Shopping, Gout, Lunch, Cooking.

After I had approved the bed making this morning, LOL, I phoned the grocery store to discover the artichokes had come in last night. I decided to shoot down and get some (if shooting is any longer possible) I had also called Victoria St. Market as, for some reason, the grocery store has no tonic water. They had some smallish bottles so figured I would go there too. I parked round the back of the  grocery store as I figured it was easier for me, walking with a cane, than the other side. I was lucky and picked up a shopping cart near where I parked. I then saw a young man bringing in carts and disinfecting them so asked him to disinfect mine. All set so I went in and found the artichokes. I also picked up a couple of white flesh peaches, these are the only ones which fit the freestone description. They are not very ripe yet but they should be OK later. I picked up a few other things like raspberries and Portobellas,then back to the car. Went to VSM and picked up the bottles of tonic, ended up with two lots just in case. They had more fresh corn so I decided to get some. Saw some home made looking butter tarts which I thought Matt would enjoy. I had one later in the day, not bad. Don't think I will eat any more though, not good for my sylph like (I wish) figure.

Getting home, my feet were killing me. Did I tell you I have gout in my big toes. I am a tad embarrassed - not sure why except, to me, gout is something old men who sank a bottle of port every day, suffered from. I remember one saw pictures of them with a foot up on a stool with the foot being swathed in bandages. It's something which comes and goes and right now it is raging in both feet. I take medication but it doesn't seem to be doing anything at the moment.

By this time, of course, it was lunchtime so I made lunch for both of us and, at the same time, popped a couple of artichokes in the Instant Pot. Didn't really mean to, but couldn't resist them once they were cooked so finished off my lunch that way.

Finished my book and started the Alex Trebek book which I got from ladydog. Didn't get very far when I couldn't keep my eyes open. Not the book's fault, I was just tired.

I had taken shrimp out of the freezer for supper and I suddenly thought of the Jambalaya recipe I have been making for years and yet not for a number of years. It used to be a big favourite of a friend in NC who had a shrimp boat and would give me a pile of shrimp so I would make it and bring it to a party. He would then eat it for breakfast and for any meal he had enough left for. I don't really know why I haven't made it for so long. Anyway, I realised I had some rice from last night so off I went. I had to improvise a bit mind you. I used a red pepper, sweet onions as I had no green onions and I used grape tomatoes which worked fine. Of course I had to cook the shrimp but chilled them in the freezer for a while. Not that long although I then left the whole dish in the fridge until I was ready to serve and got complaints that it was too cold. I thought it was fine myself. The recipe came from the Cambridge Times (think that's what it was called) many a long year ago. I also cooked the corn beforehand and much to my surprise, Matt ate his.

Jambalaya

2-1/2 cup water
1 cup converted rice
1 tsp salt
3 tsp red pepper sce (hot)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 lb cooked shrimp (I usually use more)
1 cup diced ham
1/2 med green pepper cut in 1 x 1/4 in strips
4 green onions, with tops, sliced
2 med tomatoes, roughly chopped

1. Bring water to boil, add rice, 1 tsp salt and red pepper sauce. Simmer 20 mins. covered. Remove from heat, let stand approximately five mins til liquid has disappeared. Put in a large bowl. Combine garlic, oil, remaining salt with rice. Add rest of ingredients except tomatoes. Chill a minimum of 3 hours. Stir in tomatoes to serve

Servings: 4



Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
 

Instant Pot Again, Mardi Gras,

On Saturday I posted a recipe for Mongolian Beef in the Instant Pot. I made it for supper for us and decided to add the pineapple as well as the juice. It was delicious. Mind you, I am not sure where Mongolians get Pineapple from. Of course these days, internationally, most people have access to most foods, but if you are interested, I have linked to a Wikipedia article. Pineapple is certainly not a staple. However, it was good and we both enjoyed it. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of the Instant Pot. If you remember, I changed them because the first one I got was too big for my kitchen. So I was following a recipe from the recipe booklet which came with the delivery of the small one. It was for cooking chicken. At one point it says press the Poultry button. So, off I trot to do just that, only problem, I don't have a Poultry button. I went through the distruction booklet again and finally found a note, tucked away, saying my mini model doesn't have a Poultry button. OK, fine, but these are the distructions which came with it, what am I supposed to do instead????? Absolutely nothing. I did it by guess and it worked out fine, but I wasn't too happy that they hadn't explained this in the book. Yes, I know, one book fits all, but apparently it doesn't.

Matt foes for the results of his kidney ultrasound this morning.

It appears that Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, so practically every recipe I see is for Cajun something or other or dishes suitable for the occasion. Many years ago I picked up a recipe for Jambalaya in the local newspaper which I made many times. A friend of ours in NC who had a shrimp boat, used to love it and would give me 5 lbs of shrimp to make it (I never used that much shrimp, it was overkill) so I made a larger amount than usual and left it for him to finish it for breakfast the next day - possibly lunch too. I have since read many Jambalaya recipes, but this is a very good dish. I haven't seen the recipe for a while and see it calls for converted rice - I would use basmati. I would also use much more shrimp.

Jambalaya

2-1/2 cup water
1 cup converted rice
1 tsp salt
3 tsp red pepper sauce (hot)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 lb cooked shrimp (I usually use more)
1 cup diced ham
1/2 med green pepper cut in 1 x 1/4 in strips
4 green onions, with tops, sliced
2 med tomatoes, roughly chopped

1. Bring water to boil, add rice, 1 tsp salt and red pepper sauce. Simmer 20 mins. covered. Remove from heat, let stand approximately five mins til liquid has disappeared. Put in a large bowl. Combine garlic, oil, remaining salt with rice. Add rest of ingredients except tomatoes. Chill a minimum of 3 hours. Stir in tomatoes to serve

Servings: 4

Have a great day
  

Movie, Bowling, Shrimp,

We decided to watch The Green Mile on Thursday night and of course it went on quite late so although I had written a bit of this blog, I hadn't finished it. We both enjoy that movie, one of our favourites. Tom Hanks is brilliant in it - well he is in anything he takes on - and I love the John Coffey character played by Michael Clarke Duncan. Tonight I thought more about the acting than I ever have before and the guy who played the nasty little prick Percy Wetmore, Doug Hutchison, did a brilliant job in making everyone hate him. In fact I think the whole thing was brilliant. Especially the makeup job on Tom Hanks for his "old man" look. Must have taken quite a while to achieve.

Bowling wasn't too bad today, one of our team joined us and bowled ahead. So we decided to bank ours as well. Turned out that the league who always play on Thursday afternoons, were having their missed Christmas get together today. Bad snow day before. As usual we were invited to partake. I had a glass of wine and some cookies. Team member had more to eat but Matt, as usual, didn't have anything. One of the ladies from the league had given us a couple of wafers a previous week, they were so good I asked her to pick some up for me. She gave me a couple of packets today but wouldn't take any money which means I can never ask her to get any more for me. They are a Dutch coffee flavoured wafer, delicious.

This is a recipe I picked up from the local paper, K.W. Record, many, many years ago. I cannot tell you the times I have made it, mostly when we lived in NC and had access to really fresh, tasty shrimp. We had a friend who owned a shrimp boat and he would give me 5 lbs of shrimp, heads on of course, and ask me to make it. I usually saved a few of those shrimp for us. I don't think it is totally authentic, but we all enjoyed it and our friend even ate it for breakfast. I may well have posted this recipe before, but I came across it tonight and I was hungry for it once again. I wonder if I can get some really decent shrimp. Trouble is the stuff we get here has been on ice for a while and the good flavour tends to leech out. They should freeze it instantly and sell it that way. I used to freeze fresh shrimp and it stayed tasty for a long time.

Jambalaya

To freeze, don't add onions or tomatoes.

2-1/2 cup water
1 cup rice - Basmati is best
1 tsp salt
3 tsp red pepper sce (hot)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 lb cooked shrimp (I usually use more, much more)
1 cup diced ham
1/2 med green pepper cut in 1 x 1/4 in strips
4 green onions, with tops, sliced
2 med tomatoes, roughly chopped

1. Bring water to boil, add rice, 1 tsp salt and red pepper sauce. Simmer 20 mins. covered. Remove from heat, let stand approximately five mins til liquid has disappeared. Put in a large bowl. Combine garlic, oil, remaining salt with rice. Add rest of ingredients except tomatoes. Chill a minimum of 3 hours. Stir in tomatoes to serve.

Servings: 4

Source: KW Record

Have a great day
 

Just Rambling

Matt came home from the hospital around 2 yesterday afternoon having had a miserable time. Well you do in day surgery, or any hospital time don’t you? If you don’t know, lucky you. I do like St. Mary’s hospital though, they are such an efficient bunch especially in their Emergency room.

Today its my turn although I only have to have an ultra sound at a vascular clinic and then see the doc about my claudicated arteries. This aging bit is great.

It finally rained last night, or this morning, we need rain badly round here. Usual thing, parts of the continent are flooded and we are heading into a drought. It is still pretty hot round here though, the computer room in particular is like an oven although there is a ceiling fan in here. Generally we really don’t need central air conditioning, but when there is a heat wave like this, I would sell my soul for central air. Being the summer, there isn’t too much of anything on TV at the moment. I ended up watching a movie on my laptop and Matt played Bookworm on the desktop. What a sad life!! We are both counting the days til we head south to visit North Carolina. Our summer league bowling ends with our banquet on the 19th although I suspect we will try and play at least once a week until the winter season begins again.

One thing I did achieve yesterday, I called our provider, Rogers, from who we get cable, internet, land phone and cell phone services. Our cell phone contract ends this month and as we hardly ever use it, I have now arranged for a limited service of 40 minutes a month (last month for instance we used 3 mintues) and less than half the current price. I am also getting a new phone for free. I get a few days to decide if I like it or not, it has a pull out QWERTY keyboard although I'm not sure I will use that very much. I only text one person and that once in a very blue moon.

I have just heard a report on TV saying that because of the Twilight movies young people today are biting to draw blood as a way of showing affection!!!! Trying to pretend they are vampires. How ridiculous. Doctors say this can cause hepatatis, syphallis or HIV. What a dangerous craze. I loved the books: I haven’t seen any of the movies, but if they are causing such a dangerous practice, its not good. I have to admit when I saw the Superman movies, I did want to fly, but luckily never tried it!!! For supper last night I made a Jambalaya recipe I got out of the local paper many, many years ago. A friend of ours in NC used to love this dish and would provide me with tons of shrimp to go into it and then he would keep the leftovers and eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it was all finished. After his surgery Matt said he was only allowed to eat soup, he had nothing but cookies or crackers all day, however, having had some soup when he came home, he ate the Jambalaya for supper. Jambalaya

2 cups water 1 cup rice 1 tsp salt 3 tsp red pepper sce (hot/spicy) 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 garlic clove, crushed 1/2 lb cooked. peeled shrimp (I usually use more) 1 cup diced ham 1/2 med green pepper cut in 1 x 1/4 in strips 4 green onions, with tops, sliced 2 med tomatoes, roughly chopped Bring water to boil, add rice, 1 tsp salt and red pepper sauce. Simmer 20 mins. covered. Remove from heat, let stand approximately five mins til liquid has disappeared. Put in a large bowl. Combine garlic, oil, remaining salt with rice. Add rest of ingredients except tomatoes. Chill a minimum of 3 hours. Stir in tomatoes to serve. Servings: 2 Have a great day

Howl at the Moon, New Hamburg,

We went to lunch yesterday - mainly because I was too lazy to prepare anything. The special at Howl at the Moon was Jambalaya made with pasta. I have never heard of a pasta Jambalaya before so decided to try it. It had chicken, spicy sausage and 3 shrimp. Not bad, but I must say, I still prefer Jambalaya made with rice. Matt had a half Reuben with a Cæsar Salad. (Hey just discovered I can do dipthongs). I remembered my mini camera so took a shot of my Jambalaya, with the flash, I couldn't see it, took one without, bit dark but with a little editing effort its not a bad picture. However, Matt's lunch didn't come out at all without the flash - need more practice with this camera obviously. In a little while, we will be taking part in our bowling tournament and then we will be going out to lunch again. How about that, lunch out two days running. There is a really good restaurant I have mentioned before called The Waterlot. I would like to go to lunch there, but the rest of the team may not want to go there so guess it ain't my choice. Its just round the corner from Riverside Bowling Lanes too. Hope you have your fingers crossed for us today. Indian Tomato Salad Canadian Living Cooks Yield: 4 * 1/4 cup vegetable oil * 2 tbsp wine vinegar * 1 tbsp lime, juice or 1 tbsp lemon, juice * 1 clove garlic, minced * 1 tsp Dijon mustard * 1/4 tsp ground cumin * 1/4 tsp salt * 1/4 tsp pepper * 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint * 2 large tomato, sliced * 1 onion, thinly, sliced * 1 x 7 inch piece English cucumber, thinly, sliced * fresh mint, leaves 1. In large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, lime juice, garlic, mustard, cumin, salt and pepper. 2. Stir in mint. 3. Add sliced tomatoes, onion and cucumber; toss gently. 4. Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.) 5. Garnish with mint leaves. Have a great day.

Diamonds to Jambalayas

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend. On GMA there was a fascinating segment about thirteen women in California who had bought themselves a diamond necklace and share it between them. It started with one woman, Jonell McLain, seeing the necklace in a jeweller's store. She then contacted a number of women friends and proposed purchasing this as a joint venture. Finally, the jeweller agreed to sell the necklace at a discount so long as his wife could be part of the group. A book has now been written telling the story and a movie is apparently on its way. Each member of the group wears it for a month unless there is a special occasion, like being interviewed on Good Morning America I guess. They claim it has really changed their lives in many ways. If you would like to read more about it click here where there is also an excerpt from the book. It really is quite a novel concept - wish I had 12 friends I could share a diamond necklace with. Matt continued watching GMA whilst I came to blog and he saw Jack Hannah who is a visiting "animal man" and who brings in the most fascinating critters. Apparently there was one small deer or antelope which is known as "the red deer" whilst he was talking, Jack was stroking this animal with a napkin. At the end, he showed that the napkin was red but the deer hadn't lost any colour. Wish I could find something about this to show you. The only red deer I can find are not the same animal at all. The one Matt saw was striped. Fascinating that you can get colour from the animal and yet it still retains its colour. Another segment which interested me was the formation, some years ago, of a group called Just Between Friends. It has become big business now, but it is basically a giant yard/garage sale where people sell their gently used items to people looking for bargains. They suggest how you can do this in your own neighbourhood by getting, say, 20 friends together to sell their gently used items. They call it a consignment convention. Apparently everyone involved in selling makes some money and people come away with excellent bargains on things they need. click here for the whole story. Sarah Palin has just been interviewed by Charlie Gibson who is one of the best in his field - I didn't watch it, I am not political as I have said before - however I did see one segment where Charlie asked Palin about Russia and her foreign policy views - she started on about how one can see Russia from Alaska. It appeared to me, she didn't really understand the question, or she wasn't sufficiently genned up on the situation. I was asked, in the comment section, about posting a Jambalaya recipe. I already posted my recipe on the 4th of July and yes, it does contain shrimp. I have made it many times and it has always been popular. I have no doubt that "dahn sath" they have many Jambalaya recipes which differ considerably, but I have never investigated them. I have just found a chicken and sausage Jambalaya on About.com which may fit the bill if you don't like seafood. Oops, having posted it I see it also has shrimp but perhaps it would be OK to leave them out. Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Source: About.com Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 broiler chicken, cut up, about 3 pounds
• paprika
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 pound smoked sausage, thinly sliced
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup long-grain rice
• 2 teaspoons leaf thyme, crumbled
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (Tabasco)
• 1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined

Preparation:

Wash chicken and pat dry; rub with the paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet; add chicken and brown on all sides. Remove chicken from skillet. Add onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Sauté over low heat until onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in sausage, tomatoes, chicken broth, rice, thyme, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Add chicken and turn to coat with sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minute, or until chicken is tender. Stir in shrimp and cook about 3 minutes longer, or just until shrimp turns pink. Have a great day.

4th July

Happy Independence Day to all my American readers. I do hope you have a wonderful day. We used to have a great time when we lived in North Carolina spending the day with all our friends. One thing we often did was to take the boat a few miles up the Sound to Swansboro where they had a firework display on an island off shore. We would anchor and watch it from the water. There were at least two boats in our party and we used to have great fun. I remember one year, on our way home, we rescued some people in the water, their boat had sunk because they had too many on board (drinking) they were a bit difficult to deal with. Luckily some of them had made it to an island so we just had one guy to take ashore for help, he was in the water by their boat, think he was trying to swim for it or something. Drunk sailing doesn't work any better than drunk driving. A heck of a lot of Americans will be eating Hamburgers and Hot Dogs today - I can't offer any assistance for any of that I'm afraid. Not something we eat very often and even when we do, I prefer mine without the bun. Wieners, to me, should be eaten on a plate with sauerkraut. Of course when we were celebrating the 4th with friends we ate the same as anyone else. We would all take a dish to someone's home so we would have plenty of food. We always had potato salad and baked beans. We had one friend who made the best burgers I have ever tasted, he didn't do much with them, but they were always delicious. His wife made the best cole slaw too (I have that recipe, quite a simple one) unfortunately neither of them are with us any more. I often took my recipe from Jambalaya, not an authentic one, but I got it out of a local newspaper here in Canada. It was very popular in North Carolina and usually a friend would give me a load of shrimp to use in it. He had a shrimp boat. He would then have the leftovers for breakfast and lunch the next day apparently. It was one of his favourite meals. Here is my recipe for Jambalaya. Jambalaya Cambridge Reporter 2-1/2 c water 1 c converted rice * 1 tsp salt 3 tsp red pepper sce (hot) 1/4 c vegetable oil 1 garlic clove, crushed 1/2 lb cooked shrimp (I usually use more) 1 c diced ham 1/2 med green pepper cut in 1 x 1/4 in strips 4 green onions, with tops, sliced 2 med tomatoes, roughly chopped Bring water to boil, add rice, 1 tsp salt and red pepper sauce. Simmer 20 mins. covered. Remove from heat, let stand approximately five mins til liquid has disappeared. Put in a large bowl. Combine garlic, oil, remaining salt with rice. Add rest of ingredients except tomatoes. Chill a minimum of 3 hours. Stir in tomatoes to serve. *These days I would use Basmati rice which I think has a better flavour, but it has to be cooked slightly differently. You can follow the directions on the packet merely adding the hot sauce. You can increase the quantities of this recipe without any problem. Have a great day.