So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Morning all,

I made the mozzarella last night -  think it's a bit overworked (squeaky!), so may not be the best on the pizza tonight, but we'll see. It was fun in any case. Despite a serious attack of the doldrums yesterday afternoon, Mr MV and I managed to achieve and largely improve our moods, so that was good. My bike now has a fresh inner tube (well done Mr MV), I made the cheese, we had the planned pancakes and galettes (with hg spinach) for dinner (and scrummy they were too), I helped Mr MV with a bit of work and my evening class was excellent - lots of laughs! All in all, not too bad a day, even if it was tough going in the middle (work-related).

Today is a busy day - I was up early and have been at my desk for 45 mins. I need to get something finished for main client before a day of Cambridge work. Also really need to get to an opticians so they can replace the nose pads on my glasses - they're falling apart and making my nose sore. If I manage to do that, I'll also pop a parcel to the PO and do another chore while I'm in town. Weather is grotty, hoping it brightens up later before I have to go out.

Naturally, we're having pizza for dinner tonight to try out the mozzarella. This will also use up the last of a jar of passata and a tomato. Veg box delivery planned for tomorrow. I need to hassle M&M because I ordered two juices from them and have only received one.

MS things:
* Clicks and HW
* 1P surveys
* PA surveys

Gratitudes:
* A really good evening class
* Mr MV for fixing my bike
* Yummy dinner

Have a good day all!

EssexHebridean

Ooh that's exciting about the mozzarella - I'd completely forgotten how relatively straightforward it was to make as well - must give it another go if we see very reduced milk around at any stage! I'm not surprised at the restorative effects of cheese on mood in the slightest though - there is nothing un-cheerful about cheese in any form as far as I can see!  

rtandon27

It's a grotty day here too MV!  Grey and dreich.  So hard to be motivated when the sunshine is hiding behind the clouds and taking a day off.

I'm so impressed & inspired by your cheese making skills!  We'll have to keep an eye out for 0li0ed milk which often shows up in vast quantities & give it a try.

Earlier this morning, I took OH to a coffee shop for fancy coffees and cakes.  I thought it a nice way to show appreciation for the taxi service to the docs.  He was not feeling it (maybe it is the greyness of the day), and asked me why we didn't just have coffee at home! Me thinks non-denominational appreciation day has wizzed by him and he's well into the self-depravation of denominational lent - LOL - I on the other hand was enamoured with my coffee and pastry and am now following it up with my first chocolate since the Christmas excess!

Am going to have pry myself away from the cosy sofa soon & stop working on the laptop to go to the gym to do physio! EEEK!

themadvix

You are right EH - cheese is always good (generally me making anything in the kitchen improves my mood - it's my creative outlet). RT, I don't think I have much in the way of skills per se - just a recipe, some citric acid, salt and a veggie rennet tablet with instructions from a recipe kit I was given (I think it might have been a Secret Santa present, but it was sooo long ago, I can't remember!). I've made ricotta a few times (doesn't use the rennet), but this was the first time I'd tried mozzarella.

No deprivation happening here.... although we did finish the biscuits yesterday, so no unhealthy snacks today as I'm not baking. Fruit coming tomorrow, so will wait for that.

Have finished (first draft) of lingering report for Cambridge, which is sooo nice to have got off my desk. Also had Cambridge meetings (but not with boss as she's off today), so am feeling up to date and tidy there. Back at work for main client now who has sent more - and there's more too, I think. Definitely a good thing after Jan's lack.

Baileys_Babe

Thanks @themadvix and @Suffolk_lass for your thoughts and support on feeding a coeliac. Regarding prescriptions for gluten free food it is a confusing postcode lottery in England it varies by NHS area. Where we live nothing, others offer prescriptions for a limited amount from a small list, other areas less restrictions on quantity and range. I believe in Scotland and Wales there is a much wider choice of prescription items available and free prescriptions.

Baileys_Babe

Making cheese is on my list of things to try.

How was your mozzarella?

themadvix

Morning all,

That's interesting about the postcode lottery BB - I was under the impression that all GF stuff was off prescription now, along with thrush treatment and paracetamol. Why doesn't it surprise me that Wales and Scotland provide it all over?

The mozzarella melted beautifully! Was very pleased with that. Definitely give it a go BB, it wasn't that tricky at all. Veggie rennet will be the hardest thing to get hold of, but I'm sure you can buy online. I had a tablet of it and used just a small quarter, so there's more for next time. Pizza may well be on the menu again on Sunday as we've got more of it to use.


Excuse the burnt-ness - that was a separate issue (the egg wouldn't cook) and not the normal state of affairs!

I had a successful trip into town yesterday - glasses fixed, fishmonger visited (see below!) and an enquiry made. What's more exciting is that last week when I did the same trip on my bike, I was exhausted afterwards and sat down for a hour before I found the energy to crack on. Last night, I was straight into pizza cooking/kitchen tidying without any fatigue - the iron is definitely helping!

The fishmonger... I bought two mackerel.... they did remove head and tail, but now slightly daunted by them! They will go in the freezer temporarily but any suggestions welcome. I'm trying to support local, branch out a bit with cooking and eat healthy fish.... but I don't really know what I'm doing. I've seen baked Mediterranean recipes online, so that might be an option, but anything anyone's tried, I'm open to hearing about! (We also won't discuss the price here, but I'm hoping(?) that we can have two meals from them (they seem a decent size - 870g in total).

Today my R'ford delivery has come - annoyingly with mushrooms subbed for peppers, but it can't be helped. Tonight's dinner will be soupy leeky rice, to use up a leek in the fridge.

MS things:
* £2 YLive survey
* PA survey
* Cambridge pay has arrived (thankfully - definitely glad of this this month)
* Plenty of work
* Clicks and HW

Gratitudes
* The sun is shining
* Plenty of work
* The mozzarella melted!

Have a good day all!

Baileys_Babe

Your pizza looks fabulous.

redofromstart

The pizza looks spot on. Vague memories of making goats cheese from milk for pennies on my last home stretch. I must look into that again.

can't help on the fish, not hugely keen on fish at all. Sea fresh, pan fried - glorious. 

greenbee

If you have access to a copy of Rukmini Iyer's Roasting Tin book, she has a recipe for mackerel with rhubarb which is delicious. Just make sure you can air the house during/after cooking