Monday, October 21, 2013

Loss of a Friend, The Inner Light.

We had some bad news from North Carolina today, a very good friend of ours died Sunday morning about 2:00 am in her sleep apparently. She was quite a bit younger than us, but had been somewhat sickly with one thing and another for years and recently having been treated for cancer she got a lung disease plus other illnesses returned. The coroner said congestive heart failure but I think that’s medical speak for ‘we don’t really know’. I am sorry we can’t be there for the funeral. So very sad, we are gradually losing our friends down there. I have a couple of pix from years ago which one friend had inserted in fridge magnet holders and there are 8 men in one pic and 8 women in the other. These days, not too many of us in the pictures are left.

This video from Youtube was recommended to me by a friend in NC – I don’t know if this was an actual episode of Star Trek – Next Generation or not, I didn’t see them all by any means. It’s the music which appealed to my friend apparently as well as the obvious story. In view of the above it is somewhat appropriate.

I must say I thought Picard’s makeup artist did an excellent job.

I love to use flank steak and so I was delighted to find this recipe at at WebMD. Not only that we both enjoy lettuce wraps.

Korean-Style Steak and Lettuce Wraps


WebMD Recipe from EatingWell.com

These wraps should be served with lots of condiments: kimchee, for sure, but also nonfat yogurt and shredded carrots dressed with rice vinegar. Serve the various components of the dish separately and let your family or guests build their own wraps to Korean-Style Steak & Lettuce Wrapstaste.

Ingredients
1 pound flank steak
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup diced peeled cucumber
6  cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup thinly sliced shallot
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 head Bibb lettuce, leaves separated

Instructions
  1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
  2. Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the steak for 6 to 8 minutes per side for medium. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut across the grain into thin slices.
  3. Combine the sliced steak, cucumber, tomatoes, shallot, mint, basil and cilantro in a large bowl. Mix sugar, soy sauce, lime juice and crushed red pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle over the steak mixture; toss well to coat. To serve, spoon a portion of the steak mixture into a lettuce leaf and roll into a "wrap."
Tip
To oil a grill rack: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.
Have a great day
Jo_thumb[2]

12 comments:

  1. So sorry about your friend. Prayers for the family.
    And yes, that is from a real episode.

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    1. Thanks Alex. They will appreciate it.

      I knew you would know the answer. I really don't know why I saw so few Next Generations, maybe because Matt isn't interested in sci fi.

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  2. My deepest sympathies to you and your family at this time. So sorry to hear the news. But indeed, I do love that video. It's actually from one of my favorite TNG episodes, where Picard lives in an alternate reality.

    Sarah Allen
    (From Sarah, with Joy)

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    1. Thank you Sarah.

      I loved this video and the music. Obviously not having seen it, I didn't really know what was going on, but I enjoyed it just the same.

      Delete
  3. Hi Jo, greetings from Northern Ontario. So sorry for the loss of a friend. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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    Replies
    1. Hi Chris, nice to hear from you and thanks for your sympathy. I am so glad you are enjoying my blog and will certainly drop by and check your blog too.

      Delete
  4. Hello Jo. So sad for your loss. Even worse when you can't attend the funeral. I haven't lost any of my friends, but know it will be gut wrenching when it happens.

    Your blog is indeed delightful. I am so glad I have a great authentic Korean restaurant nearby where I can satisfy my craving for Korean food. Bimi Bap is my favourite.

    Denise :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Denise.

      Thanks again. We have several Korean restaurants in the area. Only been to a couple so far. I have never tried Bimi Bap. You are not the first person I have heard praise it, will have to check it out.

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  5. I'm still sending you hugs from NC. My grandmother told me the worst thing about growing old was outliving so many loved ones. Being young at the time, I didn't fully appreciate her perspective.

    "The Inner Light" is one of my top 5 favorite Next Generation episodes, right up there with "The Offspring," "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Best of Both Worlds." I shouldn't have, but I watched the clip. Picard could have been living my life in that episode with all the similarities.

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    Replies
    1. The thing was, she was only 67, young to me anyway. She lived in Newport by the way. My mother used to say much the same thing.

      I will check out some of those clips, I just never did see much of Next Generation episodes at all.

      Delete
  6. So sorry about your friend. Yes, 67 is young! A great clip!

    ReplyDelete