Memorial Day, 2015

REMEMBERING:  This Memorial Day, though thousands upon thousands hit the road, we stuck close to home. And on Memorial Day, rather than visiting a local cemetery, we talked about members of our family who served in the military. We're fortunate, neither side of our family has lost a family member in service for generations (as far as we know). Many families cannot say the same. 

We talked a little bit about the differences between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. 

The photo at the top of today's page was posted by the University of Washington. It's a Memorial Day tribute organized by Husky United Military Veterans on the Husky Union Building lawn.

EAT YOUR WEEDS: As we continue to eat new-to-us produce this month, we read with interest a Seattle Times' story about eating foraged weeds. Of course, one needs to know what they're doing before embarking on such an adventure, but it's an intriguing thought.

In other news, one of the new-to-us taste treats we tried this weekend is jackfruit
(a/k/a Kha-nun ขนุน). 

They're not too friendly - or tasty - looking on the outside ...

"Panasa" by Krupasindhu Muduli - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panasa.jpg#/media/File:Panasa.jpg

but the jackfruit's inside is inviting, and intriguing!

Annabelle found some instructions about how to cut it up. The steps included cutting out the core, and then cutting out the yellow pods, removing the fibrous white strands between them, and removing the pit. Then, the fleshy yellow part was left to eat. 

They tasted a bit like a pineapple meets a melon, but they're not anywhere near as juicy or acidic as a pineapple.  Interesting, and something we'd eat again.

MAKING AND BAKING:  This week, there is a craft bazaar for students at the local learning center the kids attend, so we spent a few hours this weekend crafting to have items to offer. We made yarn pom poms for the spirit gloves we are making, and fashioned a few crayon bandoliers (or crayondoliers, as we like to call them).

Annabelle is still thinking about making some Pet Rocks for adoption, and we are definitely going to make cookies and cupcakes. The edibles will be offered for a donation to "No Kid Hungry." Here's a short public service announcement about the campaign.

We've set up an MPA page on the "No Kid Hungry" site.  We have a goal of $50 in donations. I think that's doable.

Speaking of baking and donating, we did some baking this weekend, whipping up a batch of delicious strawberry cupcakes.

The recipe made a half dozen too many for us and our company, so we posted the leftovers on our "Buy Nothing ..." group. They were gone in no time. :)