HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :: HERE’S TO A GREAT 2023
I hope everyone survived the winter weather last week. There were some challenging times for some of us. We were out and about and didn’t have any problems. I was a bit disappointed our snow left before Christmas, but I think it was best the snow stayed up in the mountains and didn’t interrupt Christmas plans any more than it did. I enjoy all the Christmas lights in the neighborhood.
Speaking of snow, Ian and Kayoko took some great photos of the snow and sunset.
Traveling Neighbors
Carole went down to LA to visit her daughter; I hope she had a good time.
She did have some issues with airline delays and cancellations but at least she made it home.
I noticed that Bev is back home, hope she had a good time in Tucson and enjoyed the sunshine. She missed all the excitement with our snow and ice.
Book Club
Our next Book Club get together will be on Jan 9th at Cheri’s, #213. We skipped Dec. because of the holiday scheduling. We will be chatting about a couple of books; “An Elderly Lady is up to no Good” and “An Elderly Lady must Not be Crossed” by Helene Tursten. Let Cheri know if you’re going to attend.
Annual Christmas Party
The Christmas party was a great success. We had a great turnout. We missed the folks who couldn’t make it. Thank everyone for contributing such great and tantalizing food. Jerry was so happy there were plenty of deserts, he was worried. Thank everyone for helping cleanup and putting the Book Nook back in order.
New Year’s Eve Party
Jerry and I opened our house for a little party to say adieu to 2022. We were joined by several of neighbors. Those of you that couldn’t make you missed a good party. We had lots of laughs and were able to get to know each other just a bit more than before.
We have such a great community we think the more we get to know each other the better it will be. We often see each other in the hallways garage or in the mail room and have a chance to have a brief chat along with “how are you?” then we go our separate ways until the next brief encounter. It is just not the same type of conversation as the more in-depth conversation we are able to have at one of our condo parties, i.e.: summer potluck or Christmas party. But those functions are just too far apart.
Wouldn’t be great to have this type of function every two or three months. All it takes is for someone to step and make the invitation.
Recipe de Jour
Beef Stew
Preheat oven 325 F.
Ingredients
6 oz. bacon, chopped in ¼ inch strips
2 lbs. beef stew meat (or beef chuck) I usually buy a chuck roast and break it down myself, I cut into 1 inch pieces
2 ½ tsp. sea salt or to taste, divided
1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided
¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 cups dry red wine
1 lb. mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 carrots, peeled, cut into ½ inch thick pieces
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
4 cups low sodium beef broth or beef stock
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 lb. small potatoes, new potatoes halved or quartered depending on the size
- In a large ovenproof pot, sauté the bacon over medium heat until it’s golden brown and the fat is released. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to a separate bowl.
- While the bacon is cooking, place the beef in a large mixing bowl, season with 1 ½ tsp salt and 1 black pepper. Sprinkle the beef with flour and toss to evenly coat. Carefully transfer the beef in 2 batches into the hot bacon fat. Cook over medium-high heat until the beef is browned (3 minutes per side) Transfer the browned beef in the bacon bowl.
- Add the wine to the pot; bring to a boil, scrapping the bottom to de-glaze the pot. Add the mushrooms, simmer over medium heat about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot add the carrots, onions and garlic sauté 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste, sauté another minute. Transfer the veggies to the stew pot.
- Add the beef broth, bay leaves and thyme and remaining salt and pepper. Return the beef and bacon to the pot, then add the potatoes. Stir to combine, making sure the potatoes are submerged in the liquid. Cover and cook in the oven 1 ¼ hour or until beef is fork tender.
8 Servings
Recipe from the Costco magazine.
Golden Curry | A great product
If you like curry and don’t want to go through all the trouble of getting out all your spices and making the sauce yourself, you might try this product. I have been using it for about 50 years, I first became acquainted with it when a woman we knew was a flight attendant and would bring this back from Japan, at the time it wasn’t available in the States. Luckily we don’t have to depend on someone to bring it back from Japan, we can now go to our local supermarket and pick it up or order it from Amazon It is so simple, you decide what kind of meat you want, chicken, pork (I save the “tails” from pork tenderloin” I keep them in the freezer until I have enough to have a curry. Simply fallow the directions, sauté whatever vegetables you want, add the curry with some water, serve over rice.
Kitchen Gadget
For all you cook or bakers I just purchased a cool gadget. It is a 2-cup adjustable measuring cup made by Oxo. It is great for measuring and dispensing sticky things like butter or brown sugar. You can find it on Amazon for $15.00. See it on Amazon.
You put the peanut butter in the top then push it out of the cylinder. It all goes in the dish washer so easy cleanup.
Restaurant Review
18401 76th Ave W #3
Edmonds WA 98026
425-776-3616
8 AM-2 PM
We found Bistro 76 while on our quest to find quartz for our countertop. It is in the Perrinville area of Edmonds. We went there for a late breakfast. It is supposedly known for their eggs Benedict so gave them a try; their homemade hollandaise sauce was excellent. We would recommend this little café. They also do some catering.
John and Linda found a Greek restaurant named Taki’s Mad Greek
Taki’s Mad Greek
1471 NW 85th
Seattle, 98117
206-297-9200
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11am – 9pm | Saturday, 11am – Midnight | Never Open on Sunday
Linda and I headed out for a dining adventure last week and I chose Greek food and Taki’s Mad Greek Restaurant on NW 85th St (adjacent to Safeway). Taki’s is family owned and the family is proudly from Greece so they serve hearty traditional food. The menu is astoundingly vast. We ordered Caesar salads which were large and A+. Linda ordered the Gyro Platter (thin sliced beef and veal with tzatziki sauce, Rice Pilaf, and pita wedges. I chose the Mad Greek Special (3 skewers of beef, pork, and chicken with a sauce that was clean-up-your-plate-with-your-finger good). I also ordered Greek Roast Potatoes and I don’t have words to tell you how good they tasted. Linda has a birthday this month and Taki’s is where we’re going.
submitted by John W
WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR WE HOPE 2023 WILL BE GRAND