Swiss Chocolates

 

We splurged and got these expensive Swiss hazelnut chocolates from Laderach at Yorkdale mall.  250G was about $40 Cdn.  They hand out free samples and that was our undoing.  

One of my sisters who makes her own chocolate wanted to see the hazelnut cut in half, curious to see how much they roast theirs.

Wednesday Memes

 

On Tigers

 

Sharing an interesting fact on Tigers for you today.

Sprouted Grain Sourdough

 

Husband M got a loaf of sprouted grain sourdough bread from the supermarket the other day.  It was so soft and delicious.  I was not familiar with sprouted grains.  You can see the ingredients on the photo.

Sunday Smiles - Enroute to the Cayman Islands

 

One of my sisters shared a photo she took enroute to the Cayman Islands last month (pictured above). It inspired my painting (4 1/2" x 7") on a reworked canvas in acrylic paint:

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles. Unfortunately SITAR is cancelled this week.

On Dolphins

 

Sharing an interesting fact on Dophins for you today.

Friday Art - Viola Davis portrait

 

Welcome to Friday Art!  Nicole is hosting FFO Challenge Face today.

I took a screenshot of actress Viola Davis at the NAACP Image awards on TV last month, I thought she looked great and happy to win her award!

I decided to draw her portrait ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in acrylic and watercolour pencil.

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

Almond Crisp Cookies

 

One of my sisters sent me an instagram recipe for almond crisp cookies and I decided to make them. We enjoyed them.

2 egg whites

3 tbs sugar

1 1/2 tbs melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbs flour

1 c sliced blanched almonds

Mix all ingredients. Spread mixture evenly onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Bake 320 F for 30 mins rotating the tray half way while baking.

Cut into slices and cool.

Wednesday Memes

 

Brie on Sourdough

 

We had some  brie cheese in the house so I made this yummy breakfast one morning, brie on sourdough.

Cottage Cheese Avocado Brownies, 2 versions

I got these recipes from frostyrecipes.com but there are a lot of pop ups which make the recipe difficult to read so I put them here for you with my adjustments.  Both versions are good, the 2nd version is a bit sweeter with the use of chocolate chips.  I would make the 2nd version again.

Version 1

Version 1

 

1 ripe avocado smashed

1/2c cottage cheese

1/2 c cocoa powder

2 eggs

1/3c syrup

350F

In a blender mix avocado, cottage cheese, eggs cocoa powder, syrup

I poured into a 6 1/4" round pan (sprayed with Pam flour)

Bake 25 min or until a toothpick comes out clean

Version 2

Version 2

1 c cottage cheese

1 ripe avocado mashed

1/2c cocoa powder

1/2 c syrup

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking powder

pinch salt

1/2 c choc chips (optional)

350F

 In a blender mix avocado, cottage cheese, cocoa, syrup, salt, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, salt. Fold in choc chips if using.

I used a 6 1/4" round pan (sprayed with Pam flour).

Bake 50 mins or until toothpick comes out clean

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Penguin rescue

 

Sunday Smiles

I drew some emperor penguins ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil for SITAR.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.

Ramen dishes

Tonkotsu

 

fried chicken

Tonkotsu black

Customize your order

It has been years since I tried a ramen dish.  We went to Sansotei Ramen restaurant, they have a number of locations in the city.  We had a couple of Tonkotsu ramen dishes along with an order of fried chicken.  You can customize your order requesting how salty you want your ramen dish, choose  your noodle thickness and texture.  We just ordered regular everything.  It was delicious, a simple classic formula that has worked for centuries I imagine.

Friday Art - Amaryllis Faces

 

Welcome to Friday Art. Here are some amaryllis faces in watercolour pencil ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

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

On bananas

 

This is an interesting chart, I use the very ripe for banana breads, cakes.  

Wednesday Memes

 

Hello Kitty Bags

 

My sister and her husband are travelling in Asia and are now in Japan.  She sent a photo of these 'Hello Kitty' bags she saw in Kyoto. I am wondering about that one that looks like a plant.  Why?

Oh sorry Elkes noticed it is just a decorative plant in the middle!

The unbloomed amaryllis

 So on March 20 the first day of spring I was being overly efficient and decided to cut the spent bloom off my star amaryllis plant, only to realize I also cut off an unbloomed stem!  My only choice was to wait to see if the cut stem could still bloom after I placed it in a vase with water as pictured.  I was mad at myself

So here it is on March 22nd, two days later.  I think it will bloom fully! 

March 24th:

March 25th:

March 27th:

Here it is in full bloom! Hooray!