Day one of JD went much better than expected!
As I mentioned I had to be downtown at 8:30am, and I’m fortunate, my entire trip was about 20 minutes; it would have been 30 if I had to walk to the subway, but JT kindly gave me a lift to the subway.
We all had to walk through security much like the air port, except we didn’t have to take off our shoes. Then we were registered, and told to sit in a room. The chairs are all lined up, facing a small TV placed precariously too low for anyone but the front row to see. Oh, will we see movies? Not quite; they ran a lame movie about actors pretending to be sucked into the process and how proud they all are. Bleh!
Now we wait. Just because you are summoned for JD, doesn’t necessarily mean you will serve on a jury. For each trial (there are several courts in this building) they draw names from the people in the room and if your name is drawn (lucky you) you are called into the courtroom. The other time I was here, my name wasn’t drawn. In the court room, the trial lawyers ask each potential juror a pertinent question to determine if they want them on the jury. Correct me if I’m wrong (Kelly), they don’t have a limit on how many they can decline. When JT was here, he was called but was rejected (now that’s a rejection I can handle).
In Canada you do not get remunerated for JD unless it is a trial more than 10 days. Then they pay you a whopping $40 per day! Seriously?
As luck would have it at around 10am some big wig came and further pontificated on the value of our presence and then in a long drawn out speech he released us for the week — just like that! Sweet. sweet words: “your service will not be required today, nor for the remainder of the week.” Is it appropriate to cheer in the courthouse? Now I’m done for three years (yup they changed it!)! Yay.
On my way out, you’ll never guess who I bumped into…non-other than Flat Ruthie…she’ll be accompanying JT and I on a short vaycay to Niagara Falls, Ontario where we’ll see the Band from TV as well as do some eating, drinking and shopping (perhaps even in the US where our dollar is ever so strong these days!).
This is the Panna Cotta that I made for our Vegetarian Valentine Dinner last Saturday. I served it with sliced strawberries and a 100 year old balsamic that I lightly drizzled over the plate. Asmita at the Compulsive Foodie inspired this recipe, but I made it lighter and used non-fat ingredients. It worked out very well. I’ll keep this recipe for the summer months.
Panna Cotta with Strawberries and Balsamic Vinegar
Serves 4 in 3.5oz ramekins
Ingredients:
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 1 1/4 cup plain fat free Greek Yogurt
- 1 1/4 cups carnation fat free condensed milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
-
1/2 vanilla bean pod
-
pinch of cardamon
- 1 quart strawberries
- Drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar
Directions:
- Spray ramekins with non-stick spray.
- Sprinke the gelatin over 2 tbsp water
- Heat the milk with the sugar and vanilla bean until almost boiling. Add the softened gelatin and mix until it has entirely melted.
- Remove from heat. Remove the vanilla bean pod and scrap the seeds into the milk mixture and mix well. Add the cardamon.
- Stir in the Greek Yogurt until well blended. Pour into the prepared ramekins and allow to cool. Once cooled, place in refrigerator overnight to set.
- Run a little hot water on the bottom of each ramekin to loosen. Lightly loosen the edges of the ramekins with a sharp knife and turn onto the middle of a large plate. Drizzle with balsamic and decorate with strawberries. Enjoy.
If you have left over berries, dip them in melted chocolate for a valentine’s day treat.
Gorgeous presentation, Eva.
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Thank you Sharyn.
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This is such a beautiful dessert and really quite simple to prepare. I have all the ingredients on hand right now, I think I’ll try to whip this up in the next day or so before my berries go bad. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks Vickie; the recipe is very nice because it’s lighter than usual. The flavours worked out very nicely.
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WOW. This looks incredible. Strawberries and balsamic are wonderful together – but with panna cotta! Soooo yummy. Great presentation.
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Thank you kindly Dara, very nice of you to say.
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Panna cotta has been on my “want to try” list forever.
I pinned your recipe and I will try it over the coming weekend
Thank you for the inspiration Eva
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I’d love to hear how you liked it Sawsan. I’ve made it before but never vanilla and I was rather pleased.
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I love panna cotta and your light version sounds great.
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Thanks Karen, it was quite tasty without being too filling.
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Good news about jury duty! It’s never as exciting as people think is it? love that this panna cotta is lower in fat than regular too 🙂
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I’ve never had the full fat version so I really don’t know what I’m missing, Lorraine. I find full fat is too rich anyway!
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Hi Eva…I’ve finally returned home and have the time to visit my friends in the blog-o-sphere. 🙂
Glad to hear that you got out of JD…never a fun thing to do.
I kinda wish you hadn’t posted the pics of the panna cotta, because Liz is sitting next to me and giving me the look of “when are you going to make that for me” after seeing your post. Seriously looks great though.
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Thank you, JD was a close call. Hope you do make it for Liz, so easy and seems so fancy. Try this light version and you’ll never miss the heavy cream.
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Eva, I’ve made panna cotta a few times and love it — but all that cream holds me back from making it more often. How perfect that you’ve created a “lighter” version for me to try sometime. It looks lovely!
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Thanks Barb, I’ve never made the full fat version so these have been wonderfully satisfying. Hope you try it.
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Eva, this panna cotta is gorgeous… and you know how I feel about the combination of strawberries and balsamic ;). It may sound strange but I would love to go through the process of jury duty… the fact that I never can makes me want to do it more if you know what I mean (of course, they always make it look far more exciting in the movies ;). By the way, you could always give outrageously prejudicial answers in pre-selection to ensure that you are rejected 🙂
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That’s true Kelly, I wish I had your attitude.
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Beautiful flavours and gorgeous presentation YUM!
I am new to your blog and enjoying browsing through your recipes :). I am rather new to the blogging world and hope you can visit my blog soon :). Enjoy Niagra falls! Best wishes, Kristy
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Welcome to my blog, Kristy, that is very kind of you to say. I will stop by and check out your blog.
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You are so lucky! Last time I got called for jury duty I was there from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. before they released me and received a whopping $25 for my day of “service”. Just barely covered lunch…much less parking. What a beautiful and elegant looking panna cotta. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures with Flat Ruthie. She travels more than anyone I know.
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Hi Betsy, at least you got paid on the first day, we have to be on an actual trial and it’s only after 10 days. Oh well, it is part of the democratic process (or at least that’s what the lame movie talked about, blah, blah, blah). I usually don’t have a dessert, but I made myself a small one and it was very tasty. Flat Ruthie is in for some fun this weekend. Hope she gets to meet James Denton and Jesse Spencer so I can tag along too.
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Eva this looks delicious! I LOVE panna cotta! Would you believe I’ve never even been called for Jury duty? I’ve probably just jinxed myself, but there you go!
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Hi Ann,
I’m not sure where the US gets their lists from, but I do know that in Canada it is municipal voting…a friend of mine never votes and is therefore not on their radar! Shame on her for not voting, but I might have avoided it too had I known about this little link! Thank you for the compliment, I love it too, it’s such a nice light dessert.
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Lovely panna cotta. I must make my matcha version again one of these days. Now that I have a camera and can share the lovely stratified layers. Which I think actually make it look even better. 🙂
I’m glad you described the ‘remuneration’ offered to jury members for taking time off from work to do their civic duty. Of course, for some of us, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid that day, so 10 days without any pay and then $40 afterwards up to some other time limit doesn’t help when you’re the sole support of your household. Luckily, you CAN get exempted.
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That makes sense Maraia, but it really isn’t even the minimum wage, they should at least do that. I look forward to seeing the pics of the matcha version; I’ve had panna cotta stratify too, and it makes for a very interesting presentation.
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Oh heavens! This looks delicious!!! And I know a 3-year old foodie that would just about die for this! 🙂 Have a great time in Niagara! Have a good glass of wine for me. 🙂
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I won’t have a difficult time with that Kristy, cheers to you. It’s Family Day holiday on Monday so we get a long weekend too!
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This is beautiful. It could be worse. An employer I know, not mine, makes you fork over the jury stipend, because they’re paying you for the day. And it’s not like you can pack your lunch.
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That’s so gross Greg. How much do you get paid for Jury Duty?
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I’ve never had to do it. It’s typically a nominal amount though, $10-$15 so enough to cover lunch downtown.
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Interesting, worse than Canada, Greg. In Australia Charlie mentioned it was $80 from the beginning. Our’s is after 10 days. Oh well, I’m free for another three years thank goodness.
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Wow 100 year old balsamic.. that would be amazing! So glad to hear you have one week off from duty.. perhaps you’ll be rejected if you say something bizarre when they ask you a question?
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Thanks Barbara, I squeezed under the radar on this one too, thank goodness. I don’t think I would be a good juror if the case is too gory or anything that looks into the less desirable personalities in this world of our’s would really shake me.
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That would be my biggest fear as well.. I shudder to think of it!
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Hi Barbara, that would really be just the worst.
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Ok, then I will be sending out good thoughts for you!!!
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Thanks Barbara!
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What a great ending to a meal, Eva! I have serious balsamic envy here. 100 years old? Sweet!
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It is indeed sweet John, and syrupy too. It’s a treat and a curse at the same time; I’m usually questioning if what I am drizzling it on is ‘worth’ the expensive balsamic.
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I am a big fan of these 3 ingredients – strawberries, balsamic and panna cotta. What a great combination – your presentation looks amazingly delicious!
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Thank you kindly, Bill. So flattered that you think so.
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Beautiful presentation, I too would love to get my hands on a bottle of 100 year old balsamic vinegar. Have a great Niagara vacation.
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Thank you Norma, it was a lovely and unexpected Christmas present from JT.
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That balsamic vinegar looks amazing Eva – the perfect accompaniment to that beautiful looking panna cotta. I never tried making panna cotta before actually, but see it a lot on cookery shows – Maybe I should give it a crack sometime soon! 🙂
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Panna Cotta is very easy to make, but the end result can vary…I’ve had it separate as well, which makes for an interesting look. The vinegar was a nice foil for the slightly sweet panna cotta. You should definitely try making it.
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Hi Eva,
Thank you for the mention. I really appreciate it. Your panna cotta recipe is lighter and definitely low in fat, so one can indulge without the guilt. Looks fabulous!!!
Love the photographs and wish I could get my hands on that 100 year old balsamic vinegar. It must be so syrupy and delicious!!!
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Hi Asmita, the balsamic was certainly was thick and sweet, and was a wonderful pairing with the panama cotta and strawberries. The shout out and link were my pleasure!
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simply beautiful!
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Thanks Marie, very kind of you to say.
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I could have predicted JD would be just that. As I’ve said in previous blogs, I’ve been called up 3 times and never seen the inside of a courtroom. They call up more people than they need and 50% of the cases are cancelled or postponed anyway so all in all, a lot of civilian time is wasted. That’s a crime they only pay you $40/day if over 10 days. I thought things were bad here. I think we get $80 for every day served. I love the look of your panacotta and I really must get myself some 101 year old balsamic – just so I can let you know, mine is older than yours!!!
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Hi Charlie, I was lucky; we’ve known people to be stuck in a 5-week trial, they were even sequestered (had to stay in a hotel cut off from all outside contacts). $80 per day is not bad, but that’s only $10/hour and that’s not even minimum wage in Toronto ($10.25/hr), but a far cry better than our pathetic system. It would be interesting to compare our income tax rates some time.
You should absolutely have 101 year old balsamic!! 😉
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