Five things make a post

[carbonel]

1. So I have this lamb shank. One lamb shank. Any idea what I can do with it that would be a) fairly simple and b) tasty? I could make soup out of it, or I could make dinner; I'm open to either option. Suggestions welcome, ditto recipes.

2. I received notice from CitiMortgage that they've received the payoff check, along with a stern admonition that if any of the funds are returned, the payoff will be cancelled. What, they think I'm going to cancel the check? Or that it's going to bounce? I thought that was the entire purpose of a cashier's check to start with. I need to arrange payment of insurance and taxes now that the escrow account is being closed; the payoff letter obligingly includes contact information for both of them.

3. Has anyone local heard of Bloomington Heritage Days? It's taking place this Saturday, and despite it being in the next suburb over, I hadn't heard a thing about it. I found out about it because someone in my spinning group was looking for someone to take her place at a spinning demonstration, and I volunteered. I found out, after everything else was arranged, that the gig pays $50, which was a pleasant surprise. I also recruited Linda L. (WIHNIISIOLJ) to demonstrate quilting. It looks like an enjoyable sort of thing; I hope they get the crowds they're expecting.

4. I received a letter in the mail, block-printed on lined yellow paper. It said that $name and his brother would like to buy my property, and I should call him. I called, and he said that they'd been driving around the neighborhood taking note of 25 or so houses for purchase as potential rental properties. My house was one of the ones, and he'd done a search to get my name from the public records. I told him I had no interest in selling my house (didn't mention I'd just paid it off), and we rang off. I wonder if they're looking for places on the verge of foreclosure that they can acquire cheaply, or what. I'll grant that my lawn needs mowing, but the place doesn't look particularly seedy otherwise, does it?

5. Reading on the iPad when I'm in bed provides an unexpected benefit. If the screen turns black, that means I've zoned out over the book I'm reading, and it's time to turn out the light and go to sleep.

Comments

[yarram.livejournal.com]

I don't have an iPad, but I would definitely consider #5 a feature. :-)

[naomikritzer]

How odd they wanted to buy your house to rent it. During the beginning of the housing downturn, I remember thinking that if I were BUYING a house then, for some reason, I would drive around the neighborhood I liked, pick out houses that looked promising, and knock on the door, because the thing is, right then if you didn't HAVE to sell you just didn't even put your house on the market, because "putting your house on the market" requires so much work and expense. By casting a wider net, you might actually find someone with a lovely house who was eager to sell BUT not eager to go through the incredible hassle of getting the house ready in a market this bad. If you turned up and said "I'd give you $220,000 for this house, contingent on inspection. You don't need to paint, just sign on the dotted line and move out" ... totally different situation. Although you'd also get people who'd say "WHAT? I LOVE my house! In fact, I just paid it off!"

I was thinking very much in terms of needing a house to live in, though, not a house to rent.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Interesting and useful point on #5. Although I know when I'm zoning out, so far as I can tell. I've disabled that feature on my phone, though (FBReader on Android; there's an option to not time out the screen in that mode, which I find very useful because I have a rather short timeout for dropping to low brightness set).

[txanne.livejournal.com]

Lamb shank? Scotch broth!

[snippy]

I'd cook a chopped onion and some garlic in a little oil, brown the lamb shank, add 4 cups water or broth and 3/4 cup lentils; bring to a boil, cover, turn to low, simmer for 30 minutes. At 30 minutes take the lid off and check the water level: add more if you want it soupier, otherwise keep simmering (turn up heat if necessary) for another 15 minutes. Pull out the shank and shred the meat, add to the lentils; add salt and pepper to taste. Cinnamon, cardamom, or cumin would be good in this if you like them. Also a chopped carrot (add for the last 15 minutes).

[carbonel]

Thanks so much for this. It gave me the template for the soup I ended up with -- which is going to be dinner in an hour or so, and smells great. Instead of lentils, I used one of the Manischewitz soup tubes, and I didn't have any fresh garlic, but otherwise, I pretty much followed your guide.

[snippy]

I'm glad to be useful.

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

I'd take that letter to the local police station. Sounds fishy.

Lamb shank

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Richard made an absolutely delicious crockpot lamb stew last week. I don't think he does any braising or sauteeing, just throws everything in the crockpot (although he may add some things later in the process, like the rice and potatoes). The ingredients were something like the following, in approximate order of quantity.

Lamb (chops, I think)
eggplant
tomatoes
onions
mushrooms
butter beans
sliced carrots (?)
a bit of leftover rice
some leftover cooked potatoes
raisins
lots of fresh basil

I think the 3 secret ingredients that made this particular stew so good were the eggplant, raisins and basil.