Alphabet Soup

 

One of my sisters shared this homemade alphabet vegetable soup recipe with me. I have already tried it a couple of times with success. Of course you can make the recipe your own, I added fresh basil to mine and used whatever vegetables I wanted to use up.  I even got alphabet pasta to give it that 'Campbell's Soup' touch.  I found the taste with canned tomatoes a bit acidic, so I added a tablespoon of sugar and it makes all the difference.  The first time I diced 2 fresh tomatoes and it needed nothing.

Salmon with basil pesto

I slathered some of the basil pesto my friend gave me onto some salmon and it was so delicious. It baked up so easily in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

So a week ago husband M and I went to his older sister's place for an outdoor lunch. It was just her and her husband. Then 2 old friends also dropped by and stayed for lunch too. This was before the recent calls from the government to stay home as much as possible and only go out for essential activities such as work or fitness. They are now advising us not to dine out indoors for the next 4 weeks.  It seems we are in the 2nd wave of Covid.

 M's sister is an excellent cook. She made fajitas that we assembled ourselves. The weather was gorgeous that day.  We were happy to see them, his sister has always loved to entertain so it is really hard for her these days. The worst is that Canadian Thanksgiving is approaching and most people will not celebrate to any extent.

Basil Pesto and Some New Soaps

 On our way home from daughter L's fiance's family cottage, we stopped by some other friends to see their beautiful new cottage/retirement home.  We all wore masks.  I took the opportunity to purchase some new soaps from my friend as pictured above.  I can't wait to try the charcoal and coffee soap.  I gave the candy cane one with L.  My friend gave me a large bottle of her basil pesto made with basil from her garden.  It is delicious on pasta.  I will try it on fish and chicken at some point.

Here is the recipe she shared with me, taken from the back of a Costco pine nuts bag.

4 cloves garlic

1/2 pine nuts

2 c fresh basil leaves packed tight

1/4c grated parmesan cheese

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

puree in food processor or blender

How easy is that?

A nice visit

 We spent a few days at Daughter L's fiance's family cottage up north a few weeks ago.  The photo above was taken by son K through the kitchen window when the leaves were just turning.  They took us on a lovely boat ride on Lake Muskoka.  We were fed delicious food, we even toasted marshmallows by the firepit one night.  We reassured ourselves that we were a small group of less than 8  people and spent time mostly outdoors.

My October 2020 Calendar Page

Sharing my calendar page for October with you today.  It is based on my past art.  The quote I chose from Shakespeare says:

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble"

Paint Party Friday - Python ACEO

 For Paint Party Friday I did a Python ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") based on a photo I saw the other day.

And welcome to October!

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Goblins and Trolls

 

Happy October!

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date!  For the 'Goblins and Trolls' theme, I did some trolls for you today.  It is an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") using permanent markers and paint markers.  I had fun colouring them in.