Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Just a quick pop in from me - DP has requested that I watch some TV with him tonight, so I am just waiting for the curry and accompaniments to finish off cooking and then I'll be dishing up and joining him in front of the gogglebox

RT - thank you, that's an interesting perspective, you are making me wonder if getting additional freezer space would go some way to solving the issues...... mmmm, thanks hun

Upsidedown Bear - I laughed out loud on seeing 'part 2' - very funny Thank you.

I shall fill you in on 'us tea' tomorrow. DP has requested we try to fit a walk in too, to see the 'fall' colours :j :think: has DP been taken over by aliens? Has he done something norty? Should I be suspicious? Ah well, do you know what, I'm just gonna go with it and enjoy it :D:D

See y'all tomorrow.

Greying

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Greying, the trees were positively glowing when we walked the dogs today. Beautiful blue sky, no clouds, and sun shining directly on the trees.

Have a good evening, Tilly xx

Upsidedown_Bear

Goodnight

Not sure when I'll be around tomorrow so Smilie of the day might be quite late :eek:

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Ay up Tills - yes, I know what you mean about the glow. When we were returning from our bike ride/NT visit a couple of weeks ago, we were driving along as the light was beginning to wane and the trees did have an extraordinary glow to them. Almost magical. But I do wish we could match the US/Canada with trees that 'glow' in pure daylight. I have never seen anything in this country that matches it. It's absolutely amazing I hope you are having a wonderful relaxing weekend with the family and the dawgies

Upsidedown Bear - we'll be here whenever you are

Right, I am going to do some baking today. I have decided that I clearly am not releasing my 'Inner Dame Helen Mirren-ness' half enough ;), so I will say now, 'if we're getting serious about this frugality malarkey, we're going to [STRIKE]need[/STRIKE] have to bake considerably [STRIKE]bigger[/STRIKE] more buns ' .................. :rotfl::rotfl:

Dinner last night was a new recipe that I was trying for the first time, and I can say, without a shadow of doubt, that; it will not appeal to everyone. BIGTIME

Last night I made Lemongrass, Aubergine and Brussels Sprout Curry a recipe from the Green Kitchen Stories crew Pic here;



Clockwise from 1 o'clock we have; steamed basmati rice, lentil dhal (frozen leftovers), the curry and the steamed romanesco cauli.

Despite the fact that the list of ingredients in the curry have one major item, that very few folk like it was a really good curry - delicious in fact. The flavour combinations were wonderful. The apple really worked, against the citrus of the lemongrass and the sweetness of the coconut, the sprouts had a lovely earthy savouriness, and the aubergine brought a silky 'heft' to the plate. From an MSE perspective, this curry was made from YS'd lemongrass (half price), YS aubergine (30p instead of £1, but it was too small really for m&$ to be charging £1 in the first place ) and the brussel sprouts were YS'd to 25p for 500g - which would set you back £1 at full price. I'm sure that if you used 'macintosh' apples and had bright fresh green sprouts, the colour/visual appeal of this curry would be better - if I made it again, I would steam the sprouts and add them at the last minute. As it was, I cooked them for less time than the recipe stated. Mind, as it was, my sprouts would never have been dark emerald in the curry, as I trimmed the stalks and therefore the outer leaves in order to keep the sprouts in good condition for a couple of extra days - definitely a downside of using YS'd foods

This recipe is not going to convert anyone to the delights of sprouts. Some recipes that shred sprouts or 'disguise' them in some way can change people's opinion of this humble little cruciferous veg, but I don't think that this is one of them. But if you like thai style curries and you like sprouts, then give this one a go, as it really is a delight to eat

The romanesco cauli is a funny colour because it is so large, that the outer florets have been covered by leaves and themselves, so have remained 'blanched' IYSWIM. It didn't affect the taste though.

We munched our way through our curry bowl whilst catching up on Tom Kerridge's new cookery programme. Proper lush I think DP had watching a film more in mind, but as it was, we both retired to bed by 9.30pm (to sleep ) as we were both tired. Thank goodness there was no significant fireworks activity around our way until into the wee small hours.....:)

Dinner this evening will be another new to me recipe and the main ingredient is YS'd :j :rotfl:

Right, I'm away to get cooking, as hopefully we will be going for a walk later on, or maybe this afternoon. I shall have to consult [STRIKE]Taylor Hackford[/STRIKE] DP for the specifics

Thank you everso for popping in, reading and commenting. It is greatly appreciated. Always

See y'all later.

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

Runs in says hello to everyone

Smilie of the day.




Runs out
See you all later

maddiemay

Morning Greying and chums, Baking activity required here too as OH is now completely out of cake:( I normally love baking, but today am completely lacking in energy and get up and go (it got up and went, but I know not where:eek:). Perhaps Ginger Parkin would be easy and not need too much concentration. I made GF Scotch Pancakes for pudding last night, but don't enjoy the texture, and don't really want the expense of buying lots of different types of flour to mix:money: I have a D*ves Farm SR and a bread flour to experiment with, but feels odd on the tongue somehow, perhaps I will just have to get used to it if I do a GF trial for a while:)

I meant to reply to your question about touring caravans, yes the modern ones are delightfully warm and snug with central heating and good insulation, I have friends who regularly spend Christmas and New Year away in theirs (in the UK). Hard standing pitches and electric hook ups mean that all the comforts of home can be enjoyed, if an all year site can be found in the preferred location.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone, forecast dry here:D

little_sweetie

Good morning Greying and chums,

I haven't posted in a while because we ran out of monthly broadband allowance thanks to DH downloading lots of stuff It has now re-set for November so I can post at last I still have some catching up to do but I love the look of last night's tea, GP, and I adore sprouts even if they do create 'windy city' IYKWIM

Well, yesterday was my birthday, I reached the ripe old age of 65 at which I think I will stop counting...lol...DH will reach the same milestone in January 2015. He is quite looking forward to it because he is one of the lucky ones who can actually claim his state pension at that age. His p/t job will carry on for a while so financially things will be a bit easier next year. We might be able to help DD out a bit when the inevitable happens and they are both out of work

Am loving the smilies upsidedown Bear they are a great start to the day

in_need_of_direction

Hope you enjoyed the birthday little sweetie but, where's our cake?

Greying_Pilgrim

little_sweetie wrote: »

if they do create 'windy city' IYKWIM

Huck, YUP! I do :rotfl:

little_sweetie wrote: »

Well, yesterday was my birthday, I reached the ripe old age of 65 at which I think I will stop counting...lol...

Well, you kept that quiet!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY _party_ :j:beer::j:T

little_sweetie wrote: »

DH will reach the same milestone in January 2015....

Ooooh, little_sweetie - I didn't know you got yerself a 'toyboy' :rotfl:

little_sweetie wrote: »

We might be able to help DD out a bit when the inevitable happens and they are both out of work

Aw, is that still on the cards? The firm/organisation hasn't had a reprieve? Other work not on the horizon? Ah well, thank goodness they have you on their team little_sweetie

maddiemay - thanks for that, I was pondering things. More for the future, but it's useful to know. You have also reminded me that I have forgotten to respond to mrsinvisible's query regarding the 'absorption' method of cooking rice......

mrsinvisible - the absorbption method of cooking rice is using just enough water so that the rice 'soaks it all up' and you turn off the heat and let it 'steam' for the last part of cooking. I did try to find a good method on the internet, but I've failed. I've done it for so long, that I do it by eye, rather than measurement. But the process that I started out following was to put the rice in a saucepan, and then point my finger into the pan, resting the very tip on top of the rice (it helps if the rice is level in the pan) You then fill the pan with water, up to, but not past the first joint in your finger. You then bring the rice to the boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and let it simmer for 8 minutes, watching that it doesn't bubble up and over the pan, turn off the heat and remove the pan to a heat resistant surface, throw a tea towel over the lid and wander away for 10 mins at least. When you return, the rice is all fluffy and cooked and there is no trace of water and the rice will not be stuck to the pan. I've refined my version over the years, I would say that I don't go past 3/4 of the way up to my first knuckle joint, but I learnt very quickly to 'eyeball' the volume, as I add boiling water to my rice :eek: I also know when to turn the heat off, as you get dimples in the top of the rice, when you see no more water in the dimples, you turn the heat off. I also at this point quickly fork through the rice. Return the lid, take the saucepan off the ring and put a tea towel over it. HTH. Oh, and I just rinse my rice through once to get rid of dust - I don't do this 'wash until the water runs clear' thing. I don't live in a house with a water meter, but I couldn't imagine how much water this uses....... I remember living in a house with a self-confessed hippy at one point. He would methodically wash his rice until the water was clear. He would then cook it, and leave it out on the counter top for hours/days :eek: How on earth he didn't poison himself, I do not know.......

Greying

supersaver1000

Hapy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you , happy birthday Little Sweetie Happy Birthday to youuuuuuuu!!!😄😄😄😄

🎉 🎂 🎉