Monday, May 2, 2016

This and That on May 2

Funny that, for a whole month I have had my blogs prescheduled so last night I completely forgot to post this blog, most of which I had written.

Now that the A to Z Challenge is over, we can get back to our normal lives. I am sure you will be delighted to hear that our bed bug problem has disappeared. Mind you, almost immediately we got an ant problem instead but with the purchase of some Terro that too has been dealt with.

Funny, I donated to a local animal charity and was given a Lambsy as a thank you present. I received it in the bowling alley and showed it to the younger of the two owners. A few minutes later he gave me a soft toy which was a bowling pin!!! I guess they think I am a big baby, well I guess I am. I thought these were both cute. Why on earth the bowling alley would have such a toy I cannot imagine. The owner wouldn't tell me.

Talking of bowling, which I do quite often, today is our last day of the winter league with a lunch first and then just some team bowling for fun plus prizes. Unfortunately I don't think we qualify for any of them. My  bowling average has been descending all winter. Our summer league doesn't start until May 18 as the younger owner is swanning around the Dominican Republic for a while and says his dad couldn't cope with all the computer stuff. Probably true. I have been warning him about things in the Dominican. They already have had some shots which is a good thing. I got an upset stomach along with many others and there was one woman so bad she had to be flown home on a stretcher. I also told him about the expanse of topless bathers and the many women in bikinis who are the size of several houses. One thing one has also to beware of is the water. You cannot clean your teeth with tap water and you certainly cannot drink it. However, they do have lots of sunshine to enjoy. I wouldn't mind going back but nowadays the hassle of airports is something neither of us want to deal with.

I haven't made a white chili in a while, but I do enjoy it

White Chili.
White Chili
This fragrant "white" chili is an unusual, delicious alternative to traditional tomato-based chilis. Serve with lime wedges and a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkling of cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
  • 2 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 15-ounce cans great northern beans, rinsed
  • 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 cups diced cooked skinless turkey, or chicken
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Instructions

Step 1
Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in chiles, oregano, cumin and cayenne. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in beans and broth; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add turkey (or chicken) and vinegar; cook for 5 minutes more. Serve.


Have a great day
 

22 comments:

  1. I thought maybe you were taking a vacation when I did not see a new post early this morning. I just read that spraying window cleaner with alcohol and vinegar will drive away ants. Glad the bed bugs are gone.

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    1. Not intentionally Denise. These Terro seem to be doing the job, slowly.

      I am so glad too although I am still somewhat nervous. I haven't seen the pest control trucks so I assume they have got rid of them in all the affected apartments.

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    2. I just talked to a friend of mine. Her mother lives in a very pricey ($3500/mo) senior living center just down the road. Her unit is infested with bed bugs. They've sprayed twice and are coming back Thursday. Yuck!

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    3. Tell them to try the Diatomaceous Earth, food grade. It really works. Plus getting interceptors on the feet of the beds too. It can be bought from Amazon as can the interceptors.

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  2. So glad to hear that the bugs are gone, damn ants, it is the season for them to show their nasty heads!
    Spring has sprung and everything is green, green, green!
    Good luck with your bowling. I love white chili! Yum!
    Happy end of the A to Z and Happy May!

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    1. Unfortunately, spring hasn't quite sprung here Yolanda. It's struggling to do so however.

      Happy May to you too.

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  3. Great news to hear about the bedbugs being eliminated. I think ants might be more easier to deal with. My brother/SIL went to Russia about 15 years ago; they had the same experience with water to not use anything but bottled water. They drank a lot of sodas that trip.

    betty

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    1. Isn't it Betty? I am so relieved but still a tad nervous. Didn't realise water problems were the same in Russia.

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    2. Water problems are horrible in Russia. Very bad sanitation. As careful as I was I came back with a mild parasitic infection. It cleared up on its own but it was not pleasant.

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    3. No it isn't Denise. I had the same problem when I went to the Dominican.

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  4. I'm so glad the bed bugs are finally gone. You'll have to keep up with that earth stuff to be on the safe side. And that's an adorable Lambchop! I always thought he was cute. One of my fave puppets. The dogs have one that had a squeaker in it.

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    1. Me too JoJo. Well we have the interceptors on the feet of the beds with some earth in them too so I think we could probably clean the carpet now. Lambchop, thanks, I knew Lambsy wasn't the right name.

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  5. I haven't had white chili in a while. This one seems pretty simple. So happy for you about the bedbugs.

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    1. I'm the same, not sure why, it's a tasty recipe Susan.

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  6. Ha! It's already hard enough seeing someone in a bikini who's the size of a house, but the size of SEVERAL houses? Oh my!

    Also, I have had many a chili, especially made in a Dutch oven, but never a white one. I'll have to give that one a try.

    Oh, and cheers to the bed bugs being gone for good!

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    1. And I'm not exaggerating Bryan. You should try it, it's pretty good.

      I am so relieved about the bed bugs albeit a tad nervous.

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  7. This is great news to hear...that the bugs are gone! So glad to hear. I love lamb hop and the wonky bowling pin that matches your ball:)

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    1. Thanks Birgit, it is such a relief. Funny, I hadn't even thought about the pin matching my bowling ball. Observant of you.

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  8. We had a problem with very bitey ants when we moved but the pesticide man came and sprinkled something on their nests and they've gone. I'm so happy. Finally someone did their job properly. It is nice not to be mandated to post every day :)

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    1. These are very tiny Pinky and seem to be perfectly happy going to the Terro. Still getting one or two but I assume the nest is not doing too well by now. Well, of course I post 6/7 anyway but I guess it isn't mandatory.

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  9. Great on the bed bugs. We use the same stuff for ants. Amazing stuff. Works like a charm.

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    1. Didn't know it worked for ants as well Ivy.

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