6 o'clock Lamb

I haven't been cooking too regularly but I didn't post an amazing recipe which I cooked when my sister and brother-in-law were here two weekends ago. I think I was just taking in the moment and too busy prepping things and making sure nothing burns, although I did burn myself a little. That recipe I will just have to put on here anyway, since I feel that it was a keeper. It was a salmon dish, although the original was with trout, but I guess now you know that I like to switch some ingredients around. Ha

This latest recipe was from my Jerusalem cookbook. It usually doesn't take me too long in order to find a recipe that I would like to concoct. So this time I made lamb, with eggs, and other spices and such that made the dish worth what it is. I didn't however, and perhaps even unfortunately use tahini or harissa paste, or sumac. When you're not living in an Arab country, somethings may be a little harder to find. But I still found this recipe to be really good and interesting, with all the flavors in unison. My family who tried it said the same:)

With this one, there were a good number of steps that I had to pay attention to. But luckily nothing was too crazy or should I say even very difficult. I seriously started making this dish at 6 pm and had it ready a little after 7:30 pm. Sundays, (which was the day I cooked it) can always be a bit hard. I love Sundays, and I love going to the library on Sundays up until the late afternoon. My Mom and I kept telling ourselves that we would leave the library to go to store at a descent time, yet we kept pushing it back at least 3 times. We were thoroughly engrossed in our reading and work, and the quiet, glowing ambiance of the library was another factor. After finding all that I would need at the store, except for those three ingredients I mentioned earlier, I was ready to start cooking, and cooking fast, for my Dad highly dislikes eating 'late' on a Sunday evening, but fortunately everything seemed to unravel nicely and there were no big hiccups in the process.

Eggs, lamb, and all other ingredients cooking swiftly

Add the cooked tomatoes, and the eggs are supposed to be a bit runny

Here's the cover of the cookbook again, as well as the same recipe:)

My sister isn't too fond of lamb, but I guess I surprised her with this one because she liked it better than before. I personally like the smell of ground lamb cooking, and with the ingredients in this recipe, it worked well with the lamb, and the eggs, tomatoes and everything else. I look forward to the other recipes I will try in this gem!

Book Worm

With a new year well underway, it's always tempting to peek behind the curtain of the past year- in what happened and what was learned. Regarding books, what happened was that I finished more than I thought I could, and what I learned was that it's always good to read a book, or take it with you during your day since you'll never know when you will need it to be your companion and friend for those 20 minutes waiting or wanting some needed inspiration. So finally I will share the finished books I read in 2016, and will specifically highlight the ones I read this Fall.

I have my favorites that I read this year, and that really put a spark in me. These included The Blessed Eucharist, The Pioneer Woman, When Breath Becomes Air, Start Something That Matters, Led By Faith, The Diana I Knew, On The Noodle Road, The Introvert's Way, Our Lady Of Kibeho, Traveling To Infinity, White Jacket Required, and Spiritual Lessons along the Camino. Whew. Great titles and books that stirred up inspiring juices that uplifted, encouraged and gave me a new perspective and world to look into. It's always a treat when books can do that for you. :)

Now for the ones that I read this Fall. My goal was to read 8, but I finished 7.
Looking back at the ones I read this Fall, I realized that most of them are spiritual books, which I also found to be helpful and inspiring:)

The Virgin Mary of Guadalupe

This little book was amazing. I learned a lot about the life of Juan Diego and more about the occurrence of The Virgin Mary visiting him. It was also an easy and quick read. Happens to be one of my favorite apparitions of Mary:)






India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation's Remaking
Right from the start, this book hooked me into a deeper and hidden perspective of the history of India. I found it to be very interesting, as the author was raised with two different cultures, and going back to India as an adult was an interesting and riveting experience for him. I would like to read more books like this.

Our Lady of Kibeho

A very, very engaging and uplifting book about Mary coming into the city of Kibeho, on the Eastern side of Africa. There was so much power and hope in this book, it was difficult to put down. This was also a fast read, and to be honest was a little sad when it was over. Now I can say that I've read all of her books (Immaculee Ilibagiza's). Such a strong, beautiful and inspiring woman.

The Name of God is Mercy 

Another spiritual read! This one was also quite short, and easy to flip through and read. I liked that I read it at the end of the year of Mercy, and overall an insightful and uplifting book.

Travelling to Infinity

I was so glad to finish this long, detailed and heart hooking book! I had been meaning to read and finish this book for sometime, and even bought it for my Mom for Christmas two years ago. I've seen the movie and really liked it. When my sister read it, I was more inspired to read it as well. Jane Hawking is such an amazing writer and storyteller, this too was a page turner. I recall reading 100 pages in a day practically fluidly. Highly recommended.

Make it Messy 

Aww, Marcus Sameulsson. I always enjoy looking at his cookbooks- I got one of them for Christmas this past year! I've also read his other memoir, Yes, Chef. This book was similar to Yes, Chef, a condensed version. It was also nice because I kind of forgot parts of the story, and what an interesting story he has. He's an interesting, creative and inspiring person and chef. 

White Jacket Required

I found this interesting book first at B&N and remembered and wrote the title down. I was inspired by the author's tenacity, passion and determination in the culinary and then later the pastry field. I could relate with some of those moments and situations of quarter life crises and uphill and downhill battles. She has an inspiring journey.

And lastly, right before Fall ended and Winter started, I finished reading Spiritual Lessons along the Camino.

This spiritual read, hence the title, was one I read in preparation for the Christmas season. She decides to go to Spain, to go on a personal and intimate retreat with herself and learns new things about herself, her faith and others along the way. It was a nice and enriching read when the gloominess of December stopped by for a visit.

So, those were all the books that I read this Fall, and this year. I'm excited for all the reading I will do in 2017, and want to read more this year, finding more time for it and covering more subject areas.

Till next time...

Holy Mackerel

I was so excited to cook something out of my new and inspiring cookbook. Flipping through the pages and learning about new dishes is always fun. This time, I decided to cook a recipe with fish in it. I'm not a huge seafood lover, then again I haven't tried most seafood, so maybe it's too early to tell. However, I do want to try more seafood that I haven't already checked off my list of scary looking, funny smelling and popular treats, some call that can easily be popped in your mouth. Hmm, sounds enticing.

This recipe in particular was something different and required mackerel. I do not know a whole lot about fish, or mackerel but something new is always exciting to try, right?:) I went on board to go to the grocery store with my Mom...(this is a goal of mine, to become more familiar with the grocery store) And if you're going to cook or bake, you kinda need to know where things are.

When I saw this tree a few weeks ago, I was like holy mackerel! Love this color. Now it's all bare:/

We had to ask the 'fish guy' who works in the seafood section if they carry mackerel. The first thing he said was holy mackerel, and the next thing he said was that no, they didn't carry it. He asked what I was making, and I told him a Jerusalem dish, and I could tell that his mouth began to water, yet I couldn't tell him the name of the dish- but now I can tell you! Pan fried mackerel with golden beet and orange salsa. Instead of getting mackerel and probably searching for a while at an Asian or specialty market, we went for sardines. They also didn't carry golden beets, only the red kind, we went for the red.

Making the salsa

I was unfamiliar with beets until now. They do tend to stain your hands and anything else they touch a little, but I thin it would be cool to use them for dying a t-shirt or something. In the end, the sardines worked out well, and were pretty oily, similar to the consistency of mackerel. I really, really liked making this dish and enjoyed even more eating it. There was so much flavor, and the salty, tender sardines with the sweet and sour tang of the fruit in the salsa was a delight.

Maybe now after cooking this dish, I will become more eager and perhaps more ambitious to cook up more fish /seafood recipes. Note, my big brother got me this cookbook for Christmas, and he's vegetarian so I think it's a win win and now I finally have a vegetarian dish under my belt:)

Sardines!

Brand New Year, What A Good Idea

Hello 2017! It's always so nice to welcome a new year, and to have a fresh start! New Years resolutions and predictions are always things I like to do on New Years Eve. As for resolutions, I aim to finish the books I start. And speaking of finished books, I still need to post all the books that I read in 2016! These will include my favorites- the ones that I would read again and also the ones I read for my Fall challenge.

I'm unsure of what this year of 2017 will bring, but I know that I'm excited for new beginnings and challenges that await me. And with 2016 under my belt, I feel more prepared for what will come this year.

I think one of my main challenges is becoming more grateful for all that I do have! Gratitude is an attitude for all seasons, not just Thanksgiving and the more you embrace it, the more you live and experience it:)

My cooking will continue, as I am excited to jump into a new cookbook from Christmas that speaks to my eclectic taste, and another one all about Jerusalem. My challenge for baking didn't happen, or should I say my interest and love for baking is still blooming, and I would like to bake something soon!

I have many ideas for this something of a friend- personal type blog that relates to creativity and becoming innovative with what I have, yet also going into the kitchen and getting into the groove of creation, personality, flavor and culture! However, I cannot leave out my language passion and goals- and this year there is more responsibility for my brain to know, remember and understand the languages that I have decided to study as well as keep on studying.

 Right now, it almost feels as if my mind is going a bit crazy, with all of the ideas and adventures I store up in my mind for times to come. But in all honesty, that's what I need and Plum Tree helps me do that. :) So, here's to all other inspirational bloggers out there, let's unite! Wishing and hoping for a wonderful 2017 ahead, and all that will happen. Cheers!