Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Visitors - how absolutely lovely :D

Dreaming - thank you for de-lurking to say hello. I think reading my witterings for a couple of weeks is, however, above and beyond.......above.and.beyond.....:rotfl:Ah, so come on then,you can make the chicken version of Jaymee's dish and let everyone know how it turns out - not everyone that reads is a veggie I must remember to put up a warning later in the month though - one of our dinners is definitely going to be based on them things you don't like

EH - luverly of you to drop in - as ever I'm sorry I've made you hungry - especially if you are postponing dinner to go swimming first. Now swimming, that is something that I have never got on with - don't even float so very well......:rotfl:By the way, I'd forgot to ask, is Mr EH and/or the rugger team doing the 'movember' thing?

Pipster! last 'heard' of you disappearing down to the docks to meet the rock god offa the boat (or was it the plane?).......some days ago........:kisses2: Good to have you back Actually, because I used coconut powder, I was able to add as much/little water at a time, so I did mix mine by hand. I was only making 2 dumplings, so I couldn't be bothered to get the processor 'mucky'. Yep, looks good that blog - must have a mosey to see what other recipes she has contributed and what others have too. Thank you for ensuring EH is properly attired - sheesh, these young 'uns ......... :rotfl:

Ah, so today. Well, it has been brill and I am feeling just so 'boingy'. I tell you, if I had a tail, I'd be bouncier than Tigger! Yep - bl00dy irksome these 'bouncy' people, ain't they??? :rotfl::rotfl:

I found 5p *roadkill* today - had to do a 'U' turn to get it, as a 'gentleman' was intent on walking straight through me - and it would of been pure Laur3l & HArdy slapstick if I'd of bent down to pick the coin up :rotfl:

Got another NSD under my belt :T Must update siggie

Lawks, I am sure that this new-found 'boingyness' is a direct result of my LBM - I keep on trying to sketch out why, in order to answer Karma's question, but time just keeps whizzing away. However, I will just say that I am - and always have been - open to 'serendipity' or 'prods from the universe' - call it what you will, so it is interesting that there have been one or two, um, 'signs' (or whatever you'd refer to them as) that I might well be onto the right path this time. Which - funnily enough (even though I have not answered KC's question......) leads onto tonight's dinner........

I wanted to try out a new recipe that I found in Anissa Helou's new book 'Levant'. It is a Persian soup called Ash-E Reshteh - or 'noodle' soup. I did have all the ingredients (or subs) so I made it tonight. Lovely recipe, very easy, but tasty and filling - DP declared it 'brilliant' (I kid you not). A picture of my version is here.....



I didn't have mung beans, so used (AF) aduki beans instead - and didn't bother putting in red kidney beans - save the tin for another dish I didn't have dill, but ground up a few fennel seeds instead and although this soup is supposed to be about the herbs, I only had coriander and used a bit of mint jelly - still tasted good mind The noodles were out of some 'instant' noodles that H0me bargins were selling off the other month - at 10 for £1 - same deal as AF, but without the postage charge :T I bought them with an idea of donating to the FB (they're on the 'most wanted' list) but then noticed they were about to go OOD. I kept them, and actually, they are an 'ok' product. In the original recipe, you top the soup with sour cream, but I had none, so used some HM yoghurt (and those are chilli flakes scattered on top).

An excellent recipe - I'll definitely make it again. Now, for the 'serendipitydoodah'. I wasn't sure I was making this soup even though it was on the planner for today. But I decided I would, and then whilst I was looking for a 'similar' recipe to post for anyone wanting to have a go themselves, I came across the explanation for the soup - which is traditionally served at Persian new year in March...... 'noodles are believed to bring good fortune. It is therefore a time honoured custom to serve Ash-E Reshteh, or any noodle dish before embarking on a new venture or setting out along a new path.......' Interesting eh? Any road up, if you'd like to have a go, I've linked to THIS blog before, and the recipe is v similar to Anissa's. Oh, you'll notice that my version is quite thick - the noodles soaked up a lot of the stock - I didn't mind, but you can make it more soupy if you'd prefer. And whilst the flavour was good - I do believe the assertion on the blog that this dish will improve if left overnight.

So, boing! Today I am grateful for these 3 things.....

energy for new directions - we're going to need it, but I'll ride this wave for as long as I'm able

for friends real and 'virtual' - for your love, support, inspiration and for providing a soft place to land if it all goes wrong......... :rotfl::D:T

for culinary discovery - I just love being able to do so much with so little and for learning new things as I go along. My 'tried and tested' recipe book is bulging :D

Thanks so very much for dropping in, reading and commenting. I continue to be grateful to you

See y'all later.

Greying

beanielou

Grayling~ thank you so much for your help.
I appreciate it.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Oh, I forgot to say EH - I am 'well jel' of the curtain lining going on at Hebridean central. If we did that here at Greying Towers, the curtain pole, plaster and probably half the brickwork would be on the floor in 2 seconds flat :rotfl:

So, here we are - bonny Charlie's birthday no less. I hope the highlight of his day is getting a 'goo goo goo' down the phone from his grandson

I shall be aiming for a NSD today. Trying to get on a roll

Dinner this evening will be vegetable biriyani with an omelette. Well, that is what is on the planner, so fingers crossed it gets made

Right, best get up and at 'em. Sou'westers, oilskins and galoshes are quintessential apparel and order of the day around these here parts

Thanks so much from popping in, reading and commenting - you know I appreciate it

See y'all later.

Greying

dreaming

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Dreaming, don't diss the mushrooms! :rotfl:



/

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Dreaming - thank you for de-lurking to say hello. I think reading my witterings for a couple of weeks is, however, above and beyond.......above.and.beyond.....:rotfl:Ah, so come on then,you can make the chicken version of Jaymee's dish and let everyone know how it turns out - not everyone that reads is a veggie I must remember to put up a warning later in the month though - one of our dinners is definitely going to be based on them things you don't like


I wanted to try out a new recipe that I found in Anissa Helou's new book 'Levant'. It is a Persian soup called Ash-E Reshteh - or 'noodle' soup. I did have all the ingredients (or subs) so I made it tonight. Lovely recipe, very easy, but tasty and filling - DP declared it 'brilliant' (I kid you not). A picture of my version is here.....




Greying

Firstly I would like to apologise to any mushrooms reading this - sorry:rotfl:


I actually have most of Jamie's books but have to confess I don't often cook anything from them:o but I do like the look of the Ash-E-Reshteh. Chickpeas and beany things are some of my favourite foods, and I think I have most ingredients in my cupboards so I am definitely going to try this. Thanks.

cocalls

Hello
ive been reading this diary from the start and absolutely love love love it.

Hope you don't mind me asking a few ques on your use of leftovers-as you seem to cook from scratch each day. Does most of it get used in your lunches the next day? Does this work our cheaper than a sandwich do you reckon or do your prefer a hot meal during the day aswell-I only ask as any leftovers I have I tend to use for the main meal the next day-ie tonight we're having lamb curry with rice and if there's anything left i'll add some extra stock and use it for a noodley soup tomorrow.

Karmacat

Coconut rolls! I wasn't going to follow any more foodie links, because I'm so bad at actually *making* stuff, but it was irresistible, and I'm so glad I did, they sound brilliant! Don't want to start buying coconut milk, tbh, so I wonder if dessicated coconut, soaked and then thickened with cornflour or something, would do as well? I have loads and loads of dessicated coconut, for some reason :whistle:

As for my question ... well, questions aren't always to be answered, you know I think the serendipitousnessnessness you mention tells you that it was a genuine LBM, which is lovely :j

No sou'westers around here, but the **wind** is really, really strong - most of the trees have shed their leaves, so not too dangerous, just awfully blowy. Hope you've had a good'un (day, not blow, ifkwim)...

Pippilongstocking

Hey there
Lots of lovely new folks on here.

how lovely.

I've a question for you - your local food bank do you just donate the things to a special place? I've got an adventure tomorrow heading to check out ours which is opening soon. So I'm sure I'll hear more but wondered how you go about donating regularly to yours.

I've found a 'shopping list' they've put together which is a help.

I hope tonights tea is a yummy one. Mr RG (flew in of course, arms OK now) is heading off via the docks on Sunday - its not all rock glamour sometimes he has to use public transport too , messes with his wardrobe and cape, mind.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Wowsers! So many visitors! So nice to see you all

Um, right......

beanz - you're welcome hun

dreaming wrote: »

Firstly I would like to apologise to any mushrooms reading this - sorry:rotfl:.

Oh lawks! Mushrooms have rights too now?? What is it about foods beginning with 'M' ? I can't mention M*shrooms, M*shy P3as, what will it be next ...... Marmite???? :rotfl::rotfl:(Greying ducks and runs for cover :D)

dreaming wrote: »

so I am definitely going to try this. Thanks.

Yay! Excellent! :T

Karmacat wrote: »

Don't want to start buying coconut milk, tbh, so I wonder if dessicated coconut, soaked and then thickened with cornflour or something, would do as well? I have loads and loads of dessicated coconut, for some reason :whistle:

Ay up KC - if it were me, yes, I would use the dessicated coconut - I've used it before for flavouring a curry and I wouldn't bother thickening it - by all means soak it if you feel adding it in dry would make too many 'chewy' bits, but no need to thicken I don't think. The flavour will be there. Only my take mind

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

Hey there
Lots of lovely new folks on here.

how lovely.

I've a question for you - your local food bank do you just donate the things to a special place? I've got an adventure tomorrow heading to check out ours which is opening soon. So I'm sure I'll hear more but wondered how you go about donating regularly to yours.

I've found a 'shopping list' they've put together which is a help.

I hope tonights tea is a yummy one. Mr RG (flew in of course, arms OK now) is heading off via the docks on Sunday - its not all rock glamour sometimes he has to use public transport too , messes with his wardrobe and cape, mind.

Hey up Pippi - lovely new folks indeed - as well as MSE stalwarts - wouldn't be without any of ya :kisses3: OK, with our food bank, it is a church based one, and is only part of the range of community services that they offer. There is a part of the building that is the 'Food Bank' and they are 'open to clients' one day a week. The volunteers are also there - usually on a Friday and a Monday I think I was told, sorting out the donations - as they are a collection point for another church that they work in partnership with and I think that they have made links with other organisations throughout the county. Therefore, there is movement of stock - both donations to and donated from if you see what I mean. They have a list of 'Most wanted' items too, this includes food items and non-food items (eg nappies, loo roll, shower gel etc). I always take my donations into the general office (of the church) because they are open daily, and accept the donations on behalf of the co-ordinator. I think the congregation of the church are also active in bringing donations in on a Sunday - I have a feeling, this is also a 'known' list of regular items, but not necessarily the 'most wanted' if you see what I mean. The church do get the donations from Asd* when they do a 'drive', or decide to put out a trolley for the FB. Despite the fact that I am 'supposed' to live in an affluent area, this FB has been operational for a long time Their referral system is therefore in place and as 'good' as it can be.

Right, I'll be back in a mo to tell you all about me day

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening (again ) :hello:

Cocalls - thank you so much for de-lurking and joining in I'm intrigued, is that a Wyandotte on your avatar and is it yours?

OK, to try to answer your question; I do cook from scratch most days, but would prefer to have more HM 'ready meals' than I currently do (due to lack of freezer space). Yes, mostly the 'leftovers' are recycled into snap the next day. I've never thought about the cost element of sandwiches as such, but yes, with active occupations, we would whip through loaves of bread in next to no time, then there is the cost of the fillings...... In addition, I try to only buy bread RTC, then I would have to buy a lot and freeze it - at the expense of more valuable food I think. Having a 'hot' meal is not so much of a driver - and can be a deterrent if eating 'on the hoof'.

Mind you, a more powerful driver for me personally is........I get bored very easily...... *ahem*, I try to not repeat meals within the month, and try to vary ingredients sufficiently spaced out - so, for example, if we had aubergine bhuna one week - I would wait a week or two before having veggie mousakka for example (if aubergines were plentiful and cheap to buy say).

I will freeze 'leftovers' if there is sufficient for another 'dinner' sized portion. And I will then put it into the next month's meal planner, or occasionally the month after that. The Ethiopian lentil wat that we had the other night was an example of this - I think I made it in September?? Sometimes I make sufficient for dinner and no extra - the 'Chinese meal' on Tuesday was 2 portions only and tonight's meal of vegetable biriyani was only 2 portions. I do this when I have 'bitsa' stuff to use up for snap - or sometimes when I have YS'd bread or HM rolls to use for snap instead. HTH

Well, what a day.

I achieved a NSD :j Didn't find any *roadkill* though

Dinner this evening was Biriyani with am omelette. Photo here..



Not terribly glamorous and the veg tended towards the green end of the spectrum.....:o But I chiffonaded (is that a word?) the spring greens and just let them wilt in the steam of the biriyani as I made the omelettes. They retained their flavour well and I had already fried off the ribs of the leaves with the onions at the start of the dish. I always like the textural difference of the rice and the omelette in this dish - really nice, and only uses one egg each.

Well, today I am grateful for these 3 things;

folk who join in - I know I have said it before, but I love 'conversation' so thank you

for generosity - we have been gifted a pumpkin and some apples (cooking)....... all because 'we know you'll use them'... Thank you

for twinkling shop displays - because you can 'look' for free, and it does brighten up the (increasingly) darker evenings :D

Well, I'd better push off, as I've bread dough to make and put in the fridge for an overnight rise. And I'm intent on getting an early night tonight

Thanks so much for popping by, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

cocalls

Thanks for answering my question Greying and in answer to yours we don't own the chicken it was just a pretty one we spotted wandering the street when we went for a cycle ride.