Wanting to figure out a way to get back to blogging more regularly, I went to the library and checked out Tiny Habits. Sure enough, there were plenty of ideas, of which the most promising was to find a way to hook a new habit onto a well-established routine, which the author called a prompt.
I confess that I don’t stitch everyday, so that wouldn’t be a reliable prompt. Although I’m pleased to report I have made considerable progress on the JMU pillow front and back (aka one side and the other), having decided to make Grace’s log cabin spirals rather than the originally planned patchplay …
Which reminds me, I contributed to a book fundraiser hosted by JMU alumni in Williamsburg. They’re gathering books on kindness, caring, and empathy in honor of Abby Zwerner, who continues to recover from her gunshot wounds. The books will be donated to elementary schools in the Williamsburg/Newport News area. Here’s a link to the Amazon gift registry if you’re interested (note: choose “ship to Carmen Jones” … the actual address won’t show, but all the books will go to a central location where they can get bookplates before being delivered to the schools).
But I digress. Gotta think of a more reliable routine to hook blogging onto. So I considered breakfast as a possible prompt, as it’s something I never skip!
Which reminds me. Back in our Williamsburg days I discovered Kashi 7-grain Pilaf …
I would cook up a packet and keep it in the fridge to add to otherwise single-note hot cereals. It had a rich nutty flavor and wonderful texture. Had … as in, no longer has … since Kashi discontinued the product some years ago. After many tries at various ground multi-grain cereals, I finally decided to try putting together my own whole grain blend at the Central Market bulk food bins …
Recalling that the original Kashi always seemed to have something that was either under- or over-cooked, I looked up various suggested cooking times and techniques for whole grains in hopes of getting everything to the perfect degree of toothsomeness.
Research in hand, I put a pot of lightly salted water on to boil, then added 1/3 cup each of rye berries and wheat berries. After 15 minutes at a simmer, I added 1/3 cup of red rice. And oh, that’s when a wonderful aroma began to fill the air. After another 15 minutes, I added 1/3 cup of pearled barley and 1/3 cup of toasted buckwheat (aka kasha). I had planned to cook everything a final 30 minutes, but at 20 minutes it seemed slightly overdone. So I took the pot off the heat and made a note to try 15 minutes next time. Which is to say, a total of 45 minutes of simmering. I also decided against adding sesame, which turned out to be a good call.
After draining and cooling the grains to room temperature, I put them into the fridge. The next morning I nuked 1/8 cup rolled wheat (similar to oatmeal, but more tasty imo) and 2/3 cup almond milk for five minutes at 70% power. Then scooped in two heaping tablespoons of the whole grains and nuked it all for another minute. The resulting awesome-ness was topped with a bit of cream, butter, and brown sugar …
Leaving me to wonder why I didn’t try doing this sooner! So so good.
And that got me thinking … maybe breakfast could be my prompt to blog. But no, at that point in the day I want to get going on straightening the kitchen and starting the laundry and doing some Pilates-style stretching. Or shopping … which is almost always best done early in the day.
So now I’m writing this after lunch, which is another firmly established habit and possible prompt. I’m hoping it will prove to be a good time for blogging. There’s enough light if I need to take pictures, and it’s a great way (ahem, excuse) to delay starting in on whatever I need to do in the afternoon.
We’ll see … the proof will be in the pudding. Which reminds me, I saw a great recipe for Budino in Smitten Kitchen today … 😉
I'm Going to Texas (version 2.0) 
Congrats on the multi grain success – sounds like it was delicious! Finding your groove again can be an interesting trek.I have committed to blogging on certain days, and that commitment to myself makes me think about artiness, making and beauty a bit more I hint as I capture moments and think it could be part of a blog post. Whatever you find works for you I look forward to the results! And I like the spirals – very eye-catching!
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I have long admired and anticipated your regularly scheduled blogging … Thursday Thoughts especially … and as the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
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The pillow is so striking and with such a vibrant, dancing design….
I seem to recall making the Kashi pilaf as a side dish for dinner. I would add freshly chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan. Can’t recall ever having it for breakfast but I’m sure it would have been delicious. We used to eat a lot of Roman Meal hot cereal (not found these days) and 7 grain. Now and then, I get Bob’s Red Mill 10 grain and always add chopped walnuts for even more crunch.
Re blogging: I don’t so I don’t know how it is to consider how often to blog. I would imagine that if it becomes a situation where you start to feel guilty about not doing it regularly, then it becomes a chore and probably not as full filling as when inspiration strikes…I would say don’t be hard on yourself about the frequency of your posts. Know that when words, ideas, projects and experiences come, you will feel the spark and that spark may very well turn into a blog post. You are such a creative, experimental, gifted woman, that you will come here and share with us when all of that feels just right for you to do so…and it goes without saying, that whenever it does, we will happily be here.
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Hmmmm, now I’m thinking the grains would be wonderful in a salad, too … stay tuned for future iterations
The pillow is definitely a change for me as I rarely use brand-new quilting cloth and work in a set pattern … it’s been kinda fun for a change
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P.S. thanks for the encouragement
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Your blocks are so bold and beautiful. Well done! I am also all over the place with posting. Binges or dry spells, not much art…I received a gift of some art materials today, so maybe that will motivate me. Just hard for my mind to settle and focus these days, so lots of TV and computer viewing/listening (today it was Dylan on you tube 🙂).
I sent you an email about the books.
I love your mug ❤️
xo
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That mug has held my breakfast coffee every morning for over 10 years … it was made by Diana Seidel, a wonderful local potter … if it ever breaks I’d get another for sure
And thanks … those bold colors have been fun for a change
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OMG Liz that looks so delicious!
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I can’t tell you how much I look forward to breakfast now … healthy and delicious … and mid-morning snack attacks are far less of a problem
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I love your cooking experiment and your breakfast! The habit forming…that suggestion usually works pretty well for me. Right now my mark making is happening with morning coffee and the blog post happens after I eat dinner. Daily and short (mostly!) is helpful and one idea feeds another which helps the momentum.
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after dinner would be such an ideal time, but I almost always think of something I want to photograph while I’m writing and if nothing else, natural lighting works best for me … so I had to find another time of day, which is “easy” in retirement, but somewhat rudder-less … anyway, we’ll see if this works … I’m going to try for every day and then ease off once the habit is formed
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Kasha is something I used to make quite often to go with dinner. I worked near a small Russian grocery store .. it was so good. Unfortunately it closed when Covid closed many of those little stores😢. I’ve tried replacing it with buckwheat from the health food store but it just is not the same. Your bowl of goodness looks and sounds delicious.
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I don’t know if this is legit kasha, but to my unschooled tastebuds it’s simply delish … and now I truly look forward to breakfast!
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Hi LA – I’m quite boring with my prompts – just a commitment to certain days. I do find it also nudges me to do and see creative stuff. Create well and be safe. B
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as I’ve been known to say when life gets overly hectic, “boring can be a good thing” … indeed, I’m inspired by your faithfulness to blogging and anticipate your posts
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I’m trying to work out if that’s a sweet or savoury dish. I’ve found we have, as nations, very different tastes which is interesting.
I’ve noticed a slight upsurge in the blogosphere again over the past couple of years, pandemic related maybe. It’s just so nice to be able to have proper reads again rather than the fleeting passes of other social media. I’m still unsure whether I prefer my blogging in the short, sharp quick bursts or the longer, more story now and then ones. I think life makes me sometimes swing between the two but it try for at least once a month. Mainly for my own diary keeping really!
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for breakfast I make it sweet, with a touch of butter, cream, and brown sugar … but it could easily go savory as an accompaniment for stew, an addition to a salad, or a side for grilled meat
as for blogging … I very much admire those who blog every day with one or two photos and a relatively short text … but I tend to use lots of both images and text however often I blog, figuring folks can pick and choose how much or little they want to indulge
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The not-so-mad-scientist whirling many ingredients to find the right combo of recipes! Those spiral log cabins are great! I don’t know why I find log cabin blocks intimidating as they are my favorite blocks in a quilt. You nailed it!
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I in turn wonder why I don’t do the log cabins more often … they come together so quickly
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