Tuesday, April 10, 2018

More on Batteries, Castles and Egypt, Bowling,

Regarding recycling old/used batteries. I have found this site which has a lot of useful information. The consensus here seems to be "wrap 'em up" before you toss them.

Well I wrote a load of stuff which seems to have disappeared. I was saying we had been watching some interesting programmes on our local Public TV the first is a series about building a castle in France using the methods and materials which were used in the 1300's. They are all dressed appropriately too. There is a TV crew from England who are taking part in several weeks of  the building and it is fascinating to realise that the stone ruins we so often see in Europe were actually quite different when they were occupied.

After that programme we saw another on the rise of Egypt beginning at the cave etchings of a very primitive people found in what, today, is desert but in the days of the etchings was a land of trees and grasses on which aurochs could feed and be hunted. There is a surprising amount of land which used to be fertile and contain lakes which are now arid deserts.

Being Monday we bowled today and, although I started with a fairly good game, the other two were pathetic. My average went down a point. Matt didn't bowl well either. We were on our own as our team mates had bowled ahead. We did manage to take 4 points, maybe even 5, I will find out later.

I have just found me a new motto "I'm in pain all the time, and if I gave into it then I'd do nothing." Bernard Cornwell.  I found this in Viveka's blog, My Guilty Pleasures and felt it was appropriate for me and others I know.

I have saved this recipe to try maybe this week. It is a Cooking Light recommendation for a lighter meal than a taco. I don't think I would discard the garlic but then I love eating garlic.

Lettuce Wraps

Flavorful as a taco truck, but healthy enough to become part of your regular rotation. We keep calories in check by blending a mixture of higher calorie (but oh-so-flavorful) Mexican-style chorizo with leaner ground pork for the meat filling. And then we keep it light by tucking the filling into sweet, fresh butter lettuce leaves—like a cross between a taco and a lettuce wrap. The quick-pickled carrots and jalapeños add authentic taco-truck flavor. Be sure to use fresh Mexican-style chorizo
sausage (found near other refrigerated bulk sausages) instead of dry-cured Spanish-style chorizo.

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp kosher salt, divided
1 cup matchstick-cut carrots
4 garlic cloves
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
8 oz loose fresh Mexican chorizo
4 oz ground pork
2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
8 butter lettuce or Bibb lettuce leaves
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup Mexican crema (Mexican sour cream)

1. Combine vinegar, 1 cup water, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high, whisking until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat. Place carrots, garlic, and jalapeño slices in a medium bowl; pour hot vinegar mixture over carrot mixture. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Combine chorizo, pork, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl; stir until well incorporated. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add chorizo mixture to pan; cook, stirring to crumble, until just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat; drain drippings from the skillet.

3. Place lettuce leaves on a large serving platter. Divide chorizo mixture evenly among lettuce leaves; sprinkle servings evenly with cilantro and onion.

4. Drain liquid from carrots and jalapeños; discard garlic. Top each wrap evenly with carrot mixture; drizzle each with 1 1/2 teaspoons crema. Serve immediately.

Source: Cooking Light

Have a great day

16 comments:

  1. Nice to read about the reusable things. I have not heard about this type pf wrap. Looks great!

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    1. I think recycling is very important. Yes a lettuce wrap is somewhat lower in calories.

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  2. I watched the documentary on the castle build a while ago. Faascinating stuff. I enjoyed it so much - and saw it as a potential research tool for writing - that I bought the DVD.
    I was interested in your comments about disposing of batteries. We have recycling collection places for them at all the major shopping centres. Of course not everyone recycles but people are becoming more aware of the importance which is a good thing.

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    1. Yes, it's been on here before Helen but I only caught snippets of it. Didn't realise there was a DVD. I am wondering when they plan for the castle to be finished.

      Yes, recycling is so important Helen. We have two bags near the front door one for paper and the other for most everything else. It's amazing how much two people can generate.

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  3. Thanks for the battery link. I did not find that in my search and I have bookmarked it. I did find an article about making sure that batteries in a drawer are not able to touch their nodes to each other. Never knew there was a fire hazard.

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    1. I always keep new batteries in their original packaging Denise. Lithium batteries I take to a local camera shop.

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  4. It sounds like you've been watching some much more interesting stuff on TV than the typical drivel my hubby puts on. (I mostly read. :) )

    The taco wrap sounds yummy. I like to put so much lettuce on my tacos, the last couple times, I just made a salad out of my fixings. Your wrap is a compromise of sorts. :)

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    1. For a start I can't stand ads all the time Susan. Most of the TV channels these days are more ad than programme. So I don't usually watch anything but Public TV except for Jeopardy which has ads unfortunately. But like you, I mostly read.

      I like the idea of lettuce wraps.

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  5. My nephew is a biochemist and he suggested to my mother that she stay away from pain killers. The body will regulate chronic pain better if it doesn't start relying on pain killers. I've started only using pain relief medications if I absolutely have to and I have much less joint pain than I did when I used them daily.

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    1. Good idea Liz. Will try that although I do try not to take pain killers unless I really need them.

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  6. I love that quote. It's motivating.

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    1. Me too Pinky. Wish it would motivate a few people I know.

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  7. That quote is so perfect. I'm constantly in pain, all over, and after being up and around awhile. But I wouldn't leave the house if I gave into it. Those lettuce wraps look awesome. I'd use ground turkey....that's our go-to ground meat.

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    1. I know what you mean JoJo. I looked at ground pork today and didn't really want to buy a pound to get 4 oz. but guess I am going to have to.

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  8. Hi Jo - I hope I get to see the castle build sometime - I'm sure it'll pop up - I just make do with what's on ... and disappear if it's terrible! Love the idea of lettuce wraps ... cheers Hilary

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    1. It's on public television in Ontario Hilary, so presumably it will be on a similar service in BC.

      Yes, I am looking forward to trying them.

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