+++ Whoops! Here comes the cheese! +++

Cherryfudge

Thanks Redo, I will look into that link! (As if I don't already have a mountain of books).

rtandon27

Thank-you for sharing the link Redo - I noticed it said something about unlimited listening as well - do you ever use the audiobook feature?

redofromstart

rtandon27 said:

Thank-you for sharing the link Redo - I noticed it said something about unlimited listening as well - do you ever use the audiobook feature?

Not yet, I have always hated being read to and have only recently started to try audio books.

redofromstart

I finally tracked down some beef for the freezer, ideally wants dicing first as we generally eat it as casserole in this brave new world. One lot made in to a very nice meal tonight, complete with chunks of 8p carrots and potatoes, and served with some 8p broccoli.  Two meals worth ready to go into the fridge and things used before I end up composting them for a change.  I am out tomorrow so it will be good to have something easy to heat up when I get back. 

I have been struggling to get bakery pretzels for the one who doesn't eat and we have now run out of the frozen ones.  Made my own earlier in the week which were 'ok' but todays effort was 'much better'.  Made the basic bread dough from scratch but used the Panny to mix it, and made the strips much longer so folding the shapes worked better before I did the bicarb water bath.  I froze four so we will see how they reheat later in the week.  Next time i am near a Holl&Barr I will pick up some malt extract to see if that improves them further.  

Pottering gently in the garden, just trying to keep on top of the weeds and watering mainly as it has been quite cold.  I finished building and filling my raised beds on the veg plot, and got some seeds going.  There is a fine balance between leaving it too late and not having space to keep lots of leggy seedlings safe.  I finally removed the hammock from between the pear and apple trees which has opened up a huge planting space.  I also managed to fix the petrol lawnmower (hurrah for the internet) and mowed the lawn for the first time ever.  It is harder work than it looks.

The crochet is going well (dodgy hands permitting) and Cherryfudge was right, I can now do it without thinking about it and I am managing to stay reasonably straight.  The next step will be to actually follow a pattern.  Any suggestions for simple crochet patterns or useful books would be gratefully received.  

redofromstart

Yesterday's trip out was a lovely break from house and garden stuff. I do like looking at gardens and this one has some lovely magnolias and rhododendrons so it was the right time of year for a visit.  I resisted buying lots of plants from the plant fair instead just coming home with a very reasonably priced Daphne. 

We had some of the beef stew with the last of the broccoli, and I made my first ever baked cheesecake for DS1. Today's food will involve the nice smoked salmon and then I will freeze the rest in portions. There is leftover cream cheese and sour cream too. 

Reheating the frozen pretzels worked so that was a good result. 

I need to fill the second green waste bin ready for collection in the morning, and remember to pay the renewal for them too. 

KajiKita

Well done for escaping for a break and your restraint in the plant section! 😉

All your cooking sounds good 😊 was the baked cheesecake appreciated? 

KK 

doingitanyway

I'm impressed with your crocheting and pretzel baking. How was the cheesecake? 

redofromstart

Thanks KK and DIA, sadly I don't actually like baked cheesecake (which is why it was safe to make it!) but he says it is very nice, and just came down to get a huge slice for a mid afternoon snack. 

rtandon27

@redofromstart - I'll have your share!  Lob a piece over here please!  I truly miss NY style baked cheesecake which is the norm over the pond, rather then the refrigerator version.

redofromstart

The cheese cake is gone, he ate it all in controlled portions over three days so I will make that again at some point. He doesn't eat the biscuit base so I will just make it without in future which makes it cheaper.   Todays 'use things up' bake will be honey flapjacks with the crystalised honey that he doesn't like, assuming the oats haven't gone musty in the baking storage box.

The pretzels are also popular and work well from frozen which is a good result.  The bread maker does the dough so not that much of a hassle to make.The hardest bit is stretching the dough long enough.  

Slow progress in the garden, mainly weeding although we have done some work on clearing the shady border too.  DS1 has developed a sudden (and helpful) interest in the garden design and layout so he is quite enthusiastic about assisting for an hour or two which is good.  He has far better 'vision' than me and is making really useful suggestions although I can see spending on arches, benches and gravel in my immediate future so that I can capitalise on his perhaps fleeting interest.