Pasha & Puzzles

I made my very first Pasha. May also be spelled Paskha and Pascha. It’s a traditional Russian Easter dish made from quark (curd cheese). Also often served in Finland. It was delicious. The recipe I used really was a sugar/fat bomb. Today I found a light version of the pasha. So, if I’m going to make one next Easter it definitely will be a light one.

In the evenings in order to wind down I often listen to music and do free online puzzles. Here are two. The other one, with the basket, I did the night before and the other one, with the colorful wig, I did last night. I think both are 300 pieces. I checked, the basket is 250 pcs. The wig 300.

I hope you all had a nice Easter. The weather here has been great. Warm and sunny. Finally our garden is free from snow. Time for some gardening.

One More Coloring . . .

I think I’d need a course in coloring !

Coloring

I have occasionally looked at books with pictures to color in the store. But I didn’t want to buy a book with many, many pages of pictures of which I only like a few. Instead I printed a free image from the web to color. My husband wondered if the coloring isn’t meant for children. But, I said, there are free coloring pages for both adults and kids. Hmm, anyway, he thinks it’s a waste of time to sit and color for hours. I say, it’s great therapy, relaxing and fun. I say young or old, doesn’t matter 🙂

Ant

There are ants on some of the flowers in the garden. I wonder how to get rid of them. I read insects don’t like spices. Well, they disappear for awhile but then return. Today I took pictures of them just for fun. As soon as they see me with the camera they hide under both flowers and leaves. They are super fast. None of the pictures were sharp enough. I gave up and turned one to photo art using Prisma art app.

Photographing test

Although I have three digital cameras and in practice always have one or more with me wherever I go, it happens that sometimes I was using my phone camera. A couple of weeks ago I bought a new phone. This new phone has a better camera than the old one. I already have taken quite many photos to test and get used to the camera. Here are three photos I took of Jacky yesterday. He was sleeping but, of course woke. I was testing shooting without a flash in the evening when there is less light. Not bad, but I still need to learn more about settings and etc. I guess I will continue to carry one or more of my cameras with me practically all the time wherever I go 😉

Potato Salad & Spring Tart

Homemade potato salad and mint chocolate cheese cake. Potato salad & sausages are pretty much traditional First of May food here. Well, at least in our family. Sometimes I make the salad myself but mostly I buy it.

The mint chocolate domino cookie cheese cake/tart is one I had had on my mind for quite a time. I actually had planned to make it for Easter but when I saw the yellow mango cheese cake in a magazine I wanted to make it for Easter and decided to make the mint cheese for the 1st of May. Oh my, it is yummy + I’m sure, has trillions of calories ! The one in the picture in the magazine is so beautifully decorated. I tried to make mine look the same. Of course it doesn’t ! But, my family made me feel happy, by saying it to them, really looks nice.

Kite Skiing

 Yay ! Sunny, warm winter day. Only minus one Celsius 🙂 Perfect for outdoor activities. I saw a guy kite skiing on the lake. He soon made good speed and disappeared in the distance. Weekends, if nice weather, there often are several skiers. Looks so nice nice with all the colorful kites. 

A Few More . . .

It’s so exciting and I can’t contain myself :)I have just turned some more pictures using the Prisma app. My husband wondered whether I’m going to turn all my photos. Such a silly remark. Of course not. Just playing with it for now trying it out with a few pictures into different styles. But, I must say I love these ones on Jacky 😉

Photo Art

I was all oohs and aahs seeing the photos of a dear friend of mine transformed into beautiful art paintings. I told her they look fantastic. She said, you have to try it, it’s so cool. It’s an app called Prisma and it’s free. I downloaded it right the way. And, I totally agree, it’s so cool and fun. One of my secret dreams has been to have the talent to paint. Unfortunately I have zero talent or skill 😦 but, it has not stopped me from trying 😀 Now, thanks to Prisma, I can use my photos, turn them into art paintings in an instant. Well, I won’t turn all of them just play with some now and them. Cool eh ?

Apelsintårta

Har haft detta recept på apelsintårtan sedan 1982 då jag faktiskt gjorde en. Kan berätta att den lyckades bättre än denna jag gjorde idag. Botten och krämen lyckades också denna gång men tyvärr blev det viktigaste misslyckat. Alltså garneringen. Borde nog skurit av det oranga på apelsinskivorna. Efter att ha gjort glasyren färdig glömde jag bort den så den hann stelna för mycket. Kom senare på att jag troligen kunnat rädda den genom att värma den lite. Förra gången rostade jag inte mandelspånen men bestämde mig för att göra det den denna gång. Hällde hela påsen med spån i stekpanna och satte på plattan. Ve och fasa ! Vilket hönsminne ! Hur kunde jag glömma hålla ett öga på dom.  Efter ett tag kände jag en konstig doft. De understa var kolsvarta. Så jag plockade bort dem.  Ja inte blev kakan vacker men familjen bedyrande att den var sååå god. Och det är väl ändå huvudsaken. Möjligen gör jag ett nytt försök nästa påsk 🙂

Apelsintårta

Sockerkaksbotten:

4 ägg

2 dl strösocker

1 ½ dl potatismjöl

1 ½ dl vetemjöl

1 tsk bakpulver

rivet skal och saft av 1 apelsin

Kräm:

3 apelsiner

2 ägg

2 ½ dl strösocker

100 g smör

ev vispgrädde

Glasyr:

1-1 ½ dl pressad apelsinsaft

2 msk strösocker

5 blad gelatin

Dekoration:

Rostad, flagnad mandel

apelsinskivor

Till botten:

Vispa ägg och socker vitt och pösigt. Tillsätt mjölsorterna välblandade med bakpulvret. Rör ner apelsinskal och saft. Häll smeten i en välsmord, bröad eller mjölad form med avtagbar kant. Grädda ca 35 minuter i 175 grader.

Till krämen:

Riv skalet och pressa saften ur de tre apelsinerna. Häll detta i en skål tillsammans med socker och smör, ställ skålen i en kastrull med vatten på spisen. När smöret har smällt tillsätts de vispade äggen och krämen vispas tills den tjocknar ca 20 minuter. Tag från spisen och kyl av. Skiva tunt 1-2 apelsiner, lägg i en liten kastrull, slå på sockret och den pressade apelsinsaften till glasyren och låt det hela koka upp. Tag kastrullen från spisen och låt skivorna ligga kvar och dra en stund. Sila av saften.

Dela botten i tre delar. Bred kräm på alla tre bottnarna. Eventuellt kan man blanda krämen med vispad grädde eller om man vill servera grädden vid sidan om. Lägg ihop bottnarna, dekorera med det kalla apelsinskivorna. Blötlägg gelatinet i vatten. Ett tunt lager vispad grädde håller mandeln på plats.Värm saften, tag upp gleatinbladen, krama ur dem och smält dem i saften. Häll den tjocknande saften på tårtan och låt den stelna.