Monday, April 23, 2018

Packaging, Scams, The Queen,

I have always hated blister packs on medications, and now, for one of Matt's  medications, they have made tinfoil packs and the backs have to be peeled off individually. They prick your fingers whilst you are handling them and they are a pain in the 'you know where'. I have complained to the manufacturer but I don't suppose they will make any changes. The meds used to come in a plastic bottle so what we do now is open a whole bunch at once and put them in the bottle which we have saved. I put out our medications for the week and messing with these foil things is really aggravating.

The other day I had a phone call telling me that a transaction worth $xxxx had taken place in my account at the Royal Bank. I assured them I didn't have an account at Royal. Today I had another call saying a transaction for $300 had taken place at 2 a.m., was it me. I just hung up. Any transaction I make is reported on by email from my bank to alert me to such transaction. If it ain't me I can do something about it. THEY DO NOT PHONE. Nor do most banks as far as I am aware. Even if they did, they would be unlikely to have a strong East Indian accent. Not impossible I know, but unlikely. There are so many scams out there, particularly targeting older people, some of whom may not be totally "up to snuff" and when they get a call saying a grandkid is in jail and needs bail money or something, they will often pay it not realising it is a scam. This is so tragic because often people like this really can't afford the money in the first place even if it were true.

As most of you will be aware, it was the Queen's 92nd birthday on Saturday. I always remember the date, April 21, because the first year of her accession my cousins, who's birthday it was that day too, tried to kid me that the National Anthem playing on the radio was actually for them. This ensured that these were birthdays I have never forgotten. Of course the Queen also has an official birthday on June 9 when she troops the colour. She used to ride on horseback for this but these days she rides in a carriage. I wonder if she still rides at all - a passtime she used to really love. Apparently she does, although she says these days she is a fair weather rider as she doesn't like to get cold and wet. I am somewhat younger and I never liked to get cold and wet LOL.

This is the second recipe I have posted recently which includes chicken and spinach. I enjoy it. Many would use precooked rice but I never do so. Quicker if you do, obviously.

Chicken-Tomato Skillet

Yes! You can make chicken and rice in 20 minutes. When a craving for comfort food hits and you need it in a hurry, this fast take on chicken and rice hits the spot. Stirring chopped baby spinach into warm brown rice is a smart way to get more vegetables and jazz up an otherwise plain starchy side.

1 Tbs olive oil
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided
1/2 tsp black pepper, divided
1 cup grape tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced white onion
1 garlic clove, grated
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock
2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1 (8.8-oz.) pkg. precooked microwavable whole-grain brown rice (such as Uncle Bens Ready Rice)
3 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken to skillet; cook, without stirring, until chicken begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, and rosemary. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender and tomatoes begin to soften, about 3 minutes.

2. Whisk together stock and flour in a bowl until combined. Add to chicken mixture; stir and scrape browned bits from bottom of skillet. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring often, until sauce thickens, 3 to 4 minutes.

3. Heat rice according to package directions. Place hot rice in a medium bowl; add spinach, lemon zest, lemon juice, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss to coat (hot rice will wilt the spinach). Divide rice mixture among 4 plates; top evenly with chicken mixture.

Tips
Cut chicken into bite-size pieces so it cooks in just a few minutes, use precooked rice and heat it in the microwave, then use the hot rice to wilt the spinach for you while you finish the chicken. Fresh thyme, chopped basil, or parsley are all good stand-ins for the rosemary. Round out the meal with a glass of sauvignon blanc.

Source: Cooking Light



Have a great day
 

10 comments:

  1. All that hard plastic wrapping around anything we buy drives me crazy. I keep an Exacto knife just for opening packages.
    Any senior who falls for those phone scams should not be living alone IMO. We had someone locally who just lost over $24,000. I wanted to blog about the idiocy of it, but didn't want the locals dissing me. And just yesterday a guy was on the radio saying he got one of those calls and actually was going to send the $8000 to his grandson but then the caller couldn't answer a simple question he asked and hung up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's true Denise, I think they don't really want you to use their products.

      I don't think being alone is the problem Denise, I think it's that many of the elderly don't realise the scams that are out there and these phone calls can be so very convincing.

      Delete
  2. Unfortunately scammers keep making the calls that they do because people keep falling for them and you are right, its usually the elderly that "get taken" so to speak. A few months back the "IRS" left a message on our phone that we were going to be arrested immediately if we didn't call them back because of fraud we had done on our tax returns. Of course I knew it was a scam and just erased the message, but it does sound very convincing.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true Betty. I remember getting a call at 3 a.m. telling me to switch on my computer as there was some problem or other. I couldn't believe they phone me in the middle of the night.

      Delete
  3. Horse scare me. I've ridden once and it gave me sweats and panics.

    I hate bubble packs. I cut them open with scissors because I can never find the place to peel without glasses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am surprised Liz. I used to enjoy riding many years ago.

      So do I - they are a pain in the butt.

      Delete
  4. I hate those blister packs too. So hard to open.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh good grief, they make it so hard to open anything nowadays so why do they place these stupid me5al things at the bottom...very dumb! I bet these scammers have a way of finding out the age of people and know not to call someone on a cell phone since most older people don’t have cell phones. I do get a few clients who have given information and it is so sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose a lot is to do with the idiots who have tampered with foods and meds Birgit. Means we suffer.

      I think you are probably right. Funny I was in exercise class on Friday and we needed to get in touch with the Super so I pulled out my cell phone and I heard some of the other women saying, I don't have one of those, do you? I think the consensus was no they didn't. Mind you, it is necessary to have an electronic phone here otherwise you couldn't open the front door.

      Delete