Good morning! How are you today?
It has been hot and muggy and also we have been getting torrential downpours. Not many walks but I have been doing a few chair exercises.
I only wish I were that limber!
Don’t forget to be silly today.
…because a sprinkle of silly and a dash of absurd keeps that inner child disappearing into total adulthood. And you all know by now that my inner child is alive and well. Go outside and see something magical. My brain gets dusty if I stay inside too long. True!
Okay, so it doesn’t have to be a dragon. How about watching a bee collect that magical dust off a flower?
I would love to live in Willowhollow.
Willowhollow - Established in 2024 - Faith - Hope - Love - Dream Big - Be Kind
Enjoy the ride - Collect beautiful moments.
My imaginary home is on its outskirts on the edge of the forest.
There is a small pond out back for visitors to enjoy on these hot summer days. (As I have said before, imagination is a fine thing.) Jump in, we keep arm-floatation devices at the ready and there will always be someone looking out for you.
Later we will take a walk through the Secret Garden. Who knows, we might come across a fairy or two.
But first into the kitchen we go...
to make a few recipes.
Mix together and dip your bread…
Lori’s Recipe Journal - Bread Dipping Oil - 1/2 cup olive oil - 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon garlic, minced - 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese - Salt and Pepper to taste
Corn Chowder - Yield: 6 servings - Preparation time - 15 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes - Total time: 50 minutes.
Ingredients: 6 slices thick cut bacon, diced - 2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, diced - 1 leek (white part only), sliced - 2 celery stalks, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced - 2 tablespoons flour - 4 cups chicken broth
1-1/2 pounds Ukon Gold potatoes, diced - 5 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika - 1 teaspoon kosher salt - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream - 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar - 2 tablespoons chopped chives
Reserved bacon - Instructions: Cook the bacon until crisp, remove and reserve.
Cook the onion, leek and celery in the bacon fat and butter until softened Add
the garlic, cook for 1 minute. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in
the broth. Add the potatoes, corn, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Simmer for
20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Blend about one-third of the soup with
an immersion blender. Stir in the heavy cream and heat gently. Finish with cider
vinegar, chives and reserved bacon. Helpful tip: for extra depth let the soup rest for
10 minutes before serving, so that the flavors meld. Add seasonings and vinegar just
before serving. Flavor notes: Sweetcorn and smoky bacon, creamy potatoes and a
bright acidic finish, create a chowder with excellent balance and depth.
Another soup recipe
Cream of Anything Soup - Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup flour - 1/3 cup milk - 1/3 cup of broth - 1/4 teaspoon
onion powder - 1/4 garlic powder - optional: 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup
Cooked add-ins (chicken, mushrooms, etc) - salt and pepper.
Directions: Melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk
until mixture turns into a paste. Whisk in milk and broth until
thickened and smooth.
And for dessert…
Flourless Lemon Almond Cake - Ingredients: 2 cups (200g) almond flour - 1/3 cup (80ml)
fresh lemon juice - 1 tablespoon lemon zest - 4 large egg - 1/2 cup ( 120 ml) maple syrup
or honey - 1/2 cup (120g) plain Greek yogurt (optional for extra moisture) - 1 teaspoon vanilla
extract - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 1/4 teaspoon salt - toasted sliced almonds (optional). Optional
toppings: lemon glaze (powdered sugar and lemon juice - toasted sliced almond - light dusting of powdered sugar. Instructions: 1. Preheat and preparation: preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (175
degrees C.) Grease and line an 8-inch (20c) round cake pan with parchment paper. 2. Mix wet ingredients: in a large bowl whisk together eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, maple syrup, Greek
yogurt (if using) and vanilla. 3. Add dry ingredients: stir in almond flour, baking powder and salt
until fully combined. 4. Bake: pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes
or until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 5. Cool and serve: let the cake cool
before adding glaze or topping. Slice and enjoy!
Words
Philomath - someone who is passionate about acquiring knowledge
and constantly seeking to learn new things.
creativity and soul; to pour a piece of yourself into everything you do, creating
beauty in the process.
Wise words - because we all need a pep talk at times.
While on this ride called “Life”, you have to take the good with the bad, smile when you’re sad,
love what you’ve got and remember what you had. Always forgive, but never forget. Learn from
your mistakes, but never regret. People change, things go wrong. Just remember, the ride goes on.
“I am far from perfect,” sighed the Boy. “It’s true,” said the
rabbit. “You are real, which is better than perfect.”
THE COURAGE TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD - If you want to be authentic, be
prepared to be disliked. If you want to be private, be prepared to be gossiped
about. If you want to stick to your boundaries, be prepared to be seen as unfriendly.
If you don’t want to explain yourself, be prepared to be misunderstood.
One worth repeating
Not by Erin Hanson - You are not your age, nor the size of clothes
you wear, you are not a weight or the color of your hair. You are
not your name or the dimples in your cheeks, you are all the books
you read, and all the words you speak, you are your morning croaky
voice, and the smiles you try to hide, you’re the sweetness in your
laughter, and every tear you’ve cried, you’re the songs you sing so
loudly, when you know you’re all alone, you’re all the places that
you’ve been to, and the one that you call home, you’re the things that
You believe in, and the people that you love, you’re the photos in your
bedroom, and the future you dream of, you’re made of so much beauty,
but it seems that you forgot, when you decided that you were defined,
by all the things you’re not.
More good advice. Don’t forget to read the signs.
Make a choice
Live simply - Laugh often - Be kind - Enjoy the little things
This flower is for you, for all the silent battles you’ve fought and the strength no one sees.
Never forget you are a limited edition. There’s no one like you.
And on that note, I will say bye-bye for now…I’m
off to cause a kerfuffle
It’s a good day to have a good day.
And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.
John Muir was a very wise man.
And remember when you are in that forest…
You are Loved!
Thanks for visiting and
may your day be a great one.
(My thanks to Pinterest for today's inspiration.)
