My recipe for relaxation...

I don't know how you handle stress and fatigue.
Some people swear by aerobic exercise and others like myself want to cuddle up, keep warm and cocoon.

Having gone through many stressful patches in my life I feel that I can offer some advice...
well maybe not advice, just what has worked for me personally.

A wise woman told me that she turns off the TV, lights a scented candle and goes to bed early after a warm soak in the tub, with a mug of tea, a chocolate bar and a stack of magazines!

Doesn't this sound delicious?

I find a soak in the tub so restorative.
There is something so soothing about lying in the hot water eyes closed with negative thoughts floating away
as the scent and softness of bath salts work their magic.

I have a recipe that I love to make that I want to share with you...
because I believe that women need to stick together in times of trouble.
(and in times of peace, let's be honest we need to embrace our friendships and support each other in this world)

Behold the salts!

White fluffy towels are a luxe staple here in The Humble Bungalow.

My "soaker tub" a deep claw foot that I can recline in...

I love geranium, clary sage, neroli and rose blended together.

It is Bliss in a jar!

I do not own a bed jacket like my Mother had when I was growing up...

(her's was quilted pink satin and I thought it was so elegant)

so this striped terry top works well

(Joe Fresh)

it keeps me warm while I sit up in bed perusing the magazines and sipping my tea...

which at night is decaf and you'll have to trust me there are no chocolates in sight!

While I do love a good quality chocolate I much prefer potatoes!

It must be my Irish background...

seriously if I need comfort food I make potatoes.

In a heavy pan like my Le Crueuset

saute in a wee bit of butter

sliced onions, a few pieces of leftover carrots and potatoes quartered.

Cook over medium heat until hot.

Season with a fresh grating of pepper and a tiny bit of salt.

Enjoy!

BTW

I am not under any particular stress at the moment

I am aware that there are quite a few bloggers out there 

who are currently "under the weather" for various reasons.

If you have a few moments please share with us how you handle times of stress...

what do you do?

Have a fabulous weekend!

OOTD ~ a wardrobe in flux

My weight loss journey has been surprisingly easy given the guidance and tools offered by WW...but now...
my clothes are baggy and many are rather unflattering...
oodles have been donated because I have been stern with myself thinking that IF I keep the bigger clothes, I am giving myself permission to wear them again in the future.

The challenge that I am facing is how to reassemble a new wardrobe on a budget.
I cannot nor do I want to live everyday in my walking attire...
which I hate to admit that I am pretty much doing right now because that is what fits!

I am combing thrift and consignment shops for great basics...
accessories are still my best friends and of those I have quite a variety of scarves and necklaces.
I had to buy some new lingerie ~ thanks to my BFF for noticing and delicately suggesting that as I had lost weight that my bras were not doing their job!

On my current wish list are:
a great fitting pair of black trousers
jeans
cashmere sweater
white tee tops

I am concerned that my winter down coat and jacket may be too large but I may be able to get away with wearing them if they do not look like they swallow me up! If they are too vast I will consign them and find replacements as they keep me warm in the cold snaps that we get here in the winter. I will be walking a lot so I do want to be cozy.

Thinking of dressing on a budget makes one assess what is really important to have in the closet.
I returned to my beloved copy of Parisian Chic to review what Ines de la Fressange suggests and she has great advice.

She refers to her go to basics as  "The Magnificent Seven"
A man's blazer
a trench coat
a navy sweater
a tank top
a LBD
jeans
leather jacket

I'll need to find a well fitting dress for evening and I do lean toward black as it goes with everything and always looks appropriate.

I've never felt like a trench coat was "me" but I am reconsidering the idea as a single breasted trench could be very useful here in our rainy Pacific Northwest.

I think I might pass on the man's blazer and the leather jacket but I am in favour of all the rest.

I kept my white shirt...

I pulled it out of the donation bag at the last minute

and I am happy that I did as I plan to use it as a jacket over a tank top.

Diane Keaton's wardrobe in Something's Gotta Give was the reason I changed my mind.

She looked so fabulous in her white shirt and tank with her khaki trousers...

New~to~me jeans

 as new condition

but at a fraction of the price!

(pinch me)

Pearls

a silk square scarf 

and I can vary the accent pieces to get more mileage out of these jeans...

dress them up with cashmere 

or 

pop on a white tee and roll them up for a casual vibe.

I have an excuse to shop

Starting fresh 

 for a functional, minimalist wardrobe is going to be a fun adventure!

What basics would you suggest I include on my wish list?

Green and Simple...snippets of a day.

Green is such a soothing shade...
found in nature
from lime to forest ~ and all the others in between.

It is difficult for me to favour one green,
so naturally, I embrace all the greens!

English peas

 tender and sweet 

ripe from the vine.

Isla loves these peas!

Simple green fern fronds in our Bungalow bathroom.

Green and White 

a crisp combo 

 reminds me of

our school colours at Oak Bay High!

limelight hydrangea

The humble bungalow zucchini harvest...

 I have made this recipe since we started growing zucchini years ago 

~ simple and tasty ~

Cut zucchini in half, scoop out the centre and chop finely.

Dice a small onion

crush a few garlic cloves

add about 1/4 cup of Panko crumbs

1/4 cup parmesan

Mix together and season with salt, pepper and a few red pepper flakes.

Stuff zucchini and dot the top with a few blobs of butter

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes to an hour until the zucchini is fork tender.

 ~Hint ~ 

I try to cut it so the zucchini sits flat in the pan.

Yummy goodness

low in WW Points and is great cold the next day for a quick lunch!

The Humble Bungalow Herb Garden is thriving in the tool box...

sitting atop the chair that I "found" on the boulevard for free.

I painted it black just 'cuz that's the way I like it...

it's a luxury to pop out the door with my shears and snip off some fresh mint or rosemary 

to add to some newly boiled and buttered spuds

 or add to an organic roast chicken.

Herbs elevate cuisine in so many ways, 

they add dimension...

elegant

 simple and fresh...

and they have no caloric value.

This hanging basket was a thrifty purchase and it has performed like a superstar all summer.

Happy to bloom with a drink of water and sunny skies.

The morning has brought with it

  warmth and sunshine

I am loving this weather.

It's the simple things that keep me on an even keel.

How is your week shaping up?

You don't KNEAD this bread!

I don't KNEAD this bread...
you don't KNEAD this bread ~ but it is worth making just the same.

Bread is something I eat sparingly,
WOW!
if I was not watching my waistline
I could eat not one, but several pieces of this ciabatta loaf!

Check out the You Tube video for this recipe.
John from Food Wishes is quite the character...

Mix in a bowl

4 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. yeast

2 cups warm water

Cover bowl with foil and let sit undisturbed on the counter for 18 hours!

Uncover

fold gently over onto itself from the sides of the bowl

put some saran or cling film on the counter

flour lightly

tip dough out of the bowl onto the plastic 

with floured hands work gently to pop the bubbles

form into a ciabatta shaped loaf

flour top of loaf and cover with a tea towel and let sit for 2 hours.

Grease a sheet pan and generously sprinkle with corn meal.

Carefully roll the dough off of the saran wrap onto the pan.

Gently reshape if necessary.

Put into a preheated oven at 425

bake for 35 - 45 minutes

Cool on rack

Enjoy!

Wow I am impressed...

I think Mr. HB was happy as he had fresh bread with marmalade for breakfast.

I am thinking how lovely it would be served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil...

now I just need to plan a dinner party!

This recipe is definitely a keeper...

thank you to my BFF 

 she tasted this bread at her Mother's 96th birthday celebration and shared the link with me.

Happy Baking.

Healthy Eating Everyday...post number 877

I have received a few requests asking what I eat on Weight Watchers.
First I need to clarify that WW is NOT a diet but a lifestyle change.
Technically no food is off limits...but every food has a point count and you are alloted a number of points that you stay within every day if you want to lose weight, so it's up to you.

I really like the flexibility of the plan.

The plan has trained me to make healthier food choices and to add exercise into my daily routine.
I did not want to join a gym as I have done that in the past and gave up my membership not once,
but several times which is a total waste of money.
Nor did I consider buying expensive exercise equipment as we have a very small bungalow and the only spot would be in my hobby room and that would be a very tight squeeze...so I chose walking.
It's free, I can vary the route, and then there's the bonus of the fresh air!
I can run errands in the neighbourhood while walking and stop to chat with neighbours and greet passers by,
or opt to walk with a friend and chat along the way.

Having those basics out of the way...
you asked what I eat in a day.

My breakfast varies  ~ often I have an egg scrambled with steamed vegetables.

Fat free yogurt with fruit and a small topping of nuts... is my favourite.


Salad is the easiest lunch for me...
Kale or spinach and assorted veggies and some protein.

I love the Bolthouse yogurt dressings...
they taste great and are low in points!

I eat a modest amount of protein
a larger amout of salad or vegetables
and a smallish portion of starch...

Dining out usually means a few extra points so fish is my "go to" entree ~ fortunately I love salmon.
I'll ask for extra steamed veggies instead of fries or saucy starchy sides and I never order anything fried!
I push the bread basket out of reach,
enjoy a salad and opt for the salad dressing on the side.
I will have one or two bites of a dessert but only if someone else orders it and wants to share.
I'll enjoy one or two glasses of wine.
If I know ahead of time that I am going out I will eat fewer points for breakfast and lunch so that I know I can enjoy dinner and not go over my points.

I try to eat sensible snacks everyday and fruits like apples are best for mid afternoon and I'll add a small cube of cheese or a tablespoon of peanut butter or hummus.

I like to eat foods that are fresh, locally grown
and in season.
Bright colours attract me and I love to mix up different foods to appeal to the eye as well and the appetite.

Fresh herbs add flavour without adding points.

I love harvesting food from the garden...
our home grown tomatoes smell great and taste delicious picked right off the plant!

The peas rarely make it inside The Humble Bungalow as they make a sweet treat when outside gardening...
we have snap and English peas which are also a favourite snack of our grand-daughter Isla!

In our back garden we are currently growing zucchini, spaghetti squash, mustard greens, beets, potatoes and asparagus.
The asparagus season has been over for a few months and our plants are too young to harvest yet...
next year!


I hope this sheds a bit of light on the WW regime and I would encourage anyone wanting to lose weight and get fit to join WW attend the meetings and weigh in weekly. Tracking points keeps you accountable and the gals that you meet at WW are very knowledgeable, understanding and supportive. The leaders have all previously been members who have lost weight using the program so they know only too well the challenges that we newbies face.

Have you got a fabulous weekend planned?

It's more painting here in The Humble Bungalow...

things are looking good Mr. HB!

 really looking forward to sitting outside on our deck...

in the meantime...

 we have been enjoying sitting on the front porch.

Have you got a home project underway?

I don't know about you but I love puttering around the house...

it's so rewarding.

Trying new recipes helps keep my repertoire energized...

a new no knead bread ciabatta recipe was actioned yesterday

 I took pictures and will post soon when I get the chance.

Take care,

Hostess