Potted Plant Project

The weather has been so strange this year, I haven't figured out what to do with our garden yet. Potted plants are easier to start with when you are feeling a bit overwhelmed.

My first potted plant project. 

Dwarf spruce and viola

Purple and yellow viola

"I'm happy when Mommy's happy!"

There are several more planters to be dealt with.
More projects, more fun!

Happy spring, y'all!

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First Day of Spring

I got out to the backyard this morning and noticed two trees with a bunch of flowers on them. I could swear they weren't there yesterday. How did they know that today is the first day of spring? 

Jane Magnolia blooming

Getting taller and more flowers every spring

I think it's a kind of pear tree but not sure.

Our backyard is full of these violet weed flowers.

They may be weed flowers, but they're pretty!

My photo assistant

Forsythia is still going strong...

Bye bye winter!

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Soft Boiled Eggs Soaked in Soy Broth

These eggs are soaked in yummy broth for at least one day so the flavor gets inside the white and the yolk. I take these over deviled eggs any time.

Delicious by themselves. You can drizzle chili sesame oil for a little kick!

Soft Boiled Eggs Soaked in Soy Broth

5 eggs
1 cup water
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tsp powdered bonito broth
1 Tbsp mirin
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp vinegar

In a medium sauce pan, place the eggs in cold water. Bring the water to a gentle boil and leave it for 5 minutes. I like soft boiled eggs better in this dish than hard boiled eggs. If you like harder eggs, try cooking for another minute or so. Take it off the heat and drain the hot water. Add running water and ice cubes in the sauce pan and set aside for a few minutes. This makes the peeling process a lot easier. Peel eggs and set aside. 

Cook at gentle boil for 5 minutes.

Cooling the eggs right away will make peeling easy.

In a separate sauce pan, combine water, soy sauce, bonito broth, mirin, vinegar  and sugar. Warm to make sure everything is mixed well. In a tall Ziploc soup container, place the eggs and pour in the warm broth. Cool in the fridge for at least one day. If you can soak them longer, the egg yolk absorbs the flavor as well and gets really yummy. I soaked my eggs for two days this time.

Making the warm broth bath for the eggs....

Soak eggs in the broth and chill.

After two days in the broth. The yolk is darker in color.

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Tofu with Zhacai Chili Oil Topping

So I'm trying to see if I can stick with this diet where you stay away from sugar and carbs for two days of the week, and get back to your normal diet for the rest of the week. Tofu is my go-to food to kick off the new diet.

Garnish with sesame seeds and parsley.
Cilantro would be even better.

Tofu with Zhacai Chili Oil Topping

1/3 of tofu
1 Tbsp Chinese pickles, zhacai, chopped
Drizzle of sesame chili oil
Drizzle of soy sauce

Cut tofu into 3 inch cubes. Plate them on a small dish. Top them with chopped Chinese pickles and drizzle with sesame chili oil and soy sauce. Serve room temp or chilled. 

zhacai vegetable

Pickled zhacai

Pickled zhacai in a jar

I always have this jar in my fridge. Such a versatile condiment.

The crunchy, salty zhacai and chili oil are great accompaniments for bland blocks of tofu. These pickles have a pungent smell and flavor, but they're absolutely addicting once you taste them.

Drizzle this...

on the blocks of this....

and top them with these....

Tada!

Don't feel deprived when you're on a diet!


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Sautéed Kale with Anchovy and Tomatoes

I try to make one side dish out of a big bag of kale before freezing it for my smoothies. This time, I made it with a bit of anchovy paste and tomatoes. Mmm!

Sautéed Kale with Anchovy and Tomatoes

4 cups fresh chopped kale
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
1 Roma tomato, diced
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp anchovy paste
1/2 tsp tomato paste
Sprinkle of red chili peppers
Sprinkle of oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Splash of lemon juice

Warm garlic in a skillet, add sliced onions. Add chili peppers, oregano, anchovy, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt and pepper. Toss in kale and coat. Squeeze a fresh lemon on top.

Salt and pepper well at this point to your liking.

No need to cook too long, just enough to wilt the kale and coat with the sauce.

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Sowing Grass Seeds

It rained all night last night. I should have spread the grass seeds for our unsightly patchy backyard yesterday so the seeds have the time to get soaked in rain. Oh, well....

Early bloomer

This means yard work....

We have a few owls in our backyard. I love the sounds they make at night, but Kona gets freaked out and starts barking at them, keeping us up. Maybe it's time to put him in his house at night. 

"I get angry at owls because they sound funny."

Our forsythia is blooming. One of the earlier ones to bloom in our yard. I love early bloomers in spring when cold weather is still lingering. They cheer me up.

Rain drops on the petals of forsythia

"I like it when you're outside with me, Mommy!"

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