Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Bowling League, PC Programmes.

Bowling PinsToday being Monday, we bowled. In both cases, it was pretty mediocre, but our averages didn’t drop which I guess is the main thing. Matt had one really good game 188. Today there were only 3 of the team of 5 so it went by really fast. One time we were both beaten by the other member who has a much, much lower average than us. I gave her heck for showing up her team captain (me) but she laughed, as, of course did I. She really bowled very well today. The bowling alley were giving out calendars again but we got ours last Thursday, I, of course, took the recipe one. It was apparently the last one.

I have just bought a Hallmark Card Studio upgrade – I use it quite a lot for my Avon business, labels and such, and for making cards for people I make all my Christmas cards. These days I prefer to send ecards, particularly for birthdays, but it’s amazing how many people I know who still don’t have computers. Come on you guys, get with it. It’s 2014. One of my most important programmes, to me, is the one I only have on my laptop which carries all the addresses from which I make my Christmas card lists. Sadly it’s an old programme and nobody seems to have come up with a newer version. My laptop is 32 bit and the programme won’t work on a 62 bit computer so once the laptop says goodbye I am screwed. The Hallmark Card Studio carries all my addresses and events, but it doesn’t help me track cards. I wish people wouldn’t market marvellous software and then stop supporting them. I had a great cookbook programme, no longer supported although it, too, will work on the laptop. Years ago I had an excellent financial programme but had to switch because they too were no longer supported. I suppose I should have studied programming, I did for a bit, so I could have done the necessary to maintain this software I keep losing. Maybe I’ve been at this computing game too long and that’s why I see all these changes.

I get a cooking letter from the New York Times and this following recipe was in it today, I thought it looked extremely interesting so here I am sharing it with you. I have no idea what pomegranate molasses is, something I will have to Google. I love recipes which are somewhat different like this one.

Fesenjan

Sam Sifton
  • Time2 hours
  • Yield 6 to 8 servings.

 
This rich, tangy Iranian chicken stew from Azita Houshiar is a highlight of the Persian holiday Shab-e Yalda, a winter-solstice tradition that predates Islam by thousands of years. The chicken is drenched in pomegranate molasses and cooked with a copious amount of ground walnuts, which results in a gravy that is sweet, tart and thick with flavor.
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds (6 to 8 pieces) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves and thighs
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups shelled walnuts (about 1 pound)
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 cups pomegranate molasses, or as needed
  • ½ cup grated butternut squash
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon saffron, dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water
  • 1 to 2 cups chicken broth or water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
  • Persian steamed white rice, for serving.
Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly season chicken with salt and pepper, and sauté in olive oil until lightly golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Spread walnuts on a baking sheet, and bake until toasted, about 5 minutes. Once cool to the touch, rub walnut pieces between your palms to shed excess skin. Pulse in a food processor until finely chopped but not pasty. Transfer to a Dutch oven, and add onion and 2 cups water. Place over medium-low heat and simmer, partly covered, stirring it occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add 2 cups pomegranate molasses, sautéed chicken, squash, cinnamon, saffron mixture and 1 cup chicken broth or water.
  3. Adjust flavor with sugar, salt and pomegranate molasses, so it is tangy but also a bit sweet. Simmer gently, covered, until the sauce is a dark walnut color with a layer of oil on the surface, 35 to 40 minutes. If the pan looks dry, add additional broth or water as needed. Adjust flavors again, and stir so the walnut oil is well mixed.
  4. Bring the mixture to another gentle boil with the lid ajar, then continue to simmer on low heat until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through, 10 to 20 minutes. Make a final taste test, and adjust flavors to your liking.
  5. To serve, stir so that the walnut oil is evenly absorbed. Serve hot with Persian steamed white rice.
Have a great day.
Jo


15 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - sorry about the address programme ... I really need to redo mine - next year now .. mine are being hand-written. Love the sound of the Iranian Fesenjan ... sounds delicious .. .when I had a pomegranate tree in SA - I used them quite often in cooking ... and I've always loved Persian foods. Cheers - well done on going bowling .. it's the exercise and camaraderie isn't it .. Hilary

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    1. Not so much the address programme as the card tracker part. I have never had much to do with pomegranates - I never knew how to eat them. They do taste delicious. You are right about bowling.

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  2. It's true. There are so many that don't have computers or want them, I'm told. Hey, to each their own fun. Cheers and Happy New Day.

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    1. Hubby doesn't have anything to do with them other than playing one game.

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    2. That's understandable. I have family that aren't interesting in computers, either.

      What game does he play?

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  3. I still kick it old school with address books. I just can't bear the thought of losing everything on a hard drive. I even typed up and printed the list of contacts in my cell phone in case that dumps on me. I am all about the 'hard copy'.

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    1. Oh yes I have hard copies too JoJo, I update them periodically.

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  4. That's right people - get a computer and get with it!

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  5. Oh definitely Alex.

    Ivy, he plays Bookworm.

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  6. I am not as adept as you, Jo, but I do love the technology. My IPHone, which I hated at first is terrific as I am homebound for awhile. I need to find out how to cook with almond milk. I am lactose intolerant and so many yummy recipes use milk or cream. When I try and use almond milk, it does not always work very well.

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    1. How about soy milk? Have you tried that? I am told it is as easy as cow's milk for cooking. Not that I have ever tried it myself, never had the need to thankfully. We only have a very simple cell phone as Matt is technology challenged.

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  7. I do everything on the computer, yet I don't keep my address book there. I still use a real book. Why don't I get with it?

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    1. Well, I do agree with JoJo about having a hard copy, although apart from that I have addresses in several locations on both desktop and laptop even a few on my tablet. But for doing cards and such, it is so easy on the computer. Do you bank on line? I do.

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  8. Scotto reckons you might still be able run 32 bit programs if you right click launch pad and it might give you the option to run it on compatability mode. Email him at weaverzoo@gmail.com with the name of the program and he can do some research for you Jo :)

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    1. Thanks to both of you. I am running the programmes on a 32 bit laptop at the moment. Pretty successfully. But... this laptop is getting a tad ancient and then if I cannot get another 32 bit Windows, I will be in trouble. I appreciate Scotto's help, but it is only for the future when I change laptops.

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