citrus tofu

Hello, reader.  How are you doing?  I made garlic citrus tofu for me and Ming, and it was some of the best tofu I ever had.  Can I tell you about it?

ingredients

• coconut oil
• gf soy sauce
• tangerine juice
• minced fresh garlic
• black pepper
• turmeric
• berbere
• fresh tofu from the local tofu factory

instructions

First I put some coconut oil in the wok and heated it up.  Then I put the tofu to start it browning.  Then I put three large cloves of garlic minced–then everything else.

I let it brown more, as the sugar in the juice is going to enliven that.

I can’t tell you what the amounts were, but if you use your intuition, you might enjoy some delicious tofu.  Turmeric gave it the lovely golden color.  These were scraps from the tofu factory and cut in a way I never would, which made it look kind of like chicken.  I have not eaten chicken in a long time, but it’s ok as a look.

I think orange juice would work just as well as tangerine juice, probably.  But lime or lemon juice would taste much less sunny.  Please enjoy your citrus tofu meal.

beading

Lately I’ve been beading also.  I’m in emotional pain and physical pain– crafting is a way to feel productive as I suffer.

I have this fuckton of beads from many sources, and I’m happy to use them.  I’m grateful for my years of experience and for my aesthetic sense.  Lately I like to use nylon cords that have a thin needle attached.  I can make two necklaces per cord.

Most recently I made this rose quartz and garnet necklace with a Buddha.  But today the Buddha is Harriet Tubman, who is one of Ming’s greatest heros.

I love rose quartz as it’s rumored to help with friendship and love.  Lately I am feeling socially wrong and so painfully awkward.  So I need all the friendship-grounding social forgiveness that I can get.

Then garnet feels so bright and brave.  I need both.

Also I made my loved one this necklace with green glass and green stone.

I put a prayer in it with the number four, which is my favorite number.  The prayer is for stability and safety.  I hope it helps her feel strong and know that I love her all the time, even when I’m not with her physically.

Also I made these earrings for another friend who loves blues and greens.  I’ll give them to her today. I hope she likes them.

It’s fun to make things.  I think of jewelry making as craft, but it’s very creative like art.  I’m happy that as my muscles fail a bit more, I can find new ways to do the same things.

I’m very grateful to my creativity and to Ming for his patience as I make messes and get single-minded.  It’s something like hyperfixation.  He takes it in stride.

pleasure

Do you have beautiful jewelry to wear and delicious foods like citrus tofu to eat?  I hope you have massive gobs of pleasure and deep nutrition, reader friend.

I cooked two pounds of navy beans for Food Not Bombs yesterday and some okra.  Ming served them.  Both went over well.  A friend donated the okra, and I get copious beans at the food bank.  Feels great to take what’s not wanted and turn it into nourishment.