Tales From Twisty Lane: Share Your Cup Thursday

Showing posts with label Share Your Cup Thursday. Show all posts

Monday, January 1, 2018

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

This is the coldest start to the New Year that Houston has seen in years.

I've come to grips with the knowledge that most of the tropicals

will be no more.

Some may return from their roots, but.....

I'm determined to read more in 2018.

I started early with some holiday reading and,
in Neil Gaiman's New Year wish -- some fine reading!

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
is book one in the Winternight Trilogy.
Perfect for cold weather reading!
Set in Northern Russia where winter lasts almost all year.
A fantasy/history mix filled with folklore.
Wonderful!

I finished The Man Who Invented Christmas before the holidays.
I didn't mention it because I loved it so much I gave copies as gifts.
Didn't want anyone to dash out and buy a copy!
I wish my English teachers in high school had Standiford's ability to bring
Charles Dickens to life.
I learned so much about Dickens, Christmas,
history of publishing and copyright.
A great edition to my collection of holiday books.
I understand that it's also a movie.

I'm currently reading
Endurance, A Year In Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly
and it's a winner.
Almost impossible to put down.
Here's to science and the human desire to explore!

I'm going to settle down with tea in my new mug and read.
Isn't the mug pretty?!
I have a dear friend who gives me a red and white mug every year.
She always finds the perfect mug for me.
This one is a little oversize -- the more tea the better!

I watched the Rose Bowl Parade --
can't remember missing a year -- a real tradition.
Books on one side, knitting on the other
and football soon to start!

Wishing YOU well and much joy in this New Year.
May it bring peace to all.

Keep In Touch

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Soups On!

We are finally getting a few coolish days here and there.
That means Soup's On!

This is a recipe a friend of mine posted on FaceBook.
She posted it several different times
and each time said she loved it.
Mouth-watering good and habit forming!
Not to mention easy.
Sounded perfect to me.
Nice and light before the heavy eating on Thanksgiving day!

Simple ingredients

I finished a bowl full before I knew what hit me!

I think the coconut milk gives it a rich taste.

Golden Cauliflower Soup

(This is the original recipe as posted by Mel Joulwan's at Well Fed.)

INGREDIENTS:

1 large head cauliflower (about 3 pounds)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 large carrots, diced (about 2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 cups beef broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup canned coconut milk

OPTIONAL GARNISHES:

extra-virgin olive oil + ground nutmeg
minced parsley + chopped walnuts
toasted, slivered almonds + ghee
minced dried dates + chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

1 Wash and core the cauliflower, then coarsely chop. Set aside.

Heat a large, deep pot over medium-high heat, then add the coconut oil. When the oil is melted, add onions, carrots, and garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook until they’re soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped cauliflower and cook until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.

Add the broth and water, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, covered, until the vegetables are very tender, about 45 minutes.

Working in batches, carefully transfer the cauliflower and some of the broth to a blender or food processor. Cover the top with a dish towel to protect yourself from splatters, and purée the cauliflower until smooth, adding more broth as necessary.

Pour the purée back into the soup pot, then add the salt, pepper, and coconut milk. Stir to combine and cook over medium until heated through. Serve immediately with garnishes, or store covered in the refrigerator. To reheat, warm the soup gently over medium-low heat until bubbly.

NOTE: (From Mel)
I tried adding herbs and spices during cooking, but got the best results when I kept the soup plain and added seasonings at the end as garnishes as recommended above. I also experimented with chicken broth, beef broth, water, and different combos of all three for the base of this soup; the hands-down winner was beef broth. The versions made with chicken broth (and celery) ended up tasting too much like gravy. (If you’re looking for a healthy gravy you can ladle over chicken or turkey, cut this recipe in half, add a stalk of celery with the carrot/onion and use all chicken broth for the liquid.)

*

My notes:

I'm thinking about adding a little green chile

(my New Mexico background)!
It needs a little "kick" to go with the "rich".

Adding bacon would make it more like a chowder.

I used my "motor boat" (immersion blender).

Easy enough to make this vegan by using vegetable broth.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and some yummy soup!

Thursday, November 9, 2017

It's The Month To Give Thanks

November is the month we give thanks.

Today I'm going to give thanks for the new restaurant just across the street!

Once, a restaurant named FRED'S was located in the space.

FRED'S was in this location long before we moved into our house.
It was a neighborhood hang out.

They served Italian food.

Then Fred died, his family took over for awhile,
but ended up selling to folks who

didn't pay their rent and the space went empty.

It's now ECLAIR PARIS, FRENCH BISTRO AND PATISSERE.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The interior is very different from the past.

Light and Bright.

So far, I've only been there for breakfast and

the Eggs Benedict are yummy!

I met a friend for breakfast and she tried the Avocado Toast.
Another vote for YUMMY!

Then there are the pastries!
Oh, my!

I have tried the Chocolate Croissant and the apricot tart.
YUM!

I'm going to have to watch how many times I visit ECLAIR.
Too many times and I might not be able to fit through the door!

I've also noticed that the employees are recognizing me.
They are telling me what their favorite menu items are.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Pumpkin Patch

I have my own Pumpkin Patch.
They were a lot of fun to crochet.
Now, I just have to keep the kitties from playing with the smallest!

Now that my Pumpkin Patch is finished,
I can start thinking about Halloween.

My favorite part about Halloween -- the cooler weather that usually arrives!

The origin of Halloween can be traced to Samhain (pronounced sow-in, which rhymes with cow-in), which was an ancient Celtic festival that was celebrated to mark the end of harvesttime and the beginning of the new year.

The ancient Celts believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest during Samhain, thereby making it a good time to communicate with the deceased and to divine the future.

Samhain is Gaelic for “summer’s end,” a day to bid good-bye to warmth and light as day length shortens.*

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN*

Following the Roman Empire’s rule over Celt-occupied lands in the 1st century A.D., the Romans incorporated many of the Celtic traditions, including Samhain, with their own.

Eight hundred years later, the Roman Catholic Church further modified Samhain, designating November 1 as All Saints’ Day, in honor of all Catholic saints. This day was formerly known as Allhallowmas, hallow meaning to sanctify, or make holy.

All Saints’ Day is known in England as All Hallows’ Day. The evening before, October 31, is known as All Hallows’ Eve, the origin of the American word Halloween!

In later years, the Irish used hollowed-out, candlelit turnips carved with a demon’s face to frighten away spirits. When Irish immigrants in the 1840s found few turnips in the United States, they used the more plentiful pumpkins instead.*

*From The Farmers Almanac

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Monday, October 16, 2017

Pumpkins

I've been making pumpkins.

I ordered a kit from Mary Maxim.

Five crochet pumpkins.

I've finished two and started the third.

Pumpkins, like other squash, are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 BC, was found in Mexico.

As one of the most popular crops in the United States, 680,000,000 kilograms (1.5 billion pounds) of pumpkins are produced each year. The top pumpkin-producing states include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.

When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, steamed, or roasted. In its native North America, it is a very important, traditional part of the autumn harvest, eaten mashed and making its way into soups and purees. Often, it is made into pie, various kinds of which are a traditional staple of the Canadian and American Thanksgiving holidays. In Canada, Mexico, the United States, Europe and China, the seeds are often roasted and eaten as a snack.

And, today is Oliver's Gotcha Day.
He's lived at Twisty Lane one year today.
So glad you are here little guy!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Monday, October 2, 2017

I've Done The Taste Testing

October is here.

That means the heat and humidity is coming to an end.

And, Pumpkin everything has taken over.

I walk early each morning
and noticed one of my favorite neighbors had decorated for fall.
I call it "subtle elegance"!

Sometimes, even here near the Gulf of Mexico where green is king in Autumn,
Mother Nature does her own Autumn decorating.

Pumpkins at home.

The acorn candle is new this year.

I've been drinking Teavana Chai Tea

from my Autumn mug by Susan Branch.

Dreaming of cooler days.

I can always depend on Trader Joe's for yummy pumpkin everythings!

Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Petite shortbread cookies with Pumpkin Spice or Yogurt icing.

I'm happy to report that I've done the taste testing for you

and the cookies are yummy.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Willy Nilly Friday

Thursday, August 24, 2017

You Are Never Too Old to Blow Bubbles

I've been a little grumpy.

First, Trader Joe's discontinued their Wasabi Mayo.
I love TJs Wasabi Mayo.
Apparently, I may have been the only one who did.
But if that is the case, why did they carry it for the last four years?
Thankfully, I have an unopened jar in the pantry.