My Darling One: Six Years Later

Six years ago today the man I loved passed away.

I was at my stylist's the other day and mentioned the anniversary. She stopped primping.

"Wow.  Has it been that long?"

Yup.  It has.  

Six years is a long time...but at the same time it's not.  

As I mentioned last year, so many things have happened in the first five years--new home, new job, new opportunities, new romances--with more in the last year--my three feline companions, Hagia, Zeus and Bean, passed away, but two kittens entered my life (more on them later); after my job was squooshed in a global resizing I hung out my shingle and started Peacock Blue Communications, my own PR and Communications consultancy and through it I've met and worked with some great people, and heck...I've even become a wee bit more adventurous in my gardening.   Yup.  Life is still good....although I could be posting recipes and other foodish things here more often.

Yes, I do miss Michael, but I know he's not coming back and some things end sooner than we'd like, and in ways that we never really thought of.  That said, I know he's watching over me...and I swear I could feel him recoil at the retro-inspired paint colours for the kitchen (he wasn't a fan of blue, and really...that particular shade of teal would have been met with some great opposition).  He's still cheering me on and offering encouragement.  I still find pennies in the oddest places in the house.

I've often said that I believe people leave us when they have learnt all they have to learn and they have taught all they have to teach. As long as we continue to pass on those lessons we've received, those who have passed on have never truly left any of us.

jasmine

Happy Canada Day! Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians, where-ever you are.  Hope you'e doing something special today, whether it's watching fireworks, getting together with friends or simply raising a glass or lifting a fork.

A few weeks ago, Jen, my friend who's half the team behind The Smile Epidemic put together the #CanadaSmiles Twitter Campaign, to highlight what distinctly Canadian things make people smile.  I turned it into a 30-day mission, looking at innovation, music, people, writers, and of course, food, and posting my thoughts onto my @PckBlue account, and retweeting to @cardamomaddict.

All in all, it was a great little exercise.  Half the fun was winnowing down my list to 30 tweets--no small feat, I tell you.

One of the more interesting things I found out was the process to make modern peanut butter was patented by a Canadian, Marcellus Gilmore Edson.   He was a chemist (pharmacist) who developed this as a way to feed people who had problems eating solid or hard food.

Good gravy.  That's simply awesome.

Quite honestly, this put a little spring in my step.  I can't explain why.  I do like peanut butter, but I don't really eat a lot of it.  Regardless, this little find got my brain thinking about my Canada Day post (yes I've been remiss in keeping this space regularly updated).

One of my favourite ice creams is peanut butter ice cream but I never thought of making my own.  Until I learned the above tidbit.  After a little research, I found this Saveur recipe.  The only modification I made was to not do the swirl--I'm just not a swirly person.  Oh...and I didn't include chopped nuts in the final product--mostly because I find most of the nuts available are old and beginning to think of possibly turning.  Apparently I've got great set of tastebuds...

The recipe is custard-based and super easy to make.  The final product is good, but a little rich for me...not that it's a bad thing.  When I make this again I probably won't use heavy cream, but instead 18%.

My favourite way of having peanut butter ice cream is with fudge and salted caramels sauces...it kind of makes like a Wunderbar (Starbar, for those in the UK and in Scandinavia)...but without the crunchy bits.   Maybe that will be my next stage of peanut butter ice cream making...Wunderbar ice cream...hmmmm

Regardless...Happy Canada Day!

Recipe link: Saveur.com ~ Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream


cheers!
jasmine
  I'm a quill for hire!

Mr Bean, our little boy

Long time Cardamom Addict readers know this handsome boy to the left--this is, of course, Mr. Bean.  If you follow my @cardamomaddict Twitter account, you know things have been rough for this dear old cat these past few weeks.  Unfortunately, one week after being diagnosed with both liver and pancreatic cancers, this lovely boy passed away.

Mr. Bean (Beanie to those who knew and fed him best) was a regular presence here posting his own views of the world and his food dish, occasionally explaining my absences.  He was a fun-loving big boy with a bigger personality than his generous frame betrayed.

Beanie was born under a wheelchair ramp across from the exbf's store.  This pitch black kitten was full of spunk and won admirers at moment one.  His first home was with the exbf's neighbours but they brought him back because...erm...he terrified their dog.  No, I don't quite understand what happened, but all I know the little kitten literally scared the pee out of their dog.

I brought him to mine as I knew My Dear Little Cardamummy always admired black cats. It was love at first sight.  We had just plucked Zeus and Hagia from our garden and given away their littermate Scutterbotch.  Zeus instantly attached to My Big Strong Cardapoppy and Hagia decided I was the best thing since sock drawer organizers, this little black kitten with the teeny patch of white on his chest, soulful green eyes and long tail (affectionately known as the flagpole tail, as it was always in "happy position," soon attached himself to Mum--for the past 17.5yrs he did everything he could to be by her side.

Over the years he, like his two adopted siblings, became a foodish cat.  But unlike Zeus and Hagia,  who preferred a select number of "people foods," Bean simply loved food and developed a taste for a wide variety of flavourful dishes.  Poached chicken or a simply roasted joint would elicit a "why are you being so mean to me" look. Long-cooked and deliberately spiced foods were what he wanted--coriander chicken, beef and pork curries--although he wouldn't say no to bacon, oatmeal or a bit of meatloaf.  By far chicken was his favourite and would let out a special "chicken miao" and danced frantically whenever some was brought into the house (raw or cooked).

Unfortunately, Beanie's legendary appetite became quite fickle in the past few weeks, and although his blood work was fine, Xrays and an ultrasound showed different.

His final days were spent with me, as my parents are away.  He adjusted to his unfamiliar surroundings--a different house and two two strange kittens, along with familiar humans.  Mum gave me instructions to make his favourite foods and pick up his favourite junk food (KFC...yes, really).  So this week, I made my own versions of mum's coriander chicken and beef curry, as well as my own ribs.  He happily nibbled what he could.  When he could no longer have solid food, I warmed thick cream sweetened with honey or melted ice cream for him to lap up. When he could no longer do that, he seemed to be content following the aromas that came from my kitchen.  

He spent his last night on my couch, snuggled up against me, purring. If it were up to him, he'd still be here, but his liver had other plans.  On Wednesday, I called Mum, so she could say goodbye.  I set the handset on the floor, next to the still majestic, but very tired cat.  Bean responded to his mama's voice, pulling the receiver closer to him and cuddling it as she promised to be home soon.

Beanie passed away on Friday, snuggled in a warm towel, on his way to Dr. Bonnie's.

Bean was loved and liked by many (including by those who read Cardamom Addict).  He was warm and dry with soft cushions on which to sleep, windows that let him safely watch the world and, of course, an amazing home cook who was always willing to share.  Goodnight, Beanie Boy.  Sleep well.


cheers!
jasmine
I'm a quill for hire!