Not mentioning the T word at all

scottishminnie

Katieowl - that looks fab, thanks for the recipe. My mother is diabetic so I think I will try this for my father's birthday in February.
I can't promise it will look like your finished article though!

I've finally wrapped some gifts so I'm about to reward myself with a small G&T and I'm pondering making brandy butter tomorrow night.
I do have a few questions for you though -

How far in advance can I make it?
I only have Courvoisier brandy - is that a shocking waste and should I just buy a half bottle of cheap supermarket stuff ?(not sure how much I need)

Glad you are feeling better Kaz - it's bad enough having a stinking cold but it seems so much worse at this time of year when nobody has a spare minute. Is the hoummus easy to make? I have several cans of chick peas that I wasn't too sure what to do with. Maybe I could use them for that...

I'm off to the hairdressers tomorrow (what a great way to spend 3 hours of my day off) to have my "natural" hair colour restored. That really means getting shot of the little tinge of ginger. Someone once told me redheads don't go grey in the same way others do - I can now officially say that's nonsense, I've found grey hairs:eek::eek: They are only on my head though so I guess it could be worse:D

Anyway off to load up the breadmaker for a french loaf. See you all tomorrow.

katieowl_2

scottishminnie wrote: »

Katieowl - that looks fab, thanks for the recipe. My mother is diabetic so I think I will try this for my father's birthday in February.
I can't promise it will look like your finished article though!

I've finally wrapped some gifts so I'm about to reward myself with a small G&T and I'm pondering making brandy butter tomorrow night.
I do have a few questions for you though -

How far in advance can I make it?
I only have Courvoisier brandy - is that a shocking waste and should I just buy a half bottle of cheap supermarket stuff ?(not sure how much I need)

I made the first batch three weeks ago...and it's been fine in a tin since then (the recipe does say it keeps well in a tin)

Regarding the brandy, I sloshed the remains of a shockingly cheap bottle in the fruit when I soaked it - about two/three inches in the bottom? I bought it to make figs in brandy originally.

I fed it each time with two capfuls of something a bit better from ald! - Don't know how much a bottle of courvoisier is? Only you can decide that!!! I DO know that a bottle of 'decent' brandy would probably have not been given a chance to lurk in the cupboard :rotfl:

Kate

Kaz2904

Scottishminnie, humous is dead easy to make. 1 tin of chick peas (or whatever quantity you want to use). Blitz in the food processor with a good dollop of oil. Add lemon or lime juice for a bit of pazazz. I also add a good amount of chilli powder because we like it like that. The original recipe I had used tahini which is frighteningly expensive and doesn't last so I leave it out. Last time I made it, I used a dollop of peanut butter but IMHO, it didn't add anything to the flavour so I shan't bother this time. It's unnecessary extra cost if it doesn't make or break the dish
Had a bit of bad news last night, my Dad has got prostate cancer and has been passing blood. He's had a cystoscopy which showed a burst tumour in his bladder. He's lost loads of weight this year and is generally in pretty poor shape. He has insisted on a trip to show my step brother and my brother in law where he wants his ashes scattered and is going on Sunday. My sister tried to dissuade him due to the cold but he's adamant that they're going this weekend. He's gone around the house saying who he wants to have what and doesn't think he'll last until his birthday. That doesn't bode well, I don't know if he'll make the new year really. He's awaiting an urgent CT scan so they can decide on the course of action for him but I fear that if it's in his prostate and in his bladder and it's burst and he's lost a lot of weight, I fear he's going to be absolutely riddled with it. Unfortunately, I live a good few hours away and he keeps me at arms length. I only find out what's happening from my sister which is very hard for her. I'm very supportive for her o the end of the phone but that's not a great deal of practical support really is it? We have DS's school friends for his birthday tonight, then family here on Sunday and his actual Birthday on Monday so I can't go up until Tuesday but it may be that he's having his scan on Tuesday. I'm working Thursday, Friday and Boxing night too. I'm not sure how advanced we are really so I don't even know what to do about work
It's all a bit :eek: at the moment.

CCP

Morning all.

Kaz - I'm so sorry to hear your news. Hugs to you and your family.

If anyone fancies something festive to read, the comments on this discussion on the Guardian website are wonderful - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2011/dec/14/share-christmas-memories

Right, I must go and do some work rather than reading / posting on the forum, although I might eat some of the HM shortbread snowflakes a colleague brought in, just to keep the festive-ness going. :xmassmile

katieowl_2

CCP wrote: »

Morning all.



If anyone fancies something festive to read, the comments on this discussion on the Guardian website are wonderful - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2011/dec/14/share-christmas-memories

But keep the tissues handy....


Kate

Fruball

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Scottishminnie, humous is dead easy to make. 1 tin of chick peas (or whatever quantity you want to use). Blitz in the food processor with a good dollop of oil. Add lemon or lime juice for a bit of pazazz. I also add a good amount of chilli powder because we like it like that. The original recipe I had used tahini which is frighteningly expensive and doesn't last so I leave it out. Last time I made it, I used a dollop of peanut butter but IMHO, it didn't add anything to the flavour so I shan't bother this time. It's unnecessary extra cost if it doesn't make or break the dish
Had a bit of bad news last night, my Dad has got prostate cancer and has been passing blood. He's had a cystoscopy which showed a burst tumour in his bladder. He's lost loads of weight this year and is generally in pretty poor shape. He has insisted on a trip to show my step brother and my brother in law where he wants his ashes scattered and is going on Sunday. My sister tried to dissuade him due to the cold but he's adamant that they're going this weekend. He's gone around the house saying who he wants to have what and doesn't think he'll last until his birthday. That doesn't bode well, I don't know if he'll make the new year really. He's awaiting an urgent CT scan so they can decide on the course of action for him but I fear that if it's in his prostate and in his bladder and it's burst and he's lost a lot of weight, I fear he's going to be absolutely riddled with it. Unfortunately, I live a good few hours away and he keeps me at arms length. I only find out what's happening from my sister which is very hard for her. I'm very supportive for her o the end of the phone but that's not a great deal of practical support really is it? We have DS's school friends for his birthday tonight, then family here on Sunday and his actual Birthday on Monday so I can't go up until Tuesday but it may be that he's having his scan on Tuesday. I'm working Thursday, Friday and Boxing night too. I'm not sure how advanced we are really so I don't even know what to do about work
It's all a bit :eek: at the moment.

So sorry to hear your sad news

Having lost my Dad in the summer, I would say to go up there asap... You just never know, and it would be awful if you didn't get to see him. Sorry if I am speaking out of turn, but I know that spending the last few days with my Dad was very precious to me.

Love to you and your family xx

Kaz2904

I have NO IDEA what to do now! I've spoken to my sister again and Dad has gone round there today (and gone to the shop for her) so clearly not at deaths door today. That's the weirdest thing, he's not in hospital so not going to die imminently and sis is laughing and joking now. He's talking long term future type stuff (2 years +) so I really have no idea what is going on. It's not even like I can call and speak to the nurse who's looking after him for some advice because he's not in hospital. I know as nurses we are pretty good at looking at people and seeing how long they've got when they're poorly. I think I'm going to go with my gut and get up there soon.
The cat on the other hand is windmilling around the dining room and trying to kill her tail. It's funny to watch, especially when she's sitting on her tail with both front paws pinning it to the ground with a look of surprise on her face! Daft puss!

Hobsons_Choice

Kaz: I'm very sorry for the stressful time you're having. My son had bladder cancer when he was 22, and was taken into hospital for the op as soon as it was diagnosed, they said they'd never seen anyone so young get this disease. He was passing blood (although it hadn't burst) and lost a fair amount of weight. They removed the tumour and he's now 46 and hasn't had a problem since (fingers crossed). He does still have to go for regular check-ups though - thankfully - because he was so young when he had it.
Hope all goes well with you and yours.

shegar

Oh dear ive had the most terrible couple of days ,its all so depressing at home at the moment, right I will try to cut it short as posible, Billy my lovely 2 yr old yorkie had started to go downhill, he had sickness, tired, kept falling over last few days so I took him to the vet at tea time Thursday, vet ended up giving him 3 injections for diferent things, 2 lots of tablets, £84.12 bill, wasnt really sure what was going on but thought it def gastro related, ............Billy deteriated overnight so I took him back this morning at 8.30, she said she would put him on a fluid drip has he hasnt been drinking, upped meds etc etc , , blood tests, x rays, etc etc, now waiting for the results to come back, and billy is fighting for his life tonight at the vets....... I did go and see billy in his cage they had got him connected to a drip laying on a lovely warm fleece and a warm furry blanket on top ..............................She isnt quite sure whats going on , but now thinks its pointing to his kidneys, so tonight is a long one for us, I will phone vets at 8.30 morning and hope he is alive .. I f we can get him throught this first night then it may look more hopeful.................................

Now on to hubby as you know he had a massive stroke 3 yrs ago at 49 yrs old, last night while trying to sleep with the dog ill etc etc, gary went downhill , drooping mouth,tingling face, etc, I had to call 999, where it wasnt a seizure but another stroke, this time it was a clot and not a bleed, so I ended up in A&E at 12.30. this morning until 6. am..............

He goes back into hospital the stroke unit on Monday morning and as various appointments to see neuro Drs and epilepsey Drs , so so far one week from christmas our world as come crashing down............

So ive been running around the house like a mad woman nursing hubby, and off to the vets, phone calls etc, its been hectic to say the least, and its been bloody cold rain /sllet all day, as most of you know........After 2 hours sleep last night, I did manage to have 40 mins today, but I shant be sitting up past 9 tonight, so ive had a sh3te day and hope for better things in the morning........Hope your all warm and fed and safe........Sorry but I had to unload this off my head , you know what its like its just one of those horrible few days that we all get now and again......

mardatha

Oh Shegar my wee pet, how awful. Sending you love and light and healing vibes, try and stay strong for your wee family xxx