Pre Christmas

We had great fun the other night. Matt went to bed around 10, I wasn't that much later, 10:30 ish. Was just lying there thinking about all kinds of things, as you do, when suddenly the alarm went off. There is one right outside our door. I opened the door, no sign of anything, so phoned the asst. super and he said he was working on it. I then heard voices so assured everyone that there wasn't a fire - I wasn't the only one who had phoned and asked. We finally got back to bed around midnight. No idea what set it off, and electrical fault I imagine, but  couldn't it have chosen the daytime?

A friend came for a short visit, and boy was it ever a short visit, on Friday. I think she stayed about half an hour. Haven't seen her for a while so it was nice of her to call, even if only for a little while.

I have discovered another problem with blister packs. I phoned the pharmacist and they said they were running short of two pills prescribed by the hospital. When I was looking after my own pills, I knew when things were getting short. My doctor will not accept faxes from the pharmacy for renewals. Which means I have to go there. I have to go anyway, but there was no time limit. Now there is because the blister packs are delivered on Thursday. Doctor was charging $5 for renewals on line so I thought "what the hell, only $10" then when I went on line, they don't seem to be doing that any more. I can't go today, Sunday, so will have to go on Boxing Day when they are open for walk-ins again. What a pain in the rear end. Not only that, I have run out of pills for my UTI, this is my second lot and I still have the problem. Don't suppose the urologist will be in tomorrow so I will have to wait til I see the doc on Wednesday for that too. That's the second lot of antibiotics. I am mainly concerned about getting a bladder infection.

One really good piece of news, to me anyway, I tentatively tried some smoked salmon. Hurrah, it tastes like smoked salmon again and not a block of wet salt.

Monday morning, Christmas Eve, a friend is coming over to help me pick up my shopping, in the morning. Nice of her although why she should I don't know.

I doubt I will be posting again before Christmas, so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, don't eat too  much, or drink too much come to that.

A friend sent me a Country Living magazine, from England no less, as she thought I would enjoy it during my convalescence - needless to say there were recipes and there was one which appealed to me. This is not quite the same, but very similar.

Beetroot and Shallot Tatins

50 g butter, plus extra for greasing
12 shallots, halved if large
½ tsp olive oil
50 g walnut pieces
2 garlic cloves chopped
3 rosemary sprigs, chopped
2 Tbs maple syrup
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
12 cooked baby beetroot, or 12 wedges
225 g all-butter puff pastry
plain flour, for dusting
handful rocket

1. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and grease 2 x 15cm sandwich tins with solid bases. In a non-stick pan, gently cook the shallots in the oil until golden and softened. If they start to colour before softening, add a dash of water and cover the pan. Tip out the shallots and wipe out the pan.

2. Put the butter in the pan with the nuts, garlic, rosemary, maple syrup and vinegar. Season and allow to bubble until syrupy. Tip in the shallots and cook briefly, stirring to coat them. Spoon half the shallots and syrup into each tin, then add the beetroots, alternating them with the shallots as you go.

3. Cut the pastry in half, then roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface until just larger than the tins. Place the pastry over the vegetables and tuck it down the insides of the tin. Trim off any excess with scissors and pierce the middle of the pastry with a knife to make a hole for steam to escape. Bake for 15-20 mins until golden. Cool for a few mins in the tin, then turn out onto plates and top with the rocket.

Servings: 4

Source: BBC Good Food

Have a great day