TARRAGON & THYME

 As we say goodbye to 2022 and prepare to say hello to 2023.  Was it a good year for you. Generally for us it has not been too bad a year.  For me I had my gall bladder removed, and then ended up with an infection later on. Then celebrated my 63rd birthday by travelling down to Cornwall. This was the best bit of the year for me was being able to spend about 14 weeks of the summer months in my beloved Cornwall. I hope we get back there again soon.  I would very much live there if I could.  Never say never,  and "one day" as my Dad used to say - it will be.  Fingers crossed and toes plaited.  That is my dream as I just love the countryside down there, the light and the slower pace of life. Until then I will holiday down there when I can even if it means going without other things to spend time down there. We have had the full spectrum of weather this year, going from drought to really bad snowfall for many and every variation in between. Perhap...

 I have no energy or motivation at the moment!  That has got to change, all I want to do at the moment is sit or fall asleep! We still have to eat though, and sometimes that is why we need pre-prepared meals on the shelf.  I cheated tonight buy using a very good quality bought in chicken Tikka Masala sauce using a Meah's sauce mix that we get from the local butcher and which is kept in the fridge.  This is one of the nicest sauces we have come across. OH came home with some reduced chicken fillets/Tenders three packs which had been reduced to £1.65 a pack.  That amount goes towards at least a four serving meal, plus the cats had a small tender each as did the Dog.  So everyone had a little treat.  We are careful what we give them, however they are all rather fond of chicken! All I do is use a large pan which has had some oil added to the base and the tenders are then fried gently in that pan.  I turn them at least a couple of times., but do not ha...

Another quiet day.  This time I did venture into the kitchen though to sort out what meat was left on the cold cuts front.  I put together a platter for tea this evening as well in order that we could accompany the cold meats with home made chutneys, ketchup, piccalilli and pickled shallots, bread and butter, cheese, Stilton, apples and oranges. I also set too and made some sausage rolls and some cheese and bacon turnovers (not sure what you call them but they are very tasty).  I served these warm alongside the meat platter and condiments.  They went down very nicely and we have plenty for tomorrow as well. The Sausage rolls, and the Cheese and Bacon Turnovers/Parcels/Envelopes whatever you want to call them are very easy to make. Basically for the Bacon and Cheese "Wotsits", you cut squares of pastry smear some mustard on the pastry underneath where you are going to to place a lump of cheese, add cheese and I then split a rasher of smoked bacon in half and put one p...

 We have had a very quiet Christmas and after the explosion of cooking the other day, we have settled down and enjoyed what we have had, and really, not doing anything - just enjoying the down time.  To tell the truth for me it has felt quite alien in that I rarely sit down and do nothing, but this is what has happened this year.  No crafting as yet, I am working my way up to that.  It does not mean that I have done nothing full stop.  I have been working on one or two things for next year on projects behind the scenes and planning some stuff out I want to have a go at.  I work in tranches on the outline of the projects and then fill them in little by little.  Keeps me out of mischief, but also is essential planning for the year to come. We have had a full Roast Beef dinner today.  I did all fresh veggies, and then made fresh Yorkshire puddings.  We like Swiss Chard, and also had mash, peas, carrots, Brussels, some stuffing and some of the Pi...

 Despite things not running to plan (they never do here one way or another), we eventually got our Christmas Dinner.  A lot later than anticipated but still one that was enjoyable and very much worth the wait. We had Roast Rib of Beef (it came out just right a lovely Rosy Pink).  I served it with roast potatoes, roast parsnip and roast shallots.  Veggies to accompany were peas, broccoli, brussels, carrots, mashed potatoes.  Finished off with homemade Yorkshire Puddings and lots of gravy.  Plenty as usual left over for tomorrow. We finished off with some cheese, Cheddar, Stilton (which I did not like) [this in itself is unusual as I do like Stilton, just this bit does not really seem to have much flavour] and some Gorgonzola. lovely grapes and crackers.  That is one punnet of grapes completely gone. Like so many other ladies (and gents), I have been busy in the kitchen.  Some should have been done yesterday, but that did not happen so I have been i...

Last night I did not sleep very well due to Missy not being well; she is however a bit brighter today although she has caught up on her sleep! Today last minute, I nipped to the Co-Op just to get a couple of bottles of lemonade and also a couple of bottles of Pepsi Max.  Whilst there I came across some reduced Cranberries from £2 for 300g to 86p. I bought 1.5kg in total.  Bargain.  I bought five punnets home with me and sometime between Christmas and New Year, I shall make some Cranberry and Apple Jelly which we use a lot in the Year.  I already have apples inhouse that will need using up as well as some other items to squirrel away.  I am at my happiest when I can do this.  I had thought that I might have to give this very useful preserve a miss this year, but it seems after all someone was looking after me and gave me quite a saving in the process.  Cranberries keep for quite a while in the fridge from fresh and well past their long stop date.  ...

It has been a really busy day today.  I met with a friend had a lovely walk and put the world to rights chat, broke my umbrella (it was raining) and then went shopping at my local shops.  The Co-Op and the Vegetable shop. Under normal circumstances all my shopping is done by now apart from the last minute bits and bobs and I steer away from town at all costs.  Today was the first opportunity I had of going and gathering a little shopping to cover us over the coming Christmas period.  I had not done any apart from the meat in the week.  It has been very much "a draw in the horns Christmas" for us, but it is what it is honest and realistic and we have afforded what we can afford with some food into January as well without going into debt which is the main thing.  We are more concerned about the heating costs at present.  Generally we eat reasonably well in many respects but keeping warm has been a little difficult.  We are therefore being very caref...

 This year is a low key Christmas for us (Me and a whole host of other's I know of as well). I have not been able to do a lot of things for one reason or another, and quite a lot of what I had planned had to be put on hold yet again for various reasons. There we are that is how the "Cookie Crumbles" you have to make the most of what you have and it is about getting through. I love Christmas and tend to be a little OTT, but this year I do not know why I just am not feeling it! This is very unusual for me. That being said we still have to eat a meal of some sort.  As I am planning to do a lot of crafting over Christmas, after the main event, it will be cold cuts!  Always is, a family tradition. Today we paid a visit to the Butcher to source our Christmas meat and I am happy with what we have purchased. We found a nice Rib of Beef which we are looking forward to.  I have then bought a small piece of Gammon and a chicken. We also have a 1lb of smoked bacon.  OH then...

 These days I just do not have any sense of time or realisation of what the time actually is.  Not quite sure what is going on but it is disconcerting to say the least.  Not that I am a clock watcher or that I wear a watch (I do not for the best part as I seem to send them wrong), but I do like to have a rough idea of what the actual time is in order that I can gauge how much time I have for a project more than anything else.  It kind of throws me a bit when I have no comprehension.  There we are it is what it is.  Some days are better than others. Today has been such a day.  I have been present in the moment, but in my own little world. I have been cleaning and sorting again today.  It has been chilly although not as chilly as last week for which I am grateful. I was very tired last night and needed to sleep; sleep eluded me though until it was time to get up at which point I promptly conked out.  I was very headache last night as well, and ...

 A lot warmer overnight to what it has been and I have felt the warmest I have in just over a week.  Very pleased for the temperature increase. I have still wrapped up warmly though as with me it is often the layers that keeps me warmest.  Especially with all the various auto-immune conditions lurking under the surface and never really knowing which one is kicking off as they all give off the same symptoms.  Just grin and bear it job a lot of the time.  It has been blowing a proper hooley all day long and seems to have gathered a bit more speed as we have entered into evening. Since the change in the clocks, I have no sense of time of a morning sometimes sleeping later than I want or need to.  Been right out for the count.  I put a lot of it down to the weather as it has been cosiest and warmest under a pile of quilts and blankets and I have kept toasty with my hot water bottle. Met with a friend for a walk early on today and I thoroughly enjoyed it....

 Basically because I have not been firing on all cylinders.   This morning started off with a bacon "Buttie".  I had some smoked "Black" Back bacon which was very tasty. I like smoked bacon but I do not like it "over-smoked". This particular one is just right. OH had plain Back bacon.  Washed down with a hot mug of tea each, it was a good start to the day.  On a separate note, I have a sawdust smoker which I have never used.  I picked it up from a car boot sale a few years back, so maybe sometime in the New Year to come I will have a go at curing bacon again, and this time have a go at smoking it. It has been cold again, and I have been feeling it despite the heating being on.  Just have to keep on with stuff and moving, but not easy when my hands have been going into spasm with the Raynaud's playing up.  Just one of those days.  Tomorrow is another day and hopefully I will be a bit better.  With cleaning the Pantry out, my hands ar...

 It has been another long and chilly day.  I have been in the Pantry again, but today have more to talk about than the Pantry.  Besides I have whickered on for the last couple of posts about it. We received a phone call from the Butcher we had placed an order with for our Christmas dinner.  Apparently the company that they use regularly for their meat order deliveries has been unable to guarantee delivery before Christmas.  They were only informed of this on Wednesday. Our delivery was due on the 20 December. They gave us the option of collecting or indeed cancelling the order.  A very well thought out email letter was sent to us and which we did not see until afterwards.  We were contacted by phone as we had not responded and the lady who called was lovely.  Must say that the service and attention has been second to none.  We still intend placing an order with them in the New Year and if we like their product (proper aged beef) we will use t...

 We think it was -7 here in Peterborough last night.  When we got up at 8am it was -6 and has been very cold for most of the day.  It is currently 2 degrees with the lowest temperature predicted to be at -5 for tonight. I have been beavering away in the Pantry again.  Things are not going very fast.  I had not appreciated just what I did have in the Pantry!  It is not even empty yet - hopefully will get there tomorrow.  Before that though I have to do a little tidying in the main kitchen so that I can move and get further stuff stacked.  As I have been cleaning things as I go along, this has for some part made for the slow progress but it does mean that it should be quicker on getting items back into the Pantry itself after its wash and brush up. I ventured outside for the first time in days to nip around to the shop but came back quickly as it was freezing.  I was going to stash some rubbish in the back of the car but thought better of it an...

(Yesterday) First thing this morning.   Colder than predicted! - 6 degrees! I was frozen when I went to bed last night, but with the aid of the hot water bottle I remained cosy all night.  I even at one point got too hot and chucked off the bed clothes.  Saying that I quickly put them back on again. It is currently - 2 degrees as we head into early evening at 3:45pm.  It is supposed to be -4 degrees at its coldest overnight but we shall wait and see.  All the snow has now gone but everywhere is wet and damp so I suspect it will be very slippy tomorrow. Today Woke up to another very cold hoar frost.  The roofs had cleared of white yesterday but this morning they were worse than they were yesterday morning.   I have been lost in the Pantry for part of the day.  I have still not emptied it in readiness to be cleaned out; I am picking away at it even though it is Slow going as I am having to find a place to re-store it!  Mind you the Pa...

Yesterday evening, and after I had posted, I started planning and plotting for next Christmas and some of the things I want to have a go at through the year to come.  The Calendar has been noted with certain dates, and for certain things to happen; so there is a little preparatory work going on in the background, although I still have loads to update and keep check of  I have lots to achieve next year and I am looking forward to it, even though this year is not yet over.  I intend to use the Dehydrator more this New Year in putting stores away on the Pantry shelf, especially Wild items such as Nettles, Wild Garlic, Elderflower Blossom, Hawthorn Blossom etc. etc. all the usual suspects plus some new ones and a whole host of other items to boot.  So lots of planning and plotting going on in the background as I really want a good start on squirrelling stuff away from the beginning of next year.  I have also been collecting new to me recipes and ideas to incorporate...

Today has been a lazy day where we overslept, but it has been that kind of day where it just did not matter.  Everything has been relaxed and for a change I have been in the moment.  Something I must do more of. We had a very last minute put together "brunch" consisting of toasted crumpets (the really large ones) slathered in butter and also "Seriously Strong" cheese spread, followed by some of the Scones from yesterday and plenty of hot sweet tea. OH walked her Ladyship, he came back saying it was bitter out.  It was thick fog first thing when he took her with a heavy hoar frost.  We have not had snow.  It has to be pretty bad in the surrounding villages for Peterborough to end up with snow as it is fairly low-lying. Then it was a lazy afternoon watching Christmas movies for me. (I took some time for myself). OH was "gaming" on his computer taking part in some competition I think. Later, I cooked Cottage Pie which we were supposed to have last night, but ...

 Work is slow on the Pantry and as I had had enough for today I decided that as we had had an early tea (chicken tenders, chips and beans was supposed to be Cottage Pie - that is now happening tomorrow!  I was still peckish and so I set too and made some Sultana Scones to have for supper (served with just butter or cheese).  They were still warm when I served them and went down very nicely with a cup of tea.  OH was not expecting them although he had suspected I was up to something as I supposedly had only gone to make a mug of tea! Here are some of the photos.   There is a scuttle full left for tomorrow!  Back to emptying the Pantry tomorrow as well. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

Just a quick pop in as I am going to be engaged for the best part of the day and perhaps tomorrow morning in emptying the Pantry. This has needed to be done for an awful long time but for one reason or another I have not got around to dealing with it.  Today was the day though that the pantry has been earmarked to be cleared out, in readiness for a good scrub out, and then for painting.  Once dry it will then be re-filled and sorted out so that I can find things easily. Just in time for Christmas so that I can establish what I do and do not need to buy. I am planning on doing some baking so this really is needed. Therefore in reality this is going to take a good couple of days to accomplish.  I have jars to empty and wash and then refill so it is going to be time consuming. Hopefully then for next year I will be able to keep a better tab on things (although I have not done too badly on this front) I can do better and I also know that I need to stock up on certain items....