Coincidences, Car, Sleepy, Supper, Knee pain,

We watched a Pavarotti DVD the other night. I started wondering how old he was when he died. Discovered he was born the same year as Matt and he was about 72 when he died. Then I realised, I had forgotten, that he died of pancreatic cancer which is the same thing as suffered by Alex Trebek of Jeopardy fame.

The tow truck came good and early this morning. I went down and he took my walker and put it on the back then I tried to get into the truck. Talk about a high step. Got my foot on the running board and my knee collapsed. Ouch. Managed to sort myself out and used the other leg to step onto. Then we had to drive into the underground garage with lots of bumps and clanks. Finally got there and he had to push the car out of the parking spot and then attach it to the truck. What a palaver. Then he had to get both truck and car out of the garage and up the ramp to the exit. Took forever with lots of manoeuvering and him jumping out to check stuff every few minutes. Eventually he got it and out we went. He then had to get out of people's way. Finally I paid him the family jewels ($169 apparently one pays more for a small tow truck, although it was very difficult for him to get the car out, I sure couldn't have done it ) and got out. Off he went with my poor little car. The garage said they couldn't do it straight away, which I expected, and so there wasn't much point me going there.

Got back into the apartment and Matt was right out of it. I had to end up yelling at him to wake him. I honestly started to wonder if he was still with me. I am beginning to think that is how he will go, asleep and never wake up.

I got out some bean soup for supper so I don't have to worry about it. Thank goodness for freezers. I ended up serving it with Red Lobster biscuits which I had left over. I heat them in the air fryer and they come out very well.

I have been in a fair amount of pain this afternoon and evening, it's at the back of the knee which collapsed on me this morning. I am wondering what damage I did. It hurt at the time. I tried putting some Cannabis salve on it which helped, but I am a bit concerned.

Phoned the garage near closing time and they said they had managed to start the car but once they turned it off they couldn't re-start it. Don't yet know what's wrong. We have run out of family jewels!!

This is a delicious salad.

Asparagus Salad with Hearts of Palm and Cherry Tomatoes

1 bunch of asparagus, steamed
1 can of hearts of palm
1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 green onions, sliced
1 small shallot, diced
1/2 lemon, juiced
1.5 Tbs red wine vinegar
1.5 Tbs white wine vinegar
1 tsp gluten free dijon mustard
6 Tbs olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

1. Cook asparagus til al dente. Chil in ice bath or cold water. Chop into bite sized pieces cut diagonally. Place in large bowl. Cut each stalk of hearts of palm into 4 pieces and then each into 1 inch pieces at a diagonal.  Add to bowl.  Add your halved cherry tomatoes.  Add in sliced green onions.  Add in chopped shallots.

2. In a separate bowl, add in vinegars, mustard and a pinch of salt. Slowly pour in olive oil and whisk to emulsify.  Add in pepper and adjust ingredients to desired taste. Pour dressing over salad and mix.  Add lemon juice as desired.

3. Serve into bowls and enjoy!

4. This recipe would go great with some anchovies on top!  Also, if you can find jarred hearts of palm, please use those instead of canned!  Unless labeled, cans can be lined with BPA (toxic!!).  But some brands, like Native Forest, guarantee that their cans are BPA free so do some research before buying your canned foods.  Can also substitute hearts of palm with artichoke hearts!

Servings: 3

Source: Food for Rabbits

Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
 

VHS, Saturday Supper, Bleeding Finger,,

A friend fixed it so we can watch both VHS and DVD movies these days and, being in isolation, I fished out one which was of a Pavarotti concert which took place in Hyde Park, London, in 1991. Princess Diana and Prince Charles were in the audience, everyone getting soaked. The VHS was in pretty good condition considering it is 30 years old and the sound was good too. This is the second VHS we have watched lately. Having watched Saving Mr. Banks for a second time, I fished out our copy of Mary Poppins. I knew there was a glitch in the tape, but after all these years, the glitch, when it got to it, stopped the tape completely. Now I am undecided, should I buy a DVD of it or not. The glitch happens just when Mr. Banks is being "fired" by the bank big wigs. If you've never seen Mary Poppins, the original, you should. It was a great movie and Walt Disney did a wonderful job with it which is what Saving Mr. Banks is all about. I have a lot of VHS movies and some personal stuff which I recorded. There is even some of my first wedding and honeymoon which took place in 1962, i.e. almost 58 years ago. I wonder what condition that is in.

Saturday night for supper I cooked a large sirloin steak which I had bought at VSM the other day. It was excellent, their meat may be a bit pricey but it's good stuff. I made a sauce with it, shallots, red wine, Balsamic vinegar, it is really delicious with beef. I even managed to get the knife good and sharp, I am getting better at sharpening knives.

I somehow bashed my finger, just below the knuckle, the other day. On my desk drawer which was shut. Stupid thing won't stop bleeding. Having trouble keeping the Bandaids on particularly with all this extra hand washing. Every time it falls off I think the wound is OK and then an hour or so later, I'm bleeding to death again.

Sunday night PBS had Jonathan Antoine on again, same concert as before, and, as before, we missed the first bit. I would absolutely have loved to go to the concert in Toronto, next October, but not possible. His voice is so fantastic.I was in tears, this song is so sad, from Les Miserables, and to hear Jonathan sing it, words fail me. Apparently he did lose some weight, but I think he needs to lose a tad more. I am planning to buy his DVD being released at the end of April



Here's a simple recipe from Kevin Lynch, one of my favourite cookery writers

Chicken and Avocado Burritos

Burritos stuffed with juicy chicken, cool and creamy avocado, oozy gooey melted cheese, spicy salsa

verde and sour cream!

4 burrito sized tortillas (corn tortillas for gluten-free), warmed
1 lb cooked chicken, sliced or shredded
1 large avocado, diced
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/4 cup salsa verde
1/4 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
2 Tbs cilantro, chopped

1. Assemble the burritos, optionally toast, and enjoy!

Servings: 4

Tips: Use taco lime grilled chicken, cilantro lime grilled chicken or tequila lime grilled chicken instead of plain chicken

Author: Kevin Lynch
Source: Closet Cooking

Have a great day