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Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Such a slacker

I've been working all weekend and had a cold so not really felt like posting or cooking (or eating!).

Dorcas mentioned making soup and I think that is a jolly good idea and just the ticket to get me back to normal. I've got leeks, parsley and some frozen sprouts and spinach. Plenty of iron and vitamin C :) I also fancy a little hard boiled egg mashed with some butter. And wish I'd never been introduced to Marmite flavoured cashew nuts... talk about addictive!

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I've just been accepted to be a mystery shopper! It's an adhoc thing and you can do as much or as little as you like but it might bring in a few pounds for birthday presents and the like. Will let you know how I get on.

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Due to the fact that claiming tax credits just puts me over the limit for legal aid my solicitor has suggested that I do the financial stuff myself and she will offer guidance, keeping costs to a minimum. This is really nothing more than yet another statement of earnings type form with a few extra boxes to complete. Luckily I don't have any credit cards, ISAs, savings, other property or indeed any assets other than the equity in the house so it probably won't take that long!

Thursday, 11 November 2010

Freezing!

Goodness me it is a bit chilly today! The windows are rattling and the rain is lashing down. I have one more day of birthday holiday then back to work tomorrow, and believe me I really really don't want to go back. There's so much uncertainty about our jobs and the rumours that fly around as a consequence of this are disheartening - one thing it does show though is how little we are appreciated. And if we survive this round of cost cuts, there's always next financial year when yet more millions will have to be saved from somewhere.

So.... one more day of not quite getting anywhere near low-carb food for me. As it is Thursday and therefore the tightest day of the week I have been on a cupboard rummage - or should that be crummage? - and found some leeks, onion, small potatoes, eggs, parsley, tinned tomatoes and cheese. This says Tortilla and a spicy tomato sauce to me. Simple, comforting, tasty and warming. Perfect!

(Or I could do and egg curry....)

(or a crustless leek quiche...)

                                                                         

Sunday, 7 November 2010

Birthday treat

Last night we went to The Daffodil ( www.thedaffodil.com ) It was absolutely lovely. And I was completely spoiled. We had champagne cocktails (bellini for me and a classic for him) then we chose the sharing menu which meant starter was prawn and crayfish cocktail, twice baked cheese souffle, scallops with confit of belly pork and chinese crispy duck salad. Then we chose chateaubriand with pots dauph and veg (charentais carrots, green beans, broccoli) followed by the pudding plate: chocolate brownie thing, sticky toffee pudding and ice cream, orange creme brulee, and another one I can't remember... Then coffee and petit four which included turkish delight, tiny florentines and what looked like chocolate truffles but were filled with ice cream/raspberry sorbet. We had to take a bit of a constitutional on the way home to walk some of it off :D

Tonight I am cooking roast chook, roasters, parsnip and garlic puree, carrots, greens, cheesy leeks and yorkshires. Followed by choc mousse. But we did walk all round Burford this afternoon (and spend a bit in the cook shop... ooops!)


Normal eating will resume after Tuesday ;)

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Bit of a Brucie Bonus

Due to the time-honoured fashion of checking pockets, sofas, handbags etc. I've managed to muster a couple of quids. Add to this the discovery of a tin of smoked oysters lurking in the cupboards - they were in the baking cupboard for some reason (probably the same reason that puts my purse in the dishwasher and the milk in the bathroom...) plus the bits and bobs sitting in the fridge and I'm all fired up for a tasty meal this evening. As usual I'm having difficulty choosing. I'm sure life would be easier if I wasn't so greedy!

I could do smoked oyster stuffed mushrooms using the oysters, smoked bacon, huge mushrooms, parsley, leek, cream and brie.

Or smoked oyster and brie soup.

Or maybe do something similar to the chicken liver thing I do with watercress and a warm dressing.

Decisions decisions....


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Why does my son feel it's necessary to tell me the entire plot of the book he's just read and I'm about to start?? Grr.

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

Blissful things

I am now on annual leave for a week and a day. It is a blissful feeling knowing that I won't be dealing with challenging behaviour until next Friday. Well... unless you count a brainless spinone, three teenagers, telemarketers and a recalcitrant Cornishman that is.

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I'll be nice about him though because on Saturday morning I am being treated to some time here:

http://www.vanillainc.co.uk/

Blissful indeed. I've decided on a pedicure because I like having my feet messed with and they always look so pretty when someone else does it. Generally my efforts to put polish on my toenails ends up looking like I've shut my toes in the door. And a manicure because I like my hands when I have pretty nails. Vacuous?? Moi?!? The only problem is choosing the colours... Do we think dark or pale bearing in mind that I am wearing black on Saturday night? Or just go for a French? French on toes looks really pretty I think. Massage was an option but ignoring the fact that afterwards it's almost impossible a) stay awake and b) string a coherent sentence together (not great in the romance stakes), you look as though all the aromatherapy oils were in fact applied to your hair. Plus you can't admire a massage for several days afterwards.

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Finally my stomach is in good order so normal kitchen activities resume. The monetary constraints continue however so after a swift shufty through the cupboards and freezer this evening I am planning on crustless leek and corned beef quiche with some quick cucumber relish, Nige and Horizon. And a lie-in tomorrow.

Bliss.

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

In a number of quandaries

What to do? I'm still suffering the effects of whatever tummy bug I picked up, although admittedly much much less so than yesterday. The fact that it's a tight week financially (*sigh* whenever isn't it?) means that I have to use whatever is in the house, there's nothing spare to buy some extra tempting morsels. So..... I have eggs, cream (a little), milk, corned beef, sardines in tomato sauce, Spam, onions, garlic, leeks, cheese. None of these leaps out at me as something nice and gentle for a delicate stomach.

I reckon it's kill or cure time and a toss up between corned beef and leek crustless quiche or sardines - and the only way I eat those is lightly crushed and mixed with Encona hot pepper sauce, white pepper and lots of finely diced onion.

Or I suppose I could to a take on ham and leeks in cheese sauce using Spam instead. Still not quite tummy friendly though is it?

Suggestions?

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I'm being taken out for a special meal on Saturday night and have a very nice black tunic with a black chiffon ruffle - fairly flat ruffle not frou frou - around the bottom, which I've never worn. It is long enough that if I were slimmer and younger it would look fine just with sheer black tights underneath but unfortunately on me that would look bloody ridiculous so am in a bit of a quandary. Do we think it will look ok with floaty but not huge palazzo-style black evening trousers? I fear there's a danger that it will look a bit 'trenchcoat and trousers'.

Leggings are a no no. Trust me. But would it be ok to wear opaque tights and pixie boots? Or maybe I should just wear something else... Have I mentioned how much I hate this sort of stuff?

Monday, 1 November 2010

Best laid plans etc.

Originally I'd planned on topping the meatloaf with a layer of aubergine slices and my usual moussaka topping but then that seemed like... well... moussaka. So I did this instead. (unfortunately my tummy has been very off today so I wasn't up to eating this but it went down well with others!)

leftover cooked lamb, chopped, about 400g
1 small onion, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tbs finely chopped parsley

2 tbs finely chopped mint
1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp cumin seeds
1 fat chilli
1 egg


1 large aubergine
olive oil
3 eggs
300ml double cream
200g feta


Put the lamb into the bowl of a food processor.
Fry the onion and garlic until the onion has softened. Add to the food processor along with the herbs, cinnamon, cumin seeds, chilli, mint and sesasoning.
Blitz to a paste.
Wet your hands and shape the mixture into patties. Place on an oiled plate and chill in the fridge for a few hours.

Cut the aubergine into chunky dice and fry in hot oil until golden on all sides, then drain in kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
Beat eggs & cream, crumble in the feta, fold in the aubergine then pour into an ovenproof dish (I used a shallow oval Pyrex).
Put the aubergine dish to bake at 180c  for approx 30 mins or until just set.
While the aubergine dish is baking shallow fry the lamb koftas until browned all over.

Serve with a greek style salad and some greek yoghurt mixed with chopped cucumber and fresh mint.

Pondering on leftovers

So I have a decent amount of leftover lamb from yesterday. Now I love leftovers and all the fabby things you can make from them - the challenge is deciding which one to have!

I could chop the lamb into small pieces, moisten with some of the leftover garlicky, rosemary scented juices, stir in some softened leeks and top with creamed turnip, brush with melted butter and put in a hot oven until bronzed and bubbling.

I could shred the lamb and mix with a punchy dipping sauce made from rice wine vinegar, chillis, garlic, ginger, chopped corainder, sesame oil and lime zest. Then wrap in crisp lettuce leaves with shredded spronions and cucumber. 

Or how about making a curry with coconut milk, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, garlic, ginger etc.? Ultimate comfort food.

Hmm... maybe put the lamb in the Magimix with an egg, mint, fresh coriander, ground cumin and coriander and blitz. Then form into koftas. Shallow fry and serve with a nice greek style salad.

Ooooh or how about a moussaka meatloaf?? Now I like that idea.... Will report back!