Monday, February 1, 2016

A Buggy Life, Souvlaki Flame, The Year of the Red Monkey,

Good Morning.I'm back. I would like to believe you all missed me. We have just had a dreadful week. It turned out that the apartment across the hall from us was infested with bed bugs. The Superintendent's wife finally admitted it to me - we knew something was going on - and I realised I had seen some strange bugs in our apartment. She agreed to call in the pest control people. The upshot of all this was, yes, we had a mild infestation and they would come and deal with it in a week. No doubt they were busy, but this was one of the worst weeks of my life. They told me not to spray but there was no way I was going to go to sleep in a buggy room, let alone bed. So spray I did. For the first day or two I didn't get much sleep at all, worrying myself sick. Not only that, we had to virtually strip the apartment as if we were moving. Not funny for anyone, let alone an elderly couple. (Something I don't normally admit to). Anyway, I won't go into the whole long story, it could take hours, but they finally came in last Friday and things seem to be OK. They will be coming back in two weeks to check it out. I don't usually get stressed, but I got stressed this week. I couldn't concentrate on anything. JoJo Earle of Tahoma Beadworks talks about Mercury Retrograde. which is supposed to cause bad things to happen. Boy did it ever cause bad things for us. One thing I have to say - thank you to the fellowship to which I belong. You were life savers. Also to the friend who put up with us for the day on Friday when we were virtually evicted.

Talking of last Friday we took our friend to lunch at the Souvlaki Flame which has opened fairly
close to us. I was impressed with their food. I had gyro in a pita as did our friend, Matt had pork souvlaki in a pita. Only mistake, I had a glass of red wine. I don't think it was what it was supposed to be and it certainly wasn't a very good wine at all. However, we will be going back there for lunch. It's so new there are no pix of the restaurant yet and I certainly didn't think of taking pix of the food. However, this looks like my gyro. Seems to be pretty popular with the local citizens anyway.

We did go bowling which was something of a break for us this week. We were supposed to go to a Travel League on Thursday but didn't in the end. Couldn't spare the time. Hopefully our next week will be different. Matt has a birthday on Thursday and we will be going for his free birthday meal at the Mandarin on Friday. As you know I love the Mandarin and it is the Chinese New Year so they have dumplings. I love dumplings. Actually they usually have some dumplings, but during the New Year they have lots of different ones. It's the year of the Red Monkey apparently. The Mandarin celebrates a lot longer than is done in China, but so long as there are dumplings, I am happy. So Gung hai fat choi to everyone.

Right now I don't have a lot to write about, but just to let you know why I wasn't blogging or reading your blogs. At least tonight, Sunday, I get to watch Downton Abbey. Didn't miss it last week either. A bright spot. It was good by the way.

This sounds like a great dish and when I saw it in the New York Times email on Sunday, I simply had to share.

Chicken Mafe

By Francis Lam Yield: Serves 6 to 8


This West African favorite, adapted from Rama Dione and Papa Diagne, balances the richness of peanut butter with tomato and aromatics, cooked down to a thick gravy. The addition of Southeast Asian fish sauce gives the dish depth and is somewhat traditional, given the Vietnamese influence, via the French, in Senegal. But absolutely
traditional would be to eat this with guests, directly from a large platter, to demonstrate welcome and unity.


12 cloves garlic
1 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled
Kosher salt and black pepper
Crushed red-pepper flakes
2 pounds bone-in chicken, skin removed
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 tablespoons fish sauce
6 ounces tomato paste
1 cup creamy unsweetened peanut butter
½ pound green cabbage, cut into 2-inch wedges
3 medium carrots, peeled, cut in 2-inch lengths
1 medium sweet potato
12 ounces waxy potatoes, like Yukon Gold
Scotch Bonnet chile slices, to taste (optional)
White rice, cooked, for serving


Step 1 Finely mince 6 cloves garlic and the ginger with a pinch of salt, plenty of black pepper and crushed red­pepper flakes to taste. Season chicken all over with salt, and rub with the garlic mixture. Marinate for three hours or overnight, refrigerated.

Step 2 Finely chop the remaining 6 cloves of garlic. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium­high heat. When it is hot, add the onion, chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until the onion is starting to become translucent. Stir in the fish sauce, then the tomato paste, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until the paste and onions have combined and are a shade darker. Stir in 6 cups water, scraping up any browned bits.

Step 3 Add the chicken, bring to a boil and turn heat down to a moderate simmer. In a mixing bowl, stir a cup of the cooking liquid into the peanut butter, a splash at a time, to loosen it. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the cabbage and carrots, and simmer 10 minutes. Peel and cut the sweet potato and waxy potatoes into 11/2­inch chunks, add them and simmer 30 minutes, until the vegetables and chicken are tender and the sauce is like a very thick gravy. (The oil will be separating in the sauce.) If the chicken and vegetables are tender but the sauce is still a little loose, remove them, and let the sauce cook down. Add the chile if using. Taste, adjust seasoning with salt and serve over white rice.

Have a great day
 

31 comments:

  1. Hello Jo. I can't believe you had bugs in your apartment building! You'd wonder how that would happen. I hope they've been sprayed and sent on their way by now!
    And yes, I'm sure I'm not the only one who missed your absence from the blogs. Good to have you back sharing wonderful recipes...

    Denise :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't believe it either Denise. I was horrified. I think they have managed to clear them out of our place, but I am not sure about the apartment across the hall. They have already been back there again. It was really bad I gather. We spray our doorway every day just in case.

      Thanks for the encouragement. Nice to be back.

      Delete
  2. Hi Jo - how very unpleasant ... bed bugs are around and I hope they keep them under control. I can quite understand your itchy feelings. Thank goodness you have something happy to look forward to this week - with Matt's birthday ... enjoy your Mandarin meal.

    Good to see you back ... and yes we do get support don't we .. and I can see your recipes and the meals you're eating ... I hope this week is easier - all the best Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Typical British understatement Hilary, yes, they are unpleasant. They are a big problem in North America but I never expected to suffer from them.

      Thanks, nice to be back. I definitely hope this week will be easier.

      Delete
  3. Sorry about the bugs and having to leave your home for a while. At least you got to have a nice time eating out with friends. Thanks for sharing the recipe though I'll find a substitute for the peanut butter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was pretty awful Sheena-Kay. I would think the peanut butter would be integral but if you can't eat it I cannot imagine what you would substitute to get the right flavour and texture.

      Delete
  4. Oh wow the bedbugs migrated to your apartment too? I didn't think they could do that without hitching a ride on someone's clothes. *shudder* How awful. I live in fear of those things...I'm even afraid to stay in hotels anymore. I'm glad that it's behind you now and hopefully your apt will remain bug-free.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bed bugs can apparently travel fair distances without a host, you want to know about bed bugs, I am now an expert, albeit unwillingly. We don't travel much any more so I never thought they would be a problem for us. It was a week of hell.

      Delete
  5. Bed bugs are a nightmare whenever I travel. You never know. Being sick all week I binged on TV so now I am caught up on everything, including events at the Abbey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the point Denise, we don't travel any more so never thought it would happen. No idea where the other tenant got them from, but he lived with them a long time by the sound of it. His apartment is really infested. I am enjoying the events at the Abbey too. Pity this is the last year.

      Delete
  6. That was terrible about the bed bugs and now of course the worry if they are truly gone. What a nightmare!!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nightmare is exactly the right word Betty. I think they have gone but I am not 100% sure. Trouble is I don't think the neighbour is fully clear.

      Delete
  7. Yikes, that sounds miserable. I can't even imagine what that's like, but I'd probably be worried/couldn't sleep as well, especially if it only SEEMS fine. Fingers crossed that it IS fine.

    Peanut butter and tomato? That sounds just weird enough to be good. I might have to try that out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ir was Bryan, I can assure you. We still have to wait for the all clear in 2 weeks.

      Want to try it out too. Missing a couple of ingredients.

      Delete
  8. The little buggers do travel. They can be brought in on the clothes of the exterminators too. Happen to my mom. Such a horrid experience all around. I don't blame you I would have sprayed too! Hope all is well, or at least on the road to getting better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that encouraging thought Yolanda. That hadn't occurred to me. I too am hoping it is better. I haven't sprayed my bed today so we will see. They did put a special cover over the box spring which is supposed to kill the little buggers.

      Delete
  9. Bed bugs are so scary. I know they can be anyway, even in fine hotels. I wouldn't have slept either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They sure are Susan. Lying there thinking one was going to be dinner for a bunch of hungry bugs.

      Delete
  10. Pita wrap looks good.
    Hope that's the end of the bed bugs incident. That was way more trouble than it should've been.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was Alex. Will be going back.

      I hope so too. Rotten experience.

      Delete
  11. You poor thing. I wondered what was going on. Do bed bugs cause anything except an itchy bite? Chinese New Year festivities have begun here too. I'm a rat. Rats are supposed to be very social. What are you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luckily no Pinky, they do not carry any kind of disease. But even so, shudder. I think we are all clear. I hope and pray we are.

      I'm a tiger. Forgotten what Matt is. Do tigers and rats get on?

      Delete
    2. Just checked it out, Matt is a Pig.

      Delete
    3. I'm sure rats and tigers get on! A pig! Lol. Scotto is a pig too!

      Delete
    4. Coincidence that. Pigs like us.

      Delete
  12. How aweful for you and your hubby! So sorry to hear this. I know they are a NIGHTMARE.... Thankfully you don't have to trash all your furniture.... A friend of mine had to do that at his place... AWEFUL!

    Take care you two!

    Glad you found a new place you like... sounds great! And that recipe an pic looks AMAZING for the Chicken Mafe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. God forbid Michael. That would be ruinous.

      Yes, good lunch so hopefully it will keep up it's standards.

      Delete
  13. That must have been horrible and I do hope that you and you're neighbour are all bug free.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think the neighbour is yet and I am not sure we are totally. I wondered if they are still popping across the hallway. We are spraying our door though.

      Delete