Good to Know

This list of high iron foods is good to know.  Of course spinach is an excellent sources of iron.  Surprisingly so is cumin, turmeric and even parsley.  Leeks and chili peppers are very good sources.  Kale and beets are good sources.

 

Easy Beer Bread

 I found this recipe for beer bread online and made it.  My recipe is at the end of the post if you cannot easily read the photo above.  

It mixes up so easily, the beer seemed to just absorb the flour!  It  has a crunchy crust and a soft middle.  We loved it.  I did use whole wheat flour instead of white flour.

3 c whole wheat flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4c sugar

1 bottle beer

1/2 c (8 tbs) melted butter

Mix dry ingredients

add beer

put into a greased loaf pan (I lined my pan with parchment paper)

pour butter over bread

bake at 375 F for one hour

Friday Art - Daisy Faces and Petals

 I am linking this piece to Nicole's Friday Face Off.  These are my 'Daisy Faces' today!  I had actually done this for a 'plaid' theme over at Instagram in February.  

 I am linking this piece to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.  I had done this 'petals' theme over at Instagram in February.  

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - 'Twisted' theme and Boiled Cabbage side dish

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date! Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") for the 'Twisted' theme this week!

 For the dinner date, I was happy with a simple boiled cabbage side dish using this recipe.  

1/2 med cabbage cut into 4 wedges

1/2 tsp salt for boiling

 water for boiling

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dried oregano

3-4 tbs butter melted

Bring 1/2" lightly salted water to a boil in a skillet.

Add wedges.  simmer covered 10 mins.  Turn, simmer 8 minutes longer.  Pour off water.  Add melted butter, extra salt to taste, oregano, and onion powder.

Wednesday Memes

 

Setting a Table

 This is a nice chart to remind us how to set a table.  We have a casual lifestyle but once in awhile we will go to a formal dinner.  

Espresso Machine

 My friend S gave me this used expresso machine.  A friend was moving or something.  I had fun trying it.  Daughter L suggested I use a denture tablet to clean it out first.  So after watching a few youtube videos on how to operate the machine, I ran the machine 3 times until the water ran clear.

I made this frothy cappuccino and it was delicious.  The machine has a frothing wand pictured at the right of the machine.

Next time I will use distilled water, as I heard it makes good espresso.

A nice breakfast and the visitation

 I made a nice breakfast the other morning.  Slices of baked bacon, 2 boiled 9 minute eggs, and some baked garlic parmesan potatoes.

We were at a visitation and memorial service yesterday morning in the rain.  A good friend of my daughter's since preschool days, her mother passed away suddenly at Eastertime from an untreated stomach ulcer.  It was a bit of a reunion, I was able to speak to some preschool moms I had not seen in decades.  To make it worse, this young lady is getting married in August.

On cycling

 There is a lot of truth to this meme don't you think?  There are benefits to a simple life.

Friday Art - Abundant and Dahlia

 This piece is called 'Abundant' which I did for an Instagram challenge in February.  I chose to depict a lavender field.  Linking to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.

This is my Dahlia piece that I did for an Instagram challenge in February.  I was happy with the way this one turned out.  It is a face of sorts isn't it?  linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Library Theme and Chickpea Pasta Dish

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date! For this week's 'Library' theme I did a greeting card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in permanent marker.  

 For the dinner ate, I had some leftover cooked chickpea pasta.  I made a garlic butter sauce with parsley and parmesan and mixed in into the pasta.  It was a tasty win!

Garlic butter sauce with parsley and parmesan:

1c chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2c grated parmesan

3-4 cloves garlic minced

1/4c (4 tbs unsalted butter)

Melt butter in a saute pan.  Add garlic.  Then add chopped parsley, salt, red pepper flakes.  Mix in pasta with 1/2c water.

Wednesday Memes

 

Got the one above from Grannie Annie.

German Currywurst Recipe

 I want to try Oma's German Currywurst Recipe.  You make the ketchup first then the currywurst.  Are you game to try it too?  Use a pre-cooked sausage with it, no need to make your own.

Ketchup recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 oz can tomato paste
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup white wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 3 tablespoons water

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix everything together in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until it is as thick as you like. Let it cool.
4. Either store in the fridge in a covered container or continue with the curry sauce.

Currywurst Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup of tomato ketchup (from above or purchased)
• 4 - 5 teaspoons mild curry powder
• ½ - 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• pinch ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons sweet or smoked paprika powder
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon water
• cooked German bratwurst 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Put ketchup in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients (except bratwurst) and mix well.
2. Cover and let sit in the fridge for at least 12 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
3. Cut the sausage into thick slices. Pour the curry ketchup sauce on top and sprinkle with additional curry powder.
4. Serve with Brötchen (crispy bread roll) or Pommes Frites (French fries).

German Cucumber Salad

 I want to try Oma's German cucumber salad and thought I would share this recipe I found with you.  It seems easy enough to try, what do you think?

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced 
  
• 4 tablespoons white vinegar
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
  
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill or ½ tsp dried dill

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Put thinly sliced cucumbers into serving bowl.
   
2. In separate bowl, mix together vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Pour over cucumbers.
3. Sprinkle with dill and stir. Season with additional salt and/or sugar if needed.

Ice Cream vs Gelato and puzzle answers

 I found this chart comparing ice cream versus gelato.  Gelato wins in my book!  It is not made with eggs and uses cream versus milk.  Both are delicious but I should eat more gelato.

And here are the answers to yesterday's puzzle on finding 13 hidden faces in the photo.  The hairband has 4 faces.  Her left cheek has a face pointing toward her hair.  Also there is a face on her ear.  The other faces are all over her hair as indicated by arrows.

13 Faces

 Can you find 13 faces hidden here?  I actually did!  I will post the solution tomorrow.

Friday Art - Rabbit

 Welcome to Friday Art!  I am showing a Rabbit piece I did for a challenge over at Instagram in February.

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

This piece is called 'Jubilant', done for an Instagram challenge back in February.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Crustless Quiche Lorraine

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date! We have an art 'brushes' theme this week. Here is my 'Brushes' ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 /12").  It is done with paint markers.

 For the dinner date, I am showing my crustless quiche lorraine.  I used this recipe as a guide.  It is easy and delicious.

6 strips of cooked bacon crumbled

1 c grated swiss cheese

1/4c half and half cream

1/3 c 1% milk

6 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

pinch nutmeg

1 tsp dried chives

preheat oven 350F

arrange crumbled bacon on a pie plate lined with parchment paper

spread grated cheese over top

whisk eggs, milk, cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg

pour this custard over and top with chives

bake 35-45 mins until centre is set.

Wednesday Memes

 

Green Beans for weight loss

 I will be eating a lot more green beans as it is low in calories and very nutritious. A cup of green beans has 28 calories.  Even at 5.66 g of carbs it is pretty good.  Here is a link with details.

Chick peas although nutritious, have 364 calories per 3/4 cup along with 61 g of carbs.  This has to be eaten in smaller servings.

One of my sister's friend's vets told her to feed her dog green beans to lose weight.  So we started eating them more too!

Easter Dinner 2023

 Daughter L and her husband hosted a delicious Easter dinner this year.  Her husband's family and our family were in attendance.  I brought over a jerk pork dish and L made chicken legs with yummy sides.

Daddy's Little Girl

Happy Easter!

 This wedding video had me bawling out, obviously I am a Disney fan!  A dad surprised his daughter on her wedding day by inviting Lea Salonga to perform 'A Whole New World' from the Disney Movie Aladdin.  She was a Disney fan as a little girl!  Talk about a dream come true!

My niece is getting married next year so one of my sisters mentioned this video.  They are not huge Disney fans and balked at the extra expense of doing something like this.  But this girl is obviously daddy's little girl!