As usual, it has been quite a full week around here.
The week began with a CTM Board meeting on Sunday afternoon. After months of discussions the revisions to the By-Laws have finally been completed and now the draft has been sent on to a lawyer who will make sure the wording is appropriately “legal”.
Of course that meant that much of Monday morning was spent typing up the minutes since with meeting virtually I need my laptop screen to view the other members and so must just make handwritten notes that have to then be turned into proper minutes.
The March Day Camp committee meeting is coming up next Tuesday so I also put together the agenda for that and circulated it. Later today we will be launching the first session of the Day Camps Cook-along, it will be happening at 3 pm this afternoon, I’m hurrying to get through my baking so I can log on and watch. I’m not planning to try the recipe myself as it a deep fried Italian treat (Zeppole) traditionally made for St. Joseph’s Day, March 15th but with being alone due to the pandemic there is no way I could eat them all by myself. However I am really looking forward to watching and seeing how all the children enjoy the cook-along.
Sadly, only 3 families have registered from the many many messages sent out across the country to Day Camp host communities, but we all felt it was important not to disappoint these children and so are going ahead anyway. There is one more family who may join for the other 2 sessions, which will be great.
This week I finally completed the phone calls for Innovation Assistance Food Bank. The task was challenging but I’m really glad I took it on because the organisation is doing such important work to help people during the pandemic so it was really the least I could do to help a bit. With that job done I have had time to do a little sewing again and have completed a gift for Jillian, who’s birthday is next week. She hasn’t been to the house for several weeks but next week is spring break at the school where she teaches so she is going to stop by for a socially distanced cup of coffee and to open her present, it will be special to see her in person!!
I would also like to sew a few spring masks for myself, to go with my seasonal wardrobe but more importantly I need to make a start on my Pysanky. Wednesday I made a foray to a local store that has free-range eggs and was able to buy a dozen. This year I may only make one dozen Pysanky as with the current COVID restrictions it is so difficult to arrange to give them to people. I usually make at least two dozen each year but last Easter, which was not long after the start of the pandemic, I ended up with quite a few extra eggs as I just couldn’t get them to the people for whom I had made them. I might compromise and make one and a half dozen!
Time is marching on and Thomason needs a good walk before I go online for the Cook-along so I better share a recipe with you and then sign off! Last evening I made Alecha, an Ethiopian dish that my Mum often used to make during Lent, as our family has always eaten lots of vegetarian meals during this season. It is delicious and very warming on a cold winter night.
Tzichi’s Alecha
- 3 potatoes, cut into 1/3” strips and set aside in a bowl of cold water
- 2 onions, minced
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups green beans (fresh or frozen), cut into 1” pieces
- 1 ½ tsps.turmeric
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt & pepper to taste
Sauté the onion in the oil until golden. Add the green beans and turmeric to the pan and continue to sauté for a further 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook over high heat for 2 minutes, stirring. Drain the potatoes and add them to the pan along with 1/3 cup water and the minced garlic. Bring to a simmer and cook stirring occasionally for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.Serve in bowls with flat bread and top with a fried egg, if desired. Serves 3-4.