Chickpea Whipped Cream

Cooking

I was scheduled to make a chocolate cream pie for my son as a reward for his straight A report card, but I forgot to buy the whipped cream to go on top. What to do? Substitute of course!

In the past, I have tried to use coconut cream as a base to make whipped cream. This method is hit or miss for me. It is very tricky to get it to work right and is not guaranteed to make it to the table.

When I informed my family that I was making whipped cream using the liquid from canned chickpeas (some may call them garbanzo beans…same thing), skepticism was in the air. However, all tried it and I must say it was a success. I was thrilled at how easy it came together and overjoyed by the outcome. The plus side to using the chickpea liquid was that it is dairy-free and costs next to nothing to make. Also, there is a great bonus in that I am not wasting anything from the can of chickpeas as I eat those on salads or as a side dish.

The recipe I found was at https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chickpea-whipped-cream-236591

I followed the recipe except for two things… I opened the can of chickpeas the previous day and saved the liquid in the refrigerator. So my chickpea liquid was cold, making for cold whipped cream. The temperature may also affect the way it whips. The second difference was that I turned the electric mixer to high and not the medium that the recipe suggested.

I found this super easy and fast to make. It did not take the 10 to 15 minutes that the recipe said it would. It was very quick. I took the liquid from the fridge and in the same bowl added the 1/8 tsp cream of tartar and the 1 tsp of vanilla. I beat that on high with an electric hand mixer until no liquid remained and it was getting stiff. I then slowly added the 2 Tbsp of sugar while continuing to beat at high speed. The “whipped cream” came out perfect. It made a lot of whipped cream. Plenty for a whole pie and then some. Since the whipped cream settles a bit in the fridge, it needs to be re-whipped for a minute with the electric mixer on high. I re-whipped the cream the next day for the other half of the pie. The following morning, I again re-whipped the cream for a topping to my pancakes. There is still some left. That little bit of liquid made a lot of whipped cream.

Chocolate Pie Smothered in Chickpea Whipped Cream – Yum
Pancakes with Chickpea Whipped Cream (re-whipped)

As always, Happy Baking!

My Take on… The Word is Murder

Book Reviews

I just finished another book by Anthony Horowitz, The Word is Murder. This was another winner for Horowitz. In this book, Anthony writes himself, as an author, into the book. Interesting…

The book is set in England. Chapter one starts out with Diana Cowper going to a funeral parlour to arrange her own funeral. Later that very day, she is found murdered in her own home. Coincidence?

Ex-police detective Daniel Hawthorne is on the case helping the department solve the murder of Diana Cowper, who is the mother of the famous actor Damian Cowper. Anthony, who has been hired by Hawthorne to write a novel about him, is tagging along taking notes for the book. However, Anthony is not sure he likes Hawthorne and not at all sure writing this book is a good idea.

How will the case unfold? Grab a copy of The Word is Murder to find out. As always, happy reading!

Celebrating 100 Followers

Cooking

Another milestone, another reason to be thankful, another reason to celebrate. Another Day With Julie has reached 100 followers! Thank-you to all who have clicked on the follow button!

What is a celebration without cake? I decided to make a cake to mark the occassion. My husband, however, said that there was no need for me to make the cake. He still had coupons for desserts of his choice that our son had gifted him. He would cash one in for the occassion. Ok! I was on board with that. Last night was the night. I picked a recipe for Blueberry Lemon Layer Cake. ( https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/blueberry-lemon-layer-cake-recipe/ ) Yum! As my daughter is home from college for spring break, the kids rode their bikes to the store to pick up some blueberries. Later, after going over the ingredients, I discovered there was not enough powdered sugar on hand. Oops! While my husband and I went on a date night to see the musical Into the Woods (which was excellent by the way), the kids drove (this time) to the store to get the sugar and then proceeded to make the cake. We got home LATE and the kids were still at it…frosting the cake. I found out the next morning that they stopped at their grandparents’ house for a visit after the store, hence the late night baking. Never the less, the cake was made and it was delicious!

So now, a thank-you to not only my followers, but my husband and children as well. Also, a special shout out to theviewfromgreatisland.com for the wonderful recipe. I hope that my followers will continue to enjoy my posts. I know that I enjoy making them. Have a great day!

Can You Spare a Square?

life

As I was doing my normal grocery shopping, I walked down the toilet paper isle, as toilet paper was on my list. My jaw could have hit the ground! There was not a single package, not one roll of toilet paper to be had. The shelves were bare. From Charmin to store brand, two-ply to one-ply, every single roll was gone.

The Coronavirus has caused people to panic and turn to hoarding. From hand sanitzer, any form of rubbing alcohol, cleaning supplies, masks, water, and yes, even toilet paper. Oh my!

Leaving the empty isle, the Seinfeld episode “The Stall” came to mind. In that classic episode, Elaine is in a public restroom stall and she realizes a little too late that there is no toilet paper in her stall. She asks the woman in the next stall if she could hand her some toilet paper. The woman says no and that she “can’t spare a square”. Elaine begs the woman but she won’t budge. Later, Elaine finds out that this woman is Jerry’s new girlfriend. Payback is sweet and Elaine finds her chance. Just before Jerry’s girlfriend enters the diner’s restroom, Elaine goes in and steals all the toilet paper and then refuses her even a square. This is exactly how I felt leaving the grocery store…like no one could spare a square.

Poor Elaine! (Photo from Seinfeld)

Venturing back out later, the second grocery store I tried had well stocked shelves of toilet paper. I grabbed my package and headed to the checkout. Happy shopping!

(Featured image sourced from Seinfeld.)

My Take on…The Ghosts of Eden Park

Book Reviews

Author Karen Abbott’s The Ghosts of Eden Park set in real life jazz-age America is an interesting read. This nonfiction piece is about bootleg king George Remus and his life as a bootlegger and where it led him. Remus was a famous bootlegger well before the famous Al Capone.

George Remus was a German immigrant who worked in a pharmacy, then practiced law, and ultimately bootlegged whiskey. He was a multimillionaire who threw grand affairs and lavished his guests with expensive gifts. Prosecutor Mabel Walker Willebrandt is out to get Remus. She sets investigator, Franklin Dodge, on the case. Dodge, however, plots to get his hands on Remus’ money and his wife Imogene. The outcome…murder.

Karen Abbott has written an interesting work of nonfiction with The Ghosts of Eden Park. According to her note, every word between quotation marks actually is taken from a government file, archive, diary, letter, newspaper article, book, a hearing or trial transcript. The transcipts were so long that she could accurately describe scenes, conversations, and the characters themselves.

The book reads like historical fiction although it is in reality nonfiction. For anyone interested in life as it was in the 20’s, this book is sure to please. Happy Reading!

International Cottages at Balboa Park

Travel

Whether it is learning about one’s ancestors or learning to appreciate other cultures, the International Cottages of the House of Pacific Relations has it all. The cottages are located in San Diego’s Balboa Park. The goal of the HPR is to “further the pursuit of ‘pacific’ or peaceful relations among nations”.

House of Finland

Each house represented in the International Cottages displays cultural information and items relevant to their country. It is a great way to get a taste of a culture. On Saturdays and Sundays, the cottages are open from 11am to 4 pm. Visitors can view the cottages and on Sundays can enjoy refreshments from the culture (donations are welcome). Some cottages also provide refreshments on Saturdays as well.

Music inside the House of Ireland

Houses also put on performances at the stage. This may include music, dancing, singing, etc… Annual special events include an Ethnic Food Fair, and the International Christmas Festival celebrated at the Park’s December Nights. During these annual events, all the cottages are opened and ethnic food is available for purchase.

Display cabinet inside the House of Ukraine

The HPR is a non-profit organization. Anyone can become a member to one of the houses. Many people who grew up in a country and then moved to the United States will join to stay connected to their culture and share it with others. A membership application/fee is required as well as volunteering at the house of choice. This is a great way to use a language with (in many cases) native speakers of the country. Each house has their own functions. In some, there a choirs to join or language courses. Some get together for coffee and to talk. Holidays are also celebrated with special functions just for members.

The HPR also has a Queens Organization. This is for young members of the houses. A Queen and Princesses can serve from each house. The Queens act as ambassadors for their house and preform cultural dances and do charitable work throughout the community. “The HPR Queens Organization fosters a spirit of understanding, tolerance and goodwill between all races and nationalities, and prepares its members to be adult members of their Houses.”

Visiting Balboa Park’s International Cottages is a great way to spend an afternoon and learn about different cultures. An excellent way to introduce young children to many different cultures at once. For more information visit: http://www.sdhpr.org/aboutus.html

As always, Happy Travels!

Yaquina Head – Newport, Oregon

Travel

Newport is home to the tallest lighthouse in Oregon. The 93 foot tall lighthouse at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area was first lit in 1873 and has been guiding ships ever since. Not only is the lighthouse spectacular, but the scenes along the coast are as well.

For seven dollars, a three day park pass will allow visitors to visit the interpretive center, explore the tide pools, walk the beach, and view the lighthouse and coastline. Tours of the lighthouse are available. Be sure to check the website for detailed information and times of operation. https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/yaquina

We spent an hour just taking photographs at sunset and enjoying the coastline. Be prepared to spend longer if visiting the interpretive center and touring the lighthouse. If visiting in winter, as we did, the coast does get rather chilly. Be sure to bring gloves, hats, and bundle up as the wind is quick to chill.

For dinner we stopped at the Newport Cafe. http://thenewportcafe.com/ We had burgers and a HUGE side of mashed potatoes. The prices were reasonable and the food was good. The waiter was very attentive and the experience good.

If visiting Oregon be sure to make a stop in Newport. The lighthouse is well worth the trip and the food is not bad either. Happy Travels!

Keeping Cleaning Schedule Charts

household

It is very easy to get busy and neglect certain chores or forget when the last cleaning was done. To solve this issue and hopefully get the home back in tip top shape, I have posted a few cleaning charts. Here is what I’ve come up with…

My new HE washing machine needs to have a tub cycle run about once a month to prevent any mold, etc.. from forming. So, I have made a simple chart using Excel that I fill in the date each month when I have completed the tub cycle. The chart is tacked (using poster putty) to the inside door of my cabinet above the machine.

My vaccum cleaner is supposed to have the filters cleaned monthly. I know for a fact that it is not a good thing to let the filters go uncleaned. Again, I made an Excel chart for this and posted it on the wall in the closet where the vaccum is stored.

I saw in one of Martha Stewart’s books where she pins a chart on her mattress to tell when to rotate and/or flip the mattress. Great idea! I am not going to remember when I do this. So I made an Excel chart showing the dates the mattress needing looking after and pinned it to the mattress.

Yesterday, I cleaned the exhaust fan above the kitchen stove. Yuck! I think this needs to be done a little more frequently in order to prevent such a big cleaning job. Looks like another chart needs to be made!

I have also implemented this chart to help my son tackle his room chores. I made a chart that he needs to fill-in weekly for the cleaning of his room, his windows, and his bedding. This is tacked to the back of his door. I am not so sure he is as excited about this chart as I am though.

Cleaning schedule charts are a great way to keep oneself accountable for maintenance on household appliances and for routine cleaning. Charts can be made for anything needed to be maintained or cleaned around the house. Happy Cleaning!

Samuel I. Fox Building

Travel

On looking at architecture with my son for a photography assignment, we found ourselves in downtown San Diego. We did not have to travel far to find interesting buildings. The blocks along Broadway were full of historic buildings. I love older architecture. Such character, style!

My favorite building of the day was the Samuel I. Fox Building. This Spanish Revival showstoper can be found at Broadway and 6th Avenue. It has so much detail! One really needs to stand on the sidewalk below to fully appreciate this building. My favorite part, the tile overhang, would have been missed by driving by in a car or just walking down the sidewalk and not looking up. The overhanging tile roof was spectacular and something one does not see every day.

Overhanging tile roof

The Samuel Fox Building was built in 1929 by William Templeton Johnson, FAIA, to house Fox’s Lion Clothing Company. The price was $500,000 for the four-story, 56,000 square foot building. The Lion Clothing Company was the sole tenant until 1984. Today, the building is historic site number 72 and is home to the Samuel Fox Lofts. That is right, one can purchase a loft and live in this amazing building.

I’m glad that buildings such as the Samuel I Fox Building are protected as historic sites. It is nice to be able to see and appreciate things from the past. Happy Travels.