#82: Tofu or not Tofu?

I took up the tofu challenge and made an "Asian Stir Fry" (although how Asian can a recipe from Canadian Living really be?)

It was OK.  Not marvellous, but not so awful that we traded it in for peanut butter sandwiches.  So it moves to the second round, and I will continue to experiment, as time permits, with a more authentic recipe.

Not this weekend, though.  Tofurkey is not on my Thanksgiving menu. 

#81: Tofu-y

One of my vaguely stated retirement challenges is to expand our culinary horizons beyond three or four familiar, easily prepared after-work favourites.

I could have gone wild and crazy with kale or lentils or quinoa, but they seemed a bit tame.  So I brought home a really large chunk of tofu.

I have no idea what to do with it.  I have 14 days before the sell-by date to figure it out, and if I get it wrong, we will probably never eat tofu again.

Hmmmmm.  Looks like win-win to me.

#80: Busted #2

When one happens to be at home for lunch, one has the opportunity to check out the bird feeder to see who  else is lunching.

Oh Oh.  That's no chickadee. 

A big, black squirrel has climbed up the pole,  jumped to the perch, and is clinging on precariously.  And  *whomp*  there he goes.  And there goes the perch.  Is there any point to  re-assembling it? Again?

Time to discuss the "Squirrel Buster" with my local bird seed distributor.  Just who/what is being busted?     

#79: Book Group Goodies

Knowing that I would have loads of time to prepare for a book group meeting on a Tuesday night, I cheerily offered (back in May) to host the October meeting.  I did  have plenty of time.  I got the book read, I tidied the living room,  I arranged some flowers, I moved some chairs around, I bought some de-caf coffee beans, etc.

I would have made treats, too -- I don't mind baking every couple of years.   But my resident houseboy asked if he could make a banana loaf and some lemon squares for the occasion.  And would that be OK?

He was a man with a plan:  butter up your wife and the cake pans.  Bake what you love and make sure there are lots and lots of left-overs.

#78: Out Early

When your retirement shift is a short one and you leave early, you can get up to all kinds of mischief for the rest of the afternoon.

Me?  I came home,  made a cup of tea and read my book.  

#77: Tulips

I'll be darned if I am going out today in the rain and the cold to plant 50 tulip bulbs purchased in the knowledge that for the first time in 20 years, I have time to refresh my spring garden.

Next week's weather forecast favours Tuesday. That should work for me.

#76: May I Help You?

Whew!  It turns out I have not forgotten everything I know about working in a public library.

I spent this afternoon filling in at the information desk at one of our library branches and had a good time in spite of my anxiety.  When I reported this to my husband, he observed, "It must be a bit like looking after grandchildren".

I know what he means.  I was a bit out of practice, but I did have fun with the patrons.  And at the end of the day I got to send them home.