Thursday, March 18, 2021

Card Making and Cooking on Thursday


Card with Handmade Paper

Yesterday's headache stayed with me till evening, but, it eventually wore off and I managed to get the vacuuming done.  But, card making and cooking the cauliflower got postponed until today!

This morning, while daughter was having an online meeting, I pulled out my cardmaking supplies and sat down to make a card, using a piece of the paper daughter had made (she is sharing them with me!).  The handmade paper seemed to need something more to set it off, so, I decided to paint a simple flower on it.  The card is for my half-sister (Akka means older sister).

After I made the card, I did a bit of cooking; yes, the long neglected Brussels sprouts and cauliflower.  I am posting pictures and post how I cooked them, mostly for Eileen, who has a "Cooking with Bless" recipe collection!  LOL.

Brussels Sprouts

I sauteed the Brussels sprouts in a little bit of vegetable oil, with curry leaves, a few pieces of dried pandan leaves (optional), and dried chili flakes, then, added a little water to cook them through, some salt to taste, and finished it off with a little lemon juice.  I didn't add any onions, but, they can be added when sauteing, if you like.


Cauliflower


The cauliflower was sauteed, too.  I heated a little vegetable oil and added curry leaves and about a teaspoon of mustard seeds to the oil, then, added the cauliflower florets to it and sprinkled turmeric, dried chili flakes and salt.  Everything was stirred in the saute pan until the cauliflower was tender, but, still crisp, because that is how I like cauliflower.  No water was added. 

My daughter ate some of the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as a snack with her coffee!  

For dinner, I made fried rice with leftover rice, a couple of sliced hot dogs, some finely cut onion, a beaten egg, a handful of cashews, a sprinkle of dried chili flakes, and the last of the chicken curry gravy added to it for a bit of flavor.  I didn't take a picture of the rice, but, we enjoyed it, topped with some sriracha sauce!    It turned out really well.  

In the evening (before dinner), I watered the front and back gardens.  After dinner, I wiped the stove top and counters and ran the dishwasher.  

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to make the card
- Water for the garden
- Daughter enjoying the food I prepare
- Emails from friends
- A relaxed day

Today's joyful activity was making the card.

Plans for tomorrow include:
- Mopping the kitchen floor
- Dusting my bedroom
- Tending to the garden with M
- Practicing the piano

How was your Thursday?  What are your favorite ways to cook Brussels sprouts and cauliflower?

20 comments:

  1. Sorry to read about your migraine - they can certainly be nasty & make doing anything difficult. Glad it's now gone. That's a very rpetty card you made. I roast both brussel sprouts & cauliflower & rather than use oil, I spray a little PAM on them. I use to make a cheese sauce for the cauliflower but alas diet knowledge changed all that! (col). Happy Weekend.

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    1. Thank you, Mary-Lou. The roasted vegetables sound good, too. I shall try roasting them, next time. Cauliflower and cheese is a classic, isn't it? :)

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  2. I packed all my cardmaking stuff early on in this removals process. I am SO missing making cards! That handmade paper makes a lovely backdrop for your flower. Well done! Not much done on Thursday though- in the morning a group of friends had organised a Farewell Zoom Meeting for me, and I felt quite weepy and drained afterwards. Back on track today though, taping up more boxes

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    1. You'll have to treat yourself to a couple of cardmaking sessions once you've settled into your new home. :)

      Aw, that must have been a very emotional Farewell Zoom Meeting. Leaving friends behind is hard; being unable to say goodbye in person makes it even harder, I think. But, sounds like you're having a busy day, today! Hope you have a good weekend, Angela.

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  3. I'm sure your sister will appreciate the card that you and your daughter made. BTW, I just read a book where I learned the word akka. :)

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    1. I like to think she'll like the card. She used to make cards, herself, and paint.

      Oh, that's such a coincidence! May I ask what book it was?

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  4. Sorry you had the headache the whole day but glad it's gone now. Your card is beautiful and the food looks delicious!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. I probably should have taken a Tylenol for the headache, but, I take so many prescription meds that I feel reluctant to take even more on top of them! I'm glad the card turned out well and as for the food, my daughter gave me a thumbs up! :D

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  5. I love the card!
    I use cauliflower so much, I cook it a million ways, but I am going to try this. It looks delicious!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. :)

      I thought of you making so many things with cauliflower and wondered if you'd want to make my version, too. :)

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  6. 😁😁😁 thanks Bless ... duly added to my recipe folder.

    I love your homemade card.

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    1. You are welcome, Eileen. :D

      Thank you! The card is in the mail box, waiting to be collected by the letter carrier.

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  7. Your card is superb, you really have a talent there!
    Had a lovely social day as I got back to having coffee with my friend in the morning, and in the afternoon DH and I sat outside in coats with 3 of our maple sap collectors with tea and cookies!

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady. :) It turned out well, didn't it?

      Yay for social days! They are few and far between, these days! I, too, sat outside and had tea with friend M who dug up and prepared another vegetable bed for me!

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  8. The card is really pretty. The homemade paper looks really good.

    The cauliflower dish looks wonderful. I love cauliflower. It has to be one of my favourite veggies.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sharon.

      I am not that big a fan of cauliflower, but, I am learning to like it. :)

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  9. What a lovely card. So pretty and unique.

    Your vegetables look delicious. I think I want a copy of Ellen's collection. :)

    Glad your headache went away.

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    1. Thank you, Debra; I think I might make a few more cards, similar to this one.

      Ha, ha, maybe Eileen will share her recipe collection! :D

      Hope you are keeping well and spring is starting to make an appearance, up there.

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  10. You are a busy lady. I need to mop my floors and dust, too. Your cauliflower sounds delicious!

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    1. I try to keep myself occupied! :) I probably sound busier than I am because I spread the housework over several days. I seem unable to get it done in one day.

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