Holidays, Crossroads, Satima’s Blog.

All my American friends will be stuffing themselves stupid with turkeys and hams today, I am envious, I love turkey, only thing I don’t like is Pumpkin Pie. I wish you all the very best Thanksgiving and hope everything you are thankful for continues to be a blessing in your lives.Then there is Hanukkah and once again, I wish those of you celebrating all the very best for the coming year.

Today is the Travel League bowling I had mentioned the other day. We are going out of town to Elmira which is some distance away. As I said, we will be lunching at the Crossroads just outside town where they feature a huge buffet. The restaurant is Mennonite owned and staffed and they do a wonderful job. There is also a large gift store attached with the most fascinating items for gifts although I find it a little pricey. They also carry all kinds of beautiful table settings and decorative pieces for the home. I am always tempted but so far have never succumbed.

As writers or aspiring writers, I think you should read this blog by a friend of mine in Australia, Hormones and Reading. Satima Flavell writes about workshops she attended and goes on to describe the subject of these workshops which I found extremely interesting. Finally she refers her readers to a book written by the leader of the workshop which would be useful reading to authors of all nationalities and types. Satima is a writer, editor and reviewer and is very involved in the writing scene in Australia. Do read her current blog, I am sure you will find it helpful.

Here is something different to do with any turkey leftovers you may have. This came from BBC Good Food.

Thai coconut soup with turkey meatballs

By Jennifer Joyce
Serves 2

Lean and thrifty, turkey mince makes a great substitute for chicken in this spicy Asian noodle soup
Ingredients

• ½ small pack coriander, stems chopped, leaves reserved
• 1 garlic clove
• 250g turkey mince
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp Thai tom yum or Thai red curry paste
• 400ml can low-fat coconut milk
• 500ml chicken or vegetable stock
• zest and juice 2 limes
• 300g pack stir-fry vegetables
• 200g pack cooked egg or rice noodles

 

Method

1. Put the coriander stems and garlic in a food processor, pulse until finely chopped, add the turkey and 1 tsp of the fish sauce, and blend again. Roll into meatballs about 3cm in diameter.
2. In a saucepan, heat the tom yum or curry paste with a splash of water for 2-3 mins. Pour in the coconut milk, stock, lime zest and juice, and remaining fish sauce. Bring to a simmer, add the meatballs and cook for 3 mins. Add the vegetables and cook for 5 mins more, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
3. Add the noodles to warm through just before serving. Season, pour into 2 bowls and top with coriander leaves.

Have a great day

Memorial Day, Obama and Top Kill, Dandelions,

Happy Memorial Day to my US readers. Hope you have fun and if it is lovely weather where you are, don't get sunburnt. They were in fact recommending SPF 50 on TV this morning, I have never used one that high before, we always go for 15. For my non US readers this is when America particularly remembers her Veterans, frequently referred to as Vets which to an ex Limey like me means people who doctor animals LOL. You have to learn to say veterinarians when you are living in North America. Churchill said it first, two nations divided by a common language. For us Canadians it was Victoria Day (not Labour Day as I wrote) last weekend - commonly called May 24th weekend as it so frequently falls on that date. I mistakenly thought the two holidays were on the same weekend, but realised my error later. We had fireworks banging outside our windows for three nights last weekend. I was busy reading so I didn't bother to look, but I wasn't happy with them still banging at midnight although they did seem to stop at that time. You never see them at any other time, but Holiday weekends there are stands set up all over the place to sell you fireworks both here and in the States. One year we had guests staying for July 4th weekend so we all bought some and with some neighbours, set them off in the street. It was fun and the adults, as well as the kids, enjoyed it.

President Obama visited Louisiana yesterday to check on the situation with the oil gusher. There is a CBC article here http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/28/gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill.html which talks about his visit and the Top Kill process which they still are not sure has worked, but I guess everyone has everything crossed. BP is now admitting they didn't do enough to prevent oil reaching the fragile shores of the Gulf and contaminating the wetlands. The CBC picture shows the President picking up tar balls off the beach. I believe the beaches of that area used to be wonderful with white sand and pristine waters. Not at the moment that's for sure. Mind you I remember tar balls on English beaches when I was a kid.

Yesterday our hot water disappeared. I wasn't sure if it was just us, but it was the whole building and our super was out at the realty offices of the people who manage this building. I spoke to one woman on our floor (checking about the hot water) and she said she was sitting in her night attire waiting for the hot water. Matt and I at least threw clothes on. I am not sure when the hot water came back, but it did eventually. One of the things about living in an apartment building, we may have to wait around, but we don't have to fix anything ourselves. That reminds me, I was thinking we don't have to mow lawns, apparently there is some new law banning the use of chemicals to kill weeds with the result that everyone's dandelions have been allowed to grow and seed. The area is a mess now, what it will look like in future years I dread to think. We passed a field on the way to the asparagus farm which was totally white with Dandelion heads. I actually love to see Dandelions in flower against green grass, it looks so pretty, the green and gold, but boy do they look messy once they have seeded. I used to believe each seed was a fairy flying on a fairy parachute. There must have been a hell of a lot of fairies flying around this year. I stole this picture from blog.syracuse.com

I am sending Matt to shop at M & M's Meat Shops today, they are giving out a free chocolate fudge cake with purchase. Enough said!!

Here's a simple little recipe from AsparagusRecipes.net - oh dear, I will have to go buy more asparagus!!! No picture so this one is from Barrie Bros. Fresh Food.

Asparagus in Wine

AsparagusRecipes.net

2 lbs of asparagus.

Boiling water.¼ cup of butter.

¼ cup of white wine.

½ teaspoon of salt.

¼ teaspoon of pepper.

Wash the asparagus and snap off the ends.Lay the asparagus spears in a shallow pan and cover with salted boiling water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain and turn into buttered ramequins. Melt the butter and stir in the wine. Pour over the asparagus. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes.

Have a great day