A quiet weekend, all by myself and the television managed (again) to lock itself out, this time the internet. Lillie came back rather tired, it had been cold sleeping out on the moors, no salt for the pasta either but the assessor meeting them at Hebden Bridge, said instead of walking the last couple of miles along the canal they could catch the bus and gave them their bus fare.
I cooked her favourite meal anyway knowing she would be miserable. Yes I have taken some cooking duties over but get frustrated by how few vegetables I can use. A teenager who doesn't like vegetables, a daughter who has reactions to mushrooms, onions and garlic, not forgetting peas and sweetcorn. But talking of meals, Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater rule supreme amongst the cookery books. I like Nigel for his easy way of just putting food together with a handful of this or that.
I did his tarragon chicken on Friday, take the leftover carcase of one chicken, pick all edible meat off and including the jelly in the pan, then add Dijon mustard, tarragon, handful of cheese, and cover in cream. I would say at this point stir until everything is mixed. Put in a gratin dish and cover with breadcrumbs. Have you not noticed how Panko crumb has replaced the golden British crumb, we also use old fashioned crumb from the loaf.
Each morning I read 'Tod chat' and find out what has been happening. The little black cocker spaniel has been found in Leeds of all places but is now safely home. The bus timetables are causing great distress by not running on time to service the train services which are not working due to work on them. Sounds normal doesn't it. An interesting moan from someone, who complains that LIFE IN TOD is not as it was when she worked down the mill! It is all those Southern 'foreigners' I suspect.
What else, well private cams have revealed a somewhat sad lad trying people's doors in the middle of the night. Dogs have become the new thing to steal these days of course, cars less so.
Finished 'The Road to Wigan Pier,' all I can say of Orwell is that he is a feisty writer, must watch my 'H's I have picked Naomi Klein for my next solemn read, though I notice John Lewis Stempel has a dozen books on offer on Audible.
Through some of this writing I have been conversing by writing messages on my phone to my daughter, isn't technology a wonderful place.
George Monbiot - Miracle of Reduction don't read if you are anti-green.
My boys were both 'DofE' participants and always came back tired and starving despite the provisions they took. The stories they told of singed eyebrows, raw sausages, wet sleeping bags, heatstroke and blisters always had my 'mother-instincts' at high alert however they both look back incredibly fondly to those 'epic' treks across the Dales or the Lakes and still walk and camp now. A bit of 'what does not kill you cures you' type adventures :)
ReplyDeleteHi, considering it was only a two day affair, the back pack she staggered out with was enormous. But she loves the scouts and is part of the helping team when it comes to looking after the little ones. I suspect that the award also looks good on CVs in later life.
ReplyDeleteAre watching that you pronounce or not pronounce your Hs?
ReplyDeleteWasn't it actors that went all no 'h' in otel but my southern accent will never disappear. I think Orwell got too carried away in class distinctions but he was an interesting person.
DeleteThat chicken dish sounds lovely. Maybe I will do that when my kids come this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe chicken carcase was from a meal leftover from when my oldest grandson had come down, I think the secret is the rich pickings underneath the bird, especially the jelly. ;)
DeleteTam did DoE and was glad to get home. Even more glad when she did the Three Peaks with a back-pack the size of a dustbin - they were meant to take a complete set of waterproof clothing, which was not required and lots to drink (then she found out drinks were handed out on the way round). The only thing she found useful was tinned pineapple for energy.
ReplyDeleteI thought cooking for Keith was a challenge - blimey, wouldn't like to be chief chef in your house!
I am not sure why they need so much stuff Jennie, but they have to pack food, they took a litre of milk as well, someone should make one of those little things you get at coffee places, with all the condiments in little packets.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of that chicken recipe Thelma - and I feel for your grand daughter doing that Moors Trek now that it has turned wintry.
ReplyDeleteWell it is supposed to harden you up Pat, trekking across the moors. They got lost a couple of times but apparently met other walkers.
DeleteI just downloaded the Road to Wigan Pier to my MP3 player, but haven't got to it yet.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting read Joanne. They were talking about Orwell on the radio yesterday, he loved gardening and for a short time lived on the Isle of Jura where he wrote 1984. Think I shall find a biography of him.
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