Saturday, January 5, 2019

A Milestone Day

Yesterday my husband celebrated a milestone birthday.
He is now officially a sexagenarian ... :)
(someone in their 60's).
I made cupcakes that were labeled the BEST vegan vanilla cupcakes, but they weren't really the best at all so won't be sharing the recipe.
The dairy free chocolate frosting was better than the cupcake and since it was only made with soaked cashews, water, coconut sugar and cocoa powder, I used it to sweeten my oatmeal this morning.
For his birthday lunch, we went to our favorite Japanese restaurant which is in walking distance of where we live.
We both had green tea and miso soup, shared a spinach and roasted pumpkin salad, (he had shrimp teppanyaki) and I had spinach & shiitake gyoza.  We are usually about the only ones in the restaurant at 1:00 p.m. and the manager is always very nice to us.  I've given her some small  hearts before so this time left her a bigger one when we paid the check.
In the evening, we headed into the city to the old souk.
Souk Al Mubarakiya
Where I visited an oud shop for the first time.
 I wanted to get more information on exactly what it is and where it comes from since it is very popular here.
Apparently (according to Wikipedia) it's agarwood (burned as incense or made into perfumes) that is only formed in a certain tree when it becomes infected with a mold.  There was one variety from Sri Lanka ...

 In Sri Lanka Agarwood producing Gyrinops walla tree is known as "Walla Patta" (වල්ල පට්ට) ...

so we asked the guy if we could see what it smells like.

And it smelled like burning wood (very expensive wood, in fact).
Some very unique incense burners.
Before heading home, we had tea and a puff pasty dessert filled with nuts, sultanas and coconut (much better than the vanilla cupcakes).

Happy weekend!

15 comments:

Quinn said...

Happy birthday to your husband!
Those little dumpling-things look so good, and the puff pastry and tea also! Your food pictures always make me wish there were good "eating out" options a bit closer than 45 minutes away, minimum, from my place...my favorites are over an hour away, and I very rarely get to them these days. You'd think i'd have learned to cook more by now, wouldn't you? ;)
And I only knew about the oud that is a musical instrument - I've learned something new today - thanks!

Mary said...

Tammy, such an interesting day to celebrate your dear husband's auspicious birthday! Hope the boys called him!
Loved the photos - everything so different from here in the US.
A belated very happy 60th to him - tell him he's still young and the sixties are really good years. . . . . . . I recall them affectionately, and wish I could be 60 again, haha!

All the best for this New Year too.
Hugs - Mary

Lorrie said...

Happy Birthday to your husband. What a fun way of celebrating. I thought oud was a musical instrument, and in looking it up I see that it is that, and also a fragrance. Blogging can be so educational!

Rostrose said...

Dearest Tammy,
what a pitty that the cupcakes didn't taste as good as promised ;-), but I think you and your husband nevertheless had a wonderful day! Happy birthday to him and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Big hugs, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2019/01/rund-um-weihnachten-und-das-neue-jahr.html

Betsy said...

It looks like an absolutely wonderful day of celebration. HaPpY Birthday to your husband. I love miso soup. It is said that every family in Japan has their own miso soup recipe and each school child can pick their mothers soup out over all of the others! Just a fun fact for you. Ha! I love most Japanese foods. Thanks for tking us on your fun day and for sharing another Herat. You are a ray of sunshine for so many.
Blessings,
Betsy

Susan said...

Happy birthday to your sweetheart, Tammy. Sounds like you had a delightful day and evening. Hope his new year of life will be filled with many good things. Susan

kathyinozarks said...

Lovely post-Happy Birthday to your husband-

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,
Glad that you both enjoyed a very special day on my Dad's 98th Birthday!
Always think about your husband at that day.
Would have loved the Shiitake you had for lunch. We ate our best ones in Singapore... Love them!
Lovely photos to remember the special day!
Sending you hugs,
Mariette

Teresa Kasner said...

*H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to your husband! I'm glad you had a nice lunch out and a better celebratory dessert. Sorry the cupcakes weren't a success. I'm happily working away on my Sweet Pea Trellis blanket. Have a wonderful week.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Blondie's Journal said...

A wonderful birthday celebration for your husband! I love the pictures and the wonderful array of food you shared at the restaurant. Your shots of the evening are also stunning!

We all have out ups and downs with baking, you have a special talent with your vegan choices--I would be lost, I can't even bake with flour and sugar!!

Jane x

Maya Kuzman said...

Happy birthday to your hubs Tammy! You two had a fantastic celebration if we can judge by the pictures, one that tickles the eyes and the palate and caresses the soul! Cheers!

Sangeetha said...

Hi Tammy, Congratulations to your husband, and you too! :) What a lovely way to spend the day. In December we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and had a long drive around Mumbai visiting some of the famous spots and temples. We had breakfast and lunch at two different restaurants and I can say they were the two best meals of my life.
Have a fantastic 2019! :)

linda said...

Happy Birthday to your husband Tammy the food sounds delicious and so healthy, it looks like a great day out. :) xx

Linda said...

Looks like a wonderful day. :) Jim is 62 as of December 24th. ;)

Linda

Angie said...

Tammy - belated happy birthday to your husband. How fascinating that you can purchase this unique wood to burn as incense - it always interests me that cultures create very different customs that are highly valued (and usually cost money, too)!

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