MOM'S KITCHEN - EASY BAKED POTATO

 

Allergy alert; Before starting the recipe, check first that you and those you cook for, have no allergies to potatoes. 

If you are allergic to potatoes, then don't use this recipe.

Ingredient:

Large potatoes with their skins left on

Method;

Clean the potatoes in fresh water. Dry the potatoes, and cut off any slight blemishes on the potato skins. Prick the potatoes with a fork, do this all the way down all sides and tops of the potatoes. Also pierce the areas where you cut off potato skin. Make sure the fork pierces the potato to a good depth.

Once the potatoes have been properly pierced, place them in a microwavable dish, with a suitable microwave cover. Microwave on high for five minutes. Open the microwave, remove the microwave cover, and carefully turn the potatoes to the other side. Cover once more with the microwave cover, and microwave on high for five to eight minutes (until the potatoes are fully cooked). Pierce the potatoes with a knife, to check that they are properly done. If the potato is still a little hard, microwave for a minute or two more, until they are fully cooked. If wished, serve the potatoes with a little butter or margarine, pinch of salt; and with side vegetables.

Enjoy!

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Baked potato with garden vegetables"

MOM''S KITCHEN - EASY FLAPJACKS (GLUTEN-FREE, VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY)

Allergy alert; Before starting the recipe, check first that you and those you cook for, have no allergies to any of the ingredients. 

If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, then don't use this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

2 cups gluten-free flour

Half teaspoon salt

1 egg

Half cup milk mixed with half cup water

One-eighth of cup of sugar

Method: 

Mix the flour, salt and sugar together in a large bowl. Add the milk and water and egg, and stir with a fork until well mixed. Mash one banana, and add to the mixture. Stir well. Put a small amount of butter or margarine in a frying pan, and allow to melt. Tilt the frying pan, until the butter or margarine has coated the bottom. 

Put two tablespoons of the mixture in the frying pan, and allow to become light brown. Then turn the flapjack over with a grill spatula and brown the other side. Make sure that the flapjack is cooked through. 

You do not need to re-grease the pan - only grease for the first flapjack. Cook the later flapjacks on dry heat within the frying pan. Do this on a low heat on your oven plate. Once the flapjack is fully cooked, remove and place on a plate. Continue, until all your flapjacks are cooked.  Allow to cool.

You can freeze the flapjacks. Simply cover each one individually with tinfoil once they are cooled, and place in the freezer. Do not keep for too long. When you want to eat a flapjack, remove from the freezer, remove the tinfoil, and place the flapjack on a microwave-suitable plate. Cover with microwave cover, and just heat the flapjack for two minutes on high. You can eat the flapjacks with butter or margarine, and jam. 

Enjoy! 

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Flapjacks in skillet"

I AM CHANGING

 

A friend of mine crossed 40. I asked her what's changing? She sent me the following lines. 

Yes, I am changing. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself. 

Yes, I am changing. I just realised that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders. 

Yes, I am changing. I now stopped bargaining with vegetables and fruits vendors. After all, a few rupees more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees. 

Yes, I am changing. I pay the taxi driver without waiting for the change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me. 

Yes, I am changing. I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. After all, the story makes them walk down the memory lane and relive the past.

Yes, I am changing. I've learnt not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. After all, the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection. 

Yes, I am changing. I give compliments freely and generously. After all it's a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. 

Yes, I am changing. I've learnt not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. After all, personality speaks louder than appearances. 

Yes, I am changing. I walk away from people who don't value me. After all, they might not know my worth, but I do. 

Yes, I am changing. I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race. After all, I am not a rat and neither am I in any race. 

Yes, I am changing. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. After all, it's my emotions that make me human.

Yes, I am changing. I have learnt that its better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. After all, my ego will keep me aloof whereas with relationships I will never be alone. 

Yes, I am changing. I've learnt to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last. 

Yes, I am changing. I am doing what makes me happy. After all, I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.

Source unknown. With thanks to the creator

Image "Celebrating with cake and candles" by Chatgpt with CN Whittle

MAKE A GREAT CAREER

 

 

Source: unknown. With thanks to the creator of this masterpiece

SAYING NO

 

Saying "no" appropriately does not mean you are a bad person.

It means that you possess common sense.

If you already serve as volunteer on a committee, as well as hold down a job and are caregiver at home, you really are not burying your talent if you decline an offer to serve on a second committee.

Give someone else the chance to shine at the second committee.

PRACTISE SERENITY

 

Try not to swear. Try not to criticize. Try to think well of others. Practise serene thoughts. All these will eventually reflect in your spirit. Peace within reflects as peace without. 

And forgive yourself if you slip once in a while. 

Don't be your own harshest critic.

Serenity takes practice and time.

COMMITMENTS

 

At the end of each year, write a list of your commitments. You may be amazed at how they may have increased during the year. 

Realize you are only one person. 

Draw up a new list of what you realistically are able to do. Then resign from extra commitments. 

Rejoice that you could give of your gifts for the year. 

Rejoice that now you are giving someone else the chance to shine in that particular sphere.