365 - 58 & 59

Red Flowering Currant - from our yard. The hummingbirds and bees love this native Oregon plant. We have several bushes in our yard and they are just loving this little spurt of warm, well sunny, days we have had in the last couple weeks.

Yet another sign of Spring fast approaching. Flowering Cherry. I put my buttinsky on my bike today and rode downtown. Its a short little ride, but a start to get used to my bike seat. It always takes me a few rides to get over the soreness. I am so very, very bummed that I have let my biking go over the last couple years. I love to ride. I've gotten lazy or something. Not exactly sure what my deal is. Its so much easier to ride from our house in Sellwood than it ever was from my home. So, my goal this year is to be on my bike. Wish me luck.

365 - 57

I get caught in my own tiny world. Get up, go to work, go home, work out, make dinner, sleep, start all over again. I don't make it a habit to take a different route, because the route I take seems to be the most efficient. I don't make it a habit to do anything out of my routine and it can make life and my world feel very small and boxed in. I was desperate for a photo today that emphasized 'texture'. This is all I could come up with. I actually quite like this photo. But its still just a macro of a painting in my office that I have looked at for years. Maybe I can use this as an example to see the ordinary with new eyes.

Oy! In a serious rut. Maybe Spring's arrival will help me out of my doldrums.

365 - 56

The Convention Center as I drove by it. Terrible lighting, nothing exciting happening in the photo, exactly nothing spectacular about this photo... and I love it.

Comfort Food - Celeriac Mashers

I'm a comfort food junkie. Give me potatoes in any form, give me bread in any form, gravy, hamburgers, yellow cake with chocolate frosting...... are you getting the idea here. Last night, I made one of my 'go to' comfort foods. Mashed potatoes and celery root. Its tasty and its, all things considered, very low in calories. That would be compared to the way I see so many people making regular, normal, routine, delicious, dairy laden mashers.

photo from wikipedia

So, I'm sharing. This is the way I make them now, for Mister and me. Equal parts of your favorite potatoes (for us, red or yellow) and celeriac (celery root). Cut up these two with the potatoes being at least twice the size of the celery root. The celery root takes longer to cook, so if the chunks are smaller, you can cook them all together and have them be done at the same time. One clove of garlic. You can certainly boil this until fork tender, but I prefer to use a steamer basket to cook these three ingredients. I place the celery root on the basket first, then the potatoes on top and then just throw in the garlic. It uses less water this way, and I am trying to be all about the conservation of water.

When those are fork tender, dump it into a colander in the sink then return the food to the warm pot. Place over a burner on low. I added broth to this (instead of what most people use - milk) then Lawry's Seasoned Salt and pepper and dried parsley and last night I threw in a handful of chopped fresh cilantro. Mash away to your heart's content. I actually left ours VERY chunky last night. About half of the concoction was mashed up the other half was not. I just keep adding the broth and mashing until it gets to where I want it to be.

For the 'gravy' I sauted mushrooms until they were browned and carmelized and then drizzled a bit of olive oil over it all.

We find it very delicious.

If you think you want to try this, but are concerned about liking the celery root, when Mister and I started doing this, years ago now. I used a ratio of potato to celery that was heavier on the potato. I just kept adjusting the ratio and we are now half and half.

So, celery root has very little calories and you can eat until you are relatively full and its low calorie. Compared to most people's routine Thanksgiving mashers which can have butter, cream, sour cream, cream cheese, any old cheese..... the list is endless.

Let me know what you think. Too scared to try it? Have another version of mashers that is light on calories yet super tasty? Share please.

365 - 55

Four leaf clover. Did you know there are true and fake four leaf clovers? Check out this website "fourleafclover.com". The 'fakes', it seems, are generally pedaled by people trying to make money. But, from what I can tell, the one above, found in my tree barrel at work, is a true four leaf clover. There must be some glitch in the plant that I have because there is one patch that just keeps producing them. Not a lot of them, but consistently there. I remember being a kid and laying out in the yard trying, in vain, to find a four leaf clover. Now I have my own continual supply. Well, at least I think it will be continual. Seems like it should keep producing.

Anyway, have a fabulous Thursday.

365 - 53

Mister and I were walking to the grocery store. As we passed this rock, just minding its own business, I thought, hmmm photo, but I'm nearly always thinking that. We got about 2 feet past it and Mister says, "hey, that would be a fun photo." So we went back and each took a pic. I used mine for the sake of, well, this project is supposed to be about me taking photos. His was just as nice, if not a tinsy bit better. Maybe I should post both. Come back in a day or so, I've got to get it off the camera. I'll let you be the judge. Or just the voyeur. Either is fine with me.

365 - 54

This is the morning sky. The first is my cropped version, trying to enhance the photo. I don't think I succeeded much. The photo does nothing to give you the feel for what the sky actually looked like. Is it me or photos in general........ probably me and my beginner photographer skills. The sky was brilliant and looked very much like lava with the cooled parts and the hot parts. You know, like photos from Hawaii.

Anyway. Oh, and I also didn't post my photo from yesterday. Its still locked away in my camera at home.

365 - 51 & 52

Spent the last four days at the beach with girlfriends. A much needed getaway from all responsibility.

Very glad to now be home.

It all balances out in the end.

365 - 48, 49 & 50

Can you believe, 50 photos.

If I can get this far, I can totally do 365 photos.

Just Watched: Avatar - 3D

I took Mister to the movies for his birthday. We saw Avatar: 3D. Totally worth the $37. That included a small movie popcorn. We brought our own water and chocolate. Large purses are totally worth the nuisance.

The film is completely predictable and hits all the nerves the writers and producers mean it to hit. Where the film wins you over, are the stunning visual effects. You really don't mind sitting there for nearly 4 hours. Yes, I know the movie is just short of 3 hours, but if your town is anything like mine, you had to get there about an hour early, otherwise you were forced to sit in the front row and have to see your chiropractor the next day from the kink in your neck.

So, visually amazing. Graphically stunning. Heart wrenching. Gut tearing. Awe inspiring. Eco endorsing. I could keep going here.

There was one small thing I really didn't care for in this movie. I, personally, thought Sigourney Weaver's performance was completely unbelievable and contrived and just plain - not very good. And I'm usually a SW fan.

Your thoughts?

Nothin' but blue skies...

Just some sky for you. We are enjoying some mid-winter lovely days. So, sharing.

I hope you are enjoying something this winter too.

First of the 2010 Flowers - 365 - 47

This is the first of the flowers blooming our yard. Not sure what they are.

There are flowers, mostly crocus and some daffodils, blooming all over our neighbohood. I would feel weird sneaking up into someone's yard to take photos of flowers. How uncomfortable would that be!?

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't sneaking into your yard for nefarious reasons, I was just taking photos. Honest."

No, I don't think I can do that. Oh, yes, I will and have taken photos of stuff close to the sidewalk, but not up in someone's yard.

Anyway, there are two of these delicate flowers blooming in our yard where I can get all close up and personal without feeling like I've committed a crime. And they are purple with yellow. My favorites. I'm sharing with you.

Have a good one.

365 - 46

Monday morning sunrise. I can't get enough of them.

365 - 45

Moss. Really very pretty close up.

365 43 & 44

Mister's mom brought flowers. This may be ginger, not exactly sure, but kind of think so.

Cactus.

365 - 42

Wine, good.

German Chocolate Cake - My Way

Mister's birthday is tomorrow. I always bake him a German Chocolate Cake. Its his favorite. I used to use the recipe from inside the Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate Bar. Its the traditional version. A lite-ish chocolate with the coconut/pecan frosting made with sweetened condensed milk. The thing Mister really is interested in is #1 chocolate; and #2 the unique frosting. There were issues though. As you mostly like remember, Mister and I are dairy intolerant. Me, oh, I can slip a bit of goat or sheep cheese in once in awhile. Or I can have a bite or possibly two of a full on dairy food, if I'm eating it in conjunction with other non-dairy foods, and for the most part, I'm ok. But, Mister, that's another story. If he smells dairy, he practically has an issue.

On with the story. I'm not a big chocolate person. Oh, yes, twice a year, give me my See's candy or I'll take a bite of something dark chocolate once in a blue moon, but I'm more of a berry or citrus or plain dessert lover. Give me lime curd with a shortbread cookie and I have died and gone to heaven. Or, blackberry pie... ok, drooling now. That said, if I am going to eat chocolate, I want it to be good chocolate. Not some lite verion. You know what I mean?

So, given Mister's intolerance to dairy and my personal so-so attitude toward the traditionally somewhat lite chocolate cake that usually comprises German chocolate cake, over time, I've experimented and revamped and come up with a much, much better (in my opinion) version of the cake. How's that for a run-on (and on) sentence.

Here is what I've come up with. Its a tried and true and revamped and delicious chocolate cake from scratch. Oh, and by the way, its practically easier than opening up the box version, cracking eggs, measuring oil, etc. Trust me. You will absolutely be glad you made this cake. Oh, and the cake recipe is super fabulous with vanilla frosting or chocolate frosting or mint frosting or orange frosting........ I think you can see where this is going.

One more thing before the recipe, please don't freak out when you see the name of the cake. Its just oil and eggs - the two things you would normally put in your cake anyway. Right? Right.

On with the recipe

Chocolate Mayonaise Cake

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking soda

8 Tbsp baking cocoa (powder version)

1 cup cold water

1 cup mayo or salad dressing (your choice - either choice is a good one)

1 tsp vanilla.

Pour into 2 greased and floured 8 inch cake pans, bake at 350 for approx 25 minutes. Until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Frosting #1 (yes, there are two)

This one is for between the layers and on the top of the cake. I use THIS VEGAN version of the coconut pecan frosting. You won't know the dairy isn't there. You'll just be happy your tummy isn't upset later. Although very tasty, it seems a bit, pale, for lack of a better word than the regular version, but, I might not remember the regular version very well.

Frosting #2

This one is for the sides of the cake.

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

4 Tbsp butter or margarine

1/4 cup cocoa

Just enough milk (I use non-dairy) to make the concoction spreadable.

That is the regular version of chocolate frosting. For this cake, I use kahlua and/or Godiva chocolate liquer for the liquid. I also often put in a dash or two of cinnamon and a dash or two of instant espresso crystals. These last two additions seem to make the chocolate flavor, um, more chocolatey.

Frost, eat, take a nap. Or, maybe go for a walk. Either way, enjoy.

Notes:

I generally use this baking cocoa. But this time I used a combination of that cocoa and this cocoa . I think the cake will be extra delicious. I'll find out tomorrow when we get to cut the cake.

365 - 41

Yes, you've seen a version of the photo before. Its my daily office coffee. Its an integral part of my day. At least during the week. Somehow I manage to get by without much thinking about coffee on the weekends, but once Monday rolls around, its an elixir for me.

I like the lines and color of the cup and the reflections in the liquid, the beads of moisture and how it all curves together. Well, curve isn't really a verb is it? Let me see, how they twist, meld, spoon, caress, mold.... hmm, out of words and haven't found the right one yet. Any ideas? How would you describe how the liquid and the cup seem to 'hold' each other?

Did any of that make sense? Maybe I need a second cup...

365 - 39 & 40

Chocolate kisses for Valentine's Day. Purple

Its beautiful outside, I'm stuck inside, so I end up photographing silly things. But, they are colorful. So, there's that.

365 - 38

Our camelia bush is totally bloomed out. Lovely, soft pink blossoms. None of which were in the sun at the time I took photos.

365 - 37

Mister and I went for a lovely walk together in the Rhodedendron Garden near our home. There are all manner of ducks and geese there. This photo stuck out to me. The texture of water behind this wood duck, lovely.

365 - 36

In keeping with my efforts at getting outside during the work day. See above.

I'm longing to get on my bike right now and ride. By the time I get home, that longing will be replaced with a desire to find the cork screw and the nearest bottle of wine.

How is it that you make me spill my guts to you? Well, rather not that you 'make' me, but that I feel comfortable enough to spill.

Anyway.

Have a wonderful weekend.

365 - 35

Starting fresh.... every day lately seems to be me, trying to start fresh.

Do you have those times, phases in your life. Its not necessarily a bad thing. I start the day positive and full of life and energy and knowing where I am headed and by the time evening rolls around, I'm just doing what I can to get to bed so I can start over in the morning.... fresh.

365 - 34

Doing my best to get out a bit more.

And really excited about Spring being on its way. I love the snow and wish we'd had a lot more of it this Winter, but mild winter days don't hurt my feelings either.

365 - 33

Crow

I was struck today by time and its fleetiness. (Is that a word?) I have a tendency toward... someday I'll do X when Y....... I'm just waiting for A then I'll B. I'm not sure why I'm this way, but I always have been. Waiting for something to perfect another something or make something possible.

I wanted to take a photo of an iconic Portland purple octopus which has, for heaven knows how many years (i.e. many), adorned the Greek Cuisina. An iconic Portland eatery.

photo courtesy of the OregonianLive.com

Known for it plate breaking and Ouzo shots atmosphere in addition to its really great Greek cuisine. I realized I wanted a photo only after the restaurant closed down under controversy. I figured the octopus was soon to go. I walked out into the amazing sunny winter day to take my photo and yes, the octopus is gone. I walked around realizing I don't walk around downtown any more. I used to. Why don't I any more. I've gotten this attitude of "I work downtown every stinking week for the last 20 years, why would I want to walk around on my own time?" But, there are restaurants and bars and theaters and art and people and gatherings and markets and food carts and homeless people with their dogs and cats and business people and cars and the list is infinite. The possibilities are just about infinite.

I'm hoping to take this as a personal wake up call. Get out! Go do it. The time is now, not tomorrow or when you are thinner or prettier or have money to spend. Now, now, now!

Oy! I'm nothing if I'm not difficult!

365 - 32

Paper lantern in our sunroom. A remnant from my 40th birthday party.