HennyPenny's random thoughts. New set of goals!

[hennypenny9]

This weather is bizarre, to be sure. But the rain will come, it always does. We're also having this snow, OH, I mean cottonwood pollen. Seriously, we have DRIFTS of it. I don't remember it ever being this bad.

The cookbooks are awesome! Some won't tell you how long to bake it, like "bake at 350 degrees until done" and that's all! Here's one my grandma made. Virginia Beef Tongue. She wrote "delicious" next to it. The one I think I'll make first is Baked Rice and Cheese. I have all the ingredients. If it's good, I'll post it in the Kitchen section. And yes, some do call for "fat" The nice thing about these cookbooks, as someone else mentioned is the nice regular ingredients. I don't mind cooking something different every once in a while, but when I'm really broke (all the time!) I don't want to search high and low for garam masala or some such thing.

Still can't get my mom to ask her about the journal... I'm going to bother her into bringing up more of my grandma's stuff. She has it all, since she's the "hoarder" of the family. Also, maybe pictures!

 

[DrakeMaiden]

You can make garam masala. It is just cinnamon, black pepper, and I think cardamon. Heat them lightly in a dry pan and store in the fridge (if you make a lot of it). Sooooo . . . it isn't really that exotic of an ingredient, as long as you have cardamon powder handy. It makes bean dishes taste amazing, so in my book it is worth the effort and expense.

I think if you have been cooking long enough you know what "cooking until done" means. But, yes, it takes experience with all manner of foods, which takes time. It used to be that women grew up knowing how to cook. Not so much these days. :/

I'm holding you to the promise of rain, HennyPenny! I know what you mean about the cottonwood seed fluff, you must have more than a few cottonwood trees in your 'hood.

Big brown horse -- that is cool about the orchard journal. I try to keep some notes like that, but I really need to transcribe them into a nice book or something.

 

[hennypenny9]

Interesting! Nope, no cardamon powder. But at least it's just one thing.

So the house was shown today, and I thought I'd go sit by Lake Whatcom to pass the time, instead of shopping. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Whatcom_Basin1.JPG Um........ Mistake! The first few days of extreme warm and sun after a LONG hard winter, what do you think the problem is? Every single other person in Bellingham had the same idea. Lord, I knew before I even got to the turn. Bathing suit clad people, and people riding bikes only wearing a bathing suit, were FLOCKING to the lake. No parking, so I tried to leave. Took nearly ten minutes to get away. I swear there were HUNDREDS of people there.

We do love the outdoors here in Washington. Anyway, I went to sit in the area near Haggen, (I'll put up a pic at some point) which was better anyways because I smelled like Tea Tree Oil (it works for pimples, I swear!). I feel sunburned, though. And I sat under the shade! But it's 85 right now, so it's not surprising. Oh it felt so nice though!

And for the record, I may complain about the heat, but not if it's combined with something else. Like sun and a swimming pool. Or sun and a lake or river. Sun and the beach. You get my drift.

 

[big brown horse]

Hey Henny, have you noticed? The heat has broken, it is cool again! I have to put on my "June-evening-appropriate" sweatshirt.

My horses are wild with delight!!

Have a great evening, tomorrow is FRIDAY! <----Friday dance!

 

[hennypenny9]

BBH- Yup, it got really windy late last night and poof! Normal temperatures! Yesterday Bellingham came within one degree of breaking the record high. It's currently 70 degrees, and I'm totally cool with that.

I went to pick up my soap making stuff today! I tried to order it online, and they emailed back and were like "we're located in Bellingham..." I would recommend them! Here's the online site. /http//www.brambleberry.com So I got their cheap scale, palm oil, lye, and red apple scent. All I need is the mold now. Help! I need a mold big enough for a 4.5 lb batch.

Oh, I was so wrong about where my grandparents lived. My mom isn't actually sure, either, since she wasn't even born. Either Okanogan, Washington, or Friday Harbor Washington. Ha, they moved to Seattle later. At the beginning of the journal she must have been expecting the twins. I've yet to see any reference to morning sickness, or other symptoms. I'm betting she had big babies, she was really tall. And she was worried when my mom was born because she was "so small!" And my mom was 6 lb something ounces. I think the boys must have been 9 lbs? So a six pounds baby scared her.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

HennyPenny, if you want a more exact recipe for garam masala, let me know . . . but you could probably find one on the internet anyway.

I'm curious about the area you are talking about by Haggen . . . it has been a long time since I've been up your way. I used to spend way too much time at Lake Padden, myself.

Heat is not bad when you have nothing to do but sit around, especially if you have access to cool water, or if you are in the mountains even. I just don't like it when I have tiresome chores to do.

 

[hennypenny9]

Picture time! Sorry they're so big!

I reorganized my pantry! The spices are now in alphabetical order.

This is my hair after its freak out for switching to the Castile soap and ACV routine. I must admit that I straightened it that day, but you get the idea.

Peony. Notice the crab grass growing behind it. I'm awesome.

State flower of Washington, the rhododendron.

See all the cottonwood pollen??

The is from the top of Alabama Hill in Bellingham. You can see all the way to the Bay from there.

This is the nice area outside of Haggen (grocery store) there is a trail leading off to the right. It's the store that's in Barkely Square. I know there are at least two other Haggen's in Bellingham, but this is the one I like.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Oh ok, I thought you meant the Haggen by the college. LOL Not much but scotchbroom around there . . . or used to be anyway. That looks like a much nicer area that you chose to stop at.

Was it humid when you took the photo of your hair? My hair gets weird when there is humidity. But it also gets weird when it gets too much sun. :

Have a great weekend HennyPenny. I'm jealous of your lovely organized food pantry!

 

[big brown horse]

Wow, your pantry looks so good, potential buyers are going to notice!

Hair looks healthy.

Mountian view!!! Nice!

 

[Blackbird]

Nice pics!
Your hair is very pretty Henny.
All my flower pictures have crab grass in the background too, but its prettier than dirt, so it works.