Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Things and Thoughts for a New Month

Breakfast rice pudding:  2 cups of milk (I used almond milk); 1/2 cup quick cooking brown rice; 1/4 cup rolled oats; 3 TBS light brown sugar; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; dash of salt; 1/4 cup raisins; 1/2 tsp vanilla.
In a saucepan, bring 1-1/2 cups of milk to just a boil.  Stir in rice, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Return to boil then reduce heat and cover; simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Stir in additional 1/2 cup milk and raisin.  Cover and simmer a few more minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  If needed, add more milk.  (Your breakfast rice pudding should be nice and creamy.)  Serve plain (or sprinkle with pumpkin spice and chopped pecans like I did) or with berries.

Happy August everyone!
Yesterday I was able to watch girls team gymnastics and men's team swimming where the USA won gold for both events.  That was very nice to see after all the speculation regarding Jordyn Weiber and Michael Phelps.  I even sent a message of congratulations to my beautiful girlfriend, Elena, who is from Romania.  The Romanian girls team took the bronze in gymnastics.
I meant to join Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons for tea yesterday but got caught up with grocery shopping, Olympics watching, cooking, baking and crocheting.
 Monday's three little cross-stitchings have now been attached to three little gift bags.
The brown rice I used for my breakfast rice pudding was actually leftover from a new recipe I tried.
Mediterranean Lentils.  It was supposed to be served on couscous but I didn't have any so used brown rice instead.  Healthy and delicious (though I would leave off the kalamata olives next time.)
Our weather has been extra hot this week.  52 C yesterday (that's 125.6 F) and predictions are that by tomorrow, it could top 130 degrees.  If you look at this weather map, you can see Kuwait (down there in the bottom right), has the highest temperature in the region.
I really think this country needs to invest in planting more trees to reduce the heat.
Hard to believe a new month is upon us once again.
Aficionados of August revel in relinquishment.
When it's one hundred degrees in the shade, 
it's too hot to be anything but receptive and reflective. 
Let a seasonally sanctioned sojourn of slow joys
refill the authentic reservoir of creative energy.
(Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy
by Sarah Ban Breathnach).
Have a wonderful day!

28 comments:

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I love rice pudding and your breakfast version sounds so good!

We are enjoying the Olympics too :)

The photo of you and your friend is so sweet... very pretty ladies!

I cannot imagine what it must be like to live where the temps are so hot. Wow!

Cat said...

Tammy that breakfast sounds delicious and so healthy too, yum. I do hope that the heat doesn't continue for you that is awful weather to be in. Take care and I hope you are keeping nice and cool indoors. Have a wonderful day. xx

Catherine said...

How can it be August already???

Oh that heat ~ you poor girl! I am thinking you are dreaming of some cooler weather!

That rice pudding looks yummy!
xo Catherine

Tanna said...

I always wish for whatever you are cooking, Tammy. The little gift bags are very, very nice and there will be some lucky recipients. Jingles... just love him. =) blessings ~ tanna

Meredith said...

Tammy, I was finally able to sit and watch the woman's gymnastics and the swimming last night, long after it was all over but it was still all new to me. Amazing talent, these athletes are so focused and driven. It is so fun to watch, now I am cruising blogs instead of finishing writing up an eval I did on a 3 month old yesterday, I better get busy.
Meredith

Astri said...

Wow, that is hot! And we complain here when it hits 100 degrees F. I'm going to stop complaining! Once again, you have done it again with your darling bags.

Have a good day!

val said...

it is hot here (not like there though) and I spent the day running errands before heading back to work next week. I too watched the Olympics. I wish it was like back in the old days where they showed ALL events though...
Have a blessed day.

hooksandyarns said...

The little gift bags are so pretty with the cross-stitch pictures on them.

How do you stay cool in that awful hot weather? I'm about ready to die when it gets over 100 here. :)

Susan said...

Oh, lans, Tammy.I could not bear weather that hot. Honestly I couldn't.

Your rice pudding for breakfast sounds delightful.

Have a good day, too. Susan

Heather - The Good Life said...

Happy August Tammy. Hoping cooler weather is headed your way soon. Heather

Celestial Charms said...

My hubby would love your rice pudding recipe..he lives for that, and I never make it. I thought it was hot here in Texas...our heat pales in comparison to yours. Stay cool, my friend!
Maureen

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

The pudding looks so good! I missed the olympics yesterday and wish I hadn't. Love those little bags......with the granny squares and the cross stitch, all are precious! Stay cool and inside like that sweet kitty cat!

Angela Richardson said...

Hi Tammy,
Your lentil dish looks delicious.
I can't imagine that sort of heat, we struggle with 30 degrees here in the UK and that doesn't happen very often.
I'm of to London next week just to visit the Olympic park and meet my family for lunch. i just feel I would like to be there for the experience.
Keep cool,
Hugs, Angela.x

Libbie said...

I just finished watch the girls gymnastics the 2nd time since they are on after Annie's bedtime I taped it for her & watched it with her :) So beautiful & so exciting!

I made a breakfast alot like your today but with some baked apples....It sure keeps me going! your looked healthier though! :)

Sounds like you are having a great week!!!

Sangeetha said...

Hi Tammy,
Thanks for stopping by and also for directing me towards your blog. I like oats for breakfast and I am going to try your recipe. Please wish your Mom for me.
Love.

Becca said...

Wow! That's hot! Glad you are staying inside and enjoying some goodies and doing some crocheting! I love rice pudding...that looks yummy!

nanny said...

I loved my mother's rice pudding!

When I get hot (all the time) I should stop and remember what you are enduring! Bless you.....

Elna said...

Right now there are a lot of crocheting and the Olympics. I'm going to crochet some gift bags, but unfortunately I can not embroider sigh. I see that Jingles are doing well * smiles *.

Hugs
Elna

Dagmar said...

I agree with you on the trees..but maybe they need too much water..but the benefits surely are evident..Love the cross stitch pieces on your crocheted bags..you will soon have a lovley supply on hand.....Warm here in BC today but with a lovley breeze..we are blessed with lots of trees❤

Helen Philipps said...

What a delicious idea...breakfast rice pudding! I will definitely be making this recipe, thank you for sharing it :) I love your little bags they are so sweet and special. It does look sooo hot there. especially compared to our cool, often rainy days here...a bit of mixing the two together would be good.
Have a happy August, Tammy.
Helen x

Nicole Sanders said...

Loving the Olympics, don't feel guilty to sit during the day watching Olympics and quilting whilst kiddies are napping! August here in Brisbane at the moment is cold this morning on 5, cold for us!!:)

Createology said...

Your rice pudding sounds delicious and healthy. I do hope you are able to stay cooler than 125+F degrees. That should be hotter than healthy. Happy cooking and crocheting. I really like your paragraph for replenishing in the month of August.

Mistea said...

Breakfast sounds delicious and your little bags are gorgeous. That's a lovely combination of crochet and cross stitch.
Hope you are not too hot today, while we are having one of our coldest mornings this year - A mere 4c.
Enjoy Thursday.

vintage grey said...

Love your rice pudding and sweet crocheted bags!! So hot there! Wow, try staying cool! Happy August!! xo Heather

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,

That must feel like at the Hoover Dam where they reach 60°C. That is awfully hot. Do you have with that high or low humidity because that makes quite a difference. We were used to those high temperatures in the 120s when working in my Dad's greenhouses. Picking gherkins or cutting English cucumbers... A shower felt like pure bliss afterwards. But we survived and guess we are fire proof for the rest of our lives.
You are so right on planting more trees. That will also create more rain. Let's continue to dream and bake and crochet!
Love to you,
Mariette

Linda said...

Hi Tammy,
Your bags are gorgeous, I love rice pudding, and your heat is tremendous.

For us, in Illinois, 2012 has been the warmest year on record since the 1800s. All but a few counties of Illinois are in the severe drought disaster stage and this has been one of the hottest summers we've ever had.

I loved your love/hate comments on my last post. I posted an update today about our August happenings. I'm easing into the month as you'll see. :)

Hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend.
Linda

Mary said...

Love rice pudding so must try it for breakfast - usually have oatmeal so this would be a nice change.

That heat!!!! OMG, never could I live there. The hottest place I've ever been is Death Valley here in the USA - one quick sightseeing day was enough!

Take care dear - Mary X

Sam I Am...... said...

How do I get so far behind...it seems I was just here and yet it's been almost a week. I need to write a schedule! Time goes so fast for me the older I get...like a tape when it's getting close to the end! LOL!
Anyway, your breakfast rice pudding sounds delicious. I love your little bags with the cross stitch. They are just darling! And the cookies look good too!
Yes, congrats to all the Olympians for working so hard and participating whether they get a medal or not...it's a joy to behold and all the work and effort they put in to just get there. Happy August!

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