Thursday, September 17, 2015

Car, CD Player, Renovations,


I just told Matt that we would now be on bread and water for a while after he had paid the bill for the car repair. It included four new tires so I guess you can imagine the sums I am talking about. It is still cheaper than buying a new car though. We have a CD player which was installed in the trunk, after market. Not sure how old it is, but it seems to have jammed. Maybe not worth repairing, but it has 8 CDs inside it (cartridge) which I would really like to get back. Going to a place called Audio Concepts next week to see what they can do. Of course if we could get the system working again it would be nice. We have 2 cartridges and that much music carried us to North Carolina and back without repeat.

The tiling job in the building carries on apace. We are now unable to have an exercise class on Friday
because they will be heaving up the tiles in the main entrance lobby. I cannot imagine all the problems this is going to cause. I really don't know why but I understand they are going to take up the carpet which was installed maybe 3 years ago? Also the furniture is supposed to be being replaced, that too was new at the same time. Seems nuts to me. At least on each floor the tiles were some 40 odd years old, but to replace the carpet and furniture so soon seems crazy to me. Not my money I guess, or at least, not directly my money. No picture of the lobby unfortunately. Probably too late to take one now. Forgot to mention, they have also just had the carpet cleaned. As Mr. Spock would say, this is not logical. Certainly not to most of us anyway.

Nothing really exciting happening in my neck of the woods right now I'm afraid. Although I seem to be extremely busy at the moment, doing what I can't imagine. I still haven't caught up on all my blog reading yet, but I will, I will.

Of course, you mention Toad in the Hole to a Brit, they will think of something totally different involving sausages and Yorkshire Pudding. I have seen this recipe before, and I fully intend to try it one of these days. I get bored with too many same 'ol' same 'ols'.  This recipe came from Kraft Kitchens.

Cheesy Toad in the Hole

1 Slice of whole wheat bread
1 egg
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 Tbs Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tbs chopped fresh chives

Heat heavy nonstick skillet on medium heat. Meanwhile, cut hole in center of bread slice, using 1-1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Discard removed bread circle or reserve for another use.

Place bread in skillet. Break egg into hole; sprinkle with pepper. Cook on medium heat 2 min.; turn bread and egg with spatula.

Top with cheese; cover. Cook 2 min. or until egg white is set and yolk is cooked to desired doneness. Sprinkle with chives

Have a great day
 

18 comments:

  1. I never knew what that egg in the bread hole was called. I tried to make it once and made a huge mess. Seems to be popular in some Italian homes.

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    1. I like the idea I must say JoJo. When I give it a try I'll let you know how I got on.

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  2. Hope you get your CDs back. I wonder if they even make those CD players in the trunk anymore?

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    1. Probably not Alex, but I really liked it because it played 8 CDs randomly so one never got tired of hearing the music.

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  3. I put my car in for a simple service the other day and needed a new battery and found out I'd been driving around with a puncture and slow leak. Cars are such money pits.

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  4. Something wrong with one of our back wheels Pinky. Not totally sure what. Plus 4 new tires which aren't cheap especially as they have to be all weather to cope with the snow. You are right, they are money pits. Sometimes one wonders if it's worth it. There was a movie called The Money Pit, that was about a house. I would think it fits you two at the moment.

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  5. Wow. Only three years old. I can't wrap my head around it either.

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    1. Well it's still there today Ivy, although they have been working on the tiles downstairs. Maybe I was wrongly informed, but why would they clean it before removing the tiles. Sounds crazy to me.

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    2. Maybe yes, the wrong thing from the grapevine.

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  6. Maybe they cleaned the carpet so they could sell it. Used carpeting is reusable. Hopefully that's the case, cleaning and carpet or tiles is expensive. We'll be spending the same for our car this year, dreading it, but needed. Still, we'll have to buy a new car next year. 12 years 200,000 + miles may be all she wrote. We'll see.

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    1. Well as I just said above, it's still there Yolanda, even though they have been pulling out all the tiles today and making one heck of a lot of dust. Seems nutty to me. Our car is 17 years old and Matt doesn't really want to change it. A problem for him would be the computerisation, he doesn't know anything about computers. He says he could learn, but I don't think so any more.

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  7. Pity about the car. We've just had ours serviced and it was high enough without any extras but it's not feasible to rely on public transport where we live.

    I know the egg recipe as egg in a nest. Haven't tried it with cheese though.

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    1. Egg in a nest is a much better name.

      Cars are a pain in the butt Helen, but most of us can't live without them.

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  8. When I made it for my kids I just soaked the bread in beaten egg and fried it on both sides. Some folk call that French Toast, but when I was a kid that name referred to bread that was buttered before toasting. And yes, real Toad-in-the-hole is a sausage thing.

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    1. I've also heard it called Eggy Bread, Satima. I remember making what you call French toast on an open fire, absolutely delicious. Always was the best way to make toast. Haven't made the "real" Toad in the Hole for years, but I used to especially in the UK.

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  9. That doesn't make sense at all to me either. If the carpet is only 3 yrs old (as well as the furniture), why get rid of it?? I think that is money unwisely spent

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    1. Well, last time I looked Birgit, it was still there but they were making a pile of dust removing the floor tiles - so that makes even less sense, clean it and then dirty it.

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