Tuesday, February 9, 2016

SuperBowl. Bowling. Pest Control. Dermatology.

I know nothing about the Superbowl and am glad it's over although I guess it will be talked about for a while. I used to occasionally watch the ads but understand from several people that they weren't worth the trouble either. Having lived in the Carolinas I kind of wanted them to win but... Not that much. I got a description of football from A Beer for the Shower. They called it a hand egg being carried around by sports teams. Good one guys.

The sport in which I do take an interest, bowling, went pretty well today. My average increased a tiny bit, but at least that meant I had reasonable scores today. One of our team was bowling like a demon for two of her games. She was really racking up the scores. We had a few moments silence for one of the league members who recently died, somewhat unexpectedly too.

Bit of an upset this morning, I called the pest control people and told them I was not impressed. They called the super's wife who said they had told her I was not to call them any more and it was all to be handled through the super or building management. Now we don't know if they are coming Wednesday or Thursday. If they come Wed. we will be here and not ready to leave. This may be the realtor's business but the realtor is not having to live with these conditions. I read an article given to me today saying bed bugs are living fossils. I would like to ensure they are no longer living fossils. If I won the lottery I would walk out of here and leave everything behind. Being pensioners, we are stuck with it.

Tuesday morning we have to go to the dermatologist again. Think there might be more skin cancer. If
only we had known, as youngsters, what we know about sun today. Even now, getting Matt to use sun screen is almost impossible. One benefit of the trip (it's in the next town) is that at the bottom of the building is a British Store which sells great Cornish Pasties so, guess what we will be having for supper tonight? These are meat and vegetable pies as made in Cornwall, England. Actually, in some parts of Cornwall, they call them oggies!

Having discovered this recipe today I think I might be making it soon. Marsala does give a delicious flavour to stews.

Marsala Chicken Stew


Marsala Chicken Stew
This Marsala chicken stew recipe gets its richness from plenty of mushrooms and onions. Make it a meal: Soak up all the saucy goodness with whole-wheat egg noodles and serve with a green salad.
Ingredients
Prep: 1 hour | Total Time: 1 hour
  • 2   tablespoons
    extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1   pound
    boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/4   teaspoon
    salt, divided
  • 1/4   teaspoon
    freshly ground pepper, divided, plus more to taste
  • 1   pound
    mushrooms, sliced
  • 3  
    medium onions, chopped
  • 3   tablespoons
    all-purpose flour
  • 2   cloves
    garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2   cup
    Marsala, (see Tip)
  • 1 1/2   cups
    reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1   tablespoon
    balsamic vinegar
Instructions
  1. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add half the chicken and season with 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with another 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, the remaining chicken and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Add another 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to the pot. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften and give off liquid, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and onions. Cook, stirring and reducing heat as necessary to keep them from burning, until the onions soften and start to turn golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Add flour and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in Marsala and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar and the reserved chicken, along with any juice. Return to a simmer. Season with additional pepper, if desired.

Tip
Tip: Marsala, a fortified wine from Sicily, is a flavorful addition to many sauces. Don’t use the “cooking Marsala” sold in many supermarkets—it can be surprisingly high in sodium. Instead, purchase Marsala that’s sold with other fortified wines in your wine or liquor store. An opened bottle can be stored in a cool, dry place for months.
This recipe comes from Web MD.

Have a great day
 

21 comments:

  1. I hope the pest people show up. They sound like they are mad at you for calling. :( I hope you don't have skin cancer. When I think of how I slathered myself in baby oil and laid out for hours...I do worry about something showing up on my back. That part of me used to get burned the worst. And that marsala recipe looks amazing. I make chicken marsala for Russell every now and then. I'll have to compare my recipe to this one.

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    1. They will show up, just not sure when JoJo. They are mad at me I guess. Not me, Matt. He has already had 3 skin cancer ops. Baby oil didn't do the trick so .... Chicken Marsala is good isn't it?

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  2. I know someone online who was dealing with bed bugs in one of her bedrooms. What finally worked for her was doing this type of oil treatment through an exterminator. She had to pack up virtually everything and they heated the house to over 100 degrees with the treatment, took 2 treatments but then everything was cleared up.

    I for one was very happy the Broncos won over the Panthers. I think it proved a bit of a humbling experience for Cam Newton, the quarterback for the Panthers.

    betty

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    1. I am not totally sure what they use Betty but I know it is some kind of steam treatment. We have had to pack up virtually everything too. Plus removing all the switch plates. Place is a mess and most of our stuff is on the balcony.

      Doesn't mean much to me I'm afraid.

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  3. Hi Jo - I know bed bugs are one of the more difficult things to deal with - I can only wish you well. Then pasties - I was thinking of making some this week for friends - may or may not do so ... I don't eat bought ones. Glad the bowling is tickling along happily - but the sun is good for us in some ways - it's just what we did when we woz young ... take care - cheers Hilary

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    1. Never tried making them, but these were fresh out of the oven this morning. It is a bakery so all of their stuff is made on the premises and their pasties are good. Sun is good but in limited quantities. We didn't know than "when we woz young".

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  4. That stew does look delicious!

    I would think the realtor would have an obligation to deal with the bugs quickly. I don't blame you for getting upset.

    They're ruining the Superbowl commercials by leaking them out weeks ahead of time. I saw a few I liked- surprisingly they were the ones that drew controversy from the women's association. I kinda wish they would say they represent women, maybe adjust to to repping some women because they make us seem like we have no sense of humor.

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    1. I should say, I wish they wouldn't say the represent women in general- my brain and fingers aren't well coordinated today!

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    2. I certainly am upset Liz. They are none of them suffering through this so I guess they don't give a damn.

      Yes, I remember if one wanted to see the ads you HAD to watch the game. I don't even know what the ads were about this year Liz, not seen any of them, so don't really know to what you are referring.

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  5. Tell the super if the pest people were doing their job, you wouldn't have to call them.

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  6. I've never tasted Marsala Chicken Stew but the sheer sight of it is making me hungry.

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    1. It is delicious Spacerguy. You will have to try it.

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  7. Marsala makes a lot of dishes taste better. Yum. Sorry to hear those bugs are still bugging you. I hope they are disappeared very soon Jo! Don't these people understand your predicament?

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    1. You're right Denise, it does. I don't think they do understand. One of the pest guys was apparently sympathetic, but they are not actually having to live with the problem. I do so hope this next visit will clear it all up.

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  8. Hopefully, inconvenient that it is, this last visit will get rid of the bugs. How rude telling you that you can't call them anymore. Who do they think they are? I presume they're getting paid for the job? They're providing the service and should be held accountable. My Grandma was very big on using Marsala. She used to drink it before dinner too. There's nothing as yummy as a pastie. I haven't eaten one for years and now I want one!

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    1. Oh I hope so Pinky. Just had one of their people in making sure we were ready for them. We basically didn't put anything back anyway. Unfortunately I am not paying them so I am not supposed to talk to them. Grrr.

      For some reason we don't have any Marsala in house at the moment. Better change that. The Pastie was good.

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  9. It's pretty rude of the pest people to say you can't call them when you're the ones being inconvenienced - and through no fault of yours. I'm not sure exactly why the fact that you're not paying them precludes you from contacting them, either. I'm inclined to agree with Alex J. Cavanaugh about telling the super that if they were doing the job properly you wouldn't have had to call them. I hope this treatment works, though.

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    1. I thought so too Helen. Not just inconvenienced but driven up the wall and on my way to the nearest loony bin!! The guy who called this evening seemed surprised we were still having problems so I showed him my most recent bites. Hopefully Thursday will fix it all.

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  10. I think you are in your right to call and I would contact the Landlord and Tenant Act to find out your rights! Rock the boat because, as you said, the realtor isn't living where you are.

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    1. Very true Birgit. However, they turned up last night and I voiced a number of complaints to the guy in person.

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