You May Now Rub Your Happy Buddha Belly

This tree downtown where I live is adorned with colorful lanterns to attract tourists to dine at the restaurant to the left side of this photo. Now this will hopefully help me articulate the release and ease I've come to feel at this small touristic seaside & port town over 6 months I have been living here.

Where I left posting, I was packing our flat into boxes with mom in a frenzy. I looked forward to have some time to simply contemplate my next move; meanwhile trying to make the best of this time apart. I needed the change. Granted it came to me fully, appealing to all of my buds. Sweet, sour, bitter, savory times. Not necessarily in that order, my feast did not have to follow any man-made formality. I indulged with my bare hands.

So, this thinking reflected itself in ways I pleased my tummy over spring and summer.

Living at this town blessed me with amazing variety of fresh produce at farmers market with the prices so cheap for their great quality. Hand picked organic fruits and vegetables sold by farmers who actually did the farming themselves.

On an ordinary trip to the market, I even saw the lady who I would buy whole wheat rustic bread from at the market I would go before moving out to here. Since there is an hour long distance in between two places; apparently she and the yummy loaves of breads were traveling to this town as well! Seeing her made this place more homely. Plus, we would always briefly chat. Even if I didn't know much about her life, I felt like I've seen a long time friend. She hugged me confirming the feeling. No words necessary, that lifting within. All in small precious moments like those.

Hot weather and over-cooked food just don't combine well for my family. This meant going raw over spring and summer at large with moderate cooking and baking to compliment.



Salads...

Red bell pepper & dill lightly sauteed sprinkled with sesame, zucchini steamed and served over some spaghetti to keep tummies in check!


Appetizers...

Mushrooms rested in lemon & water, then dried up gently and coated in whisked egg & spices bowl first; then in bread crumbs bowl. Either fried or baked. These were fried.

Then served over yoghurt in the one above, plain on stick below.



My kind of S'mores. Except this one would be S'mush. No campfires alright. No overkill either!


Refreshing drinks...



Summer's favorite, ice tea. I am yet to perfect my own, so this one above was by a store brand. Oh the brutal honesty, next.


Baking; how I cheer for thee with an over-excited anime face!



My first time baking bread. Multi grain. I bought the dry dough mix from store alright. But adding walnuts was my idea! Ah. I just get very sentimental with being able to bake bread. So, score.

More baking...



Great with tea.

... Speaking of tea;



Brewing tea in a jar...pure visual satisfaction. Something new to photograph for the I" wanna be home today!" photographer.

Preparation For Fall and Winter...



Sour cherry jam in the making. Mmm. Jar is already half empty. Even my Psychology degree can't make me perceive it half full. :/




Sun-drying tomatoes.

...

Most importantly;

Dinners enjoyed with my small family...



One time I craved for pizza and tried my best. Asked them to decorate toppings as they wished. Limited toppings, pizza dough that needs practice. Discouraged? Nah.

Another great advantage that came with moving home was/is that my mom and I would be as close as ten minutes apart with my sister and her partner. This meant a lot of time strengthening our bond (since especially growing up; I didn't get to spend quality time much with my sister).

Now we are just conditioned to having good food whenever all four of us come together. As if; our get together-s serve to that one hedonistic pleasure only.

Well, none of us complains.