Showing posts with label Fruit Flies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fruit Flies. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Mandarin, Cannabis, Shrinking Me, Bowling,

The Mandarin are still celebrating Canada Day - they do so from July 1 to July 31. We went there for lunch today with the friends who had helped us driving us from the hospital. Much to my surprise, with my painful legs, I managed to serve myself at the buffet quite easily. I got a few slices of chocolate dipped bacon but was a little disappointed this year. I was also very disappointed in their Hot and Sour Soup today. Tasted as though there were something missing. Great pity, it is one of my favourite things to eat there. The Maple Glazed Salmon, one of their Canada Day specials, was delicious. I must say their spring and egg rolls made mine look a bit pathetic LOL

We then went straight to the grocery store and collected my order - Matt always collects the car and puts it back in the garage for me, long walk for me. I took the trolley full of groceries into the front lobby but couldn't get them any further. I need my cannabis, not going til July 30. Hopefully I won't have to reschedule again.

Forgot, Monday I also went for a bone density test. Went for one a long time ago, don't remember how long, and I had gone from 5 ft. 6 in to 5 ft. 5 in. Now I am 5 ft. 3 1/2 in. I am shrinking. Don't know the results of any of the other tests of course.

Matt keeps saying we won't go bowling tomorrow. Oh yes we will, I am quite determined. If I sit at the scoring table I don't have much walking to do and should manage OK. I know we took all 7 points last week although we weren't there, but what our standing is at the moment I don't know. We were at #1.

Just came across this article about getting rid of fruit flies. I know we are plagued with them, more some summers than others. Thought you might find  the article of help as well.

I thought this sounded delicious. I have never been a fan of canned tuna although I do enjoy fresh tuna. However, lobster is probably my favourite food. For most of you I would suggest buying your lobsters cooked. I also haven't a clue what Fresh Express Veggie Lover's Salad Blend is, something one would have to guess at I think.

Lobster Niçoise Salad

Steamed lobster is a luxurious swap for tuna in this otherwise-classic, veggie-loaded Niçoise salad. In a pinch—or if you don't want to deal with a giant pot of boiling water on a steamy summer day—
many supermarkets have freshly picked lobster meat at their seafood counter or in the freezer case. Serve with a warm baguette for lunch or dinner.

11 oz Fresh Express Veggie Lover's Salad Blend
3  1 1/4-1 1/2 pound live lobsters
1 lb small new potatoes
1 lb green beans, trimmed
4 cups mixed baby salad greens or arugula
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup Niçoise olives or other black olives
Vinaigrette
2 anchovy fillets, chopped
? tsp salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 ½ tsp grated lemon zest
¼ cup lemon juice
3 Tbs minced fresh chives
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1. To prepare lobsters: Bring 4 inches of water to a rolling boil in a very large pot. Add lobsters, claw-side down; cover and cook until a leg pulls out easily, 14 to 16 minutes. Remove from the pot. When cool enough to handle, remove the tail and claws from the body. Cut open the tail with kitchen shears. Insert a fork into the tail on an angle and pull out the meat. Crack open the claws with a lobster cracker or nutcracker and remove the meat from the claw and knuckle. (The body is delicious to snack on: pull off the legs, crack open the body and eat the bits of meat inside.) To prepare potatoes & green beans: Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Add potatoes, cover and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to a cutting board to cool. Add more water to the pot, if necessary, so it's at least 1 inch deep. Add green beans to the steamer basket, cover and cook until bright green and just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Rinse in a colander with cold water until cool. Drain thoroughly. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut in half, if desired. To prepare vinaigrette: Mash anchovies and salt in a medium bowl using the back of a spoon. Stir in pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice and chives. Whisk in oil in a slow steady stream until well combined. To assemble salad: Arrange greens on a serving platter. Top with the lobster meat, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes and olives. Spoon about ¼ cup of the vinaigrette over the top. Serve the remaining vinaigrette on the side.

2. To make ahead: Refrigerate cooked lobster, green beans, potatoes and vinaigrette separately for up to 1 day.

Servings: 6

Author: Kathy Gunst
Source: Eating Well Magazine

Have a great day
 

Monday, June 29, 2015

Health, Flies,

Just over a week ago I had an ultrasound on my carotid artery. This was as a result of my fainting (for want of a better word) episode a few weeks ago. Saturday I went to see the doctor to discuss the results. It turns out that my carotid is 70% blocked on the left side. So now I have to go see a surgeon and I am guessing, have an angioplasty and maybe another stent. I already have two in my femoral artery. Guess that's going to interfere with my bowling. A friend told me she had an 85% blockage of an artery and they did the angiogram/angioplasty straight away. I hope they will get to mine quickly. Considering I have already had femoral arteries stented (new word) and now they find another major artery blocked, it makes me wonder what else needs attention.

I was quite chuffed Sunday morning (pleased with myself) because I managed to catch two fruit flies; usually I can't get anywhere near them. We get lots of the damned things in the summer months (well they say it's summer) and last year some of you may remember I bought an apple which is actually a fly trap. It does work, but not brilliantly so we still get them flitting around the place. God forbid we should throw a banana skin in the garbage, they home on it almost instantly. We frequently spray Raid in the garbage can to stop them. We have had a plague of them in the bathroom before now and they seemed to be coming from the overspill hole. Luckily this has only happened the once. This picture shows an apple trap somewhat more ornate than ours. There is an attractant inside and a sticky ring of card to catch them. The idea is to put it with fruit.

Would you believe there are only a few days to go now and I will stop posting asparagus recipes until next year. I will be getting my last asparagus on Tuesday and although I will be enjoying it for a while longer, I probably won't post asparagus recipes after June is out.

French Onion and Asparagus Pasta

By:
  • Serves: 6
French Onion and Asparagus PastaIn this irresistible, fragrant dinner, the flavors of French onion soup are combined with pasta and asparagus. It's a big hit in our family, and something even my picky kids will eat!

Ingredients

1 stick butter
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves minced garlic
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
12 oz penne pasta
1 lb asparagus spears, ends trimmed, sliced into thirds
2 Tbsp flour
1 14.5-oz can beef stock
1/4 cup Heavy Cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a Dutch oven or large skillet. Add onions, garlic, thyme and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until onions are softened and caramel in color, about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions on package in boiling salted water. During the last 4 minutes of cooking, stir in asparagus spears. Drain pasta and asparagus; set aside and keep warm.

3. When onions are caramelized, stir in flour until coated. Stir in beef stock, scraping browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in heavy cream. Add onions and sauce to the reserved pasta and asparagus.

4. Spread the pasta in an oven-safe dish. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

5. Combine olive oil and breadcrumbs; sprinkle evenly over cheese.

6. Broil in the oven until the breadcrumbs begin to brown and the cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately

Have a great day.