Sunday didn't live up to its name! There was hardly any sun at all! It was cloudy and cool, with the afternoon highs only in the mid-60s (F). I took it easy, today, and relaxed.
Neighbor T called in the morning and I chatted with her. Later, I called friend A and, still later, in the evening, I chatted with friend R.
I didn't feel like weeding, today. But, I watered the front garden. I will get back to the weeding, tomorrow.
Later, I practiced the piano. I have three pieces I am currently working on playing without mistakes and I have a new piece as well (and another piece waiting in the wings). My newest piece is called River Flows in You by Yiruma. Something tells me that I'll be working on this one for a long time! There are too many notes crammed into each measure for my comfort!
In the evening, I used the spiralizer to make more spiral cut potatoes, but, this time, instead of frying them, I baked them, well seasoned with garlic salt, chili powder, and fresh rosemary I picked from the garden. They turned out well.
I also baked a sponge cake using one of my old recipes. I used to make it all the time, but, then, stopped making it for some reason. Probably because it calls for the ingredients to be weighed and I was too lazy to pull out my kitchen scales. The recipe calls for 1/4 lb. butter, 1/2 lb. sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 lb. sifted flour mixed with 3 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 cup milk, vanilla, and salt. You cream the butter and sugar until pale in color, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then, add the flour and baking powder mixture and the milk, alternating, a little at a time; finally, add the vanilla and salt (my recipe doesn't specify the amounts) and bake in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes. Daughter wanted some rose syrup added, but, I added rose water, instead, but I probably should have added more or not put any vanilla, because the rose flavor was very faint. I baked it at 350F for 40 minutes (30 minutes was not quite enough). We sampled the cake while still warm from the oven and, later, with some ice cream! Now I know why I don't bake this cake that much, any more! One piece is never enough! LOL!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter has recovered from the vaccine side effects
- Water for the garden
- Chats with neighbors and friends
- Cake fresh from the oven
- Restful days
Today's joyful activity was baking a favorite cake! Eating some of it was pretty joyful, too! LOL.
Monday's To Do List:
- Dust (living room, dining area)
- Laundry
- Take the trash cans to the curb for pick up
- Piano practice
- Weed the back garden
- Take a piece of cake to friend R
How was your Sunday? What are your plans for Monday? Do you have a favorite cake recipe?
You didn't weed yesterday, so I took up the slack here and did a lot of weeding of areas overgrown with chickweed and henbit. I wish I could say I was done, but not even close. You know how that goes.
ReplyDeleteThat was kind of you to take up the weeding, June. :) Did you know that both chickweed and henbit are edible plants? I have henbit growing in my yard and have tasted it (can be eaten raw or cooked), but, it just tastes "green" to me! I am not sure if I have chickweed, too; the plant I have looks a lot like it, but, I haven't been able to positively identify it to my level of satisfaction before trying to sample it! It's funny, isn't it, how so many of what we consider as "weeds" are actually not only edible, but, also very nutritious? Maybe we should just harvest the weeds which seem to grow despite our best efforts!
DeleteIt sounds like it was a nice relaxed and delicious day! :)
ReplyDeletePerhaps a bit too delicious, Martha! Between my daughter and I we finished almost half the cake, last night! :o
DeleteI listened to the 'River Flows in You' on YouTube. It's a beautiful piece isn't it, but I see what you mean about fitting in all the notes in each bar (measure). It'll be worth it though. I'm tempted to get hold of a copy and try it myself 😊
ReplyDeleteI haven't really bothered with a lot of baking at home since I lost Ced - he was the cake lover. I've done a bit of baking since but now I usually stick to having the occasional cake when I meet friends for coffee, especially now I'm trying to lose weight as it's too tempting even if I freeze it in portions.
It is a lovely piece of music. I feel I am not quite up to it, but, both S and my daughter seem to think I should be able to play it! I guess I will have to try to live up to their confidence in me! :D Let me know if you decide to try it, yourself. :)
DeleteThe cake was my attempt at using up some of the milk which I don't want to go sour! I used some of it in a fish curry, today, and I think I might use the rest to make yogurt.
Your cake sounds yum! Mom and I have a sweet tooth so I try not to bake, especially cookies since I have a weight problem. At our house every Sunday is a lazy day since working on Sunday is frowned upon. But I don't mind, it gives me a chance to catch up on blogs, etc. I am glad your daughter has recovered. I will have to go back to Pennsylvania to get my vaccine since I am no longer a resident of Maine... even though I live here with my mother more than I am at home! I hope this post makes it through your security because I want to thank you for your visits to my blog and your comments are most welcome. I hope you will become a Follower. 💖
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I shouldn't be baking and eating the baked goodies, myself, but, I was in the mood for a treat and there was some milk which needed to be used before it went sour. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! :D
DeleteWhat I love about the internet is being able to look things up right away. So as I write I am listening to "River flows in you" played by Yiruma. S must think you are capable or she wouldn't have given it to you to learn. You must be really progressing well!
ReplyDeleteThe cake sounds delicious. Have you thought of converting the weights to cups as you go so that next time you won't have to pull out the scales? I've done that with some recipes, taking the weighed items and putting into cup measures and writing the results.
Yesterday's rain stopped and DH and I had a long walk and met several neighbours also walking so it was a social outing as well and there is always plenty of space to keep a safe distance around here.
Thank you, Bushlady. Well, yes, I guess I have come a long way since the days of learning to play "Sweetly Sings the Donkey"! :D I just have to take it slowly and work on my note reading and accuracy for now and work up the speed, later.
DeleteYes, that is what I did, yesterday - I weighed out the sugar and flour, poured it into cup measures and wrote that in my recipe. Not that I should be making cakes more often!
How nice to meet with some neighbors during your walk. I'm sure that meeting people outdoors while maintaining a safe distance is fine. Adequate ventilation is the key in any gathering from what I've read.
That's exactly the reason I don't bake more. Lol
ReplyDeleteYour cake soinds delicious. Thanks for giving us the recipe.
Ha, ha, the best part of baking is eating the end product! And I've the extra weight to prove it! This is a fairly fail-proof cake recipe; I've been making it since I was 17, which was when I copied it from my mother's recipe book (the one she didn't bring with her).
DeleteGlad your daughter is fully recovered. The cake sounds lovely. It's been years since I've made one. I used to make them all the time when everyone was at home but it hardly seems worth the bother any more.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. She gets to enjoy feeling well for another day and then, she goes in for wisdom teeth extraction on Thursday!
DeleteThe cake is delicious, but, I seem to be the one eating most of it, so, I guess baking it wasn't such a good idea! :D
Cake sounds delicious. Sometimes a simple sponge cake does the trick but as I'm trying to be careful with my diet just now, I will just have to dream of it instead. X
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my cake! :D At least I got to share the calories with both my daughter and with friend R, so, it wasn't too bad!
DeleteHmmm... I think maybe I will have to visit twice. Or maybe when you fill up the container I will bring, you could include some baked, spiralized potatoes and a slice of rose sponge. (Obviously I won't be popping round until I am off the low carb regime..!)
ReplyDeleteAs long as you aren't allergic to cats, you might need to come for a long weekend, that's all! :D
DeleteI did think of that, but good manners prevented my suggesting it. (Because all the other silly remarks have not been cheeky at all! Ha!) Anyway, a long weekend is a good idea, and will give us time to go to the SL buffet too (my treat). I will also help you with the weeding and any other gardening. But I think this might all have to wait till next year as I'd like to see oranges growing, and also pick one fresh!
DeleteNext year, it is, then! Around March, which is when the oranges will be at their peak. I'd better make sure I water the tree well, so that there'll be a good crop of fruits! :)
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