Hmm something is looking and smelling pretty close to done…
Homemade vanilla extract I put in November 2020. Samples it in January and thought it needed more time.
One batch with made with clear alcohol (vodka) extraction, the other I used bourbon.
One of my favorite things to be gifted with personally creative expressions from friends.
I am not talking “art” in the sense that it has to perfectly executed (although thats never a bad thing to get either and I have many professional artist friends whose work I love 😉).
But rather, art that reflects the creators unique imagination, personality, growth, spirit, feelings and emerging style. I have kept all of them over the last 30 years and always smile when each new one arrives.
Keep in mind, I define art widely, as any expressive form someone puts energy into. From handmade holiday and bday cards to sketches, music “tapes”, movies, jewelry and paintings etc.
This week, just when I needed a smile during a rough one , Mike sent me this sketch. Which is framed and up already!
Thank you Mike for thinking of me! Another one for my “Dorian Gray Collection” here at home. ❤️❤️
Sometimes my mind recalls the oddest and most arcane things. Such as this shipwreck of a musical, of which less than a handfull of my friends every recall seeing but I did (and own a early bookleg copy vhs of it). One song often came to mind; Speed with was a odd to the future and our fascination with meth use.
At 40 years old, its extreme camp with its also “tanked siblings” that rolled out including Can’t Stop the Music, Xanadu, Popeye and Neil Diamond’s The Jazz Singer all released within six months of each. One writer on its 40th birthday described it as “Trying to be The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Tommy all at once (with a disco flavor, even though disco was for all intents and purposes dead by the end of 1980) https://thespool.net/anniversaries/the-apple-review/ currently.
The Apple
And yes, you too can have it stuck in your grey matter as its currently out on Amazon Prime
When it comes to cooking, it can get easy to fall into a routine. When you buy the same things every week and cook the same things every week, you can start to feel a need to switch things up. Switching things up doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you make a few small changes to your eating habits.
One of the best ways to immediately add new flavors to your regular meal rotation is by adding new spices to your meals. Even if you still plan on having chicken and veggies, you can season them with Cajun seasoning to pack a punch and totally shift the flavor palette.
Figuring out which spices will be good options for you to start out with, think about the different flavor profiles you are drawn to or are curious about. Maybe you’ve never had Haitian food or maybe you’re curious about Colombian spices. Identify some of these flavor profiles and then make spice blends accordingly. That way you can just use those spices on your food and you’ll be ready to go.
Another way to switch up your eating experience is by using different oils. Most people use vegetable oil or olive oil in their cooking. And while these oils have benefits, switching it up can be good. For example, try coconut oil to have a slightly sweet taste to your food. You can also use hemp oil for cooking to provide your food with a nutty flavor.
When you want to switch up your eating experience, it can be overwhelming to try new recipes all the time. And when it’s hard to try new recipes often, it can become hard to try new recipes at all. Consider choosing one day a week when you’ll try a new recipe—maybe Friday night.
Then, if you only plan to make one foreign dish a week, you’ll be able to look forward to it as a fun change from the normal and you’ll also be able to be less overwhelmed by the process of making new things.
Enhancing your everyday eating experience can seem challenging at first. When you have established a comfortable routine, it can seem unmotivating to break it. But even making simple small changes to your everyday eating habits can help you try new flavor profiles.
Looking for a new recipe to try? Try this Keto Chocolate Chunk Biscotti!
So if you think Im over the top when it comes to being in the kitchen at the holidays.
This is what my sister Deborah, posted today.
It is the family xmas weekend cookie making list that they carry on and track. Based in the one my Mom started over 50 years ago.
A few from my own kitchen archives…
I do not have affiliate agreements with any of these vendors – I just like the products.
Plant Apothecary.com is running its Black Friday sale and including free shipping for orders over $25. They are one of my fav body washes and I purchase the Wakey Wakey and Get it On pretty regularly. But also love Start Happy one.These I also have affiliate agreements with – so for transparency, I am noting that:
Learn from the students who know.
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Get 50% off till 9/4 from my link for the one I use.
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Plenty of time with the 4-legged boss while managing to teach to night classes.
Just found out that that the “What the “Bears” can teach Goldilocks” talk I did for TEDxProvincetown 2018 now has the transcript translated in three languages including Japanese https://www.ted.com/talks/frank_strona_what_the_bears_can_teach_goldilocks
This is what happens when Paul And I watch Saturday morning cooking shows.
P: Honey. Make this…
Me: What? The Mexican inspired pizza?
P: No, the green sauce. Let’s do “make your own Tacos”. So we can use it.
Me: “eye roll”. Fine. I bet you mean use hard taco shells too. Not the soft ones .
So the end result; I swapped out a kicked up ground turkey for traditional carnitas (pork) that I wasn’t about to make or regular ground beef. Used whatever greens I had around and dinner is ready. Paul got his Taco and as usual mine got turned into a layered salad.
The roasted Tomatillo Salsa recipe is great. Will make again. Note to self; 1 roasted jalapeño wasn’t enough. A second or add the seeds/ribs next time
Getting lots of specifc food cravings too. So this Instant Pot Rice Pudding with cinnamon, shredded coconut, and my new non-dairy decadent treat – “condensed coconut milk”; all the sticky sweetness without the dairy hit the spot. Using lactaid free milk also added to the whole, making the whole dessert good for is “intolerant” folks. Chilling now to set but looks super easy to replace items and with only 20 min cook plus set up – including cooking the rice.
Another win at the house was a simple Instant Pot, 5-spice chicken & vegatable stew to go along with our Jodie Foster weekend. From Hotel Artemis to Silence of the Lambs
Been dragging recipes up “from the past” treat was inspired by strawberries that needed to get used. Old school Strawberry Shortcake with a twist of sweetened greek yogurt cream and homemade biscuits.
One day I even had time to have a cookie day with my version of “monster cookies”. Pretty much an “anything goes” coolie, so perfect way to use up bits of this and that.. chocolate bunnies from easter, nuts, m&ms, etc. it’s no delicate tea cookie. Its a solid oatmeal and peanut butter base great dunking.
The boys got all excited about a 70’s fav dish with “shake & bake” porkchops, baked sweet potatoes & green beans from our childhood too which was part of retro week. When I did a past’ & beans for dinner. A favorite since I was a kid and money was tight. Its kinda like the italian-american version of fast comfort food. Not to mention all the Friday grill ups we have been doing
I’ll be getting some recipes up this week too
Always a challenge, but more so when I didn’t get off work till late. So after I did a search in the depth of my freezer to see what I had to work with.
With some frozen chicken, red potatoes, assorted herbs, broccoli and some jarred black bean and corn salsa. My dinner was set. After I added veggies to steam in the residual heat for a final few minutes. Dinner was ready in 30 minutes.
In the Instant Pot; add 5-10 red potatoes, rinsed and halved. Add 4-6 frozen chicken breasts, pour 1 cup of water and one 24 ounce jar of the corn and bean salsa, add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. Add a few stems of rosemary, (or any other herbs). Got some dried fruit? Sun-dried tomatoes? Toss them in too. Save Cilantro for topping at the end.
Turn the IP on pressure cook for 20 minutes, use then use the quick release, toss in the broccoli and cover again for 5 minutes to “steam”. Add chopped Cilantro, a few squeezes of lime and serve
Thats it!
While not everything I want is available at the stores- I am finding some fun in coming up with ideas using what I have. Vanilla Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip “Pop Tart” wedges, was one that rose to the top. Then just because Paul is lamenting the Walking Dead “COVID-interuptus” episode last week, his got topped with ice cream and a dollop of whip cream.
And a rainy Sunday seemed like a good day for banana choc chop & peanut butter bread
While we settled in after already being on lockdown for several weeks. The May 1 extension for #ShelterInPlace got my crazies in play too.
I adjusted the “kitchen” with labels and containers as the new “employee lounge”. With three adults all teleworking from home, often from 7am -7pm, this is where we meet during office hours. The boys appreciated my humor…
Order up!
I even joined in the scavenger hunt and put one of the only bears I have in the window. With a little light swing to brighten him up at night.
Of course Paul managed to make Dino part of the madness. Poor Dino but he is taking it in stride and loves us home so much.
As a fun distraction, way to connect and meet new people and mostly for general silly fun.
@frank_mentorsf
@frank_mentorsf #duet with @jamusic4 Taking a #StellaDora break from #Covid19 today.
@frank_mentorsf
