Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Visitors - how luverly

Upsidedown Bear - how do you do it? That was exactly my facial expression when DP suggested going for a walk - with not so much as a prompt, dig, suggestion or sulk (from me )

Karma - the majority of times, when I use Coriander seeds I crush them with a mortar and pestle because they are part of a spice mix - I usually toast the whole spices first to get the 'oils' working. In the case of the mulling spice, I just lightly crushed the seed between my fingers (like you would if you were sowing the seed in the garden), again to release the aroma, then added them into the sugar syrup 'whole'. This was because they were being strained out before drinking. There are lots of recipes that leave seeds - coriander, cumin, fenugreek, fennel etc whole. I'm afraid I get no joy biting into seeds like this, so I invariably grind. But that's just me Start using that pestle and mortar - they're fab! Edit: In addition Karma, coriander seeds, when crushed (and if reasonably fresh) have a most wonderful citrusy aroma. I have no issue adding coriander to sweet or savoury food. Just like cumin is not just for curries - hence why it was in the chilli last night Plus, on returning from our walk, the kitchen had the most wonderful aroma, from the cooking apples on the side, and the 'spent' spices in the 'to be composted bowl'. Can't recommend spices enough

Pippi - I don't feel qualified to sort out problems of relationships. I've been lucky with DP, who is on the whole good natured. When we've clashed horns, I've either gone ahead and done it my way and taken the consequences when I've been wrong Or we've hit stalemate. As we've got older together, we reach understanding much, much quicker. Whilst it hasn't been a bed of roses, I've enjoyed participating in a developing partnership, and I'm very grateful for it I would find it hard to be young and in a relationship these days, there is just too much expectation, from the youngsters themselves, their peers, society..... Anyway, showing your age again girl, mentioning Jackie........:D

Well, we went walking - through the local park - which is just a leaf fest with the wind getting up. We were however, blessed with wonderful sunshine, only a few drops of rain, and a huge rainbow Although it was quiet, it was still nice to see folk out walking, jogging, cycling - enjoying themselves

We did some nice window shopping, in expensive stores and looking at the menus of several pubs and restaurants. DP spotted that this seasons 'must have' accessory on the vegetarian plate appears to be 'candied walnuts'. Makes a change from the ubiquitous goats cheese I suppose, but there still seems to still be quite a lot of that about too

So, we've returned home, not a penny spent, a nice cup of flask coffee drunk. Vitamin D levels topped up, endorphins boosted, lungs and nasal passages cleared

Lunch will be soup of some description and I think I'm overdue making a batch of soda farls. Dinner is going to be veggie Bobotie (just the mix, not the full dish) with baked potatoes, so I'd better get looking up some fatless cake recipes to make best use of the oven.

With that, I'll love you and leave you, with something that I spotted on our walk.............



Greying

Karmacat

Thanks for this Greying - I'll experiment with a few today, I'm using up some quorn and some courgettes, it could do with something really tasty added to the tomato puree

I love that leaf

Greying_Pilgrim

Ahhh now Karma - with that set of ingredients you've put me in mind of the one recipe where I do leave the coriander seeds only lightly crushed. It's a Jaymee O recipe - from his 'Return of the N*ked chef' book (in this country). But the only recipe listing I could find on the net is on an American (I think) blog HERE. I'm not advocating you copy the recipe, but the chilli and coriander seeds do work well with the tomato in this recipe, so I think that you've hit on the perfect recipe to start out with

I luvs talking 'bout food me

Greying

Karmacat

Thank you!

See, thats why the food I cook is so bog-standard - I don't respect that different spices need different recipes and certain proportions, grrr. I've opened up that recipe, ta muchly, and I'll try it tomorrow (got to use up those nasty courgettes!) - I'll let you know how it goes, I really appreciate that

Upsidedown_Bear

Thank you so much for the photo of the leaf :D:D

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Wherever you are tonight, I hope that you and yours are safe and all hatches are battened down.

Today has indeed transpired to be a NSD and AFD. I'm edging nearer and nearer to the totals - never attempted such a challenge before, so I will be delighted if I manage to achieve it Must update siggie.

This afternoon was spent darning socks, making a template for the xmas bunting and clipping/shearing my donkey's winter coat :rotfl: I know, just pure 'rock 'n roll' all day long.... :rotfl: Still, keeps me out of mischief and costs nowt

I made some fatless cakes. Well, technically, I'm not sure that is true, as you use oil, rather than butter or marg - but I hope you get what I mean. It was a recipe from the 'Smitten Kitchen' cookbook by Deb Perelman. She started out blogging and then got a book deal on the back of her blog. She cooks in a tiny apartment in NYC, and conjures up some lovely food. I made her 'Mom's Apple cake' but made it as cup cakes instead of one large cake. I used half the stated ingredients and have still made 16 cakes! I suppose technically, several are a little 'small', so I suppose it would make 12 big ones - not a bad yield. Although I confess to cutting the sugar way down......... We have not yet 'taste tested' to see what they're like, but I'll let you know. And yes, Dear Reader, I have to confess to not owning the book, but borrowed it from our wonderful local library service :D

I also cooked a load of baked potatoes. We had some for dinner, but the others will be kept for snap/other meals. It made best use of the oven doing a batch.

Dinner itself was bobotie, baked potato and a minted yoghurt topping. Photo hopefully here;



Filling, warming, reasonably cheap and there is sufficient bobotie left over for a snap meal some other time.

Upsidedown Bear I wish the caterpillar had munched 'symmetrically', but I hope it was clear what I wanted to share

Right, so today has been pretty amazing, and I am grateful for these 3 things;

DP - my rock, solace and [STRIKE]perspiration[/STRIKE] inspiration

for conversation - it's amazing how many folk talk 'at' each other. I love conversation; the exchange of ideas, thoughts and feelings. Thank you for joining in the conversation.

for Mother Nature - by wearing a cloak of many colours; for providing freshness, stillness, warmth and showing good humour (appearance of the rainbow) she greatly enhanced our day

Thank you so very much for dropping by. For Reading. And for commenting on this thread. It is greatly appreciated. By me

See y'all later.

Greying

boredofbeingathome

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

DP - my rock, solace and [STRIKE]perspiration[/STRIKE] inspiration


Greying

Aw that is nice

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

I hope everyone is safe and well......

Thank you BoB

So, today should be a NSD and AFD. The milk reconstituted from powder appears to be working well, so who am I to argue?

Snap bags are ready and waiting as are flasks.

Dinner this evening will be soup and flatbreads. It is a recipe that I have done before.

Right, better get a wiggle on.

Thank you for dropping in, reading and commenting. It is appreciated very much, by me.

See y'all later.

Greying

beanielou

Must admit the powdered milk may well be a step too far for me.

Happy Monday Grayling & friends

Pippilongstocking

Loved the photo greying!

I didn't make myself clear I meant more of a 'life (cooking/frugal/etc - dear greying' than relationship and how true expectations are these days.

Happy getting to the end of the month - my days are still all jumbled up.

Have a great Monday!