Bites, Pandas, Nuclear Test.

The bug problem still goes on. I was sitting in my lounger yesterday, reading, and didn`t notice until I decided to go to bed and then realised I was itching. The trouble is you don`t basically feel it when they bite.

I had understood they only bit exposed flesh, I was actually wearing a sweat shirt at the time this happened. So that`s that theory knocked on the head. These are not the only bites, but most noticeable. I sent a copy of this picture to the landlords. There has been a resounding silence. I checked on line and according to Amazon.ca I should get my new steamer tomorrow. I do hope so. I plan to wait for it even if we have to miss bowling. I hope not of course, but if we are not here, it will be returned to the post office and we won`t be able to get it til Monday. I forgot to mention too, my nuclear test has been postponed as I thought I should inform them about the bugs. I was not surprised to hear it being cancelled until further notice.

It`s been snowing here both yesterday and today (Wednesday) but not enough to cause any problems. The roads are a tad slippery in places but that`s about it.

There are two Giant Panda Cubs, born last October in Toronto Zoo, which are on film today  at this site. Cuteness overload.

They always look so cuddly don`t they. Polar Bears too. The 4 month old Panda cubs are walking around - just a tiny bit unsteadily. They are not yet on show to the public. These Pandas are the first ever to be born in Canada. It didn`t say so, but I imagine they will return to China one day along with their parents.

This is, basically, what we ate for supper on Wednesday evening. However, I had to make a few changes as I didn`t have all the ingredients. For the mirin I used sherry with a little sugar added, if you Google there are several things you can use as a sub for mirin. I also used fresh fettucine which worked very well. 5 minutes is nowhere long enough to soften the cabbage even though I added a little water and put a lid on it to steam. Finally, we found we needed a little salt despite the soy sauce. Apart from that, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure is easy enough to do.


Yaki udon

BBC Good Food

These thick wheat noodles with mushrooms and cabbage are made for slurping - a lovely

low-fat, low-calorie vegetarian supper

Serves 2

Ingredients

250g dried udon noodles (400g frozen or fresh)
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 onion, thickly sliced
¼ head white cabbage, roughly sliced
10 shiitake mushrooms
4 spring onions, finely sliced (green onions)

For the sauce
4 tbsp mirin
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp caster sugar (North American sugar is basically the same as caster sugar)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (or vegetarian alternative)


Boil some water in a large saucepan. Add 250ml cold water and the udon noodles. (As they are so thick, adding cold water helps them to cook a little bit slower so the middle cooks through). If using frozen or fresh noodles, cook for 2 mins or until al dente; dried will take longer, about 5-6 mins. Drain and leave in the colander.


Heat 1 tbsp of the oil, add the onion and cabbage and sauté for 5 mins until softened. Add the mushrooms and some spring onions, and sauté for 1 more min. Pour in the remaining sesame oil and the noodles. If using cold noodles, let them heat through before adding the ingredients for the sauce – otherwise tip in straight away and keep stir-frying until sticky and piping hot. Sprinkle with the remaining spring onions.


Have a great day

The Blog that Isn't, Nuclear Testing,

I said no blog because I am worn out, however, just thought I would post something for those of you who have been kind enough to send us well wishes for our bug problem.

Up really early for us, stripped the beds and at 8 when the laundry room opens, shoved blankets and pillows in the dryer. Supposed to kill them (the bugs) with heat. The pest guy arrived around 8:45 ish  and I asked him if he could please put the beds back together as there was nobody to help us and also to make sure the super's wife locked our door. He assured me he would and told us not to come back before 7 p.m. Oh dear.

Went to a local Tim Horton's (coffee, donuts and all kinds of other stuff these days) and I had a coffee and donut. Matt had a bottle of water. Same price as the coffee. Having hung around there for a while it was around 10:30 so went to the bowling alley and we were let in early to wait for the younger of the owners to come in and make lunch. He had to fix something at the back of the alley first so we didn't get lunch until about 12:30. Glad I had had my donut. After lunch, we ended up bowling 6 games to use up some of our time. At the end of that my hip was hurting as well as one of my toes. Painful but minor problem. I was also totally done in. Matt was in slightly better case.

Decided to go to the Red Lobster although for us it was a tad early for dinner. Did very well. Split a dish of seafood stuffed mushrooms then I had mussels in a wine sauce (bit like Moules Marinères) which was good, Matt had Caesar Salad. I then ordered a Chocolate Wave cake which turned out to be a largish slice of very gooey but delicious chocolate cake. Unfortunately the waiter brought two spoons and Matt, who didn't want dessert, ate half. I nearly didn't leave a tip. They serve it with ice cream which I cancelled. I have no idea how many calories are in that cake and I don't think I want to know.

Then we came home and sat in the lobby of the apartment building for about 1 1/2 hrs and then came upstairs to our apartment a little bit early. We then had to make the beds. Just starting and someone knocked on the door with an Avon order!!! Trying to make up the second bed and found the frame had come apart. Also, they had ;put a bug resistant cover over the mattress on that one but not on the other. I wonder why? Both beds have the bug cover on the box spring - they did that before - but now one has it on the mattress?? We moved a load of junk from the kitchen back out of the way and then collapsed. Like I say, I am exhausted.

I was trying to find this recipe but as I discovered, a slice is more than 1800 calories, maybe just as well if I don't. Just dream of it in chocolate.

Forgot to say, I asked, they do sell the whole  cake for about $40 and the waiter said it did about 12 large slices.

So, I do hope I sleep tight and that the bed bugs don't bite.

Having published this I realised I had a message from the local nuclear lab telling me I had two appointments for the nuclear stress test, one on Thursday morning the second on Friday morning. Before they used to make you hang around for ages between the two parts of the test. No details yet, will call them tomorrow.


Have a great day