A Little Shopping

I had a nice quiet evening last night listening to the TV.  I also managed to get to cutting some more patches out for my patchwork quilt.  I will probably prepare a load more later on.  Then I will have a session or two of tacking and later on of stitching up the initial "Rings".  All the work is being carried out sequentially and further patches probably toning ones will be cut as I get an idea of how the rings are panning out or whether I will go for a more neutral colour to set the ring patches off.  Will see what happens.

We have been shopping for a few things today.  I had more or less run out of veggies and so today have topped up with French Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Petit-Pois, Parsnip.  I do like to have as many different vegetables in at any one time as you can do so much with vegetables, Flans, quiches, soups, Lasagna, stews, stir fries all sorts.  Gives a bit more flexibility if the household has cut back on buying in as much meat because of current prices and selective choices are being made.  I do still need to get some sweet potatoes, leeks and garlic and a couple of squash.

G also nipped to the Butcher and came back with one of the double packs of meat I spoke about last month two small joints of Beef for £20.  We are therefore having Beef for tea this evening.  I am cooking both joints for the simple reason we will probably get two good meals plus some sarnies out of each joint.  I have a Gammon to cook as well so that means any Beef leftover will either go for sarnies or cold cuts maybe with some homemade Fat chips later in the week and some homemade fresh Coleslaw or for a change a salad.

I shall serve Mashed potato, roast potato, onion and parsnip together with cauliflower, peas and carrots for tea this evening and we will have a duplicate meal again tomorrow.

Beef can be very susceptible to shrinking.  I therefore tend to cook the meat on a slightly lower temperature on a base of onion with some water and then a sprinkling of mixed herbs. The meat is then covered with foil and cooked until about 40 minutes from the end when the foil blanket is taken off.  The "gravy" or shall we say the base of the gravy is then formed in the tray and the veg water can then be added to the gravy base together with some homemade stock to form the bulk of the gravy.  I add in Redcurrant jelly, vegetable bouillon, bay leaves and gravy browning and adjust the seasoning flavouring as to what I end up with.  I then thicken the gravy just before serving up.  Roasties will be done within 40 minutes in the Ninja without having to pre-boil and they do come up very well.  I shall use some of the Pork dripping from last week for this.

Meat came out medium rare which is how I like it.   Sliced quite easily as well.

Needless to say that tea went down very nicely indeed.  Just what was needed.

Otherwise it has been a very quiet day, but that what Sundays are for in the greater scheme of things.  Now suitably stuffed with the luxury of having another repeat performance for tomorrow with minimum effort.

I do have a lot of other stuff to tackle tomorrow.

Have a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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