A New Recipe Using My Home Grown Kale

     I was busy in the kitchen this afternoon and now have a mountain of dishes to clean! First step was to pick some of the large leaves on the kale plants and rinse and blanch them. While they were cooling, I got some bread started in the bread machine. I used the "dough" setting as I wanted to make baguettes which need to rise and then bake in the oven. While that was happening I cooked some rice and defrosted four breakfast sausages. This was in preparation for making kale rolls (along the lines of cabbage rolls).

   Once the kale had cooled and drained, I mixed the sausage meat, rice and some chopped onion and mushrooms. I added some chopped sage from the garden and a sprinkle of garlic powder. I then spooned this onto the kale leaves, rolled them up and packed them into a baking dish. I covered it all with tomato sauce and topped the whole thing with grated parmesan. Once the bread was out of the oven, I baked the casserole for about 40 minutes and ate it with a few slices of the bread. It was very tasty  (and, I hope, healthy!) and will do me a couple of more meals.

    It was an excellent morning for tennis, sunny but comfortably cool. I didn't rush over, arriving around 9:30, but stayed until 11:45, and played three good sets. There was quite a crowd but I had only a short wait between sets. I also managed a good walk after dinner tonight so have certainly had enough exercise for one day!

  

Finally Back on Line

    I have been unable to get on the internet in the last couple of days but now it seems fine so I will try to get caught up. Cool but sunny over the weekend - went with Judy and the kids to a Fun Fair and Tennis coaching event on Saturday. Natalie and Elliot were good sports and stuck it out for nearly two hours. James not so much although he did try it for a while. They got to use more appropriate equipment than when I took them to the courts, so it was easier for them to handle. They also had burgers, corn and cake beforehand, and a mooch around the booths and jumble sale.

    Not long after they departed for home there was a heavy storm so we were lucky to be home before that occurred. Since then the weather has been pleasant, sunny but cool. I had great fun at tennis on Sunday morning with Kathy, Susan and Ben. We played two exciting sets - won one and lost one. In the afternoon I attended the first demo practice of the season so my legs were aching by night time. I had a soak in the tub before bed. 

   Today I had a slow start, cleaning up the pile of dishes in the sink, getting a loaf started in the bread maker and just generally pottering around in the garden. At Bridge this afternoon, Pinky and I were partners and had some unbelievable hands. We came out on top by quite a margin. Dancing tonight so I think another soak in the tub is in the cards!

A Change in the Weather

   A much more seasonal day, in fact, right now it's raining. However, this morning was pleasant with just a bit of cloud cover so we had a nice morning at tennis. It was my last time on the board but I also managed two sets and they were good ones. Karl gave me a can of tennis balls as a "thank you" gift.

Two Busy Days

    Still hot for late September, hit 31C this afternoon. I was in the pool twice, following some garden clean up. It was a very refreshing 72F. Only two more weeks until it is drained and covered!

   I've had another couple of busy days. Yesterday I was out by 8:30 to attend the RTO brunch for new retirees. It was held down by the lake, a beautiful location and well attended. Coffee, juice, pastries to start, followed by bacon, sausage, eggs and hash browns. Speeches followed as we tried to recruit new members - I think quite a few will join.

   I went straight from there to the Senior's centre as I have been asked to tend the coffee bar on Wednesday afternoons from now on. This will work out well as I got into the Wednesday morning Fitness class (also the Friday class). It was quite quiet there so we closed up by 2:00 p.m., but it was a long day!

   Today was Probus Club in the morning (speakers from the ROM with a presentation on Pompeii), followed by Bridge. Sami and I had some good hands and came out on top by quite a bit. I was home by 3:00 p.m. to relax in the garden. Tomorrow won't be quite so busy, tennis in the morning and then a quick run to the grocery store as Judy and the kids will be here on Saturday to go to the Fun Fair at Leacock TC.

   I had some leftover poached salmon so made a salad with it on top for dinner tonight. Very tasty!