CPAP, Cardiologist, Falls,

Remind me not to say anything about bowling for a while. At the moment our game is getting worse and worse although my last game on Thursday was respectable. I don't know why we are so bad at the moment. I have been very tired recently and thought it might be because I haven't been using my CPAP machine. They called me to come in for a service with my machine so I went Thursday morning and am planning to try it out again and see what happens. My problem was, since I lost weight, I couldn't seem to get a decent seal with the face mask so that the leaks were keeping me awake. However, if I get it tight enough I may be able to do it. Trouble is, my face will be covered with deep lines in the morning. Can't win can I, neither at bowling nor using the CPAP? If I can't get it to work right, it is the most expensive alarm clock I have ever had.

Friday, today, Matt has to start his annual visit to the heart specialist. Some years ago he had a string of TIAs, mini strokes, and was sent to the cardiologist whom he continues to see every year. The first part of the test is for a portable blood pressure monitor that he has to wear all night and which apparently keeps him awake. I know I had to wear one once and it was dreadful. Then he has to get up before the crack of dawn to take the stupid thing back again. Yuk, the cardiologist is in the next town so it`s not close by or anything. One thing, however, it isn`t that far from Barrie`s Asparagus Farm so we can call in on the way home. After all, I`m nearly out of asparagus!!

In the afternoon I will be attending yet another session of Stand Up to Falls. A lot of interesting stuff coming out of these seminars. As it appears at least a couple of friends of mine have been falling lately, they too need to attend a similar seminar. The statistics about seniors falling are quite horrific - I sure don`t want to become such a statistic. In Ontario, every 30 minutes a senior goes to the hospital from a fall. Every 10 minutes they go to a doctor for a fall related injury. They are the leading cause of injury in people 65 years or older. Many result in hip fractures.There are causes one doesn`t think about. Things like low blood pressure which can make one dizzy, Incontinence causing someone to rush to the bathroom, and so on and so on. Exercise is highly recommended. Not strenuous exercise you understand, but the kind of aerobic and balance exercises which benefit aged people so much.

This is a favourite recipe which I have had for years. Very simple, very tasty. I must admit I have never tried making these I am somewhat scared of handling Phyllo. Matt has always made them. However, I have decided I need to try it.

Asparagus Phyllo Bundles

For one roll:
Phyllo - 1/2 sheet for 2 asparagus
2 stalks asparagus
Parmesan, grated

1. Brush phyllo with butter, sprinkle with Parmesan, place 2 asparagus in middle and roll. Place in baking dish, sprinkle more Parmesan and put in oven 375 F for 15 mins.

Yield: one roll:

Source: Paula Deen


Have a great day
 

Water, Winter, Medical.

We’re a bright pair. There were notices in the lobby and halls saying the water would be turned off at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, and we both forgot about it with the result, when we went to shower etc. there wasn’t any water. Duuh. I managed to get enough for a pot of coffee, but that was it. Poor Matt had to go to his specialist to have a BP 24 hour monitor too, not sure if he can take if off later to have a shower or not. Normally I save pans of water and such for occasions like this, but today I didn’t of course. One doesn’t realise just how much one relies on the water being available. I have just remembered I have gallon jugs of distilled water in an emergency. Took me a while to think of that too. Senility creeping on. As it happened, they did turn the water on promptly at 3 p.m. Life is back to normal.

They are calling for snow again too, I can’t believe it that this weather just doesn’t stop this year. We have had some nice sunny days, but I keep seeing spring flower pictures being posted from the UK or down south and look out of our windows to see nothing but snow. I lie, we can see some grass now although it is a dirty, dead colour. Later: Yeah, it snowed. Matt said it is very cold. It’s pretty cold inside too as the heating is done by hot water so it too is not working.

Matt has to take his BP Monitor back at the crack of dawn (seems like that to me anyway). He also has a heart monitor on as well. It isn’t so bad for him as it was for me as his blood pressure is good and low so when it blows up the sleeve it doesn’t hurt him. Me it felt as if my arm was being cut off. This cost us another unrefundable $50 by the way.

I am very fond of beets which I always called beetroot until I came to Canada. Nor, I might say, had I ever eaten beet greens which I love too. This sounds like a very easy, delicious recipe from Food.com. One small problem, Matt is not all that keen on beets other than just pickled. I love them with sour cream too.
 

Crock Pot Thyme Roasted Beets

By Dreamer in Ontario

Photo by *Parsley*

• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins
• Servings: 8

 

"From Canadian Living Slow cooker Cookbook Special"
 

Ingredients

• 12 beets ( about 2 bunches)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley

Directions

1. Peel and dice the beets, then place in crock pot.
2. Add garlic, 1/4 cup water, oil, thyme, salt and pepper.
3. Stir all ingredients until well combined.
4. Cover and cook for 6 hours on low until tender.
5. Sprinkle with parsley.

Have a great day

BP Monitor, Asian Grocery. Towing.

Started my Tuesday by going to the Nephrologist’s office and being fitted with a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. So far it’s clocking me at readings in the 180’s which is not good. I always shoot up when I am at a doctor’s anyway, I seem to be doing it all the time right now, it’s about 10:30 a.m. and I have already had three readings, I have always hated BP monitors anyway. I’m probably wrong, but I think some people have naturally high readings, however the docs don’t seem to believe that. Later: I don’t know if the damned machine has gone wrong, but it doesn’t show any readings at all although it reverts to the time when it has monitored me. I would hate to think I have been through this for nothing. I have to take it back early in the morning (this morning when you read this) and the forecast is for thick snow. They might not get their $4,000 gadget back on time.

I mentioned, the other day, about our friend’s grandson finding a Korean store. It turns out that they are not just Korean,  but Asian so sell lots of oriental foods. We went in there on the way back from the specialist and I bought some Kimchee, some pickled ginger and some peeled garlic. I always peel garlic and keep it in a Mason jar with some paper towel to absorb the moisture, this way, I don’t have to go through the hassle of peeling it. They had some very large bags of garlic as well as some huge pots of both Kimchi and ginger. I restrained myself.

Now I’m a bit miffed. We finally got back the reimbursement for our tow when the brakes went on our car some weeks ago. However, the tow cost $71 and we only got $50. They said that was the maximum our policy allowed. We don’t really have a policy it’s a bonus provided by Meineke when you have a full service from them. I had problems with this whole thing right from the beginning and now to be short changed, I will never use this again. We have coverage through Dominion Auto which is like CAA or AAA and in future I will be sure to use DAA – I’m not really sure why I used the Meineke one anyway. It’s not Meineke themselves, but some insurance headquartered in Boca Raton.

I was recently discovered by Nancy Mock at Hungry Enough to Eat Six. I returned her visit only to find a super recipe for mashed potatoes. I asked Nancy and she gave me permission to use it in my blog, so here it is. Don’t you think they look delicious?

Garlic Mashed Potato Roll-Ups
Ingredients:

1 TB butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 slices thick country white bread
2 cups mashed potatoes, warm (ideally the mashed potatoes should be smooth with no big pieces of potato. If necessary stir in some milk or half and half one tablespoon at at time to make the potatoes creamy and smooth. Use a potato masher to get rid of any big lumps.)
garlic powder
ground pepper
salt
4 TB butter, melted

Directions: 
In a small skillet, melt the tablespoon of butter over medium heat. When hot and starting to sizzle, add in the minced garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until just before the garlic starts to brown. Remove from heat and add the garlic into the mashed potato. Stir to mix in. 
Cut the crusts off the bread slices. Use a rolling pin to flatten each slice. Place 1/4 c. of mashed potato onto a flattened slice; use the back of a spoon to smooth out the potato and cover the slice. Sprinkle the potato with a little garlic powder, pepper and salt. Gently roll up the bread and potato into a cylinder. Repeat with the remaining bread and potato. Brush the outside of each roll-up with melted butter. 
Spray a small skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat up over medium-high heat. Add in the roll-ups two at a time and cook for about 5 minutes, turning them to brown on all sides. Transfer to a warm plate and repeat with the remaining roll-ups.

Serve warm. Makes 8 roll-ups.

Have a great day