Tag Archives: cooking

My week of gratitude

20 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in community, education, Food and Cooking, Health, pets, reading, therapy, Warm fuzzy

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We just passed through Canadian Thanksgiving.

I took my usual vacation so I could extend the gratitude, times for reflection and enjoy me some cool autumn temperatures.

We had a mixed bag of weather but that didn’t affect the memorable moments during various family gatherings.

autumn colours Gatineau Hills

Camp Fortune ski hill and fall colours

Accomplishments:

  • Succeeded with an argument-free, three-night, four-day visit from a sibling;
  • Tasted several new, healthy dishes – even helped make a batch of Keto freezer cookies;
  • Learned an exciting new recipe;
  • Avoided tourist-y crowds in Gatineau so we could see the fall colours of the Gatineau Hills (been there, done that);
  • Attended a fund raiser event that supported medical research plus the love of reading. Came away with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a bag-o-books;
  • Went for morning walks when it wasn’t rainy and dark;
  • Only had to use the Ottawa public transit bus service twice;
  • Read, relaxed and got in lots of afternoon naps! They are SO underrated.
autumn path 2019

A lightly carpeted path in the park

autumn trees and waning moon

The waning moon accompanied me on my morning walk

autumn moon tree

Tickle, tickle moon!

I spent no personal time on a Windows computer. Yay! 

windows 10 feature update blue screen

Your PC will restart several times – and make you guess if it does!

I got to spend more time with the Tabby Cat.

tabby cat being cute

Now it’s reality time on a Sunday evening. I feel like a kid on a school night, having not finished my homework and dreading the next day. I have a job. I have a job. I want a job closer to home! 

What are you thankful for? 

T

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So I forgot to add garlic

16 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Food and Cooking, Health, pets, photography, therapy

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It has been a relaxing day.  Pretty relaxing week off too.

I am learning from the resident felines to not get worked-up about house cleaning and all those unglamorous domestic duties.

cats lounging on couch

Cats know how to relax

It’s a rainy week but that’s fine.  I am still enjoying the happy times from our Thanksgiving weekend.  I have nowhere to go until tomorrow so I decided to get in some comfort food cooking.

Okra stew simmering

Okra stew simmering

Surely like thousands of other Canadians, I was getting tired of turkey leftovers so I made some sticky rice and okra stew.  I added in leftover sliced onions, cooked potatoes and some ripening tomatoes. Funny thing is that in my relaxed, “don’t give a hoot” state I forgot to add the garlic!

It still turned out to be a tasty comfort food treat.  Two out of three humans agree. One hasn’t tried it yet.  

Bowl of Okra stew and sticky rice

Okra stew and sticky rice serving

See below for the basic process and improvised recipe.  It’s quite easy and likely contains some of the needed vitamins for your winter-prepping body.  I don’t know about the sticky rice though.  That stuff is sticky and likely full of carbs.

I don’t usually add potatoes.

This stuff tastes best out of the pot.  Reheats don’t receive as many approving grunts.

 

 

Interesting situation… One of my resident youth became frustrated with seeing the baskets of nicely sorted dirty laundry, lined up and waiting on my bedroom floor for the past three days. She was also running out of clean clothes so initiated the process this morning.  Good!

Another young person went out in the rain to apply for a part-time job then picked up some much-needed groceries. Good!

I think they’re tired of seeing me lazing about, watching my NetFlix shows (hellooo, Jean-Luc) and spending hours online.  Hmmm.  

My devious plan is working. 

That Okra Stew – pictures and a rough recipe: 

ingredients for okra stew

Ingredients: Chopped okra (slimy. ick), diced tomatoes (preferably canned and skinned), chopped onions (not necessarily sliced like these leftovers) and chicken bouillon. Chopped, cooked potatoes are optional.

 

cooking pan with ingredients

Take one non-stick pan or stewing pot, put on element at medium-high. Add a splat of butter. Sauté onions and brown the potatoes.

Adding in an unsolicited plug for Stokes and the awesome Remy Olivier pan I invested in a few weeks back.  At the behest of a resident young person who also shares in cooking tasks, we threw out Teflon pans and pots that were flaking.  Non-stick, teflon pans are not good for your health.

adding chopped okra to the stew

Add the chopped okra. Stir and stew on medium heat for about 15 minutes.

adding diced tomatoes to okra stew

Add the diced tomatoes and chicken bouillon (mixed in a cup of warm water first).  Stir.

simmering okra stew and rice

Cover the stew and simmer for about 20 minutes. Cook some rice (optional). Young resident prefers sticky/sweet rice with her okra stew.

simmering stew in pot with clear lid.

Let the okra stew simmer for about 15 to 30 minutes. Works best using a pot with a clear lid.

Serve.

Kick back and watch a few more episodes of Star Trek, the Next Generation.

Thanks for dropping by.

Stay warm, dry and cozy. 

T