Bonding with Oreo, our sweet Netherland dwarf rabbit…
Holding Oreo, our Netherland dwarf rabbit.
Yesterday, my daughter took a picture of me holding Oreo, our Netherland dwarf rabbit. I was a bit chilly, so I put on some warm flannels pajamas. They’re so comfortable! After Oreo had finished hopping around for a bit I picked her up for some cuddle time.
Oreo really loves to snuggle now, but she wasn’t always that way. Since adopting her from the Humane Society of Harford County, Oreo is gradually coming out of her shell. After Oreo’s tired of playing, she let’s my daughter and me hold her for long periods without trying to break free.
I don’t think she received a lot of attention at her old home, but she’s getting plenty of attention now! She still calmly sits in her home when we can’t watch her, but she quietly comes to greet us when we open her cage for play time.
Tok, tok, tok, was the steady rhythmic sound you could hear as stone clashed against stone…
Grinding garlic and ginger in my granite mortar and pestle
The mortar and pestle did an excellent job of turning the trapped cubes of garlic and ginger into a smooth aromatic paste.
It didn’t stop there, I scooped out the fragrant paste, rinsed and dried the heavy granite mortar bowl and filled it with dry ingredients. Once again, I vigorously pounded everything within my granite mortar and pestle. Our kitchen was filled with the heady aroma of spices and herbs as their oils were slowly released…
Preparing the dough for our samosa’s
I find preparing meals to be quite therapeutic, which might explain why we rarely go out to eat. I’ve been to many fine restaurants, but I find that I can replicate (and in many cases surpass) what I’ve had in those ritzy eating establishments.
The beauty of preparing meals at home, I control what goes into the food. Additionally I keep a clean kitchen, wash properly, so am not thinking, I hope this place is clean. Also making my own food gives me a chance to do something I truly enjoy, getting creative in the kitchen.
On the menu was samosa’s, during the day (while going about my a work activities) I spent some time thinking about what types of samosas I wanted to prepare. I finally settled on two versions; spicy potato samosa and beef samosa; vegan and non-vegan.
Samosa dough ready to be flattened
The dough was made with flour, water, oil and freshly ground cumin & sea salt.
Flattening the samosa’s with my favorite rolling pin
These were quickly and efficiently flattened out with my trusty rolling pin. This rolling pin is older than myself and was actually my aunts rolling pin. She’s the one that passed away from a brain tumor. I’ve had this pin for years and it’s my all time favorite.
Stuffed samosa ready to be covered then put into the oven for baking
The time flew by while preparing these samosas and it usually does since I have awesome company, my daughter.
I could have fried these samosas, but I didn’t since I’m not a fan of fried food. These were baked in the oven. Their aroma filled the room and much before they were ready, my daughter was clamoring for a samosa to sample. Soon, soon… I told her. Was it worth the wait? I’d like to think so, my daughter demolished two.. she ate the spicy potato samosa first and then moved onto the beef samosa. She said they both were good!
I can’t speak for the beef samosa’s but I do know my potato samosa was extremely flavorful. Because of the flour content, I rarely eat flour based products, but sometimes, I make an exception. 😉
I finally honored my daughter’s request and let Gracie hang out with Angel, our teddy bear guinea pig. I couldn’t let them do this immediately after the surgery since Angel was trying to ‘groom Gracie’s stitches’.
Angel and Gracie get along so well together and were very happy to be reunited today. Upon seeing one another, the first few moments were spent grooming each other. In this picture, Gracie is grooming Angel’s ear.
This past weekend my ten year old daughter and I had a lot of fun creating delicious meals within our kitchen.
A few days before, I’d told her stories about how my mother (her grandmother) had my brother and me help her make sausage and stuff the sausage casings. Initially it was fun, but after a few hours of stuffing sausage we had enough. 😉
My daughter was so fascinated with my sausage making stories, that I told her we could make some so she could sample. I’ve made it before, but I didn’t tell her it was homemade. Saturday morning, we didn’t have too much planned so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce her to the awesomeness of homemade sausage.
My daughter loves helping in the kitchen and it’s yet another way we spend hanging out together. We truly enjoy each others company.
I gave her the task of grinding up herbs and spices; sage fresh from the garden, sea salt, peppercorns and habanero pepper. These were all added to our granite mortar and she dutifully ground everything into a fine powder using the pestle.
Tok, tok tok… is the sound the pestle makes as it grinds the ingredients within the mortar. We like that sound.
My daughter cooking the homemade sausage
Once everything had been ground… I had her mix the freshly ground spices/herbs with ground pork. To truly make everything homemade, we’d have ground the pork too. But that would mean I’d have to pull out the manual meat grinder and I’d have had to purchase regular pork. We used pre-ground pork but perhaps next time I’ll show her how to manually grind pork?
Now that the sausage prep was complete, the only thing left was to cook the sausage! I had her prepare them, while I made pesto.
My daughter loved the homemade sausage and declared that she doesn’t want to eat store purchased sausage again. She said, “Mommy, the store bought sausage doesn’t taste as great as what we make at home!”
I have made homemade sausage before and it’s never lasted long! Perhaps the next time we prepare sausage, I’ll purchase sausage casings so we can stuff the sausage.
Freshly made pesto
I’m guessing my photo of pesto should have had it’s own post. There were so many herbs/spices that went into this dish. The aroma filled the room while I crushed the dry herbs and spices together. Once all the dry ingredients were ground into a fine powder. I added the ‘wet ingredients’ to the mortar, and my pestle went to work again. The pesto was used as a topping for zucchini pasta and it was delicious!
Gracie loves being held, which works out perfect for us since we enjoy cuddling with all our furbabies.
Gracie enjoying the extra pampering…
My daughter was amazed at how quickly Gracie’s fur is growing back. In preparation for surgery, they shaved it down to the skin.
The weekend flew by for us! This is the last full week of summer vacation for my daughter. School starts next Monday. She’s excited about seeing friends and a bit sad that she won’t have as much play time.
I’m loving my new three cup granite mortar and pestle it’s perfect for preparing items for a small household. It’s my ‘manual food processor’.
Since it’s arrived, I had to say I’ve used it almost every day. Yes, I love it that much. Besides it being made from granite, it’s size is another reason I adore it so much. It’s not a wimpy mortar that only hold a small amount. It holds three cups! And since it’s made of granite, it has some heft to it, weighing a bit over 15 pounds.
It’s a handy kitchen tool that doesn’t require electricity to use, just human power. I’m loving that. It also doubles as a primitive display piece and is proudly showcased on our marble center island. Truth is, I use my mortar and pestle even more than my electric spice grinder.
You’d think I’d be satisfied with my three cup mortar and pestle, and for the most part I am… but there are times when I do grind a large amount of herbs/spices in bulk to make various dishes such as homemade mayonnaise, mustard, pesto, etc.,. After a bit of searching, I was thrilled to learn that the same company that makes my three cup mortar and pestle also makes an larger version! It holds about six cups. It’s also made from granite and weighs about 24 pounds!
For those who truly want to be over the top, they even make a mortar and pestle that weighs over 70 pounds and holds 12 cups! I don’t have use for something that size, but I’d bet it make a nice conversation piece. I could see myself filling it with vegetables and fruit fresh from the garden. Of course… I’m not purchasing that one, it’s much too big for my simple kitchen duties. I’ll be perfectly happy with the added six cup granite mortar and pestle.
Not too long ago, I discovered this poem about rescue rabbits. If you really think about it, this could be applied to all rescues, but its nice to see one dedicated to the loving bunny.
Oreo, our rescue netherland dwarf bunny, content in her furever home. She was one year and eight days old when we adopted her from the Humane Society of Harford County.Gracie, this sweet lionhead bunny, was rescued by the lovely ‘A’, since it would have been challenging to keep her we welcomed Gracie into her furever home.
I used to be a lonely rabbit,
Just looking for a home.
I simply had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered through the streets and fields,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate whatever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or a gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
“No one again will hurt you”
Was whispered in my ear.
“You’ll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear.
You will be dry, you will be warm,
you’ll have enough to eat
And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet.”
I was afraid I must admit,
I’ve lived so long in fear.
I can’t remember when I let
A human come so near.
And as she tended to my wounds
And cleaned and brushed my fur
She told me ‘bout the rescue group
And what it meant to her.
She said, “We are a circle,
A line that never ends.
And in the center there is you
protected by new friends.
And all around you are the ones
Who’ll keep you safe and sound,
Who will share their loving home with you
Until a forever one can be found.
We will do all we can
by searching near and far,
To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star.”
She said, “There is a family,
that’s waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we’ll find them,
just you wait and see.
And then they’ll join our circle,
they’ll help to make it grow,
so there’ll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go.”
I waited very patiently,
The days, they came and went.
Today’s the day, I would hope,
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
It wasn’t meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me.
I knew them in a heartbeat
I could tell they felt it too.
They said “We have been searching for
A special bun like you.”
Now every night I say a prayer
to all the Gods that be.
Thank you for the life I live
and all you’ve given me.
But most of all protect the pets
in the pounds and on the street.
And send a rescue person
to lift them off their feet.
I’m loving my new 
