Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of December, 2017.

Another COLD COLD day for us here in Edmonton and in Western CANADA.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.

Chatted with my brothers on Christmas Day and my sister.

Chatted with our friends from Regina…

Hard to believe that Christmas is all over for another year.

The decorations and our inflated bellies are all that remains.

I tried “Jamie Oliver’s” recipe for cooking the turkey and gravy this Christmas and was happy with the results.

An easy and extremely tasty way to make the turkey and gravy.

SANTA CLAUS was good to both me and Alvin.

My daughter and her family slept over two nights at our house which was so nice.

We ATE and ATE and ATE too much.

We played a new game for the kids but not new for me, “SEQUENCE.”

So much fun ……

 

It feels like early in the morning but here it is almost 8:30 a.m.

The sun is not up.

 

I am most grateful to have this week at home.

Our office is closed this week.

So grateful.

 

Well time to go and have a shower and wake up.

Alvin has an appointment this afternoon at his Doctor’s.

No worries, just his regular pedicure and stuff.

We are grateful that our friend is giving us a ride for I fear a walk in this cold would freeze his paws.

 

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: all my friends all over the world.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 26th day of July, 2015.

It is a glorious perfect morning …. sun shining check ….. blue sky check ….. cool breeze check …..

Absolutely perfect.

My neighbour is taking me to Costco to pick up a few things, okay more than a few things.

So as on Sundays I am usually making pancakes at this time or some Sundays.

I wanted to share my “Chocolate Pancake Recipe” – what could be better than chocolate for breakfast.

“Carol’s Chocolate Pancake Recipe”

2 cups flour

6 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

2 cups milk ( I use coconut milk beverage – the one in a box)

2 tbsp white sugar

1 tbsp cocoa  ( make it a heaping tablespoon)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Simply mix ingredients together.  Pour pancakes onto a hot skillet.

Makes enough for two people and enough for leftovers for one for a week …

Best with butter and good old maple syrup.

***  Try taking two cold pancakes and spreading peanut butter on them.  Makes a good “sandwich” for lunch.

ENJOY.

Well time to go to Costco.  No pancakes today.

Let me know what you think.

Happy Sunday Everyone.

Special Hello to: my sister ….. soon …. Pooh, soon.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 24th day of May, 2014.

Well here we are again …. another sunny Saturday morning.

So great….

There is a soft cool breeze blowing making it the perfect time for a walk.

I think it will be a very warm day.

We have so been looking forward to summer after such a long winter and cold spring.

One by one the neighbours are preparing their yards ….. raking ….. having the lawn aerated …. fertilizing…. planting flowers.

Be pet friendly when fertilizing.

The leaves are almost fully out ….. still at that brand new stage ….. not yet matured.

I do love this time of year …. not quite summer but feels close enough.

Alvin spent the night at his sister’s house.

They are looking after a friend’s doggie for the weekend.

So they have four puppies running around their house.

Yesterday when we dropped off Alvin before my daughter drove me to work ….. I got to see Alvin interact with the new puppy.  Finnegan, I believe his name is.

At first the usual sniffing each other.

Then Finn had a moment where he didn’t like Alvin (nothing bad happened just an angry bark and quick movement).

After that they kind of kept their distance but yet wanting to check each other out.

So cute.

I am excited to hear how the night went.

Kudos to them for having four doggies in the house.

They are so kind and so great with animals.

I call them my “dog whisperers” …….

Well I guess time to get this “old girl” to work ….. you know laundry …… dusting …. oh, Mr. Alvin is getting a hair cut when he comes home.

His second “favourite” thing next to the pedicure ( which by the way was yesterday and he provided the Vet’s Assistance with a less than stellar performance ).

His Momma was a bit disappointed and sad.

But then again there are things that I have to do and maybe I would feel better if I “whined and cried.”

Oh well, it is all good.

We all have to do things that are not our favourites….

It is all of the things that we love to do that gets us through our lives.

Right!

I need coffee ……………….. BIG CUP OF COFFEE ….

Oh, I hear the chair under the umbrella on my deck calling my name…….

Have a great Saturday.

Thought really for today is there will always be things we have to do as that is the nature of our lives ….. some will be pleasant and enjoyable and others not so much.

Just try and make sure you are doing more of the pleasant and enjoyable ones.

The things we love …..

Happy Saturday.

Special Hello: to my cousin “J” ….. I almost forgot that the recipe for the Fruit Cocktail Cake is under the Recipe Category.  Also note that you can use any 14 oz can of fruit with juice.  I used pineapple yesterday.  Good reminder for me to post the recipes that I promised a long time ago.  I have so many more to post.

Thanks J……

Always, Carol and Alvin …..

 

MY HUMMUS

List of Ingredients:

(1) 19 fl oz or 540 ml can of chickpeas or Romano beans

Reserve 1/4 cup of the liquid from the peas or the beans whichever you use.

1/4 cup lemon juice

6-7 cloves garlic (chopped) (Note: I love garlic so only put in what you like)

10 shakes or twists of the grinder of sea salt (about 1/2 tsp of sea salt)

(3) tbsp tahini

(2) tbsp olive oil

I put all of these ingredients in my kitchen aid food processor and it comes out in the perfect texture.  Thick soup like.

Note:  you could use a pastry blender to mash up the chick peas or the Romano beans.

I also add at the end:  a couple of tsp of freeze dried parsley, couple shakes of cayenne pepper and black/red pepper.

It keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days.  Although mine never lasts that long.

I also bake my own “tortilla chips” – simply cut into wedges either whole wheat or whole grain tortillas …. I bake mine on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

At 375 degree oven.  They only take about 3-4 minutes.  It is a good idea to watch them closely.  I usually flip them once so that they are baked evenly.

They are the perfect combination “hummus” and “baked tortillas”….. I also have them with my homemade guacamole.  So good.

I like to try new variations on existing recipes.  This is so good.  Perfect appetizer or with raw veggies or a salad is good for a light meal.

It is healthy and so tasty.

I hope that you enjoy.  I will be adding photos to my recipes along the way.

Always, Carol