Plastic Surgery, Parcel, Diatomaceous Earth, Dr. Flash Drive

Sorry no Satuday Recipe. Things got away from me on Friday not least of which we had to visit the plastic surgeon for Matt's basel cells. Dr. Ma has fitted him in for Monday afternoon at 4 so we will have to go bowl and leave early. Nice of her to do it so soon though. When we go to the offices to see these Plastic Surgeons, they have a very small parking lot behind their building, a delightful old house which must have been something in it's hey day; right opposite the parking lot is a huge building, high rise maybe, which is in the process of construction. Being a bit slow, it only hit me, on Friday, that it is the building which is where our old bowling alley used to be. Got a bit disoriented because we have to get there in a roundabout way because of the road works on King St. so I hadn't quite realised where we were. That's my excuse anyway.

We then had to go to the post office to pick up my parcel from Amazon - we were not home because I was seeing my orthopaedic surgeon and then bowling. This one included the bug proof mattress cover and interceptor plates for the bed feet.

Saturday we began. First whipped off all the bed clothes and put them through the washers and dryers

as well as the pillow. We then took mattress and box spring off the bed and I put diatomaceous earth (DE) all round the frame and brushed it into cracks with an old paint brush. We pulled the bed really far away from the wall so I could put a thick line of DE behind the bed. Then pushed it back again. When the linens were ready, we made the bed covering the mattress with the new cover, and then put the DE in defensive lines all round the bed as well as putting the plastic interceptors under the feet. Sprinkled DE between the box spring and mattress too. Must admit I didn't think we would manage to put the new cover on as it's a heavy mattress to handle for two old fogeys like us. But we did.

I have now discovered this food grade DE can be taken as a drink and is touted to have all kinds of health benefits. Just not for bed bugs I guess. Supposed to be good for all kinds of things, like de-toxing, improvements in hair and nails, etc. etc. so maybe you will soon hear of me taking the stuff.

By the way, I was carrying on about how young my new orthopaedic surgeon is. I just came across this picture of Dr. Martin. He actually looks a tad older here.

How very odd, I have just had a Flash drive fall apart on me. Didn't realise that could happen.

Tried a new recipe on Saturday night. I think I needed to cook the cauliflower somewhat longer. I didn't mind it, but Matt found it too crunchy. Of course I cut back the recipe considerably as there were just two of us. Not only that, I used roasted red peppers from a jar. It still worked very well and was quite delicious.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS AND CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPER VINAIGRETTE

12 servings

INGREDIENTS

1. • 4 red bell peppers
   • 2 heads cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 2-inch florets
   • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
   • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
   • 1/4 cup large capers (not salted), drained and rinsed

PREPARATION

1. 1. Toss cauliflower with 1/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl, then divide between two 4-sided sheet pans. Roast cauliflower, turning it and switching position of pans halfway through, until just tender and browned in spots, about 20 minutes total.
   2. While cauliflower roasts, whisk together lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large serving bowl, then add remaining 1/2 cup oil in a slow stream, whisking. Finely chop about 1 tablespoon capers, then whisk chopped and whole capers into vinaigrette. Add warm cauliflower and peppers and toss to coat. Serve at room temperature.

Cooks' note:

Peppers and cauliflower can be roasted and tossed with vinaigrette 1 day ahead and chilled.

Have a great day