Did you grow up on...

I grew up on  home cooked meals back in the day.  Nowadays we do TV dinners and during Covid some Uber Eats take-out although I also cook a lot as you know.  How about you?  We know that home cooked is usually healthier.

We are getting a new blood pressure machine, the current one is sounding a bit wonky and it is important to ensure the readings are correct.  New phones would also be in order so that is on the list for replacing.  We have had our iphone 6's forever and my battery is limping on.

 

Chocolate Beetroot cake

 

I made this delicious chocolate beetroot cake using this video recently, we LOVE it.  I used less sugar and some whole wheat flour in place of some of the white flour.  I like that it uses cocoa powder instead of fattier chocolate. I have already made this twice, out of beets now!

1 1/2 c sugar (I used 1 c)

1 1/4 med beets boiled and mashed

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 c oil

3 eggs

1 1/2 c flour (I used 1c white 1/2c ww)

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

6 tbs cocoa powder

grease and flour a 9 inch baking pan

in a medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla, mix well

in a larger bowl, mix baking soda, cocoa, salt, flour

add beet mix, mix well, pour into baking pan

bake 25-30 min at 350F

can spread icing when cooled if preferred

My October 2021 Calendar Page

 Here is my October 2021 Calendar page.  The quote I chose for this month:

“In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October"

-- Alexander Smith

the verse continues beautifully as follows:

"...when the trees are bare to the mild heavens, and the red leaves bestrew the road, and you can feel the breath of winter, morning and evening - no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air.”

Yesterday was a gorgeous first day of October.  My departed uncle's partner called me, she seemed in a talkative mood.   We keep in touch every couple of months.  It seems the phones in her apartment had stopped working so she got a cell phone temporarily.   My uncle passed a few days before last Christmas so she is still grieving but gradually improving.  She mentioned the many (messy) pigeons on her balcony and even a hawk recently, which is quite uncommon.  It seems the wildlife are coming into the city increasingly.  She saw the hawk turn its head 360 degrees one way, then the other.  I didn't know they did that.  She wondered if he was a sign from her late partner.  

Paint Party Friday - Pink and Black

 Welcome to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday!  I am showing a card in pink and black, I had a few printed up as potential thank you cards or birthday cards (3" x 5").  I liked the colour combination.

Here we are in October!

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Surrealism

 Here is my contribution to Rain's Thursday Art Date's Surrealism theme.  The piece is an ACEO (2 1/" x 3 1/2") using Sharpie oil paint markers.  It depicts a lightbulb with a surreal sunset over the water within.  It is an interesting art movement, even strange.  I see a lot of examples with things growing out of eyes and other body parts, you know what I mean, it can be very ghoulish.

Thanks to Rain for encouraging us to explore different art movements.  I learned a lot.

Meme Wednesday

I burst out laughing at the 2nd one myself! Enjoy today's memes.

 

Cold Beet Soup

I made this cold beet soup and was not disappointed.  It is delicious and refreshing, I felt like I was eating a salad!  My family looked at it suspiciously but husband M eventually tried it and liked it too.

Here is the recipe I used.  Although I added:

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garlic

2-3 tbs lemon juice 

notes:

1 quart buttermilk = 4 cups

1 lb beets = 5 small or 3-4 med beets

to make buttermilk:

1 tbs vinegar plus enough milk to measure one cup, stir and let stand 5 min