Cultural Influences in Sri Lankan food

I have no idea how a country that indulge many spices have this as a part of its breakfast. Well that leads to believe the other cultural influence in Sri Lankan history such as the Dutch, Portuguese, and the Colonial has made a significant influence. I may not have these in order but at least these are few I can remember with regard to invasions in Sri Lankan history. 

I remember growing up in Sri Lanka, it was a kind of a special treat for me to visit the pastry shops. some are still to this day do exists. I enjoyed having beacon and eggs with tomato sauce in other words ketchup. 

This well known pastry consist of beacon, hard boil eggs, caramelized onions, green chilies (cuban peppers) not too spicy but has a milder chili flavor in this pepper. Arrange all this in a square of a puff pastry. Then bake according to the package directions and eat with ketchup. 

I did make these for my entire family, I had mine with caramelized onions and hard boil eggs. However, some of the pictures are missing of the final product. Because it was all gone before the photo opportunity!

Yes, it was that good!

Yard Sale - scores

Past weekend was the neighborhood yard sale. As I was heading towards the Y for my yoga classes. I could not help noticing the early buzz around the block. I scored few things from our neighborhood garage/yard sale. 

A beautiful vase, which I am looking forward to place some branches this fall. A brand new small rotary cutter in its original package and not even open. Two books to keep me company whenever I get a chance to read something fun! A beautiful wire/metal basket to hold eggs, or simply the garden bounty for us. 

At work by my sink in the classroom needed a bit of a lift. I am always looking ways to keep it clean, and organized for little ones. I had few plates that had interesting art work I would like to hang them but I did not have any of those neat plate wall brackets and I was able score one from our neighborhood yard sale. Final iteam was three (small, medium, and large) palm leaf pouches to store neat iteams, which I am sure I can find plenty at my sewing table!

All this goodies end up in a grand total of only $ 4.25 not too bad on neighborhood yard sales!

A treat to come home...

I always look for bargains when I am at the grocery store. Officially, kids goes back to school this coming week. Keeping that in my mind I was looking for ways to make few things ahead crazy schedule. 

Banana bread goes well in our house at least among kids. I guess bananas that were bruised were on sale for about .99 cents. I meant only the skin, I bought two of these packages home.

We decided to make a banana cake instead of bread. cream cheese frosting with this delicious banana cake was an ultimate treat for my older one who is just getting the hang of getting back to school. 

Few roasted walnuts chopped to tiny pieces adds a bit of crunchiness to this wonderful cake. I know my older one comes home, after school and cross country practices and treat himself to a slice of this goodness. Totally worth it!

Small Space, organizing hair accessories

As some of you knew, I went to work last Fall, after a long break (almost after three years). I was not fully prepared in some areas like my personal organization and one of the major areas was my hair accessories which included hair dryer, flat iron, and a messy spot right at the end of my bed. Not having a master bathroom next to our bedroom is not a cool feature in this old house. Over a time period I have accumulated and placed hair accessories conveniently by the end of my bed because, that is where the power outlet is. 

I had used a sturdy plastic/vinyl bag to toss all my hair accessories, I often use to tie my hair. I do like to blow dry my hair and occasionally I would use the flat iron to straighten my hair close to my face line. The bobby pins, pony tails rings, head bands all were thrown together in a mess. As I went to work I would sit at the edge of my bed and work on my hair and in many occasions would get frustrated to find a pin or a pony tail ring. 

I finally decided I needed to be more organize in this area to leave the house in peace to work, I bought few baskets and started to clean up. Now, Nicolette has a small bag to carry her bathing suite to pool (aka) hair do bag! which I used to store all my hair belongings. The use of new baskets, I feel like I am more organized. Hair accessories are accessible easily without having to do a blind sweeps to get a bobby pin or a pony tail band.  I like the neat look. A big difference!

How do you stay organize with your accessories? Do you clean them out weekly, monthly, or yearly basis?

Farm Play Area for Kids

 

I was in a hunt for raspberries but I could not get any from our local farm. The trip to the farm was a bit disappointing but while our way back little Nicolette was pulling my hand towards the playground. Niegel took the initiative to take her towards swings while I return the empty boxes to the farm store for credit.

Retuning to the playground Nicolette was up on the swings. I liked how the big tractor tires were buried into the grounds for kids to hop from one to one. It was a great obstacle course for kids. 

Niegel of course guiding her with high goals as not to touch them as she jump on was a bit challenge. A little bit of guidance, encouragement, and holding hands was all she needed to move through this obstacle course!

simple dinner for less...

We easterners during Summer get a great break in seafood. I am talking about lobsters. They were on sale so inexpensive the store had to limit the numbers to their customers, so it was fare I guess for every one. I bought a couple of ponds. 

I usually steam, shell, and use them in pastas. I have not got my hands arounds to make a lobster sandwiches or otherwise known as rolls in New England yet. 

We had these guys for dinner, It is hard for me to give up seafood but my goal is for next year is no to LOBSTER!

Probably this is the last Summer I am having them! How do you make your lobsters?

4 H Fair Middleborough, MA

This came to us through a girl at work. I decided to head over to check the fair. It was a long time that I have been to this kind of a fair in VA. Location was not to bad it was not too far but at the same time it was not too close. 

First exhibit we entered was the rabbit display it was pretty interesting. Their were many varieties of bunnies, which I have not witness before in my life. 

Next we entered the chicken coops, yes, and it was fun to watch. 

Nicolette, wanted to get her face painted as a pirate and then she was thrilled to get a sword as well! Later, I move towards the room where they displayed wining entries who had received the blue ribbons. It was very neat, the variations of entries from onions, eggs, quilts, pictures, to many more...

We headed home... our older one was a bit bored from the 4H fair I guess he is not a guy with that kind of interest as his mom!

Fire Pit...

Late evening tasks in the yard make us use our new fire pit more often these days. 

I needed a mental break more than a physical break the other night! After two drooling days of workshops, and had mentally drained all my energy. I could not think any more and I was tired. 

Purchasing few books from the work shop have added a new task to my agenda but  kind of looking forward to it. As the presenter explained it should be tools to aid kids in the classroom!

I sat down to watch the fire, dance, crackle of the burning wood, smoked air, buzzing of the bugs, little Nicolette’s joy, teasing her brother, inviting him to chase her, and Niegel’s swift attempts to keep the fire burning. 

Watching the wood burn adds a bit of a charm to our yard on this late evening. There is a un explainable calmness in the air! The swaying of the branches worry me sudden growth of fire might catch the branches. Feel like my brain is exercising again, which I am happy to enjoy again!

Getting use to this unusual energy. Which brings when we lit the fire place is all too new to me and to kids but, it gives us a reason to be prepared  to fast approaching school year! I am looking forward for this school year! 

How do you handle the chaos of end of Summer and the beginning of FALL!

home made bath salts...

Summer brings a lot, working in the yard could make ones body a bit painful at the end of the day but, in an unusual way. A bit of a satisfied pain and lately I have been going through it bit more often due to weeding and cleaning. No matter what, I believe a good long soak in the tub can magically cure all aches. 

I like investing on bath salts a bit, recently I decided to make my own bath salt. With my little helper, I made couple of batches. The first batch of course for me. 

Gathering all the materials took a while but the process was fairly easy. After the initial attempt we decided to make few batches for gift giving. 

I bought culinary lavender from from amazon shop, and bought epson salt. I had lavender essential oil from a previous project. I used two cups of salt to 1/4 cup lavender seeds and then few drops of essential oil. Mix them well and stored in a jar!

I did used mason jars to store the rest of the batch for gifts! Neat gifts to teachers, friends, and baby sitters! 

I personally loved it. I feel like totally renewed after a bath! 

Sandyneck Beach, Barnstable 2013

 

I hope this is could be a place for us to take our kids for a nice getaway from the busy week. Not a very sandy beach but rather rocky/pebble beach. I bumped in to a Puerto Rican lady at the beach, she was kind enough to share her story of collecting rocks which were  heart shape. 

She explained some of the pebbles are smooth enough for her to smash garlic in her cooking. Even though it was bit harder to navigate in this rocky beach there were many occupants. There was a family reunion and a fire pit. 

The sunset was breath taking to watch. I kind of like this beach, so far we have not designated a beach as our go to beach.
I guess we are still looking, we originally are Island dwellers, and  hard to please when it comes to beaches. I know as a fact, Sri Lanka is well know to its beautiful rolling beaches. I do miss the down south landscape. 

I did kind of fell in love with this beach mainly the landscape was very calming, closer to home only takes about hour and a half so give or take, few shops to view, and the crowd was much pleasant!

I enjoyed the cool breeze, wish I had a book, and love my new beach chairs I got last year from Target!

Both my kids stroll to the beach hand in hand to wade in waves. As always, the teenager was very protective of his sister. On the other hand little Nicolette, persisting on pushing boundaries to explore the beach with her new skill of dog paddle!

She insist that I take her to the waves instead of her big brother so she could have a little freedom to play. I enjoyed her requests so I can step into the cold water to rejuvenate my tired feet!

Tomato Canning Stage 3

 

What do you do with all this tomato? Yes, make a sauce. We could not possibly eat all these tomatoes and hate to see them go to waste. I exercise the new skilled that I learned, to make tomato sauce. It was pretty easy. 

Wash, and cut your tomatoes. Discards parts that bugs have bitten. Place them in a dutch oven. Place it on the stove on a high medium heat. 

Get all your canning gear ready. Have the cleaned jars in the water bath simmering with the rings. Place the lids in a hot water bath and have it ready. 

As the skin begins to separate from the cut tomatoes take it off from the heat and let it run through your potatoes mill with the smallest hole sieve. This will not allow the seeds to mix with the sauce

Sauté, garlic, oregano, and thyme. When this is translucent, add the prepared tomato. Let it come to a boil, add finely cut blanched basil leaves, and start canning. Next, all the jars are filled immerse them in hot water. Let it  come to mild rolling boil and time it for about ten minutes. Then turn off the heat let the jars sits in the water another five minutes. Now, take them out of the the canner and place them on a kitchen towel until cold. 

Take the rims off and check for vacuums seal. Store them in a cold dark place until you are ready serve pasta.  

Eastern Peaches are on SALE for 88 cents...

The local super market had its peaches on SALE. I immediately purchased 10 pounds. Yes, They were fresh, not totally ripe, looks beautiful, and did smell like peach. I arranged them in my fruit bowl and let it sit for couple of days. I did some search and followed a recipe from sure jell site.

 I did two batches and in one batch I used liquid pectin and other I used sure jell. The batch with liquid pectin was a bit runny and loose. The sure jell was more firmer and it did set well. 

We have already opened a jelly bottle and it was amazingly sweet and we love it! In total we made about eleven jars of jam. We are well stock for this winter with a variety of jams including blueberry, strawberry, and peach. I might give few away as gifts. I have been already sending them to friends and neighbors.