HIgh Hopes, Homecoming, Downton Abbey.

Although it turns out my information on Bed Bug nymphs was correct, they are almost impossible to see especially at the beginning, it also turns out they don`t bite. Pleasant piece of information, they survive on the faeces of the adult bug. The upshot being, they are not a big problem until they are adult by which time you can see them, if you can find them, and kill the little perishers. The pest control people came on Friday and to date, on Saturday, everything has been OK. Please keep your fingers crossed for us. I have totally had it with them.

Friday we spent time wandering around as we couldn`t stay at home. It ended up costing us a lot of money. We bought fillet steaks, we ate out twice and we went bowling at a different alley in the afternoon. Our home alley being closed. Actually the new owner of Victoria Bowl where we played yesterday afternoon, let us bowl 5 games and didn`t charge us anything like the normal price. I was very grateful to him. We went to the Red Lobster with a friend who`s birthday had been on Thursday, so, as we had been unable to invite her to dinner at our place, we treated her. Yes, I did have a Chocolate Wave cake - this time with 3 spoons.. Matt swears I was gobbling it up. I paid for it with major indigestion later. This time I chose the Seafood Sampler plate which had Coconut Shrimp, Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms and Shrimp Cocktail. It was very good. Matt had Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms and our friend had Blackened Tilapia which looked delicious. Might try that if we go any time soon.

Before we went to supper we went home and got the beds made. Also had to replace the drawers in all the dressers and bedside tables. Bit of a pain. We had managed to put our blankets and pillows through the dryer before we went out so everything was totally clean and fresh. After dinner, we came home and had a couple of drinks. During which time I went to my bedroom and realised there was no power anywhere nor, it turned out, was there any in the second bedroom. Called the assistant super who, when he came, said he had been told not to come into our apartment (or any of the known bed bug places) however, he did check a fuse as it was right by the door. However, couldn`t figure out which, if any, fuse was gone. We would have to wait til Monday.

This morning we got up to a freezing apartment and realised we had no heat. Called the assistant super again and he came up, agreed we had no heat and said he would call the emergency number as we couldn`t go the weekend without heat.  When the maintenance guys came it turned out that it was a fuse and this same fuse also controls the heat as well. Not sure how, but this is what it was. Waste of money really, but not mine. If they hadn`t told Bob not to come in he would probably have sorted it on his own. Still, not my money.

Apart from the fact that we still have masses to do to restore our home to it`s usual state. I hope this is the very last you will hear about our bed bugs. You must be nearly as fed up with them as we are living with them. I will try not to talk about them any more. Except that Saturday night I got bitten!! Only once. The bed has since been stripped and steamed. So, Sunday night, I am hoping it will have done the trick. It was OK Friday night, mind you.

Just to really get me going, I went to the TV to watch Downton Abbey at 9 p.m. which is the time it has been on every week, to find some guy talking about all the work he did on ensuring the manners on the programme were correct. But where was the show. Seems like they played it at 8 - now I am hopping mad. Are the gods out to get me lately do you think? I am hoping my friend has bought the DVDs for this season so I can borrow the appropriate one. LATER: I discovered they postponed the finale til next week so they didn't clash with the Oscars. I won't comment about that!!!!

Slow cookers are so very useful. This is from Campbell Soups and sounds a pretty good recipe. I included the Campbell's ad although I probably will use an entirely different beef stock which I keep in house anyway.

Asian Braised Short Ribs (Slow Cooker)

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SERVES: 4 PEOPLE

BY: CAMPBELL'S®

Ingredients:

1 tbsp (15 mL) sesame oil
2 lbs (910 g) beef short ribs
1 large red onion, sliced
1 large carrot, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 cup (250 mL) Shiitake mushrooms, sliced
2 cups (500 mL) baby bokchoy
sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
green onion, chopped (optional)

Sauce:

2 tbsp (30 mL) rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp (30 mL) sodium reduced soy sauce
1 tsp (5 mL) Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp (30 mL) chili garlic sauce (alt: Sriracha or Sambal)
1 carton (900 mL) CAMPBELL'S® Ready to Use 30% Less Sodium Beef Broth
1 clove garlic, chopped
½ cup (125 mL) sodium reduced Hoisin sauce

Thickener:

¼ cup (60 mL) corn starch
¼ cup (60 mL) water

Directions


1. Heat sesame oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Brown short ribs on all sides and place in the slow cooker, top with vegetables.

3. Add all sauce ingredients to the skillet and combine well with pan drippings. Pour desired amount of mixture over beef and vegetables.

4. Cook, covered, on HIGH setting for 3-4 hours or until beef reaches internal temperatures of 165°F (74°C) and is fork-tender.

5. Transfer vegetables and short ribs to a plate.

6. Skim any oil from the top of the liquid and discard. Pour liquid into a skillet and bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch and water and add to thicken the sauce.

7. Drizzle short ribs and vegetables with sauce.

8. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onions.

Recipe Tips

1. If you like your vegetables crunchy, add vegetables to slow cooker when you have 30mins to 1 hour cook time remaining

2. Use up left over sauce in a vegetable stir-fry for a delicious quick dinner.

3. If you don't own a slow-cooker, cook in a heavy dutch oven pot at 325 ̊F (160 ̊C) in the oven for about 3 hours or until fork tender


Have a great day