Cold and Bright

It has been a cold, but bright day here in Peterborough. The appearance of sunshine always makes me feel brighter, even though it is still chilly and I want to get on with things.

This afternoon I have been in the kitchen again am slowly trying to sort out the washing pile.  No problems with the washing, but getting it dry is another matter.  No cooking per se going on, just trying to restore some kind of order.  

Tea for tonight is planned as  having a repeat meal tonight of chicken and veggies.  We did enjoy it yesterday.  There was not too much, but not too little either.  I did not do extra veggies yesterday as I thought we would end up having something else today, but the "frugal" part of me decided that there was enough chicken for a meal and a few bits for the animals, as well as the carcass to go into the Ninja to make stock for making soup in the week.   I have Broccoli and Stilton soup planned for one night during the week and therefore it is better to have some homemade stock for more flavour. It will be used in other soup and gravies as well. 

I love soup and am quite happy with a hunk of bread or bread and butter to dunk into it.  I could happily have this everyday but OH although he is tolerant of soup, does not want it every day so have to meet a compromise somewhere along the line.  I was brought up as a child that we would start with a soup, then have a main meal and then pudding.  Having the soup first, made you part full so that you did not have to have loads of meat and veg on the plate.  Puddings were also made to last a couple of days as well, with just a single serving being given, but it was light enough to clear the palate and finish off the meal.  Often these days, most people just have the mains and the pudding, but I do think that soup is a good way to go.  It can be made from next to nothing, is cheap to make, tasty and warming. My Nan used to make a soup of any meat, veggies, gravy and stock left over from the Sunday dinner for Monday night's tea.  Most of the veggies would be mashed up into the gravy so it was a smoother soup with occasional chunks of carrot or parsnip.  Boy was that soup tasty and warming but used up leftovers.  Sometimes leftovers can be better than the meal they originated from.

Tea went down very nicely and on such a chilly day just what was needed. We have had a decent meal out of what was left over from yesterday, and the cats and Missy have had a little bowl of scraps each, i.e. the legs and also bits from the underneath.  These days they know when I am cooking chicken and I end up with Management keeping a beady eye on me just to make sure a few scraps go their way.  I still have the carcass to turn into stock, but that will be tomorrow now. 

I am going to potter a bit and then settle and do a little knitting and maybe watch some TV if there is anything decent on, otherwise might revert to You Tube with my headphones on.

Hope  you all have a lovely Saturday evening.

Keep safe and warm.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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