Today's Potterings and Broccoli and Blue Cheese Soup

It has been cold here today.  Too cold in the house despite the sun being out the warmth does not seem to be penetrating our four walls.

We have for a change had a leisurely day which commenced with a pile of toast (my homemade bread) and my homemade Lemon Marmalade.  It went down very nicely indeed.  We  were supposed to have porridge, but for some strange reason himself did not fancy it.  Another day perhaps.  

For lunch time, we had a couple of my homemade rolls each, using up the last of some Tinned Tuna that I had opened last night to put in the buns to try them, and some grated cheese and onion, with a mug of hot tea each.  That has gone down very nicely indeed.

We were supposed to have had the Brisket roasted for tea this evening, but on checking the fridge I have some Lasagna from the other day left over and so I am going to have that, and of course there is one portion left of the Cottage Pie from last night. There are normally two, but OH decided he was having two large portions last night. In an effort not to waste anything we are using up what we have and as a consequence rearranging what we are going to eat for the rest of the week.

Bearing in mind that it is always nice to have something to warm you up and give you a proverbial hug on the food front I set too and made a different soup for us.  I had some Broccoli and some Gorgonzola cheese to use up in the fridge; Yesterday, I decided that I was going to use this up in a soup.  Now normally the recipe is for using Stilton, but Gorgonzola has a bit of a twang just like Stilton does so I do not see how it will not work. I am therefore using what I have, maximising my ingredients and making sure that we have something lovely and warming to have possibly for midday tomorrow and use the last of the buns up for dunking. One of my favourite kind of meals.

This is the recipe that I am using, modified a little to take into account what I do and do not have.  I am using other bits and bobs in substitution.  I do not have any celery so I am using a bit of carrot.

Broccoli and Stilton or Blue Cheese Soup

I was going to do a little more baking today, but on second thoughts I will waive this until tomorrow so that we have some fresh stuff for the weekend.  

I have pastry to make in any event tomorrow. I am having another bash at it (Pastry just tends to fall to bits in my little mitts) as I want to make some "Cornish" style pasties to serve with veg and gravy for Friday night's tea.  

I have had a little read up on what process is expected and it would appear that my pastry is possibly falling to pieces because I am putting too much water in the mix in one go rather than in several little bits.  Too much haste less speed. I am also going to chill some water and pop it in the fridge door tonight (Thursday evening) so that I have nice cold water to add to my butter and lard mixture for the pastry when I come to make it tomorrow.  We can but try and see if that makes any difference.  I do have a lovely cold fridge in any event.

This will make another comfort meal and I have some Beef Skirt to use up in any event.  So making something of what I have to hand. 

I have some bacon left over as well.  Not enough to make some cheese and bacon turnover/parcels. I also do not have any puff pastry, although I suppose I could have a go at making some at home.  Might be pushing the pastry thing a bit too much tomorrow.  I will reserve that for another day.  Turnover/pockets will have to wait until I have been to the Butcher again which is possibly next week to get fresh bacon.  I intend to use what little bacon I have to make a bacon, mushroom and leek quiche for either serving as a tea with some homemade chips, or eating cold/warmed up in wedges as part of a mid-day lunch.  Another way of using up bits and bobs.  

Pastry is very much on the cards for tomorrow as I fancy an Egg custard tart like my Mum used to make.  Such a long time since we have had one. Yet again being made with the intention to have as part of a meal although probably not tomorrow as it will be pastry again for the main for tea.  Do not want double pastry in one meal.  I might therefore make an Apple Crumble for tomorrow night's pudding using some of my home canned Apple filling.  I really enjoyed the one we had the other week and so did OH.

I have another Bread loaf to make tonight.  I will make another batch of buns tomorrow.

We will probably have the Brisket roasted for Sunday lunch.

Revised Menu plan is therefore:

Thursday

Leftover Lasagna for me

Leftover Cottage Pie for OH.

Homemade Rice Pudding

Friday

Breakfast 

Porridge with Apple or Pear Butter and Toast with either Lemon Marmalade or Marmite.

Lunch

Homemade Broccoli and Gorgonzola soup together with the last of the homemade buns from Wednesday.

Chocolate Brownies and some of the Bread Pudding if himself wants some.

Tea/Dinner

Homemade Cornish Pasties, served with side veggies of mashed potato, cabbage, carrots, broccoli and gravy.

Apple Crumble and Custard

Saturday

Breakfast

Lunch

Leftover Broccoli and Gorgonzola soup

Tea/Dinner

Homemade Quiche with either Wedges/Chips and a little side salad.

Sunday

Breakfast

Homemade Croissants (Never made these before) served with soft cheese and Apricot Preserves and some fresh grapes out of the fridge.

Lunch

Homemade French Onion Soup and dunking bread

Filled Buns

Tea/Dinner

Roast Brisket served with roast potatoes, parsnip, petit-pois, mashed potato, carrots and swede mash, broccoli and a little steamed cabbage loads of gravy and Yorkshire Puddings.  As usual will cook enough for a repeat on Monday night's Tea.

Pudding

Egg Custard

This will take us over the next few days into the beginning of next week and with a bit of luck I may be able to play with a few bits and bobs inbetween.

Right am off to potter.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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