A healthy snack for the expectant mom

 Daughter L, who is expecting, sent us this photo of her delicious evening snack.  She added some cashews to it.  I admire her dedication to eating a healthy diet for the baby which ultimately does her a lot of good.  Coupled with exercise, she has not gained any weight in pregnancy but the baby is growing as expected according to all the ultrasounds and tests.  She has recently entered her 3rd trimester.  Even her hubby has lost weight and become more fit.

Come Back Snacks

 I heard this inspiring story on tv news recently and wanted to share Come Back Snacks' story with you.  This woman started a successful popcorn business after leaving prison.  She mentioned she had to leave a $4000 deposit with a dentist to get treatment and how expensive it was to get insurance for her business with a prison record.  She employs other inmates.

Sunday Smiles - On Pilots

 I am  sharing an interesting fact on commercial airplane pilots.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Smart Idea

Welcome to March! 

I saw this Instagram post recommending some essential things to have on you in light of the recent plane crash in Toronto.  My sister in law recommends carrying them in a hip pack, you can still have your allowed purse and carryon on board but in case of emergency put your wallet, cell phone, passport in a plastic ziploc and meds in your hip pack.  At the very least you can keep a copy of your passport in your phone.

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.