Woodworking, Greens, Taxes

Hey, I finally finished my cutting board!!! Last night I did some more sanding and then covered it with mineral oil. What a change the mineral oil made, bringing out the richness of the wood! It's amazing that it took me so long to make but also amazing that I made it. :)


This past weekend I attended a class titled "Cooking with Greens". I expected that I'd learn how to use swiss chard, spinach, bok choy, etc. in recipes and that maybe by seeing them used (and tasting them), I'd learn how to prepare them myself - and maybe even like them. Imagine my surprise to learn that half of the recipes we'd be tasting were for broccoli, my most-hated vegetable!! Here were the four recipes for the day: Chocolate Broccoli Cake, Broccoli 'Guacamole', Beans & Greens Soup, and Scrambled 'Eggs' with Greens. The idea of a cake made from broccoli seems repulsive but I have to admit that it tasted pretty good, not at all like raw broccoli. The broccoli guacamole wasn't bad either. It made for a tasty dip or spread - as long as you were not really expecting avocado guacamole. I was pleased with both the soup and the scrambled 'eggs' (tofu) as it showed me I could incorporate greens into types of recipes that I currently make, that I wouldn' t have to sit down to just a big plate of greens. So for me, the class was worthwhile. I made the soup the other night and both B. & I liked it. Next I may try to make that cake!

I was back at the homeless shelter today and one of the guys who showed up was the one who was having problems last week entering his taxes. His first comment was "I finished my taxes!" and that was good to hear. He actually made so little last year that he wasn't required to file but by filing, he should get back all that was deducted from his paychecks. And, I hope, make him eligible for the rebates.