I've been wrangling with the local council over our trash pickup. For some reason, on Friday -- our regular collection day -- they emptied some of our bins but left others untouched. I reported a missed pickup and yesterday they came for the additional recycling, but we still have a bin full of rubbish that they didn't take. I have a feeling there's something in it -- probably related to the Russians' ongoing home renovations upstairs -- that they don't like, but it would be nice if they'd tell us what it is. We don't have another rubbish collection for two weeks and I'd rather not live with it all until then.
I also tackled some other small tasks yesterday. I ordered flowers for a longtime library volunteer whose daughter is graduating this year, and though they were delivered to her house I haven't heard from her and I have this irrational fear that maybe she's out of town and the flowers are sitting unattended and unappreciated in a box on her porch.
I took our blankets to the laundromat. Now Olga has a clean nest. And I went to Homebase and bought some more annuals -- trailing verbena for more hanging baskets, snapdragons for the long window box that used to contain the amaryllis, and a cool plant called Calceolaria with flowers that look like a slipper or purse.
Olga and I went to the cemetery later and saw a nice patch of bluebells. I think those are the Spanish variety, which are larger and more upright and considered an invasive threat to our native British bluebell. But still, they are pretty.
I also found an old bottle of poppers, which makes you wonder what goes on in the cemetery's more secluded corners. I wouldn't have been surprised to find these on the West Heath, which is a notorious gay cruising ground, but the cemetery?! ("Room odouriser" is one of several euphemisms for a product that has nothing to do with "odourising" a room.)
One of the information boards in the cemetery's butterfly garden has collapsed. For some reason, this makes me feel like I've lived here in West Hampstead a long, long time. It's actually only been seven years, but good grief, things are already rotting and falling apart!
I made a very weird lunch yesterday. We had a box of leftover rice in the fridge from a Chinese take-away, and some scraps of lettuce, tomato and parsley. I combined all that and threw in some tuna fish, added the last three tiny potatoes from some leftover potato salad, and topped the whole thing off with an oil & vinegar dressing. I figured it was a bit like a Salade Nicoise, but with rice. The New Yorker had a great piece a couple of weeks ago about scrounging in the fridge for whatever food is available -- the author called it "fending," but as it turns out there are many names for this activity and/or the resulting dish. My favorite is "California plate," because it sounds so light and elegant. So that's what I had for lunch.
(Top photo: Along the Regent's Canal, last Sunday.)
Sounds nice - except I have a thing about leftover rice. A friend of mine once drew a very evocative (running to the hills) image of botulism in my mind. And that was that. Any rice left over after a meal goes straight into the bin. Let's face it, Steve, why take (unnecessary) risks? And what's a bit of rice between extinction of the human race and landfill?
ReplyDeleteU
Botulism from leftover rice? Is that a thing?
DeleteUnfortunately yes, even in the fridge. If I have that much I portion freeze it and reheat thoroughly when using it. I try just to cook only what will be used at one meal, after all it keeps best dry x
DeleteI have never heard this! And if it's steamed at the restaurant, wouldn't that kill the botulism? Clearly I have some research to do.
DeleteOK, turns out it's not technically botulism but another bacteria that's the problem -- but yes, there is a food poisoning risk!
Deletehttps://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/
A bottle of poppers - learn something every day - what a sheltered life I lead.
ReplyDeleteHa! That's why I linked to Wikipedia. I figured some people might not know what I meant. :)
Delete(replacing earlier comment because of typo)
ReplyDeleteToo many people waste food. If we all used up the food that we buy then we would be making a massive contribution to securing our planet's future. Of course reducing our consumption of meat and dairy products would also help as would avoiding the purchase of fruit and vegetables that are flown to us from all over the world.
I'm with you completely. We rarely throw away food in this house. We eat everything.
DeleteI'm with Yorkshire about food wasting.
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking about this yesterday, buying too much produce and then not using it and having it go bad. Those days are over,
Yeah, we do really well at using things up, if I do say so myself. Sometimes it means eating something we really don't feel like eating just to get it out of the fridge, but hey, that's a small price to pay!
DeleteLike you, I've never heard of getting botulism from leftover rice or rice of any kind.
ReplyDeleteMy ex-husband sometimes used to say, "Salmonella don't play for the braves," which I still laugh about.
Interesting that poppers could be labeled as English Room Odouriser. People will figure out a way to provide and obtain what they want to provide and obtain, won't they?
"Salmonella don't play for the braves" -- that's awesome! Turns out it's not actually botulism that comes from rice but another kind of bacteria -- but still, not something I'd heard about before.
DeleteIt never occurred to me but I just realized that we never throw away food. That's probably because Roger always eats dinner leftovers for breakfast. I'll have to remember to thank him for that.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of poppers before. I like learning something new everyday.
Leftovers for breakfast is a great idea! I usually eat them for lunch, which serves the same purpose, I guess. :)
DeleteOlga looks like she thinks those bluebells are very pretty too. You put together an interesting lunch. I haven't done something like that in ages.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun challenge to see if you can make a relatively integrated meal out of odds and ends in the fridge!
DeleteIt is sad seeing things in such poor condition and not being fixed. A little paint and a few nails and that sign could probably look like new again. I agree, Olga does seem to enjoy seeing the bluebells. (p.s. your pink Asiatic lilies are gorgeous!) Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteI think the plywood portion of the sign definitely needs replacing -- it's pretty rotten. But the rest of it could probably be repaired. I wonder if they'll put a new one in or just take it out altogether?
DeleteNow I don't understand your caption at all! I will have to look up poppers in the dictionary!
ReplyDeleteJust don't Google it -- you might wind up in scary places on the Internet! LOL
Deleteout in the county we have to subscribe to trash pick-up. in all the years we've been here we never have since I've been taking it to my sister's house in town. now that she lives out here with us we'll have to sign on as soon as her house sells (the closing is supposed to be next week) but we're going to split the cost. that's a great picture of Olga in the cemetery with the bluebells. we do that, combine leftovers into some sort of meal.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense, to divide the cost. You probably won't have a great deal of trash since she's just one person and you and Marc are just two.
DeleteWell, who knew? Rice comes from the store with botulism spores on it. Cooking disables most of the spores, leaving left over rice on the counter allows them to grow. I don't understand why all the spores weren't killed during cooking, and why doesn't refrigeration keep any survivors from growing. Maybe they're super spores. Anyway, we're wastrels and dump the leftover rice in the trash because experience teaches us it will never be eaten.
ReplyDeleteIf I understand correctly after reading up on this, it's not technically botulism (Clostridium botulinum) but another bacteria (Bacillus cereus) that lives in rice. It can cause food poisoning, but not as severe as botulism, which is paralyzing and potentially fatal. And yeah, as you said, the risk mostly comes from letting it sit out unrefrigerated and then eating it. I guess those spores are just tough and not easily killed by perfunctory re-heating.
Deletehttps://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/
Room odouriser... What an odd name for poppers. I'm impressed you know that! Well, maybe impressed isn't the right word... Surprised? Seven years in one place is a long, long time for us! We've now been here in the same city (and, gasp, apartment) 8 years and that's an all-time record. I think our average is 2-1/2.
ReplyDeleteI had a boyfriend about 20 years ago who liked poppers. I was never a fan, but I do know what they look like and how they're sold!
DeleteSam Sifton would call what you made for your lunch "a no-recipe recipe".
ReplyDeleteI think calling it any kind of recipe is probably better than it deserves!
DeleteI had to laugh because we call cleaning out our fridge a Fend For Yourself day/night. Right now I am not able to enjoy anything that I am eating. I ordered 2 bottles of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar with the "Mother" in it. The mother is the white sediment fibers float in the bottle.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Edna, a few nails and a fresh coat of paint and it will look almost new. xxx
I've never heard of the "mother" in cider vinegar! Interesting.
DeleteYeah, basically rice (and other carbs) can make for easy food poisoning if not handled properly. Here's one brief article:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/reheat-leftover-rice-food-poisoning-a7655816.html
I read another, more scientific, article recently but can't find it using Google search. But I know you know how to Google.
I graze a lot when I'm on my own. It can be good for using up leftovers, as you mention. It can be bad if I don't have anything already made and can't be bothered to cook something new. That's when I start eating walnuts and granola bars and cold cereal (and until recently, potato chips). Trying to pull myself together now, finally.
Thanks for the link! The NHS also has a page about food poisoning from rice:
Deletehttps://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/
Cereal is my go-to quick meal, certainly for breakfast. I eat it pretty much every day!
Well, as you know I am well known for interesting food combos - I don't mind at all creating a kind of "leftover casserole." Yours sounds good!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you linked the popper article - I had never heard of such!
Yeah, I do remember your unique lunch combos! They always sound pretty good to me! LOL
DeleteEdna B, you sound just like my husband. No matter how bad off something looks, he always gets a gleam in his eye and says, "I can fix that!" and then he does. Hm....rather explains why he married me, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI think in the case of this sign, a re-build is required. It looks beyond fixing!
DeletePopper for Pop it in?
ReplyDeleteOlga saves the day again, She is just the most perfect cutie! boop her nose for me.
Ha! Well, maybe that's a secondary meaning. Apparently the drug used to come in pharmaceutical ampules that had to be "popped" open -- hence the name.
DeleteOh, and it has been duly booped!
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