Thursday, March 31, 2016

Laundry Increase, Exercises, Pest Control, Bowling, Lamb,

One more day!!

In my bed bug saga I have mentioned the vast sums of money we have been spending on laundry. Just to encourage us, the laundry owners have put the price up by 25 cents. Not a lot, but it mounts up. It's not the building management, the laundry machines are contracted out.

Also, I said exercises were starting on Wednesday. Two people, one from the Community Services Group and one from the building management called me early to tell me they were postponed for a week. The realty owner was very apologetic.

This morning, Thursday, we have to get up at the crack of dawn because the Pest Control company is coming to inspect us. (Don't they know retired people don't necessarily prepare for the day that early?) I honestly don't know if we still have bed bugs or not. Haven't seen any and have slept quite peacefully for the best part of a week now although I am still nervous going to bed. Our beds are still surrounded by Diatomaceous Earth which is marvellous stuff in my opinion. Wish I hadn't taken notice of the Pest people and tried it out earlier, look at the misery I would have been saved. Mind you I hadn't found the very helpful videos about using it then either.

Thursday afternoon we bowl. More finger crossing please, but my shoulder hasn't been giving me a problem so hopefully things will be better.

I tried the Lamb Stew and Black Olives recipe for Wednesday night supper. Of course mine was pre-cooked lamb so I just added it in long enough to warm through before I was ready to serve. It turned out very well. I think it would work very well with other meats too and will be experimenting.

I got an email today heading Recipes using Leftover Chocolate. What is that?

Here is a vegetarian recipe which I thought sounded good. I love mushrooms and there are lots in this dish.

Spaghetti with Mushroom Bolognese

SERVINGS: 4

Three kinds of mushroom plus eggplant and carrots come together in this satisfying vegetarian

Bolognese from F&W's Kay Chun. Miso is the secret ingredient that adds extra seasoning and depth of flavor.

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 baby eggplant (8 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 pound cremini mushrooms, one-fourth sliced, the rest cut into 1/4-inch dice
8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps cut into 1/4-inch dice
Kosher salt
Pepper
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon white miso
One 2-inch chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus grated cheese for serving
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
1 thyme sprig
1/2 teaspoon turbinado sugar
12 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons chopped parsley


HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
In a small bowl, cover the porcini with 1 cup of boiling water; soak until softened, about 30 minutes. Finely chop the porcini, discarding any tough bits. Pour off and reserve 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid.
In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the onion and carrots and cook over moderate heat until light golden, about 8 minutes. Add the eggplant and 2 tablespoons of the oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 minutes. Stir in the cremini, shiitake, chopped porcini and the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste and miso and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chunk of cheese, the tomatoes and their juices, the thyme, sugar and reserved mushroom soaking liquid and bring to a simmer.

Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is very thick, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig; season the sauce with salt and pepper. 

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
Add the pasta, pasta water and parsley to the sauce; toss to coat. Serve in bowls, topped with grated cheese.

MAKE AHEAD

The mushroom Bolognese can be refrigerated for 2 days.

Have a great day
 

18 comments:

  1. Leftover chocolate must be similar to chocolate with an expiration date on it. Why is that even necessary? Hope your bed bug problem is gone. It gives me second thoughts about apartment living.

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    1. Never noticed an expiration date Denise. How funny. Unfortunately I got bitten twice yesterday but NOT in bed. We have lived here 15 years with no problems whatsoever.

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  2. Good luck with those Pest Control People .. and your management ...

    I hope things work out and it all gets easier ...

    Glad the lamb worked - sounded good to me with chicken .. and spaghetti - who can resist ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I need it Hilary, thanks.

      The lamb was very good and yes, I think chicken would work.

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  3. You can show the pest control people how to do their job.

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    1. Er, yes, but.. I have two bites from yesterday Alex. NOT from being in bed though.

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  4. I get aggravated when prices go up too. I don't know if the costs of living ever really change from one decade to another, we jut keeping making the numbers bigger. Earn a little more in wages and they up the price of everything.

    Leftover chocolate? I think Sasquatch steals it.

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    Replies
    1. The trouble is, many prices go up more than the "little more" one receives Liz.

      Hm, maybe.

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  5. Its one thing or another. Just when you think you'll maybe stay even with expenses, then they raise the cost of something. You are right, it is only 25 cents, but those do add up over the loads done.

    betty

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    1. You're right Betty. Just keeps going up. Yes, it does add up with the loads we are doing right now.

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  6. I hope this is truly the end of this awful bed bug problem. What ended up happening with the pest control co today?

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    1. Me too JoJo. I will email you with the whole sad story of today.

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  7. I think the dia-earth has done the trick! Good luck with the inspection.

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    1. You are very likely right Pinky. They didn't find anything.

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  8. I hope they listen to you and you feel better once they leave. It sounds like this earth does help so that's good news. Hope you had a good time bowling.

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    1. Well they said we were bug free Birgit and implied that my bites and itches were imagined. However, the next day I found one in my bed. However, that was over a week ago now. The earth appears to have done the trick, I hope.

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  9. Imagine me whining as I say this ... I want to eat the lammmmmbbbb.

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    Replies
    1. Poor you Ivy, I know you had decided you really liked it. Sorry you can't eat it.

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