Some good things to know about on occasion, or perhaps now much more than ever, to help us emotionally cope with our current environment. Although I have adapted to this lifestyle, now going on nearly two months, some days I find myself very on edge. And then I turn to the positive, to help me through the most difficult of times. What feel good article do you want to share? Oh and by the way – Prince Philip {featured image full credit}
No, I am not pregnant. But on Sunday, I did down a package of cookies – five pieces to be exact, still wanting more. But I forced myself to stop. They were store bought, and since we have no more at home, and I just can’t see myself standing in line at grocers for the packaged version, I searched for a chocolate chip cookie recipe. But then one thing led to another, and pickles was the only thing missing from our burgers last night – so this recipe for making pickles at home, was another thing I felt the need to share, in case you are in the same dilemma on this Monday. On another note, have you considered coloring books or coloring apps online? The book versions make great gift ideas for Mums and Grandmas for Mother’s Day. At least, this artist thinks so. {featured image full credit}
I went for a long walk across the city, through neighborhoods I assumed would be less crowded. But I think I’ve seen more humans walking about the city during the social distancing then I used to in the past years, doing the walk. It was the most invigorating feeling to see families walking together, talking, and while wearing masks, keeping their distance. I prepared lunch for myself, thinking I might eat while I walked, since the park I normally go to with these walks might be closed. Instead, there were signs at every entrance to the park, simply asking that we keep six-feet apart, but take our time to enjoy the park. So I sat on a bench, ate my sandwich and grapes, and stared out to the views of the ocean. The most interesting gatherings in the park were families, or friends, who met up, and sat six feet apart on blankets, and enjoyed catching up in person. I suppose this was a good idea or one that’s been happening for the duration? I …
My mother marvels at my style of cooking, cutting and even baking. To put it bluntly, she doesn’t understand why I do the things I do. So we talk about it of course, while I nearly slice my finger off, from all the stress of her scrutinizing my technique. But you know what? At least I’ll have many fond-ish memories of this time together in the kitchen. I need to stop and explain here for second. Cooking in our culture is a ritual, and each recipe is managed in the most artistic of ways to create a meal – where my mother, her mother and I’m sure her mother before – would remind the impatient generations afterwards that ‘a woman must cook with her meal’ – which I never agreed with as a young child or a teenager. But now I get it. Although, I still prefer quick methods and easy recipes to follow. BUT! since we are on lock down and I’ve chosen to revisit or refresh all of our cultural recipes during this …
Since some of us have been forced to home-school our children, I think we may find ourselves sometimes cringing at some of the assignments tasked to them. For example, me with math. You might feel the same about science, or history, or even language-whatever it may be in your part of the world. So it dawned on me, to start this series, where I share some refresher facts from around the world to seem just maybe smarter than usual to our kids. What do you think? I mean, no insult to anyone, I’m just trying to have fun here. So if you want to play along, then by all means do so, otherwise feel free to swipe left. 🙂 Here’s today’s topics of learning Hey was this fun or it’s a hard pass? {featured image full credit}
In my efforts to remain positive and a little distracted from what’s become the norm these past few months, I want to share some interesting articles I found online which might be fun for trivia with the household, or zoom-chats across the globe. Call me a nerd – I don’t care 🙂 And if the above is a pass – then consider this 10 positive habits to adopt right now {featured image source}
What’s for dinner is the topic of discussion every morning when I run upstairs to my mother’s house and help with breakfast. She says good morning, I say hello, and she says, so what’s for dinner tonight? I mean I know you are working from home and I don’t want to bother you, but what are the plans for dinner? and I look at my watch. 🙂 Then I go downstairs to my home-office space and search frantically for a creative meal that she would enjoy also. Because the last thing I want to hear when I ask her how dinner was, is – oh its fine – meanwhile I’m having seconds. So, for dinner tonight – we are having this recipe for eggplant Parmesan – did you know male eggplants are better tasting then the female since they have less seeds? I didn’t know, but learned it now. Also technically, my eggplant Parmesan will be more of an eggplant lasagna – since I will be adding pasta-lasagna in between the eggplant and cheese layers. …
Some ingredients are hard to find at the grocery store, so I’ve been improvising – to create meals I’be been craving from evenings out with friends at a local Asian fusion restaurant. Mind you, these are not my recipes, but ones I find online with the ingredients and ease of prepping ideal. Because for me – time is valuable – and spending too much time over a hot stove takes away that much time from the eating ritual in my home – with spirits and loaded conversations – fun ones of course – since who wants to be brimmed with anxiety over a meal? For dinner tonight – I will make this chicken and garlic noodle dinner with a few minor adjustments – due to shortage of ingredients or some I don’t care for. INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons corn starch or flour 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper 3 tablespoons sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce – I will use Worcestershire Sauce, since allergic to …
I am hoping that in between the responsibilities, we are tapping into our creative sides, or hope that is what we are doing – to ward off all the negative energy from bad news and beyond, which is crippling our minds and lifestyles on a whole new level – then the health impact of COVID-19. But if we haven’t yet, it is time to start an online art class, an online wine tasting gathering, an online book club, film review, gardening club, learning to sew, learning to dance, yoga, and well you get the just of it. And if you happen to have a shed or space on your property to consider a guest house or home office – then you might appreciate this wonderful build-out. And by the way I bought a trampoline because I’ve always wanted to overcome my fears of jumping around on one 😉 Featured image full credit and source
Hello Everyone! I decided to take a mini break from my computer this weekend, and instead spent more time in the kitchen learning our traditional cooking from my mother. A task I find myself needing more of these days – mostly because of the bonding we seem to have taken for granted in the past – being so busy with our lives. But really – don’t you wonder now, why we were so busy or too busy for some things that seem to have become the more important of things since COVID-19? Besides the cooking and sharing of stories with mom, I watched a few films which I feel the need to share since it brought up more questions. Like… The Humming Bird Project – touches on the greed factor in how businesses are run in the U.S. (in this case) where the race to build the fastest high-frequency fiber optic cable is at stake . The interesting part about this film was the many times human morals and behaviors were questioned and each time, …
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