Money, Teeth, Recliner, Cooking, Bowling.

Money, what's money? I now have a quote for my new partial plate which, even with assistance from the insurance, is still going to cost me about $470, and that is without fillings and extractions. However, when we came home on Monday after bowling I developed a terrific toothache and was feeling very sorry for myself for several hours until my Tylenol 3 started to work. Have an appointment for Thursday at 9 to begin the process. Horrors, I will have to get cracking that morning. I hate dentistry, but I've got to go ahead with it or suffer.

So then I phoned the chair repair people and said where was my quote. Ends up they want $160 plus tax to repair it. I said that was offset by the initial payment and they said "oh no, only if he had fixed it there and then". Bloody hell. I should have asked if they did senior's discounts.

Tuesday morning I made a large batch of Spiced Beef in Red Wine which freezes very well and which we both enjoy. The original recipe calls for the veg to be processed. The first time I didn't do that, the second time I did and we didn't like it much, so this time the vegetables are regularly chopped. It is a Nigella Lawson recipe. Full of carrots, leeks and onions with star anise and cloves too. We really enjoy it.

Monday bowling was pretty good. A couple of the best games I have had for a while. Long may it last. Funny another bowler, female, beat the couple with the high scores last week. She got lots of strikes and spares but not lots of strikes in a row, but ended up with a 268. So that was 266, 267, 268. In the last couple of weeks.  I wish I could pull a 300 game out of the hat. It's a while since I had one.

There are lots of recipes for crock pots lately and this is one which appealed to me, it's so simple and so easy. One could also make it with goat cheese which is a favourite of mine.

Crock-Pot Chicken With Black Beans and Cream Cheese

"I love this Crock-Pot chicken recipe for two reasons: one, my family loves it and two, it is so easy to make! I got this recipe from my sister. She has two children of her own, and they love it too! It's also

the best leftovers in the world -- if there are any!"

4 -5 boneless chicken breasts, frozen
1 (15 1/2 ounce) cans black beans
1 (15 ounce) cans corn
1 (15 ounce) jars salsa, any kind
1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

1. Take 4-5 frozen, yes, frozen, boneless chicken breasts put into crock pot.

2. Add 1 can of black beans, drained, 1 jar of salsa, 1 can of corn drained.

3. Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.

4. Add 1 package of cream cheese (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour.

5. All done and enjoy!

Servings: 4

Author: Jen Santiago


Have a great day
 

Pandas, Recliner, Beans,

Yesterday, Bao Bao the Giant Panda left DC Zoo to go to China. I understand the Chinese wanting to conserve pandas and they are doing a great job, but Bao Bao was born at the DC Zoo and I think she should belong to that zoo. The agreement is any Panda born in another country has to be returned  before it is 4 years old. Pandas must wonder what on earth is happening to them. The Chinese lend Pandas to zoos for a few years and then they have to be sent back. I know they are planning to introduce as many Pandas as possible back into the wild, but I think that is only the babies which are being acclimatised over the years. Saw a movie about it on TV. However, I suppose they need her for breeding purposes. The Chinese really seem to have got an excellent breeding programme under way. I wonder what all this shipping back and forth costs. I understand they are no longer on the endangered list which is great. Later I heard that breeding is exactly why they want her back. She went back in a special plane with better treatment than a first class human passenger, lots of bamboo and even some sugar cane which they called Panda caviar.

I am very upset, my recliner broke last night. I can no longer lift the foot rest up into position, well I can but it won't stay there.  I have contacted a place called Furniture Medic by both email and phone message but not heard anything. Maybe I should try somewhere else. I think, but of course am no expert, that a spring broke. Checking the price of new loungers, I hope it a) can be repaired and b) won't cost too much. It is, or was, such a comfortable recliner. This is the same idea although not the same chair.

Originating in the UK, I love runner beans which I have seen in the States labelled flat beans or pole beans . In fact, in the UK we have several types of runner beans but here, locally, I can get the flat ones now and again - they come from a grower in Ontario called Zing Healthy Foods. I checked them out and found this somewhat different, to me, way of serving them. I normally French cut them. I bought some more beans today and will try it out. Since I started blogging I have tried a lot of different recipes. Good for me/us.

Amazing European Runner Beans in Olive Oil

150 g (1 package) Zing! European runner beans, trimmed and sliced into 3 inch pieces

1 yellow and 1 red Zing! pepper, sliced lengthwise
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped (small?)
1/2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 cup (125 ml) water
salt and black pepper to taste

1. In a skillet, sauté garlic in oil until tender and just turning brown. Add the Zing! European runner beans, salt and pepper. Mix well and sauté 1 to 2 minutes. Add the Zing! red and yellow peppers and sauté 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of water and simmer until the liquid has evaporated and the beans are tender. Enjoy hot or cold. Serves 2 as a side dish.

Source: ZingHealthyFoods

Have a great day