Cheeseblarg Hanukkah Colouring Page

I love reading the blog "I'd Like Cheese On My Entire Family". Jodee sometimes does interactive things so us readers get to participate. So, I coloured in this:

I used my "mini paint set" that I picked up at the Minneapolis Institute of Art this fall. This was my first time using it so I had some issues with the colour layering and texture. (Sorry about your face, Jodee!)

Go here for the blank: Hanukkah 2011- 8th Night- From Us to You!

Recipe: Masala Chai

Indian Masala Chai (mixed spice tea) is divine! When done right. If you like hot spiced drinks which my hubby does not. But I do.

Any tea shop will have a few spiced teas to sell you but I wanted to make my own spice blend. I had purchased a mix of spices but didn’t like it at all. First ingredient was black pepper. Ick! Plus it was all ground. I love the look of whole spices with my loose leaf tea. The blend I made was with spices that I like. You can customize it for yourself. Also, I didn’t measure; I just threw stuff in based on smell. This is how I cook.

With this mix, I used approximately equal part of each, but maybe a less pepper and more cinnamon. Also, you have to be careful with nutmeg because it can be toxic in large amounts. If you’re using one seed, you should be fine. Especially since you’re not ingesting the actual pieces.

DIY: Dried Ginger

I wanted to make my own Masala Chai spice and to do that, I needed dried ginger root. You can probably buy this somewhere but I didn’t recall seeing it readily available so I figured I’d make it myself. It’s so easy!

Dried Ginger

Yoga and Scuba: Just Breathe

If you happen to be a Yogi and a diver, you'll know what I mean. Both activities focus greatly on breath. The first rule of scuba is never stop breathing. During a yoga class you are always asked to centre on your breathing.

Tip: How to Dice an Onion Like a Pro

I used to work at a couple of restaurants so I picked up a few pro tips. Dicing onions used to drive me nuts! And then I learned this:

Recipe: Beef & Lentil Stew

Here is a simple and delicious recipe that is perfect for cooler times of the year. I made this for dinner (plus lots of left-overs) recently and it turned out so well I thought I’d make it again for my office Christmas potluck lunch.

 

Out at the Movies: "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

This Sunday was the first time my husband and I went to an IMAX Experience screening. We cringed a bit at the higher ticket price with the IMAX surcharge, but it was totally worth it! No pre-show annoyance, no commercials, no trailers (ok, I actually like watching trailers), the seats were way more comfortable and there was more leg room. Oh, and the movie was wicked clear and huge!

Out at the Movies: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"

This weekend was a good one for action movie fans. Two big-budget flicks came out; “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol” and “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”. Their titles both evoke a feeling of ethereal mystery and they are definitely both in the cloak-and-dagger genre, but they are very different movies!


A bunch of us went to see Sherlock on Saturday afternoon. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, this is the second in the Guy Ritchie reboot of the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series about the brooding British detective. (Not to be confused with the BBC Sherlock reboot, which is also awesome, but in a different way.)