Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What I've enjoyed this month: January 2012

When I thought back over my 2011 posts at the end of last year, I realised that the posts I most enjoyed re-reading, and which I got a lot of enjoyment out of writing, were those on "what I'm enjoying" or "what I'm grateful for".

As a way of reflecting on each month whilst also keeping this positive focus in mind, I thought I would start a monthly tradition of looking back on what I've enjoyed over the previous 4 weeks.

Here is my list for January.

Unhulled tahini

What a discovery this was. I went on to enjoy it on its own, with crackers, in wraps, and with Ugly Duckling Muffins.

On one particularly inspired occasion, I even enjoyed it with an Ugly Duckling Muffin, applesauce, and plain yoghurt. This combination is highly recommended!

Definitely a meal in a bowl. Quite possibly the best meal in a bowl I've yet had this year.


Jigsaw puzzling

 Mr Bite and I got this 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle at Christmas:


Quite a lot of pieces, and quite a lot of blue sections that blurred together...definitely a challenging sort of enjoyment :-)


It took us almost one month exactly, but last weekend we completed it.


As an added bonus, we now also have our kitchen table back. Or at least we will once we can bring outselves to break it up and pack it away...


Movies

I mentioned in this post that I only see about three films per year at the cinemas.

It seems that in 2012, I am using up my entire quota in the first month. I have now seen Sherlock Holmes 2 (very good) and the US release of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (brilliant - see it!), and we are going to see Hugo in 3D tonight.

I blame the hot weather for this unprecedented movie run. It's probably fortunate that I've enjoyed what I've seen, because this may have to last me until next January!


Summer fruit

I think I've already drawn two comments from Mr Bite on how much fruit I'm capable of eating at once. It's certainly a lot at this time of year.


Apricots, plums, nectarines, grapes, and mango are proving current favourites.

Frozen desserts

See the above 'heat' reference. In addition to all the usual frozen products I enjoy (frozen fruit and yoghurt included), I've recently discovered Weis sorbet in Summer Berries. I'm also still enjoying the homemade berry equivalent, in the form of banana and raspberry 'ice cream'.


What are you enjoying at the moment? What has your January involved?

22 comments:

  1. Oh wow, that looks like a great jigsaw puzzle and it great that you and Mr Bite completed it together! I used to love jigsaw puzzles but haven't made the time to do one in a few years. My January has involved lots of cooking and planning as I have a party coming up in a few weeks time. :D

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    1. Cooking and plannning sounds good! I'll look forward to (I hope) hearing about your party :)

      I didn't do jigsaw puzzles for some years and then just rediscovered them a few years back. I'm really glad I did, they're great to have on the go.

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  2. WE did a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle, but I can't say I particularly enjoyed it. I did however, enjoy all the variants of icecream and sorbet we made.
    x

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    1. If I had to choose, I might have gone with icecream / sorbet too :)

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  3. What a great month! My sister is halfway through a massive puzzel of a peacock. Only problem is that it is at Mum and Dad's holiday house, so she only does a bit when she goes down there and as a result, the table tennis table is out of use. We are looking forward to her finishing!

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    1. Teehee, I bet you are - that is one of the disadvantages of puzzles, they take up quite a bit of space! Her system sounds like a good one for her though, at least if she doesn't mind working on it in bits :p

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  4. Hoorah for unhulled tahini! I'm so with you on that one. Sourdough, tahini, honey and banana toast... cracking way to start the day I say.
    I just enjoyed far too many chocolates from Belgium. I had to physically move them away from me to stop...oops.

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    1. They sound like good chocolates :)

      You've reminded me that I haven't tried tahini with banana yet. I now feel it's an urgent priority to do.

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  5. No really, we have to stop being like this. Mum and I love doing jigsaws and have had a new one for months, waiting on dad to saw off a piece of wood large enough to encompass it that we can put on our too-small-for-this-puzzle puzzle table. Yay puzzles and fruit and tahini and positivity yay!!!

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    1. Funny, funny, funny - especially as I got my enjoyment of jigsaws from my Mum too :) I hope your piece of wood is provided soon so you can return to your own jigsaw fun!

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    2. Cannot stop laughing at the phrase "I hope your piece of wood is provided soon"... I just rejected such wood ;)

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    3. Well now I have no sympathy! :)

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  6. Gosh I can't remember the last time I did a puzzle.

    I am busy packing stuff into boxes for our move next week to Wales. Getting excited and hoping for a good new start. Take care for now.

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    1. Ooh, good luck Shaheen. That's very exciting - I hope the move goes well.

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  7. Wow that jigsaw looks impressive - January seemed to be low on baking and high on christmas leftovers - actually we still have christmas leftovers that are looking a wee bit tired!

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    1. Truly?? You are the Queen of Christmas :) You're almost tiding yourself through until Easter!

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  8. This post should totally come with a sorbet 'cause I'm craving one now!

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    1. That was such an oversight on my part. Next January!*

      *Should Blogger have upgraded considerably by next January and make this possible with no effort on my part.

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  9. Replies
    1. Who knew there were so many of us?! I really didn't know they were still so popular.

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