Another day

Good morning all I had a quiet day yesterday and stayed well clear of the kitchen.  I'm pleased to report that Dan loves my special ravioli and in the interest of fairness here is a picture of these very complex delights.  Ok, Gorden Ramsey now let's see if you can make open-faced ravioli?   They tasted fine so I ate some and the dogs demolished the rest.  The only thing I can say is that all the years of cooking allowed me to retrieve what should have been a complete disaster.  It crossed my mind to put some grated cheddar on the top and put them under the grill.  Anyway, nothing was wasted and I learned a valuable lesson and I won't make the same mistake again. By the way Joy, I didn't put any quantities in the recipe as I had no idea how much of each item I put in, it was all done by eye and taste.  If you don't put enough parmesan they are very bland.  If they had been successful I would have served them with brown butter and ...

Good morning all well what a day it was yesterday after all my efforts with the soup my patent "use by" detector [my nose] informed me that the stock had not sealed properly and was off so down the sink it went. All was not lost as I went to the freezer and got out some good beef stock and a litre of chicken stock so the soup was finally made.  It was lovely but definitely not worth the effort involved so it will be a once in a lifetime experiment.   It was quickly demolished and I went on to make some pasta and then fill the dumplings with spinach and ricotta.  It took a little while to get the quantity of filling just right but then I was away.  I made two trays of them but then ran out of gas and they are still sitting on the trays this morning only with a wet filling they have stuck to the paper towel and will now all split when and if I try to cook them.  I was hoping the boys might do them for supper but they decided on a steak and kidney pie D...

Good morning all sorry to be so late but I was up at 3am then fell back asleep.  Today is a red-letter day the soup is finally going on the menu.  I can't remember ever making anything that has taken so long.  I know I have had to make it in dribs and drabs as the ingredients became available but even so, I will be pleased to finally get it done and it had better be good. After yesterdays comments about a recipe book, I have been having thoughts of the strange mixtures I could make with the odd ingredients that are lurking in my cupboards and buried deep in the freezer.  Of course, if it really hits the fan I have an allotment and greenhouse sitting idle so I would have that to fall back on and I know quite a bit about foraging so I don't think we would starve.  Where I used to walk the dogs is a virtual larder with lots to forage from damsons, sloes and blackberries to sea purslane, sea beet and sea samphire.  The estuary is also full of fish so a rod...

Good morning all it is another odd sort of a day rain and sun.  Keith came yesterday and planted my bulbs and also cut the top of the Cupressus arch so that will look tidy for the winter.   I didn't see where the bulbs went so it will be a lovely surprise for me in the spring.  It is a bit of a lull in the garden at the moment as the leaves have yet to fall, most of the annual weeds have been dealt with so now it is just a case of waiting for things to die back before they can be cleared.  The tomatoes are still ripening on the plants so I am just gathering them as they become ready.   I was chatting with a friend who is stocking up on tinned tomatoes, tomato paste etc. in case of Brexit I, on the other hand, am not panic buying.  While some things might be more expensive I don't foresee a total lack of things.  I hope I am not wrong after all Italy is not the only place they grow tomatoes.  Anyway, I refuse to be panicked by ...

Good morning all the weather this morning is very autumnal it is blowing and raining but I have no plans to go out so it won't matter much to me.  However, Keith, the gardener is due and I'm not sure how he with cope or even if it is worth him coming. I was hoping that he would plant my bulbs but they will come to no harm if they sit and wait a bit longer. Now for some good news, my ear was looked at by the doctor and it is in a sorry state of inflammation so I now have some antibiotic and steroid spray which I need three times per day and hopefully, that will solve the problem.  While I was there I had a chat with him as he talks to me more as a colleague than a patient.  I asked why it was so difficult to get an appointment to see him and he explained that the practice had been taken over by a company who got rid of all the doctors and they are now employed on zero-hours contracts with no sick pay if they are ill.  They are trying to run the practice without d...

Good morning all yesterday saw some rain but nothing dramatic and when it stopped there was beautiful sunshine in between.  This morning it is raining again but not heavily as yet so not really a problem.  The garden is really enjoying it so I for one am not complaining.    I try to stay away from politics but I was pleased that the high court gave Boris a smack for being an idiot and putting a 93-year-old lady between a rock and a hard place.  If he had one ounce of integrity he would resign having already made a pigs breakfast of the job so far.  Personally, I have lost interest I don't care anymore I just wish they would get on and do whatever it is they are going to do.  Then we can start picking up the pieces and trying to heal the dreadful divisions that this has caused.  I have friends who are passionately pro Europe and others who are passionately against.  I am sitting on the fence as I don't really know enough to make an inform...

Good morning all yesterday we had a little rain but the big one is due today so my day is planned for indoors.  Dan's limp has disappeared so it was just a pulled muscle and a nights sleep has put that right.  Oh, the joy of being young when you heal really quickly.   The wonderful Dennie is due today and for once the house is not in a shambles.  James decided to wash his duvet yesterday and it is more like a rag so I have given him the spare duvet from the guest bed which makes more sense.  If someone comes to stay I will have to get another one but we will cross that bridge when we come to it and if push comes to shove I have sleeping bags at the ready. Now that I no longer have the caravan to tow I am thinking it is time to get rid of the landrover I absolutely love it to bits but it is costing a fortune to run and is really not sensible.  I would like to go all-electric but as I don't have a driveway charging would be difficult and they ar...

Good morning all we had a little shower yesterday but I believe the real rain is due tomorrow.  Poor old Dan has pulled a muscle in his shoulder while out for a walk and is limping a little but I hope a nights sleep will have sorted that out.  I did have a good look at his paw as we have a lot of flint around here and cut paws are quite common. I sliced up the pork and vacuum-packed some slices ready for the ramen but the rest we ate and oh boy was it delicious.  I did some sushi rice and mushrooms to go with it and the "gravy" was really tasty and there is not a drop left.  This is such a lovely thing to do with a piece of belly pork it might take 3-4 hours but the wait is worth it.  The recipe is simple enough equal quantities of soy sauce water and mirin to which you add a 3-inch piece of ginger sliced 5 peeled cloves of garlic and a whole bunch of spring onions cut into 2-inch pieces.  I turned the meat over every hour so it all got a bath in the g...

Good morning all late start this morning after a long lie in which was lovely I don't often sleep so late but love it when I do.  It is cloudy this morning and I believe we have rain on the way from the west which is fine as the garden really needs it.  I ordered some tulip bulbs from the RHS and they have arrived in time for Keith to plant on Thursday.   They should bring a bit of spring cheer to the garden especially if we have the hard winter they are threatening us with.  I made the char siu pork yesterday and have left it to go cold in the "gravy" for want of a better word and today I am going to slice it ready to use in the ramen.  I have organised some large bowls in which to serve it once I have all the ingredients prepared.  The bowls come with lids so they should be very useful in the kitchen for other things too.  This is turning into some project they do say anyone who makes tonkatsu ramen at home is mad and I don't think they...

Good morning all I am up bright and early this morning but I did sleep well so no complaints.  My first job is to make a cup of coffee then I sit at the computer and check the email most of which is rubbish and deleted then I check the google headlines in case something dramatic has happened overnight.  The royals are getting on in years and Donald Trump might have started a war as for our illustrious leader the least said the better.  The most exciting thing I read this morning is that Megan's dress cost £8,900 - How can a dress be worth that unless it is encrusted in diamonds.  More money than sense comes to mind. Yesterday was yet another gorgeous day and I spent some time watering my plants which are all doing so well with this nice weather.  I did some shopping and was surprised that Tesco was absolutely heaving.  It was a double discount day so worth stocking up.  I wanted to buy some apples and was disgusted to see that the majority of appl...

Good morning all another beautiful day seems on the cards for today.  My tomatoes are slowly ripening in the early autumn sun so I am just leaving them to get on with it.  They have done remarkably well considering that they were planted so late and in relatively small pots I am quite surprised they have made any fruit at all.  The variety is San Marzano which are the ones which normally end up in tins.  They have a greater amount of flesh and fewer pips and water and very thin skins which are easily removed so they are ideal for bottling or freezing.   Yesterday's supper was very Japanese with cold soba noodles dressed with a splash of sesame oil, poached salmon and a handfull of prawns with a spoonful of mayo for decoration but the best bit was the spinach.  It was lightly boiled, stems and all then drained and really well wrung out.  It was then put to marinate in a mixture of soy sauce, water and mirin and finally dressed with a good spri...

Good morning all it looks like another bright day but the temperature has dropped and it is quite cool.  Yesterday I tried to replicate the lovely rarebit I had in Macnades and I think I was successful I cut the leeks very finely and fried them off in some butter then added a couple of tablespoons of my homemade yoghurt.  This was then piled onto toast and covered in grated mature cheddar and wacked under the grill of the halogen oven.  It was a nice way to use up a couple of leeks and some mousetrap cheddar.  It was surprisingly filling so for supper we had a burger each but in a nice bun, not the normal sweet things they usually have for burgers.  I did a pan of fried onions to go with them which was ideal.  Sadly we only ate half the burgers so they will be appearing again for lunch today.  This will not be a problem as the boys love burgers and would eat them for every meal. It is a good job I checked my calendar and realised that my doctor's ...

Good morning all it is cold this morning and the heating has kicked in but it looks bright and sunny.  Joy regarding the kingsize bedding sadly the sofa bed is huge and requires huge bedding, however, fortunately, it doesn't get too much use so the ironing is only once in a while.  Once it is all done it gets vacuum packed and stored under the seat. I made the yoghurt yesterday and it has been kept a 30ºC overnight so I can strain it off this morning as I like it really thick.  I bought some frozen berries the last time I was at Macnades so I will use them to flavour it.  I do keep some unflavoured for use in cooking and for making dressings rather than using neat mayonnaise.  I have been using a goats milk natural yoghurt as a starter even though the milk is cows it works just fine.   I also bottled up some tomatoes which look like fresh rather than tinned so I am wondering if the taste will be fresher when I come to use them.  ...

Good morning all it is still just dark but the light is creeping over the trees at the foot of the garden.  Yesterday started off cloudy and we did get some rain in the early evening which was not significant but better than nothing.  I HAVE DONE THE IRONING!!!   Normally I don't mind ironing but doing a king size bed set is a real pain the sheets and covers go on forever and seem to be so enormous.  Anyway, they are done now and can be vacuum-packed and put away under the seat of the sofa bed ready in case anyone has to stay the night. Sandy came and we had a nice lunch together, both bemoaning getting old - she has trouble with her hands and me with my ears we make a right pair.  Sadly she tried to put my boots on but couldn't get her foot past the ankle.  I did console her by telling her they are pigs to both put on and even bigger pigs to take off not to mention they are quite heavy if you are doing a lot of walking.  Anyway, she went home ric...

Good morning all it is still a bit dark the sun hasn't made it over the tree line yet or maybe it's cloudy I can't tell.  Yesterday was another lovely day with wall to wall sunshine and it was very warm in fact too warm last night.  I had remade my bed with the winter duvet in the cold snap and now I am boiling so it was a night of on and off with the duvet. Today I am expecting Sandy to visit but I don't give much for her chances to park as the road is in a real mess as they are laying pipes and have dug up a large proportion of the pavement.  This road is difficult to park in at the best of times now it is a real pain.  We are extremely lucky as we have a disabled bay directly outside which makes our lives a bit easier.  We have a garage but it is too small to fit a car or at least you could get the car in but you couldn't open the doors and the driveway will only fit a smart car as it is tiny.  The houses were built in the days when people didn't ha...

Good morning all yet another lovely day in prospect.  I don't know about you but I am loving this Indian summer.  The washing machine is working overtime as lots of bits and pieces are getting a final wash before the winter kicks in. As you know I have been getting my vegetables from a box scheme run by Riverford and have been very happy with the contents for the last 15 years.  They now have a facebook page and I joined hoping for some inspiration but I have been sadly disappointed as the group has been infiltrated with proselytising evangelical vegans who are happy to question others moral values.  I found myself getting furious when reading some of the posts and rather than join in the bloodletting I have just abandoned the site. For one thing, I don't need a recipe to pile loads of vegetables on a plate.  I have been cooking for over 50 years so I can manage to boil/roast or fry some veg.   I have nothing against vegetarians but I draw the line ...

Good morning all another glorious looking day ahead yesterday was beautiful and warm with buckets of sunshine.  I managed to avoid doing the ironing so it is still sitting in the corner shouting at me.  It seemed a shame to be ironing on such a lovely day well thats my excuse anyway.  Pretty feeble I know but who needs to be ironing huge duvet covers and sheets on a lovely sunny day.  Instead, I bottled up some of our tomatoes which I intend to keep at least until Christmas when they will be a lovely reminder of the summer gone. We had a bit of a hiccup yesterday when Tubby dispatched a squab which seemed unable to fly I think it may well have been mauled by next doors cat.  Anyway Tubby put it out of its misery in short order while Dan looked on in awe.  I don't feel too bad about it as we are certainly not short of pigeons.  James was cross with Tubby but he was only doing what dogs do so not his fault and he probably saved me the job of dispatc...

Good morning all what a rude awakening I had this morning I had put an order into Tesco for delivery and it turned up at 7am and we were all still asleep.  Thank goodness for the Dan doorbell which I can hear but sadly so can everyone else so everybody is now up.  I would normally have been awake but I had slept in.  Anyway, the kitchen is now strewn with shopping for me to organise and put away.  I don't often get my shopping delivered but there are things which can be got online and not in the shop and heavy bags of dog biscuits being delivered helps me.  It also stops me impulse buying which I am a sucker for.  I go to buy a pint of milk and come home with half the shop.  Well, that's my excuse and I am sticking to it. Yesterday was a gorgeous day and today looks like it is going to be similar it is warm and sunny with a gentle breeze blowing.  Keith did his stuff around the garden and planted up my new clematis.  I do like to give hi...

Good morning all it is lovely and sunny this morning and the temperatures are up a bit so it is not so cold despite a nice dose of rain overnight. I must be doing something right as the arum lily has sprouted another bloom I can only suppose it really likes the position in which it finds itself as I have done nothing except keep the soil moist and given it a little dose of tomato feed when doing the tomatoes.  Given it was a cheapo from Aldi I am amazed.  Keith the gardener is due today and I am ready with all he needs to plant up the patio clematis.  Last night I ordered another plant which really took my fancy.  When we were at Macnades Angela bought one and I was silly and didn't and then regretted it so I have ordered one. It is Senecio or commonly called Angels wings but actually, the leaves feel just like Tubby's ears.  It is supposed to be extremely hardy so I am looking to put it in a very cold windy corner where it will brighten things up w...

Good morning all it is a dull start to the day but I hope it will improve as it did yesterday.  I have a load of washing ready for the line so I am going to risk it and put it out to dry.  My central heating cut in this morning so it must be cold I am afraid I leave the thermostat to decide when to switch it on. Yesterday was a bit pandemonium here what with Dennie arriving half an hour early then later Elaine came for coffee with her poodle it was all a bit chaotic.  For lunch, we had lots of vegetables to finish up so we had some fish cakes with the veg assortment.  Once I had strained off the broth I had made and sorted out lots of meat for the dogs I made some beef rillets which the boys looked sideways at and I must say it doesn't look appetising until you try it and then discover it is delicious especially with some of the fermented carrots and cornichon. James had made some semolina dumplings for the soup so that was supper.  I am now completely out ...

Good morning all it is a gorgeous morning cold but sunny and with a clear sky.  Dennie is here early and has made a start in the kitchen which for once is not too bad. I made a lovely pepper stew with my purchase and also a borlotti bean salad once the beans were podded and cooked.  My instapot is full of carcasses and has had its boiling time so today it is filtering out the stock and picking over the bones for the dogs, however, I will wait until Dennie has finished in the kitchen before I go and wreck it. I am having real difficulty writing this as Dennie wants to chat so if I am writing drivel don't be surprised.  I will keep this short as I can't write and talk at the same time.  I think I will go and have another coffee and give up on this until tomorrow. Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine which is, at last, ripening my tomatoes. Until tomorrow.

Good morning all it is raining this morning but that is Ok as the plants need it.  Yesterday was a lovely day it started off cold but soon warmed up in the sun.  After breakfast of croissants and jam, we set off for Macnades where we had brunch lovely coffee and I had a welsh rarebit and Angela had cinnamon toast with banana.  We then had a leisurely potter about the shop which was heaving with people.  I found some peppers in the £1 bag section which of course I couldn't resist. Could you resist these for a £1? Today they will be made into a pepper stew with onions and garlic then if they don't fit in with my menu they can be frozen.  I also bought some fresh borlotti beans which have been podded and are ready to cook. Last night for supper we had the chicken done in the halogen with which we had mash and some courgettes cooked with oil parsley and garlic.  I came to within milliseconds of burning the courgettes but the gods were with me and ...

Good morning all dull and cold here this morning but dry.  Angela arrived having made good time from Bristol with heavy traffic but no significant hold-ups.  Although we haven't seen each other for ages with good friends that doesn't matter you just pick up where you left off.  At last, I have someone who wants to eat figs and the last picking was waiting for her so I am spared the job of making chutney. Today we are going to have brunch at Macnades and I might have to buy another piece of slack ma girdle cheese as it was actually very nice despite the crazy name.  Then for supper tonight I have a small chicken which I will halogen roast with all the trimmings.  Last nights supper was just a large piece of skirt which I flash on the griddle pan and served with a baked potato and an Insalata Caprese as I had some lovely tomatoes a nice buffalo mozzarella and copious basil from the garden.   The dogs have taken to Angela and of course, think she is ...

Good morning all it is a dull start to the morning as the rain gods did their thing and watered the garden for me we had one shower in the afternoon then it really rained in the evening.  I have a busy day today as Angela my friend from Bristol is coming to stay for a couple of days which will be really lovely as I haven't seen her for ages and she is about to go to New England for a holiday and has managed to squeeze me into her busy schedule.    The bed is made up in the front room but the house is pretty grubby as Dennie is not due until Tuesday so we are at the end of the fortnight between visits.  I will have to put the hoover over the floors and throw a duster about a bit just so its not too bad.  Then a quick trip to Aldi to make sure I am fully stocked up on fresh fruit and salad stuff.  We will have a snack type lunch and then we can have a proper meal for dinner.  As yet I haven't got a clue what we will be having but Angela isn't fussy ...

Good morning all its a bit dull this morning but no doubt it will change as the day progresses apparently we are destined to have some rain so I have held off with the watering and hope nature does the job for me. I thought I had come to the end of the figs but yesterday I found yet more that were ripe and ready so I had a brilliant idea I packed them up and Denzil ran then up to Tak's house only to find they too have a fig tree and she is now making jam with hers.  It seems to be a very good year for figs so mine came back.  What a pity I can't persuade the dogs that figs are nice.  Anyway, I give up and those we don't eat will be put out for the blackbirds who love them.  I have sufficient stores to last me until next year or maybe the year after.  The only thing I haven't tried is to make chutney with them which I might have a go at especially as I now have some apple sauce made from windfalls in the garden.  It was lovely with our pork chops but th...

Good morning all it is a quiet morning with little sun and plenty of clouds but at least I slept well my bed was, as Goldilocks would say, just right neither too hot nor too cold.  I had quite a busy day in the kitchen yesterday.  I sorted out the stock and got that bottled up and made some lovely brawn for the dogs actually I was quite jealous as I love brawn but it was salt-free so it went to them.  I reduced the kilos of tomatoes down to about a litre and got that bottles up too.  I'm not too sure how the half jar will fare it is sealed but I will keep an eye on it and use it fairly quickly I think.   The fermented tomatoes were had for lunch and though they were OK I wouldn't rush to do them again.  The tomatoes themselves had a slightly beery taste but that was not unpleasant and masked by a good slosh of basil oil.  The accumulated liquid went on the bread and tomato salad and was completely unnoticeable.  I did expect it all...

Good morning all we have rain, great for the garden which really needs it. I keep the pots watered but the rest of the garden has to take its chances gone are the days when it all got watered.  I had a bit of a restless night as my bed seemed to have only two temperatures too hot and too cold. Yesterday I had a lovely breakfast with Sandie nothing unusual just loads of scramble eggs on toast and coffee.  Once that was done I did a bit of shopping and discovered this cheese which I had to buy just for the name. As it turned out it was really delicious rather like brie but with a bit more flavour but less than stinking bishop.  Anyway it disappeared onto some sourdough crackers for supper last night.  I also purchased some pork bones to make a ramen soup and they have spent 10 hours bubbling on the stove with some garlic and ginger and today I have the joy of filtering it all and picking any meat off for the dogs. I think the stock will get frozen as I have e...

Good morning all it is a bit dull this morning but it is not as cold so typical autumn weather.  My bag of tomatoes is beginning to swell but it will be a while yet before it is ready to eat.  Yesterday after the fish cakes and salad for lunch supper was vegetables as I finally got round to making the melanzane parmigiana.  It was very nice and not as rich as it can be the original recipe calls for the aubergines to be fried first, however, I had a bag of frozen girdled ones which I used as they were a little on the tough side I don't think the skin takes kindly to freezing.  Anyway, it was very tasty so no real problems and the whole lot got eaten so it must have been OK. It looks pretty messy and is not the most lovely thing to photograph the breadcrumbs and parmesan on the top got blown about a bit in the halogen oven. Today I am off to Faversham and my favourite shop to restock my coffee supplies and have breakfast with Sandie.  As you know I am n...

Good morning all it is very chilly this morning and we are down to single figures so Autumn is very definitely on the way.  Yesterday was a lovely peaceful day I did shoot out and do a bit of shopping just for a few odds and ends and some pork chops to go with the cabbage and potatoes I had left to use up.  I also bought some colourful little tomatoes which I have put to ferment using the Noom method of vacuum packing.  I did the tomatoes yesterday morning and already the bag is beginning to swell once it has completely puffed up they will be ready to use on bruschetta and the juice for a salad dressing.  I am hopeful they will be nice but I will have to wait and see.  I now wish I had added a couple of basil leaves before I sealed the bag but that is what I will try next time if they are a success. As a treat for his birthday, Dan and Tubby shared a tin of corned beef for their supper - actually it had been opened by the fairies and left in the bac...

Good morning all it is bright and sunny this morning and there was just enough of a shower to water my plants yesterday evening which saved me a job. As we had had a meat pig out the day before yesterday was a veg day so I made a nice quiche with lots of cheese and the rainbow chard which did us for both lunch and supper together with lots of salad.  I wish I had had someone with a video camera when I was making the quiche.  I had decided to use some ricotta which was frozen so I waited for it to more or less defrost then added eggs and cheese etc but I had put the ingredients in my stand mixer and when I switched it on I discovered there was still a frozen lump of ricotta which flew out of the bowl at high speed hitting me square in the chest it then bounced off the work surface and shattered on the floor where Dan, the kitchen porter, cleared it all up for me.  I was well and truly cover and laughing my socks off it was a bit like not putting the lid on a blender and...