Mop Philosophy Monday

 My quarantine from travel was up on Saturday and I was able to go on an essential outing: to the grocery store.  Never has a trip to the grocery store been so thrilling and nerve wracking at the same time.  (In case you're wondering about the phrase nerve wracking, as opposed to nerve racking, you can read one take on it here.)

The store itself was very well organized and I had my own system of gloves and Lysol wipes to get me through my shopping.  We were meant to follow arrows and keep well away from other shoppers, and this was easy to do as they limited the number of people allowed in the store at once.

In Ontario we are all under order to be sheltered at home with our own household members only, without exception.  One person is meant to be designated as the person who acquires the necessities: groceries and medications.

Cooking Lentils

 I was surprised by how well-stocked the store actually was, there were plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of everything really, with the exception, of course, of toilet paper.

Kale

 I have a system for bringing the groceries into the house when I arrive home, and it wasn't my idea, I watched a youtube tutorial about it.

I altered the doctor's method slightly, I left the plastic grocery bags outside and brought items in one by one, disinfecting and removing plastic packaging as I went.  It took forever.  Then at the end I brought all of the plastic to the garbage bins in the garage.

My very favourite olive oil.
I can only buy it at one store, which has been deemed non-essential and closed.
I'm using it sparingly these days.

 Today I'll cook our remaining potatoes by boiling them in water and a little salt until they are cooked through and of mashing consistency.  I like to mash them with the remaining cooking water, the finely chopped raw kale, and some olive oil or butter.  This is my version of an old Irish dish, Colcannon.

Lentils and Colcannon.

It's delicious served with some lentils or cooked white beans with fresh herbs.

I've had a migraine since last evening so I'll be trying to repair my body from that today: lots of water, carrot juice and fresh fruit along with a nap.

How are you feeling today?  Are you following the news very closely or taking a break?  Do you have a designated person for sourcing essentials?
Love, Dani xox

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I've given up on ironing our napkins and no one seems to notice.

I guess the important, and civilized, thing is to simply have a napkin, one that's not made of paper which will end up in a landfill.  Oh, and that the napkin be clean is important too.

My mother-in-law Joan had an energy-saving habit of reusing cloth napkins in personalized napkin rings, which meant cloth napkins could have multiple uses before washing without sharing germs.  Anyone else do this?

The best article I've read in the last couple days is this one in The New Yorker by Jonathan Franzen.

Something small that can be done in our own homes that practices recycling and re-use?
Buy antiques!

 Antiques can be had for a song these days.  I bought this little French chair and English oak table for a little under $200 Canadian dollars, for both pieces.  It's in excellent condition and exquisitely pretty, I'm currently using it as a vanity table.  Isn't it gleaming and perfect?

 I have bought some new throw pillows, but there are so many etsy sellers making them from designer samples and remnants that it ends up being a massive win-win: expensive fabrics injected into a decor for reasonable prices, and a re-use of a fabric remnant or designer sample.  Also support of women who are working their own cottage industry... okay it's a win-win-win.

Let's have a small peek at the stone house:

The stone house with fall colours.

 I bought this wallpaper from a clearance centre in Michigan, it's a Thibault that was discontinued.  I'm hoping to hang it in the guest room of the stone house.

Elephants.

I hope you're set up to have a great week.  Let me know if you read that article.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 How's your week shaping up?  Any big plans?  Lists as long as your arms?
I got caught up with some work yesterday so today I have more time for meal-planning and poking around in the garden.
Last week I made this roasted tomato and asparagus salad, you can throw in bocconcini if you are so inclined.

Roasted tomato and asparagus salad.
With lots of herbes de Provence.

Last week I rearranged our kitchen shelves.  I love using this small set of shelves to change up the colour scheme of the kitchen, and to bring out things I use seasonally.

But why did I put that electrical plug on the first shelf?

Kitchen shelves.
With an electrical plug in an odd place.
It's even a bit crooked.

When we designed the kitchen I had an older radio that I used to listen to the cbc, and the shelf seemed the perfect place for just such a radio.

But times change... do they ever.  I should have known that a wifi, hands free, robot thing was going to enter my life... sooner rather than later.

"Hey Siri"
"Mm-hmm" (it actually says mm-hmm)
"Can you please play me some Classic Rock?"

Can you see my new HomePod?  It's the grey thing on the far right.  If I talk to it it pretty much anything I want to listen to blasts from it.  That little thing really puts out an incredibly clear sound.

The uncomfortable thing is the talking to it.  I feel so rude just barking orders at it.  It makes no difference, I know it rationally, if I say please to a robot but I feel like a jerk just ordering it around.

Do you feel weird talking to robots?

Happy Monday, may your week be filled with civility.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

New statue in the garden.

 Who doesn't like the gentle look of St. Francis of Assisi?  I feel like we could use more of his vibes in the world these days.

 I've been spending lots of time in our garden lately.  Some of our plants suffered from the various ice storms we had this past winter and we lost a few things.  We've replaced plants and nurtured others and planted some annuals in the window boxes of the garden shed.

Purple shamrock annuals.

 I like the way Rebecca looks behind the flowering irises:

 How was your Father's Day?  I missed my Dad but we had a lovely chat and just knowing that he is just about fully recovered from his stroke made for a really happy Father's Day.

I bought some new statues for MrBP.  He loves them:

New Lions for the garden.
There's one on the other side too.

 It has taken us three years to finish these stone steps which lead to our kitchen.  See the iron railing?  We finally had that installed last fall and then just had to decide what to place on the stone pillars.  In the end we went for statuary over an urn, an urn would stand empty for most of the year due to our long winters.

Winter seems a distant memory now and the best part of the heat and sunshine in our garden is hanging laundry out to dry, one of my favourite activities.

I'll definitely be doing some of that today, what are you up to?
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 We've been having a winter storm here for the last couple of days, and it has gone like this: rain, freezing rain, snow, more freezing rain, rain, more freezing rain... on and on.  Freezing rain feels quite terrible when it hits one's face while outside... best to stay in.
I've been lighting lots of candles, like this Diptyque dragon candle in the family room.

Sweet Violets sent over a yellow bouquet for my monthly flowers on Saturday, isn't it like looking at sunshine?

Just the thing.

 I made French onion soup on Saturday, mostly because I had about twelve onions lying around.  Working near a candle is meant to reverse the crying that occurs while cutting onions.  It didn't really work for me, tears were streaming!

 Brandy and herbes de Provence really create a nice finish to a French onion soup.

This is my latest kitchen tip, and it wasn't my idea, it comes from my friend Les.  Store your Costco sized bags of underripe avocados in the refrigerator and remove them one at a time, as needed, 6 to 12 hours before you want to consume them.

Such a rare thing: a perfectly ripe avocado.

 I can't believe it, it works wonders.

Today it is still looking grim outside and I have a million little tasks swirling around my brain, I'd better get down to it and make a list.

Later today I'll be making good use of these apples.  I'm going to cook up The Pioneer Woman's applesauce recipe.

I hope your week starts off beautifully.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 A wooden salad bowl is a classic that never goes out of style, it just always looks good.  Do you have one?  They seem like a standard in most kitchens since about the 1970's.

I have a kitchen tip for you: if you make your own almond milk a little funnel is essential.  Before this red funnel entered my life I would try to ladle almond milk into jars and bottles only to waste the precious stuff and make a big mess.  It was frustrating enough to almost create Crying In The Kitchen.
Little red funnel: problem solved.

Little red funnel.

 As you know we're on a plant-based diet for the most part, sometimes a bit of butter or other dairy might creep in, especially if we're eating at a restaurant.  One thing we haven't stopped eating is fish and some seafood (salmon, haddock, oysters).
Last week I cooked a haddock dish that turned out really nice: I baked it with some smoked salmon layered all over the top, alongside some tomatoes, parsley, olive oil and salt and pepper.

Haddock with smoked salmon: roast at 350.

 It was a very simple dinner, with just a salad and some fresh bread.

 I have a new bread addiction and it has nothing to do with homemade bread: it's all of the bread from Polestar Hearth.

My homemade mini baguettes.
They're just not as good as Jesse's bread at Polestar Hearth.

 One of my favourite things to buy at the bakery these days?  The pizza dough.  It's great for pizza of course, but it's also so delicious just rolled out as a flatbread, with dried herbs and maybe some olives pressed into it.

 I served it on Friday when we had our friends around, along with a carrot and red lentil hummus.

How's your Monday shaping up?  I have about three hours of admin today and a meeting at the accountant's office.  Then it's off for my Graston treatment, the very thing that has seemingly cured my migraines, it's such a miracle.  I'll tell you a bit more about that process and progress this week.

I hope your own week starts off full of energy and productivity.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 We had a house full of our Rascals this weekend and it was the best.  I like to place some flowers in the Rascal bedrooms when they travel home from Toronto, I picked these ones up at the grocery store.
I added a little bowl of green apples too... always trying to get fruit and veg into those kids, it doesn't matter how old they get.

We went for a hike on Saturday and the weather was fine, cold and clear.
We've been hiking this area with the Rascals since they were really small and it brings back lots of memories.
Now that they both live in a concrete jungle they really appreciate visiting the woods when they're home.

Scout, Ole Rascal, Middle Rascal
On the trail

 The trails were so muddy that Scout had a perfect coat of mud covering her underside by the time we left for home:

You can bet there was a bath in Scout's future!

Did you cook any Easter meals?  Our plans completely changed this weekend after Poppa suffered a fall on Friday.  We didn't want him making the journey by car to our house for the Easter lunch so we made reservations at an Italian restaurant instead.
(Don't worry, he's fine.  He needed a few stitches but otherwise it wasn't serious: thank goodness.)

There's something to be said for going out on a holiday: no dishes!

I have a day of admin and cleaning.  Somehow the mud from the hike made its way into various corners of our house so a floor scrubbing is in order, as well as the usual Monday Reorganizing.
Hope your day gets off to a productive and cheery start.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I can't believe we only have another few days until the Easter weekend, yippee!  You know what this means, here in Canada we might be somewhat close to winter being kind of over.

I spent yesterday afternoon ironing tablecloths after completing, finally, the organization of my linen cupboard.
I prefer to hang tablecloths from hangers rather than store them folded, how about you?

I have a very small amount of Easter theming going on, a few treats in the kitchen and an Easter wreath on the front door.  We definitely need more decorating, the Rascals are all going to be home for Easter and this is cause for celebration.

 My menus this weekend are going to be Easter themed as well and by that I mean CARROTS.  It only makes sense, isn't this what bunnies love to eat?

 MrBP and I cooked up a giant vat of carrot soup for our dinner party on Saturday night.  It was delicious.

Carrot Soup for a Crowd

3 large shallots, chopped
5 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup butter (vegan or dairy)
A glass of sparkling wine, or white wine
20 carrots, peeled and chopped
Herbamare Sea Salt and pepper

Saute your shallots and celery in the butter (real butter or Earth Balance vegan butter) until translucent.  You'll want to use your biggest stock pot.  Add the sparkling wine or white wine and let it boil off.   Add your chopped carrots and completely cover with water.  Boil until the carrots are tender and add a teaspoon or so of Herbamare (you'll taste for salt after the puree).
Let cool and blend in batches, I had to blend this soup in four different batches.  You might need to add more water after blending to get the perfect soup consistency.
Pour it all back in your giant stock pot and taste for salt and pepper, season accordingly.
Serves 10.

Dinner party prep.

 I'd like to cook a main course involving carrots for Easter lunch, I'm thinking some sort of carrot loaf with nuts and seeds, and some potatoes on the side.  I'll let you know what sort of recipe I can muster up.
Are you prepping for Easter?  Have you been ironing any tablecloths?  Do you have a busy week to get through?
Happy Monday, I hope it's productive yet calm at the same time.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

Sweet Violets Bouquet

 Now that I'm recovered from the Plague it's time to catch up on all the stuff I didn't get done when I was ill.
It's a long list!
I have several hours of admin to do this week at my desk, never a task I look forward to.  I'll have to take frequent housework breaks, just to cheer myself up.
Cooking any easy dinners?  I think I'll put a butter bean gratin on our menu this week.

 This is so easy when served with some whole wheat couscous.  The butter beans themselves are from a can (very cheater-like) and if you see this Italian brand in your grocery store I recommend them.  The beans are steam-cooked before canning and they have a perfect texture.
I had a lovely large bunch of Swiss chard, and after sautéing it with shallots and mini sweet peppers I added the rinsed butter beans.

 Add some cashew cream...

 ... and top with my favourite mixture of ground nuts and nutritional yeast.  I posted the recipe for this nut mixture at the end of this post.

How's your week shaping up?  Any big projects to tackle?  Lots of eye-crossing admin to get done?
Whatever you're dealing with, I hope it goes well.
xoxDani

PS it seems I'm taking the week off blogging... not my intention to do so and I hope to be back by Friday/Saturday with a party-prep post. xxx

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I don't know about your house but my laundry room gets into a frightful state of chaotic mess very easily.  It is the dumping ground not just for the filthy, but the unwanted, the broken and all of those irritating things that just need sorting.
I was working away at getting some order in there all last week and it's finally nearly there.  At this point I just need to do a big cleaning and a polish.  Then the descent into chaotic mess can once again resume!
It does feel good to get some linens ironed.

 I have finally found a reasonable solution for my ironing water addiction which can potentially be ruinously expensive.  The Laundress does a lovely ironing water that is highly concentrated, and when combined with distilled water I can get several litres out of one little bottle.
I saved my fancy glass bottles that held ironing water from France.  I just fill them up with a few tablespoons of the Laundress concentrated ironing water before filling them to the top with distilled water.  Voila, loads of ironing water fit for putting directly in the steam iron.

The smell is wonderful!

My neighbour Jen gave me this little plant at our Christmas block party back in December, look I haven't killed it yet:

Laundry room windowsill.

 I have had this blue and white plate since 1993.  I remember exactly the day that I purchased it because Ole Rascal was a wee baby in his stroller and I came across an entire set of dishes in this pattern in a gift shop in St. John's, Newfoundland.  I loved the pattern then and I still love it now.

I used to think I should try to collect this pattern but somehow having this one plate, with that memory attached to it, is just perfect.

How's your day shaping up?  Did you watch the Oscars?  I didn't make it past 9:00, predictable!
Hope your week starts off beautifully,
xoxDani