9/11, Bowling, Google Hangouts,

Must admit I had forgotten the significance of the date on Sunday until I heard it mentioned on TV. It is one of those days one will always remember where one was and what one was doing. The same as when I heard of the assassination of President Kennedy or the death of Princess Di. On 9/11 a friend called me and told me to turn on the TV (I don't watch much TV) I did so and was shocked at the terrible accident which had cause a plane to crash into one of the twin towers. It wasn't until the second plane that I and the watching world realised it was a terrorist attack. What a dreadful day that was. Matt was out golfing with a couple of friends and didn't know anything about it until they came off the course. I, of course was glued to the TV all day.

Today being the 12th, we start our winter league bowling. It is so much better to bowl Monday and Thursday rather than Wednesday and Thursday, gives us a break in between. 

Saturday we had another Google Hangouts meeting with 4 of our group. It was great fun again although some of the time was spent getting things to work right. For instance I could hear everyone but they couldn't hear me for some reason. 

Tried this out for supper last night. We both enjoyed it. As I did it for supper I fried two eggs each.

Sherried Mushrooms with Fried Eggs on Toast

Food & Wine

2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
3/4 lb mixed mushrooms, such as button and cremini, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dry sherry, such as Oloroso
Four 1/2-inch-thick slices of rustic white bread
2 Tbs unsalted butter
4 large eggs
2 Tbs coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a large skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until softened, 4 minutes. Add the onion, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and the mushrooms are browned, 3 minutes longer. Add the sherry and cook until almost evaporated, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, cover and set aside.

2. Arrange the bread slices on a large rimmed baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake for about 6 minutes, until toasted. Transfer the toasts to plates.

3. In a large, nonstick skillet, melt the butter over moderate heat. Crack the eggs one at a time into a ramekin and then slip into the skillet. Cook the eggs, sunny-side up, until the whites are firm and the yolks runny, about 5 minutes.

4. Spoon the mushroom mixture onto the toasts and top with the fried eggs. Garnish with the parsley and serve.

Servings: 4

Author Notes
MAKE AHEAD

The cooked mushrooms can be refrigerated overnight. Reheat gently.

Have a great day
 

Conference Call, Saturday Dinner, Champagne, RRHA

That was pretty amazing. On Saturday a few cyber friends got together on Google Hangouts and spoke to one another. Our coverage was from Canada (me) to Mexico (Father Dragon) stopping at Virginia and North Carolina and Texas on the way. The Ninja Captain was there too  - he has a nice voice but still don't know what he looks like LOL. I always love getting in touch with cyber friends. We may never be able to meet face to face but this is the next best thing. Before this I had never heard of Google Hangouts which I was having trouble with. For some reason my web cam wouldn't work on my desktop but in the end it worked with my laptop although there was nowhere to attach it. Even tried my tablet. I was either getting a picture and no sound or sound but no picture. Of course, modern laptops have cameras built in, but mine doesn't as it is anything but modern. Still works though.

Off the cuff I invited a friend over for dinner on Saturday night. Usually I know in advance what I am

cooking for Saturday but have been humming and hawing all week. In the end I decided to do the Korean Bulgogi Beef again. We enjoyed it and I have enough flank steak for 3 or more of us so that worked out OK. Turned out well and our friend enjoyed it although she doesn't really eat enough to keep a bird alive. Maybe I should copy her. Help keep my weight down.

I have come across an article through a friend in Facebook. According to research in the UK if you drink 3 glasses of champagne a day it really helps prevent the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's. I drink champagne every Sunday but I guess I am going to have to increase it!!! I can just imagine what Matt would say about that. They are going to be testing it out on older people. I will have to go back to Britain just to get in on the study. Unless they wish to extend it to Canada.

Oops, it turns out I am guest posting on the Really Real Housewives of America this week instead of later in the month. I feel a bit bogus because I haven't been a real housewife in a long time. I have someone who comes in to clean for me these days. At least vacuuming and dusting. I just cannot manage that stuff any more. Actually, I have had a cleaner most of my life. I always remember in my 20s I lived in a two room apartment and had a woman come in to clean for me. I used to pay her half a crown an hour, peanuts today, but it was a lot to me then. However, she could afford to fly to America to see her kids, I could hardly afford to go to the local restaurant. Struck me as funny all those many years ago. My mother had a cleaner most of her married life except a period when my father was broke and we couldn't afford it. Then she worked like stink However, eventually things changed and she had a cleaner once again. I had one cleaning lady who used to come to me once we had divorced and I couldn't afford her any more and she would just come to have coffee with me and do a bit of cleaning. She was such a wonderful woman. Years later her husband said she loved me very much, I loved her too.

We both love Brie. This is a slightly different version of Baked Brie.

Herbed Baked Brie

Big group? Go for the show-stopping giant baked brie recipe. Smaller party (or can’t find the large

size)? Smaller wheels are perfect, and the cook time is the same.

1 2.2-pound wheel of brie (or 8-ounce rounds)
6 sprigs rosemary
6 sprigs thyme
2 Tbs olive oil
Cranberry-Pear Mostarda, Thyme-Roasted Walnuts, sliced pear, crackers, and sliced baguette (for serving)

1. Place brie on a plate and freeze until very firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 350°. Cut off top rind of brie with a sharp knife (it’s okay if you can’t get the rind off in one piece; brie will smooth out as it bakes).

3. Toss rosemary, thyme, and oil on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet until coated. Spread herbs evenly on parchment. Place brie in the center so that it covers about half of the herbs. Bake until cheese is melted, 15–20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest to firm up slightly, about 5 minutes (if you skip this step, you risk spilling molten cheese all over your cutting board).

4. Strip leaves from uncovered herbs and sprinkle over brie. Using parchment and a wide spatula, carefully slide brie and covered herbs onto a cutting board.

5. Arrange mostarda, walnuts, pear slices, crackers, and baguette slices around cutting board; serve

Source: Bon Appétit

Hope you are enjoying your Labour Day holiday weekend.