Hallo,
It has been a long time since my last post...I've been quite busy with the cat and other activities but I have not forgotten my Mindful project so here it goes:
The Mindful project days #49
I am grateful for our cat Flor (in Portuguese or Floor in Dutch which means flower in English) and the joy that she brings me everyday.
Look at this cutie!
We got Flor from the animal shelter close to where we live. This cat is really sweet and likes to cuddle a lot which suits us. Besides, its my company during the day while my husband is working.
I have had many cats as pets but I had never seen one suckling on the paw as a toddler!!! I did some research and apparently it's not as uncommon as I suspected an its a behaviour same cats may bring from childhood!! So sweet!!
The Mindful project days #50
The joy that cooking brings me.
I love hamburgers, the best one I had was in a Bistro in Sweden and every since I have been trying to find another one but without success... so I decided to do them myself.
Usually I also bake the hamburger buns and a while back I found a simple and fast recipe that I would like to share with you. I have played a bit with the recipe and adapted it to my taste/view and this is the version I am sharing with you.
Rosa cherry's hamburger buns (makes 4):
-10g dry yeast
-1/2 cup luke warm water
-8% cup olive oil
-8% cup sugar (for the yeast however I don't always add and the buns turn out fine just bit more compact)
-1 egg
-1/2 teaspoon of salt
-2 cups of flour (with the flour you can play a bit and when I have it I do: 1 cup wheat white flour + 1 cup wheat wholegrain flour; you can also add a bit of fibbers or seeds such as poppy seeds)
I) In a large bowl dissolve the yeast in luke warm water. Add the olive oil and the sugar (optional) and let it stand for 5 minutes;
II) To the previous mix add the egg, salt and the flour (seeds optional). Pre-heat the oven at 220C;
III) Knead the dough until smooth and elastic (3-5 minutes). Do not let it rise. Divide into 4 pieces and shape them as you like;
IV) Place them in a tray covered with a baking sheet, cover the buns with a kitchen cloth and let them rest for around 10 minutes (a bit longer,~15 minutes, is also OK);
IVb) After the 10 minutes you can also add some poppy or other type of seeds to the top of the buns
This picture is from another time I made the buns
V) Bake them for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. The baking time will most likely vary with the oven you have so you will have to optimize that to your conditions.
Notes: The type of flour that you use will also change the texture and flavour of the buns, you will have to try and choose the best combination for you.
Today we made the hamburgers we had bought during our taste tour (Mindful project day#35) and
oven French fries from "normal" and sweet-potato which have more vitamins. This way uses much much much less oil!! healthier and very tasty!!
Some veggies and
voila the final result, yumm!!
The Mindful project days #51
Helping, doing something for a cause other than yourself, whatever it maybe!
Today I started my voluntary work in a biologic flower company close to us and I really enjoyed it! This company is a family run-farm that relies a lot on voluntary work. I like to work with plants and I think that interacting with people especially when I am trying to learn the language, will be good for me. Besides you get a feeling on how these type of farms work which is very interesting!
The Mindful project days #52
Life's magical moments!
Human-made surprises!
Can you believe the colours on these cheeses!!!! OK, orange and green fine, one may have tomato or paprika and the other some pesto but pink and specially blue/turquoise!!!!
Look at the amazing colour!! The vendor said it had blueberries which from my experience usually give a more purplish colour however this website http://www.instructables.com/id/Blue-Foods-Colorful-cooking-without-artificial-dy/ says:
"The pigment in the blueberry skin is blue at a neutral pH, but turns red when exposed to the acid of the berries (...) Blueberries will even turn green if they are exposed to too much of a base, such as in a pancake batter or muffin mix."
So it might be something in the cheese-making processe that turns the pigment blue/turquoise. I did not try it but I want to even thought at first impression the colour puts me a bit off as it resembles plastic....I will let you know!
The Mindful project days #54
Meeting people that enrich you!
Sometimes you encounter people that enrich you with their wisdom, after each interaction, an amazing human quality in my view! I am still very happy with my voluntary work and more happy with the people I am working with!
The Mindful project days #55
My navy blue eye pencil from NYC!
I love this colour, I think it goes well with my brown/dark green eyes. I think navy blue is the new black!
The Mindful project days #56
Dreaming of growing our little family!!
Today we went to our nephew (from my husband side) birthday party, 2 years!!
The Mindful project days #57
Paying attention to details that add character/history to a mundane object!
I England it was very common to find garden benches with a little dedication (yes, what you see in the movie Notting Hill actually is quite common!!) which I find very cool and a nice way to remember someone special.
On this Sunday walk we came across a wood bridge where each of the wood planks had a name from a sponsor (particular or company).
Its nice to know that these people made our walk in this field much more pleasant, Thank you!
Just a few names
The Mindful project days #58
Feeling creative!
In my crafts I very often like to create something with what I have in hand. I had small pieces of yarn around and I decided I would use them to make sleeping/house-socks. I started a long time ago and I actually made a post about it....("knitting tools" if you want to check!!), but they are finally done!!!!
I wasn't able to finish all the leftover yarn but I already have something in my mind for them!
The Mindful project days #59
Writing to friends!
I am a bit lazy when it comes to writing (and phoning....) friends... I love them, I think about them, I want to write but stuff gets in the way and time goes by...For shame, I know!!! However, if it involves making a personalized card then I am game! It's a very personal craft not only because its a handmade card but because I think of the person when I am choosing the design of the card.
Inside of the anniversary cake-card
Inside of the vintage-hydrangea card.
I should write more...The Mindful project days #60
Learning new things!
Today I helped my husband in one of his work projects, OK... I participated in a strawberry tasting! but I have to say I learned a lot about how to select good strawberries! and I enjoyed very much to help my husband (Love you bo!).
The Mindful project days #61
Picking flowers!!
I love to pick flowers and arrange bouquets for may house. One of my tasks at the flower company today was to pick Chrysanthemums, I could not do the bouquets but I still enjoyed it very much.
The imminence of Christmas!!!!
I know its still October, end of October but around here same shops already have Christmas stuff like X-mas house décor, tree-decorations, etc!
For me the days until the Christmas's day are somehow more exciting than the day itself! I like Christmas day but it goes very quickly you almost don't have time to process it all.
Have a lovely weekend!
