A Balmy Minus Eight

After a week of temperatures ranging from -15 to -25, a day at -8 seems warm and balmy.

New Year, Same Stuff

Hoping everyone had an enjoyable holiday and a warm welcome to 2025.  As the old year drew to a close I made the same promises that I have made for at least the past ten years.  I was going to eat better, make sure I took all my prescribed medication, and just try to be healthier.

Understandable resolutions based on two trips to the hospital for cardiac related issues in the past year.  However, this year I lasted all the way to the 2nd of January before I broke my resolutions.  So I have tweaked this year's resolution making this the year of the restart.

This year, if I fall of the horse I am getting right back on!

Darkness Falls

My wife is basically able to go to bed any time after we have finished eating dinner.  I cannot go to bed until it is dark out.  At this time of the year that means I too can go to bed any time after we have finished eating dinner.  However my bedtime is much, much later in the summer.

I think this stems back to my childhood.  When I was I am going to say somewhere between 8 and 10, I had a paper route (actually I had 4 they rolled into 1).  Every Wednesday, that meant that my mom and I were up and out of the house by 5:30 AM to deliver papers.

This was not that big of a deal in the winter when I was in bed early and it was already dark out.  But it was not that much fun in the summer when I was in bed not only when it was still light out, but when I could hear my friends still outside playing.  I guess that I can't go to sleep until it is dark out now because I feel like I might be missing out on something.

Shrimp & Steak Fried Rice

When I was a kid, Chinese food was a rare thing in our house.  My father did not like it and now it is one of his preferred meals out.  My wife and I do a lot of variations of fried rice, so this just adds to the options.

This was found on Facebook and originally comes from Home Made Recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 ribeye, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 12-15 raw shrimp, tail off and deveined
• 4 cups day-old cold cooked rice
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 tbsp soy sauce, divided
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar, divided
• 4 tbsp oil, divided

Directions:

• Add 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1/2 tbsp brown sugar to the steak.
• Put aside.
• Add 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1/2 tbsp brown sugar to the shrimp.
• Put aside.
• In a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tbsp oil and cook steak for 1 minute per side until browned.
• Remove from the pan.
• Add shrimp to the same pan and cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes until they form a nice C shape.
• Remove from the pan.
• Add the remaining oil to the pan.
• Add carrots and onions, cooking for 3-4 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Scoot the mixture to one side of the pan.
• On the empty side of the pan, add the beaten eggs and scramble them.
• Once the eggs are cooked, add in the day-old cold rice.
• Use a spatula to break up the rice and add in the remaining soy sauce and sugar.
• Return the shrimp and steak to the pan, then add the green onions.
• Stir everything together and enjoy.

Turkey Vegetable Soup

On December 15th, our social committee is offering a turkey soup supper.  So I needed a turkey soup recipe.  I already had a turkey and wild rice recipe here but my wife said that turkey vegetable would be better.  

I found this recipe via google search and it comes from food fanatic.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion (peeled and diced)
• 1 large carrot (peeled and chopped)
• 2 stalks celery (chopped)
• 6 cups turkey broth (chicken can be substituted)
• 1 large potato (peeled and chopped)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 cups turkey 
• 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• In a large sauce pan, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. 
• Add the onions, carrots and celery.
• Sauté on medium heat for a few minutes or until vegetables are wilted.
• Add broth and potatoes to the pot. 
• Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low.
• Add thyme, tomato paste and turkey. 
• Cover with lid and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add frozen vegetables and cook another 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Answering The Question

I do not remember where or when I heard this statement first.  It may have been Facebook, Tik Tok, or somewhere else.  If you replace the "W" with a "T" in what, where, and when, you get the answer (that, there, and then).

The Difference A Year Makes

Last year, on New Year's Day, my wife and I left for an 8 day trip to Victoria to bring my mother-in-law home with us.  It was cool enough that you needed to wear a light jacket.  Today, our high was -16.