The 12 days of Old Style recipes

tru

misskool wrote: »

:rotfl:

has anyone nominated this for thread of the year yet?

Dunno, I'll check in a mo. I will defo be voting
:rotfl:

stefejb

erm...... could I suggest that you pop to the diy board for floor strengthening advice in case there might be anything along the lines of leaping and dancing in the near future

julieq

The sorry saga continues...

43 minutes spent yesterday morning trying to sort out the over delivery. You know you're in trouble when after ages on hold listening to scratchy christmas carols interrupted by the odd click which sounds like someone is about to pick up but turns out to be someone saying they are experiencing higher than usual call volumes but your custom is important to them please refer to their website to track your orders someone actually answers sounding like they are talking up a tube from a submarine in the Marianna trench and in an echoey tinny sub-continental voice announces themselves as "John Fitzsimmons" and asks if they can help.

I mean it's hard enough explaining delivery problems to sulky just-post-teenagers in Bolton callcentres when both sides can actually hear the conversation properly, but at least they start with some sort of shared cynicism about the state of the country's infrastructure and a deep understanding of the complete uselessness of the company they work for. The idea that there could be problems with an order simply wasn't on "John's" script, and he was obviously phased by it completely.

We rapidly settled into a sort of loop. "So, madam, you have received your delivery, yes?", "no, I've received too much of my delivery". [pause, flicking of papers] "So, madam you have received your delivery and you wish to return it?", "no, I was sent an extra item and I want to return that". [bit of tapping, pause]. "Madam, our system shows that you received your delivery yesterday and signed for it as correct, yes". And so on, up to and past the point of human endurance.

I'll say this for foreign call centres though. They employ people with infinite patience reservoirs, and eventually I think we managed to leave Groundhog Day and move on to some sort of resolution, at which point John heaved an audible (well, not quite audible, it was masked by a series of buzzes and whistles that even Marconi would have found an embarrasment during his initial demonstrations of radio) sigh of relief and tried to sell me some insurance.

Anyway having got up early to water the tree and have a poke at the interesting packages that had appeared beneath it, the doorbell rang. An out of breath young man with designer stubble and slightly bleary eyes was pouring out a stream of profuse apologies for all of the problems I'd had, he explained they were a new company with a unique and exciting product proposition but had had a few teething problems and without missing a beat from his explanation that they were a victim of their own success pulled a couple of oddly familiar cardboard boxes from the back of his BMW and one I hadn't seen before, dumped them on the doorstep, and drove off with an exhortation not to call Watchdog.

Anyway, you've guessed it. Another small bird, tree, two more pigeons and in a rather disappointingly unexotic twist, three chickens.

Nice ones though, free range by the looks of things and of the continental type, i.e. small but probably very good. One is going for a simple remoska roast today (that sounds like something the Queen might say, doesn't it?). But I need ideas for the others, particularly for party food for next week, so please do chip in.

I did think I might reprise one of the ideas from earlier in this thread for one of them though. I found:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200289204469&ru=http://search.ebay.co.uk:80/200289204469_W0QQfviZ1

and I'm thinking that pearwood smoked chicken would be just lovely. I think that could be the base of a lovely pasta recipe with a bit of Lidl Black Forest smoked ham, some mushrooms, and some low fat creme fraiche (this is great, contains cornflour so it's self thickening), as well as being good in sandwiches and so on.

I'm keeping the overdeliveries. will probably just freecycle anything I can't use. There may have been a few annoyances, but you can't beat free food. Anyway all set now for a peaceful Christmas and a few good meals.

So we're left with one chicken and some assorted game, and it's over to you lot for some more ideas please.

Bennifred

Morning, Julie!
Erm - I really don't wish to alarm you, and maybe I'm being over cautious, but are you SURE that all these unexpected packages are from a well-wishing old flame?

You read some terrible things in the news these days, mad stalkers :eek: and lonely weirdos :eek: are absolutely rife it would seem, so just you take care! Maybe you could make a good hefty cudgel from one of the pear trees to keep by the front door........

.....on a happier note, do consider donating any spare chickens, pears etc to you local homeless shelter as a lovely gesture in the spirit of the season....

julieq

It's OK, he knows I'm a bunny boiler

stefejb

julieq wrote: »

I did think I might reprise one of the ideas from earlier in this thread for one of them though. I found:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200289204469&ru=http://search.ebay.co.uk:80/200289204469_W0QQfviZ1

.

So sorry to hear about your call centre woes - let's hope that's the end of the matter :rolleyes:

the smoker looks great ... but i wonder if they do a bigger one - just a thought. I do remember gordon ramsey made one utilising an old car - this might be a little small too but perhaps your local bus depot could help you out

Oh and about the freecycling - I think you'll find that livestock and food are banned but check with the moderator of your local group. Actually if I were you i would try to keep as much of the food as possible - you know what christmas is like for unexpected houseguests

purpleivy

Perhaps you could ask on Freecycle for a bit of extra crockery and cutlery. You never know, it might come in useful. One last thought...I know it's a bit cheeky asking this, but a bit of better quality stuff may not come amiss, you never know who'll be passing at Christmas.

Bennifred

julieq wrote: »

It's OK, he knows I'm a bunny boiler

:think: Rather than boiling the bunny (might be a bit tough?) you might try braising it slowly with red wine, garlic and herbs - delicious! Perfect in a slowcooker, would probably be good in your Remoska, too!:drool:

Gryfon

I think I'd be boring and bone the chicken, make stock from the carcass and put it all in the freezer for next year. I'd also be having words with the delivery company with their early delivery slots! Tell them you'd like a lie-in so any time after 10 is more suitable, especially at a weekend.

greenbee

I'd keep the chickens (assuming they're hens)... can't you get OH to knock up a hen house and a run? Then you'll have fresh eggs next year, and don't have to worry about dealing with the cooking now (plus all that plucking/drawing is a bit tedious and I find it puts me off my food).

A dovecote for the pigeons might be an idea too if you haven't already dispatched today's delivery. If not, I've got a great recipe for pigeon casserole that freezes well.