Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Snow, Car, Shopping, Traffic Lights,



We got pretty heavy snow Sunday night and it was still snowing at 7 a.m. however, it has now all gone, surprising but it is supposed to be spring.

I have a car - whoopee. I went to Home Hardware to get some chandelier bulbs which are difficult to find because they have very small screw connections. We love our chandelier though - it was one of the original fittings in the building and I think we are one of the few apartments who still have one. Then I went to Victoria Street Market, principally because I didn't have any sausages. They insisted I wore a mask, er, I didn't have mine with me, (I have a pretty one made by David Gascoigne's wife) not used to going out these days. So they sold me one for $1. Also sprayed my hands. Of course the first thing that happened was my glasses steamed up and I had to fiddle around until I got it right!!! I went to the meat counter and horrors, only one sausage. However, the young man went and got a tray full. Phew.

I learnt something new today, I was sitting at the lights waiting to exit the street by VSM and I was sitting, and sitting and sitting but the lights didn't change. The drive behind me said if I didn't pull right up to the white line the sensor wouldn't see me and change. I did, and it did. That was a new one on me, I thought traffic lights worked on timers, or is it only a few that have sensors? I felt a bit of a nit wit I can tell you. Speaking to Bob at Meineke later, he assured me I was right, most lights are on a timer, but a rarely used light like the one near VSM, had a sensor. I had never heard about that before.

So then I got home and phoned Matt to come down with his walker to collect my shopping. I knew I couldn't walk with it across the garage, with a cane. I completely forgot about taking a walker so then I parked the car out front, went up to the apartment, sat for a bit, then took Matt's walker (easier to put in the trunk) and went to park the car. I could NOT have walked from our parking spot to the door with just a cane.

Hey, for my American friends, does POTUS die his hair? I see he won't wear a mask. Prince Charles and the British PM got Covid-19, but I guess he considers himself exempt. I can't believe it but Matt said he wouldn't know what he looked like!!

Poutine has never appealed to me, I do not like soggy fries for a start, but this might well be a delicious version. Mind you, I have no idea when asparagus is going to be available because of the dreadful spring weather, spring, huh!!!

Roasted Asparagus and Mushroom Poutine.

1 cup beef broth, chicken broth or vegetable broth
1/4 oz dried porcini mushrooms
1 lb asparagus, trimmed
8 oz mushrooms, quartered
1 Tbs olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbs butter
1 small shallot, finely diced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 Tbs flour (gluten-free for gluten-free)
1 tsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz cheese curds or diced mozzarella

1. Bring the broth and mushroom to a boil, turn off the heat and let sit until the mushrooms are tender, about 15-20 minutes, before straining the mushrooms, reserving the broth, and chopping the mushrooms.

2. Meanwhile, toss the asparagus and mushrooms in the oil, salt and pepper, place on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast in a preheated 400F/200C oven until they start to caramelize, about 20 minutes, mixing half way through.

3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan over medium heat, add the chopped mushrooms and cook until they start to caramelize, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the shallot, garlic and thyme and cook for a minute.

5. Mix int the flour and cook for another minute before mixing in the broth and soy sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper and simmering until it thickens, about 5 minutes.

6. Plate the roasted asparagus and mushrooms, top with cheese curds and hot gravy and enjoy!

Servings: 2

Author: Kevin Lynch
Source: Closet Cooking

Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
 

12 comments:

  1. I am thrilled that you have your car back.
    Some of our lights ARE on a sensor. Turning lights to side-streets usually.
    Poutine has never appealed, but then I haven't had to chance to try the 'real thing' either.

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    1. Me too Sue. It was a totally new one on me, I've only been driving since I was 17 LOL.

      Sorry, gravy on fries just does not appeal.

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  2. Hi Jo - glad you got the car back. I found that sensor thing out when I was over on Vancouver Island - totally surprised me. Yes - poutine to me always looks 'not nice'!! Am very happy with asparagus though ... take care and let's hope that cold and snow goes ... we have it here too - but in Scotland and the north - still mighty cold down here. All the best Hilary

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    1. Me too Hilary. Never come across the sensor thing before. I will watch out for it now, especially near VSM. No, not nice. I am just hoping for warm weather for the asparagus, the snow has all gone but I don't know the temps today.

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  3. There is a sensor light where you leave the complex I used to work in. They also have a sign telling you to pull up to the line.
    Considering that I have been in Canada more times than I can count - including several trips to Quebec - I have never had poutine. Does not appeal to me at all.

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    1. I don't think there is any kind of sign Denise, I should check it out next time I go. No, doesn't appeal to me at all.

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  4. Now here is the thing about poutine. For the most part it is sheer crap, but if you can get good poutine it is worthy of being declared Canada's national dish. When I lived in Québec City I knew of a chip truck where the best poutine in the universe could be had. I swear he had the ingredients delivered by the poutine gods daily. It must have been a strange fellow, however, who first thought to blend French fries, cheese curds and gravy! I wonder what kind of wine would pair with poutine!!

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    1. If you say so David. I don't think I will bother to try. As cheap a wine as you can get, pour it over the poutine and then throw out the lot.

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    2. Actually we used to buy a very cheap wine in Malta, years ago, used to cost less than two shillings (if you can convert that) we eventually developed a taste for it, but it would have been perfect for poutine LOL. I remember somebody's wine, somewhere, but can't remember, which tasted like gasoline, would also have been suitable.

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  5. Glad you got your car back!
    Most lights here use sensors.
    And there are quite a few stores around here that require a mask to enter.

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    1. Me too Alex. I don't remember come across that at the coast but then Matt used to drive more than I did in those days.

      What happened to the "you don't need a mask unless you are ill" scenario?

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