Doctor, Parcel, Lunch and Zoey,

Having mistakenly published the first paragraph of my blog for Friday, I now have to find other topics to write about.

I got my call from the doctor and he agreed with me about stopping the Sertraline pill and said we would leave it a week to see how Matt did and then consider if he needs another anti depressant. He has another one in mind if required. That was the real doctor of course!!!!

Annoyingly, whilst I was talking to him there was another call and I obviously didn't want to interrupt the doctor, apart from which, I have forgotten what I do to take another call without losing the first one. Keep meaning to find out, but it doesn't happen that often. I then decided to go down and check the mail and, as I suspected, there was a notice from the mail man saying he would take my parcel to the post office at the mall. Damn, damn and damn. I don't even remember what it was. I know I have ordered a bath stool for Matt but that won't come til next week. I am not 100% sure as to where they have moved the post office as Shoppers Drug Mart has, apparently taken over a large area which included Ted's Smokes which housed the post office. Oh well, I will have to borrow Matt's walker again, easier to put in the trunk, and see what I can find. Have a vague idea where it is.

Ladydog came for lunch, well, she brought lunch, and a lovely bunch of flowers again. Matt enjoyed stuffing Zoey with dog biscuits. He tried to feed her at the table but we told him no, no, no. He would never have thought of that at one time, when we had dogs ourselves. We both used to get annoyed with my mother who did feed Chinook at the table whilst we were at work. She always denied it, but it was a funny thing how Chinook used always to sit close to her at dinner looking up expectantly. Knew better than to do that to us.

I just copied this recipe. I use it a fair amount and thought I might try making my own next time. The woman who came and helped with cleaning for a while brought me some which was better than I could get at the store. You need a good Indian shop for that. I can't grind my spices, I don't have a spice grinder any more so this recipe is fine for me.

Garam Masala

Learn how to make Garam Masala from scratch using fragrant spices and just 5 minutes. Including

instructions for pre-ground spices to make this recipe a breeze, or the more traditional method of whole toasted spices.

Joanna Cismaru

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp cumin ground
• 2 tsp coriander ground
• 2 tsp cardamom ground
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon ground
• 1 tsp pepper ground
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
• 1/2 tsp cloves ground

Instructions

• Mix all the ingredients together and transfer to an airtight container.

Notes

1. Recipe will yield 11.5 teaspoons.
2. Your spice blend will last up to 4 years if properly stored. Now, the blend will never go "bad" or "foul" since there is no moisture present. It will simply lose potency and flavor. I find it makes my life easier to mark my blends with a date to keep better track of them. To see if your blend is still good, a classic sniff test will do the trick.

Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
 

Blue Whales, Red Lobster, Brown Parcel,

I'm on a wildlife kick this week. I just saw some information about the Blue Whale. I knew it was the larges mammal on earth but did you know The heart of a blue whale is as big as a small car; their tongues can weigh as much as an elephant and they are as long as 3 school buses. There are some whale pix here if you are interested. I didn't know they were the biggest mammal ever to have existed. I live and learn. Would be wonderful to see one, if only. Mind you I would love to see whales at sea whatever their breed.

Today we went with ladydog to the Red Lobster and, as usual, I pigged out on crab. Delicious. Matt wasn't too happy about how long I was taking, but I don't often get the opportunity. ladydog was very patient about the whole thing. Matt and I bought a couple of desserts home with us, yes, Chocolate Wave cake. We ate the delicious ice cream whilst there. ladydog wouldn't try any she didn't want to get addicted otherwise she would have to travel to Peterborough where it is made - what's her problem, I would have gone with her LOL. They only sell it to the public in cones during the summer months I understand.

I had a parcel to collect at the UPS store as I mentioned, ladydog kindly drove us there once I remembered whether we should have turned left or right. The parcel was large and fairly heavy so the girl at UPS carried it out for me and then ladydog saved my bacon by carrying it upstairs for me. I would have had to get the large shopping basket as of course I had a cane.

Later I started calling all the people who bowled last winter (I always help out doing this). Actually one or two not coming back, surprisingly. Later I was stuffed and Matt not particularly hungry so I did open smoked salmon sandwiches for supper. Tasty.

This sounds tasty too

Bacon and Tomato Potato Skins

6 large baking potatoes
2 tsp cooking oil
1 tsp chili powder
Several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce
2/3 cup chopped Canadian-style bacon or chopped, cooked turkey bacon
1 medium tomato, finely chopped
2 Tbs finely chopped green onion
4 oz cheddar cheese or reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)
1/2 cup dairy sour cream (optional)

1. Scrub potatoes thoroughly and prick with a fork. Arrange on a microwave-safe plate. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 17 to 22 minutes or till almost tender, rearranging once. (Or, bake potatoes in a 425 degrees F. oven for 40 to 45 minutes or till tender.) Cool.

2. Halve each potato lengthwise. Scoop out the inside of each potato half, leaving about a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Cover and chill the leftover fluffy white part of potatoes for another use.

3. Combine the cooking oil, chili powder, and hot pepper sauce. With a pastry brush, brush the insides of the potato halves with the oil mixture. Cut the potato halves in half lengthwise. Return to the baking sheet. Sprinkle potato quarters with bacon, tomato, and green onion. Top with cheese. To make ahead, cover and chill for up to 24 hours.

4. Bake in 450 degrees F. oven for 10 to 12 minutes or till cheese is melted and potato quarters are heated through. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

Servings: 6

Source: Culinary Cafe

Have a great day
 

Plastic Surgery, Parcel, Diatomaceous Earth, Dr. Flash Drive

Sorry no Satuday Recipe. Things got away from me on Friday not least of which we had to visit the plastic surgeon for Matt's basel cells. Dr. Ma has fitted him in for Monday afternoon at 4 so we will have to go bowl and leave early. Nice of her to do it so soon though. When we go to the offices to see these Plastic Surgeons, they have a very small parking lot behind their building, a delightful old house which must have been something in it's hey day; right opposite the parking lot is a huge building, high rise maybe, which is in the process of construction. Being a bit slow, it only hit me, on Friday, that it is the building which is where our old bowling alley used to be. Got a bit disoriented because we have to get there in a roundabout way because of the road works on King St. so I hadn't quite realised where we were. That's my excuse anyway.

We then had to go to the post office to pick up my parcel from Amazon - we were not home because I was seeing my orthopaedic surgeon and then bowling. This one included the bug proof mattress cover and interceptor plates for the bed feet.

Saturday we began. First whipped off all the bed clothes and put them through the washers and dryers

as well as the pillow. We then took mattress and box spring off the bed and I put diatomaceous earth (DE) all round the frame and brushed it into cracks with an old paint brush. We pulled the bed really far away from the wall so I could put a thick line of DE behind the bed. Then pushed it back again. When the linens were ready, we made the bed covering the mattress with the new cover, and then put the DE in defensive lines all round the bed as well as putting the plastic interceptors under the feet. Sprinkled DE between the box spring and mattress too. Must admit I didn't think we would manage to put the new cover on as it's a heavy mattress to handle for two old fogeys like us. But we did.

I have now discovered this food grade DE can be taken as a drink and is touted to have all kinds of health benefits. Just not for bed bugs I guess. Supposed to be good for all kinds of things, like de-toxing, improvements in hair and nails, etc. etc. so maybe you will soon hear of me taking the stuff.

By the way, I was carrying on about how young my new orthopaedic surgeon is. I just came across this picture of Dr. Martin. He actually looks a tad older here.

How very odd, I have just had a Flash drive fall apart on me. Didn't realise that could happen.

Tried a new recipe on Saturday night. I think I needed to cook the cauliflower somewhat longer. I didn't mind it, but Matt found it too crunchy. Of course I cut back the recipe considerably as there were just two of us. Not only that, I used roasted red peppers from a jar. It still worked very well and was quite delicious.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS AND CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPER VINAIGRETTE

12 servings

INGREDIENTS

1. • 4 red bell peppers
   • 2 heads cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 2-inch florets
   • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
   • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
   • 1/4 cup large capers (not salted), drained and rinsed

PREPARATION

1. 1. Toss cauliflower with 1/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl, then divide between two 4-sided sheet pans. Roast cauliflower, turning it and switching position of pans halfway through, until just tender and browned in spots, about 20 minutes total.
   2. While cauliflower roasts, whisk together lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large serving bowl, then add remaining 1/2 cup oil in a slow stream, whisking. Finely chop about 1 tablespoon capers, then whisk chopped and whole capers into vinaigrette. Add warm cauliflower and peppers and toss to coat. Serve at room temperature.

Cooks' note:

Peppers and cauliflower can be roasted and tossed with vinaigrette 1 day ahead and chilled.

Have a great day