Indonesian Chicken Soup

Ingredients :

6 chicken drumstick

4 cups water

1/2 tsp salt

5 clove garlic, minced

2 potato , peeled and cut cube

15 baby carrot

2 tbs spring celery , chopped

2 stalk green onion , chopped

Salt, white pepper as desired

1 shallot, sliced and fry

Direction:

Put chicken, 1/2 tsp salt , water on medium pan, boil until broth come out. Add minced garlic, potato, carrot, salt, white pepper. Boil until all ingredients cooked. Add chopped celery and green onion. Serve with fried shallot as garnish.

Honey and Coconut Milk for rooting hormone

Honey is good stuff for our life, we use honey for health care, cooking, also good to mix on tea or milk. So, I'm sure people need honey for their life and we always have stock of honey in pantry. Also for coconut milk, we use it for cooking , especially Asian dish.
This time , I'm gonna try use honey and coconut milk for propagating plant as rooting hormone.I use geranium cutting for experiment , because geranium is one of the easiest plant for propagating. The 1st plant dip in honey mixed with boiled water ( let it cool ). The ratio is 1/2 tbsp honey and 1 cup water. I put the lable with pink paper. The 2nd plant dip in honey mixed with cold water. I put lable with blue paper. The ratio is 1/2 tbsp honey and 1 cup water.

The 3rd plant dip in coconut milk mixed with water. I put the lable with green paper. Ratio is 1 tsp coconut milk and 1 cup cold water.
Let those plants uncover, put in bright room but indirect sunlight.

After 5 days, the water looks browniesh, it looks like debris on it. Plants still look fresh.
Let see closer, the 1st plant looks browniesh in the bottom right on leaf bud.
The 2nd plant also looks browniesh on the leaf bud.
The 3rd plant looks better of all, water looks clean and plant looks fresh too.
So, I repot them to 4 inch pots, and keep in indirect sunlight.

This is what I get after 20 days. The 3rd plant with coconut milk for rooting hormone ( green paper ) is the best one of all. The 1st and 2nd plant with honey for rooting hormone are dead, they wilt and rot. So, by this experiment , I can say that honey is not the best stuff for rooting hormone, and I prefer coconut milk for it. But we still can get comercial rooting hormone by cheap, so as long as it still available in store , better use it.

Minewanka lake

Last August was the perfect time to go camping, we deciced to go camping in Two Jake campground for some reasons. There are three lakes close together. So, during the day we can go to those lakes for couple minutes by walk. Feel the nature and admire the perfect landscaping around it.

Lake Minewanka is the biggest lake in this area, great for scubadiving or fishing, as it says on historical site that is underwater old city , which this city was existed years ago in the area. I love the colour of the lake, looks really blue.
In Minewanka Lake we can go hike for about 1 hour, there is Minewanka Canyon with wooden bridge between hills.
We went for swimming in Johnson Lake, it is big enough for swimming and canoeing. The stream is for water flowing from the lake with the wooden bridge, create the beautiful natural landscaping.

Hubby in Two Jake Lake. He enjoy to walk across the lake to get the small island by the layed wood bark.

Johnston Canyon in summer. We went there in spring roadtrip for the first time. Because this place was close from Two Jake Campground, so we went back there and we had plan to go hike up the top of the hill to see the Inkpot. Johnston Canyon always look fantastic with its nature.

So, this is Inkpot, we hiked up there for more 3 km from the Johnston Canyon Upper Fall. Well, it is not really far, but the trail is up and down the hill, so litle bit tiring. but I made it , yay...!! The Inkpot is like pond with 4 different colours ( I think, I forgot what it says on siteboard ), dominant to blue, green and yellow. The bubble come up from the ground create a wave of mud in the bottom of the pond.
This place is remind me about my picture that I like to draw when I was kid he he he. Mountain for background, cloud, blue sky, some trees and the meadow. I was walking to the creek there.

Miniature flower arrangement

Another thing I would try to do is arranging flower. It is so much fun. I dont have big flower to cut, so I try to arrange some little flower into small glass for vase, this one shot glass is perfect for it.

Flower arrangement is using our imagination, so think about something beautiful with harmonize the color and texture. It is like gardening , there is no limit on flower arrangement.

September blooming

September is like end of flower bloom, this is what I get on this month. A unique colour gladiolus.

Red gladiolus.

White and pink troath gladiolus.
Yellow gladiolus.

Gladiolus in row, some of them are blooming , some of them just shoot flower bud.

Hanging basket with full bloom, those flowers are bacopa, red calibrachoa, brachycome and ivy.

I planted this container 2 months ago from cutting except for marigold from seed.

Lobelia, petunia hybrid , bacopa and creeping jenny ( in the back side ) are planted on basket. Lobelia is self cleaning so dead heading is not necessary, they will dry for a while and grow back nicely.

My flower bed in the front yard is in full bloom. It was like disaster when hail storm hitted on last August, but they grow back really nice. They are low care flowers.

I repot those hosta into self watering container. When it was still in the ground, those cute little rabbits eat them, so I rather move it to container.

Pomfret fish Grill

The recipe is originally from Indonesia, if you like fish and chilli spice, you can try this serve with steamed rice. Tasty.

Ingredients:
1 medium size pomfret fish
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp white pepper powder
2 tbsp chopped onion
3 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger powder

Sauce:
1 cup sweet soy sauce
2 chilli pepper, sliced thin
1 tomato, sliced cube
2 shallot, sliced cube
1 lime cut half

Directions:
Mix together salt, turmeric, onion, garlic, white pepper, ginger. Pour over the fish and marinate for 1 hour.
Sauce : mix together all ingredients, except the lime.
Set the fish on baking dish .Broil the fish in the oven on 450 deg F for 20 minutes, or you can use grill. Remove the fish, put in the plate and pour the sauce over the fish. For more taste, squeeze lime , and pour the juice over the fish. Serve with steamed rice.

Propagating coleus

I bought coleus in late spring, and I know it is annual plant here, instead of buy the same plant on the next season, so I make it more plant. Those item are what I need, this time I use perlite for rooting medium. Actually we can propagate coleus in water as well, they can depelove root easily.

I took tip cutting just below the leaf node about 4 inch , then trim the leaf below the tip, dip it to rooting hormone about 1 inch, put the cutting on perlite as rooting medium.Water it thoroughly. If the perlite is wet or too much water, it is OK, as long as the pot has hole for drainage.

Cover it with plastic to create humidity, I'm recycling chicken dome for it as always. I know it sounds funny. But it is work for propagating plant. Place the cutting in the shade, out of direct sunlight. Take off the cover everyday for 1 minute, to get the air circulation.

After 2 weeks, the plant has root readily, it is time to repot them.

Harvesting Tomato

This is what I get for summer harvest. Those tomato are not big enough for the size but that is a lot. Well, I just let them ripe on the plant, so about 2 weeks later will be so juicy.

Spaghetti Olio with garlic shrimp

When I wanna cook something quick, so I cook this spicy spaghetti.

Ingredients :

300 gr Angel hair pasta
3 tbsp olive oil
3 clove garlic, sliced
1 red chilli pepper, sliced
salt and pepper to taste
4 lt water

2 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined
3 tbsp lemon juice
salt to taste
4 clove garlic, crushed or minced
1/4 cup butter
fresh parsley (chopped )for garnish
parmesan cheese

Direction:

Boil water in the pot rapidly, reduce heat and add pasta until tender, drain and set aside. Heat olive oil in the pan, add garlic and chilli , sauté, add pasta, salt, pepper. Stirr well and set aside.
Heat butter on the skillet, add shrimp and garlic, turning frequently until shrimp turn pink, add salt and lemon juice. Stirr well and remove the skillet from heat. Serve with pasta and garnish it with parsley and parmesan cheese.

Black Pepper Sauce

This sauce is good with garlic chicken. Hubby's favourite menu.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp black pepper powder
2 clove garlic , chopped
1 tbsp chopped onion
pinch salt
1 tsp oyster sauce
1/4 tsp maggy sauce
1 tsp sweet soy sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp water
1 cup water

Directions:

Put 1 cup water on pan, add chopped garlic,onion, cook in the medium heat until boiling. Add black pepper powder, salt, sugar, oyster sauce, maggy sauce, sweet soy sauce, simmer it. Add mixed cornstarch, simmer it until the sauce thicken.

Oven Baked Hash Brown

Ingredients:

250 gr hash brown

2 tsp dried dill leaf

2 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 deg F. Mix all ingredient together and put on the baking dish. Oven for 35 minutes. Serve.

Garlic Chicken

This is hubby's favourite chicken for dinner.

Ingredients :
3 pcs chicken breast ( boneless and skinless )
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cajun powder seasoning ( if you like )
1 egg
2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup sunflower oil

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and egg. Marinate chicken breast on whisked milk and egg for 1 hour in the fridge.In another medium bowl, mix together bread crumbs, flour, pepper, parika, garlic powder, salt and cajun powder. Heat the cooking oil on the frying pan, dip marinated chicken on the dry ingredient until coated. Fry chicken for about 5 minutes or until golden brown per side and juices run clear. Remove and drain on the paper towel. Serve.

Sweet and sour shrimp

First time I came here, I cooked this shrimp for hubby, he like it. Hope you like it too.
Ingredients :

1 pound shrimp ( shelled and deveined )

1/4 cup chopped onion (or 2 shallot)

1 red chilli (seeded and chopped)

3 cloves garlic (minced or chopped)

1 lemon ( juice )

1/4 cup tomato sauce

1 tsp salt ( as desired )

1 tsp sugar ( as desire )

1 tsp dried parsley

1/4 tsp white pepper

spring parsley for garnish

1 cup sunflower oil

2 tbsp sunflower oil

Directions:

Marinate shrimp with lemon juice and salt for 15 minutes. Heat 1 cup cooking oil on the large pan, fry shrimp for about 3 minutes or until pink, set aside. Heat 2 tbsp cooking oil on another pan , add minced garlic, chopped onion, chopped red chilli, simmer it until fragrant. Add fry shrimp, tomato sauce, dried parsley ,white pepper, sugar. Simmer it for about 3 minute. Serve.

Fish Creek

Biking in Fish Creek. I was so tired and take rest here in the steep hill. The breathtaking view is whole Fish Creek and Bow River. Amazing.

But this is not in Fish Creek. It is a great view in Alberta farmland. Picture was taken around 9 pm, so effect of sunset plus cloudy create a beautiful colour of the land.

Three Valley Gap

Beautiful reflection on the lake, looks like the big mirror in the ground to keep the beauty of nature.

Another beautiful reflection, people called this place Ghost Town or Three Valle Gap just about 15 minutes from Revelstoke.

I think I know that girl, yea.. thats me he he he. Sitting and admiring the view here . Three Valley Lake Chateau is in the background. The lovely chateau is complete with replica and historical building.

Okanagan Lake

We went there for summer vacation, this is Waterfront Park, Kelowna. Just around the City Park.
This is on the way to Penticton. Beautiful and peaceful.
It is not a good picture , but it is good view in background. We went there for couple days, and we fell in love with this place.

Propagating Tomato

Basic of propagating :

1. Stem Cutting : Softwood, hardwood, tip cutting

2. Air layering

3. Grafting
4. Dividing
5. Seeding
Rooting Medium : Peat moss, perlite, sand, vermiculite, water
Rooting hormone such as comercial stuff , water from willow's twig also work well

I like free plant and I like to learn how to get that. So far I propagate plant by stem cutting ( softwood and tip cutting ). I use peat moss mixed with perlite for medium, but if just thin stem cutting, I use peat pellet, that way I can see the plant is growing when the root come out.

Propagating tomato:

We can propagate tomato by stem cutting and get fruit in the same time of the season.

I took stem cutting from the sucker, as we know that we can pinch tomato sucker to promote better fruit. So, I rather take the sucker to get more plant. Just cut the stem right under the leaf node. Dip it to rooting hormone for about 1.5 cm.

I use peat pellet for rooting medium, make a hole on it using chop stick or pencil.
Put the plant on the medium and make sure it is not fall over.
Create humidity by cover it with clear plastic bag or other stuff that can create humidity. I use a box from baked chicken he he he, I know that is funny, but it is work really good. My Hubby said that is chicken dome , lol.

The cutting has root on a week. As we can see on the picture with red arrow pointing on to the root. Then I transplant it to 1 gal pot . It grow really good and bearing fruit at the same time in the season with all those tomatos.