two-day depression

i went for a post-operation check-up with the doc on monday...let me tell ya, monday was not a good day. i know the wrist isn't even close to what i would like it to be (pain-free would be nice) but when i described the sensations to the doc, it looked like she wasn't happy either. she frowned and started her sentence "unfortunately there isn't yet good prosthesis for wrists..."

now, i'm willing to admit i misunderstood something, but she did say there is one more operation (sauve kapandji) that they could try in case there is no improvment by august. yeah, right. like i'll i'm looking forward for that!

tuesday was not a good day either. on wednesday afternoon i had an appointment with my physiotherapist and, halleluja, he saved my week. he seems to think that it's no surprise that the wrist isn't doing better as it got weak gradually over longer period of time, it's going to take more time to get it back in shape. so there, got rid of the blues.


here's something that i've cooked up recently. first super-easy and fast pasta dish, you'll only need (whole wheat)noodles, broccoli and tuna in satay-sauce







honestly, 10 mins and you got lunch, or dinner. first cook the noodles, add the somewhat thawed broccoli for the last minute of cooking to noodles, drain and add the tuna. any leftovers will be nice even cold







i often ban myself of buying ice-cream, for a reason. i only eat one particular brand and if there is any in the freezer, i'll finish the whole package in no time. and i'm not talking days, i'm talking hours...

then my sister-in-law introduces this sinful delight...fortunately they sell these in tiny one-portion packages or i'd be huge in no time...







did you ever eat avocado warm? neither did i, but few weeks ago i was staying at my apartment and there was "nothing" in the fridge, except for eggs, avocado and spring onions. eggs made me think omelette, avocado then...







...avocado is good with chilli powder and i always put chilli powder on my omelette, so why not put avocado onto omelette? this was actually quite tasty!







i've made jansson's temptation before (here and here) but since we are in the "easy" category, i thought i'd post it again. here's what went in:

1 kg of frozen potato-onion mix (you don't even need to thaw them)
3 dl cooking cream (go as fat or light as you want)
2 100 gr tins of anchovies (whether they actually are anchovies, that's another story)







into an oven dish, pour one third of the potato-onion mix, arrage the anchovies in one tin on top







pour another one third of potatoes and arrange the anchovies in the other tin on top. if you think the anchovies are too big for your taste, chop them up a bit (but then that would mean more work...)







pour rest of the potatoes on top, pour the cream in and finish...







...by pouring in the brine from one anchovy tin. if you like your food a bit more saltier pour in the brine of the other tin as well







bake in 220C oven for approx 30 tp 40 mins. you'd want a somewhat crispy top and almost mushy potatoes. well, that's how i like my temptation, anyway







and you absolutely need pickled beets to go with







i really need to shape up and start posting more regularly again. the pile of back-logged pictures is getting higher day by day...

souvenirs & garden update

certain someone doesn't like shopping, which kinda sucks because i love to go and browse grocery stores abroad. i had some things in mind that i wanted to get, but there always are so many other interesting items...like a saw a peka that i absolutely wanted but with luggage limitations and its odd shape i didn't get one. it would have been perfect to use at the cottage. wonder if dad could fix something similar...

anyways, here is some of what i got. gotta buy vegeta, and paprika, and the ground poppy seeds, there is a recipe i want to try with it







oh, and ajvar! it goes with anything (i think) but is excellent with grilled meats. i also got a tiny jar of ground truffles. i'm shamed to admit that i haven't ever had truffles before...







and...what did you think, would i not get some chocolate? i happen to think it is a sin if you don't bring any "foreign" chocolate home from a trip







when this stuff is good, oh boy, is it very good! and i'd like to add that i take it purely for medicinal purposes... my former landlord in vukovar made some mean rakija, might have to go and visit them one of these years







before our trip i fixed support "a la martha" for the precious peonies







martha calls this a cradle







it's amazing how much they grew in 5 days even in the cold and rainy weather







i so hope sun will soon start to warming the weather, this bud seems awfully tiny







i planted this one last summer and was amazed to find out that it survived winter







however, it's not growing as fast as the big bush. i dare not move or even dig too deep for weeds in fear of disturbing the plant so that in revenge it will not produce the big pink flowers i so love. it remains to be seen whether this tiny plant will bloom this summer







rhubarb is doing great. will need to bake some pies soon







took this picture a little over week ago as i had no idea what this plant is (still don't)...







...in a week it has grown this much and it still doesn't look something i've seen in the garden before. certain someone thinks it's something that produces red poisonous berries, but he doesn't know the name either







the apple trees then...one of them (the one on the right) is on full bloom and looks like it didn't mind our pruning. the one on the left then, the tiniest...i might have to make good on my word to buy two new apple trees for each one that died. hopefully it won't snow whilst the trees are blooming, i'd really like to be able to make some apple sauce in the fall







the blooms in the tree on the right are big and plentyfull...







...while the ones in the tree on the left are tiny and few in between







i'm not sure which one bums me more, these temperatures?







or this pouring rain?







on the other hand, i managed to get some kitchen cabinets cleaned today while it was raining cats and dogs. if it turns out to be a wet and cold summer, the shack might actually once in this century be spotlessly clean!