TARRAGON & THYME

For all your kind thoughts and best wishes.  I am slowly getting there but finding it difficult being inactive and i keep dropping off to sleep all over the shop.  I am resting however i see the surgeon again next week so we shall see how we get on then. I am still experiencing major problems with the internet on my main computer. At least now i can use facebook and blogger from my phone.  I am not keen on the phone for preparing posts and prefer my main keyboard where i can rattle off things pretty quickly.  However on the phone it is a one fingered effort and painfully slow. Just in case i cannot access the internet tomorrow may i thank you all for your support in reading my ramblings over the past year and to wish you all a happy loving and healthy new year.  Love to you all.  Pattypan PS hopefully will be back to normal service shortly.  Fingers crossed and toes plaited. PP

This year i handed over responsibility for Christmas dinner to the oh and despite the meal being later than usual he has not done too bad a job.  Although i think he was disappointed as he is normally cooked for.  But credit where credit is due we have had a decent meal and i have been able to rest.  I overdid it yesterday and ended up with the most horrendous cramps in both legs top to bottom. So i have rested more today. Really in simple terms we all celebrate in our own ways and with ourvown customs and traditions but at the end of the day it comes down to making the most of what you have and appreciating anything or everything that comes your way. You learn that way and sort out things that are relevant for next time round.  We have a roof over our heads a lovely meal in our stomachs. More than enough to be grateful for. However today has also been about remembering those no longer with us and being grateful for family and close friends.  Thank you for b...

To everyone hope its everything you want it to be and so much more. Enjoy love and be happy. Pattypan

Update while i can. Major internet problems at home which have also neen upsettong phone.  So have had no internet at all.  and very hit and miss. Thank you all for your good wishes in respect of my recent surgery.  All jas gone reasonably well to date and i have to go and see the surgeon at the beginning of january. I have been very sore and when i have overdone things my foot goes tight.  However i am getting there very slowly. Being unable to do things has had a knock on effect with my christmad preparations but i can only do what i can do.  Hope you are all tickety booh and in case i cannot get back on line again have a lovely christmas and enjoy every moment.  For once i am going to put my feet up   Catch you when i can.  Pattypan xx

I have been inspired to have a go at a new craft and as a result I have sent off for some basic materials via Ebay to have a play.  All stemming from the fact that I saw this tutorial for candle making using a slow cooker. https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/craft-gawker-1859473/slow-cooker-candles-5300386411 I thought it might be good to stockpile a few items ready for the coming year and I have sent for a variety of oils as well.  I liked the simplicity of this and it will prove useful for making pressies for friends and relatives.  You have to try new things every now and again.  I love candlelight anyway there is something soothing and restful about candlelight and if it smells good even better. Another thing off my check list to have a go at.   I also want to have a go at making rolled candles from beeswax sheets and some scented melts as well.  Will have to see how things go.  One thing at a time. Another thing that I would ...

Well our highly amoratic Stinking Bishop has arrived together with a note from the Post Office extremely apologetic about the state of the item and inviting us to make a claim about it  not being in good condition.  It had been wrapped well in a padded parcel pack but the Post Office had wrapped it in a polythene bag and put this notice on.  I did chuckle to myself - perhaps it would not be a good idea to try and explain to them exactly what it was.  However pleasing in one sense that they were taking responsibility for something they have no responsibility for.  Its meant to stink that's why it is called Stinking Bishop! Anyways I am extremely pleased with the very prompt service.  The providers suggest that we keep it in a separate sealable container in the fridge so that the fridge does not become over-scented so that is where it is in a container with a lid all ready for us to tuck into.  Now I need some Camembert as well  - we love i...

Well its been a busy day; we have had the light today although it has been very cold.  OH has the shed all built up - the roof needs to be felted and he is part way there with the electrics and I am therefore very hopeful that tomorrow we can start moving things in once the roof is felted and the electrics finished.  I am extremely pleased with things thus far - however it has taken longer than originally anticipated to get it built.  But these things are sent to try us.  At long last things are going in the right direction. We have had a lovely tea tonight a steak pie together with mashed potato, mashed swede, cauliflower, broccoli, peas and lashings of gravy.  So I am now officially stuffed.  OH is officially shattered and is sprawled.  With him being diabetic I have made sure that as a result of the unusual exertion his body has need of more fuel to restock his reserves and keep his blood sugar stable. He is now sprawled recharging! We have...

I have sourdough starter, Kefir water crystals, Kefir milk crystals and Kombucha to get on the go as well as a new recipe for ginger beer which uses golden sultanas as a base for the starter.  It is a recipe in a Darina Allen cookery book that I have and is very different to the ones that I have come across before.  Each has their own container to go into and to brew in. I have been buying Milk Kefir for sometime now from the Polish shop around the corner and I like it.  The water Kefir and the Kombucha are new to me and so it will be a case of trying and seeing whether or not I like them.  OH surprisingly said the other day that he wanted to have a go at making Sourdough bread and I did not say anything because by that time I had my starter.  I think it is a wholemeal starter  So we will have to see what happens.  In any event I intend to start a white one off as well. Why have I gone for these products  - basically because they are natu...

I have more Feta to store in Oil and also mixed oriental mushrooms also to preserve in oil for OH like I did last year. I also have little bunches of herbs drying in the pantry as well as fresh herbs for use with the oils and the cheeses and some chilli.  However I do need to get hold of some oyster mushrooms to do the same with - I just love oyster mushrooms especially when they have been fried in butter and used as a hot dressing over salad leaves.  Scrummy.  The oikls left over from making said preserves can also be used in cooking to add a little more flavour and you cannot waste good quality food products so they get used in frying and as dressings for salads. I have however decided to make my own goats cheese crotins.  I have been able to get the milk and I have a recipe which I have posted before which should make a kilo or so.  I love goats cheese but it is very expensive to buy and when you are in that situation the only way is to make it so t...

Whilst shopping in town I nipped into M & S for a few bits and bobs and ended up buying a few bits and bobs that I had not planned on all down to a little tasting demo that M & S had on today.  They had two types of bread a sourdough plain white done in a proper basket and brown wholemeal with walnuts in.  It was just warm not long having been out of the oven and covered with butter and then given some Stilton to have and try with it both breads were delicious as was the Stilton.  I managed to get the last of the Walnut loaves and it was indeed still warm.  Have had some for tea with pork pie and blue Stilton and it was delicious. I must say that the Stilton which was creamy was a perfect match for it. So a very simple tea tonight but one that has left me full.  So I am glad I stopped and tried the tasters for a change - I must say that I am very taken with the Walnut bread.  I might try and make some at home.  It was abso...