March 7th.

It was a beautiful sunny day but with a husband gone and a baby who didn't want to sleep I got pretty much nothing done. I badly need to do some gardening but this week looks packed with appointments and no help with the kids.
I need sleep very badly... maybe tonight? Does knitting count as deep meditation you think?

March 5th

Well, the day started well enough but baby got a split lip today when falling on one of her toys.
She recovered a lot faster than her mama.

It was bloody cold too. Well, as much as it can get cold in Sacramento that is.

On the menu tonight:

Roasted potatoes with rosemary

Lamb chops with olive oil and herbes de Provence under the broiler

March 4th.

A beautiful, sunny day today. The backyard is a total swamp though. It's going to take a while before all of that water is absorbed by the earth.
I made a cake today. The one I make a lot. A lot. Some might say too much, but is there such a thing as too much cake, mm?
This is a very easy old french recipe. It's actually at least a century old and I bet even more than that. Since my entire family still makes it that should say something. It has been the first birthday cake for all my children, even for my third who was sensitive to dairy and soy. I modify the recipe depending on what I have at home. I have even made it without eggs and it comes out perfect. You do not use measuring cups or spoons for it. Just use a regular glass ( mine holds 1 1/4 cup ). You can use a smaller or bigger glass, the only thing that will change is the cooking time. Be careful, if you go too big the edges and top of your cake willl brown too quickly and the inside won't be cooked. Split it into 2 baking dish instead.

Here is the original recipe:

The Simple Cake


Preheat the oven to 375 F


Mix 2 and a half glasses of flour
       1 and a half glasses of sugar
       3 tsps of baking powder
        a pinch of salt
        1 packet of vanilla sugar or 1 tbsp of orange flower water


Make a well and pour in the center:
         1/4 glass of oil (I use olive oil ) and 3/4 glass of milk
         2 eggs


Whisk together and put in a greased dish.


Here are some of the variations I have done:


Replace 1 glass of flour with 1 glass of almond meal
Replace the milk with hazelnut or oat milk
Replace the eggs with 4oz of pear or apple sauce for each missing egg
Replace the orange flower water with anise or almond extract
Add berries or fruit to the dough
Add a large handful of sliced almonds
Add 2 large handfuls of chocolate chips


Bake in the oven for 40 mns or until a knife in the middle comes out clean.

  

March 2nd

I love March. I love the constantly changing weather, the clouds, the rain, the sun, the rainbows. The way that particular March light has a glow and a darkness just at the same time. I love thunderstorms.
We had all of that today and the light at 5 pm was incredible:

What's for dinner tonight?


Pasta with a Meat Sauce:


Cook sliced carrots, celery and onions in olive oil. Add chopped chard and buffalo meat and a bay leaf. When the meat is brown add canned tomatoes and a pinch of cinnamon, salt and pepper. Cook for 30 mns or more and add to pasta.

March 1st.

A beautiful Spring day today. Unfortunately our dog Piper tore a ligament this morning. She is a big dog as she is part Mastiff and we knew that  knee was not in good shape but it was quite a shock. Hopefully she'll get better on her own or she will have to have surgery.

I spent most of the day outside with my little one as she is learning to walk, it was a lot of fun. I did not get much done otherwise and I need to hurry and plant more seeds or we'll not have cool weather vegetables to last us until the summer crop takes over.

Lunch:

Fennel bulbs with a red onion, cooked in olive oil for a bit, then add chicken broth and simmer until tender. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.


Dinner:

Cut sausages in slices and cook in olive oil until browned. Remove from the pan. Add mushrooms and curly kale, cook for a while. Add chicken broth and after 5 mns add the reserved sausage. Simmer together for 15 mns.
Serve with rice.

We are waiting for a storm tomorrow... maybe I'll get lucky and get to garden a bit in the morning. That is, unless the baby wakes up at 5 am again and that I'm just too tired.