Minke Whale - Antarctica

 My sister-in-law captured this photo of a Minke Whale from their cruise ship in Antarctica last month.  

Ginger Cake

 I finally got around to trying Nicole's Ginger Cake recipe.  It did not disappoint, we LOVED it!  Thanks Nicole!

I lifted this recipe from her blog.  I did use half whole wheat flour and brown sugar.  My grated ginger was a bit stringy, I never grated ginger before.  Maybe you can use a food processor or just chop the ginger finely.  I saw someone peel the fresh ginger with a spoon, it works.

4oz fresh ginger, grated or chopped.

1 C molasses any kind

1 C sugar

1 C vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 t cinnamon, 1/2 t cloves 1/2 t pepper all ground

1 C water

2 t baking soda

2 eggs at room temperature.

peal and grate the ginger. Mix together the molasses, sugar and oil, In another bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, cloves and pepper.

Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan, stir in the baking soda and then mix hot water into the molasses mixture. Stir in ginger. 

Gradually whisk the dry ingredients into the batter. Add the eggs and continue mixing until everything is thoroughly combined. Pour the batter in to a prepared cake pan and bake for about 1 hour at 350°F

I used a spring form pan with parchment on the bottom. 

Place the cake on the center rack of your oven. 

In my oven the cake took only about 45 minutes so keep an eye on it.

Hope you try this one.

Chocolatey Chip Blondies

 I got this free sample in the mail containing a couple of 'chocolatey chip blondies'.  They are low carb and I will try them again if I can find them, especially as they came with a dollar off coupon.

My Tuna Sushi Roll

 Daughter L sent me a Tik Tok video showing how to make an inexpensive tuna sushi roll and it is really quite good.  Then I found a youtube video showing me how to roll the sushi without a mat.  I probably have a bamboo mat somewhere but...  Daughter L says I didn't have to make actual sushi rolls.  In the video the girl just uses small snack size squares that you can buy and puts a bit of the filling into one and snacks away.

Here is the recipe:

3 seaweed sheets ( I bought a pack of 10 eight inch sheets)

1 cup calrose rice

1 tbs sugar for rice

3 tbs rice wine vinegar

1 tbs mirin

4 tbs mayonnaise

2tbs everything bagel seasoning

2 cans tuna, drained

1 tsp sugar for tuna

3-4 tbs canola oil

1 tsp sesame oil

2 tbs lemon juice

First make a cup of calrose rice (sticky rice), I use my old rice cooker.  Then mix rice wine vinegar, mirin, sugar, everything bagel seasoning into the rice.  Then mix in mayonnaise.  Next, saute tuna in canola oil.  Add sesame oil, lemon juice, sugar and saute until tuna is crispy.  Combine the tuna  with the rice mixture.  

Lay the seaweed sheet down with shiny side up.  Spread some of the rice miix over top and pat with a bit of water.  Roll the seaweed like you would a jam roll.  Slice into segments as pictured.

I like mine dipped into soy sauce with a bit of wasabi.

Paint Party Friday - The perfect gifts

 Welcome to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday!  I am showing a painting I did of my nephew and his wife, my sister wanted to give them a surprise Christmas gift.  I also did another one from the front.  Well, they loved them!  It was a good feeling.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Kindness

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date's 'Kindness' theme.  February is Rain's 'feelings' month.  Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  I am using the heart to symbolize kindness and placed it on the beach. I chose a quote to go with it:

“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 

Meme Wednesday