Anna N

So lunch for me was a piece of toast and a glass of soda water. I spared you the photograph. I don't think Kerry did much better – – leftover soup, saltines and some cheese, I think. She worked on her computer through lunch and I worked on pulling together a grocery order for when we get home as there will be nothing in my house to eat. We are just a boring pair today!

Good morning. How quickly things change weather wise. We have gone from melting to practically freezing. It is just 16°C this morning and not expected to climb much above 20 or 21°C. Breakfast was a piece of the mushroom and leek tart that I made yesterday. I reheated it for 10 minutes in the CSO at 325°F using the steam-bake function. Kerry is working in town today at the clinic so will likely be popping in and out as time allows. After work we are planning on a trip to Pike Lake Farm to pick up some summer sausage for my daughter. Other than that I do not know what the day may hold.

I was quite positive that I had posted this last evening but apparently not. An indulgent meal of five scallops and dessert! Lisabeth (of Ultimately Chocolate in Gore Bay) sent two desserts home with Kerry and we shared each of them. Delicious.

The epitomy of an indulgent dinner. Five scallops and dessert!

Thanks. I had forgotten about her blog. Hours of enjoyment in my future.

If I just make one person smile each day I am happy.

Wow. My kind of dish end it does look beautiful.

Sad to hear this. She also had a book of her own I do believe about cooking for one which was quite interesting.

What? You think I was prepared to share? Not a chance!

Cheese added after 15 minutes of baked time and re-entry shields in place. The finished tart. It could've stood a little longer in the oven to better melt the cheese but since it is going to be reheated I decided to quit while I was ahead. The recipe suggested that the liquid drained from the mushrooms and leeks should either be discarded or saved for another purpose. I tasted it. I poured it into a cocktail glass. No more liquid to worry about. Here's a link to the recipe for those who are interested. It could not be easier. Missing from my recipe is the thyme (one of us is unbelievably not a fan) and a good sprinkling of pepper, out of respect for our mini roommate who might want some of the tart. She is really the only one who should be eating it since she is the one who wears a bib. You all know how puff pastry is as far as crumbs are concerned. Whoever thought it would make good appetizers for a fancy dress cocktail party? Un décolleté plongeant is a crumb magnet. Just saying.

Outside temperature currently is 20°C/68°F. Room temp! I am comfortable.

I was hoping to show you just how high those raindrops were bouncing on the balcony. Unfortunately I didn't manage to capture it but it was quite dramatic. One of those summer rain storms which is over almost before it begins. At least the air is nicely cooled down now.

Can you believe that we are reduced to buying supermarket eggs? Seems our egg people are out of chickens or out of eggs. One promises that eggs will be ready next week, beautiful multicolored ones, but we will be home by then. The leeks contained barely any dirt at all! @liuzhou would have recognized them immediately! Nevertheless old habits die hard and they were still given a darn good swish or two in water. The garlic gadget redeemed itself somewhat. It did a very commendable job in thinly slicing unpeeled garlic. Sliced it much thinner than I ever manage to do. The leek/mushroom mixture is cooked and draining and I am going to take a short rest before I continue with the job of finishing the tart.

Well you are not too far off. Kerry called me from the supermarket saying they had some lovely looking leeks. I am a sucker for leeks and a tart immediately came to mind. As that thought flitted through my head, Kerry sent another text asking if she should bring more puff pastry home. So eventually two and two got together and I saw in my mind's eye a mushroom, leek and goat cheese tart. Guess I should get myself into the kitchen and start cleaning some leeks!

Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into life in Hong Kong. I have so enjoyed myself following along.

Apparently I am not worthy.

I do believe we had trouble before and apparently it didn't get properly repaired. I am most grateful that the temperature fell overnight in that today should be quite reasonable with a breeze coming off the channel.

Good morning. The sky looks rather threatening but at least it is cooler. Good, because it will take days for the parts needed to repair the AC to arrive. Breakfast this morning was a repeat. Some things are so good that once is not enough. I tried @TicTac's "wet hands" on bread and it did seem to mitigate the problem of crunchy toast so thank you. Kerry is headed down to Gore Bay today to visit with a friend and take care of a couple of errands. Not sure yet what I might get up to.

Thank you. It wasn't bad.

Toooooo much! You just gotta love the ingenuity! Looks like a job for @Kerry Beal Thanks for bringing a smile to my sweaty face.

And it is amazingly good.

Well despite the unbearable heat I felt I would be letting the team down if I didn't at least try reheating roasted cauliflower in the Cuisinart steam oven. 10 minutes, 325°F on steam/bake function did a very creditable job. edited to add photo.

Even the brain will stop working soon. Our air conditioner is non-operative and I am melting. Thank heaven for the smallest breeze coming off the channel.

I suspect I am suffering from an acute failure of imagination. The tortillas are about 3 inches in diameter. So very tiny. I think about the only thing I have ever done at home with tortillas is make cheese quesadillas. I have had fajitas in restaurants and think they are just great but have never made them at home as far as I recall. But perhaps I could prod my imagination into doing a little work here. Reheat some roasted cauliflower, warm up some tiny tortillas and serve with some romesco sauce. Maybe I could get on a roll here after all.

We are both shameless. We may never know if the CSO does a good job of reheating roasted cauliflower because neither one of us can stop picking at the tray. it is now cold and still good. I had some with my romesco sauce. It's not a bad sauce but doesn't hold a candle to the one from the Zuni Café cookbook.