Saturday, December 19, 2020

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Dough

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 



Heart-breaking news at any time of the year.
Fishing boat and 6 men all lost in bad weather off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.





Our case numbers are still soaring and that is really scary. We hit over 2,000 a day  - 2  3 4 times this week.
Then on Friday we were told this.

Ontario extends lockdown in Toronto and Peel to January 4
As Ontario's total cases pass the 150,000 mark, provincial public health officials are also moving Hamilton into lockdown.

Since Toronto and Peel moved into lockdown, COVID-19 cases have continued to rise in both areas.
Toronto’s cases went from 37.5 per cent to 127.5 cases per 100,000 people, the government said, and Peel’s case rate went up 8.6 per cent to 199.1 cases per 100,000 people.
Hospitalizations rose by 54 per cent in Peel and 40.9 per cent in Toronto, leading hospitals to delay surgeries and other procedures.
The province said testing positivity rates also remain well above the 2.5 per cent high-alert threshold, at 8.5 per cent in Peel and 5.8 per cent in Toronto.



Also mentions a pet peeve of mine when travelling in the States. Why do the American customs officials think it is so strange for a wife to NOT take her husband's name? I have been asked that many times in the States, but never anywhere else in the world.




AROUND TOWN HOME

A very quiet week as we hunkered down. This will be a photo lite edition!

Repair guy replaced the sensor on my stove on Saturday. I baked on Sunday and used both ovens and it seems to be working better.
Monday was more of the same, John hunkered down watching football after working out. I was lazy and watched several episodes of Great British Bake-Off in between some chores and baking.
Tuesday was also spent at home and some baking got done.
Wednesday morning we were tossing around the idea that John might go for vegetables. That blossomed into a full plan (a snow storm was in the forecast at that point) by 10:30 we were dressed and out the door. First stop, to stock up on enough vegetables to probably get us past Christmas Day and weekend. Then to the LCBO to ensure we had prosecco and other alcoholic beverages to get us through the holidays. 



Then groceries, this and that needed and they had fresh turkeys. The plan was for John to go to Costco early next week, but, since the best byy date on the turkeys was December 28 we grabbed a nice sized (there's only the two of us). 
Beside a possible snow storm, crazy rising Covid numbers, there's also a very slim (to none) chance that the province will allow a partial lifting of the month long lockdown on weekend which means everyone will be running out and hitting the stores and we certainly don't want to get caught up in that frenzy. It is doubtful, though based on the numbers and some regions just went into lockdown.

And now, just as I flip over to read email, I find the following news:
Rather than lifting Toronto’s lockdown Monday,  the Ontario government will tighten restrictions to stop people from gathering over the holidays and spreading COVID-19.


Very pleased with ourselves we headed home to put everything away. 

We debated several times about going downtown to see the decorations at City Hall and other spots, but decided the numbers are really too scary to venture out.
Perhaps Monday we will get out, the weather is looking unseasonably warm at the start of the week. This weekend is looking like rain.

COOKING


YES my oven is working properly!!

Saturday - ham, Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes turnips and carrots.


Sunday - lamb chops with roast potatoes and broccolini.
I baked these Mexican hot chocolate cookies - I made 44 and they need more chili.
These are really similar to my old recipe for spicy Mexican cookies.




Monday - I decided to make gluten free cinnamon roll cake. I've made this before but it turned out really well this time. I added orange zest to the batter.





For dinner I went with a recipe from this morning's New York Times, sheet pan lemony chicken with Brussel sprouts, since we still had sprouts and they were really good. I served it with mushroom rice. The chicken legs were good, the sprouts a little overcooked. It was good but nothing special.

Tuesday - Opened the fridge - leftover mashed turnip carrot and potatoes. Opened freezer - frozen ground lamb. Frozen corn. Equals shepherd's delicious pie!!
I did bring out my bread maker but lost my enthusiasm to make a gluten free loaf.

Wednesday - pork belly, cauliflower rice mixed with broccolini and red onion.
I had even picked up some turkey necks and backs and they went into the oven to roast before being made into turkey stock so we have it ready for gravy next week.
It is now frozen and ready.




Thursday - took chicken thighs out of the freezer and John requested Chinese curry chicken.

Friday - had apples and oranges fading quickly so I made gluten free morning glory muffins. This recipe worked out well. I added the orange zest and replaced the water in the recipe with the juice of an orange. I also replaced the two eggs with two bananas, worked perfectly.
I had made them before using regular flour.


I made our Christmas menu, I plan on having afternoon tea on Christmas Eve and tourtiere for dinner. Christmas Day will the the full trimmings, turkey, stuffing, Irish peas, roast potatoes and trifle.



WATCHING/READING


I have not yet finished The Tenant, haven't been reading.

I did watch more Great British Bake-Off.

I am also working my way through Rectify. What can I say, it is described as Southern Gothic. I am in season 3. I really, really don't like any of these characters, I can't even find any sympathy for them, they are just so miserable. I do like one minor character but even she is so whiny. But I do need to see the outcome. It does have rave reviews online and I understand but I just find it so slow.


I think I might watch The Ripper next. John is watching the British The Night Manager, which also appeals to me.

John and I watched the two seasons of Derry Girls, I thought he wouldn't like it but he does. Also fun to see images of Derry, which we have visited.


We decided to start watching The Ripper together on Friday night.

















14 comments:

  1. You seem to have managed to have a pretty eventful week, even shut out of sightseeing and shopping. The chocolate cookies sound very good. Chile pepper was one of the spices the original pre-Columbian Mexican natives used in chocolate drinks.

    be safe... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  2. You have been busy in the kitchen! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you.

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  3. Yes, the virus seems to be spreading more quickly and we know people and family with Covid right now. Very scary. The Derry Girls looks good. I might look into watching it. Wishing you a very safe and Merry Christmas.

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  4. Not good COVID news on your front but nothing like the place to your south.
    You initially did not seem so sure your oven was ok but then later added it is fine.
    While we did not have trouble with US I have heard absolute horror stories from some people. Your 'unmarried' name is such a weird thing to focus on. The number of women here who don't change their names is growing exponentially, although the children usually take their father's name.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Andrew our numbers are not as bad as our neighbours. See Deb's comment below.
      Yes, the repair did fix the temperature of my oven. Makes me happy.
      You would think in this day and age when many people don't even get married that anyone would care if you took a man's name at all.

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  5. Great job! I love your blog. I had a .com, but now I have to come back to blogspot.com It's been a long time and I'm having a hard time figuring the bugger out. OUCH! WISH ME LUCK & see you around. My those fisherman rest in peace! Poor fellas! God bless them!

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    Replies
    1. Email me if you need help with Blogspot, I've been through the growing pains.

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  6. I'm glad you have a government that shows responsibility for its people. Our governor just said he will not shut down again. Right. And in the meantime we have 350 new cases a day here in my county. Ridiculous. I don't even want to talk about the people who still have their huge T flags flying. The election is over, folks. I am so frustrated with these people.

    We want to get back to the Great British Bake Off but we are waiting until after Christmas. We've been taking on lots of old holiday movies, most of which are not very good (Christmas in Connecticut; Holiday Inn).

    I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen this year, and it has given me a lot of happiness. I'm glad your oven is working again. That would be awful. I love the sound of both your ham and Brussel sprout meal along with spicy Mexican cookies. And your cake was lovely.

    Do have a good week!

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    1. Our cases are hovering around 2500 a day, but then our population in Ontario is 15 million people.
      The government is trying but it is the stupid people who still think it is fine to have parties and gatherings with multiple people.
      I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen too and also enjoyed it.

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  7. I'm jealous of your menu plan! I've been "planning" all month, but have nothing so organized! The Cinnamon Roll Cake looks great! I was thinking of making gluten-free cinnamon rolls from a cookbook recipe I had success with before, but the cake idea seems a lot easier.

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    Replies
    1. The cinnamon roll cake is a lot easier and tastes just as good!

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  8. The governor in Florida - Deathsantis - is opening everything up too, just as Deb Nance mentioned about her state. It's riduculous to ignore science. Do they ever wonder why people don't get polio anymore?! Vaccines. The stupidity is amazing. Glad your geoverment cares about it's people.

    Oh yeah to your Christmas and new years menus. Also loving that coffee cake. I may borrow your poster about reading, I love it.

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  9. We too have planned out our Christmas and New Year's menus. What a different year. We normally host a New Year's Eve fancy dinner and movie night, but this year, of course, is just the two of us. You've hit your stride with GF baking. I wanted to wish you both a super safe and happy Christmas. I've been absent a lot this year, but the stress of the US situation -- topped with COVID and all the things we had to do to settle my mom's affairs -- just did me in. I'm planning on a more active and happy 2021 -- especially after the inauguration. Gawk.

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  10. I wish I could be Canadian too!

    We just finished Derry Girls! So much fun. I can't wait til season three. I've heard Rectify is good but I need at least one character to root for...so I'm not sure if I'd enjoy it either. And Night Manager has been on my list for awhile. I love Hugh, Tom, and Olivia so I definitely need to take time for that one.

    Your dished look yummy and I hope you have a wonderful holiday! Stay safe and warm!

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