Monday, December 2, 2019

December, Rent, Recipe, Clock, Email, Bowling

So, it's December, just seems unbelievable, I am not alone in thinking the year has just flown by.

Talking to our neighbours who are moving at the end of the month, discussing rents both here and where they are going. As you know, I take no interest in politics, but I had to the other day. She said something about Doug Ford, current prime minister of Ontario, having repealed the rent control laws. What? They might shove our rent up sky high with no controls? So I had to start googling and find out what the heck this was about. Turns out it basically applies to new buildings and new occupancies. Phew. Gave me a nasty for a while. She said, also, that our apartments are fectching $1,700 a month for new tenants. We live in the 3 bedroom apartments, the biggest in the building. The landlords would probably like to get rid of us in that case. Tough bananas.

I had bought a sirloin steak at Victoria Market on Friday and wanted to make a sauce I had  made before, do you think I could find the recipe. Then it occurred to me that the blog "Jo on Food, Life and a Scent of Chocolate" had posted the recipe in the past, guess what, that's where I finally found it. I have dozens of printed recipes. I am thinking I should chuck them and start again. It's getting ridiculous. I keep the recipes in a computer programme after all. I also have printed recipes stewn all over my desk too.

Today(Sunday)  I received delivery of the digital clock I ordered. Ever since I saw them at the Alzheimer Society I had wanted one but the Alz. ones were somewhat expensive. Then I came across them at Amazon and ordered one, Friday, didn't expect delivery so soon. I am always being asked what day it is etc. etc. plus I have trouble seeing the clock we do already have. I  mainly bought it for Matt to know what day it is of course. You should have heard the protests. He was going to chuck it on the floor etc. etc. but I think he has got over that. I hope so anyway. It does quite a few other things if I want it to,  but at the moment I don't. You can use it for photos too apparently and set all kinds of alarms like "time to take your medication" etc.

Wanted to send a couple of emails to people this afternoon, I suddenly realised that I had four emails sitting in my outbox which wouldn't go anywhere. Called Rogers and after a lot of kerfuffle, including them taking over my PC, it was fixed. The only thing was because of a change, it downloaded something  like 7,000 emails from the server which I am now trying to delete. They seem to be going all over the place, everywhere but in the delete folder. I am not a happy camper.

Bowling tomorrow of course, fingers crossed please. I want my average to go up a bit, if even only 1 point.

So, got so much sorting to do in my email box I am giving you this recipe which I may have posted before, recently, if so, apologies. I plan to make it in my Instant Pot of course.

Asian Beef Stew

This brothy stew is succulent and soothing, but sisters Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley invigorate it
with fish sauce, Asian spices and lemon juice. “We both just love sour flavors,” says Jasmine Hemsley. “It’s our Filipino mum’s influence.”

2 Tbs coconut oil
5 lbs English-cut short ribs
Sea salt Pepper
1 red onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 Tbs finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
3 whole star anise pods
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 celery ribs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 Tbs Asian fish sauce
1 14.5-ounce can crushed tomatoes in juice
2 cups beef stock or broth
4 cups stemmed curly spinach (4 ounces)
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
Chopped cilantro, for garnish

1. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the coconut oil. Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, brown the ribs over moderately high heat, turning, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. Transfer the ribs to a large plate. Add the onion, garlic and ginger to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in the five-spice powder, then add the star anise, carrots, celery and fish sauce and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, stock and short ribs to the casserole and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over moderately low

2. heat, turning the ribs every hour, until they are very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.

3. Discard the star anise. Stir the spinach and lemon juice into the casserole and season with salt and pepper. Divide

4. the stew among serving bowls and garnish with cilantro.

Servings: 4

Author: MELISSA HEMSLEY and JASMINE HEMSLEY
Source: Food & Wine

Author Notes
The stew can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Have a great day
 

16 comments:

  1. Sigh on the 'puter issues. I am still reeling from the fallout from mine.
    That stew sounds good though my vegetarian self would skip the meat (and the cilantro leaf.
    Love that clock and hope Matt adjusts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know Sue, it's a pain in the rear end. Think I have it squared away now though.

      Funny how many people don't like cilantro. I have friends who fell out because of it.

      He asked me what day it was today so I Just turned the clock towards him.

      Delete
  2. Hi Jo - hope the rent scenario stays as it is ... lucky you with the larger apartment is all I can say. The clock looks so helpful ... cheers for now - Hilary

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    1. Me too Hilary. Yes, it is nice having so much room, I would really have to downsize if we moved to a smaller place.

      It is, for me as much as anyone.

      Delete
  3. Looking at Instant Pots online yesterday and thought of you. Might just get myself a 3-qt. pot if I can find a good deal on Cyber Monday.
    I have two digital clocks, primarily for the weather. Even I have days where I check them to see what day it is, lol.
    One of my sons works for a country club here and he has 15 computers to upgrade to Windows 10 before the end of the year. Takes him forever because of all the updates needed. Not sure why they didn't do it years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love mine. I like that I can cook frozen meats in it too. Hope you can find a good deal. Mine doesn't do weather, not the most expensive variety but I was more interested in Matt knowing what day it was. And me being able to read the time from a distance LOL.

      I thought Windows 10 updated on its own. Sounds like a lot of work.

      Delete
    2. It does update, but these computers were still running Windows 7.

      Delete
    3. Well I got rid of my emails Denise, thank goodness. Trying to remember how long 10 has been around now.

      Delete
  4. That's a lot of emails.
    $1700 for an apartment? Our three bedroom house is less than half of that.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It was a lot Alex. All gone now.

      Lucky you. All depends where you live, we pay $1,400 and that is going up on Jan 1. Mind you, we don't pay for anything else, no electricity or anything which is very expensive up here. When it snows, we don't have to clear the drive etc. and our rent includes underground parking. Friends moved up north and are paying $600 for a 3 bedroom house, but I am happy here thanks.

      Delete
  5. When I got a new computer last year, you should've seen how many emails were in my inbox. Craig said no way was he transferring that many and I was happy to delete them.

    Our mortgage is around $650 but I know the apartments around here go for $1000-$1800, which is outrageous.

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    1. I can believe it, but these were emails I had thought were deleted as previously read Diane.

      They must be some impressive apartments for that kind of rent.

      Delete
  6. I get so tired of all the junk emails. One a day from a place is plenty. Why send me several a day? I miss the important stuff with all the junk.

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    1. Me too Liz. I had been going through all the junk and looking for the unsub link right at the bottom. Seemed to work, but this wasn't all junk, a lot of it was stuff I had dealt with before.

      Delete
  7. It's scary to rent if the landlords can raise it to whatever they want. Of course, you'll make it in your instapot.

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    1. It is and thank goodness this doesn't apply to us after all Susan. I sure will, if I can.

      Delete