An Upcoming Culinary Experiment

On a whim, I picked up a bag of fresh cranberries. Instead of making the typical American style canned sauce, I opted for chutney with orange flavors and thought about adding ginger for extra zing.

I’m not the only person, and the suggestion of candied ginger seemed perfect. It’s available for purchase but I had some of the readily available roots on hand and decided to try making it.

I have a one word summary: yum on the candied ginger. My husband has been snacking on it, too, and kindly bought oranges for me to concoct the chutney. I look forward to trying that recipe.

Do you like cranberries? Should I brave pairing a bite of both candied ginger and yuzu peels together?

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Delicious Fruity Fun

Our dear Strayer asked about candied yuzu peels. Yuzu is an Asian citrus, inherently sour and much beloved in Japan. While the fresh fruit cannot be imported (or advised being eaten as such), there are various products available. I might explore other options for culinary purposes.

The yuzu tree can also be grown in warmer United States climates. Alas, my region is too cold and the soil not acidic enough. Our Jungle Jim’s International Market might have some available but I won’t count on either availability or affordability.

Do you know that Ohio growers can produce much more than apples? Should I attempt some type of citrus?

Brightening This Present Darkness

One of my newest blogging friends, Linda, is another kind soul uplifting others and reminded me of cartoonist Scott Adams. If you’re not familiar, he created the character Dilbert, a beleaguered office worker. Mr. Adams also wrote a book called “Reframe Your Brain” and has recently started reading bits daily on his Youtube channel broadcast.

The one he shared on 11/14 regarded having negative thoughts. Instead of just trying to stop them, he suggests, replace them and essentially crowd the darkness out. I like this a lot. Whatever makes (or made) you happy, focus on that.

Are you familiar with the comic strip Dilbert? Do you know Mr. Adams' stepson died from fentanyl poisoning?

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Mistakes Happen

On Tuesday my most recent Amazon purchases turned up on the wrong doorstep. Fortunate for me, I recognized the porch next door and retrieved my packages.

Unfortunately, I gave the delivery service a thumbs down without thinking and before going out looking. I wrongfully thought it could be reneged. I don’t want a hard working person to get into trouble. And their work is genuinely appreciated.

Do you think there’s any hope this Amazon employee won’t be reprimanded?

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Gangster cats😎😎#cats #funnyvideo #gangsta #gangstasparadise

My New Hobby – & – Some Peculiar Side Benefits

As smart phone apps go, my current favorite is maps. Besides offering directions (of course), the app also offers satellite views. My addiction hobby began locally, looking at my own home. Spreading to local neighborhoods introduced me to a tiny new coffee house/bistro I would never have discovered on my own.

Best of all, many points of interest provide a website. Museums, parks, bars, restaurants, etc bring adventure and even some exoticism to my quaint suburban life.

This has even led me to try new things beyond local businesses. My favorite so far came from Japan, a product called candied yuzu peel.

A longtime fan of balanced sweet and sour tastes, I read of yuzu off a New Orleans restaurant menu. The ingredient was used either as a cocktail component or salad topping. Of course I’ve forgotten. ~rolls eyes~ I purchased a packet off of Amazon.com and hope to investigate its other forms, as well.

What is your favorite candy or beverage profile?

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A Chilly Surprise

Sunday here was cold, blustery, and rainy. Still, Monday’s early snowfall surprised me. Watching snowflakes and tree leaves mingling on their way toward the ground struck me as magical.

I would have a less appreciative attitude if I needed to go out in it, wouldn’t I? Do you know that packed snow actually benefits plants, insulating their roots from the cold?

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Warped

I try to eat healthy but sometimes a frozen pizza is just too tempting. With innumerable options available, my husband and I discovered the Schwan’s Red Baron brand launched in 1976 to be superior. They aren’t overly expensive as well as being tasty. Still, my guy often asks that I put on extra toppings.

For the first time I found adding grated mozzarella warped the crust during baking. The taste did not suffer any harm. I suppose the cheese adding moisture caused this.

Do you think my theory is correct? And are you a pizza fan? If so, what are your preferences?

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