Friday, December 13, 2013

Bowling History, Fake Interpreter.

Thursday bowling, one lousy game two very good games. Matt was the opposite, one good and two lousy. Funny how it goes. The first game I couldn’t get a mark at all (spare or strike if you are not too familiar) then the second game I started scoring marks all over the place. Needless to say I was pleased. Talking of bowling, a friend who was, with his wife, the proprietor of a 5 pin bowling alley for a number of years, has written a short book about the house, PlayfaPlayfair Bowlir Bowl, and its history. I read it last night and found it very interesting, but the pictures, oy vey as a friend would say, whoever was in charge of overseeing the printing and publishing, made a right screw up. The pictures were enlarged incorrectly by stretching them from the top and bottom, also they were over enlarged making the picture fuzzy and giving all the people very long faces. Not only that, the couple of bowling pictures were of 10 pin balls and pins, not 5 pin. If I were my friend I would be very annoyed. That is an old picture of Playfair, in our day there was a small terrace with chairs and tables out front.

obama-sign-languageWhat about that guy “signing” for the delegation at Nelson Mandela’s Memorial service? He, Thamsanqa Jantjie, wasn’t signing at all according to the African association for the deaf. He ha since said he was hallucinating whilst he was signing; seems like the man is somewhat short of a pickle or two out of his jar. How very embarrassing for the officials too. Seems nobody knows where exactly the guy came from and who hired him. They are also now somewhat concerned about security issues. Bit late to be worried about security, anything could have happened. Look how close he is to Obama, the leader of one of the foremost nations, and there were other world leaders all around them.

I have, lately, been seeing a number of recipes for goose. I don't know what geese cost in the US, but round here they cost approximately $60 a bird which, mostly, will only feed 4 people. Way too expensive for my budget which is a pity, I used to cook goose on Christmas Eve in England, and once upon a time many people in England ate goose for their Christmas dinner rather than turkey. Matt's family used to raise their Christmas goose in the back yard and then kill it for Christmas, traditionally by wringing its neck. It is a wonderful meat. Only had it once in the last 38 years and that was a Canada Goose which you have to have a license to shoot. We knew someone who did have such a license.

There will be no blog on Saturday.

Another delightful sounding recipe for a party nibble. Right up my street anyway. Only problem I can see, I have never seen frozen artichoke hearts here. Mind you, I have never looked either. I will be now. People are being very inventive with the old artichoke and spinach dip which I always enjoy.

 

Spinach-and-Brie-Topped Artichoke Hearts

Spinach-&-Brie-Topped Artichoke Hearts
WebMD Recipe from EatingWell.com

In this deconstructed version of hot spinach-artichoke dip, we stuff artichoke hearts with lightly seasoned cooked spinach and melt brie on top.

Ingredients
  • 1 9-ounce box artichoke hearts, frozen
  • 2/3 cup spinach, cooked chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 18 thin slices brie
Instructions
  1. Preheat broiler. Prepare artichoke hearts according to package directions.
  2. Combine spinach, lemon pepper and salt in a small bowl. Top each artichoke heart with the spinach mixture and brie. Broil until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes.
Have a great day
Jo

13 comments:

  1. $60 dollars a bird? Wow, that is expensive.

    If I'd had time to join you and Jeff in a game that day, you both would've laughed. I'm guaranteed one gutter ball every time. Sometimes two.

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    1. Isn't it?

      I get gutter balls too - we all do. Wish you had had time to join us, would have been fun. Maybe next September.

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  2. We have geese wandering all over the lawns here. But the local 4-star restaurant (The Lark) goes to Windsor to buy their geese. Not sure what they cost. I am not that fond of it myself.

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    1. We have Canada Geese in particular pooping all over the place. Particularly in the parks. However, geese grown for the table are better in my opinion. I was very fond of goose but haven't had it since I left the UK 38 years ago. If I go to a restaurant that has duck you can guarantee I will choose it.

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  3. Hallucinating while signing? Yeah, that's the guy we want on stage. Deaf people probably thought he was nuts.

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    1. I think he probably was nuts Alex. The security aspect worries me though.

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  4. Between the selfiie and the signer, the Obama family had a rather laughable time at the Mandela memorial. I couldn't help but laugh.

    I've never eaten goose before, but I've known a few silly geese.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    Replies
    1. I know, but it was rather a shame that it was screwed up because of that.

      Know lots of silly geese, but to eat a nice roast goose, yummy. A good reason for wishing I was rich enough to buy goose here.

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  5. Don't even know what to say about the interpreter thing...we had another school shooting here today and I'm numb.
    I've never had goose, though I've seen enough cooking shows that I do know how it should be cooked.
    That recipe looks perfect. Have never seen frozen artichoke hearts either, but as you said, I've never looked...
    Tina @ Life is Good

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    1. So sorry to hear this Tina, hope the wounded recover OK. What is the matter with these kids?

      Love goose as I keep saying. Asked at my store today and they said they had never heard of frozen artichoke hearts either.

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  6. Hi Jo, sounds like another fun day at the bowling ally - what a great hobby! Is that right or should I call it a great sport? Have never eaten goose, but I'm allergic to turkey and mildly allergic to chicken, so won't even try.

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    1. Oh, and Congratulations on your win of 3 eBooks - Murder, Madness & Love, and Memories of Murder as well as Julie Flanders Polar night! Lots of good reading for the cold winter nights! (Even if I do say so myself! ) LOL

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    2. We always enjoy bowling. I guess it is a sport. Duck and goose are quite different to turkey and chicken, so might not cause you any problems.

      How great to win the ebooks. I rarely win anything, so this is wonderful. Thanks so very much. I will enjoy reading them.

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