured pork jowl), pancetta (Italian bacon), or bacon 2 oz. Parmesan 4 large egg yolks 2 large eggs Freshly ground black pepper 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 lb. spaghetti, bucatini, or rigatoni  {more} https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/simple-carbonara – step-by-step video For Dessert: Panna Cota  This recipe of Lemony Panna Cota, with Blackberry or in my household, raspberry sauceessert – Panna Cota

Food: Some Ideas To Share for The Foodie At Heart

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I dabble in cooking, and some baking-only when it doesn’t require too much work. But mostly cooking, while always cooking for new recipes to make the meals exciting. Although, my mother last night told me, she doesn’t want me to buy chicken, or beef, or make pasta anymore, when I asked her for her grocery list. So I asked what would you like to eat? She said, something with chicken and I batted my eyes in confusion. Anyway, so while searching for different takes on the same old, I came across some helpful topics to share: Featured images and article full credit here

Food: Grilled Sandwich Based on What You Have in Stock

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So, I buy loads of eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower for the lunches we’ve been preparing in my household. Such as eggplant sandwich, or melted cheese and cauliflower bake, and of course broccoli as a side dish with dinner.  But I realized, while doing an inventory of what to shop for next, that I have four loafs of brioche bread (while stocking up) I need to do something with. Some for french toast in the morning, and the rest for this wonderful suggestion – for dinner tonight – except I’m not a fan of brie, so we’ll be using white cheddar instead or just sliced mozzarella. INGREDIENTS 1 cup marinated jarred artichokes chopped 1 cup chopped broccoli florets 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/2 cup shredded fontina or mozzarella cheese 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tablespoon dried thyme) 1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried oregano) 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes kosher salt and black pepper 3/4 cup basil pesto homemade or store-bought 6 ounces Brie, rind left on, and sliced extra virgin olive oil for rubbing 8 slices challah, sourdough, or ciabatta bread 1/4 cup honey   {more} Featured image and recipe credit here

Easing Into Monday Morning

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Hope everyone had a sweet Mother’s Day.  I spent the day with my mother, like normal since early March. But it was nice. I made crepes, which she totally appreciated it. Then did some ‘office work’ for her bills and paperwork, helping her yet again, relearn banking and her favorite quicken to maintain her finances, she says, which always gets me laughing.  Then we prepped a roast to be pressure cooked-yummy-for dinner, and I baked her a cake. So all in all it was grand, minus a few disagreements naturally. The weather wasn’t the best to do more – like my normal walks across San Francisco or enjoying a homemade sandwich in a park.  So I stayed in Saturday and did much editing. This week will be a busy one for me – so I figured I’d ease into Monday with some cool articles of interest: How do you ease into a Monday?