On Tulips

 Jan had such an informative post on tulips recently, a perfect spring topic.

Tulips are not native to the Netherlands, but came from Turkey.  The name is derived from the word 'Turban' due to its resemblance to how a turban looks on the head.

They are in the lily family.

Tulips are edible and the Dutch used them as food in the 1944 famine.

I love tulips don't you?

Happy Mother's Day in the UK!

Bulgaria yes and no

 I was watching a Rick Steve's travel video on TV and he mentioned that in Bulgaria they nod to mean 'No' and shake their head to say 'Yes' as explained in this video.  The video goes on to explain the reason for this which goes back to a time when the residents were being persecuted for being Christians.  So they developed this way so that when asked 'are you a Christian' and they would say 'No' but nod their head. Hope I got that right but hopefully you know what I mean.

Had you heard of this?

Another interesting thing I learned from Denise the other day is the reason Canada geese often stand on one leg.  They are conserving heat.  They will shift legs from time to time.

PPF after party and Friday Art going forward

The grand finale after party is today, Friday March 25th.  I must have been posting my art for the Paint Party every Friday for the past 11 years.  How time flies.  Be sure to stop by and see a planned collection of everyone's party collages.

So that we can keep in touch, my PPF friends can also find me at Instagram as @ms_facile and I contribute weekly to Rain's Thursday Art Date.

I decided to continue posting my Friday art going forward.  Today, I am showing show my splatter painted wave ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in acrylic.  Husband M had no idea what it was at first so I decided to add the fish jumping out of the wave.  I think this works now.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Unicorns

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date's 'Unicorns' theme!  I painted a blue-eyed unicorn with a blonde mane for you today.
 

Meme Wednesday

 

Eye of Round Roast

meat thermometer

a perfect medium

all sliced with gravy

I am linking this post to Kathy's Food Wednesdays. Thanks Nicole for suggesting this over and over!

I had great success with this 6 pound eye of round roast that was on sale at my local supermarket.  I decided to use my thermometer that can be left in the meat as it roasts.  Of course I changed out the battery when it was not responding at first.  Try turning it on Christine, duh.  I hate gadgets.

Here is how I did it:

6lb eye of round beef roast

marinade:

2 tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper 

1 tsp dried thyme

1 onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tbs worcestershire sauce

1/2 can tomato paste (or ketchup)

1 tsp dijon mustard

gravy:

2 c low sodium beef stock

2 tsp cornstarch

1 tbs unsalted butter

drippings

preheat oven 450F

rinse and dry roast, rest roast at room temperature 45 mins

marinate roast with ingredients above

roast 20 min fat side up

lower to 350F

roast 1 1/2 hours (135F-med rare) or 30 min/kg

remove from oven and rest 20 mins (internal temp will rise to 145F- med)

make the gravy by bringing the drippings, stock, cornstarch and butter. to a boil

can roast potatoes and carrots separately.

Crockpot method (not tried yet):

marinate roast

brown the roast

add to crockpot 6-8 hrs on low  or 4-6 hrs on high (depending on size of roast)

remove roast

add cornstarch to drippings till thickened

references

https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/beef/beef-bottom-round-roast-perfection.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TA2jZH4_G0&t=531s

Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

 

Ivy's Closet posted Emma Fontanella's edible cookie dough recipes and I made the chocolate chip version for son K who loves eating raw cookie dough to begin with.  It is definitely not something I would eat.  He loved this one, thanks Ivy!

6 tbs flour

1 1/2 tbs unsalted butter melted

2 tbs sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp vanilla

2 tbs milk

2 tbs chocolate chips

sprinkles if like

Mix flour, salt and microwave for one minute, cool.

Add sugar, butter, milk, chocolate chips, mix and add sprinkles if you like.

Scoop into shape with an ice cream scoop.  I made one large scoop with mine.

Omit the chocolate chips for the sugar cookie version.

My sister told me she makes an edible cookie dough using almond flour and peanut butter as follows.  This is one I may like myself.

1/3 c creamy peanut butter

1/4c maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2c almond flour

chocolate chips

And it is officially spring now!