Thursday, May 28, 2020

Unexpected Amazing Cactus Blossom - Epiphyllum Orchid

I purchased this cactus in the hope to be able to transplant Ruby Ball cactus.  Only to find that the leaves are too flat to support the Ruby Ball.  It needed something like Dragonfruit type cactus stems.
So, this cactus grew about two years in my home with nothing but stems that keep on growing.  It's rate that I did not do the research on the plant, but not finding any use for it and seeing it only wants to grow blades and blades of long stems, I decided to take it outside to meet its fate.  After close to a year being outdoor, to my big surprise, I found this big flower buds on the stems.   One is small and the other one is quite large.  The next day, after the big wind storm, I found the small flower bud on the ground.  The larger bud remained.  I left it alone.  Not knowing if it will survive another wind storm coming.  It remained.  Then, it blossom, opened up like a queen in the parade singly in the garden.  It was astoundingly beautiful.

This one dropped off during watering.  Very sad. 
Found this one sadly on the ground from a wind storm a night before.
Here it is.
It only lasted a few days, but it outshined even the sun.







Friday, May 15, 2020

The wonder of Split Rock Succulent Cactus Blossom and Other Cacti's

Never knew a succulent cactus - split rock can blossom.  I found it with a blossom stem back a couple of months ago.  Then, slowly, it opened up in mid-March just when self-quarantine order started.  It was an amazing hours watching it open up and closing on time daily with the sun.
 Will it bloom?  Please don't rot off.
 Looks very promising.
 Wow! 
 
 Incredible to see such a beauty right here in my home.
 After 1-1/2 week of daily shine, it begin to fade a a bit. But daily, it closes and opens.

 
 
 After 2 weeks, it shriveled and crumped up, but it tried to open up still in the morning.
Other Cati family in bloosom this year - Christmas cactus has been blossoming quite regularly.  I think it really likes its humid Aquarium home.  It's out of the aquarium for these flowers to have enough room to expand.


 This bead cactus has been surviving quite well outdoor for two years now.
 This is another cactus I found with tiny blossoms already opening up.  I hand pollinated it with split rock's flower earlier.  I don't know if that will help either ones for the next blooming season


Other blossoms.  This one is peculiar succulent.  its flower stem just keeps on growing and growing.
 This picture was taken about 2 months ago.  It's flower stem is currently about 20 inches long in length.  There are cute little flowers along the stem.

Chocolate Chip Cookies - Goodies to try during Self-Quarantine

Not that I particularly like chocolate chip cookies, but I find it challenging to make them.  Especially, the type with crispy crust on the top and gooey, chewy, not cakey. 
This one is after testing Martha Stewart's Chocolate Chip Cookies  recipe while staying home during this COVID-19 self-quarantine.
I think it turned out pretty good. 
The ingredients are found here:
https://www.marthastewart.com/344840/soft-and-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies
 My modification - half recipe
    1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
    1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
    1/2 cup granulated sugar
    1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    1 large eggs
  Chopped Semi-Sweet Chocolate Pistoles about 1 cup
 I chopped my semi-dark chocolate pistoles.
 I decided to mixed in the chocolate pieces with the egg mixture first to prevent 'dry flour' symptom and to prevent flour to develop gluten from getting mixed twice.
 After the chocolate is well mixed. Add flour till well combined.
 
Scoop the dough onto a baking sheet lined with unbleached parchment paper.
 Baked in my countertop electric convection oven, top rack. 350'F fro 8-1/2 min.
 I noticed the cookies rise up high.  I should have flattened the scooped dough before baking.  I like flat cookies.
 So, I pressed down intentionally with the back side of the teaspoon.
 
 See the crispy crust formation on the top.  Cool.  Just love it.
 Tastes great.


Then, there is a quick cookies I learned to make with no baking powder and adding chili flakes and cayenne make it a delightful snack after good exercises.
1/4 stick soft butter
1 C flour
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
2/3 C organic cane sugar
1-1/2 tsp homemade vanilla extract
Pecans
Dash of cayenne
Shake shake shake of Chili Flakes
Chopped semi-dark chocolate pistoles - 1/2 C


Bake in 400'F oven, 8  min.