Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Craving the Summer Sun

late summer sunflower
I'm dreaming of summer
as we have a snow storm

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Roasted Yam and Garlic Soup

yum!
a favourite soup from the rebar cookbook

Roasted Yam and Garlic with Smoked Chilies and Lime

6 cups vegetable stock
2 large yams
2 garlic bulbs, roasted
4 tomatoes
2 red peppers
2 tbsp oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp minced sage
2 tbsp minced oregano
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ancho chili powder
pinch allspice
2 tsp chipotle puree
1 tbsp maple syrup
juice of a lime
salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Using a fork, poke a few holes in each yam. Place on a baking tray and roast until soft and collapsed, about 45 minutes. You can roast the garlic bulbs at the same time. When the yams are tender, cool slightly and remove skins. Squeeze flash from the roasted garlic bulbs.
2. Halve and seed peppers. Place peppers and whole tomatoes on an oiled baking tray and roast until skins begin to puff and brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap for 10 minutes. Peel away the skins and set aside.
3. Heat oil a large soup pot. Add onions and saute until transparent. Add garlic, spices and herbs and cook until garlic is golden. Stir in peeled, roasted vegetables, the stock and chipotle chilies. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Puree soup until smooth. Whisk in maple syrup, lime juice and season to taste with salt and pepper and more chipotles if desired. Serve hot.
Serves 6. Yum!
(I made a few changes to the recipe, there was a couple of ingredients I didn't have so I made do..sometimes you have to in a small town)


Late afternoon walk

here I am
don't I look thin
hehe
love these long shadows of winter!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Fine Feathered Friend

the ravens, and other birds enjoy Miss beans leftovers

love ravens!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

February Fog

I took this photo out my front door,
a few minutes ago,
fog thicker than pea soup


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Miss Beans Breath ...

makes fabulous frost patterns
on the inside
of the porch windows

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Enough Snow

the greenhouse is slowly being buried

Background Noise




I will admit that I will be more than happy when the construction is finished on the long term care wing at the hospital, in our backyard. I am not sure what this contractor is doing but they have really noisy trailers, a constant drone in our day.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Beach Days

hanging out at the beach with Mark!

My New Best Friend??

I asked Mark to get me a recumbent exercise bike for my belated birthday and Christmas present. I did quite a bit of research, and chose the Tunturi F30R. It came this week, and Mark set it up for me yesterday.
The surgeon said this would be about the only exercise I can do. I only rode for about 5 minutes yesterday, my left knee is very sore even to the touch today. I am hoping it is the weather affecting the osteoarthritis and not the teeny bit of exercise I gave it yesterday. I am starting off slow and will gradually build time.
Fingers crossed that the bike and I will get along famously!

Tunturi F30R, my new best friend!