No Cooking!

It is not uncommon for us to go out for food nor take food away to eat at home.  For one, the economics of cooking for two is not the most sound.  Although our decision is not that is of economics, but feelings. 

We eat out when we feel like it.  Or when I'm lazy to cook.  Or if I have an evening conference call.

Food delivery and taking food away are based on convenience and craving.

I cook for fun.  I love to cook.  I love it when my husbands says "wow", in between the first and quickly-following-second-bite. 

I like experimenting.

I like figuring out what to make out of "what we have" with us nearing the next shopping day, when supplies are low.

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Early this week my husband told me we should set a chore-less weekday.

This was a day that we won't do any chores (wohoooo!!!).  

This means no cooking. 

Yesterday was our first choreless weekday.

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I cheated.

Sorry :(

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I did some light cooking.  Roasted Chorizo.

Then put a few things we had together in a platter.  Food we had lying around like pistachios, walnuts, capers, olives, dulong in olive oil and grapes.  Luckily, we had a baguette, so I sliced that too and served.

Did I say that came with a bottle of Chardonnay? :)

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When I heard our front door opening, I literally shouted "Surprise!!!!".

Smiling, my husband walked into our flat.

Not a Birthday.  Not an Anniversary.

No reason.

Stuck at Home

"I will comfort you, child"

In dire need of comfort today.

My cramps were so bad that I couldn't get up this morning.  It was bad.  

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It did not help that my heart had not healed from yesterday's news that my yoga studio had officially CLOSED.

It is truly the end of the road.

END.

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By midday, I was physically feeling better.  However, my stomach was growling!  I only had a glass of soy milk for breakfast.

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Nothing in our cupboard or ref really appealed to me, so I sat by our dinning table to think about what to eat / cook.

McDonald's was first in mind, I have to be honest, all the Twister Fries posts by friends in the Philippines were getting to me.

So I sat there.

Staring at nothing.

Until... my eyes shifted to our 'fruit basket' that isn't really a fruit basket, and saw some baby bananas :)

(bright idea)

Thirty minutes later, "lunch".

closed door

I am still in some form of denial that my yoga studio may be closing for good.

Maybe that is a good thing, there are always new studios to checkout and different classes to try.  It is also a good opportunity for me to find somewhere more convenient.

I guess as I am such a creature of habit, my not-so-conveniently-located-yoga-studio feels like home and swapping for a closer one doesn't really entice me.

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There is a set of yoga clothes stored in my office drawer, something I keep there in case I have the sudden urge to go to class.  And while there is no chance at all that I am going this week, I had not brought it home yet.

Hoping?  Maybe.

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I practiced a little bit at home yesterday.  I needed the stretch.  And my short vacation caused some softness in the midsection. 

(Thanks Mom for keeping me well fed.)

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I feel a little bit melancholy. 

Somehow, my studio closing feels to me like a good friend is moving away for good. 

Maybe it is because of the strong association of the practice to the physical place.  My first yoga class ever, I took with this yoga company.

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I have started looking around and while there are two I had shortlisted, I don't think I am ready to commit.

I think I need more time.

Meanwhile, I have the feeling my yoga mat and block at home will take some beating till then. 

my one and OILY you

I told my husband that somehow, I had become a hippie.

That was me, exaggerating.  

It did not happen overnight, and I am still somewhat surprised with the number of natural treatments I embrace.

Tea Tree Oil.  That is what I use when I have insect bites, minor cuts and pimples.  We literally never run out of this at home.  It is the second most used oil in our home.

Rose Hip Oil.  I had stopped buying night cream for more than two years now.  A few drops of Rose Hip Oil on my face before heading to bed.  That's it.  

Peppermint Oil.  Lately I have been using a lot on this during that horrible time of the month.  Ladies, you know what I mean.  

Lavender Oil.  This, I put on the soles of my (and my husband's) feet at night.  It is supposed to help you sleep better at night.  Placebo?  Maybe.  But I love how it smells!

Baking Soda.  I use this for everything--the most obvious is for baking ;) but I also occassionally use it as an exfoliant, laundry soap, silver polish and... shampoo!   

family of growers

kindergarten

I think it was my mom who posted a a link to some 8 plants you can start growing quite easily.  It was about vegetables you can buy once and grow yourself.  

Road to self sustenance?  Maybe for some.

I'm doing it for fun :)

Now that I think about it, Red Onion was not even listed.  I'm a rebel like that. 

It also makes a good blog entry, the dish I'd prepare using my 'harvest'.  Maybe I'd use some Calamansi from our plant too.

Can't wait!

my sister's scallions

 Meanwhile, the women in our family decided they'd do it too.  These are my sister's scallions after less than a week.  

She says seeing the new leaves makes her smile.  She is adding a few more stalks, seeing how fast they grow.  

I don't have the photo here, but making smoothies a few weeks back, she decided to throw two avocado seeds into separate pots.  And guess what?  They are plants now!

Of cours it would be years until the avocado plants bear fruit, but it's still cool!

Miss Miami: Celery

My Aunt in the States chose Celery.  The photo here is Day 1, I'm sure we'd see her baby's progress as we go along.

I have a funny feeling she would grow other vegetables pretty soon ;)

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We are waiting for my Mom.  Not sure what she is growing but she swears she's starting in September.

señorita french toast

ba-na-na & cheese french toast
with walnuts, french vanilla almonds, maple syrup

As I was asleep before 9PM last night (yes, feeling feverish still!), I was up early this Sunday morning.

I looked at my sleepy husband and asked him if he wanted breakfast.

"Yes!  French toast!" he said with his eyes half closed and a smile on his lips.

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Thirty minutes later, I put this in front of him.  He is now wide awake and ready to eat.

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In the past, whenever I made french toast, it was the traditional way/ingredients.  Ever so often I'd put some cheese, making it savoury.  I like the creamy, stringy texture too!     

Today came in with extras.

Bananas were actually just sitting on our dinning table waiting to be eaten, these are that of the small variety called señorita.  I like to call them baby banana too :)

The nuts were part of a haul from an online store my husband's friend recommended.  

For breakfast, I was just obvious, they all had to come together!

finally home

one day pancit will come

Ever since we got our beloved aloe vera, I had been thinking of what would be next for us.  

We wanted to pace ourselves buying plants--like everything we have in our home right now.  It would be too easy to suddenly have a forest.  

I wanted a plant that would contribute to the kitchen; and look good too.  Chilli and Calamansi were the finalists.   

The Calamansi won.  For not only does it look and smell good, it is also my favourite Filipino ingredient!  I kid you not; when my cousin who moved to Canada told me that the thing she misses the most from home was Calamansi; I FELT THE PAIN.  Truly.  

What is pancit without calamansi?  SAD.    

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We are looking to welcome another plant into our home--when I find it.

There is a particular orchid variety that I WANT, but can't find to purchase.  There are a lot of VERY similar ones, but I am truly willing to wait for the one that takes my breath away.  I'm patient that way :)