-25 and clear in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 9:15 and Sunset at 20:52.
32 more minutes than my last blog! The moon is beautiful in the clear night sky.
BINGO TALLY - 8 Losses and 2 Wins!
Spring ahead! All of you who have tuned in to my cooking adventures are wondering how today went in the kitchen. Things went better than last week but there were definitely a few kinks to iron out in the process.
This weeks highlights include switching todays meal menu with next weeks meal as not all the items were available. They are in process of being tracked down for next week. Stay tuned! Pork chops and mashed potatoes sound simple enough.
Today became beef rice casserole and beet salad. Woohoo! I also made another batch of bannock with help from the lovely gym custodian who was filing in for the regular cleaner today. She rocked! I was on an episode of Trading Places. I guess I should have cleaned while she cooked though if that was the case. I did tell her that she earned double pay today.
I was loaded up with my two pans and even a pot today. I had my measuring cups and spoons as well. No grater. I hesitated at the last second and decided against it after glancing at the recipe. I did add some token cheese to the top of the casserole but was not devastated by the missing cheese grater today.
I used my pot to brown the meat and added the extra ingredients. I started the beet salad in one of the pans wondering what was going to happen with this one and if anyone would eat it. It had beets, red onion, cucumber, boiled eggs and some spices. There was a yogourt and sour cream mix to put on over top. I have to say I ate beet salad today and it was definitely good.
As I was using my one pot for the casserole, I ran out of options for boiling the eggs. There was the iron pot I used last week to mix the bannock but it was a little questionable as the bottom seems to be a little rough looking and it is huge pot for a few small little eggs. I poured some hot water from the teapot into a mug and added a tea bag while I sat and took some time to consider the situation. I have probably had more litres of tea in the last month than I have had in my entire life! Damn my tea has gone cold while I have been writing. I will have to warm it up and add some honey. Yummy!
I brought mixing bowls from the Magic Bus to cook with this time and they played an important role in the success of this meal. Mixing the bannock was easier and making the dressing for the salad was easier. They were fantastic! A very wise and excellent purchase for the journey to NWT. I considered using one of the glass mixing bowls to boil the eggs in the microwave but I wasn't sure how long that would take or what temperature to use. I looked down at the large metal teapot on the stove in front of me and got an idea. Eureka! Yes I did make boiled eggs in the teapot on the stove. I hope the custodian keeps that one under her hat!
Definitely a good morning spent cooking with the custodian.
On to the next test. Eating the meal! I got a ride in a truck that I could step into without putting my feet up over my head to get in. Very nice. The meal was warm and on time. Wait until they hear they are being served beet salad. Eek. What will happen then?
I didn't say anything at first and then someone asked what was in the yogourt. Um...um is there a little too much yogourt? Stall...stall. He said, "No I just didn't know you could put vegetables is yogourt, it tastes good." Phew! I told them the ingredieats and they kept eating. Two requests for seconds this time. Going up in the world. Tea pot boiled eggs and all!
More wisdom:
I have learned that not all labels on toilet paper are true, The 176 sheet roll of 2 ply lasted three days this time. Rip off. The computer messed up when it counted the tissues!
I have come to learn some of the following signs of acclimatization to the North:
Eventually you stop pulling your pant legs over the tops of your boots when you put them on.
Eventually you stop holding on to recyclable products in the hope of finding some way to reuse and reduce them. You eventually just thrown them out and move on. There is a bin for pop cans in the band office though. They are dropped off at the scrap yard in Inuvik. Yeah! I have four cans so far. I forgot to bring them over today. At the going rate of $1.51 to purchase a can of pop, I don't think you even come close to breaking even.
You eventually find yourself walking around and enjoying the lovely weather at -20 and higher. It is possble to comment on the warm weather and complain about being too hot in the middle of the arctic winter. When that happens, take off a layer!
I am sure I will see more adaptational changes in my learned habits and behaviour to come...I will let you know!
Drin Gwiinzii
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