Happy Valentine's Day

A big Mmmmwwaah from Moi!

Photograph Copyright:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Year of the Red Fire Monkey

Widow's Endorphins: Year of the Red Fire Monkey: The Year of the Red Fire Monkey.  It sounds like the title of one of the Nancy Drew mystery novels that I read when I was a schoolgirl...

Year of the Red Fire Monkey

The Year of the Red Fire Monkey.  It sounds like the title of one of the Nancy Drew mystery novels that I read when I was a schoolgirl.  For my school friends and me, the Year of the Red Fire Monkey is one of those twice in a lifetime experiences. In Chinese astrology, a fire monkey comes 'round once every sixty years.  

So as not to sound egotistical, vain, arrogant or snobbish (which those born under the monkey sign are accused of being) the twice in a lifetime rule applies to everyone!  Chinese astrology is based on twelve animal signs, and five elements.  The animal signs are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.  The five elements are: fire, earth, metal, water and wood.  It takes twelve years to go through each animal sign, and sixty years for each animal sign to go through each element.  So, anyone born in 1956 - the last year of the Red Fire Monkey - it's your time again!

Quick witted and sociable, the little monkeys of the Chinese zodiac are natural entertainers.  Add the passion, creativity and joy of a fire year, and expect a great year for the entertainment industry, as the Fire Monkey energy shakes, rattles and rolls.  Sixty years ago, Elvis had one of his best years ever, with a string of hits, including Heartbreak Hotel, Don't be Cruel, Hound Dog and Love Me Tender. 

Even the Money Man appears to be pondering his financial future in this Fire Monkey year.  The fire element moves the stock market.  The previous Fire Monkey year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 500 points for the first time ever.  It is said that, in a Monkey Year, people have that monkey optimism and confidence.  Predictions are, it will be a great year for the stock market, finance, and entertainment, as well as transport, shipping and communication.

It is said to be a time when risks are rewarded.  So, take a monkey leap into something new. Do something creative and innovative.

Who doesn't love a monkey?  Birthrates in Asia go up in Monkey years.  They skyrocket in a Fire Monkey year, because the monkey is the "Academic Star" for Fire years, and babies due in 2016, are destined to have high intellect, and a passion for learning.

Those born in fire years are described as strong and dynamic, and able to overcome obstacles and illness. The heart, blood circulation, and inflammation are all health concerns in this fire year.      

When it comes to matters of the heart, Monkeys love romance!  So for all signs, this could be a romantic, passionate year. Or not.  Monkeys are also easily bored, impulsive and a little reckless. The year will be unpredictable.  In the words of another 1956 hit, Que Sera, Sera:

Que Sera, Sera

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be

It's now the year 4,714.  Happy New Year!

Photograph of Chinese Astrology Animals courtesy of Wiki Images
Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated 

Widow's Endorphins: I've Declared Spring

Widow's Endorphins: I've Declared Spring: It's Groundhog Day.  I don't care if Ontario's albino woodchuck, Wiarton Willie saw his shadow, and declared another six wee...

I've Declared Spring

It's Groundhog Day.  I don't care if Ontario's albino woodchuck, Wiarton Willie saw his shadow, and declared another six weeks of Winter.  I, along with the rest of Toronto have declared it Spring. There was a Robin in the garden last week.  We are enjoying the second warmest Winter in Toronto history.

Sunny yellow freesias are the perfect companion to the orange and creamy yellow tulips in this bouquet.  Freesias are native to Southeast Africa, from South Africa to Kenya.  They have a fresh, peppery, vanilla-citrus scent.  Tulips are one of only a handful of flowers which are scent-free.

Tulips were first cultivated in Persia in the 10th Century, however, it wasn't until the 1590's that they were imported to Northern Europe from Turkey.  An ambassador to Emporer Ferdinand I, Oghier Ghislain de Busbecq, is credited with sending bulbs from the Ottoman Empire to Vienna, Austria.

From the moment in 1594, when the first tulip bloomed in the Netherlands, the Dutch were wild about them.  Tulips were rare and expensive.  When the Mosaic Virus attacked the plant, it actually increased its value.  The virus created colourful flame-like markings on the tulip petals, making them all the more desirable.

The subject of many a Dutch still life painting, the tulip became so prized, that tulip bulbs were a form of currency.  Tulip traders were futures commodity traders of old.  They signed contracts before a Notary.  Everyone wanted in, and many sold land, their homes, and life savings to buy more bulbs. Prices were astronomical.  It was a time known as Tulip Mania. In March of 1637, the price of a single tulip bulb was ten times the annual earnings of a skilled craftsman.

Some decided to get out while the going was good.  That started a sell-off, and prices plummeted. The government offered to honour contracts at ten percent, but that only drove prices down even further...not unlike what happened during our Crazy Cauliflower season, when prices for a head of cauliflower reached eight dollars in some Toronto markets, before falling back to normal Winter prices.

While we're on the subject of pricey vegetables...I was reading today about the photograph of an Irish potato which celebrity photographer, Kevin Abosch recently sold to an unnamed client for one million Euros! That's right, Potato #345 is valued at 1.6 million dollars.

It's February.  Whether I've declared it Spring or not, tulips will not be blooming in Toronto for many weeks yet.  They are popping up in buckets outside of florist shops all over the city.  This weekend, pick up a bright bouquet of tulips, and bring Spring into your home!  You won't have to spend much, and you'll feel like a million bucks!  Serve up a bowl of mashed potatoes, and feel like 1.6!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Amaryllis and Afternoon Tea

Widow's Endorphins: Amaryllis and Afternoon Tea: Afternoon Tea with friends on a Sunday afternoon.  Winter's golden sunlight spilling in through a window, your favourite music, b...

Amaryllis and Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea with friends on a Sunday afternoon.  Winter's golden sunlight spilling in through a window, your favourite music, beautiful flowers, good food and great conversation - a perfect afternoon!

Traditional Afternoon Tea is so much more than a cup of tea, which is why it deserves capital letters. It is a refined lunch, served in three courses.  A three tiered tray is often used for serving a creative assortment of finger sandwiches, in a variety of bite-sized shapes.  Some sandwiches are triangles, some are rectangles, some are double decker, and others are pinwheels.  Tea sandwiches are followed by scones with clotted cream and jam, and Afternoon Tea finishes with cakes and pastries. Port, Sherry or Champagne are often found on menus for Afternoon Tea. Although we think of it as a British tradition, the accent flavours are Indian.  After all, tea doesn't grow in London.

Depending on the menu, the tea selection may include a delicate Jasmine, a traditional Indian tea such as Assam or Darjeeling, a bergamot scented Earl Grey, or a smokey Lapsang Souchong. Traditionally, the tea is served hot, never iced. It is served in a large teapot, and poured into pretty teacups of fine china.  Milk, cream, sugar or honey are served alongside the tea.

If all you have are mismatched coffee mugs emblazoned with "I heart New York" slogans, and Toronto Maple Leafs logos, do not let that stop you from sharing tea and great food with friends and family!  Doilies don't create memories.    

Amaryllis Afternoon Tea

-Tea Sandwiches- 

Cucumber and Herb Butter on White Bread
Smoked Cheddar and Apple on Raisin Bread
Bombay Chicken on White Bread
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese on Dark Rye Bread
Ham and Whole Grain Mustard on Multi-Grain Bread

-Scones-

Classic Scones with Clotted Cream
Strawberry Jam
Apricot Jam
Lemon Marmalade

-Cakes and Pastries-

Lemon Tarts
Petit Fours
Chocolate Eclairs
Brandy Snaps

-Tea-

Darjeeling           Earl Grey

The British call it Coronation Chicken, and Canadians call it Bombay Chicken.  Whatever the name, it is a curried chicken sandwich filling, and very popular on tea trays.  Raisins, and fresh cilantro leaves are often added to the chicken. Sometimes mango chutney, or apricots are used in place of raisins.  Cilantro leaves are part of the same plant that produces cumin seeds, a key ingredient in curry powder. The bread may be white, whole wheat or raisin. 

Start with cold chicken.  I have poached chicken breasts the night before, and chilled the meat for sandwich fillings the next day.  I've also used roast chicken, and deli counter rotisserie chicken. As long as it's chicken, and it's cold.  The chicken breasts are chopped into small pieces.

The curried mayonnaise dressing is basically mayonnaise, and curry powder to taste.  I often add a squeeze of lemon juice, and even a touch of honey to brighten the flavour.  The curry flavour should be strong, without being overpowering. Salt and pepper, and a dash Cayenne pepper are added. 

Toss the chicken with the curried mayonnaise, add finely chopped green onion, finely chopped cilantro, finely chopped parsley, and whole raisins.  Spread the moist filling over buttered bread, and top with another slice of bread.  Slice the crusts off of all four sides of the sandwich, and cut into four triangles, or three rectangles.  Assemble on a serving tray, along with other tea sandwiches. 

The Smoked Cheddar and Apple is another lovely tea sandwich.  Simply grate the cheddar, grate a little peeled apple, and combine the two with mayonnaise.  An option would be to add finely chopped walnuts, creating a smokey Waldorf tea sandwich.  Although not on the menu above, watercress sandwiches, and egg salad sandwiches are also traditionally found on Afternoon Tea trays. 

Creative sandwich fillings are a hallmark of Afternoon Tea.  The idea is to offer a variety of little sandwiches, rather than one with "the works".  There's no place for a Dagwood sandwich at Afternoon Tea.  Tea sandwiches are finger food, and meant to be eaten in two or three bites. Do not overstuff the sandwiches, so that the filling spills out all over your guests' clothing.  One other word of advice, make sure the sandwich fillings are moist, and the bread is not soggy. 

    

The Amaryllis plant, so popular from Christmas to Valentine's Day, brings welcome colour to a mid-Winter table.  Native to South America, Amaryllis grows very tall, much like an Easter Lily, and the weight of the blossoms cause the stalks to bow. One of my wonderful neighbours thought of me when she was trimming the blossoms from her Amaryllis plants, and the photo shoot was born. The blossoms look so lovely in individual bud vases!

Amaryllis plants will flower for weeks.  The blossoms are red, white, pink, salmon and orange, and come in solid, striped and multi-coloured blooms.

While it grows outdoors in South America, on this side of the Equator, it is a house plant.  Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a little late in the year to begin growing Amaryllis. Planting is usually done from October until the end of April, however, after Christmas, it is hard to find the bulbs.  So, put this information away until late Fall.  

When selecting bulbs for planting, remember that larger bulbs produce more flowers.  Once home, place the base and roots of the bulb in lukewarm water for a few hours.  Next, plant the bulb up to its neck in potting soil, pat down the soil to stabilize the bulb.  Place in a warm, sunny spot, and water lightly until the stem appears.  Once the bud and leaves appear, begin watering more frequently.  In about two months, you'll have a gorgeous flowering plant.  

For those fortunate enough to have several bulbs, rather than plant all of them at once, and have them all bloom at the same time, you can stagger the plantings every two weeks.  This way, you'll have spectacular, continuous blooms for months.  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.