Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Homemade Pasta Sauce

 

I made my own pasta sauce recently.  I usually use my favourite supermarket sauce but we wanted to see if Grandson C (who is now a 1 year old) would like pasta sauce.  He didn't on first try but maybe he will eventually. Here is my recipe anyway:

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 onion finely chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 carrot chopped

2-3 stalks celery chopped

pinch red pepper flakes

1 tbs tomato paste

2 c water

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tbs olive oil

1 tbs unsalted butter

saute onions, carrots, celery, garlic in butter and olive oil until softened. Add salt, pepper, basil, oregano. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, water. Simmer 1 hour.  Blend the sauce to a smooth paste.




Monday, June 15, 2026

Viral Dubai chocolate bar

 

Daughter L's friend gifted her a bar of this viral Dubai chocolate bar called Kunafa Pistachio.  It has a phyllo pastry filling combined with pistachio cream.  It is a sweet tasting chocolate bar, sweeter than what I like.  

Have you tasted it?

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Penguin Poop and Eye update

 I had successful eye surgery June12th but cannot blog for a few weeks.  Meanwhile enjoy my post dated entries I have  for the June so far.


Here is my penguin ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") acrylic pen on canvas.




Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Fresh Artichoke

 


My sister encouraged me to try cooking a fresh artichoke which she loves eating.  I had used the jarred kind once in a chicken dish which was ok.  I trimmed the end and cut a bit off the top. Then I trimmed the tops of the leaves slightly. Then I placed it face down in a bowl filled with a couple inches of water, covered it with a wet paper towel and microwaved it for 12 minutes.  Then I made a dip with butter, minced garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice but microwaving all these ingredients together. 

You eat the artichoke by peeling the leaves off and dipping them one by one into the dip.  You just eat the ends.  When you get to the heart many think it is the best part.

Do you like artichokes?

Friday, June 12, 2026

Friday Art - Tulip Faces

 

Welcome to Friday Art.

I am showing some tulip faces, an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") done using my acrylic pens on canvas.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Freebie - A Healthier Soda and Retinal Detachment

 



I got this freebie in the mail, it is a healthier soda. Here is more information on the company.  I like the soda.

Adding to this post with some breaking news:

In some bad news I was at the eye doctor yesterday and he discovered I have a retinal detachment, central vision in my right eye.  I was having symptoms of a change in my vision since the beginning of May then by Jun 3 it started to affect my vision which was scary.  I finally saw the doctor yesterday as I was waiting for my regular checkup.  I never suspected such bad news.  This is treated as an emergency so I will get a call from a clinic in the morning.  I will keep you updated as best I can.  The doctor said it is treatable but cannot give a percentage on its success at this point.  

Wednesday, June 10, 2026