Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Medical, Email, Asparagus, Weather, Shopping,

Thanks for the good wishes, ladydog phoned me and cheered me up somewhat and bullied me into making waves when I talk to the medical people tomorrow. I might end up with some help. I am not 100% sure who or what is calling tomorrow (Tuesday) something to do with the doctor I spoke to last week. Ve shall see. One thing I am learning, I made a big mistake years ago "passing by" a woman who's husband, I was told, had Alzheimer's. Just having someone to chat to is a big help. I have reached out to a few people since this all started, but wish I had done so more in the past. I am constantly on the edge of tears so ladydog says I should cry at them tomorrow!! She makes me laugh when she bullies me.

Got an email from the Post Office saying my parcel had been delivered, so having thought I decided to check the mail boxes downstairs, nothing. So then I checked the email again and did some tracking, came back to the original and realised it was dated May 15. Duuh. Why the devil are they sending it to me now?

Having done my tests on cooking asparagus this weekend, I cooked more in the Instant Pot today. I might do it occasionally in the air fryer, but having to wash the oily basket etc. is a nuisance, much easier to wash the IP.

I can't believe this month we had snow and frost and yesterday I started putting the air on. It was 30°C in the living room, same again today and I believe if is 31° outside. Hope the asparagus doesn't find that too hot. I need to start getting ready to can/pickle some for the rest of the year. Last year I did 5 large jars and it worked very well. Have to get out a large pan from the storage closet. There again, ladydog suggested I ask Cathy, who shops for me, to help. She is good and tall so she should be able to help me.

It appears that people have stopped using PC Express so much. I don't really know why, for most of this month it was difficult to get a spot for pick up without booking it over a week ahead. This morning I checked and I could have got a spot this afternoon had I wanted. I am so glad, it was making it difficult to say the least.

I have not tried this, I really should do so. It sounds delicious.

Asparagus with Indian Spices 

Long green spears of asparagus are not the usual Indian vegetable but with the right spices it really does work.
Hari says
Asparagus is a beautiful vegetable that only has a very short season, but when it is fresh, it’s perfect. Asparagus starts to appear in May until about July and I know it's a vegetable that needs very little to be done to it. The more simply it's cooked, the more tasty it is. That being said I like to experiment and try new things and although this was a tricky one to put with some spices, by using the lovely aromas of fennel seeds I found that it really worked. I decided that keeping it simple with a couple of flavours worked well…so here you have my Asparagus with Indian spices - make the most of it while it’s in season. If you can’t get hold of amchoor, just use a little squeeze of lemon instead.

2 garlic cloves
3 cm piece ginger
500 g Asparagus, chopped
3 tsp rapeseed oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp fennel seeds
1 onion, sliced
1 green chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
½ tsp amchoor powder (dried mango powder) (or a squeeze of lemon juice)
3 tomatoes, chopped finely
Salt to taste

1. Crush the ginger and garlic in a pestle and mortar to a paste.

2. Heat the oil in pan and on a medium heat add the cumin and fennel seeds.

3. Once sizzling and fragrant add sliced onions with the chopped green chilies and crushed ginger and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes.

4. Add the chopped asparagus and sprinkle in the salt, red chili powder and amchoor.

5. Add chopped tomatoes and cook for about 2-3 minutes.

Servings: 4

Author: Hari Ghotra


Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
 

10 comments:

  1. I am not in the slightest bit surprised that some days you are only just holding it together. Hooray for Ladydog (and yes, I would much rather laugh than cry). Good luck tomorrow.
    That indian asparagus recipe looks good. When asparagus comes into season again I will have to try that.

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    1. Yes, she is a good friend Sue. Me too I might get it tried out today.

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  2. Hi Jo - good luck with the medical chat and certainly hope you can get some help. Take care and all the best - Hilary

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  3. You sound much better today. Hope the call goes well.
    As for the grocery pick-up, the same thing here. One would have to get up at midnight to get a spot a week ahead, now you can get it the next day. Have a pick-up tomorrow, but may just go shopping in a couple of weeks in person.
    Very hot and humid here yesterday. Same all this week I am told.

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    1. Thanks Denise.
      Odd that people have stopped using the service. I can't shop in person anyway, but I guess that's what most people like to do.
      Never poked my nose outside.

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    2. I never poked my nose out either but my family dropped by and DIL said it was brutal outside. Was 84F on the thermometer.

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    3. 84°F is high, but not brutal I would have thought Denise.

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  4. I am pleased that you sound at least a little more positive than yesterday, Jo. I have no direct association with people with Alzeimers or dementia, but it is not hard to imagine that it is a very difficult situation to deal with, and it must try your patience at every moment of the day. Stay strong is all I can say, and I am sure that sounds like an inane platitude to you.

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    1. Actually I think it is impossible to imagine - I certainly never did David. No, staying strong is necessary if difficult.

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