Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover sun and cloud here all week.

Yes.. bit lucky to have one of each granddaughter and grandson.

Yes, that's what I was thinking, one of each!

Your weather looks much the same as ours although I'm not sure we will get to 20.

How is your exercising going? Do you feel you are getting stronger? @Escaped_Goat

@NatureLover I do feel stronger most days. Today wasn't one of those days. Very wonky muscles for some reason.

I made a lentil stew for dinner. Also something with frozen berries for dessert because I had to use them.

Oh, yum! Red lentils, brown or green? With dessert too! I don't usually stretch to dessert. Oh, all the delights I could whip up if I could only cook!

That's not good your muscles are wonky today. @Escaped_Goat

I've given up on chores for the day and am reading a novel.

@NatureLover Brown lentils and some black beans too.. some bits and pieces of veg that were looking sad. I think I cheered them up 😂

I'm sure you're a better cook than you give yourself credit for.

I'm glad you're unwinding now. I'm doing that too while dinner cooks.

The lentil stew sounds great and so healthy. Energy for those steep hill climbs!

I've kind of given up now on cooking anything that involves even the smallest amount of skill. I tried so hard for over two years to learn to cook well. Mind you, those 2 years I was vegan, and I think you need to be a really good cook to cook vegan and make it hang together and taste good. I've just accepted now that I don't have the cooking gift. I just drool over other people's cooking now, lol 😄

I haven't done much book reading since I joined the forums, so it's nice getting back to it.

Enjoy your healthy dinner @Escaped_Goat 🙂

@Former-Member I can understand how frustrating it can be to try & let someone know you need some space & they're not respecting how you feel? If anything, don't feel guilty cause you're not responsible for how they take what you ask them.

☺️

@NatureLover good morning. The start of another week. I hope it's a good one! I see you are participating in BINGO... that should make the week fun! 🙂

You know how I like my goals. 🙃

Nice thick promite to start your day.. I like my Vegemite thick too. Apparently that's unaustralian 😂 I read where everyone was telling Tom Hanks he had spread his Vegemite too thick when he was quarantined here. I was thinking nobody should tell you how to spread your Vegemite.. you judge that thickness with your heart. 😂

Poppy just came in after sitting in a flower bed in the sun so my nice clean floors and rug from yesterday have potting mix on them now. :face_with_rolling_eyes: Guess I'm vacuuming today.

When my kids were at home my son was interested in cooking but my daughter was only interested in baking so when she moved out she was excellent at cupcakes etc but always phoning home for meal help. I used to tell her to always remember my secret recipe... toucan soup or stew. If you can make that you can make anything!

No toucans were harmed in the making. It's actually two cans but my son renamed it and it stuck.
one can tomatoes.. crushed, chopped, diced.. your choice.

one can beans or lentils... any kind.. your choice.

then the magic happens...

any seasoning you want.. seasoning mixes are great for this.. Italian.. Greek... Mexican.. Moroccan. Indian.. etc. choose the seasoning based on your bean/lentil choice.
any vegetables you want can be added
you can add grains if you like.. couscous.. risoni.. quinoa.. rice.. small pasta

It's a good way to use up leftover grains and vegetables

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@Escaped_Goat wrote:

I was thinking nobody should tell you how to spread your Vegemite.. you judge that thickness with your heart. 😂

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What a lovely message from you this morning @Escaped_Goat . It made me laugh 😄 which was lovely as I am a bit out of sorts this morning.

I would be happy to make the toucan soup despite being vegetarian lol 😄 I don't actually have any cans of lentils in stock as I prefer the red lentils that you boil up...but I'm thinking I should get a couple of cans to have in the pantry for toucan soup. Thank you for the recipe...it would certainly be healthier than toast. And nice and easy for non-cookers like me 🙂

One recipe that I've always liked is vegetarian spaghetti bolognese...boiled red lentils, pasta sauce /crushed tomatoes, red kidney beans, diced sauteed onions and stock, then put over spaghetti and sprinkled with grated cheese. Yum. It's even better as leftovers the next day as it firms up a bit. Maybe I will try that again soon.

Haha re the potting mix all over your nice clean house! (See what a sympathetic friend I am 😄 )

I've printed out the Bingo page and have crossed 3 things off already. I won't be able to do some of them of course...and I've already used my Wildcard on brushing my teeth! Good luck with your Bingo too.

@NatureLover I'm glad I made you laugh.

I always keep cans of beans and tomatoes in the pantry but I always have dried lentils too. I love vegetarian bolognese!

You can always fake a can of lentils.. I think a can is a heaped cup once it's drained.