[Everstorm]

23 minutes ago, Sovalis said:

I don’t know if you are a cookbook kind of person or not, but there is a cookbook that absolutely changed my life when it came to vegetables and that was “Plenty” by Yotam Ottolenghi. I cooked my way through that book as part of my divorce proceedings and I made ~80% of what was in there and there were only two recipes I wouldn’t make again. If you can get it from your library or something I strongly recommend it. 

 

Your bunny is the best!! 

Thanks for the recommendation!  I'll see if I can hunt down a copy.

[Severine]

38 minutes ago, Sovalis said:

I don’t know if you are a cookbook kind of person or not, but there is a cookbook that absolutely changed my life when it came to vegetables and that was “Plenty” by Yotam Ottolenghi. I cooked my way through that book as part of my divorce proceedings and I made ~80% of what was in there and there were only two recipes I wouldn’t make again. If you can get it from your library or something I strongly recommend it. 

 

Another vote for that book. L really loves cooking things from it and I have enjoyed eating them all 

[Everstorm]

24 minutes ago, Severine said:

 

Another vote for that book. L really loves cooking things from it and I have enjoyed eating them all 

I just found a digital copy at my library, so I am borrowing it to check out the recipes.  If it's a hit, it seems I can buy a hard copy from Amazon for long term use 😁

[Harriet]

7 hours ago, Sovalis said:

I don’t know if you are a cookbook kind of person or not, but there is a cookbook that absolutely changed my life when it came to vegetables and that was “Plenty” by Yotam Ottolenghi. I cooked my way through that book as part of my divorce proceedings and I made ~80% of what was in there and there were only two recipes I wouldn’t make again. If you can get it from your library or something I strongly recommend it. 

 

I also have that but haven't made many things from it because they seem to be vegetable sides, not mains, and I rarely have the Bock to make two dishes. But his recipes are always good. As long as you have sumac and pomegranate molasses of course.

 

11 hours ago, Everstorm said:

I purposely chose an extra fluffy bunny for my reference photo.  The juxtaposition of his fluffiness and rage amuses me.

 

Thank you!  I felt the composition went well and the shading on the bunny (at least the second day).  I guess I just feel that the style or weight of the two images don't align well.

 

I like the difference in texture between the skull and bunny! It doesn't feel incoherent or unintentional.

[Everstorm]

2 hours ago, Harriet said:

As long as you have sumac and pomegranate molasses of course.

Staples in any kitchen, I'm sure 😅  Since there are certainly no vegetarians in this house, I am okay with side dish recipes.  With or without sumac.

 

2 hours ago, Harriet said:

I like the difference in texture between the skull and bunny! It doesn't feel incoherent or unintentional

Thank you!  I tweaked it a little last night and got it to where I liked the shading better, but then I added a few details that did not improve it and I wished I had left it the way it was.  Fortunately, I still had the original photo to post to Insta.  Still, I think I learned a bit about shading smooth surfaces, which I find harder to do than fur or fabric.

[foxinthenorth]

14 hours ago, Sovalis said:

“Plenty” by Yotam Ottolenghi

I haven't tried that cookbook but I have the Jerusalem cookbook which he coauthored and it's delicious.

[Everstorm]

2 hours ago, foxinthenorth said:

I haven't tried that cookbook but I have the Jerusalem cookbook which he coauthored and it's delicious.

So many endorsements!  I'm getting really excited to check out these recipes.

[Harriet]

On 8/1/2023 at 1:33 PM, Everstorm said:

Thank you!  I tweaked it a little last night and got it to where I liked the shading better, but then I added a few details that did not improve it and I wished I had left it the way it was.  Fortunately, I still had the original photo to post to Insta.  Still, I think I learned a bit about shading smooth surfaces, which I find harder to do than fur or fabric.

 

Ah yes, I have spoiled many a picture and wished I could undo. I have now been spoiled by digital art and the possibility of undoing things. It possibly makes me less skilful? But possibly more skilful because I can experiment and be less timid? I guess it's good to do both.

[Everstorm]

2 minutes ago, Harriet said:

 

Ah yes, I have spoiled many a picture and wished I could undo. I have now been spoiled by digital art and the possibility of undoing things. It possibly makes me less skilful? But possibly more skilful because I can experiment and be less timid? I guess it's good to do both.

I would imagine more skillful because you can easily try lots of variations for best effect.

[Harriet]

28 minutes ago, Everstorm said:

I would imagine more skillful because you can easily try lots of variations for best effect.

 

I like this interpretation

[Kishi]

On 7/29/2023 at 7:17 PM, Everstorm said:

 

 

Patisserie 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰  Stuck to a small (and slightly messy) slice of pie.  I give up getting a pretty photo, you get it in all its gooey glory.

 

Those food pics, tho

[Everstorm]

3 hours ago, Kishi said:

Those food pics, tho

👩‍🍳

 

Update!

 

Boulangerie ❎️❎️❎️❎️. No new bread today, since I just ate the last of the focaccia.

 

Patisserie 🍰 🍰❌️ 🍰   I happily stuck to pie again today.  Again, you say?  Why yes.  You would be surprised how long pie lasts when you only eat a tiny bit every day (and no one else in the house eats rhubarb).  For the whole last half, I had to freeze individual slices just so it wouldn't spoil.  I haven't had to much trouble sticking to the tiny servings when at home.  I am thinking the emergency ice cream/eat out plan is to ask for an extra cup or bowl to measure out a better serving size for myself.  I think it's easier to stop  (not go for seconds) than to stop  (not continue eating what's already in front of me).

 

In other cooking news, I tried another new soup today :  Roasted Yellow Peppers.  It was nice but maybe not nice enough to justify how much trouble it was.  I don't think I will make this one too often.

 

La TraverSeine ❎️🛶 ❎️❎️. No rowing today or yesterday.   My lower back is a little sore.  It isn't bad, but I want to be careful.  Not sure if it's from the rowing or the hours hunched over my desk writing lesson plans.  Either way, I stuck to a walk today.  I may try to get in my second row of the week on Saturday. 

 

Le Louvre 🎨🎨🎨❎️. No art today.  New prompt tomorrow!

 

Lingua Franca ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️. Loads of practice today!

[Severine]

57 minutes ago, Everstorm said:

no one else in the house eats rhubarb

Who are these barbarians!?

 

And it looks like you've got great momentum with your challenge. Keep it going   

[Kishi]

1 hour ago, Everstorm said:

Patisserie 🍰 🍰❌️ 🍰   I happily stuck to pie again today.  Again, you say?  Why yes.  You would be surprised how long pie lasts when you only eat a tiny bit every day (and no one else in the house eats rhubarb).  For the whole last half, I had to freeze individual slices just so it wouldn't spoil.  I haven't had to much trouble sticking to the tiny servings when at home.  I am thinking the emergency ice cream/eat out plan is to ask for an extra cup or bowl to measure out a better serving size for myself.  I think it's easier to stop  (not go for seconds) than to stop  (not continue eating what's already in front of me).

 

Rhubarb!? How did I miss this? Gah, I think I was just out of college the last time I got to have Rhubarb pie. It's been many years since then.

 

Anyway, I hope the ice cream protocol proves effective! And worst case, it's a learning experience, right?

[Everstorm]

1 hour ago, Severine said:

Who are these barbarians!?

Ok, so (1) my husband pretty much avoids all sweets with very few exceptions because he doesn't want to get back to having to use medications to control his diabetes.  He is currently able to keep his blood sugar stable with diet and exercise.  So for him it's more of a no to pie than to rhubarb pie specifically.   (2) My super picky suspicious-of-new-foods son heard me describe rhubarb as "tart" and completely checked out, refused to even try it.  (3) My older son is actually fine with rhubarb, but I think he leaves the pie to me because he knows I like it and don't often get it.  He did eat one slice.

 

1 hour ago, Kishi said:

Rhubarb!? How did I miss this? Gah, I think I was just out of college the last time I got to have Rhubarb pie. It's been many years since then.

It's kind of hard to find, but I keep an eye out for it because I really like it.  I probably should learn to cook my own....

 

1 hour ago, Kishi said:

Anyway, I hope the ice cream protocol proves effective! And worst case, it's a learning experience, right?

Too true.  I need to figure out some way to handle eating out, as I suspect I will be doing a lot of it when we go on vacation next zero week.

[Severine]

1 hour ago, Everstorm said:

Ok, so (1) my husband pretty much avoids all sweets with very few exceptions because he doesn't want to get back to having to use medications to control his diabetes.  He is currently able to keep his blood sugar stable with diet and exercise.  So for him it's more of a no to pie than to rhubarb pie specifically.   

 

Okay, that is incredibly impressive. Props to your husband.

 

1 hour ago, Everstorm said:

(3) My older son is actually fine with rhubarb, but I think he leaves the pie to me because he knows I like it and don't often get it.  He did eat one slice.

 

That is very sweet! 

[Everstorm]

5 hours ago, Severine said:

Okay, that is incredibly impressive. Props to your husband

He is my inspiration story.  He dropped 80 lbs and got crazy fit.

 

5 hours ago, Severine said:

That is very sweet! 

He's a sweet boy.  Mostly.  I mean, he's still a teenager 😅

[Everstorm]

Boulangerie ❎️ ❎️ ❎️ ❎️ 🍞  I made zucchini bread today to use up a zucchini that was in the fridge too long. 

While zucchini bread has "bread" in the name, in terms of ingredients and process, it's more of a cake. 

 

Then, I made my own Margherita pizza (crust and all) from scratch.

Now, pizza does not have bread anywhere in the title, but the ingredients and the process (up to the baking part) is identical to bread making.  So, I have decided that between the two, I made bread today 😁  That actually fulfills my quota for this challenge.  I think I will aim to make it at least once more, though.  Bonus points!

 

Patisserie 🍰 ❌️🍰🍰❌️🍰  I guess I could be doing better on this goal.  I stuck to a small serving of dessert yesterday (the last of the rhubarb pie), but later I ate a bunch of dark chocolate, so that was a bit of a miss.  I just had one slice of my zucchini bread today, though.

 

La TraverSeine ❎️🛶❎️❎️❎️🛶  I want rowing today!  I woke up so tired and not wanting to get out of bed, but I made myself go to the gym after dropping my son off at work anyway.  I kept the row to a short (meaning not double) session, the jumped into the lap pool River Seine.  I haven't properly done laps in probably 20 years.  I used to be a lifeguard and helped an athlete train for the Special Olympics, so I swam a lot back then.  Today felt super awkward at first.  Partly because my breath control is non-existent and I didn't bother to bring goggles which meant I didn't put my face in the water much and felt self-conscious about my poor form.  This was not helped by the fact that I was the only patron in the pool, which meant it was literally the lifeguard's job to stare at me the entire time.  After a while, though, I found my zen and really ejoyed it.  I eventually had to force myself to get out after 25 minutes just because I was getting too tired to proceed safely.  I definitely need to do that again.

 

Le Louvre 🎨🎨🎨❎️❎️❎️  No new art today.  The new prompt is BOX, but I haven't hit on anything that makes me super excited to start.  I have a few ideas to fall back on if nothing more shiny comes to me soon.

 

Lingua Franca ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ 219 days!

 

To round out a good day and the French theme, I watched Sabrina (1995) -- the Harrison Ford version, not Humphrey Bogart.  I'm old, but not that old.  I swear the writers live in my head, because it was always a fantasy of mine to move off somewhere (like Paris) and return home transformed into someone beautiful and confident and wow everyone who overlooked me.  Such a chill, feel-good movie.  

[Everstorm]

Boulangerie ❎️. No bread today. 

Patisserie 🍰 I made the world's smallest black bottom muffins 😄 (think cream cheese brownie)

 

La TraverSeine ❎️. Rest day

Le Louvre ❎️ I started on the pencil underlay yesterday, but didn't get to it today.  I spent most of the day working on lesson plans 🤪

Lingua Franca ⚜️ 

[Elastigirl]

That looks delicious!

[Everstorm]

On 8/6/2023 at 9:53 PM, Elastigirl said:

That looks delicious!

They are pretty tasty 😋 

 

I am so behind on posting, but this week has been insanely busy.  The Little Man was in a Junior Golf mini camp this week, plus I have been slaving over my lesson plans for the new school year.  Only 1.5 more weeks left before the first day.  I am trying to go a bit above and beyond for this year since 1) it is the Big Guy's last year of school and 2) I tend to get overwhelmed and fall behind with both prep and grading once the school year starts.  I am hoping that getting way ahead on prep will give me more time and metal capacity for grading and solve both issues.

 

Anyway, I have baked no bread, rowed once, kept up language practice, and not entirely stuck to my patisserie rule.  I did draw an opera box seat for Inktober52 "BOX", but I am not quite ready to post it.  It needs more detail and possibly shading.  The new prompt is already out: CAUGHT.  Not sure if I want to do the new one now or finish the old one.

[juliebarkley]

Your challenge needs a content warning to not show up hungry.

[Everstorm]

17 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

Your challenge needs a content warning to not show up hungry.

Yeah, I probably shouldn't shouldn't show up to my own challenge hungry, either 😅 

 

Is it week 3 already?!?  Sheesh.

Boulangerie Complete!  (Bonus points for more bread)

 

Patisserie:  Oy.  My brain seems to be on to me because where I used to have some restraint, I know eat all the everything all the time.  I know it's partly stress and fatigue, but I really need to get this under control smh

 

La TraverSeine No rows yet this week, although I did make my goal last week.  I plan to row at the gym on Wednesday and then Saturday is the Poker Run on the Water (kayaking event).  The weather promises to be hot -- no surprises there.  It should be fun, though, and a test of my new skillz. 

 

Le Louvre:  I have done a pencil underlay sketch, but I am not loving it and may go a different direction.  I think stress is eating into my art, too.  I have no patience for detail work, although it's normally my favorite. 

 

Lingua Franca ⚜️ ⚜️. My streak is unbroken.  229 days

[Sovalis]

Wishing you some ease and less stress. ❤️ 

[Everstorm]

23 hours ago, Sovalis said:

Wishing you some ease and less stress. ❤️ 

My stress is mostly about the new school year, so I guess it won't be going away any time soon.  I might need a "deal with stress in healthy ways" challenge next time.

 

Boulangerie: Complete 

No new breads, but I did experiment with a vegetable risotto that went over well with the family.

 

Patisserie: ❌️❌️❌️

I seem to have wandered into an all-you-can-eat buffet by mistake

 

La TraverSeine ❎️❎️❎️

Planned row still tomorrow 

 

Le Louvre ❎️🎨🎨

I did the thing!  I inked my original idea and hated it so I did option B and it came out fine.

"CAUGHT"

 

Lingua Franca ⚜️ ⚜️ ⚜️ 

Barely made it on this one today, but I did practice a little at least.