My Tofu Adventure

Today was the 3 hour tofu cooking class that I'd signed up for. I have limited experience with tofu, either eating it or cooking with it so I felt it might be time for me to become more comfortable with it. A few years back, I stopped eating meat and though I still do eat fish, the majority of my diet is vegetarian and it seems tofu might be a good addition.

Our instructor has been cooking with tofu for many years. He seemed a bit of a fanatic to me as he wouldn't use the microwave since it hasn't been proven over thousands of years (how can it be proven if not used??) and he wouldn't use honey because it was an 'animal food'. I can understand his concern about the microwave but what's the harm in eating honey? It doesn't hurt the bees as long as you leave them enough honey to get by over the winter. Personally, I'm not crazy about the taste of honey but I would certainly not avoid it as an 'animal food'. Well, these differences aside, he did a fine job of teaching - preparing the meals in front of us while he explained everything and then giving us samples of everything. Here's what we had:

• Tofu mayonnaise


• Tofu "egg salad"


• Tofu French Toast with a maple glaze


• Tofu cutlets


• Tofu 'Egg Fried' Rice

Of course there was no egg in any of the 'egg' dishes, just tofu. I found everything to be quite tasty. The mayonnaise did not taste like regular mayonnaise but it did taste good and it had the extra advantage of having about 1/10th the calories of regular mayonnaise. The 'egg salad' did not taste like regular egg salad either but on a piece of bread, it makes a fine sandwitch.

The French toast was really good, something to look forward to in the morning or as a light evening meal.

I liked both the cutlets and the fried rice and plan to test both of them for supper one of these nights. Overall, the tofu things I tried at this morning's class were much better than any previous tofu I've tried (except perhaps for Boca burgers which I like). So, for me, I think tofu requires further examination & testing and I'll probably start having some every week or so.

Another advantage of tofu, besides the low calories, is that it lowers cholesterol.

Last Thursday night, B. and I went out for dinner to a nearby restaurant. We have been picking one special, elegant restaurant to try each month. This month it was my turn to choose so I picked a steak/seafood place a few miles from here. Neither of us knew anything about the place except what we read on the Internet. The most amazing thing about the restaurant was its location as the elevation was high enough that it overlooked the entire city! A beautiful setting to look out and watch the city lights come alive, see the moon rise in the distance - and the food wasn't bad either. :) No, they didn't have any tofu. Actually, they didn't really have any vegetarian options unless you just had a salad and a baked potato. The salads were really good and so were our entrees (beef for B., halibut for me). And for dessert, a slice of cheesecake with caramel topping to share. Though we paid a good bit more for that meal than I did for today's class, I can't actually say that the food was tastier than today's tofu - just different.

Continuing miscellaneous

Look closely and you can see Devin to the right of the gate in the backyard. He's still living dangerously, even after probably using up one of his nine lives when he was AWOL.

I don't know how he got up but he was having some difficulty determining how to get down. Finally, I went out and got him and he ran off to explore other things.

Today is Tuesday so I spent the morning down at the homeless center where I do volunteer work - assisting the guys on the computers. The center I work at is for male-only clients and they must be drug-free and alcohol-free. In one section of the shelter, there is a small computer room where a few pcs are set up. When a volunteer is available to staff the room, the guys can come in and read their email, search for housing and jobs, practice typing, etc. Sometimes all I have to do is be there to unlock the room and start up the pcs and the men have no questions, need no instruction. Other times, I need to give basic instructions, show them how to use a computer, how to create an email account, how to create a resume or perform a search. Today was mixed - some of the men knew what they were doing and got right to work, others needed to know how to navigate, how to use the back arrow, etc. Even some of the men who knew what they were doing still needed attention. They wanted to show me the site they were working on, tell me of a housing opportunity they'd found. For some of the guys, it seems that what they most appreciate is someone to listen.

After my shift was over, I stopped at my favorite 2nd hand store to see what "must buy" items they had. Last week when I was there, I ended up walking out without ANYTHING - not a book, a puzzle, nothing whatsoever. That is quite unusual as I almost always find something that will be useful. Today I found four dessert plates, and 5 puzzles. I also found some books on WWII which B. and I will find interesting as we are currently watching Ken Burn's show on WWII, "The War". One of the books I got is all WWII photos from Life magazine, the other is a collection of war memories that Studs Terkel put together. Both should prove interesting and then when we are done with them, we'll donate them back.

Five puzzles is a lot to find in one week. Of course you are taking a chance with used puzzles as sometimes pieces might be missing. I've had good luck so far though and have had few puzzles that weren't complete. When there are pieces missing, I document that, pack up the puzzle again and recycle - maybe someone won't mind a missing piece or two. The complete puzzles are also packed up after I finish them and they are passed on to one of my aunts or one of my sisters - and they pass them on, too. We can get a lot of use from a 99 cent puzzle! Today's assortment of puzzles included Bryce Canyon National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Madame Alexander Dolls, At the Wee Folks' Fair (a gathering of dwaves and fairies - very lighthearted), and Autumn at Stony Creek by Charles Wysocki. I plan to start the Autumn one as soon as I finish my current puzzle. The Wysocki one has jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, apple butter, autumn leaves - a nice fall scene that will be fun to do as our days turn to fall.

With the cooler weather, I've pulled out my crock pot and have been using that more frequently. Tonight we'll have Moussaka with Tofu Topping. Once you have the chopping all done and everything put into the crock pot, then you can forget it for the rest of the day while you get on with your life. If you happen to be home, fantastic scents throughout the day will entice you with the evening's meal. I haven't cooked with tofu before so this is a first for me. I have made a number of other recipes from this cookbook, some of them really great, so I expect this will be good, too. If you are looking for any good crockpot recipes, give this book a try: 125 best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes by Judith Finlayson. Some of the soups are amazing!

An unusual meeting

After I had B. safely settled in front of the tv with some supper, I decided to go for a walk. I went to the mailbox about 5 blocks away and then decided to go to the grocery store for some ice cream so we could have some dessert later of fresh peaches and ice cream. On my return from the store, I was coming down our street about 4 blocks from our house when I saw a young man fly fishing - in the street. I'd guess his age to be about 12 but he could have been slightly older. He kept casting and casting. As he was right on my way, I decided to continue walking but I hadn't even made it across the street before he started talking to me. He told me all about fly fishing, casting, types of flies, where he would go fishing, what he would catch - all the while he was still practicing his cast. He told me how to reel the bass in after catching it and then, not satisfied with just telling me about it - and showing me how to do it - he made me take the reel in my hands and let out the line, pretending that I had a fish on the line!

Luckily the weather was not hot or our vanilla bean ice cream would have melted before I made it home.

And some excitement - not that I needed any

B. got up with Devin this morning so I was able to sleep late, almost 8:30. B. went off to the hardware store while I had breakfast, did laundry, worked on my jigsaw puzzle. Nothing exciting there.

After B. returned from the hardware store, we decided to clean out the shed which had become a catch-all. It's really not that big of a shed so it didn't take more than an hour or so. However, somehow while exiting the shed, B. slipped, turning an ankle. We finished up and headed indoors. And then we took a look at that ankle! Quite swollen - as if a small lemon were attached to it. We read our health care books and they all told us to follow the RICE method - rest, ice, compression, elevation - and that B. should stay off the ankle for at least two days.

The rest and ice part was easy enough for me to prepare but I had to run to the drug store to get a bandage for compression. While I was there, I bought some crutches, too - in case B. needs to hobble about in the next two days. Looks like we'll be skipping the bike ride we'd planned for tomorrow - and possibly B's kayaking class on Saturday, too.

That's enough excitement for a while!

A Perfectly Ordinary Day

5:00 AM Devin is awake. He starts to wake me gently, crawling over me, purring in my face. When I don't leap up to feed him, he becomes more agressive and starts to play with my feet and to leap about on the bed. I get up, grab my blanket and leave the bedroom - followed by Devin - and close the door so B. can continue to sleep.

5:20 AM Devin is fed. He was pretty hungry, ate almost an entire can of kitten food. Zoe considered getting up but just readjusted herself on her sleeping area on the couch. She's not ready for the day to begin. Neither am I. Rather than curl up on the couch like I usually do, I decide to go into the guest room and pull down the wall bed unit. This is something new to Devin so he eagerly follows me in there and leaps on the bed. I leave the hall light on in case he wants to run around out there and play. Then I turn off guest room light and curl up to sleep. Devin makes a great effort to get me up and playing with him but to no avail. Soon I am again sound asleep.

8:30 AM B. gets up, shuts off the hall light. It is now daylight and it looks like a sunny day. B. walks towards the guest room and finds me sleeping there with Zoe sleeping next to me and Devin sleeping at my feet. Devin did NOT go rattle the bedroom door as he sometimes does after his breakfast, but just settled down in the guest room.

9:00 AM Breakfast. Have a bath. Get dressed. Check my email and the latest news online. Check the blogs. Wrap a few packages for the post office (jigsaw puzzles for my aunt, a book for a niece, some toy snakes - one crocheted, one knitted- for a nephew).

11:30 AM It has turned into a beautiful day so B. and I head off to the library to return some books and to the post office to mail packages. We haven't gone far before we encounter our next door neighbors - and their next door neighboors. There is some discussion on what to do with our gravel road. Do we agree to have the city pave it? If so, we all will have to pay many, many thousands of dollars. Do we hire someone to come and just put gravel down? We review all the options. It is agreed that more information is needed and one of the neighbors agrees to make some further calls. B. and I head off to the library and drop off our books, to the post office to mail the packages, back to the library to pick up a couple of books, and then to the grocery store to get some milk.

2:00 PM Have lunch on the deck and read the day's paper. It's windy so I have to hold the paper down by putting my plate and glass on top of it. Both cats are out, frolicking in the sunshine. We linger for a while, enjoying the beautiful day. The yard men arrive and mow the lawn and do some trimming & edging. The yard looks great!! The new-mown grass smell is intoxicating. Time to head inside to read a little and then to have a nap.

5:30 PM B. and I head out for another walk. A couple of months ago, I purchased a stepmeter (similar to a pedometer but it counts steps rather than mileage). Though we've been working towards 10,000 steps per day, we usually are closer to 5,000 or 6,000 by day's end. Today, because of our walk to the post office, we find we are already around 8,400 steps so we decide to finish off the remaining 1600. We walk a little over 800 steps and then turn around and head back. Have made our 10,000! Time for supper. Today I haven't prepared anything but we have some leftover two-bean chili from the night before so we have that.

8:00 PM Settle down to watch a little tv - a travel show about walking in Ireland, Psych and then a mystery, Cold Case. Zoe climbs up on my lap, the favored position because I have a blanket over my lap and it makes for a comfortable snuggling place. Devin tries to climb up there too but Zoe gives him a slap and he decides B's lap is a better spot for him.

10:30 PM Time to head for bed, read a little, but first, I have a blog to write.

Sounds like a boring day, eh? Maybe so, but boring can be very comfortable. You can have a very nice day, even if not exciting, and that's fine with me!

Devin is back...after 32.5 hours AWOL

At 4:30 AM, I was awaked to Zoe rattling our screen in the bedroom and B's happy cry of "He's back!". There was Devin! Where he had been, we'll probably never know. I had put food and water and a blanket out for him on the deck but he didn't settle there, just came round to the bedroom door where he knew he'd find us. He seems none the worse for wear but he sure was hungry, devouring almost an entire can of cat food. Devin just kept purring and purring - and that's how I felt, too. Such a relief to have him home again!

Now today I have the happy task of retracing yesterday's route and taking down posters and telling folks that Devin is no longer missing.

Last night I was working on the latest jigsaw puzzle when I saw a big raccoon come to eat some of the food I'd set out for Devin. I moved that away, putting it under the glider where the raccoons might not fit but I did set out another bowl of food for the raccoons - some kitten crunchies that neither Devin nor Zoe were fond of. At this same time, Zoe went out on the deck and sat on one of the chairs. The raccoon food was down at the end of the deck. A little while later, I looked up and there were 3 raccoons after that food - a mama and two young ones (pretty hefty young ones!). They didn't bother Zoe nor she them though she did hiss and snarl some. Those raccoons are so big - compared to cats - but looked so pretty that I wished I could go out and hug them. I think I'll continue to put out food for them, at least until they finish off the cat-ignored crunchies.

Devin is missing

Last night I let Devin out around 8:00 PM, figuring he could run around a little while and tire himself out before bedtime. He's usually back in 10 - 20 minutes. But he never came back! I was up all night waiting for him, with Zoe by my side. I kept hearing his little motor noise, rrrrrr, that he does to let you know he's around - but he was never there. I just kept wishing he was.

I can only imagine that he slid into someone's shed or something and got closed in. I've walked the yard and tracks 3 or 4 times, seen two other gray kitties but no Devin. I've been to the neighbors, left cards for those who aren't home. Next I'll contact the vet in case anyone finds him and brings him there. And I'll leave some posters throughout the neighborhood. But first I have to get a little sleep...I'm a wreck.

Meeting the trash man

Sunday night we put out the trash and recycling as usual - trash can, tub for papers & cardboard, tub for cans & plastic, and separate tub for bottles and glass. I was busy working on my latest jigsaw puzzle, B. watching tv, when I heard a knock at the door. We don't get a lot of unknown visitors so I was surprised to see a stranger, a man who was neat & clean - yet sort of scruffy looking. He reminded me of the homeless guys I work with on Tuesdays when I provide computer assistance, helping them search for jobs and housing. Our most frequent unknown visitors are folks wanting us to sign petitions or someone wanting us to join some environmental organization - and they generally have clipboards with them. This guy had no clipboard, only a question: could he please have a bag? Apparently, the bag he had brought was not big enough to hold this week's empty bottles and cans which he'll take in for refunds. The empties included those from our Labor Day gathering so there were a lot of them.

We gave him a bag and he went back to sorting through the bottles and cans. B. said he had talked with the fellow last Sunday night so it looks like this is our regular recycling guy (as opposed to the trucks that come and collect everything on Monday morning).

So, now I've gotten to meet the trashman. But I have some questions for him: his name, are there regular routes that each person handles, how did he get this area, where does he live, does every area in the city have someone who goes around and works through the discarded trash, etc., etc. Maybe I'll learn some of the answers in upcoming weeks.

Devin and Zoe

Devin is now about six months old, very much the kitten yet. He's taking to sleeping for longer periods of time but he sure is rambunctious! He likes to start his day early, usually 4 or 5 AM, and he wants us to start it with him! One of his favorite play items is the little toy mice that T gave him. They are a good size for him - easy to throw about and chase after wildly, small enough for him to pick up in his mouth. His latest trick is to drop them in the cat's water bowl. The first mouse I saw there was a mistake, I thought, one that fell in there as he was batting them about. A while later, I saw him go over to the water dish with a mouse in his mouth and just drop it in! He gave it a few swats, scattering water about, and then bobbed for it - proudly capturing the mouse and then running off with it, dripping wet.

Zoe is a mature 10 year old. She quickly tires of Devin's antics but sometimes she'll put up with him and even play with him a little. Sleeping is her favorite pastime and she especially enjoys resting on the latest puzzle.