Thursday, April 16, 2020

Looking forward to feeling so much better about everything~







And..it's snowing.
Baked some easy egg/challah bread..made the dough in the machine then shaped..it makes a small loaf and that's great for J and I.
The recipe is so easy..

La recette~

3/4 cup water
2 eggs
1 tbsp butter
3 cups flour
3 tbsps sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsps yeast

All in the bread machine..  remove ..shape..

I followed the shaping here as I forget from time to time..

Let rise ..brush w/ egg yolk mixed with water..sprinkle sesame seeds.
Bake in a pre heated 350 oven for 25 mins..I think I did 375F.

Another dish that was so good..reminds me of my youth ..is Un Macaroni Chinois:)
I found the recipe at Cinq Fourchettes..Nancy is a QC blogger /recipe developer.cookbook author.

I know many don't read French so I wrote it quickly for friends..in English..



Here you go..not my best calligraphy nor my best pic..mini Ipad pic..recipe written early morning to share on IG..

Footnote
PS..Don't use the roasted sesame oil to sauté..just to flavor..use reg oil for the sauté..and IF you use the SPeppercorns..make sure you crush a lot..either by dry roasting first and grinding ..or another method..or just use ord.pepper.
Linda was kind enough to tell me the proper ways:)





Still playing with paints and just wanted to share a great IG story by Kateri Ewing about using color dot charts to create our own unique palettes with colors that speak to us.
I've always liked them..as you can see from 2017 and The Holbein card..and from a home made one bottom right.I make messes of them..that's fine..I have so many pristine cookbooks and who cares if they are pristine:)?
It's really not easy to stay home..and not be so very concerned with everything going on.
The death toll in CHSLDs here is very tragic.
How can you live a whole life..and end up old and alone ..being cared for by not enough staff..
Even in private places that charge up to $10,000.00 a month?
I just don't get it.They paid taxes..most raised families.
A crying shame.

This is just a tip..so much is so different.

You just can't turn a blind eye.

I find it very hard to be anything but introspective right now.

I am forever grateful to have hobbies.

I always liked to dabble in things...
but one day.I realized they would be floating devices.
Who would know these things?

Oh my..I know in one of my families..the parents are working from home and busy.. 3 boys ..who are out of school ..with..no structure like in school..I know their bonds just grow stronger and stronger..and they never complain..but as a mom ..I worry about all of them.
Our other family..one son..the dad is a policeman so still works..the mom at home..because she's a teacher..so Noah is alone..with mommy being his end all..she's used to it but now it's 24/7.
It has to be exhausting for parents.
I find my children are excellent parents and that warms my heart.

Ok I won't keep going on because there are 1000 subjects I could broach and we all have opinions.
I must say..and you all know I'm not political..
I sure like Gov.Cuomo.

And I LOVED getting some pics through IG..from a mom and her daughter that are pretty special.. honing their craft♥
We have to focus on other things than the news at times..
Like cute photos..This little girl has excellent parents too.





I mean ..come on.
♥♥♥
Take care~

33 comments:

  1. Here all at home working and study, some days I feel tired.
    Today is Hubby 's birthday I made Tres Leches cake and Esperanza is making the meringue. Anyway we celebrate birthdays always .
    Your bread looks beautiful Monique !
    hugs

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  2. Dearest Monique,
    One wonders for how much longer we are being locked down... Time is passing by fast, which is good because we are very busy.
    But it feels so drab, not really knowing which day of the week it is!
    Love your bread and also your Chinese macaroni.
    Yes, we have to be very resourceful in cooking and managing often without certain fresh ingredients.
    So far so good... If I had time on hand I too would bake bread.
    Hugs and stay well!
    Mariette

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  3. My sweet Monique. Like you, I am having a difficult time with everything that is going on. My heart breaks into a million pieces every day, when I read about hundreds of peopled dying in care homes. How? Why? I think it is symptomatic of a society that does not care for their elderly in any measure and that deeply saddens me, not just because I am becoming old either. The lack of compassion in many young saddens me. The herd mentality saddens me. But then I see photos like yours, of wee girls who love to paint, and it gladdens my heart. Your art gladdens my heart. People sharing recipes gladdens my heart. Your bread gladdens my heart. People reaching out in amazing ways gladdens my heart. I think when we are stuck in the house like we are the temptation to dwell on the negative is here, but there is so much more posivity and hope to cling to. I suppose it is a choice we each have to make. But the elderly, it still breaks my heart. Love and hugs. Stay safe and stay well everyone. xoxo

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    1. Unimaginable..It really is hitting the CHSLDs the most..there is an urgent call to caregivers..on top of this virus..and uncertainty..people are grieving.Life on hold.
      I mentioned to someone it's a time thief..stealing time away..from loved ones..So the people not listening..are thieves in a way:(Until there is a vaccine..nothing will be the same.
      Katie's little face brightened my DM on IG exponentially.
      Thank you Marie:)

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    2. I like the way you put that, the people who don't listening are tim are like thieves. Stealing from all of us. xoxo

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  4. Over here, it rains. Not that it makes much difference, since we remain prisoners. But the truth is that the sun makes all the difference. I still don't know how I'm going to spend today, maybe cooking, maybe knitting, maybe reading or a little bit of everything. Have a nice day, dear Monique.

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    1. You too Nina..I know this must be very hard on you.You're our traveler..our sight seer..Kudos and bon courage.Glad you have your flowers and knitting and cooking:)Take care!

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  5. Your bread ♥ So beautiful and it sounds delicious. The bread machine makes bread making so much easier. It's a shame that they've raised the price to purchase them, if you can even find one! It is one big appliance that I have never regretting buying. So sad about the care homes. We call them nursing homes here and the same thing is happening. 29 people have died at one and some won't even tell how many have died. I can't imagine working in one myself and I know that finding good, reliable care workers is difficult. They are mostly underpaid and low income people who work in them that do most of the grunt work. Maybe a nurse or two to oversee medications and such. The profits are mind-boggling. Everyone loves Gov Cuomo ♥ I hope he runs for president one day. Thank you for the tips on the recipe! What a sweet girl with her art work. Lindsay just found out yesterday that their boys will be out of school for the rest of the year :( They have 3-4 hours of online classes per day and Lindsay has a tutor lined up for the summer when some of the severe social distancing is lifted. They are missing out on so much though, is heartbreaking. I feel worse for your bigger boys as their time in school is so crucial now. Who would have ever thought this would be happening. We had a video chat with Lauren and Wes last night for almost 2 hours. We're teaching them how to play cribbage - LOL.

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    1. I love that you did that with Wes and Lauren💕You are all so close it is heartwarming.Lindsey is really on top of things..kudos to her!
      So it's everywhere in the nursing homes..
      Funny someone else told me they hope he is president in 2024.What a year that will be.
      I am sick of politics.
      I could not believe the bread machine prices..supply and demand I guess.
      Grateful to have had for years.z y hands cannot knead bread..and I find the bread machine bin so easy to clean compared to stand mixers etc..Gems.
      Have a good day..here's to better ones ahead!

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  6. Wow, your bread looks amazing! I am going to try making some since I bought some yeast from Ebay. I do have a bread machine and also a machine that kneads bread. Glad you have so many hobbies to stay busy. Take care.

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    1. Our gardens are still being sprinkled with small flurries..April is never pretty here..no leaves..brown..no flowers..dead grass..the gardens emerging will be so nice.
      You are fortunate to have such lush lush gardens..
      This bread is fun to make..not too big:)
      Have a good day Linda!

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  7. Monique, the flatlay is perfection! The way you nested the beautiful bread within the soft linen, and that darling watercolor, Just Stay There! I would frame it and keep it on an easel! Your watercolors are so dear! Our gold bunny has been consumed. I gave him to my chef Easter morning! No darling image, not even a photo, and now the chef is craving more chocolate bunnies. Not to be found! I should have filled his baske. He loves his nightly chocolate. 😍 Monique, you inspire more than you could ever realize. I want to wrap myself in your images. They are calming, full of joy, and just what my being needs. It's spring here, no snow, but the days are brisk. This morning is grey again, but no rain. I plan to work in the garden today. Things need a refresh, but odly, I have beautifu blooms in my containers. We didn't have a hard freeze, and all the spring rain has made things happy. Even my white impatient are happily blooming as if they were fresh and new! I wisely cut them back, and now they are rewarding me! One of my grocery stores sold Lemon Cyprus toparies at Christmas, so I added some to containers on the terrace. Even they continue to thrive! Once the heat of summer arrives. they will not be happy. I've rarely been successful keeping them fresh and green through the summer. Janice grows them in her yard in Newport Beach. She told me she started them as mini trees like I have. Perfect climate there. Not so much here! But I will try again! My hydrangea is blooming, but the azaleas and camillias are finished. I keep waiting to see if my ginger will bloom. In years it doesn't freeze back, it puts on a beautiful show.
    Well, enough of my chatter. Have a beautiful cozy day with your paints and yarn. Hugs from your friend in Texas!

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    1. Your story is so nice..It will be very welcomed here when we can be out in the gardens..we had a tease..and now we're being teased with intermittent snow flurries..Gardening never starts until May 24th ap..so imagine with all this how grateful we will be.
      WE are at the moment listening to Gov Cuomo again..I love how he intersperses the reality of now w/ human reflections such as his daughters..his mother.He brings tears to my eyes.
      So transparent..so smart..so loving.
      I love your chatter..never ever stop!

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  8. Hello Monique...💛
    Before you know it...you will be busy in your gardens...💕🌸💕
    Your seeds will start to flourish...🍃
    I have the same worries for my kids and grandkids...but everyone is well...and trying their best...🌟
    I cannot imagine people who are not cooks...and depend on fast food and packages for their meals...doubly difficult...
    Your hobbies re fabulous....and you excel at them all...keep up the good work my friend!!
    Cloudy here today...but, hopefully a walk later...😉
    Enjoy your day...it can only get better...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. hello to you too:)♥
      I am grateful we never got used to eating out too..I am even glad we are used to being home and not really social butterflies..lol by far.

      I've been organizing and spraying some seedlings w/ peroxyde and water..a little too ripe;)I tend to kill them at kindness at the beginning..

      It can only get better:)xx

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    2. I used to lose a lot of seedlings too Monique...that is why I gave up...then started again with Vivian 🌿...but on a much smaller scale...
      You always have good luck...inside and out...
      Crummy Sunday here...dark...windy...cold...blah
      Having Turkey soup for dinner...with a nice toasted bun... 🎶 "Puttin' On The Ritz"🎶
      Enjoy your evening!!

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  9. Thanks for the recipes- both keepers! Doing much the same here, with daily walks along a deserted beach. My daughter and son-in-law are still working. He from home and she works with children with autism, so considered essential. Like Noah, Landon is home, but with Dad most days. Homeschooling is not going so well. Wish I could help, I miss him so!

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    1. A deserted beach sounds good.It really does as I have always preferred seeing that stretch with no one.So zen and introspectful.Wait..my fave beach views are with the boys on it💙Like you.What a memory thief this Covid.
      Landon and Noah💙
      I hear you.....

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  10. I love that house(?) drawing in yr sketchbook.
    I never can figure out those dot color cards...if I have some they are coming to you after LD.
    I'm so isiolated here, except for family and friends in the US. One niece had a very light case and is over it merci deux🙏🏻 I admit I tey not to read the addictive news too much. So many awful numbers. i dont know how to process it or make them real. I just keep drawing, cooking, feeding the birds and watching Japanese anime (My friend Totoro). Oh and shopping when I can sneak out early. I will leave introspection for later like Scarlett said... The hardest thing is not to buy all the cookies I see out there ;(( Its early and later I'm sure I'll want to delete this comment.

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    1. It's Le Galoubet..in Provence..I would bring the dot cards and paint while we had lunch:)
      I know you are isolated there and I would like to have some of your genetic composition in my next life.
      I have never in my life lived alone.
      And look how well you cope!Impressive.

      Jacques has the news on morning..noon and night 3 meals with gloom.
      It's God awful out there.
      One man on our news..not old..60's..had placed his wife in an extended care facility because of advanced alzheimer's..he said he felt as though he had placed her in a slaughterhouse.I'm telling you the news is bad coming out of those places.
      Your Governor..is a shining beacon Carol.
      Thank heavens..you've always been your own girl..and so passionate about your art and Paris.
      Keep well!

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    2. Get him those earphones...the little ones.
      I dont see why you should have to listen too😠

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  11. Thanks Monique. Your posts and words always lift my spirits. XO

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  12. Thanks for the recipes, bread can be such a work of art! Doing much the same here, with daily walks interspersed with working from home. We admire Joe's garlic growing, and try to find joy in the little things.

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    1. You are a shining example in this social distancing:) And so cute w/ Joe:) Stay well!

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  13. Que boas ideias e sugestões... fiquei fã! :)

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  14. Beautiful fruit painting and I adore your home-with-gold-bunny piece. It's simply happy. Thanks for the link to the dot chart idea. I think today I will make my own! I decided that today I will do something where I can (try to) paint more freely. That's my huge challenge. So I'm going to raw sketch something and see how it goes. The sun is out and it's beautiful. Later a walk. I love being here. It's always so beautiful and I always leave happy!

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    1. I feel the same way visiting you:) I learn..I see..it's refreshing.That's what I am yearning for,distraction but in a nice way.You do that!

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  15. I made bread as well, a walnut and raisin loaf. I'm spending more time than ever in the kitchen these days.
    Amalia
    xo

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