Cooking for one (Mark Three)

caronc

Good evening everyone,

I think in the remote Highlands and particularly the Islands folk are more concerned about population decimation as below a certain point communities become unsustainable. Young people generally need to leave the islands from secondary education onwards and many don't return as adults once they finished uni etc. Incomers tend to be a welcome addition as it bolsters the chances of things like schools, shops, pubs etc. remaining viable. I also think to live in the very remote communities a certain outlook on life is needed which folk that move there presumably share which must help. I'm sure there will be bad experiences but it's good to hear the positives. Southern Scotland could do with adopting the same attitude at times, although some areas are very rural they tend not to be as remote which I think seems to change things. I do know that in some areas there isn't resentment to incomers mainly due the upwards push it has had on house prices making them unaffordable to local people who predominately work in agriculture etc, which has historically been low waged.

The weather is really seeming to perk up if only the wind would die back a bit and looks as though it could get quite warm and sunny again next week:) I got a little deadheading done, only the non-bendy stuff and won a fight ( I think) with a pot of runners that had got a bit bent out of shape in the recent storm. There's no sign of any baby runners yet but the first batch of broad beans & peas have lots of pods which just need to fill now. My first courgette (round type) should also be ready in a few days. It's ping pong ball sized and I'll pick it when it gets to the size of a clementine. My pak choi are in bolting overdrive so I'll need to see what I can salvage from them. It really makes me to have the veg patch producing:D.


I'm in cba for cooking tonight so it will be "something" with a baked spud or oven chips that goes with asparagus as I have some needing used up. The remaining roast veg I'll keep for a sarnie tomorrow as I really enjoyed that today. The roasted toms are still in the fridge, I'll decide tomorrow whether to freeze them as is or make passatta.

caronc

Asparagus remains unused, it's in a sealed tray and should be fine despite being past it's BB date;), if I don't use it tomorrow I'll freeze it. Dinner ended up being a portion from a moussaka I made a couple of months ago- very decent it was to and just needed nuked to heat up:)

[Deleted User]

farway, did you get many berries off that bush? I got about 25 lbs the year I decided to strip the stem but picking was horrible and so was the `fear` of sawfly, hence the stripping


cold oats were fine, will do for now while I get sorted. Got to cook 4 more beetroot and will normal cook as they are so fresh. Salad for lunch, I can always put a hard boiled egg on and nuts. Too engrossed in preserving to bother much with food tbh preserving is more exciting

[Deleted User]

caronc, my son moved to scotland, he has a scottish name which helps and great great grandparents who migrated from there to england. He moved from the manic se, was very brave but was getting ill with the stress of living/working in the se. He so loves living in a glasgow suburb, likes his neighbours, the fantastic transport links, being so near to gorgeous cycling, being able to cycle to work etc. Tbh I would move up there like a shot but cannot go away from here because of dds and grandchildren. I loved glasgow, felt very safe walking through there in the evening and certainly love glasgow people

klew356

I love being rural but after living in the sticks and through all the bad weather I much prefer living in the small town I do now, I!!!8217;m not from this town but have been made to feel welcome, different dialect but same language !!!8211; and still in the countryside. Very lucky actually its beautiful here,

Slow roasted pork made yesterday, hot pork roll for lunch and a pork dinner tonight, the rest I may freeze. The gravy is phenomenal. What to do with this samphire?

bouicca21

I cook samphire the same way as spinach

caronc

kittie wrote: »

caronc, my son moved to scotland, he has a scottish name which helps and great great grandparents who migrated from there to england. He moved from the manic se, was very brave but was getting ill with the stress of living/working in the se. He so loves living in a glasgow suburb, likes his neighbours, the fantastic transport links, being so near to gorgeous cycling, being able to cycle to work etc. Tbh I would move up there like a shot but cannot go away from here because of dds and grandchildren. I loved glasgow, felt very safe walking through there in the evening and certainly love glasgow people

Sounds as though it was a good move for him:). Glasgow has a bit of a reputation as a wild place but is actually a lovely city with loads to see & do and great restaurants. Yes there are some bits you might not wander by yourself in at night, but that's pretty much the same in all cities. Some of the architecture in the centre is stunning and the folk generally welcoming. Just avoid the thorny topic of football teams!


Good morning everyone,

Sunny here this morning but still windy and the wind is decidedly chilly. I've some chores as I want to get done today as my son comes tonight for a couple of days and I've visitors tomorrow night. My son is cooking for the crowd so I'll be able to sit back and enjoy the food and chat:D.
Not sure what my food plans are for today yet, I may or may not be CFO tonight depending on when my son thinks he'll get here. Lunch will be a repeat of yesterday of a cheese & roasted veg sarnie as I really enjoyed that yesterday and have enough roast veg left to make another one:).

[Deleted User]

another 4 goosegog jars bottled plus a jar of goosegog/blackcurrant mix. Blackcurrants will be ready in a couple of days. Was easy to do and will do the rest when the water has gone cold. I have to do a quick shop after lunch of simple salad, beet and egg are boiling now. Mixed soft fruits for afters with ice cream.

Farway

kittie wrote: »

farway, did you get many berries off that bush? I got about 25 lbs the year I decided to strip the stem but picking was horrible and so was the `fear` of sawfly, hence the stripping

Kittie, this year's crop was pitiful, hardly a handful, which was partly the reasoning behind attacking the bush as it became apparent it was a waste of space this year and something "had to be done"

Sunny day, started hot sun but now a bit cooler

Lunch, still on the bacon, lettuce, tom & mayo sarnie wagon

Dinner, was going to be repeat baked spud route from yesterday, but now it's gone cooler I've got plans on the limp celery in the 'fridge, dinner could be cream of celery soup, and use with last slice of stale bread, two LO birds with one brick:)

update, weather decided it, celery soup now simmering & I'm looking forward to it. Plus I've taken a couple of sausage rolls out of freezer "for later" as you do

PasturesNew

Eating all the chocolate peanuts yesterday left me with a sleepless night and grogginess in the morning. I've noticed that too many sweeties eaten causes me to feel like this as I've "aged" ...

I therefore didn't fancy/CBA a cooked a breakfast.

I'd bought quiche yesterday so I had a slice of that.... later on I had another slice, so that's the whole quiche gone (3 parts: 1 yesterday, 2 today).

I've had some cocktail sausages in a bread roll with a splash of brown sauce for now.

Don't fancy anything, feeling sluggish... it's sunny but too breezy to go out .... might nod off in a bit.