Radically Retired

Tag: Learning

  • Happiness Is … Cleaning Up the Back Burner

    Happiness Is … Cleaning Up the Back Burner

    For the past several months, I’ve back-burnered three of my favourite passions and pastimes.

    I don’t know why things got stuck on that back burner for so long. Maybe I needed a break. Maybe I was pushing myself too hard. Maybe I had too many irons in the fire. Maybe it was a combination of all of these.

    Whatever it was and whyever it was, by taking a break, I felt increasing boredom and unease. I need challenges to stay motivated and engaged in life.

    My first rescue from banishment was my guitar. I’ve been wanting to learn finger picking style because so much of the music I love lends itself to that. I had started lessons via a tabs and chords music app, but as soon as practice was required, I gave up and went back to perfecting French macarons.

    Recently, I achieved my mac goal, so I needed another to replace it.

    Over 100 yr old Parlour Guitar (the one my mom learned to play on) waiting patiently to be played again

    *Feature photo: A wood burning stove in one of the houses at our heritage village here in Weyburn*

  • Friday Freestyling … When Not In Rome

    Friday Freestyling … When Not In Rome

    Last winter in Texas, with the helpful guidance of a friend in our park, I made my first attempt at Cacio e Peppe. Cacio translates to cheese and Peppe to pepper. Those are the ingredients in this spaghetti dish that’s apparently a favourite in Rome.

    With only three ingredients, you’d think the dish would be easy. It’s far from that.

    Pecorino Romano Cheese and Black Peppercorns are the two ingredients
    The peppercorns are ground small with a mortar and pestle, and the cheese is grated to a fine consistency
    While the pasta is cooking for half the normal time, the peppercorns are heated in a heavy skillet
    Pasta water is added to the peppercorns in the pan and then the pasta to continue cooking
    Meanwhile, hot pasta water is added to the cheese and stirred with a fork until it’s a smooth paste

    The cheese paste is then added to the pasta in the pan and stirred with tongs to coat – then served immediately (feature photo)

    The reward for the required attention to detail is a pasta dish with a creamy, peppery cheese sauce.

    My second attempt turned out even better than the first and hubs claims it as his favourite pasta dish.