Nexus

Smoked Paprika

I bought some Spanish smoked paprika last year from a specialty store in Ottawa. The first couple of times I tried it, I really disliked it. I found the flavour overpowering and disagreeable. I can't even remember what I sprinkled it on. A few months ago a friend of mine made hummous and brought it over for dinner. While rummaging around in my spice cupboard, he found the smoked paprika and used it to garnish the hummous (along with a douse of olive oil) I loved the smoked paprika on the hummous - it added a real depth of flavour. Since then I have been trying it on a few other tings. Last week I made vegetable barley soup and added a liberal sprinkling of the paprika to it - it was a perfect flavour for the soup. You can't quite tell what it is but you know something really good is in there for flavour. I made the soup tonight and [art way through, tasted it - why was it so flat? Then I remembered the paprika and added it in - that was exactly what it needed. It is now a staple in my soup recipes. I recommend finding some and experimenting with it.

Smoked Cheese & Corn Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a popular “sandwich” and easy to make. If you are not
grilling use a sandwich press or grill pan.

2 tbsp (25mL) mayonnaise
1 1/2 cups (375mL) grated smoked mozzarella cheese
1 tsp (5mL) pureed chipotles (or 1 tbsp/15mL Chipotle Tabasco sauce) or
one finely chopped jalapeno
1 cup (250mL) cooked corn
1/4 cup (50mL) chopped fresh cilantro
1. Combine mayonnaise with cheese, chilies, corn and cilantro. Mixture
should just hold together.
2. Arrange tortillas on work surface in a single layer. Spoon mixture on
one half of each tortilla. Fold other half over filling and press together
firmly.
Grill quesadillas about 1 to 2 minutes per side until cheese melts and
tortillas are marked with grill marks. Cut each tortilla in thirds.

makes 8 to 10 small quesadillas

Upsetting the Routine

Much to my surprise, I find I am enjoying having my routine upset by this renovation. Now I admit the renos are pretty minor - no walls being knocked out of anything like that. When I go to sit down with my ocffee in the morning, I can't sit in my usual spot - I no longer have a dining room table and the couch is piled up with stuff. So I sat on the floor by the window instead. And it was a lovely spot to sit. Since I can't work on the computer downstairs, I've been using it upstairs in the bedroom. I rather like that as well. So the small changes to my routine have been nice. This tells me I should be changing things up more often.

Meet-up Group

I recently discovered a women's friendship meet-up group in my area. I remember finding the main meet up site years ago when it first started. I found it when a blogger whose blog I regularly read went to work for meet up. I stumbled across the women's meet up group a month or so ago when doing a google search for something. This group looked really interesting - women only and activity based. There are lots of women in my area even though the majority of thre women live and work in Toronto. I've gone out to two events now - a picnic and a house party. The house party was attended by at least 50 women. I was really surprised by the amazing group of women who attended the party. First of all it was wonderful that someone so generously opened their home to such a large of people - many strangers. Then the next thing I found remarkable was how great all the women are. The group has been on operation for over a year and there are about 250 members in total. There are several events a week. The women seem very well educated and professional for the most part. All ages which is the really cool thing. I think everyone realizes that there is so much benefit to all in having friends of all ages and backgrounds. I heard the same comment over and over again and also mentioned in the member profiles - you absolutely cannot have too many (or enough) women friends to do things with.

Again, renovations

The painting started in earnest today - I hadn't really thought too much about what was involved with this. And I am lucky because I have a really neat and careful painter. But of course everything is piled in the middle of the rooms. Most stuff is out of the entertainment unit now. I guess that means the rest comes out tomorrow and no TV for a couple of days. Perhaps I should have done this when I am away for two weeks in September. But it is not that bad.

This process has made me think about what I spend money on though. I've given away a ton of stuff in the last few weeks. Hauled furniture, household goods and clothing to the Goodwill. I've decided that there are not many possessions that epople have forever. I bought solid wood furniture years ago thinking it was worth the money because it would last forever - it has lasted and really it has lasted a long time but I am sick of it now. I think my artwork is the only thing I never get tired of. I still love the first piece of original art that I bought 25 years ago and love it today as much as I did then.

I think now it is best to not accumulate so much stuff. Have a small number of things you really love. Don't get a big house just to have a place to store your stuff. Get rid of the stuff or better yet, don't accumulate.