Friday Art - Dinosaur Portrait

 I did a dinosaur portrait for Friday Art.  It is an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour crayon, It looks like a tyrannosaurus, they look like lizards don't they?  This is inspired by Jan's Draw a Dinosaur post back in January.

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

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Clay and Chinese Sticky Rice

 The theme for Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date is 'Clay'.  I did a clay tagine ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

For the Dinner Date, I am sharing my Chinese sticky rice recipe.  It may be easier to just buy it in the restaurants but I thought it turned out to be really delicious.

Based on this recipe

Ingredients

2 c sticky rice (sweet rice or glutinous rice such as Kokuho brand)

6 pc dried shitake mushroom (I used a hearty handful)

2 tbs dried shrimp (I used a hearty handful)

3-4 chinese sausage

3 cloves garlic minced

2 green onions diced

2 tbs canola oil

Sauce (very delicious)

1 tbs light soy

1 tbs dark soy sauce

1 tbs oyster sauce

1/2 tbs rice wine

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp white pepper (can use black pepper)

1/8 tsp salt

soak the sticky rice in cold water for 2-3 hours then drain doesn't seem necessary to do it overnight

Soak mushrooms in hot water for 30 mins. squeeze out and retain water, dice mushrooms

soak shrimp in hot water for 10 mins, retain water and dice the shrimp

soak the sausages in hot water for 3 mins to soften then dice.

Mix the sauce 

In a small bowl, mix light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, sesame oil, sugar, white pepper, and salt. Set aside

Stir fry garlic, sausage, green onion. Add mushrooms, shrimp.

Add the drained rice to a rice cooker.  Mix in sauce and stir fried ingredients. Add the reserved soaking liquid to the rice mixture.  If necessary add extra water but don't need a lot, maybe half an inch of water to cover the rice mixture.  Steam the rice in the rice cooker.  Mix well once done and enjoy.

Wednesday Memes

 

the one above from Grannie Annie.

Baby Shower Posies

 Daughter L will be hosting a baby shower in just a few weeks and I made these baby shower posies to go in bud vases to decorate the tables.  The shower theme is 'Calvin and Hobbes'.

In full bloom

 And here is the amaryllis in full  bloom last Feb 16th.  We were digging out of a major snowstorm that day.  We have learned it is better to shovel several times for the day to lessen the load.  I noticed neighbours helping neighbours, especially if you own a snowblower.  In fact we did help our neighbours too as we do have a snowblower.  The tough part is when the snow ploughs come through and clear snow onto the edge of your driveway.

Sunday Smiles - Aurora

 This is the Aurora captured in Lofoten, Norway, an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Keep Clear

 We have been having a lot of snow this year and it is a good idea to keep these vents around your house clear if you live in a snowy area of the world.

Friday Art - Turtle Face

 This is Jonathan a 192 year old turtle I saw online.  ACEO (2 1/2" x3 1/2").

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

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Favorite Animals and Tofu Dish

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  This is my sister's cat Luna, she is very shy (ACEO 2 1/2 " x 3 1/2").  I thought it would be a good one to put up for our 'Favorite Animals' theme.

For the Dinner Date, I am sharing my preferred Tofu recipe which I may have posted before but it is quick and easy and I use it all the time now.

Ingredients

3 cloves minced garlic

2 green onions diced

2 tbs canola oil

1 block of medium tofu

Sauce

2 1/2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs black rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp chili crisp hot sauce

1 tsp sugar

Cut the tofu into small cubes

In a wok or saucepan saute the garlic and green onions in oil, add the tofu and sauce and stir for a few minutes until the tofu is warmed up.  Serve with rice.

Wednesday Memes

 

got the one above from Iris.

What's new

Daughter L told us about this American Drama Netflix series called Firefly Lane and we have been enjoying this series starring Katherine Heigl.  Gigi told me about his Korean medical drama on Netflix called The Trauma Code.  That is really good too.

In other news we have been having major winter storms this past week, doing a lot of digging out.  Our city seems to be appropriating shopping malls and grocery stores in order to build condos.  It means the traffic will get worse of course.  And where are we to shop.

Cheerful Monk shared  this Instagram video with us that I had to share with you.

Family Day

 It is the long family day weekend.  Daughter L and her husband met us for lunch on Valentine's Day.  We enjoyed lunch at a Japanese sushi restaurant.  

Here are some interesting sushi facts they had printed on a placemat.  It says eating sushi with your hands is not considered impolite, among other things.

It would've been my dear departed mom's 87th birthday today.

Sunday Smiles - Calanques de Piana

 

Showing some art I did, this is Calanques de Piana, Corsica France on cardstock  (2 1/2" x 3").

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Scary Nutrition Label

 One of my sisters scared me with the nutrition facts on one slice of KFC chicken breast.  It has 35g of fat or 54% of your daily recommended allowance.  I suppose it includes eating the skin on.

We had purchased a buy one get one free bucket deal they were running for the Superbowl last week perhaps.  We did enjoy it and and son K and I don't eat the skin but husband M does.  I also love their cole slaw.  We got onion rings instead of fries not that it is any healthier.

Friday Art - Great Grey Owl and Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  Here are some funnies for you, followed by Friday Art.

 And welcome to Friday Art!  This is a quick sketch of a Great Grey Owl, an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  I saw it on my laptop screen saver.

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

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Romantic Dinners

For Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, the theme is 'Romantic Dinners'.  Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

I have some roasted mushrooms and peppers for the Dinner Date.  I love the convenience of roasting vegetables.

 

Wednesday Memes

 

Amaryllis coming into bloom

I took these photos of my 'star' amaryllis coming in bloom this past Friday then Sunday.  The plant has another bud that I am hoping will do the same soon.
 

Freebie - Brisk Ice Tea

 I got a coupon for 12 cans of Brisk Ice Tea in the mail from a sampling company.  This was a great freebie.  It seems Nestle is no longer making their ice tea, so fortunately Brisk tastes great.

We also tried this Coca Cola iced tea called Fuse.  It also tastes good, so it is another alternative.

Sunday Smiles - On Cloves

I did not know that cloves have so many health benefits.

 Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Naan Bread Pizza

 I got the idea from my sister to use store bought naan bread to make a pizza.  550 F for 10 minutes in the oven made a very crispy, delicious pizza.  Husband M opted to have jalapeno slices on his.  I will try garlic naan next time which is what my sister uses.  Another sister prefers homemade crust as it has less additives.

Friday Art - Gentou Penguin

 Welcome to Friday Art!  This is a Gentou Penguin from Antarctica (ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  This penguin came up on my laptop screensaver.

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

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - City Streets and roasted vegetables

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date's 'City Streets' theme!  Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

For the dinner date I did some roasted vegetables (cauliflower, red onions, red pepper).  I added some pickled jalapenos, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper, paprika.  I baked them  in the oven at 400F for 30 mins.  

Wednesday Memes