Happy Mommy Day
I received these beautiful flowers from one of my neighbor yesterday. I found it at the foot of my door after coming back from exploring my friend city with her…with a nice little note underneath stating “these flowers are for you, I hope it give you happiness”. I thought it was very nice from my neighbor. I must thank her when we both come back from our trips.
With these flowers I would like to share with you. To wish all you mommas a happy mother day. Whether you have children, a teacher, a single parent who was/is both the mother and father, your pets are your babies, or if you have help guided someone child. Happy Momma Day!
Thank you mommy for all that you have done
Mom you gave me strength when I had none
You lend an open ear
When I had fears
You allow me to fall so that I could stand tall
You taught me self love, confidence, moral, value, respect
and when I am wrong I must stand to be corrected
You encourage me to live afar
I end up enjoying my independent and later in life end up moving abroad
You gave me so many possibilities in life and taught me how to be a good person and a wife
To communicate my feelings, don’t take things to heart, forgive before going to sleep, tell that person you love them before closing your eyes, and be at peace before moving on
Mommy you are my rock and between John, brothers, nieces, and nephews you are all that I got
Happy mommy day every day!
Banana Chips
In the Facebook group What Sha Cooking I posted my banana chips snack today.
I love eating banana chips once in a while. Growing up it use to be a nice small bag of a snack my mom bought us. I have came across so many banana chips that are thick and sugary when Jamaica banana chips are thin and salted.
Last year I came across a small bag of banana chips here at the African store 20 minutes in walking distant away, but for a small bag I don’t see me buying it for 1E each time I have the crave or missing home. Therefore I made my own batch today.
Ingredient
1 Plantain
Salt
Olive Oil
Direction
Slice Plantain into very thin slices.Place the slices in a bowl and pour about 2 TBS of olive oil and mix well. Separate slice from each other and lay ontop of baking paper. Sprinkle with salt. Place in oven on the very highest temp middle rack for 7 minutes and remove.
Once remove I have learn not to just let them sit. Grab the baking paper and fold up both ends as if your enclosing the chips. Shake, shake, and shake. This will help loosen up the chips that was stick together and also air both side. When chips are left just sitting on the rack the bottoms tend to be soft instead of crispy.
April Shower brings May Flowers
Every month on Facebook What Sha Cooking has a cooking theme. This month the theme entry was May Flower.
For this theme my mini fruit tortes are the winner. Recipe and direction is in the group What Sha Cooking. Wishing everyone a great weekend!
I Ain’t No Baby
Each year since I have been living here, in Germany, I really felt as I am growing. Life in America I know I would accomplish lot more and would be working in my career field. Here I feel like I stepped back and is crawling all over the place learning how to walk and to keep my balance. Life is not easy living abroad whether one is alone, with family, friends, or have a partner. Everyone still have to learn how to live, but in time everything work out and one begins to walk stronger, straight, and firm.
Last week John and I went hiking, this time I check that I have my battery and card inside of my camera. We walked and walked until we were at our destination and could not go further. John even climbed to the highest peak in which I did not. I was afraid if I climb any higher I would be living at that point because getting back down was so hilly and narrow. The highest point I made it too that many of us chickens stop and took a photo then went back down the hill. If it was up too me I would of stop just half way as plan. I have a photo of me holding onto John tightly with a scary look on my face because the area was very narrow and too many people was at the one spot just waiting to also take photos. Both John and I were so proud of ourselves of how long we hiked and how far high we went. It so reminded us of when we lived in the State.
Today I had a big cheese on my face. Since day one John and I was attached hip to hip and barely are separated. I think at times we don’t know how to act without each other. It feels as something is always missing and we know it is each other. Even our friends know once they see one they see the other. No one expect us to arrive at dinner or an event without the other. For them it is a bit awkward. Today I drove John to the airport than went shopping. You see I have never drove alone in Germany. I have drove many time as the driver with John but never alone. Today I was nervous and excited at the same time. I have made plans already to meet up with a couple of my friends next week. This will be the first time of me meeting up with them alone by not taking the train, and them not having to drive to my city just to visit me. I am so looking forward to it. I would love for John to be with me because we enjoy both friends company but it will also be nice for us girls to catch up.
This year as truly been a remarkable year and I see I am truly growing in many ways. I ain’t no baby no more!
Pancake Muffins – Breakfast with a twist
Yesterday I posted in the facebook group What Sha Cooking my pancake muffins made with a twist:) Yesterday I was craving for pancake and a nice slice of bacon but I wanted something healthy to eat with it so that my conscious would not get the best of me later or the next day. I searched the refrigerator and I found string beans. My hubby mother normally cook string beans with bacon; therefore, that is the only way the hubby will eat string beans. I cooked the bacon while I wash the string beans. Cut the ends and slice them into smaller pieces. I whip up my batch of pancake mix add the bacon and string beans. Waited for the oven to finish do it job and my pancake fix was satisfy. There are so many things that could be added to the batch. It all depend on your taste buds, calorie daily goal, and budget.
After having my pancake fix I started to ponder what else can I make using my muffin pan as a meal, lol, stay tune to find out…….
Let Someone Else Shine
First of of I want to say don’t eat a bowl of bake wedge potatoes before going to fitness class. It does not feel great fighting it to stay down.
Everyday someone share their accomplishment with you or another mention it in conversation. As human we tend to relate it by bringing up our accomplishment as well. But is it really necessary or even appropriate. It is not like you need to compete with that person by bringing up what you did, went, lost, or etc. Yes, you could say it is just conversation you are making but come on think about how many times have you actually compare yourself to another conversation wise. Is it truly necessary, really?
Tonight at fitness a group of us lady we talk pretty much about our day, food, work, family, and etc. One lady came over and another told her how she look great! In which she does. How her body is getting smaller and face is forming. She said thanks, “I lost 10 kilos”. I smile and told her congrats. Now I could easily had said that I lost so and so kilos which was way more than the lady, but why? Why would that be any importance. This was the lady moment to shine. To feel good about herself. Not me to say we both started at the same time together and I lost more. This is and was not a competition. We are working out and enjoying each other and having a great time! I had to smile of how proud of myself for not saying anything other than a sincere congratulation. This was her moment to shine!
The next time someone say how well they have done or that they went somewhere, try to see if you can allow that person to shine and make them feel good instead of competing with them on so many different levels. This is truly a test because many of us don’t know we sometime overshadow someone good new.
Any Human Heart
Early this morning, I stayed up past 3am just to watch a three hour movie “Any Human Heart”. Typically I do not have an attention span to watch a movie that is over 120 minutes; however, this movie was worth the lack of sleep. The movie attracted my attention when I seen it started with actors who was wearing clothing before WWII. I love old movies, because I love to look at the fashion and hairstyles.
As the movie began it began with friends riding a bike than three dear friends growing up into adult as young man experiencing life. As time went on these three dear friend became man and went their separated ways but kept in contact. Eventhough the movie showed three dear friends it was mainly about one life story. The story of birth, happiness, infidelity, pain, loss, grief, and accepting life by looking forward and not behind.
This movie I would recommend for anyone to watch when they have time. To truly enjoy it. When watching this movie I did not have a reflection on my life. I more thought about my mom. My mother is not only a wonderful mother I am grateful of having and love to death, but she is my father, my sister, and my best friend. If I would lose her I would lose myself. I talk to my mom twice a week if I am lucky and once a week when not. Talking to her make it feels as she is close by.
I am not afraid of death or quhing when speaking about the topic. I feel lost without her. She is miles away and I still have a shoulder to cry on and an ear to laugh in. She is a part of me as I am of her. When one leave from this world a piece of them always stay here with you. Whether it is in your heart, a photo, a furniture item, or clothes. Many of us don’t think of death of our love ones because it is not a pleasure photo. Many of us think or want our love ones to be living until it is time for us to meet the end.
Love, cherish, and enjoy the people in your life. Tomorrow you may not have plans, but life have plan for you. Love you all and have a great weekend!
Easter Mini Egg nests
Sorry about the late post. I was not in Germany for the holiday. I hope every single one of you had a nice Easter if not a relaxing one!
Every month on Facebook What Sha Cooking has a cooking theme. This month the theme entry was inspired from Easter.
Emma Sadler mini egg nest is the winning entry this month. Congrats Emma!!! Recipe and direction is in the group What Sha Cooking. Wishing everyone a great weekend!
Copyright…Someone Stealing YOUR Photos
Do you love taking photos? Go to the perfect place, wait for the perfect moment, or aim for a good angle? Are you anal and take a lot and pick out the good ones to share with friends, family, and the blog community? If you do anyone of these and more than you know how much time and energy it takes to make a good photo.
There are tons of people who value your photos enough to use them. Instead of them asking for permission or giving you/the source credit they rather steal it and use it as their own. As if they were the photographer behind the camera. This is why I am so critical about my photos. There is nothing special about my photos other than that I took them. What I do not mind people to use I do not place my stamp mark with my name. I have use many photos off the net but I have also gave credit with the photo source link. This is why I don’t photo mark all the photos that I share. A way to give back to the image search engines.
You’re probably thinking if I don’t want people to use my photos why not just post what I don’t mind people using. Long story short. I have three friends who photos was stolen from their blogs and another from a Facebook cooking group that she was in. I try to tell you each of the stories short and painless. I started placing my name in big and bold last year when my friend who use to blog photos was use in another cooking blog with modify ingredients. She sadly told me of her misfortune and warned me to start placing my name on my photos. Almost the same happen to another friend that I know. She has her name on her photos but small. Someone took her name off the photo and had the nerve to copy and paste her recipe to their business website. This is when I start not only having my name big and bold on my photos, but also a big annoying circle watermark. If someone have the nerve to steal my photos they have to work hard to edit off my name and watermark. You’re probably thinking yes, they can edit my name and replace it with theirs. Yes they could, but they can never use the image for a book, magazine, or poster. A few months ago my dear friend had her photos and also recipes publish in a magazine. She found out by a friend of hers who know her work. She was highly upset. She contacted the magazine and they done nothing or issue her credit in the next Indian magazine issue. I stress to her when she share her work via her blog or on Facebook she need to place her name not in the corner of her screen but on her food items, also place an annoying watermark over her photos. In my eyes professionals and nonprofessional photographers take a lot of time and energy to take what they see as the perfect shot to tell a story….protect your work.
Info links to protect your images
http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/protect/p16_photography_copyright
Do not Make your Herbs go to Waste
I love cooking and baking with herbs. Yesterday I came across wild garlic when shopping and I love me me some garlic. But this garlic was in leaf form. Not a bulb in which you could get anywhere. I said why not give it a try. The price was decent plus it was perfect for plate decorating. This morning I woke up and seen it look a little limp because it was no longer freshly pack. I said to myself I should bake some garlic bread using the leaves it would give a nice taste. However I did not because I was not in the baking mood. Instead I told myself why not make a sauce out of it and do the same with the parsley that I had in the refrigerator in which I been using sparingly. Let today be my herb day. I started with the garlic leaves to make a nice sauce.
This sauce will go perfect with pasta dishes, a slice of bread, bake on top of meat, and even can be use as a part of making any pasta dishes using inside the dough.
The parsley sauce is perfect to go on top of fishes, inside fish when making a fish roll or fish patty. Also nice to use making pasta from scratch, and so much more. Tonight I plan to use some of it making my fish roll.
My end result:) One thing that everyone need to know when making herb sauces is that herbs sauces can last up to 3 months when lemon is added to the ingredients. Always date your container you are using for storage. IF you have cheese as part of your ingredient date it for when the cheese expire. Once the cheese is gone bad your herb batch is too. If you make a big batch it is wise to place an amount that you think you would use in a month time in a separate container so that you may store that in your fridge and the other container which will not be glass store in your freezer. Another tip is if your not a sauce person but don’t want your herbs go to waste, cut them up and freeze them in a bag.
Ingredients and direction for these two herb sauces will be in the group What Sha Cooking later today. Feel free to join when you wish.
