Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - 'Pockets' Theme and Oatmeal breakfast

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!   

The theme this week is 'pockets'.  Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  It is what came to mind when I first thought of pockets.

For the Dinner date, I am showing my steel cut oatmeal breakfast.  This is a quick cooking type, very easy to make.  Simply boil 3 cups of water, add a cup of quick steel cut oats and a 1/4 tsp of salt.  Stir regularly for 5 - 7 minutes.  I top it with a tablespoon each of brown sugar, milk and cream.

Wednesday Memes

 

Some free samples

 Some free samples arrived in my mailbox the other day.  (Sorry, I photographed the French language  side of the coupon). It was some candy, and a coupon for a free ($5.49) package of gnocchi sticks. Here is what it looked like cooked.  You just have to saute it for 5-6 minutes in a bit of olive oil. It doesn't look like a lot of gnocchi does it?   It tasted fine.

My elevated pasta sauce

 I thought I would share how I elevated my favourite supermarket pasta sauce the other day.  I always brown the ground beef in olive oil, add the pasta sauce and simmer covered for about 20 minutes.  This time, I stirred in a cup of pasta water, fresh sprigs of oregano, a handful of grated parmesan cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice in the last 5 minutes of cooking.  I believe it made a difference!

I have been making a lot of pasta sauces from scratch this year, and I must have picked up some tips in the process.  It is always great to learn new things.

Sunday Smiles - Green Tomato Salad

 My friend S had given me some green tomatoes from her garden, they didn't seem to be ripening so I decided to make a green tomato salad thinking it would be healthier than fried green tomatoes.  It is great, and if you don't want to eat too many tomatoes, you can add a few pieces to your regular salad.

I used chopped fresh mint, dried parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder and  olive oil in my dressing.  It is always to taste.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

A new eyebrow pencil

 My sister who lives in Miami left her eyebrow pencil behind when she stayed here last month.  My daughter told me the brush end is for combing your eyebrows as you blend the pencil in, ok!  I can either return or keep it, my sister has others.  I don't wear makeup often.

Friday Art - Great Blue Heron

 Welcome to Friday Art!  I believe this is a great blue heron, I saw a photo in a Canadian Wildlife magazine, but it didn't identify the bird.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Landscape Theme and Italian Style Swiss Chard

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  This is my Landscape ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") for our theme this week.

For the Dinner Date, I am sharing my Italian style swiss chard recipe with you.  I have made it twice now and love it!

4 cloves garlic minced

1/2c lemon juice

bunch of rainbow chard ( stems cut into 1/2" pieces, leaves cut into 1 1/2" pieces)

1/4 c wine (I use port wine as I usually have that on hand)

2 tbs olive oil

1 tbs unsalted butter

sprigs of basil chopped

1 tsp dried parsley

1/2 onion chopped

1 tomato chopped

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp salt

1/2c grated parmesan (I use grano padano)

1/4 c water

Saute onion, garlic, salt, basil, parsley, red pepper in olive oil and butter.

Add tomatoes.

Add wine, simmer 3 minutes

add chard stems, saute for 10 minutes until tender

add leaves, lemon juice, parmesan and water.  Saute for 10 more minutes until leaves are wilted.

Enjoy!

Wednesday Memes

 

Do you remember

 Many may not remember cash registers like this one, but I do!

Brussels sprouts and cheddar cheese soup

 I got this recipe from Jan at the Low Carb Diabetic for Brussels sprouts and cheddar cheese soup.  Here is my slightly modified recipe.

3 tbs olive oil

1 onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

900 ml low sodium chicken stock

1 package of frozen brussels sprouts warmed up

4 tbs light cream

1 c grated cheddar cheese

1 tsp salt (or to taste)

1/2 tsp pepper 

heat oil, saute onions, add garlic.  Add sprouts, stock and bring to a boil.  Stir in cream, cheese, salt, pepper.  Simmer until cheese is melted.  Blend with an immersion blender.

Gillena's Sunday Smiles - The Real Picture

 

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Fun Quiz and Gochujang

 Here is a fun quiz for you today, it worked for me how about you?

I impulsively picked up this Korean hot sauce at the grocery store.  I had seen a recipe on Instagram using it on a quick canned tuna dish.  I am sure there are lots more recipes for this, I should go looking.  Let's hope I use it!  Do you ever do stuff like this?

Friday Art - Wedding Card

 Daughter L's friend got married back in August.  We ended up being invited to the wedding due to some cancellations, we felt lucky.  I painted this card for them which they loved.  The friend said she was happy we were able to attend.  We have known her since she was 4 years old and fortunately the girls kept in touch all these years.  Their recent weddings have brought them closer together, being bridesmaids in each other's wedding parties.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Smiles and Air Fryer Pork Chops

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  Our theme this week is 'SMILES'.  Here is my 'Apple Smile' ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

And here are my air fryer pork chops.  First I marinated them with some olive oil, tomato paste and spices such as onion powder, garlic powder, salt, dried oregano, pepper.  Then I preheated the air fryer at 390F or 5 minutes.  Then I did the larger chop for 12 minutes, (6 minutes per side).  The smaller chop was 10 minutes, (5 minutes per side).

Wednesday Memes

 Got the one above from Iris. 

Pretty Fall View

 A few weeks ago I looked out the kitchen window and saved this pretty view for you!  

Daughter L sent me this photo of all the yard waste this house in our neighbourhood had as she walked  by on the weekend.  She was visiting this weekend.  

A new Mexican restaurant

Horchata Drink

Mexican beer

guacamole appetizer

corn taco dishes

 We went to try a new to us Mexican restaurant called Los Gyros.  It was very busy and popular.  My family loved it.  It was not my favourite but I did enjoy  my horchata drink.  Some of the food can be very spicy.

Gillena's Sunday Smiles - Pretty Arrangement

 I liked this pretty flower arrangement at the Medical Imaging clinic I attended this past Friday.  I went for a bone density test.  I also go there for digital mammograms every couple of years.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Remembrance Day 2023

 Lest we forget.

Friday Art - Monkey Orchid

 Welcome to Friday Art! I did a monkey orchid for you today.  It does look like a Monkey's face doesn't it? Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Trains and Beet Kale Salad

 Welcome to Rains's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  The theme is 'Trains' and here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  

For the Dinner Date, I made this kale beet salad.  It was delicious!  I had to remind myself that beets can be eaten raw.  It adds a nice crunch to the salad.

bunch of kale leaves thinly sliced

2 large beets or 3 small beets peeled and cut into strips

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1/3c apple cider vinegar

1 tbs honey (or 1 tsp sugar)

1 clove garlic minced ( or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)

1/2 c olive oil

1/2 c slivered almonds (optional)

1/2 c crumbled goat cheese

Make the dressing by mixing salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, olive oil

Toss beets and kale together, mix in dressing, add in goat cheese.

Here is the link I used for this recipe.