Microwaved baked potatoes with a twist

 

I microwaved 2 medium potatoes for 5 minutes on one side, then 5 minutes on the other.  (This timing will vary based on the size of your potato).  I cut them in half and removed the skins.  Then I roughly mashed the filling with a bit of  sour cream, shredded cheese and bacon bits.  It tastes like a delicious baked potato with no skins to navigate, and none of the insides are wasted if you don't eat the skin.

I have now made this several times, it is a winner!

When I'm 64

 Kathy has made this Beatles song her theme song for the year.  

The lyrics spoke to me as I also turn 64 this year.  As I told her I guess it's my theme song too.

Lyrics

When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine
If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four

You'll be older too
And if you say the word
I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds
Who could ask for more
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight
If it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck & Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four, hoo

Hobart Tasmania

 My brother and his wife were on a cruise vacation.  These are their photos of Hobart, Tasmania.

So it was a 17 Day Australia cruise followed by a 14 day New Zealand cruise including Tasmania.  After the 17 day Australia cruise my brother was about ready to go home.  Their kids had gone home after the 17 day portion.  He enjoyed but there comes that time for some people I suppose.  However they shared wonderful photos of their adventures.

Whole Pickled Jalapenos

 I am going to try this recipe for whole pickled jalapenos.  I had them in a restaurant salad and they were quite good, not unbearably hot.  I learned that when the jalapenos are pickled the heat goes into the vinegar leaving the peppers much milder.  I was looking to purchase a jar but cannot find them at the moment so I thought I might try making them.  

I did find sliced pickled jalapenos at Whole Foods, but they are hotter than I like.  

Then I found this recipe which has different pickling proportions, albeit a similar method.  It slices the  jalapenos though.

It seems you can use  your pickle in as little as one hour to 24 hours.  The jar will be good in the refrigerator for months.

Well I have some experimenting to do, wish me luck.

Friday Art - Kangaroo portrait

 Welcome to my Friday Art.  I am showing a kangaroo portrait ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") inspired by a photo taken by my sister-in-law on a recent family trip to Australia.  It is done in watercolour pencils and pens.

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

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - An easy Appetizer and 'Scarves'

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  

For the dinner date I have an appetizer to show you.  We had a package of fig and olive crackers we had received as a Christmas gift.  I decided to put some brie cheese on top with some cranberry sauce.  It was delicious!  It is great to serve as a party appetizer perhaps, and so easy!

The next day I decided to have some for breakfast!  4 of these crackers is about the same as a slice of toast.

And here is my art ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") using acrylic markers for the 'Scarves' theme:

Wednesday Memes

 

Cute and Creative

 My cousin's son got married in Florida on New Year's Eve.  My sister was able to attend and shared this photo of these Krispy Kreme donut wedding treats.  Cute and creative don't you think?

Sydney Fish Market

 

A type of lobster

My brother and his family were in Australia a few weeks ago.  They shared these great photos of the Sydney Fish Market.

White Amaryllis

 My white amaryllis was in bloom a few weeks ago and I remembered to take a photo.  

Here is the white amaryllis in full bloom not long after the first photo was taken.  The next day some of the blooms fell over.  We tied them up with string the next day and it looked beautiful still.

My old red amaryllis bulb from earlier last year just sits in its pot, it didn't bloom again for me (yet, maybe never).  Oh well. 

Bucket List

 My brother and his family visited Australia around the New Year.  My sister-in-law made a great plan to visit the fireworks at Sydney Harbour and ring in the New Year.  It was very crowded and they gave tickets out for the many who were waiting to see the spectacle.

My brother loves Sydney, I think I have to add it to my bucket list.  

Friday Art - Baby Koala Bear and a Rose

Welcome to Friday Art!  I am showing a baby koala bear ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") for Nicole's Friday Face Off.  It is from the Canadian Red Cross 2023 calendar.  It doesn't describe the photos, but it is a baby koala bear to the best of my knowledge.

Also linking this Rose ACEO (2 1/2 x 3 1/2") to Gillena's Art for Fun Fridays.

 

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Collage and Fried Rice

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!

 

For the Art Date, I am sharing a collage I did in March 2022 when Paint Party Friday wrapped up after 11 years.  I chose a few pieces I had done over the years to commemorate this long running art coop hosted by Kristin and Eva.

For the Dinner Date I am showing my fried rice made from leftover hamburgers. It was delicious.  I try to think of dishes that will use leftovers to avoid food waste. 

Wednesday Memes

Just kidding

 

Find the Kitty

 Can you find the kitty here?  I did!  

Quinoa Salad

 I made this quinoa salad just after Christmas using this recipe.  I made the quinoa easily in my rice cooker.  One part quinoa (rinsed)  to 2 parts water basically.  Then you mix it with chickpeas, cucumber, a bell pepper and finally add your dressing.

Stuffed Squash

 I made this stuffed acorn squash this past Chrismas Day.  My friend S had included it with her Christmas gift along with some other thoughtful non food items.  

This Jamie Oliver TV show had given me an idea for a stuffed squash.  I was further inspired by this recipe.  This is what I ended up doing:

1 large acorn squash halved tip to stem, seeded

1-2 tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1-2 tbs lemon juice

1//2 onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 c uncooked 10 multigrain rice (can substitute quinoa)

1 c water

1/4 c dried cranberries

1 rib celery chopped

400F

line baking sheet with parchment paper

Rub olive oil, salt, pepper over cut side of seeded squash pieces.  Bake cut side down 30 minutes.

Meanwhile cook quinoa or multigrain rice with added water.  I used my rice cooker.  Transfer to a medium bowl and mix in cranberries.  

In a skillet, saute onion, celery then garlic.  Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano.  Squeeze in lemon juice.  Add this to the cooked rice or quinoa.  Fill the squash with this when it is baked.  Return to the over for another 20 minutes.

Travelling Vicariously

 My brother and his family were recently cruising Australia among other places and shared these photos of koala bears and Kangaroos at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane Australia.  They got to hold the koalas and my sister-in-law says they are as soft and huggable as they look!  Travelling vicariously as Jenn would say!

3-4" Spider

Friday Art - Yangtze River scene

 Welcome to Friday Art!  I am showing a Yangtze River scene inspired by a photo taken by my sister-in law-years ago when they did a cruise to China.

Linking to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.

For Nicole's Friday Face Off I am showing my Koala ACEO ( 2 1/2" x 3 1/2") inspired once again by my sister-in-law's photo taken on a recent trip to Australia.  This piece was done in watercolour pencils and pens.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Aerial View and sirloin tip roast

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date.

For the art date I am showing my aerial view ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") using my water based markers.  It is a view looking down into a living room from an upstairs balcony (not my house).

For the dinner date I am showing my sirloin tip roast.  I used this recipe as a guide.  It is not a tender roast, so has to be cooked differently than a tender roast.  It is delicious.

1 4-5 lb sirloin tip roast

2 tbs olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp pepper

salt to taste

1 tsp dried herb, can use fresh

1 onion

marinate roast

place roast on top of sliced onions

roast at 450F for 15 mins

then at 300F 50-75 mins 135F internal temp for med rare

I ate the onions with my thinly sliced roast.