The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Fuddle I hope you're tucked up in bed or on the sofa with a Lady Grantham-style bell to ring when you need something!

Softstuffit sounds like you should take it easy as well. Fortunately ultrasounds aren't too bad, fingers crossed that they have you feeling better very quickly!


I'm headed to a market this morning and then back this afternoon to make chutney and finish the blackberry and apple jelly. I did the difficult dusting and cleaned the skirting boards yesterday and then OH did a vac when he got home as I can't manage that right now. I've also made my list to start the furniture project, so the next time I'm in the vicinity of a materials place I can get what I need. We had a simple cous cous salad last night with feta and veg. I think tonight is an aubergine tray bake, unless OH comes in suddenly inspired to cook. I think he has a long day today, so I doubt it. I'd better get started, as I want to get two loads of jumpers washed on the woolen cycle before I leave for the market.

mardatha

FPk I picked up an aubergine last time I was in a shop and didn't know what hell to do with it so put it back again. Nice colour though :rotfl:
We've been getting more sun this last couple of weeks than we did all summer, last year was the same. I had a good day on Tues and wandered round my back garden for a look - I think it looks better this year than ever. so maybe I should just leave it to its own devices more often But I do miss my own tatties. Loads of swallows gathering on the phone lines and the lambs are gone to market, winter is on the way..

Softstuff

Mardatha, if you lived nearer I'd pop round every time I'd cooked a vegetable just so you could try it!

Have been gently pottering in the garden today. Nothing like it for reducing the blood pressure. Had another call from the shower screen folk, they're giving it another shot tomorrow, we'll see!

FairyPrincessk

Mar, we absolutely love aubergines. Most weeks I do the menu plan and then have to switch a few days as we're having too many aubergines! This is what we're having tonight--although I'm not sure you'd like it:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/italian-aubergine-traybake

A more traditional recipe is Moussaka, although I'm not such a fan. I find it too rich so wouldn't bother to put the oven on that long for it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/moussaka_01004

moneyistooshorttomention

LOL at you Softstuff - for saying you're a bit kinder to yourself than you used to be.:rotfl: If all that lugging things round in garden etc is you being "kinder to yourself" - then I dread to think what your definition of "pushing yourself" is. That all sounded like pretty hard work to me.....

Glad you're getting at least a weeny break away from it all.:)

moneyistooshorttomention

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

Mar, we absolutely love aubergines. Most weeks I do the menu plan and then have to switch a few days as we're having too many aubergines! This is what we're having tonight--although I'm not sure you'd like it:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/italian-aubergine-traybake

Hmmm.....thinks...I could do that - using sourdough bread (which I have a source of supply of) and feta (as I've sourced organic feta - but not yet found any organic mozzarella).

Onwards and upwards - I think (fingers crossed) that my new area is getting that bit more "foodie":) - just as well to someone that comes from an incredibly foodie area:cool:.

Still - I suppose one plus side I didnt have before is I'm pretty often given some surplus food from someone's garden. Now I could do with a recipe for something particularly "tasty" to do with the latest donation, ie runner beans. Any suggestions welcome.

Softstuff

Moussaka and chips. A delicious heart attack waiting to happen :rotfl:

MTSTM, I am being kinder to myself. I used to work a 60-80 hour week on my feet with much stress, responsibility and heavy lifting, them come home and make pasta from scratch. Life now is a walk in the park regardless of how much gardening I do.:p

And with our night in a hotel, we're going to see Henry Rollins. If I can get a bit of decent food, drink and shopping in too, it'll be a delightful holiday.

Softstuff

Mtstm, try taze fasulye, a turkish recipe:
http://almostturkish.blogspot.com.au/2006/08/turkish-green-beans-zeytinyal-taze.html

FairyPrincessk

Sorry Money, I only eat runner beans to be polite as I don't like them.

Organic is far beyond our purse and I'm not that convinced we'd do it even if it wasn't, but the recipe is fairly cheap. I've started adding a second ball of mozzarella as it isn't quite enough protein/calories for us so we end up snacking later, but it is sill cheap to make. If I were substituting feta and sourdough I'd probably either leave out or reduce the olives as it might get quite salty. We also add in chillis because we like to live dangerously...

moneyistooshorttomention

I think I'll go and have a lie-down on your behalf Softstuff - at the thought of that 60 plus hour etc workweek....

Where's my fan and smelling salts?:rotfl: