Sweat Shirt, Words for Wednesday, Mandarin, Movie, Coffee, Shoes

I bought Matt a couple of sweat shirts from two different sources. One is what I would call a slim fit, it fits fine and looks good, but he has trouble taking it off at night. He says he won't wear it again. What a waste. Too small for me I'm afraid. A friend suggested I returned it to the store. Never thought of that. Phoned and they said fine.

Just occurred to me, writing this, that it's Words for Wednesday tomorrow. Well today for you I guess. It is on Elephant's Child's blog. It is quite fun, someone selects a bunch of words or gives some kind of prompt and one can then write a little story or a poem or something like that using the words or prompts. I enjoy it and have surprised myself somewhat with some of the ways I use the prompts.

You can either publish your efforts on Elephant's Child's blog or link your efforts on your own blog. I usually post on her blog.

Lunch at Mandarin was very good as usual. Matt enjoyed his free Birthday meal of course. Although he never eats as  much as he could. He eats more at home I think. I probably ate too  much again although I did steer clear of too  many dumplings and ate my veggies like a good girl LOL. Actually I had some kelp salad, which I love, and some bean sprouts. I also put mussels on a separate plate today so I could take a few more, don't usually have room for many otherwise. This photo isn't as clear as some they have taken in the past, but the Mandarin frame is magnetic and will stick on the fridge with the other pix from previous years. By the way, I forgot to mention, no indigestion pains tonight thank goodness. And, did I tell you, Matt was 85 today?

I just watched Going My Way with Bing Crosby. Saw it over Christmas, but it got a bunch of Oscars so they are showing it on TCM because they are showing winning movies up to when the Oscars take place. I was never that fond of Bing Crosby until I saw a film clip of him singing "Do You Hear What I Hear" which he really sang beautifully and it gave me a new respect for him.

Tomorrow morning, I will be having coffee with some of my friends from the Alzheimer Course I went on. Then I have to pick up the groceries.

Forgot to mention, the story about the woman who had my shoes on at bowling, ladydog said I should get some red shoes!!!

I don't know anyone who loves scallops more than I unless it's ladydog. Luckily the fish department at Victoria St. Market always have some good big ones. So, guess what? Here is a scallop recipe.

Seared Scallops in a Cajun Mustard Cream Sauce

Seared scallops in a quick, easy and tasty cajun mustard cream sauce that makes for the perfect starter

or light meal!

1 lb sea scallops (about 1 inch thick)
2 tsp cajun seasoning
1/2 Tbs butter
1/2 Tbs oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
1 Tbs dijon mustard
2 tsp cajun mustard (or grainy mustard)
1 Tbs lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbs parsley, chopped

1. Pat the scallops dry and press on the cajun seasoning.

2. Met the butter into the oil in a pan over medium-high heat, add the scallops and sear until lightly golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side, before setting aside.

3. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.

4. Add the heavy cream, mustards and lemon juice, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit, about 2-3 minutes.

5. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste and serve the scallops in the sauce garnished with the chopped parsley.

Servings: 4

Author: Kevin Lynch
Source: Closet Cooking

Author Notes
Option: Replace the butter and oil with bacon grease or better yet, start by cooking 4 strips bacon, use the grease to cook the scallops in and sprinkle the crumbled bacon onto the scallops just before serving!

Option: Add 1/4 cup chicken broth or seafood broth or white wine to the pan before adding the cream and deglaze the plan by scrapping all of the brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon while the broth simmers.

Option: Add 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese to the sauce!



Have a great day
 

Monday Morning, Bowling, Shoes,

Well of course, Monday was bowling. I started the day by making Matt a birthday card. I also called Community Support about my shopping ride and was somewhat surprised to be asked 4 questions about the corona virus (might have spelled that wrong) such as - did I have a recent cough, had I been to China or been in contact with someone who had, etc. don't, somehow, expect such questions in little old Kitchener. Mind you we are going to a Chinese restaurant for Matt's birthday lunch but I don't think they are all Chinese anyway and I don't think they will have been there either. Mind you, I've been coughing for a couple of weeks or more but don't think it's the virus.

After lunch I left Matt alone and headed out to the bowling alley - I bowled well but not as well as last week. My first game was a 170 again, but my last one was a very sad little 110. Scored enough to send my average up one point. One friend gave me a piece of Christmas Cake she had made and promised me some time ago and Dan the Candy Man gave me some Lindt truffles. Shared a few with my team and brought the rest home. The cake was very good. Had it after supper.

We have to remove wet footwear when we enter the bowling alley so do that at the designated area near the door. When I went to get my shoes I couldn't find them. I was in panic stations, I didn't know what to do. I was making a bit of a song and dance when one bowler said to his partner "you didn't come in white shoes today, you wore black". Silly woman had my shoes on. I was a bit teed off with her. I was surprised she could be comfortable with my orthotics. Boy was I ever glad her partner realised what she had done. What a relief. A few minutes later I found she was holding my cane too. Grrr. I'm not sure if she was having me on there or what,  but I wasn't in the mood.

Headed to Victoria St. Market to get a couple of things, mainly Italian sausages. They had some jalapeño poppers for sale. I have always wanted to try those but didn't want to make a whole bunch and then find out we didn't like them, so I bought a few to try.

There are all kinds of recipes for them, this is one.

Baked Jalapeño Poppers

This lightened-up baked jalapeño popper recipe will be a big hit! They’re stuffed with fresh, herbed

cream cheese, and topped with a crispy and irresistible barbecue potato chip topping. Plus, they’re vegetarian and gluten free

12 large jalapeño peppers
8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus 1 tablespoon for garnish
¼ cup chopped green onion, plus 1 tablespoon for garnish
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp fine sea salt
? cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 Tbs crumbled feta cheese, optional
1 big handful Kettle Brand Country Style Barbecue potato chips

1. Preheat the oven to 425° F  and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Cut off one-third of each pepper lengthwise (see photos). Use a small spoon (a serrated grapefruit spoon works great) to scoop out the seeds and membranes from each pepper, and discard those pieces.

2. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, ¼ cup chopped cilantro and green onion, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Stir to combine.

3. Stuff the peppers with the cream cheese mixture (you might have a small amount left over). Top each of the peppers with a small mound of cheese lengthwise.

4. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and starting to turn golden.

5. Meanwhile, place a big handful of chips in a food processor and process until the chips are broken into tiny pieces (or, you can crush them under a rolling pin). Stir the feta, if using, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of cilantro and green onion into the chips.

6. Transfer the jalapeño poppers to a large serving dish and top each pepper with the crushed chip mixture. Serve!

7. Preheat the oven to 425° F  and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Cut off one-third of each pepper lengthwise (see photos). Use a small spoon (a serrated grapefruit spoon works great) to scoop out the seeds and membranes from each pepper, and discard those pieces.

8. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, ¼ cup chopped cilantro and green onion, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Stir to combine.

9. Stuff the peppers with the cream cheese mixture (you might have a small amount left over). Top each of the peppers with a small mound of cheese lengthwise.

10. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and starting to turn golden.

11. Meanwhile, place a big handful of chips in a food processor and process until the chips are broken into tiny pieces (or, you can crush them under a rolling pin). Stir the feta, if using, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of cilantro and green onion into the chips.

12. Transfer the jalapeño poppers to a large serving dish and top each pepper with the crushed chip mixture. Serve!

Yield: 12 peppers

Author Notes
STORAGE SUGGESTIONS: If you have leftovers (which is unlikely!), they keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days. Gently reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.

PREPARE IN ADVANCE: I haven’t tried, this, but I believe you could stuff the peppers in advance and refrigerate for later. When it’s time to bake, top them with cheese and proceed as written.

Source: Cookie + Kate

Have a great day 

Canada Day, Asparagus, Heels and Royals.

Happy Canada Day to Canadians everywhere.

Today is also the end of Asparagus season, no more really fresh asparagus for a year. Barrie’s hold their annual Asparagus Festivus today which includes barbecues and an auction to raise money for cancer. One of their attendees will be Wayne Gretsky’s dad. Tim Barrie is a big hockey buff. When I was there yesterday I heard they have a petting zoo and face painting for the kids.

There was a segment on GMA yesterday about high heel shoes. They were showing 8 inch heels. I can’t imagine wearing. such shoes, regular shoes used to be bad enough. These are almost like being a ballerina on points. When I was a young woman I lived in such shoes, but never anything this high. What on earth these kinds of heels do to floors I can’t imagine. There is something over a ton of pressure on the point of such heels.

Been a lot on TV, of course, about the arrival of William and Catherine in Ottawa yesterday. William made a speech which included a segment in French much to the delight of the audience. He then apologised and said his French would get better. They got out of the car and did a bit of a walk about too, which delighted the spectators. Today they are taking part in the Canada Day celebrations. After Ottawa they are going to be in Québec then going out east and then up to Yellowknife and finally in Calgary. They will then fly to California.

I don’t suppose a lot of people will be eating any Brussels sprouts today, but having found this recipe, I had to share.

Chinese Style Brussels Sprouts with Hoisin Glaze

By The Food Gal
WebMD Recipe from Foodily.com

Ingredients

2 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
3 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 pounds small Brussels sprouts, washed, ends trimmed, then bulbs cut into halves
3 tablespoons mirin (Japanese rice wine)
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
7 to 8 tablespoons hoisin sauce
Toasted sesame oil

Instructions

In a large wok or frying pan on medium-high heat, add peanut oil. When oil is hot, add ginger and onion. Stir, and cook for about 2 minutes. Add garlic, stirring to prevent burning, about 1 minute more. Add Brussels sprouts and mirin. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until Brussels sprouts start to become tender. Stir in hoisin sauce. Continue to cook for about 2-3 minutes more. Drizzle with a little sesame oil, and serve.
Total Servings: 6

Have a great day

Shoes, Skaters and Bowling

I seem to be the only blogger around this morning and I haven't got a lot to talk about. On the weekend version of GMA today they were talking about the difference in shoe costs. They bought a pair at $600 and another virtually identical at $20. The expensive pair had red soles so they painted the cheaper pair to look the same then they sent twins out in the shoes to walk a mile in Central Park and other such tests. Few people could tell the difference between the shoes. However, when they finally went to a shoe maker who destroyed them, they found the expensive shoe was all leather and the cheap shoe was rubber and plastic etc. Then it turned out that the girl wearing the expensive shoe, wasn't that enthusiastic because it didn't fit her very well, how stupid is that? Of course the shoes won't feel special if they are uncomfortable. I remember my mother buying a pair of Rayne's shoes (at that time they were shoemakers to the Queen) and to me they were horrifically expensive, but they were the most comfortable shoes, in fact my mother eventually gave them to me and I wore them with pleasure. Tomorrow they plan to compare a cheap handbag with a $3,500 one!! Another topic this morning was male figure skaters and how they should look more macho in order to emphasize just how strenuous and difficult the sport is. If people don't realise that they want their heads checked. We have been fans of the sport since we first emigrated and could watch some of the top competitors from our own back yard by visiting local arenas. Unlike how England used to be, there are arenas all over the place here, mainly because of ice hockey of course, but it does mean that people who want to figure skate have plenty of opportunity. I remember in the UK one of Britain's top skaters (Valda Osborn) when I was a young woman, lived in my village, but had to spend her time with her aunt in London in order to be able to skate. If you would like to see video of the segment click here; one skater commented if they wanted more macho they should put to figure skaters on the ice and let them body check each other. I have been trying to put together a bowling team for the Senior Summer Games in June. I need five and have four. Its only a one day event for any team and should be fun. However, getting people to participate is like pulling teeth. I am hoping to get one more person on Monday at the league bowling banquet which takes place at the bowling alley. For some reason many of them think golfing precludes bowling as well!!! Matt will be doing both. Talking of golfing, I managed to sell my clubs on Kijiji so I am most impressed with that web site. If you have something to sell you should check it out. I was sorry to part with them, but I can't use them any more so what's the point of keeping them? Had another interesting recipe from Mushrooms Canada this week, one which I will certainly try. Oven Roasted Mushroom and Vegetable Salad This room temperature salad is also delicious served warm over grilled polenta. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese if desired. 1½ lb. medium fresh Mushrooms, halved 1 large sweet onion, cut in 1/8 thin strips 1/3 cup olive oil, divided 1 medium zucchini 6 fresh plum tomatoes*, seeded and halved 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tsp dried basil leaves 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil 3 cloves garlic, crushed Pinch of hot red pepper flakes 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional) Place mushrooms in a large bowl with onion wedges. Add 4 tbsp olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss well. Arrange in a single layer on large shallow baking pan and roast uncovered on bottom shelf in 400°F (200°C) oven for 15 minutes; stir and continue to roast for another 15 –20 minutes. Meanwhile cut zucchini in half lengthwise and then crosswise in 1”(2.5 cm) pieces and place in the same bowl and add tomatoes; toss with remaining olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place tomatoes cut side up on another baking sheet with zucchini and roast in oven with mushrooms for 15-20 minutes or until softened and sizzling. Remove vegetables from oven and spoon into large serving bowl. In measuring cup combine vinegar, basil, garlic, hot pepper flakes and parsley (if not using fresh basil) and pour over warm vegetables. Toss lightly; serve at room temperature as side dish or on grilled polenta for main course. Makes 6 side servings or 4 main course * Substitute 4 ripe medium tomatoes on the vine, quartered for plum tomatoes. Grilled Polenta: Purchase pre-cooked polenta rolls and cut into ½ “(2.5 cm) thick rounds or prepare your favorite polenta and chill until firm in square pan and cut out squares. Brush with olive oil and grill, broil or bake until golden brown. Tip: In barbecue season, place vegetables in shallow metal pans and roast with lid closed. Have a great weekend.