Wednesday Memes and answers yesterday's quiz

 Answers to yesterday's quiz: Book is different, Leaf vein on left is different, whiskers are different.

Care to try?

 

This was a fun challenge, care to try? I will post the andwers tomorrow.

It should have been simple and quick

 I spent a couple of hours updating our Presto cards (Toronto transit system). We don't use public transit often, but it is good to keep the cards updated as you never know when you will need them.

The first thing was to check the remaining balances, all good.  I noticed that we would have to use 2-step verification within 90 days. That was easy to set up.  The credit card on file had expired so would have to be updated.  I entered the new credit card information and the system wanted to send a text message to our home land line to authenticate the credit card change.  I changed any reference to our home land line, replacing it with our cell phone numbers.  However it kept asking to authenticate by sending a text to our home land line.  I decided to phone Presto.  Of course, I have to answer a bunch of AI questions when I really wanted to speak to a person.  I end up having to try a few more times unsuccessfully.  I decided to try their chat line.  I asked to chat to a person.  That seemed to work, except I got kicked off twice after getting a few responses.  I go back to calling the phone number.  I think I selected an option which AI decided I needed to speak to a real person hurray!  That person was most competent and told me that it was the (Walmart) credit card that was asking for my home land line to send a text authorization.  I was most grateful and figured out that I could try using a different credit card, which she agreed with.  This worked immediately.  I thanked her and said how grateful I was to speak to a person.  She laughed.

The senior years can be challenging, things are changing so fast.  Not to mention, many people don't even have land lines anymore.  I did take my land line off my Walmart credit card settings. 

And after all that, my friend tells me they now accept credit and debit cards at all the Toronto Transit Stations! Christine, get your act together.

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Star-Nosed Mole

 

For Gillena's Sunday Smiles and Nicole's SITAR, I am showing a star-nosed mole based on the fun fact above.  

Overnight Oats

 

I was trying to use up a tub of Greek Yogurt and found a recipe for Overnight Oats which uses a whole cup of it.  It was easy to mix up the ingredients and it is tasty. It can be eaten  hot or cold and you can add fruit to it.  Have you ever made this before?

2 c oats (I used 3 minute steel cut oats)

2 c milk

1 c Greek yogurt

3 tbs honey or maple syrup

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and refrigerate overnight.  

Friday Art - Indian Giant Squirrel

 

Welcome to Friday Art! I am showing an Indian Giant Squirrel ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil.  It is a large squirrel weighing about 3-4 pounds, 10-12" in length.

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

Baked Pork Chops

 

I was happy with these baked pork chops I made using this recipe.    

My family loves breaded pork chops but it is generally unhealthy as it is breaded and fried in oil.  This baked version is a lot healthier as it just uses 5 tbs of oil.

1 1/2 c panko breadcrumbs

6 pork chops 

3 tbs grated parmesan cheese

2 tsp dried Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 450 F

combine oil, parmesan, Italian seasoning, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper in a plastic bag.  Place the chops in bag to coat. Sprinkle remaining breadcrumbs atop each pork chop. Bake on a tray sprayed with Pam flour 25 mins.  Enjoy!

Wednesday Memes

 

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

 

Denise shared this Dump and Bake Meatball casserole recipe that I can't wait to try once I get a package of frozen meatballs.  I love quick and easy recipes.

Beef Stir Fry

 

My neighbour dropped off some vegetables a few weeks ago and they went well with a beef stir fry I made.

I found a good beef stir fry recipe on Instagram and was very happy with the sauce which uses Chinese cooking wine.

Ingredients

1/2lb beef sirloin tip roast

1 " ginger peeled and grated

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs dark soy sauce

3 tbs oyster sauce

1 tbs corn starch (made into a slurry)

2 tbs Shaoxing cooking wine

2 peppers sliced

1-2 onions sliced

3-4 tbs canola oil as needed

Sauce

1/2c broth

1 tbs dark soy sauce

2 tbs soy sauce

4 tbs oyster sauce

1 tbs corn starch

2 tbs Shaoxing cooking wine

Thinly slice the beef against the grain.  Marinate with soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, cornstarch slurry ( mix an equal amount of cold water with cornstarch).  Set aside for say 30 mins.

Sear the meat on both sides in oil until just browned. Set aside. Saute ginger, garlic, onions, peppers until softened.  Add sauce until it bubbles.  Mix in beef.

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Baby Stingray

 

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

Orchid Repotted

 

On Sept 3rd, I decided to repot this orchid that I had in water for months trying to get it to rebloom.  I didn't have the heart to throw it out, it looks so healthy, just the leaves. I happened to have orchid potting soil in my garage and so why not?

I found this post where  I first put the plant in just water, that was 6 months ago, with no result! This blog is a great way to keep track of things isn't it?

Friday Art - Dolly

 

Welcome to Friday Art! This is a portrait ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") of Dolly Parton done in watercolour pencil.

This is my inspiration meme:

The meme says Elvis Presley was supposed to cover "I will always love you" but his manager wanted too much money so they had Whitney Houston sing the song instead.  Enough said.

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

Salmon fried rice salad

 

I had some salmon fried rice and decided to combine it with a tossed salad to make a salmon fried rice salad.  It was delicious and healthy!

Wednesday Memes

 

Free Pizza Reward

 

I had a 'reward' for a free 8" gourmet pizza at Boston Pizza good till the end of last month.  Husband M, son K and I finally made it there on August 31st.  I chose their vegetarian pizza as my reward.  We also got a spinach artichoke appetizer and a large pepperoni pizza.  

Cutleaf Coneflower

 

This Cutleaf coneflower (thanks Google Lens) always does well in the garden.  It needs no care and survives dry weather. It started from one or 2 plants and spreads itself around.  My friend S said hers spread over the fence to her neighbour's garden.  She got rid of hers to make space for more tomato plants.

I took this photo on August 28th when the evenings were starting to have a chill in the air.

Sunday Smiles - Bat

Welcome to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.  I am sharing a bat meme with you and my bat ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil.

Romaine Lettuce Stir Fry

 

I had some romaine lettuce that had to be used it had been sitting in the fridge for over a week.  I decided to stir fry the 2 large bunches.  It is good and it will last longer now. I dislike wasting food, it encourages me to be creative in using up leftovers.

Friday Art - Naked Neck Chicken and Never Forget on 9/11

 

Welcome to Friday Art! Showing a naked neck chicken today.

Here is my naked neck chicken ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil.

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

And always in our hearts on 9/11.

Roasted Trumpet Squash

 

trumpet squash and a bag of garlic chives

I roasted the trumpet squash I received recently.  It was a young squash, quite tender and easy to cut.  The skin hardens and takes on a tan colour as it gets older.  Then you may have to cut the skin off.  I sliced it up and roasted it. The seeds were soft so I removed them and roasted them too. It tasted like zucchini.

1 trumpet squash

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

4 tbs olive oil

a handful of grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400F

Mix all ingredients, bake cut side down on a sheet lined with parchment paper 25-30 min.

Wednesday Memes