Weather not very enticing today, and I would normally not go out in it - butI had a face-to-face hospital appointment get my ICD checked., so didn't really have a choice.
I have a good rain cape, but was soaked from knees to ankles, just getting from hospital to bus stop. I am sorry for anyone who had to sit on the seat I had used, as it must have been somewhat wet from my dripping clothes.
ICD doing its job efficiently, and the battery has 3.5years life left in it.
On Wednesday my son fitted my new Ring doorbell. Yesterday was bin day. As it was raining heavily I didn’t bother going out to pull the bins back onto the drive once they were empty, as I planned to do it later when I went out for choir practice. To my surprise, someone had already done it, but they don’t seem to have been captured on my doorbell camera. Still trying to work that one out.
Today is dry. I need to go and buy birthday cards and post them today. Apart from that, nothing planned.
Yesterday's visit to the church from an American visiting ancestral graves was wonderful. He is a church organist and played our organ to a small but extremely appreciative audience. We are all hoping for a repeat visit next year, but for longer.
Our car beeps if it thinks we are about to hit an obstacle. Unfortunately the village in general, and the bit outside our house in particular still has piles of snow next to the cleared areas. We've had several days of slight thaw, refreeze, and the piles are now pretty solid. The sensor is picking up these heaps, so driving through the village and getting in and out of our driveway is sending the car into a frenzy of warning beeps, plus an occasional red light.
The North East Man is becoming increasing irritated by the beeps, and has been telling the car in increasingly forthright terms that he is well aware of the piles of snow. No matter how emphatic he is, the car is neither reassured nor cowed and continues to beep.
This morning I have been out with our lawn edging tool trying to reduce the two piles closest to our driveway in the hope that we will be able to come and go in peace.
My car bleeps if it strays out of its lane, eg into a cycle lane or over a central line, both of which happen quite frequently when negotiating potholes and cyclists or wide oncoming vehicles . Last night it was puddles, or rather flooding. I felt I was on a slalom course, accompanied by bleeps.
I managed to get up in time to go to my Pilates class today. I intended to buy some veg from the excellent farm stall in the market on the way home, but only one lady was serving and the queue was very long. This afternoon we're off to a U3A talk from someone we know about her six-week trip to Japan last year. Quite a few of us followed her blog while she was there and are looking forward to the talk and her pictures.
My favourite local Italian restaurant offers a sausage dish which sounds rather akin to your cassoulet.
I don't know exactly what's in it (even the sausages are hand-made)
Is it next door to a barber shop? 😈💀
Fortunately, no...mind you, the owner says that all his ingredients are sourced from Italy (it's a family business, specialising in authentic cuisine), so make of that what you will...
A fine day in Arkland the Mild, where The Big Yellow Face has deigned to bless us with Her presence. She is, however, accompanied by some of Her attendant Clouds, who veil Her Majesty from time to time, possibly to conserve Her strength for later in the week.
Tess Coe has been visited, and Lunch (later) will be LAMB CHOPS, to allow time for Brunch (SOSSIDGE INNA BUN x2) to settle down.
I had a full morning at the hedgehog sanctuary, working hard. Some of the little guys and gals are really putting weight on now, if we could just have a few fine warm days we could have some releases. We have fifty little hogs to care for at the moment.
Followed by a very tasty leek and potato soup and a roll.
Now exhaustion has set in and I'm going to spend the afternoon catching up on Traitors 🙂
Our car beeps if it thinks we are about to hit an obstacle. Unfortunately the village in general, and the bit outside our house in particular still has piles of snow next to the cleared areas. We've had several days of slight thaw, refreeze, and the piles are now pretty solid. The sensor is picking up these heaps, so driving through the village and getting in and out of our driveway is sending the car into a frenzy of warning beeps, plus an occasional red light.
Our car does the same and calls it "collision assist". I am quite capable of causing my own collisions without any help from the car, thank you very much.
Quite relieved that at half past 4 today, it's still partially light outside. Has gotten dimmer in the last half an hour, but it's not too bad. A sign that spring is on the way.
Those lane assists can be very bad if they alter the steering. When overtaking cyclists, you may give plenty of room and have to wrestle the car which thinks you're drifting and tries to close pass the cyclist.
Cold and verging on treacherous underfoot in West Lothian. Although I'd brought a roll with cream cheese and the last of a pack of smoked salmon for lunch, I felt the need at lunchtime for SOUP. One of my colleagues has been waxing lyrical about the quality of the Cullen Skink at a nearby cafe, so I pootled along to get a cup of same. For once, it wasn't on the board, and the girl at the counter said they didn't have any. However a lady (who I think may be the owner) overheard me asking for it, and came out of the kitchen to say she'd just made a pot, and if I didn't mind the fact that it hadn't had a day to mature, I could have some.
It was bloody magnificent. I shall definitely have it again.
Supper, rather prosaically, was F&C, because Friday.
Having looked up 'Cullen Skink' on Google, it certainly sounds delicious. I wonder if Tess Coe sells it? They do a variety of high-end SOUPS, as well as their budget own-brand range...
Missed the edit window, but yes - Cullen Skink is available at Tess Coe (not necessarily perhaps at all stores) in the Baxter's range. Pricey, though I'll give it a try if I can find it.
I've only had Cullen Skink once, at the late-lamented Wilson's - as far as I know the only Scottish restaurant in London. (The owner sometimes got out his bagpipes and played ...).
I'm sure I've seen an advertisement for a Scottish hunting safari where one can go and hunt some cullen skink and wild haggis. Skin them both for their furs, then feast on their meat.
It's interesting that marmalade (which, for me, must not be too sweet) is made from oranges. When I lived in Portugal I was surprised to find that "marmelada" - which is thicker and more solid than our marmalade - is made from quinces which are "marmelos" (in Spanish they are "membrillos"). I have both marmalade and marmelada in the cupboard as we speak (and have consumed both today).
Quite a few people round here make quince jelly, but it isn't something I can remember ever having had.
I'm off to help out at our local repair cafe today. Its the second one we've held, but I couldn't go last time so I'm not sure what to expect. I think I'm just greeting people and pointing them in the right direction. I'm also taking in some of my mother in law's jewellery to get looked at if possible.
I’ve had quince cheese, jelly’s thicker counterpart which slices, they sell it in Waitrose sometimes with the posh cheeses. Our quince tree is poorly located and seldom produces fruit but we often make crab apple jelly and medlar jelly.
We have had blood oranges with our veg delivery in the last week, a favourite of mine.
I’ve had a long week of morning meetings, afternoon marking and an evening tutorial. I’m getting too old for the 2 hour evening tutorials; they exhaust me the next day.
So today was a lie in and I’m currently having a latte and a pastry (granola croissant, it has seeds on top and a sort of frangipane in the middle). Then I’m off for a walk and might do some sewing later.
I am hosting my real life book group here on Monday evening and it has to be a one-pot dish as we are up to our ears in sorting and clearing. I considered doing Cullen Skink (it being nearly Burns Night and all) but I've never cooked it before so it would be high-risk, plus it calls for onions and leeks, both of which are no-nos for Mr Nen's Digestion. So it will probably be a case of flinging random ingredients in the slow cooker and hoping for the best.
I also considered Cranachan for dessert but it always takes ages for the cream to whip (and yes, I do it before adding the whisky) so although it can be done in advance I find it quite hard work. Moreover, the last time I served it up for guests one of them rather pointedly picked around the cream and just ate the raspberry bits - having not made me aware of any dairy allergy or dislike of cream - without a word of explanation or apology, which I found Extremely Rude. I feel cross all over again, just thinking about it.
I've been out for coffee this morning and am now looking forward to stir fry this evening in front of a catch up on last night's Traitors .
I've been known to make Cullen Skink; like most soups, it's not at all difficult. I can't imagine it without onions though - I'd be lost if I couldn't eat them, although I quite often replace them with shallots, because they tend to be smaller, and hence more useful when just cooking for one.
It was a rather nice day here: a bit milder (7° at its highest) and dry. After choir practice and brunch, I went to get my piggies pampered - my toenails were threatening to find their way out of my boots - and after a bit of a snooze I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and amble down to Tessie's to stock up on this and that. Sadly, none of my favourite white wines were on special offer any more so I got a couple of bottles of South African Sauv Blanc because they were cheap.
It being the week before Burns' Night, I bought a haggis-and-clapshot ready meal, which I'll have either tomorrow or Monday. Tonight's comestible will be the remainder of the sausage thingie I made the other day.
Used to make quince jelly but we cut the bush down as it was very old and straggly.
In our Meeting we have a jam, marmalade and chutney maker (we call him jam jar Jim cos he often appeals for them) who this past year produced the most delicious quince jelly , much better than my own.
Yes, Cullen Skink is quite straightforward to make, many soups are. I really should cook soup more often.
Mr Heavenly is cooking to night and we are having pan fried haddock with butter bean hot pot, the latter being a meal kit that came as part of the weekly delivery. This afternoon I turned the leftover rice pudding from yesterday into a chilled chocolate rice dessert with a passion fruit curd base.
The Cullen Skink World Championships take place about 50 metres from my house every year. You can smell the smoked fish from at least that distance. But though I live in the place, it’s not my favourite. And making it means you take about a week to get the smell of it out of the house. (Some may like that, of course.)
I haven't yet visited Tess Coe to see if they have any Cullen Skink (as I think I've said, our local store isn't one of the largest - but I know they stock at least some of the Baxter's range). Monday is my usual Tess Coe day, but if the weather is still fine tomorrow, I may make an Expotition after lunch.
Mild and occasionally Sun-Shiny in Arkland the Quiet, with not much going on. Feeling a bit flaky and depressed (Black Slug, aroint thee!), I've spent much of the day snoozing. PIE n'CHIPS for lunch cheered me up, and there is some nice CHEESE for supper.
When my mother served smoked haddock - my father's favourite fish - I would leave the house. I hate all seafood - always have done. I think a skunk smells better than a skink.
I like smoked haddock, and some time ago the Co-Op was offering a ready meal of smoked haddock, in some sort of sauce, with spinach and roast potatoes. It was very tasty, but I've never seen it since, even in the larger Co-Ops...
We frequently have tins of Baxter's Cullen Skink - Mr F is quite fond of it.
Mostly I use smoked haddock for Cheat's Kedgeree, or slapped on top of spinach and topped with an egg. The important thing is to get natural smoked and not that awful orange dyed stuff from supermarkets.
There is a poem somewhere about the lynx that almost goes like this:
‘Tis said that the lynx quite offensively stinks,
Though he cannot compete with the skunk.
But of all nature's stinks that ever been stunk
The skunk is outstunk by the skink.
I like smoked haddock, and some time ago the Co-Op was offering a ready meal of smoked haddock, in some sort of sauce, with spinach and roast potatoes. It was very tasty, but I've never seen it since, even in the larger Co-Ops...
That link just takes me to the first page of the Co-op's online ordering thingie.
Kedgeree would be my most common use for smoked haddock - I ought to get some next time I'm shopping. The only trouble is Tessie's doesn't seem to sell the fish without skin, and I find removing the skin is a pain (not to mention that I begrudge paying for something I don't want to eat!).
As usual on a Sunday, church has been gone to, laundry is laundering and brunch will ensue forthwith.
We went to a lovely service in the village up the road, where Mr. Boogs was playing the piano for the service. The church was full and the people were so very friendly. Several of them take their dogs! One dog got free and wandered around saying hello to everyone. You can tell we live in rural Somerset.
And we've been invited to Sunday lunch by one of the congregation.
I'm not actually a fan of soup; tomorrow's offering (done in the slow cooker) will be closer to a casserole really, but served up in bowls and accompanied by bread. And yes, cooking without onions is a pain; you just get used to it and regard them as a treat when you're eating alone or can order a dish containing them when out for a meal.
We've been to church and met up with some friends for coffee afterwards; we hadn't seen them for a while so there was quite a lot to catch up on.
Mild and cloudy in Arkland the Peaceful, which means that a few of my Neighbours are out and about. Some S & Q is being indulged in.
I visited Tess Coe earlier today, but alas! no Cullen Skink was to be had - in fact, their range of Baxter's SOUPS is (ISTM) much reduced. I contented myself with a tin of Cock-a-Leekie, which I don't think I've ever tried.
We went out with my husband's siblings, the husband of one of them and the daughter of another today for lunch. The place was a carvery, but plenty for vegetarians to eat, even if it was a bit of a pain getting the actual veggie main. The acoustics were appauling though, so even though I swapped seats with my brother in law so my back was against the wall and I got them to turn the piped music off, I still couldn't understand much of the chat.
We won't be needing much for tea.
Happy Birthday to the @Firenze household. Whose birthday is it?
Our lunch was at our normal Sunday venue, a cafe at a nearby country park. I. had French onion soup and was expecting a sort of clear consommé and was surprised to have a thick soup. Apparently that is one of the recipes.
And yes, cooking without onions is a pain; you just get used to it and regard them as a treat when you're eating alone or can order a dish containing them when out for a meal.
My wife finds onions upset her digestion too.
It is frustrating looking at recipes and thinking, it has onions and I don't know how to experiment with replacing them.
Happy Birthday to the @Firenze household. Whose birthday is it?
Mine. My 76th, incredibly. I don't feel any difference in myself from say the last 30 years. OK, the body is grumbling, but I still want to paint, craft, cook, read, garden etc. Most marbles still seem to be present.
I suppose there will come a day when I think That's Enough. For my mother, that was when she was 92.
Many happy returns Firenze - glad to hear your marbles are all still in place! 🙂🍾
I had the popty-ping HAGGIS and CLAPSHOT for supper, accompanied by a few spoonfuls of chutney* and it was rather good; I might even invest in another one for next Sunday, which would be the Bard's actual birthday.
* I can't remember what prompted me to start serving Branston Pickle with haggis, but it goes rather well. I didn't have any Branston, but I had some plum chutney made by a friend, and it did very nicely.
Happy Birthday @Firenze. Hope the special dinner is going down a treat. Are you having another bottle from
the hoard you found at Christmas?
I’ve got a vegan haggis coming in my grocery order this week. We already have most of the meals for the week planned so that too may well be next Saturday’s dinner.
And yes, cooking without onions is a pain; you just get used to it and regard them as a treat when you're eating alone or can order a dish containing them when out for a meal.
My wife finds onions upset her digestion too.
It is frustrating looking at recipes and thinking, it has onions and I don't know how to experiment with replacing them.
Celery and sweet peppers work from a textural perspective, sumac is quite a good flavour alternative. (My mother is intolerant of alliums,)
Comments
I have a good rain cape, but was soaked from knees to ankles, just getting from hospital to bus stop. I am sorry for anyone who had to sit on the seat I had used, as it must have been somewhat wet from my dripping clothes.
ICD doing its job efficiently, and the battery has 3.5years life left in it.
Today is dry. I need to go and buy birthday cards and post them today. Apart from that, nothing planned.
Our car beeps if it thinks we are about to hit an obstacle. Unfortunately the village in general, and the bit outside our house in particular still has piles of snow next to the cleared areas. We've had several days of slight thaw, refreeze, and the piles are now pretty solid. The sensor is picking up these heaps, so driving through the village and getting in and out of our driveway is sending the car into a frenzy of warning beeps, plus an occasional red light.
The North East Man is becoming increasing irritated by the beeps, and has been telling the car in increasingly forthright terms that he is well aware of the piles of snow. No matter how emphatic he is, the car is neither reassured nor cowed and continues to beep.
This morning I have been out with our lawn edging tool trying to reduce the two piles closest to our driveway in the hope that we will be able to come and go in peace.
Fortunately, no...mind you, the owner says that all his ingredients are sourced from Italy (it's a family business, specialising in authentic cuisine), so make of that what you will...
A fine day in Arkland the Mild, where The Big Yellow Face has deigned to bless us with Her presence. She is, however, accompanied by some of Her attendant Clouds, who veil Her Majesty from time to time, possibly to conserve Her strength for later in the week.
Tess Coe has been visited, and Lunch (later) will be LAMB CHOPS, to allow time for Brunch (SOSSIDGE INNA BUN x2) to settle down.
Followed by a very tasty leek and potato soup and a roll.
Now exhaustion has set in and I'm going to spend the afternoon catching up on Traitors 🙂
Our car does the same and calls it "collision assist". I am quite capable of causing my own collisions without any help from the car, thank you very much.
Those lane assists can be very bad if they alter the steering. When overtaking cyclists, you may give plenty of room and have to wrestle the car which thinks you're drifting and tries to close pass the cyclist.
I never felt entirely comfortable buying meat from a shop which advertised itself as 'Family Butcher'.
We have just attended an excellent "New Year's Concert" (Strauss etc), now it's church Youth Club.
It was bloody magnificent. I shall definitely have it again.
Supper, rather prosaically, was F&C, because Friday.
Baxter's do Cullen Skink.
I can't remember now why we tried a smoked haddock Thai curry (though I do remember considerable trepidation), but that was delicious too.
Just waiting for blood oranges to appear on the market...
Which they ate with a runcible Spoon...
I'm off to help out at our local repair cafe today. Its the second one we've held, but I couldn't go last time so I'm not sure what to expect. I think I'm just greeting people and pointing them in the right direction. I'm also taking in some of my mother in law's jewellery to get looked at if possible.
We have had blood oranges with our veg delivery in the last week, a favourite of mine.
I’ve had a long week of morning meetings, afternoon marking and an evening tutorial. I’m getting too old for the 2 hour evening tutorials; they exhaust me the next day.
So today was a lie in and I’m currently having a latte and a pastry (granola croissant, it has seeds on top and a sort of frangipane in the middle). Then I’m off for a walk and might do some sewing later.
I also considered Cranachan for dessert but it always takes ages for the cream to whip (and yes, I do it before adding the whisky) so although it can be done in advance I find it quite hard work. Moreover, the last time I served it up for guests one of them rather pointedly picked around the cream and just ate the raspberry bits - having not made me aware of any dairy allergy or dislike of cream - without a word of explanation or apology, which I found Extremely Rude. I feel cross all over again, just thinking about it.
I've been out for coffee this morning and am now looking forward to stir fry this evening in front of a catch up on last night's Traitors .
It was a rather nice day here: a bit milder (7° at its highest) and dry. After choir practice and brunch, I went to get my piggies pampered - my toenails were threatening to find their way out of my boots - and after a bit of a snooze I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and amble down to Tessie's to stock up on this and that. Sadly, none of my favourite white wines were on special offer any more
It being the week before Burns' Night, I bought a haggis-and-clapshot ready meal, which I'll have either tomorrow or Monday. Tonight's comestible will be the remainder of the sausage thingie I made the other day.
Used to make quince jelly but we cut the bush down as it was very old and straggly.
In our Meeting we have a jam, marmalade and chutney maker (we call him jam jar Jim cos he often appeals for them) who this past year produced the most delicious quince jelly , much better than my own.
Mr Heavenly is cooking to night and we are having pan fried haddock with butter bean hot pot, the latter being a meal kit that came as part of the weekly delivery. This afternoon I turned the leftover rice pudding from yesterday into a chilled chocolate rice dessert with a passion fruit curd base.
Mild and occasionally Sun-Shiny in Arkland the Quiet, with not much going on. Feeling a bit flaky and depressed (Black Slug, aroint thee!), I've spent much of the day snoozing. PIE n'CHIPS for lunch cheered me up, and there is some nice CHEESE for supper.
Each to their own, of course.
I like smoked haddock, and some time ago the Co-Op was offering a ready meal of smoked haddock, in some sort of sauce, with spinach and roast potatoes. It was very tasty, but I've never seen it since, even in the larger Co-Ops...
Mostly I use smoked haddock for Cheat's Kedgeree, or slapped on top of spinach and topped with an egg. The important thing is to get natural smoked and not that awful orange dyed stuff from supermarkets.
‘Tis said that the lynx quite offensively stinks,
Though he cannot compete with the skunk.
But of all nature's stinks that ever been stunk
The skunk is outstunk by the skink.
The Coop website currently lists this as "unavailable" ( https://shop.coop.co.uk/product/co-op-irresistible-smoked-haddock-florentine-370g--31633255-c5bf-420e-a275-18f2b9781f2c )
Kedgeree would be my most common use for smoked haddock - I ought to get some next time I'm shopping. The only trouble is Tessie's doesn't seem to sell the fish without skin, and I find removing the skin is a pain (not to mention that I begrudge paying for something I don't want to eat!).
As usual on a Sunday, church has been gone to, laundry is laundering and brunch will ensue forthwith.
And we've been invited to Sunday lunch by one of the congregation.
Marvellous!
We've been to church and met up with some friends for coffee afterwards; we hadn't seen them for a while so there was quite a lot to catch up on.
Steady rain here.
I visited Tess Coe earlier today, but alas! no Cullen Skink was to be had - in fact, their range of Baxter's SOUPS is (ISTM) much reduced. I contented myself with a tin of Cock-a-Leekie, which I don't think I've ever tried.
Dinner will be a treat one of scallops with crispy bacon and black pudding. Because birthday. And a fizz of course.
We won't be needing much for tea.
Happy Birthday to the @Firenze household. Whose birthday is it?
It is frustrating looking at recipes and thinking, it has onions and I don't know how to experiment with replacing them.
Mine. My 76th, incredibly. I don't feel any difference in myself from say the last 30 years. OK, the body is grumbling, but I still want to paint, craft, cook, read, garden etc. Most marbles still seem to be present.
I suppose there will come a day when I think That's Enough. For my mother, that was when she was 92.
I had the popty-ping HAGGIS and CLAPSHOT for supper, accompanied by a few spoonfuls of chutney* and it was rather good; I might even invest in another one for next Sunday, which would be the Bard's actual birthday.
* I can't remember what prompted me to start serving Branston Pickle with haggis, but it goes rather well. I didn't have any Branston, but I had some plum chutney made by a friend, and it did very nicely.
the hoard you found at Christmas?
I’ve got a vegan haggis coming in my grocery order this week. We already have most of the meals for the week planned so that too may well be next Saturday’s dinner.
Celery and sweet peppers work from a textural perspective, sumac is quite a good flavour alternative. (My mother is intolerant of alliums,)