The last time I bought peanut butter would have been in Canada (David liked it, and I would eat it because it was there). It was a brand that had teddy bears on the jar - maybe Kraft? - and always crunchy. We used to buy boxes of little seedy crackers in Costco that were very moreish with a dab of PB.
Another quiet day at work, followed by a damp amble home. Mind you, about half an hour after I got home the heavens opened and it absolutely chucked it down, so it could have been much worse.
Part 2 of the sausage and tomato pasta for supper, which seemed to have mellowed a bit - I'm not all hot and bothered this time. Maybe it was the dregs of my cold rather than the spices ... 🙃
Peanut Butter? No thank you.
Marmite, marmalade or honey on toast for me.
Today I have been using up leftovers of soup for lunch and bolognese sauce tonight which I ate with veg as the soup had pasta in it.
A sunny morning so I walked down into town but now it is chilly and the sky has turned a greyish pink, threatening, rather than a beautiful sunset.
Today I bought a 2027 calendar as already I have lots to write on it, including dates of a possible choral cruise around the western isles. Interested @Piglet?
Father F***wit was fond of telling us how his Lovely Wife made him three slices of toast each morning - one with Marmite, one with Peanut Butter, and one with Marmalade.
@la vie en rouge what do you like on your toast instead?
Happy half-year in your new home @Nenya. It sounds like it was the right move. @puzzler - I too suggested the bus for the photographic trip but having had people never having used the train to get to the city on one of his previous trips he thought the bus might be a step too far. Me I love exploring new bus routes and when this busy year is over I'm going to suggest my U3A takes a leave out of a sister club and starts a bus pass group.
I have finished the knitting of the cardigan for my friend's first grandchild. Just need to sew it up, crochet round the neck opening and sew on the buttons. I'm then going to start on the knitted slippers for me. My feet were cold in my flip-flops this evening.
Time was, breakfast was invariably toast and Marmite. But post-chemo, my tastes seem to have changed and now I want something sweet, so either toasting waffles or pancakes.
Peanut butter I can either take or leave, more often leave.
Breakfast for me is usually a latte before my morning walk. Sometimes we might have croissants around and my choice of spread would be either just butter or jam. I wouldn’t taint them with marmite and I prefer my marmalade to be lemon and lime.
Many years ago I bought Mr Heavenly an American style electrical waffle maker, the sort you have to fill then turn (it’s very bulky and a modern one would be more conveniently stored). We should make waffles for brunch next time the family are staying.
@Piglet re Choral cruise. No details yet. Announced by the MD of my local choral society whose main job is at a parish church with a prestigious choral foundation. He has been invited to lead. He said the exact music would be decided once the range of applicants is known. Bit of a vicious circle there. Probably a mixture of genres, I guess.
Breakfast for me is usually a latte before my morning walk. Sometimes we might have croissants around and my choice of spread would be either just butter or jam. I wouldn’t taint them with marmite and I prefer my marmalade to be lemon and lime.
Many years ago I bought Mr Heavenly an American style electrical waffle maker, the sort you have to fill then turn (it’s very bulky and a modern one would be more conveniently stored). We should make waffles for brunch next time the family are staying.
Interesting, that. I find jam/butter etc OK to disguise crappy croissants ( such as available down the street at “organic bread bar”. Bakery in Hobart close to amiable spouse has croissants best enjoyed in a state of nature, as does patisserie in Darlinghurst ( 500 m away) and best ever on Bondi Road ( proprietor is a Hungarian Jew who learned croissants in Oz and outdoes everyone). BTW his Austro-Hungarian pastries & cakes are to die for: a good thing he is 30 min bus ride away.
I have just finished breakfast: a croissant, half with Marmite and half with marmalade.
Proof that you are not French
At a push a French person might put jam on a croissant, but usually they don't get anything spread on them at all. OTOH, dipping them in coffee or hot chocolate is one of the joys of life.
I have just finished breakfast: a croissant, half with Marmite and half with marmalade.
Proof that you are not French
At a push a French person might put jam on a croissant, but usually they don't get anything spread on them at all. OTOH, dipping them in coffee or hot chocolate is one of the joys of life.
Sometimes alas, croissants in Britain are not as those in France. On camping holidays our first morning’s task was to find the best bakery.
Not French either but lucky enough to live in a city with many French expats & bakers to match.
Fortunate enough to spend 2 weeks in Paris with spouse very recently and one of the pleasures of life was the daily schlep to the local bakery for breakfast croissants and the obligatory baguette for lunch.
As good Aussies we did not intinct our croissants.
Last year I went to a small convention at a hotel that was attached to a golf course - so it generally catered for traditional British cuisine for the sort of people who play golf.
One of our group was French, and on the first morning we went down to the buffet breakfast there was a howl of anguish from the breakfast bar. "THAT IS NOT A CROISSANT!!! I am French - and that is not a croissant!"
For me, toast by itself is more of a tea time snack akin to a toasted teacake or something - I need something more substantial for breakfast - or plain buttered toast alongside a soup or stew (much better than untoasted bread). Breakfast for me is ideally eggs in some form, maybe with toast if the eggs are scrambled or fried but just as likely not. I like a non-folded, frittata type of omelette best, with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. For sweet breakfast things I might have some Greek yogurt with fruit, nuts (usually walnuts), and honey - or some Bircher muesli, which normally includes all those things anyway.
I like a nice Croissant, but prefer a Pain au Chocolat (or two)...
Another mostly cloudy day in Arkland the Mild, enlivened by a visit from Mr D with one of his delicious Apple Crumbles. He had to use a larger Dish than usual, which means that I get two generous helpings...
Lunch was Polish - Pierogi Dumplings fried lightly in Olive Oil, and accompanied by some Pickled Red Cabbage. It wasn't until I opened the pack of Dumplings that I realised I'd bought the ones filled with Potato and Cream Cheese, rather than Meat, but no matter - they were tasty enough, and I'll be more careful next time.
Not a bad day here - I got to work and back without getting wet.
I was presented with a new printer at work, and predictably it's not really an improvement on the old one. It's marginally quicker, but it has three paper trays instead of two, and is so tall I can barely see over it, even standing up ...
Busy day: after a period of Not Much To Do, B seems to have got himself in gear and was chucking down voice files like there was no tomorrow. No matter, it's Friday, and the weekend (and the fish & chips) beckon.
I spent this morning doing domestic chores, including sorting out the cupboard in my on-suit bathroom. It isn't very big and it was stuffed with a lot of stuff I'm never going to use. It now looks a lot tidier. I then finished the cardigan for friend's expected grand-child and am pleased with the way it looks so a morning well spent.
This afternoon I went to the local parish church to be on the prayer station they had as part of the global week of prayer. I enjoyed spending a bit of time contemplating the early Tudor wall-painting of a well dressed young man and a skeleton holding a carnation.
Tonight we've drinking wine for the first time in a fortnight, having not fancied any after having drunk rather a lot on various occasions a couple of weeks ago,
I generally prefer my croissants without any addition or, occasionally, with a mere smear of a sharpish jam.
My favourite snack is wholemeal toast (made with bread that needs slicing) spread with Bovril.
I have olive spread under the Bovril, as I think butter with anything spread on top is a waste of butter.
I like butter unadulterated and spread thickly enough to leave teeth marks.
After my usual breakfast of granola with various fruit, I did a quick clean of bathrooms, hoovered and tidied, then popped over to Aldi. Just finished unpacking shopping when granddaughter arrived, so had a lovely catch up. She is taking her flying exam on Sunday and if successful will be able to take passengers.
This afternoon I was invited by my neighbours to an Open House to celebrate their Golden Wedding. I chatted to many people I knew from the Methodist church. The rather dull morning turned to sunshine so everyone was able to be outside.
Tomorrow, it being Heritage week, I am planning to visit a building which is rarely open to the public.
The season of moving students round the country has begun in my world. Elder Church Teenager off north this morning, and friends' returning their offspring to my city this afternoon (parent doing that trip is then coming to stop with me tonight). Plus, it's entrance exam day for the selective school across the other side of the cul-de-sac so the standard vehicle parking carnage is taking place. It's significantly better since they now do two sessions of the exam, though.
There has also been slight progress on the desparately needs seeing to fence that is not mine to sort - my garden is finally clear of broken bits of fence panel which I'd been piling up on the border. I'd left them as I've been doing very minimal garden maintenance during our on-going lack of recyling/garden waste situation. However, as I will be doing an autumn tidy up (as someone has offered to take any garden waste to the household recycling places I'm not allowed to go to without a car) I'd been planning on placing the broken pieces of wood all back in the neighbours garden.
I'm still not convinced it'll be sorted much before 2028. Either our bins situation or the fence.
Usual Saturday morning here: choir practice, coffee and chat, then home for a bite of brunch. Shortly going to get my piggies pampered (and a massage from their magic chair). 🙂
Yet another Cloudy/Sun-Shiny day in Arkland the Settled, and none the worse for that.
Taking advantage of the weather, I essayed some Paint Ing on the Deck of the Ark, but had to break off early when my little folding stool collapsed, precipitating me onto my Back on the said Deck. Norty Wurds™ were said whilst I recovered my Equanimity, but no damage was done, and I soon managed to get myself upright, and back into the Wheelhouse.
Lunch has been et, and BEER consumed (along with Painkillers), but I do still feel a bit shaken, and will retire to my Berth for a while...
We strolled into town this morning and had some fascinating discussions with people working on various heritage projects in town as part of the open house weekend. There was one man who is making furniture for our castle that is in the process of having a new visitor centre added and various room made safe for the public to visit. One of the things he is making is King John's deathbed. Really interesting talking about the research.
This afternoon we went to city to the east where the mayor was having a garden party. A really nice afternoon and I won some wonderful dahlias in a vase as part of the raffle.
I'm heading off to bed shortly as I have a busy day tomorrow.
Just had a call from Husband Beaky who is currently safely ensconced in the departure lounge at Heathrow.
He's en route to Kenya, his first visit since our return to the UK 10 years ago.
I've been back three times to help with wheelchair distributions and now he's returning to visit friends and do some teaching. I'm thrilled for him but a little bit envious too.
I confess to some anxiety as his spouse as he is travelling alone and I am definitely the logistical member of this partnership- he refuses to use his phone for anything except messages and calls so bag drop was interesting. The staff member took one look at him and his pieces of paper, smiled and obviously recognised the type as she declared "My mum is just like you- highly intelligent but uncomfortable with modern technology."
Watch this space!
A local craftsperson makes ceramic toadstools for the garden. I thought they looked pretty, but wasn't convinced they would last. So I bought a small one (£8) months ago. It's pink with red/purple/white flecks. I put it into a dark corner and thought it added a much needed bit of colour. Two months later I bought a second small one, in the same colour and put it next to the first. It was always my intention to end up with a group, but I didn't want to spend too much until I was sure they were durable.
Several months on, yesterday I finally splashed out on a big one (£22!!!), same colour, which is much taller. Put it next to the two smaller ones and ..... it looked obscene. Much rearranging, and I can't find any grouping which works. I'm going to have to buy a third small one, I think.
What's baffling me is that I had this arrangement in my mind from the start, and at no point did it occur to me that it might look anything other than pretty.
(It's in a dark corner where nothing ever grew successfully until I planted dark purple-leaved ajuga. So now I have good ground cover, and dark purple/blue flowers, and I thought these pretty pink ceramic toadstools were just the thing to lift the whole corner, add a bit of lighter colour etc etc.)
Yesterday’s heritage visit was good and bad. There was little information in the reception area, but plenty of information as you progressed around the building but not in chronological order. The story line was lacking. There was no particular order to see the rooms over several floors. Since it was the birthplace of a famous person, it was interesting but not presented in the most helpful way, to my way of thinking.
Afterwards we went for a mid afternoon snack, so I was glad I had had brunch earlier. Cheese and biscuits in the evening and the last of my pear cake.
I have developed a first world problem. I like roast dinners. There is one of me. I buy those mini roasts you get in the supermarket. All though they are mini you still need to carve them. They skid on flat plates. I own a spiked carving plate, but it is too big, which means the spikes are too far apart.
Does anyone have a solution to this ? Nowhere seems to sell a half size carving tray, it is driving me slightly spare. I have tried looking for spiked sizzler plates, but still no joy, I am looking for something about 6 by 10 inches or slightly smaller.
Could you set the joint across the spikes (at right angles to how you'd expect) and just use the spikes at one end of the platter?
Grey with the odd splash of sunshine here; laundry is laundering, and after some snoozage, I'm heading to Kirkliston to celebrate Rosie's sixth birthday with a Chinese takeaway.
I have developed a first world problem. I like roast dinners. There is one of me. I buy those mini roasts you get in the supermarket. All though they are mini you still need to carve them. They skid on flat plates. I own a spiked carving plate, but it is too big, which means the spikes are too far apart.
Does anyone have a solution to this ? Nowhere seems to sell a half size carving tray, it is driving me slightly spare. I have tried looking for spiked sizzler plates, but still no joy, I am looking for something about 6 by 10 inches or slightly smaller.
I can make two suggestions: find a restaurant that does good roast dinners (difficult: plenty of places do roasts but few do good ones) or get an invitation from a really good roast dinner cook. Mrs Sioni can do a great roast but it’s a lot of effort.
Mr Heavenly does the roasts here, as he cooks at the weekend and holidays so I don’t end up always doing it (though we both like cooking anyway). We have a regular size carving tray but I would also welcome a smaller one for the smaller cuts of meat I often cook. I have just looked at carving trays and see what you mean about not finding a suitable one, they are very standard in size.
Neither of my large or smaller carving trays have been used since Mr P died. My son does the best roasts so I go there whenever I am invited. At home, the next best thing is either a steak, a pork slice or a chicken breast cooked in the air fryer, or even a packet of cold ( heated in gravy) sliced beef with roasted veg.
I have never used a carving tray, I use a wooden board with a groove round the edge. It's quite big but perhaps there are smaller ones available. This might be the best of all worlds: https://tinyurl.com/286drbsh, I think John Lewis has the same one.
Lakeland have a bamboo carving board with a field of evenly spaced spikes, so they would hold a joint of any size, or indeed, a steak, if that needed carving. None of the spikes is individually as powerful as the metal ones, but there is a whole area of them, so I don't see why it shouldn't be effective.
I'm totally exhausted after a day of civic duties. This morning was Battle of Britain day with wreath laying, a church service and speeches, and this afternoon I visited a local tourist attraction and our annual Dragon Boat race where I ended up going on stage at short notice with another councillor to thank everyone for coming.
I cam home and collapsed on the sofa.
It should be reasonably easy to get a custom-made carving board from (for example) people making custom wooden chopping boards/butchers blocks on Etsy. It would presumably be cheaper than a full-size one. I also recommend using a wooden board - no slipping around in my experience, and if the meat is properly rested you shouldn't lose too many juices anyway.
Growing up, we often had chicken thighs or legs as individual roasts with no need to carve, or pork belly slices. Steaks would work well if you like beef.
Another Cloudy and Humid day (93% ) in Arkland the Dull.
Still feeling a bit shaky after yesterday's Fall, I've spent most of today resting and snoozing. Much better now, and looking forward with intense excitement to tomorrow's Expotition ot Tess Coe (because Monday)...
Husband Beaky has arrived safely at the Anglican guesthouse in Nairobi, without incident, which is a relief and means I will be able sleep! As ever, he appears to have made lots of new friends on the journey.
We are without doubt so very different from each other 😆
Comments
Another quiet day at work, followed by a damp amble home. Mind you, about half an hour after I got home the heavens opened and it absolutely chucked it down, so it could have been much worse.
Part 2 of the sausage and tomato pasta for supper, which seemed to have mellowed a bit - I'm not all hot and bothered this time. Maybe it was the dregs of my cold rather than the spices ... 🙃
Marmite, marmalade or honey on toast for me.
Today I have been using up leftovers of soup for lunch and bolognese sauce tonight which I ate with veg as the soup had pasta in it.
A sunny morning so I walked down into town but now it is chilly and the sky has turned a greyish pink, threatening, rather than a beautiful sunset.
Today I bought a 2027 calendar as already I have lots to write on it, including dates of a possible choral cruise around the western isles. Interested @Piglet?
Happy half-year in your new home @Nenya. It sounds like it was the right move.
@puzzler - I too suggested the bus for the photographic trip but having had people never having used the train to get to the city on one of his previous trips he thought the bus might be a step too far. Me I love exploring new bus routes and when this busy year is over I'm going to suggest my U3A takes a leave out of a sister club and starts a bus pass group.
I have finished the knitting of the cardigan for my friend's first grandchild. Just need to sew it up, crochet round the neck opening and sew on the buttons. I'm then going to start on the knitted slippers for me. My feet were cold in my flip-flops this evening.
You are not alone, I have always loathed it.
I'm with you there. Smell, taste, texture. Nope.
I also have some sympathy with the view that if God had intended us to eat it he'd have given us teflon lined mouths.
Peanut butter I can either take or leave, more often leave.
Many years ago I bought Mr Heavenly an American style electrical waffle maker, the sort you have to fill then turn (it’s very bulky and a modern one would be more conveniently stored). We should make waffles for brunch next time the family are staying.
Interesting, that. I find jam/butter etc OK to disguise crappy croissants ( such as available down the street at “organic bread bar”. Bakery in Hobart close to amiable spouse has croissants best enjoyed in a state of nature, as does patisserie in Darlinghurst ( 500 m away) and best ever on Bondi Road ( proprietor is a Hungarian Jew who learned croissants in Oz and outdoes everyone). BTW his Austro-Hungarian pastries & cakes are to die for: a good thing he is 30 min bus ride away.
Proof that you are not French
At a push a French person might put jam on a croissant, but usually they don't get anything spread on them at all. OTOH, dipping them in coffee or hot chocolate is one of the joys of life.
Sometimes alas, croissants in Britain are not as those in France. On camping holidays our first morning’s task was to find the best bakery.
Fortunate enough to spend 2 weeks in Paris with spouse very recently and one of the pleasures of life was the daily schlep to the local bakery for breakfast croissants and the obligatory baguette for lunch.
As good Aussies we did not intinct our croissants.
One of our group was French, and on the first morning we went down to the buffet breakfast there was a howl of anguish from the breakfast bar. "THAT IS NOT A CROISSANT!!! I am French - and that is not a croissant!"
Another mostly cloudy day in Arkland the Mild, enlivened by a visit from Mr D with one of his delicious Apple Crumbles. He had to use a larger Dish than usual, which means that I get two generous helpings...
Lunch was Polish - Pierogi Dumplings fried lightly in Olive Oil, and accompanied by some Pickled Red Cabbage. It wasn't until I opened the pack of Dumplings that I realised I'd bought the ones filled with Potato and Cream Cheese, rather than Meat, but no matter - they were tasty enough, and I'll be more careful next time.
I was presented with a new printer at work, and predictably it's not really an improvement on the old one. It's marginally quicker, but it has three paper trays instead of two, and is so tall I can barely see over it, even standing up ...
Busy day: after a period of Not Much To Do, B seems to have got himself in gear and was chucking down voice files like there was no tomorrow. No matter, it's Friday, and the weekend (and the fish & chips) beckon.
I'm allergic to tree and ground nuts, so have never had the 'pleasure'. A good marmalade goes nicely on toast.
This afternoon I went to the local parish church to be on the prayer station they had as part of the global week of prayer. I enjoyed spending a bit of time contemplating the early Tudor wall-painting of a well dressed young man and a skeleton holding a carnation.
Tonight we've drinking wine for the first time in a fortnight, having not fancied any after having drunk rather a lot on various occasions a couple of weeks ago,
My favourite snack is wholemeal toast (made with bread that needs slicing) spread with Bovril.
I have olive spread under the Bovril, as I think butter with anything spread on top is a waste of butter.
I like butter unadulterated and spread thickly enough to leave teeth marks.
This afternoon I was invited by my neighbours to an Open House to celebrate their Golden Wedding. I chatted to many people I knew from the Methodist church. The rather dull morning turned to sunshine so everyone was able to be outside.
Tomorrow, it being Heritage week, I am planning to visit a building which is rarely open to the public.
There has also been slight progress on the desparately needs seeing to fence that is not mine to sort - my garden is finally clear of broken bits of fence panel which I'd been piling up on the border. I'd left them as I've been doing very minimal garden maintenance during our on-going lack of recyling/garden waste situation. However, as I will be doing an autumn tidy up (as someone has offered to take any garden waste to the household recycling places I'm not allowed to go to without a car) I'd been planning on placing the broken pieces of wood all back in the neighbours garden.
I'm still not convinced it'll be sorted much before 2028. Either our bins situation or the fence.
Taking advantage of the weather, I essayed some Paint Ing on the Deck of the Ark, but had to break off early when my little folding stool collapsed, precipitating me onto my Back on the said Deck. Norty Wurds™ were said whilst I recovered my Equanimity, but no damage was done, and I soon managed to get myself upright, and back into the Wheelhouse.
Lunch has been et, and BEER consumed (along with Painkillers), but I do still feel a bit shaken, and will retire to my Berth for a while...
This afternoon we went to city to the east where the mayor was having a garden party. A really nice afternoon and I won some wonderful dahlias in a vase as part of the raffle.
I'm heading off to bed shortly as I have a busy day tomorrow.
He's en route to Kenya, his first visit since our return to the UK 10 years ago.
I've been back three times to help with wheelchair distributions and now he's returning to visit friends and do some teaching. I'm thrilled for him but a little bit envious too.
I confess to some anxiety as his spouse as he is travelling alone and I am definitely the logistical member of this partnership- he refuses to use his phone for anything except messages and calls so bag drop was interesting. The staff member took one look at him and his pieces of paper, smiled and obviously recognised the type as she declared "My mum is just like you- highly intelligent but uncomfortable with modern technology."
Watch this space!
A local craftsperson makes ceramic toadstools for the garden. I thought they looked pretty, but wasn't convinced they would last. So I bought a small one (£8) months ago. It's pink with red/purple/white flecks. I put it into a dark corner and thought it added a much needed bit of colour. Two months later I bought a second small one, in the same colour and put it next to the first. It was always my intention to end up with a group, but I didn't want to spend too much until I was sure they were durable.
Several months on, yesterday I finally splashed out on a big one (£22!!!), same colour, which is much taller. Put it next to the two smaller ones and ..... it looked obscene. Much rearranging, and I can't find any grouping which works. I'm going to have to buy a third small one, I think.
What's baffling me is that I had this arrangement in my mind from the start, and at no point did it occur to me that it might look anything other than pretty.
Afterwards we went for a mid afternoon snack, so I was glad I had had brunch earlier. Cheese and biscuits in the evening and the last of my pear cake.
Does anyone have a solution to this ? Nowhere seems to sell a half size carving tray, it is driving me slightly spare. I have tried looking for spiked sizzler plates, but still no joy, I am looking for something about 6 by 10 inches or slightly smaller.
Grey with the odd splash of sunshine here; laundry is laundering, and after some snoozage, I'm heading to Kirkliston to celebrate Rosie's sixth birthday with a Chinese takeaway.
I can make two suggestions: find a restaurant that does good roast dinners (difficult: plenty of places do roasts but few do good ones) or get an invitation from a really good roast dinner cook. Mrs Sioni can do a great roast but it’s a lot of effort.
I cam home and collapsed on the sofa.
Growing up, we often had chicken thighs or legs as individual roasts with no need to carve, or pork belly slices. Steaks would work well if you like beef.
Still feeling a bit shaky after yesterday's Fall, I've spent most of today resting and snoozing. Much better now, and looking forward with intense excitement to tomorrow's Expotition ot Tess Coe (because Monday)...
We are without doubt so very different from each other 😆