Joy in the Little Things

[flowerbug]

I would have never considered beans as a sweet dessert. Thank you @Phaedra for widening my horizons.

i'm sure i've mentioned before having beans and corn show up in ice-cream of all places. it was good.

 

[flowerbug]

Thanks @Zeedman , I PM you later. I think you are right, I should give it a try, too. May I ask roughly how much space you need for growing them and are they climbing like peas? I am thinking of utilizing the space outside the chicken runs - the soil should be pretty fertile.

Besides, what DTM means?

Days To Maturity.

i think you would be ok for an initial trial using some commercial organic adzuki beans for planting. they do grow best once it gets warm so plan on deep cells if you are going to try to start them early for transplanting out later. it seems like they take forever to really get growing but once they do they catch up later in the gardens. like @Zeedman mentions they do ok in our more northern climate as the days are longer they can catch up.

Adzuki beans can create a lot of delicious desserts, and I hope you will create some that can bring you delight.

i love em!

 

[flowerbug]

DTM date to maturity.
Do adzuki beans taste like regular beans if you don’t sweeten them up? I’m really intrigued here. I may have to find recipes and grow some.

to me they taste like lentils enough. i like them. even Mom was ok eating them.

 

[Phaedra]

Since last December, we keep relocating furniture and some household appliances. It's great to see they fit in the current places better than the previous ones. Optimizing takes time.

Today, the neon light of our family code of conduct found its best place on one wall in the living room.

 

[ducks4you]

I need to buy them from a Japanese store in Paris once a year, as they offer reliable adzuki beans directly from Hokkaido. What we can get here from Germany, bio or non-bio, is all imported from China, which I won't consider.

GOOD FOR YOU!!! Would that ALL OF US could get off of this cheap Chinese purchasing addiction!!!!!
@Zeedman , how great that they are also grown in the Midwest!!

 

[Branching Out]

Oh, to be able to travel to Paris to buy seeds once a year. You are a lucky woman Phaedra.

 

[Marie2020]

Here she is with the granddaughters hugging and petting her. She just stood there and didn’t walk away. Makes me wonder if maybe she has little children in her background.

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She has gained a little weight but still has a long way to go.

She is gorgeous and looks so friendly 😍

You found a treasure ❤

 

[Marie2020]

This 2022 will become a piece of history in another few hours. I kept cleaning the house and prepared for the coming new year.

2022 has been a complicated year, a long story, but so far, it's kind for our small family. Our simple lifestyle nourished us.

Being a part of TEG also brings me joy all the time, even at those moments when I was just a reader. Thank you all, and have a happy new year!

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And wishing you a happy healthy new year. 😊

 

[Marie2020]

Coffee break with cats
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But the tulips have to stay outside when cats are here.
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Seeing your cats sharing with you is so adorable 😍

 

[Marie2020]

Thanks, that's great you like the photos.

I only use Adzuki beans for desserts, so the first step is to cook them until they are soft. And then, I add (half weight of the beans) sugar and let them rest overnight. They will become pretty sweet and easier to preserve. I usually make a large portion but use smaller containers to store them in the freezer.

When I have no time to process them further, I will:
(A) take 2-3 spoons of them, add milk and ice cubes (summer), or heat them together in the microwave (winter)
(B) use the mixer and turn them into something like a smoothie.

When I have time, I can make another dozen things from such prepared beans, such as:
(C) fillings for sweet bread rolls (Anpan) or cakes or steamed buns, or other pastries like Taiyaki
(credit: Internet)

(D) a traditional Chinese sweet for winter time - Eight Treasure Congee. Adzuki bean is one of the eight ingredients.
(E) adzuki bean Matcha ice cream (it's a very flavorful Japanese sweet that can be presented in different ways)
(credit: internet)

(F) filling of sticky rice cake (Mochi)
(credit: internet)

So, Adzuki bean is an essential ingredient that got permanent residency in my pantry. 😍 I didn't grow them as the weather here is not that suitable (not warm enough).

I need to buy them from a Japanese store in Paris once a year, as they offer reliable adzuki beans directly from Hokkaido. What we can get here from Germany, bio or non-bio, is all imported from China, which I won't consider.

Wow these recipes look absolutely delicious 😋