Last night, I slept a little better in the sense that I fell asleep at 2:30 a.m. I really didn't want to wake up when the alarm went off at 7:00 a.m. I would have slept longer, if I didn't have to go to the office! But, I had to go to work, and so, I got up, got dressed, and drove to work. On the way to the bus stop from where I parked my car, I passed by the Farmers' Market and treated myself to an almond croissant, which I had for breakfast. Lunch was leftover rice, meatball curry, and green beans from last night's dinner.
I had a productive day at the office. I was able to finish one of my assignments and move on to the next. I was also able to avail myself to a free massage at work! Earlier this month, the office Wellness program had offered free chair massages as part of its stress management seminars. It was being offered at different locations and today, it was being offered at our new location. I signed up when the memo came out and today, I went for my massage! It was nice; lasted about 10 minutes, I would say. Afterwards, we received a free tealight candle, a packet of wet wipes, and mints!
After I came home, I had a cup of tea and a chicken cold cuts sandwich. Then, I watched news and fell asleep on the sofa for almost an hour and a half! As a result, I didn't do any gardening or anything else, for that matter! I did call neighbor T to check on her; she said her daughter has come back from her conference, so that is good. She was really nervous with her daughter being out of state.
Later, I boiled some rice for dinner:
Dinner: Fish curry, beets, green beans |
One of my colleagues was asking me how to make curry, today, and I was trying to explain the process to him. I generally don't use measurements when I cook, so I tend to give directions rather than a recipe. He was quite confused with my "add some milk", type of cooking directions. "How much milk?", he asked, and I had to stop and think! In general, the amount of milk depends on how much gravy I want the dish to have. So, I said, "About a cup". I remember I had the same problem when I was trying to teach daughter to cook! I'd say, "Some curry powder" and she'd ask, "How much?" Then, I'd say, "1 teaspoon" and she'd put a teaspoon of curry powder and I'd look at it and say, "Add another spoonful"! LOL. Now, she does the same, eyeballing the amounts and rarely measuring anything.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A free massage!
- A productive day at the office
- A nap on the sofa
- A safe commute to the office and back
- Chatting with my daughter
How was your day? When you cook, do you follow a recipe faithfully and measure everything, or do you just sort of generally follow directions but eyeball the ingredients?
My day? Well due to tiredness I had an accident on my scooter landed up in some bushes, and some lovely construction workers lifted me and the scooter out, lol. Was entirely my fault. Felt okay, but shoulder and wrist are hurting now so if still hurting on Monday will see doctor .
ReplyDeleteYour curry looks nice,I am like you, an eyeing up, and often I make changes to the recipe, so it is never quite the same each time. Although for baking cakes etc I tend to follow the recipe....almost!
Sharon, sorry to hear you had an accident! Glad you are not too badly hurt and hope the scooter is OK, too. Yes, do go and see the doctor, just in case. Yes, cakes are something I usually follow the recipe directions and measure out the ingredients, etc. Don't want to risk it not turning out well!
DeleteThat was how my mum taught me to cook - a bit if this, a splash if that, etc. I used to get stressed about it when I was learning all those years ago but now I do the same myself. I read new recipes for the list of ingredients and maybe measure quantities for the first time of cooking but after that I just throw it all in and tweak as needed.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of a recipe as a starting point. The down side of that is, sometimes, something turns out really well and I can never duplicate it, because I didn't measure what I put in! LOL.
DeleteWhen I try a new recipe I follow the directions and measure everything. I don't do that with the frequently made curries. I learned it from mom. She doesn't measure, just eyeball the ingredients like you do. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, with new recipes, it is best to follow the directions. I've seen some of your recipes and you are a good cook; your mom must be a good cook, too, I'm sure.
DeleteYay for a free massage and more freebies! An almond croissant sounds absolutely delish. I wish you'd posted a picture :)
ReplyDeleteI tend to follow recipes as I am not a creative cook nor a particularly good one either :) My grandmother and father, both excellent cooks, also used "a pinch of this, some of that" when I asked them for their recipes and it always frustrated me!
I hope you got more sleep last night and that you have a good Friday in the office. Hooray for the weekend, though, right?
Yes, I was happy to get a free massage. Next time I get an almond croissant, I will post a picture, if only to get back at you for posting a picture of your lemon cake! :D
DeleteNo, last night didn't go too well. Once again, I couldn't fall asleep till after 3:30 a.m. I am looking forward to the weekend. And, as I told my daughter, this morning, I am ready for retirement, already! Hope you are having a good day, Nathalie.
An almond croissant sounds good! A chair massage would be lovely, too, but I'm not keen on a full body massage, only ever had one once. Do you like them?
ReplyDeleteSorry you couldn't get to sleep Thursday night. I sympathize because the same thing happened to me. Eventually I went downstairs and made a soothing herbal drink and that did the trick when I went back to bed.
Then we had a long trip today, about 3 hours each way including a stop, and all for an eye measurement that took 5 minutes! Well, we had hoped to see our family in the city. They were out for an activity of their own for a while, we knew, but the traffic had been so awful and still was, that we simply headed back home and contacted them later on the way. They still hadn't returned to the house, being caught up in traffic themselves, so it was probably just as well we didn't hang around. We were both already exhausted from the traffic on the way to my appointment. Oh to be able to fly over the top of it all! Anyway we head back there for my cataract surgery next week so will see them at last.
Regarding cooking, I also eyeball ingredients such as spices or liquid for a sauce, but with baking I can't get away with it or the dreaded "recipe balance" I was taught about won't happen. It's rather like chemistry.
Bushlady, I have had one full body massage, a few years ago. My cousin and I went together and it was good, except, I couldn't quite relax because I had taken my purse in with me and kept it in the corner of the room and I couldn't see it during the massage! I kept wondering if anyone was trying to steal anything from my purse! LOL. Next time (if there is a next time), I will not take my purse in with me.
DeleteThat was a long, tiring drive you had, today! I'm sorry you couldn't see the family, either, after all that, but you will be able to see them when you go back for your surgery. Traffic seems to be getting worse, every day! Hope the surgery goes well, Bushlady.