The kale I planted in the Spring has been a good performer this summer. I read an article in the newspaper decrying the purported health benefits of kale - seemingly it ranked 16th in a list of nutritious vegetables. Number one was watercress, of all things!
I started picking the kale just a few weeks after planting (tender shoots for salads) but now it really needs to be cooked. I came up with a new recipe slightly based on one I found in one of my numerous cookbooks, using kale and fish, for my dinner tonight.
The recipe was for a stuffed salmon trout, using spinach but I converted it into a baked fish fillet covered with the stuffing. Into the bargain, with a bit of flexibility, I managed to use up several items that had been lingering in the fridge and were close to their expiry date. The final result was a juicy piece of fish with a tasty, and in some places crisp, topping. It was a bit fiddly - you had to pre-cook the kale and fry up onions - but it only took 30 minutes in the oven.
It has been hot and sunny again today but clouded over around 4:00 p.m. No sign of rain, though! I managed three sets of tennis this morning but was done by 10:30 and came home for a much needed swim. I only had the AC on for a couple of hours as the kitchen heated up while I had the oven on. Now I will open the windows and hope for a cool night!
Friday, 31 July 2015
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Swimming in a Bath Tub
The water in the pool is 84F (29C) so not very refreshing but still quite nice when you are hot and sweaty as I was after my bike ride home from the Senior's Centre. This was my day in the coffee bar and we sold a lot of pies, numerous cups of coffee and even some tea. I
was constantly refilling the water jug too, as everyone was feeling the heat despite the air conditioning.
I made some mango chutney this afternoon, and got a batch of rhubarb ready to make jam tomorrow. It needs to sit in sugar overnight. This may be the last picking of rhubarb as it was rather spindly and limp. I will watch over the next few weeks to see if any new stalks emerge. I have also been picking cherry tomatoes - we had a bunch at lunch yesterday and I had some more today. The regular tomatoes are almost ready - in fact Nathalie picked one yesterday but it still needs to ripen a bit more.
The last of the leftovers from the weekend BBQ tonight (I hope!). I am gradually cleaning out containers so should be able to defrost some fish tomorrow for something fresh. I really need to use up the Kale - Judy took some yesterday to make a salad but I prefer mine cooked. I also have a cauliflower to make into soup so I will be busy in the kitchen tomorrow. Thank goodness my AC is managing to cope with this hot spell!
was constantly refilling the water jug too, as everyone was feeling the heat despite the air conditioning.
I made some mango chutney this afternoon, and got a batch of rhubarb ready to make jam tomorrow. It needs to sit in sugar overnight. This may be the last picking of rhubarb as it was rather spindly and limp. I will watch over the next few weeks to see if any new stalks emerge. I have also been picking cherry tomatoes - we had a bunch at lunch yesterday and I had some more today. The regular tomatoes are almost ready - in fact Nathalie picked one yesterday but it still needs to ripen a bit more.
The last of the leftovers from the weekend BBQ tonight (I hope!). I am gradually cleaning out containers so should be able to defrost some fish tomorrow for something fresh. I really need to use up the Kale - Judy took some yesterday to make a salad but I prefer mine cooked. I also have a cauliflower to make into soup so I will be busy in the kitchen tomorrow. Thank goodness my AC is managing to cope with this hot spell!
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Hot and Sweaty!
Too hot for tennis (30'sC even at 8:30 a.m.) but I did play a couple of sets. Departed with a very red face and jumped straight into the pool to cool off once I got home.
Judy and kids here for a swim and lunch - I managed to get rid of some of the extra food from the weekend but still have potato salad and bean casserole which will be dinner tonight, along with a chicken thigh and some sausage.
I went to a movie (air-conditioned, bliss!) this afternoon. It was "Mr. Holmes" with a very aged Ian McKellan as the title character, quite good but nothing special.
Judy and kids here for a swim and lunch - I managed to get rid of some of the extra food from the weekend but still have potato salad and bean casserole which will be dinner tonight, along with a chicken thigh and some sausage.
I went to a movie (air-conditioned, bliss!) this afternoon. It was "Mr. Holmes" with a very aged Ian McKellan as the title character, quite good but nothing special.
Monday, 27 July 2015
A Few Hot Days
Quite a bit of territory to cover as I have been very remiss in posting to my blog. Let's go back to last Thursday!
Tennis in the morning - very hot - but we managed to play three sets. Bridge was cancelled in the p.m. as we were missing one person so I had a lazy afternoon at home, swimming and tidying up the garden.
Friday continued hot and, as Judy and the kids were coming over for lunch and a swim, I left tennis early. I had put the pool heater on first thing in the morning and by the time I got home around 10: 15 the water was almost 80F. The kids had a great time - James was in the deep end without his floaties, quite scary. Judy had to dive in at one point when he looked to be in difficulty but, on the whole, he managed fine. BBQ at Cathie's in the evening to celebrate John's birthday. He is turning 85 next week and still playing tennis!
Out early on Saturday to attend the Orientation meeting for the Roger's Cup. Susan drove and we were back home by 10: 30 a.m. so I had the rest of the day for chores and a bit of pre-cooking ( my signature bean casserole) for the BBQ at my house on Sunday.
Sunday started off hot and we managed one set of tennis, albeit a long one, and I was home by 10:45. I made a potato salad for the evening meal and finished off the inevitable house work and cooking. The family arrived around 4:00 p.m. and Dave very kindly manned the barbecue. It worked like a charm (this was its inauguration) and we cooked a mountain of meat - lamb chops, chicken thighs, sausages and pork ribs - which were devoured in quick order. Judy had brought a Greek salad and a pile of corn cobs which also went down well. Dessert was a selection of cheesecake (see a previous entry) and some fresh fruit brought by Steve and Alison. And, of course, the wine and beer were flowing! Everyone had a nice cooling swim before we ate and the kids were back in the pool again after the meal as it was still very warm. James got to show off his new skills before an appreciative audience and the other two had fun with Uncle Steve in the pool.
Today continued to be extremely hot (33C at one point) so I have stayed inside most of the day with the air conditioning running. I have it set to 24C so it is quite comfortable downstairs although the upper floor is still a bit on the hot side. Despite having put the dishwasher through its paces last night, there was still a bit of a clean up required this morning - I even scrubbed the grill from the barbecue! However, all was tidied away by 9:30 and I had the rest of the morning to myself. Then bridge in the afternoon (I played several hands but only made the contract on one but my partner, Sami, had a small slam!). Leftovers for dinner, including the cheesecake. Yummy!
Tennis in the morning - very hot - but we managed to play three sets. Bridge was cancelled in the p.m. as we were missing one person so I had a lazy afternoon at home, swimming and tidying up the garden.
Friday continued hot and, as Judy and the kids were coming over for lunch and a swim, I left tennis early. I had put the pool heater on first thing in the morning and by the time I got home around 10: 15 the water was almost 80F. The kids had a great time - James was in the deep end without his floaties, quite scary. Judy had to dive in at one point when he looked to be in difficulty but, on the whole, he managed fine. BBQ at Cathie's in the evening to celebrate John's birthday. He is turning 85 next week and still playing tennis!
Out early on Saturday to attend the Orientation meeting for the Roger's Cup. Susan drove and we were back home by 10: 30 a.m. so I had the rest of the day for chores and a bit of pre-cooking ( my signature bean casserole) for the BBQ at my house on Sunday.
Sunday started off hot and we managed one set of tennis, albeit a long one, and I was home by 10:45. I made a potato salad for the evening meal and finished off the inevitable house work and cooking. The family arrived around 4:00 p.m. and Dave very kindly manned the barbecue. It worked like a charm (this was its inauguration) and we cooked a mountain of meat - lamb chops, chicken thighs, sausages and pork ribs - which were devoured in quick order. Judy had brought a Greek salad and a pile of corn cobs which also went down well. Dessert was a selection of cheesecake (see a previous entry) and some fresh fruit brought by Steve and Alison. And, of course, the wine and beer were flowing! Everyone had a nice cooling swim before we ate and the kids were back in the pool again after the meal as it was still very warm. James got to show off his new skills before an appreciative audience and the other two had fun with Uncle Steve in the pool.
Today continued to be extremely hot (33C at one point) so I have stayed inside most of the day with the air conditioning running. I have it set to 24C so it is quite comfortable downstairs although the upper floor is still a bit on the hot side. Despite having put the dishwasher through its paces last night, there was still a bit of a clean up required this morning - I even scrubbed the grill from the barbecue! However, all was tidied away by 9:30 and I had the rest of the morning to myself. Then bridge in the afternoon (I played several hands but only made the contract on one but my partner, Sami, had a small slam!). Leftovers for dinner, including the cheesecake. Yummy!
 |
| The Grillmaster, set up on the front porch, much easier to access from the kitchen. |
 |
| Nice and clean again after its inaugural use. I managed to find a connector for my propane tank. |
 |
| Still over 30C at 7:00 p.m. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)