A Peek At My Week in July/August

I'm Watching:     Made In Heaven on Amazon Prime

A series set in current day India. Deals with women's rights, gay rights, and the evolving rights in general in a closed society for those who have the courage to challenge the norms. The story is based on two unrelated individuals who open a bridal planning agency called, Made in Heaven for the wealthy which takes us into the lives of all kind of individuals, both the clients and the staff. Strictly fiction, but interesting and exciting. I'm enjoying it. 

I'm Reading : 

97 Orchid Street : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement. 

It's a historical fiction based on the lives of a German, Italian, Irish, Orthodox Jewish and Reform (From Russian and Germany) who live on 97 Orchid Street in NYC from 1863-1935. Though their food we learn about their lives and the struggles to readjust to life as new immigrants in America. 

I found this on Wik

"The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, located at 97 and 103 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, is a National Historic Site. The Museum's two historical tenement buildings were home to an estimated 15,000 people, from over 20 nations, between 1863 and 2011"

The Flowers In My Yard :

Since we are spending more time on our deck and less time out this summer due to Covid, we decided to surround ourselves in beautiful summer flowers. This is a sampling of some of our hanging baskets and planted flowers. 

  

  

What I'm Cooking : 

You may not normally think soup this time of year, but there are many summer soups which are either chilled or take advantage of the seasonal corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. I eat soup any time of the year, but it's a good time to FREEZE soup to take advantage of the summer crops. 

This week I made Mexican Zucchini Corn lime Soup ( P151 of my cookbook) or a similar soup you can find on my blog for (link) chilled zucchini corn lime soup and a Cucumber Grape Mint Gazpacho (P.163 in my Soups Cookbook) which I haven't put anything like it on my blog- yet. If you want the recipe, leave me a note in the comments. 

Notes: 

1. All of my recipes on my blog from 2021 have now graduated from vegetarian to vegan.

2. All of my recipes have always been and are still gluten-free

3. My recipes are whole food plant-based and easy using normal ingredients.

4. My recipes are low fat 

Peek at My Week -

Remember when you were in elementary school and you had to write a book report?  I feel like I'm still doing it when I write these posts about what I'm reading. 

                  The Great Alone by Kristan Hannah. 

I really enjoy this author, Kristin Hannah, and have read many of her other novels including her #1 NY Times Bestseller, The Nightingale. If you haven't read The Nightingale, I highly recommend it. 

The Great Alone takes place in the 1970's in beautiful uncharted wilderness of Alaska. The author's stunning descriptions and brilliant metaphors bring this majestic setting alive.  

The story: After returning from the Vietnam war, Ernt Allbright is a changed and more violent man. Unable to easily fit back into society and unable to keep a job, Ernt moves his family to Alaska to live in a remote area and live off the land. It is a survival story of a family in crisis and the difficulties which highlight the extremes of experiencing challenging and sometimes difficult Alaska living. We are introduced to their community who are strong group of survivalists both men and women. It is an exciting and heart wrenching story of human nature. A good read. 

What I'm Watching on Prime: 

2 documentaries- I liked them both- very interesting and informative

Shalom Bollywood - This is about the film industry in India and why so many stars came from the Indian Jewish community. I wasn't aware of the large Jewish community in India. " The unlikely story of the 2000- year-old Indian Jewish community and its formative place in shaping the world's  .".

In My Mother's Garden-

A selected group of women of color are interviewed to talk about their lives and their relationships with their mothers and grandmothers and how it impacted their lives. These interesting women share about the wisdom passed down to them regarding love, spirituality, sexism, family, food, and racism. 

I also just started a new series on Netflix called, " BlackSpace". It's an exciting detective series that will keep you on the edge of your seat . A murder takes place in a local high school in front of the entire assembly of 12th graders. Four students are shot- Were these four students targeted or were they shot randomly??  Could be your next series to watch!! It takes place in Israel and my version was dubbed.

I also recently saw the Vincent Van Gogh exhibit( link to my post about it) which was FABULOUS.. This exhibit is traveling all over the US and the world. I saw it in Miami, friends saw it in Toronto, in Israel, etc. 

What I'm cooking: Instant Pot Potato Salad

This is a mayo free French type potato salad made with lemon and oil ( recently I have begun to make it oil-free too) 

trailer for Black Space 

men from across the globe unlock stories of their mothers to redefine holistic lives rooted 

I 

 Linking to Sunday Salon

Peek At My Week 8/1/2020

                                                                                    
                                My Week                                     

Book review, Prime Video review, 2 salad recipes

A Peek At My Week 7/26

This has been a really hot week with temperatures rising to the mid-high 90's all week. I haven't felt much like cooking, so I've been making salads. 
We are still sheltering at home and my routine is pretty much the same: walking in the morning, reading, blogging, watching Netflix, and cooking, and having my older son and his family for dinner on the deck on Friday nights!  The hydrangeas are definitely thriving in this weather!

What I'm Watching:

Hamilton: On Disney+ through July 
They are showing an actual live performance  of the Broadway Play- Hamilton filmed in New York City prior to Covid. It is excellent and so worth taking the opportunity to watch it if you have Disney+: It's through July. 



Also Watching a Netflix Series:   

Quantico

Quantico is a fast moving action packed series about a woman training to work for the FBI. She finds herself victimized by a terrorist group. It is fascinating to see the way she works her way out of the mess and the long tangled story of her life before she joins the FBI. I thought it was a new series, until my son told me her watched it on television at least 6 years ago. Regardless, I'm enjoying it and recommend it!

What I'm Cooking: 
Corn, Cucumber and Olive Salad (Recipe Here)
This is a really different and tasty summer salad made with freshly cut off the cob raw crunchy kernels of corn, whole pitted black olives, red onion, celery, cucumber and spices. Summer corn is in full season here in Pennsylvania now.

Add caption

Red Cabbage Potato Salad  (Recipe Link)

This photo was taken before I mixed the salad

Another very tasty salad that is made with potatoes, red onion, red cabbage, and parsley. This hearty salad is vegan so there is no mayonaise, but it is dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. It's kind of like two sides in one- the starchy potato and the raw salad veggies.


Sharing this post on Sunday Salon 

A Peek at My Week 7/17

We have started to a little more active outside ( not indoors anywhere)
This week I'm reviewing "100 recipes to live to 100! from the Blue Zone Cookbook- 2 Netflix Shows, and a Middle Eastern dessert and a yellow beet soup. 

A Peek At My Week 7/3

This post is about another week of sheltering at home, book review, Youtube documentary review, and two amazing summer salad recipes. 

Peek at My Week 6/28 - Books, Netflix, Cooking

Yes, it's been 3 months and I'm still staying at home. We have done some socializing on our deck, but with just one friend at a time or with my kids and grandkids and 6 feet distance. I do grocery shop as well, but that's it.

Mah Jong tiles (these are flowers)

This post has book reviews, 2 recipes, and Netflix review: 

Peek At My Week 6/19

I can't believe that it's been 3 months since we have been sheltering at home.

People are beginning to ease up a bit and are venturing out somewhat more and actually going into other people's homes and restaurants. 

I haven't ordered any food or eaten out yet, whether inside or outside.

This week I'm sharing 2 book reviews, 1 Netflix review, 2 roasted soup recipes.

My friend Vicki sent me a chart that rates activities according to their risk factor. According to her chart: 

A Peek At My Week 6/13

We are back home, after being away 6 months and a day snowbirding in Florida, well over a week now, and we are just about finished settling in.

Grocery shopping is done, we set up the deck, planted flowers, visited my older son, daughter-in-law, and the grandkids on their deck (had not seen them in 6 months), and have enjoyed the cooler weather (as compared to Miami) for taking walks and sitting outdoors. 

I'm sharing a book review, A TV series review, and 2 vegan/gluten-free recipes.

Peek At My Week : May 24

It's been way over 60 days since we've been staying inside (except for my morning and evening walks). Many of my friends are starting to go out to eat in restaurants, getting together with friends, and possibly resuming playing mahjong or cards outdoors on their large decks.

Am I going to be the last person to start joining in? Personally, I still feel kind of reluctant to re-join society just yet!. I'm thinking I'll give it 3 more weeks and see how those who have led the way are still fairing?

A Peek at My Week

                                                      

                                            Happy Mother's Day!

 A Peek At My Week

Today is like day 52? of the Pandemic, and we have been staying inside and sheltering,  except for our morning walk and evening walk.

I usually walk with my neighbor from 7:30 to-8:30 am. We walk with masks and get we get REALLY agitated by all the people who are out walking and are not wearing masks.  I think the masks help reduce the risk of contamination. 

What do you think? Shouldn't people be considerate to others and wear a mask when walking outside on a street where many people pass each other!