100 Year Old Rose Bush

Notice the crack in the foundation. The bush is pushing its roots out.

The colors of the flowers change as they come in. 

We have to fight it back every year, but it is so beautiful.

Creating a Garden Space

When I first got started on this project I went around my house and found what I could to create a border for the planter box. I found three boards and some rocks and some bricks. 

The raking of the leaves was difficult because of the fence. I could never get it all.

I tilled the dirt. This was harder than it looks because I am small and weak. I hate the weeds. 

I used the larger boards of wood in the back to try to prevent weeds from growing from that side. (In vain, I am sure) I positioned the other long board in the front and secured it with dirt.

I want to be a tidy gardener so I cleaned up the leaves on the cement. Then I swept and added the rest of my boarder. I will probably do the same to the rest of the garden space but this was enough for one day. I ordered my seeds from rareseeds.com, and will be late getting my plants in the ground. I should be okay though, because I live in zone, 8,9 and 14 in California. 

The First BBQ of the Season

Tri Tip Sandwich with Asparagus 

 I invited my mother over for some really yummy Tri Tip. It was our first time cooking the Tri Tip and so we used a thermometer. The middle of the Tri Tip should come off at 150 degrees F. You can let it go to 160 if you like well-done meat.

We drizzled oil over the Asparagus and spiced it with salt and pepper. 

After the meat was cooked and pulled off the grill, we let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Then we sliced it really thin to make sandwiches. We added the grilled onions and bell peppers,and avocado.

 

Then add desired cheese. We used Jack. 

I also collected grapefruit and oranges from the tree across the Street from our house. It is over 100 years old! 

 I juiced them until I had just under a pitcher full. I added 1 cup of Azucar/ sugar. Stir it up. We added vodka, soda water and ice. Soo good. 

We threw in in the broiler for 5 minutes or less to brown and crisp the top. Do not put top of bread roll on until after the broiling process. 

Sunday Morning French Toast

I had made some pretty heavy whole wheat bread from scratch. I wanted to enjoy it and really use it to the best of its ability. I decided to smother it in butter, egg, and sugar in a delicious French toast.

           

         

           

 I started by cutting the bread pieces thick. This technique is used to give room to the wet ingredients.

 The wet ingredients are    

4-6 eggs

6 Tablespoons of melted butter

Add Spices:

 1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp All Spice

1 tsp Ginger

1 tsp Cardamom 

       Add pieces of bread to the wet mixture and let the butter, and eggs soak into the bead for a few minutes. Flip and wait some more. Then add to hot nonstick pan till egg cooks and is right consistency. Flip.

Put butter on immediately. 

Add maple syrup. Serve with half a grapefruit and tea.

My First Loaf of Whole Wheat Bread, like ever.

 We received a kitchen aid mixer for a gift and were so excited to make bread with it. I followed the directions in the recipe book. The recipe calls for powdered milk when making whole wheat bread. I tried to convert it to actual milk and needed SOOOO much flour to compensate. I just kept adding and adding. It was a disaster actually. I was supposed to have gone out with a friend, but I had to cancel because I was stuck, adding flour to my wet ingredients. I had to take the dough out of the mixer and kneed by hand! It was too much.

Yeast

Flour, 

 I got out my grandmother’s baking mat. It is Tupperware brand and has lasted Since the 70’s. I keened the dough until I had the right consistency. I wasn't quite sure what that was because this was my first time. I separated the dough and let it rise for an hour. I rolled it up. I let it rise for another hour. Some of the separated parts rose longer than others and some had more dough.

Waiting for the dough to rise

Roll it into a long rectangle

Roll it up like a fruit roll up

Place dough in dish with oil all in it

On right: dough that is rising

  

Spiral

The best loaf

The one that did not make the cut

Loafs for sandwiches 

        

             5 loafs came out and 4 of them were eaten. The last one did not come out great and it eventually molded after 3 days. Two were smaller and were used for the chicken sandwiches.  One loaf I gave to my neighbors, and the best one, we made French toast with. 

I Love Mexican Night!

Ground Beef, Taco Shells, Olives, Avocado, Sour Cream, Cheese, Lettuce, Cabbage and Cilantro

    The most important part of Mexican night is having a lot of different ingredients to choose from. We did the taco shells ourselves from store bought corn tortillas. We use a high heat cooking oil. (grapeseed) We put the oil in a large pan on the stove top and heat the oil on high. We place the tortillas in the oil and then flip it creating a shell.  This is a hard task and we have practiced a few times before. Set aside.

          The beans are from a can and we just heat them up with some sautéed onion and garlic. We used black beans.

    

          We made ground beef on the stove top. Saute a pound in own juices with added spice mix.

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

  

          The Spanish rice was made by adding tomatoes with their juices, to the rice during the cooking time. Add salt to taste. Enjoy with cerveza.