TARRAGON & THYME

 There are always bonuses and silver linings to each and every day.  Today  has been a much better day all round.  I have also been out to do a little shopping.  We sneaked out whilst Missy was asleep.  She hates being left and usually howls if she realises we are missing. The awful plaintive wailing that does not cease.  She is an old lady and has an attachment disorder as well as being slightly deaf.  She starts to hyperventilate and gets herself in a real mess if we are not there.  Really too late to do anything about and it has only come on to any great degree in the last couple of years.  I think the biggest part of this is down to the fact that she does not hear so well.  Today however, mission was accomplished and she was still fast asleep when we got back wrapped under her blanket.  Indeed she growled at me when I was checking to see where she was, because I had disturbed her.  From where I was looking I just could...

It has been a while since I reported on what I had been doing in the kitchen and Pantry and so I thought it was about time that I rectified and updated the situation.  It is after all a New Year.   This week has been a busy week in my kitchen on the cooking front and I have managed to do quite a bit of cooking including some baking.  I had planned on doing more stuff, but lack of energy and other unexpected issues have got in the way.  Note to oneself - need to be more focused. I have made the following: Meals: (Evening Meals) Wednesday Evening Meal/Dinner A cottage pie. Dessert/Pudding Homemade Rice pudding . Thursday Dinner:  Duplicate cottage pie Dessert/Pudding Peaches and cream Friday Chipolata Sausages and Tomatoes Cheese and Bacon Pockets (for supper) Saturday Breakfast Toast and the Last Jar of Lemon Marmalade. Evening Meal/Dinner Roast Chicken and Bread and Butter Dessert:  Homemade Pannetone Bread Pudding Sunday Dinner: Barnsley Chops, Peas, ...

 Today I have felt really cold and not 100%.  Tiz how it goes, and it does not help with the thermometer going down either.  It is 4 degrees here in Peterborough - feels like 1 degree. As a result have taken the day easy apart from cooking tonight's tea which was very tasty.  Fortunately this time with me being below par, it hasn't come out in my cooking.  I am grateful for small mercies. Tonight's tea has been a couple of Barnsley Chops which have been cooked in a little water with mixed herbs under foil for about 30 minutes which makes them nice and moist.  They are then cooked until the top has gone golden brown.  Gravy is made from the meat juices and some of the veg juices with a little mint jelly in as well.  They were served with steamed carrots, peas, kale, cauliflower and plenty of mashed potato.  Has gone down well. Unfortunately I did not get to any baking.  Tomorrow maybe.  I love baking and am eager to get a few bits an...

Was removed from the Pantry Shelf today.  We had some with lovely hot buttery toast for breakfast  Lemon Marmalade is one of my favourite things to make and to have for breakfast.  Although like most Marmalades need not be restricted to toast.  A lot of social information as to how people used to use their preserves has over the years been lost and usually only limited information is available on how to use them.  However, you are only stuck by your own limitations, which often is why the expression "the World is your Oyster" is expressed. It is up to you to push your own boundaries.  I use Lemon and other Marmalades in sauces and in pancakes and in cakes.  Really it is up to each of us to choose how to use the Preserves as what works for one family need not necessarily for another.  It is all down to our own personal taste.  For instance my OH would have Mint Sauce or Mint Jelly on literally everything.  He is a bit like that with Tomat...

 Well I have seen the Consultant Rheumatologist today and not his Assistant. Overall he is relatively pleased with me, despite the fatigue and problem with my shoulder.  I have lost a little more weight.  He believes that the fatigue is in part due to the Vitamin D level not being quite right and I think is going to tweak the dosage.  Those instructions will come via the Doctors Surgery when he sends his report in. They send a copy to me as well.  Shoulder I am to have a scan of; he suspects it is a rotor cuff issue, I was part-tested whilst there and from the immediate movement of limbs he is pretty sure that this is what the problems are.  Investigations first, and if it continues to be too much of a problem, to get in touch and they will give me an injection.  However, investigations first.  He said that often issues can correct themselves so we will see what we will see.  Its a nuisance for me as I am right handed!  At least I seem t...

Today I have made Chicken Stock in the Ninja.  I have used the pressure cooker function to prepare this.  I decided to make the Stock today, as I need it for part of a meal later in the week, and this is an integral part of the recipe. It is a no meat recipe, and will probably be had during the day rather than as a full evening meal. I must say that I can live off Soup.  OH is not a fan.  Every so often though I put my foot down and make a scuttle full and he is free to have some if he wants some.  More often than not though he does not have any which means that there is more for me. Making the Chicken Stock This does not need to be made in a pressure cooker it can be cooked in a pan on the top of the cooker or in a slow cooker overnight.  I am using the Ninja though for quickness and economy (I have other things to do) and I believe more flavour is imparted into the stock if you use the pressure cooker function on the Ninja or just generally a pressure coo...

 I did get into the kitchen today although I did not think I was going to be able to.  I have done copious amounts of washing up today and then cooked and had to wash some of it up again.  All so that we could have a good tea for this evening's meal. I have cooked a Cottage Pie a favourite around here and also a Rice Pudding. Not bad for 1lb of mince, half a chopped leek, three carrots and an onion.  I also added the remains of a Vintage Tickler cheese and a quarter of a Godminster cheese round.  Tea all sorted for tomorrow night as well.  Will probably cook another pudding tomorrow as we demolished the Rice pudding. That should do nicely with them being one pot dishes in the end, so that will save another load of washing up.  I do have a dishwasher which I have not been putting on at the moment, although I do if I need to to make my life a little easier.  Saying that not everything goes in the dishwasher as I have a lot of older china that is not...