stuff123

It’s winter in Canada so the days are shorter and it always reminds me that human beings are just another animal on this planet and maybe not the smartest one either. I think the big bear comes out in me at this time of year. Although I think my “hibernation” is more a reaction to staying in out of the cold because I don’t ski or play hockey like I used to.

So it seems you still get tired and a good nap is in order to recharge the batteries. For the last three nights I have had the perfect accompaniment for this nap. It’s professional hockey’s all star break so there was the NHL All Star game, the AHL All Star game and tonight the Leafs are back playing. They all were more like shinny games we played at the local open air rink as kids. Lots of scoring and no defence.

There is something about the crowd noise and the announcers voices that is comforting. It’s almost like your mother’s tranquilizing voice singing a soothing lullaby. I guess for Canadians, that’s not too far from the truth. It is our game although others argue that lacrosse is more correctly our national game. They both have very strong routes here, there can be no doubt of that.

The preamble to the AHL game was doubly embarrassing when a former American Idol finalist butchered both the Canadian and American national anthems. And somehow Toronto was part of the Planet World Team and got booted out of Canada because Milwaukee, Hershey, Scranton and Worcester all got transplanted to Canada for the game. So I didn’t miss anything there either. When did Wisconsin get a navy—The Milwaukee Admirals?

And the Leaf game. Last time I looked it was 6-1 for the Minnesota Whatevers in those awful red and green uniforms—Minnesota Wild? I remember two teams in Minnesota—the North Stars and the Fighting Saints (NHL & WHA). Once again Wiki came to the rescue when I couldn’t recall the Saints team colours even though I was working in team sales for Cooper at the time. The last two seasons had a notation that I thought was only reserved for car racing—DNF (Did not finish). They folded the team twice in the dying years of the World Hockey Association.

The WHA had two teams with the same team colours—Edmonton and San Diego. Made the equipment managers earn their keep after a fight. It added a new meaning to delaying the game. I guess San Diego Hamburgers in a brown and red uniform wouldn’t work. Ray Croc of McDonald’s fame was the owner.

Oh yeah and the DNF thing. That reminds me, NASCAR will be starting soon. Sunday afternoon will be nap time again. Nothing like the drone of 43 engines on steroids to lull you to sleep.

Those are power naps!!

Mick Dundee again?

Nope.

This is a story of what you can do if you buy carefully and look at quality and functionality as your first target and leave price further down the list. This particular kitchen tool is not that expensive, either.

If I could only have one kitchen knife, this would be it. I got it at Lee Valley which is a very unique retail outlet that also has an excellent mail order service via their website. The following link will get you started. One knife

Lee Valley sells a range of products that are all meant to be used by people that understand that quality, functionality and durability are what you need to get the job done but that you don’t necessarily have to take out a mortgage to do so. Their product range includes good stuff for woodworking, gardening and all kinds of hardware from cupboard door handles to screws and other hard to find useful hardware.

They don’t try to compete with the big box stores. They don’t sell much in the way of power tools or lawnmowers and most of the product has only one on display. You fill out an order form and take it to the counter where you are served by number. A friendly staff member will take your order and go back and hand pick each item and then show everything to you. If you have any questions they will do their best to help out. You take all the stuff and pay at the end of that counter.

The knife was something I saw on display in the store and decided to try. I also bought a unique sharpening tool that I also use on router bits, scissors and other knives like my Swiss army one. Its a two-sided folding contraption of diamond stuff that has 600x and 1200x grit to it. It is overkill, because it is superfine and ultrafine but I like it that way. It was twice the price of the knife, but I probably will only have to buy one in my lifetime.

The other thing that Lee Valley does is help you to do things better. As part of that web catalogue page for the Peasant Chef’s Knife, you will see a small link “instr” which is the instructions on how to take care of the knife and how to sharpen it.

The knife will never look that shiny again. The only thing that will is the edge because it takes an edge better than any other knife in my homemade knife block. I usually don’t sharpen it right away and start cutting away on one of my plastic cutting boards. A small tip. Knuckle your fingers under in the hand that is holding the stuff you are cutting or chopping and cut slightly away from that hand. Finger stew doesn’t go real far.

This knife will cut tomatoes & potatoes paper thin and is rigid enough to cut right through a rutabaga (waxed turnip). I sometimes make homemade oven-baked potato chips and this knife is essential in cutting them thin enough. Just go slowly and make your strokes deliberate.

As part of the after I-put-it-to-good-use-ceremony, I rinse the knife under cold water, get out the sharpener and sharpen it under running water and then wipe the knife with a paper towel to make sure that all the fine shavings are gone. Then it just goes back into it’s private slot in the big block. Sometimes the little paring knife gets to play but most of the time it’s this guy that does the work. Even cuts fresh baked bread.

I understand now what they meant when they coined the phrase “trusty knife”. It looks to me like it’s a lot lighter than Mick’s too.

This is about as simple a meal as one can make especially when it’s prepared using a crock pot aka slow cooker.

The Stuff

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 chopped jalapeño pepper (no seeds)

1/2 chopped green or red pepper (no seeds)

1 can or jar tomato sauce ( about 2 1/2 - 3 cups)

1 chopped onion

1 can tomato puree

1 or 2 cloves of garlic (chopped)

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. brown sugar

2 tbsp. chili powder

1 can red kidney beans

What to do

Break up the ground beef in the crock pot. Open the cans and dump them into the pot. Put all the other ingredients into the pot as well. Stir the mixture well. Put the lid on the crock pot. Cook for 8 hours on low. The flavours come out like no other type of cooking. So go easy on the spices unless you prefer your chili fiery hot.

You can change it up by serving with shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, chopped green onions or sour cream or all of the above.

Freeze any unused portion in  those resealable 1.75 cup containers so you can reheat it in the microwave. Tastes like you just made it mawn!

If you don’t own a slow cooker. Get one!

The programmable one with the meat probe is well worth the extra money.

Here are some helpful ideas that may help you to better utilize your hard earned dollars.

• Buy spaghetti sauce in the jar. Use the jars as storage containers for everyday items like sugar, tea bags and rice (any dried food product). Boil the jars in a large pot of water to remove the labels and glue. Immerse the lid as well.
• If you don’t own one, buy a slow cooker aka crock pot. Cheaper cuts of meat like shoulder roasts and pot roasts tenderize in the process of cooking slowly. It will use less energy than the stove or oven. You can save leftovers in the freezer for later consumption.
• Buy dry food items at the bulk food store and keep in the sauce jars you have reclaimed. Less packaging to go in the recycle bin. (Oatmeal, raisins, pasta shells, etc.)
• Replace metal loaf  & muffin pans with newer silicon type. Use the old loaf pan to grow fresh herbs in the window sill. Use the muffin pan for small items storage for your hobbies.
• Run the dishwasher just before you go to bed. Make sure it’s close to fully loaded. Use electricity in off peak hours whenever possible. Turn off the light switch if the room isn’t occupied.
• Buy the largest size of product you can find for common use items that don’t spoil easily like laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, garbage bags, etc.)
• Hard boil eggs that are close to the expiry date. (20 minutes starting with the water cold, heat on high, reduce to low when the water is boiling)
• Buy 2 or more of items that are on sale in the grocery store unless it is perishable. eg. Toilet paper, paper towels, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.

Save the Earth. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.