Madmade Design

No matter how you serve it up, this mango & yogurt parfait is subLIME!
Easy, healthy, refreshing & delicious!!
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Stir a little vanilla & maple syrup into some plain yogurt (or use store bought vanilla yogurt), & layer it with a homemade mango sauce. Purée fresh or frozen mango w plenty of fresh lime juice (to taste). You can add a touch of ginger juice too. Depending on how sweet your mango is, add a little maple syrup if needed. Sprinkle on some fresh slivered mint leaves on top of each mango layer.
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Dip in & you’ll be doing the mango tango!
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I got a handful of itty bitty cookies out of the leftover dough from the Valentine cookie in my previous post. So I made these too because I love everything mini! How about you?
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Of course I had to post a still shot of my cookie. (See previous post for animated version). I spent a lot of time learning how to do this & it took me 3 tries (& a few days) to get it how I wanted. If I had to acknowledge one “upside” from my accident, it’d be that I had lots of “downtime” (literally) in this fast paced life to get into some slow meditative creative projects. I noticed how happy my brain felt staying focused on one thing for a sustained period.
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So as I start limping back into my “regular” life I’m determined to keep some “slow time” in it! And to all the nicest folks that have encouraged me & wished me well… thank you! 🙏💝🙏

It’s Saturday, I can bear it! 🧸🤎
After I made this little fellow, I realized he looked a bit like Corduroy, but it’s not. LOL I just love bears & I still have my teddy bear (aka Ted E. Bear), who is now 68 years old. SWIPE to see his “fur” loved off him! It was originally my brother’s (given to him by our grandparents) and, according to my mother, he put it in my crib when I was born! But yes, he treated me like the pesky little sister I was for many years! 😭 Don’t worry, he grew out of that! ❤️

P.S. Swipe to see the overalls I lived in for about 5 years… and always making things. 🎨✂️

P.S.S. Any names for this guy❓

I’ve certainly enjoyed my break from cooking (pun intended!), but after more than 2 months, I’m really craving my own food!
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My feet & ankles are healing well & back in comfy shoes, but I still can’t be on them for very long. I made 2 soups & this delicious frittata yesterday because I discovered I can do most all the prep work sitting at the table and other than sautéing some onions & garlic, I could pretty much let everything else cook on its own on the stove & in the oven.
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This is my frittata version of spanakopita — instead of the buttery filo dough I stirred the organic, frozen chopped spinach, onion & feta cheese filling in with 10 beaten eggs & cooked in a large skillet. And despite the cost of eggs lately, it makes for a inexpensive yummy protein-filled vegetarian meal with 4-6 servings.
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I’ve also discovered audio books which made spending most of the day chopping extremely enjoyable as I got lost in a story. This could become a regular habit… sans the real breaks! My husband sure hopes so!
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Ima Night Owl! Hoo else is?
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Sprouted Lentils & Wild Rice Salad… yummy!
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Needing a taste of my own food, I sat at the table to chop scallions, celery, red onion, parsley, cilantro & feta. Tossed with a 1:1 ratio of lentils & rice & a lemony, red wine vinegar & olive oil dressing with fresh garlic, sumac, s&p.
Topped w pomegranate!
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So even if you can’t stand standing for long you can still make something delicious & healthy! I start physical therapy tomorrow so I need my strength!
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I mail ordered the delicious rice from & it’s very tender & nutty.
The sprouted lentils are They cook super fast & also delish.
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Love Birds… do you?
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A couple of gray kitties for a gray & stormy 😻🌧️😻

Cauliflower Pesto Soup
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I make a vegan curry cauliflower soup that is a favorite here, so when I saw this post I thought time for a little change.
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There’s way more than cauliflower in this thick, creamy (yet cream-less) super healthy soup. Chock full of veggies, beans & spinach (or other super greens), and topped with this cheese-less pesto made with nuts & nutritional yeast.
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RECIPE: feed.
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NOTES: my adapts with ingredients on hand. I didn’t have basil, but cilantro & Italian parsley, so I subbed with them. I added the optional red pepper flakes and a good dose of lemon. I blended the whole thing with my immersion blender (but left some bean chunks).

For the pesto, I didn’t have miso paste so just used a bit of olive oil.
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VERDICT: another delicious cauliflower soup recipe add to my files & it comes together in a flash!! Perfect if you can’t be on your feet for long!

Fun with felt!
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My dear friend & artist sent me this sweet little tree from when I broke both my ankles & foot after Thanksgiving. Who knew it would get me started on a new obsession?!!! A perfect sitting activity to keep my hands busy & my mind off my feet!
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I knew there was a reason I saved my now grown daughter’s craft supplies & the embroidery thread from MY own youth—don’t dare to tell how old THAT is !
🤣 Whaddya think❓

Happy New Year from our house to yours!
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This fun project passed 2 days most enjoyably! We usually decorate gingerbread houses every year in the traditional way… sticking candies all over them with royal icing.
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This year it wasn’t possible to pull together, given my busted ankles & foot, so I ordered these fun cookie house kits from . I waited until my daughter was home to build them with her and my sweet home helper!
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Construction work was never more gratifying! Project was completed on time & on budget! 😁SWIPE to see them all.
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I made the ice cream house
My daughter made the woodland house
My home aid made the pink house

The last slice of my last bake, before my foot & ankle break!
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It’s been an interesting holiday season & end to ‘22. But thankfully I’ll heal and I look t’ward the year anew!
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I never posted this inside photo of my Thanksgiving apple pie. (Swipe to see) Speaking of Thanksgiving, thanks for all the good wishes, Insta friends! They definitely cheered me up as I’m slowly healing up!
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Happy almost New Year!

HO HO HOpe those who celebrate have a Merry Xmas!
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This is my contribution to the Thanks lovely hosts

How I spent my holiday “vacation”
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SWIPE to see why I have so much time on my hands… because I don’t have any on my feet!
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Don’t worry, no one is going to eat them… took me so long to decorate, they went stale!
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Some more cookie doodles w my leftover icing!
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Halfway through Hanukkah & halfway through healing my broken ankles, woohoo!
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Here are some more of my novice cookie decorating adventures. I already appreciated the work that goes into the gorgeous cookies I love to gawk at here & trying my hand at decorating only makes me more in awe!
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I love mini anything so I hand cut this little lady from the last little bit of my gingerbread cookie dough! Too cute to eat! ❤️🎀❤️

Time to ‘Light Up’! 🕎💙🔯
Happy Hanukkah to my friends who celebrate! 🔯💙🕎

Using up leftover icing & getting more practice decorating cookies!
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Whipped up a batch of gingerbread & have been going to town with my home helper. My cutters & supplies are packed away & inaccessible to me in this wheelchair, but I had a circle in my kitchen & I hand cut the snowman. I had leftover icing in bags from 2 classes I took, so this was the perfect time to use it up & improve my skills.
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More to come… it’s hard to photograph things in my injured state, but little by little!
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I signed up, w a friend, for another cookie class &
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Since I couldn’t go because of my accident, my friend kindly brought me back the project so I got to do it at home.
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They started this cookie—the light pink house & chimney—and I thought it would be “easy” to finish… lol! Those little white lines were very challenging & I stuck my finger in the darker pink door! 😩 I then smashed the whole door so it “matched” & looked intentional.🤣 But considering my experience, I’m very happy with it.😃
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It’s hard for me to do too much while stuck in this wheelchair so this was a perfect project since all the icing was mixed & in bags. I haven’t done the 3 other little cookies from the class yet. This took me forever yesterday! 🕝🕔🕗
Thanks for sending me the supplies, Maya & Murray… hope to be there in person next time! 🙏❤️🙏💚🙏

PSA: be careful on stairs!
Look who got a ride in an ambulance the other day! Won’t be doing much cooking for awhile— much of anything really— but you can see my pretty decent hospital dinner & my lovely footwear if you swipe.
I missed the last step inside my home going downstairs. You never think this could happen but— 2 broken ankles & 3 broken metatarsals.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my nice friends out here in instaworld!
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2 homemade apple pies, ready for consumption!
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Just went freeform (handcutdecorations) with the remaining dough while the first one was baking.
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Rugelach anyone? Our daughter came home w 2 lovely besties to spend Thanksgiving w us. Had to had something for their late arrival last night!
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I had fun w my fillings—
*homemade quince paste + pecans & walnuts.
*chocolate + marzipan.
*classic cinnamon-sugar.
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Not a bad one in the batch.
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Velvety Roasted Pumpkin & Apple Soup. Spicy, sweet, earthy comfort in a bowl! All the fall flavors!
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This creamy bowl of gingery, goodness is easy peasy, yet extremely delicious.
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It’s gluten-free & vegan, unless you swirl in some yogurt, as I did here. (Buttermilk, sour cream or a vegan yogurt or cream would be great too).
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I used 3 small squashes I had on hand - red kabocha, green kabocha, & pie pumpkin. Bonus with kabocha, no need to peel- especially if you have a good blender.
The ginger gives it a kick & the apple brings a sweet tartness. The pumpkin & sage supplies the earthiness. I used ginger juice & probably more than recipe, because I’m bad about measuring & I love ginger !
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I topped with the squash seeds that I roasted, fried sage leaves & yogurt.
Perfect for you, your guests & all your little pumpkins! (Make ahead freeze, that’s what I did)
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RECIPE:
https://flavorthemoments.com/roasted-pumpkin-apple-soup/

Pad Thai w tofu, bok choy, broccoli, red pepper, scallions, topped w cilantro, peanut & fresh lime! Pretty quick to make & very quick to disappear! 😋😋😋

Swiss muësli topped w mango, kiwi & blueberry! ⬅️SWIPE for a peek under the fruit!
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This creamy, yummy oats & yogurt muësli recipe is in my highlights. Try it, you’ll like it!
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Closing out the weekend with the last piece of my Purple Sweet Potato Cornbread… oh yum! Dotted with a bit of butter & a drizzle of honey for a not-too-sweet-treat!
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For details on this delicious gluten-free cornbread see my previous post.
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Feelin’ Chili Yet?
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My Turkey-3 Bean Chili + Purple Sweet Potato Cornbread = a perfect match.
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One day I’m going to attempt writing out my chili recipe. I’m always adjusting my seasonings “à la minute” but never document them. C’est la vie, c’est la chili!
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But let’s talk about this tender, moist, not too sweet, gluten-free, sweet potato cornbread! Basically, I slightly adjusted Butternut Squash Cornbread Muffins recipe (her gluten-free option) to fill my 12” cast iron pan by adding an additional 1/4 cup cornmeal. I subbed purple sweet potato for squash in hopes of achieving a deeper purple—and who we kidding, it’s what I had on hand—and added a few fall spices- 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg & 1/4 tsp. clove. Yum!
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Back from a getaway at the coast & not in the mood to fuss in the kitchen (or anywhere else for that matter 😂).
Luckily just posted her recipe for Easy Blackened Salmon. Perfect, I said, especially after overindulging a bit while away.
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Mixing up the spice blend, then cooking while broccoli roasted in my trusty toaster oven took all of 20 minutes to hit the table. ⏳
It was super tasty & saved the day! Will repeat!
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