Azaleas and Japanese Maple

Azaleas are starting to bloom in the backyard. This one seems to be the first one to be full bloomed. But I am waiting for the azaleas in the front yard to bloom. I planted 'George Tabor' Azalea in the front yard last year. Just love the pale pinkish purple flowers. I will post it just as soon as they bloom. Our Japanese maple is doing well, too. It is already budding out! Bees are getting busy in the yard.

Squirrels love to jump on the bird feeder from here

Japanese maple Sango-kaku

Red branches and green leaves in spring

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Natto for Breakfast

Natto and avocado bowl

Sometimes I just have to have a bowl of rice in the morning. It's how I grew up, and it's my comfort food. Top it with nori, and just a little bit of soy sauce will complete the dish. A surprising green flavor and the butter like creaminess of avocado come through in this dish. 

Stir till really stringy

Only need 2 Tbsp of avocado

I used to love mixing natto with butter to top my bowl of rice. Avocado is a nice and healthier alternative to butter. You get a good amount of protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fat and vitamins from this dish. Super food!

This is what it looks like after mixing the two

I used the sprouting brown rice, a healthier alternative to the regular rice. You can eat this dish as a rice bowl as shown in the picture, but it is also great by itself. Have a glass of Sapporo beer when you eat it by itself, though! 
Recipe courtesy of Sister M.


Natto and Avocado Bowl

1 cup cooked rice
1 package natto
2 Tbsp avocado smashed
Soy sauce
Nori for garnish


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Collard Greens with Hard Boiled Eggs

My father-in-law grows collard greens among other things in his backyard. When we visited Arkansas, he gave us a couple of bunches to take home with us. He cooked for us once with poke salet (more on that topic later....), but I made it with collard greens this time. I've always loved collard greens, turnip greens and mustard greens. It's the first time for me to make this on my own, though. And I am not going to pretend that it's as good as his!

Add pepper sauce for the zing!

Healthy collard greens in the yard

Collard Greens with Hard Boiled Eggs

1 bunch collard greens
1 slice salt pork cut in small pieces
1 piece garlic minced
Red chili pepper flakes
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Smart Balance butter spread
2 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs

Salt pork is salt-cured pork. It's not smoked like bacon.

Sauté the salt pork and red chili pepper flakes in olive oil till crispy. Add garlic, onion powder and collard greens in the pan and sauté until slightly wilted. Add chicken broth and butter and simmer with the lid on for 45-60 minutes. Top with sliced hard boiled eggs. 


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Hendrick's and Sprite

Perfect for a warm spring evening

Hendrick's gin, Sprite and lime

Hendrick's has a juniper infusion as well as Bulgarian rose and cucumber to flavor the gin. Ever since we discovered this gin at our favorite restaurant, it's our choice of gin. It is not medicine-y like some of the gin we've had. It is fresh, it is bright, and it is floral.

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