Greying's Gaining Ground - with Gratitude & Grace

Bluegreen143

@Viking_mfw one tip I’d read is to vary cut and shape as it does make a difference! I found for ages mine also much preferred a whole apple and would do that “biting it off the skin” thing you describe with slices. 

Now the little one still does that but the big one scoffs the skin after! The little one also leaves crusts off bread and passes them to her big brother to scoff - he’s never been fussy about crusts funnily.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning!

Thanks for all the visits 😁  

Tea last night just hit the spot.  I didn't have any fresh chillies, so I put a dollop of gochujang in, instead.  I remember buying this Korean chilli paste in Bristol (Stokes Croft) several years ago.  It's out of date now, but there is no mould and it is so good at doing heat (not searing) and depth to dishes.  I put conventional potato in as i didn't have any sweet potaotes, so not really authentic, but still tasty - used up what I had and didn't cost so very much to make.  The black beans are from MrAl - I think they are about 49p a can. 

I'm hopeful that tea this evening will be a red pepper and lentil bake, which is a recipe out of the veggie student cookbook that I've had for eons.  I'll have to make sure I make the best use of the oven being on, so hope to serve with a baked potato and make something else to use the heat.  As ever, cake will be the favourite contender, and i'm thinking maybe Jack Monroe's fruit cocktail cake as I have a tin of MrL's own brand fruit cocktail that I want to see if it's any good in comparison to the man from DM's offering.......  [and speaking entirely personally, I never use the amount of butter/fat proposed in Jack's recipe - I follow the conventional 4:4:4:2 ratio for sponges - which is ounces; 4oz fat, 4oz sugar, 4oz SR flour and 2 eggs - if you're metric, 4oz = approx 100g.  Just personal preference and doesn't detract from Jack having come up with a spiffingly inventive recipe].

A couple of new houses added to the listings yesterday, but nothing in the target areas.

Z0e Ba1l has just said on R2 that it is international pulses day - and here's me wittering on about black beans!  I remember Jaymee O mentioning that black beans have the highest amount of protein gram for gram of all the legumes.  

Today should be a nsd.  Can't think of anything that we need, and the incentive isn't really there to go out more than necessary.  

Right, have wittered on enough.  Best push orf.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good evening!

Another day done!  

No properties have appeared.  It was a NSD.  I got a machine load of work clothes out on the line and probably about 80% dry, so that was a big w.i.n 😁

Tea was as slated.  I made the red pepper and lentil bake during the day - cooking the constituent parts, mixing them and then putting them in the pyrex dish to cool and let the flavours meld.  I microwaved 2 big and one small potato, and LG helped me to make the cake this afternoon.  My plan was to have the oven on to do the baking towards the last hour before the heating comes on, to keep us warm at the same time as doing something functional.  Anyway, best laid plans and all that.....  the mixing took a bit longer than anticipated, so my plan didn't quite work - but neither did we get too cold, so........LG was given 4 wedges of baked potato, a sample of the lentil bake and some pasta for their tea.  I was delighted that they ate everything all up.  They weren't over-enthused about the baked potato, but they ate more BP than I've EVER seen them attempt, so..... They ate all the pumpkin and sunflower seeds that topped the bake as they love them (go figure), and were more enthusiastic about the bake than I expected them to be.  The incentive was that they wanted a piece of 'their' cake - with some greek yoghurt, more than they wanted to not eat their 'mains', so it was clean plates all round 😁  DH and I had baked potato, lentil bake, steamed carrots and shredded, steamed sprouts.  I did have to smile to myself though, as LG nibbled the baked potato away from the skin - and ate that separately - just as some children eat their apples 🤣  Ah well, I'm sure we're just happy they are eating fruit and veg, eh?  The tinned fruit salad was perfectly fine.  I think it was about 69p for the can.  I would easily use this product again.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

1) Sunshine and a light drying breeze
2) tasty, budget concious food that included LG in more ways than one 😊
3) my family

Ta for popping in.  Appreciated.

Greying X

beanielou

Well done LG 

Moneywhizz

There are not many properties on sale here (Scotland) either. Even though I am not really thinking of moving, (too close to the grandchildren just now), I still check Right Move in case I am missing out on my dream property. Have never seen its pages so empty. Hopefully things will start moving again soon and you find something at least worth viewing. 

Bluegreen143

Oh well done LG! We had chicken & veg risotto for tea and some HM garlic focaccia. The 2yo ate everything (two bowls of risotto). Of course the 5yo ate several pieces of focaccia but only about two grains of rice (no exaggeration) and a microscopic nibble of chicken which he declared “I don’t like”... he needs to take a leaf out of BG’s book!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning!

Moneywhizz - A few houses seem to drip on the market each day, but absolutely nothing in our target area and very little that meets our criteria (even out of our preferred areas).  It is interesting reading estate agent descriptions mind..... especially when you know the house involved.........  😂  Still, it means we will have to be vigilant when we do spot something that we are interested in, as there are some tall tales being spun out there......  

Bluegreen143 - I'm riding with LG's goodwill to an extent - however, we had got the stage where LG would declare that they 'didn't like it' for any and every foodstuff - even before they had even attempted to try it.  So our line has hardened slightly, because we think it's important to try things to formulate an opinion on them.  Plus the 'don't like it' seemed to have become default, rather than considered opinion.  I know we all have our own likes and dislikes, but we can't dislike everything...... can't we?

I ended up being very grateful for my family yesterday.  I had spotted a house that had been put on the market, that we knew (some of) the history of.  Basically a youngish couple had invested in it, some years ago with the intention of turning it into a multi-generational abode.  They were doing well, making progress, making a life.  And then tragedy struck.  A terminal illness was diagnosed, with a very sudden end - unexpected by all.  The house is wonderful and has been completed to a very high standard, and is in a desirable location.  The price tag reflects the improvements made and the opportunity it affords the next owners.  I'm sure the remaining family are simply trying to move forward with their lives.  But I'm also pretty sure if magic wands were being waved, they would want their beloved family member back with them.  In a heartbeat.  Money really isn't everything.  As a family, they were very good at 'seizing the day' and remembering to have fun.  So at least they do have their memories.  Which is a very good lesson for us to remember; but it's not the same.  I did hug my two a little bit closer and for a little bit longer last night.  No doubt about it.

Tea this evening will most likely be lentil bolognese and pasta, which I will have to make from scratch (no problem), as I haven't any pre-made sauce, or cooked lentils residing in the freezer this week.  But I'll try and do a batch so that there is some to freeze for next time.  Always good to have a meal that everyone likes 'in hand'.  

I need to venture out to do essential shopping later.  I'm not looking forward to it, but hopefully the roads will be passable.  And again, we've not had it as bad as some parts of GB, so I've nowt to moan about.

Can't think of anything MSE/MFW.  So best skip off (trying to keep warm).  

Ta for popping in.  Appreciated.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Aw Greying, thank you for sharing that story with us. We've had similar feelings of gratitude lately after the sudden death of a friend just a couple of years older than Mr Cheery. Does make you appreciate what you have a little more xx

Greying_Pilgrim

Helllooooooooooo!

How are you?  Alright?

Today has been purty spiffy 😁  A dear chum sent through piccies first thing this morn that made me smile 😊

Essential shopping procured for the parentals.  Got everything on the list, and delivered it to the doorstep!  the only failing in their world is that they didn't get a sticker for being brave when they had their vaccine...... life is pretty good, if that's the sum of your grievances, I reckon 😉😂

My present self is thanking my past self mightily, as with a quick rootle in the freezer to make room for a week's bread, I discovered that I did, in fact, have a stock of ready made bolognese sauce, and even had some cooked lentils (left over from the greek soup endeavours), so tea this evening has been as onerous as a defrost and boil-a-pan-a-pasta.  Result!

No properties have come to market to interest us today.  

Bumped into someone today who confirmed that despite what us humans may default to think - especially in times of social media 'lifestyle inflation', and covid isolation - the grass isn't always greener..........  LG is clearly managing pretty well - despite 'everything', and we perhaps should cut ourselves some slack.........  I'm really glad we bumped into this person - who is somewhat "call a spade a shovel", serendipity does sometimes show you what you need to know.....

Right, tea is ready to dish up, so orf I must trot.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

1) safe travels round and about, when having to make necessary trips.
2) chums who send you smiles across the miles
3) serendipitous encounters...........

Ta for popping by.  Keep warm and keep yourself safe xx

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning!

Today should be a nsd.  We have the week's shopping in hand and as DH and I have never really bothered with valentines - there should be no extra costs (as such) this weekend.  To be fair, over the years, we have usually tried to have a nice meal (home cooked) or a bottle of wine or something.  But we don't bother with cards and presents.  

Tea will be black olive pizza and wedges, although I do have some mushrooms left, so I may do a half mushie, half black olive pizza, as this will give us tea today, and have a selection to put in the freezer for another tea in a week or two's time......

I need to get a wash on - I think today offers the best drying weather for a day or several, so I need to get ahead.

Right, best shift-a-tail-feather.  Ta for popping by.

Greying X