Hi this is ME.....still listing from yesterday - Tuesday, 31st December, 2013.

I was so busy chatting about gluten-free eating and feasting, I left off some of the items from my store cupboard listings, for gluten-free foods held in my kitchen.

And I thought the list was short ... should have been longer !

So, here are the left-off items -

Tapioca flour
Potato flour
Gluten-free Baking Powder
Cornflour
Polenta - maize meal
Corn Meal - fine Polenta meal
Buckwheat Flour

Tahini Paste
Chick Peas



Tomorrow, well later on today, actually, I'll post pictures of my own gluten-free cakes, just for you to drool over!

Daisy

PS keep doing gluten-free

Hi there its ME........time for another list - Monday, 30th December, 2013.

Here we are, on the night before New Year's Eve, with another list for you - on the Gluten-free products to be found on my store cupboard shelves.

For years, I've had a problem with wheat, causing flatulence and bloating, frightful nausea and other horrid symptoms.   My diet has always contained a great deal of flour in bread, puddings, pies, biscuits, pastry, suet puddings, scones and all manner of delicious baked goods. Its just the way things have been, our national diet, for the filling, warming and comforting qualities such food items have provided.

These foods are still very much with us, still part of the normal daily diet of the nation, still loved and required, needed and, at times, positively yearned for.  The comfortableness of such items simply cannot be denied and are not only yearned for, but most frequently sought, for their moral boosting, confidence and life enhancing attributes.

However, personally imbibing too much of the above delicious nourishment can, and indeed does, sadly cause problems for the human digestion, leading to all manner of health issues.  Too much of a good thing is simply not good for one....oh dear!  Too much wheat adds too much gluten to the diet, and it is the gluten, which really gives us the many difficulties associated with a diet heavily addicted to wheat

However, the problem of too much wheat, has long been studied and researched and today we have a whole range of gluten-free foods, mixes, additions and enhancements to use in our kitchens and homes everywhere, for those constitutions sensitive to wheat consumption.

Here's my present list of gluten-free items -

Doves Farm Gluten and Wheat Free - Plain White Flour Blend / Brown Bread Flour /
Gluten-Free White Self-raising Flour Blend /
Gluten-free Rice Flour
Gluten-free Gram (chickpea) Flour
Doves Farm Organic Gluten Free Pasta
Doves Farm Xanthan Gum - a wonderful product which helps the product crumb and keeps the food item stable.

It's not a long list, is it?  Well, just in the last few weeks or so, I've discovered all the naturally gluten-free food such as, meat, fish, veggies , cheese and so on...   And, all the time I thought they were just are normal food items eaten?

I've no real handle on a Coeliac diet yet but, give me time...!

So, if you have a problem, or think you might have a sensitivity to wheat, go see your doctor, then explore the shelves of your favourite supermarket, and find the foods you can eat without incurring nasty problems.

Let me know how you get on...?

Daisy

PS  I'm also going out to see what other gluten-free products there are to discover - and try them - for some, I've discovered, are not personally gluten-free....?

PPS  do have fun xxx

IMG 4107 Hi there its ME......on a rain pouring wind blowing morning - M...

Hi this is ME.....on Christmas listings - Friday, 27th December, 2013

Was your Christmas feasting glorious?  I do hope it was for you, for it was, for me and mine!

For breakfast.....to get the day off to a good start..

Buttered toast and Nutella and hot tea....  - this was so lovely!

A dear Aunt always used to have Nutella,when we visited her on weekend occasions, and the treat was always very much appreciated, by all of us!  So delicious!



For Christmas lunch........

A  huge roast chicken
Roasted potatoes and parsnips
Brussel Sprouts with chestnuts
Caramelised carrots
Bacon wrapped chipolatas
Giblet gravy
Bread sauce
Cranberry sauce


Lovely, lovely food......must admit, I helped over-cook our bird, just a tiny, tiny bit....but it was still  jolly good and the wine was great, too!

Dishwasher and hand-washing up, followed swiftly by a brisk walk in the park, followed just as swiftly, by a brisk retreat to the cosiness of a cosy sofa...


For supper.....Ah, the delights of the supper table!

Hot sausage rolls
Cheese board
Assorted cheese biscuits
Pate
Quince Paste from Selfridges
My home-made chutney - Apple and Elderberry
Grapes, dates and figs
Dessert wine
A Christmas Pudding from Mr. Tesco
Brandy butter also from Mr. Tesco
Ice-cream for the little ones - I had some too - smashing!!!

Then, once the little ones were safely in bed, the house quiet and Dr. Who was commanding the sitting room,
chocolates, Ferrero Rocker and warming drinks to keep out the chill night air.......

Followed deliciously by Downton Abbey    ......... whoooooo oooooo!


Daisy xxx

Christmas wreath

Christmas greenery

Christmas plants and flowers

Hi there its ME.......on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, 24th December 2013.

Just a few short hours to Christmas Day which will, no doubt, go by very quickly.

I'm still not quite ready to go but just wanted to send you Merry Christmas Wishes before I crack on with things and get myself ready to be with my family for the festivities.

So  -  Merry Christmas Wishes to you

See you later....

Daisy

IMG 4033 Hi this is ME.......on Sunday chatter - 22nd December, 2013

Hi this is ME......on Christmas and all things for Christmas...

Continuing with my Christmas preparations...Skyping with my family in Australia, visiting a sister this afternoon and trying to get on with the chaos of my desk.  Thank goodness, Christmas will soon, very soon, actually be with all of us and then, like many of you out there, I shall just have to stop trying to do things and concentrate on Christmas Day itself...and won't that be lovely.

OK that's all for now....enjoy your lovely day and we'll chat again very soon!  And my thought for the day - Christingles, pomanders and mince pies.....


Enjoy!

Daisy

Hi there....another Christmas list for you - Saturday, 21st December, 2013

The other side of Christmas listing and shopping is the list of everyday household items; dull, boring, necessary, all those things we can't live without, which we need to buy weekly or monthly?

I've bought some items, but...here's a few things still left to buy(:

Loo paper from Farm Fresh Foods
Soft butter
Dishwasher tablets
Fairy Liquid
Sanitizer spray
Milk - blue top for him and Lactofree for me
Bread - Marks & Spencer Made Without Wheat for me and Multi-grain for him
Crumpets from Marks and Spencer's range of Made Without Wheat bread, crackers
Porridge oats for me
Morrisons Pots of Food - although I couldn't find these yesterday - bother!!!
Veggies swede, carrots, celery, onions, cabbage
Frozen peas, sweetcorn
Potatoes
Mince Pies - at this time of year they're regular necessities!
Yorkshire Gold Tea Bags
Persil Bio Small and Mighty

Plus a few bits to keep us going until my next shop......
Nice Sausages
Bacon
Farm Shop Eggs
Cox's Apples
Bananas
Satsumas
Beef mince
Stewing steak
Pork chops - remember to defrost apple sauce for these
Tomato purée
Garlic purée
Garlic cloves
Sainsbury's Basics butter - salted and unsalted


My eternal idea for Christmas, is to get as much food, and things, in by Christmas Eve to carry us through to New Year's Eve, so that I can stay at home and read that new book or watch that Christmas DVD, catch up on a favourite pastime or hobby or simply vegetate and watch TV, when not walking Alice or washing up!

Being without my computer for those few days earlier this week, really messed up my scheduled tasks so today, when I should have been out and about, I'm at home, still clearing up, polishing and dusting; even chatting to you must be squeezed in between chores....hey ho, that's life I guess!  Ah ha, the washing machine's just done, so now I can make a video of my next poem for Wattpad - Merry Christmas.

Must tell you about last night's steak supper - it was so good but y'know, I could have cut each of those steaks in half, and we still would've had a splendid Christmas treat - must remember this for next year's treat, hahaha hey!

Happy last-minute-shopping...
Daisy

IMG 3987 - Christmas Wishes from my collection - A Christmas Stocking..

Hi this is ME......on Lists of my life - Friday, 20th December, 2013

I thought it might be fun to write down a list of some of the particular items needed to make Christmas day go with a swing - from my perspective.  Undoubtedly over-the-top, back then, and even more so now, but fun all the same.

I had my aunt's Christmas recipe book, full of recipes both grand and not so grand, even a few simple ideas, of earlier years, even some from the kitchens of royalty and all historic and very traditional.  The romance of the book, this slim volume with its old-fashioned appeal, spoke directly to me in an intensely personal way; I was both entranced and inspired.  The book eventually became mine and its  magic has never left me.

Ah ha - here's a paler copy of my earlier list - the original would surely frighten everyone clear away!

Food for Christmas Day -

Bird - goose, turkey, chicken, pheasant, duck, multiple-bird roast, capon
Meat - beef, lamb, pork, gammon and don't forget the chipolatas!
Veggies - potatoes, parsnips, Brussel Sprouts, peas, carrots, red cabbage, onions, broccoli
Stuffing - breadcrumbs, herbs, sausage meat, walnuts, butter, seasoning, herbs, stock cubes, celery
Sauces - bread (fresh white breadcrumbs, onion studded with cloves, bay leaf, salt & white pepper, milk;  Cranberry - home-made or bought, onion.
Giblet gravy - you can still buy giblets for the very best of gravies
Mustard; Redcurrant jelly, mint sauce, Horseradish
Yorkshire puddings - if you're having roast beef

Puddings - Christmas pudding, an Iced Bomb pudding, Fresh Cream Raspberry Trifle, Tarte au Citron or Chocolate Tarte with single cream, Profiteroles
Brandy or Rum butter, Double or single cream, ice-cream, even custard!

Dessert - Satsumas, tangerines, Brazil nuts, Walnuts, Pecans, Dates, Figs, Chocolate Raisins and Chocolate Brazils
Chocolate - Peppermint Creams, Coffee Creams, Rose Creams, Turkish Delight - all flavours - My dad loved Rose Turkish Delight

Drinks - Champagne, wine, port, sherry, Elderflower cordial, Juice, Squash, Iced Water with fresh lemon slices

Tea Time - Christmas Cake, Mince pies, Shortbread fingers, Chocolate biscuits with a good pot of fairly strong tea

Christmas supper - cold meats, salads, mayo, chutneys, hot sausage rolls, homemade sandwiches of egg and cress or ham or chicken, cheese and biscuits plus mince pies with brandy butter, a glass of wine, or two...

And ..for Christmas morning breakfast, we always had slices of delicious ham, hot sausage rolls with mustard and cups of strong, hot tea; and we generally had grapefruit halves grilled, with a scattering of crunchy brown sugar on top, plus a cherry!  Was it a Maraschino cherry, perhaps!!!

I now like to indulge my sweet tooth by munching on a warmed Pain au Chocolat for breakfast, accompanied by a lovely mug of fresh coffee!

And a little something to keep my going while I cook lunch - ah....a glass or two of Madeira ....just too delicious for words!

My list is not without its missing items and you will have your own family lists, most of which you will probably now have safely stored away for next Wednesday...for the great feast that is Christmas lunch....of dinner and do you eat  sometime around late midday or do you dine on your roast goose or turkey in the evening........it's so fascinating the story of how we all differently celebrate Christmas Day through custom and tradition.

What we eat with what and how and when.  On Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.  On Boxing Day and at New Year too - just fascinating.  I feel another post coming on - soon!

Bye for now..

Daisy

IMG 4021 Hi this is ME....Vlog of the day and Christmas treat steak supp...

Hi this is ME....on Gremolata and Jamie's Lovely Lamb Pie - Thursday, 19th December, 2013.

My lovely lamb pie all ready to be eaten!!!

Jamie's "Lovely Lamb Pie" - my supper version tonight....

Hi there,

Before dashing off this morning, I made my first batch of Gremolata - see my blog post of 18th December, 2013, yesterday in fact, talking about this dish I'd come across in that magazine at my hairdresser's salon at the weekend.

I knew of the dish, for I'd seen it in Elizabeth David's book - "Italian Food" - Penguin Paperback edition, but resisted the urge to make it.  After chatting about it yesterday, I began to think how it's use could be extended, whether it could be and for what.  Online, I came across a gremolata vinaigrette which sounded good, and then I thought about using it for cooking chicken - a roast chicken and an idea I've used quite often, such as filling the space between raw bird and skin, with softened butter, parsley and lemon juice.  The mixture bastes the bird as it roasts as it takes on that lovely golden, crispy skin, we all love so much, as it keeps the meat succulent and tasty.

With the Gremolata mixture combined in my Moulinex, I added 8ozs of unsalted butter and achieved a green creamed mixture, which I wrapped up in the butter paper, leaving it to firm-up in the 'fridge, before cutting it up into squares, bagging three squares per bag, and freezing the mixture for future use.

Here's a photo-shot of the Gremolata ready for freezing -

My bagged Gremolata squares for freezing...



This evening, for supper, we ate my version of Jamie's "Lovely Lamb Pie" from his book - "Save with Jamie"  ISBN 978-0-718-15814-9 , Page 202.  I made a few subtle changes, bearing in ,mind the ingredients of my 'fridge such as shortcrust pastry instead of puff pastry, cooking the meat and veggies in my pressure cooker and not in a casserole with the veggies, cooking the lentils separately and adding gravy granules to the stock for gravy.  I'm pleased to say my pie was very tasty,  finished well and looked good - see for yourself at the top of my post.....somehow, some of my pictures simply won't go where I want them to!!!

happy viewing...and eating!

Daisy















































                                           

Hi this is ME...on Aioli - Tuesday, 18th December, 2013.

On Saturday, as I waited for my hairdresser to get to me, and idly leafing thru' a summer food magazine - Delicious - I think it was - I spotted a recipe for Aioli, using anchovy fillets, oil, a medium egg and salt.

Also, a recipe for Gremolata, which is a mixture of fresh parsley, lemon zest and juice and a clove of garlic.  According to Elizabeth David's Italian Food book - Penguin  paperback - Pages 183-184 Gremolata is a mix of chopped parsley, one chopped garlic clove and the zest and juice of half a lemon; according to Elizabeth David - for the "Milanese - it is an essential part of the traditional ossi buchi Milanese." and they sprinkle it on top of the ossi buchi before serving.

The magazine photography looked so enticing, I wanted to rush straight home and make it, right away!  Also the Aioli!

The magazine also discussed spinach fritters, and they looked just like the rissoles I first read about, years ago when beginning to scan magazines and newspapers for new and stunning recipes to make. I found the rissole recipe in the Telegraph, probably the Sunday Telegraph but can't quite remember now, well, it was rather a long time ago!  The whole idea of the recipe was to encourage the use of left-over vegetables or meat, mixing them with a thick Béchamel sauce, chilling, and then rolling small amounts into small thick sausage shapes, before coating in layers of flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs.  These coated rissoles, or croquettes as they are also so called, are then baked or deep fried, before serving with a good well-flavoured sauce.

Well, these spinach fritters looked amazingly like my rissoles of years ago, and I found the magazine article amusing and.....yes, sufficiently fascinating for me to be intrigued  by the process of creating something fresh and tasty out of left-overs.

Coming away from the salon, I dashed into Marks and Spencer for their Made Without Wheat bread and their Beef Bourguignon and Crispy Potato Wedges from their Dine for £10.00 for two weekend meal deal;  well, I can't always create and prepare supper at the same time now, can I?

Fast-forward to this morning and, because of other things, I did not get to whizz up these new recipe re-finds over the weekend, making my own carrot cake recipe and regular meals instead!  So, before dashing out this morning for a spot of babysitting, I got to grips with the Aioli, which is basically a "kind of Provencal mayonnaise" - this from my copy of the "Concise Larousse Gastronomique" Page 8., ISBN 0-600-60009-2

As I'm sure you know, mayo is made using egg yolks and oil, creating an emulsion, with various added flavourings.  Now this magazine recipe stipulated a whole egg plus anchovy fillets, one crushed garlic clove and salt; my interest was assured, so too my curiosity.  I've never been much good at mayo, making instead Hollandaise, which I've always found much easier and quicker + it can be kept hot for up to four hours, which is useful for certain service situations.  So I made the sauce, using just one egg yolk with the other ingredients and, unfortunately, it curdled.  This can and does happen, quite easily with sauce making and the received solution is to start again with one fresh egg yolk, into which you slowly drip-feed the curdled mixture and, hey presto, you have a good finished sauce.

However, I decided this time to use a whole egg, plus seasoning, beating for a minute or two in a food processor, before beginning the slow drip-feed process of adding the required amount of olive oil.  Well, I added my curdled mixture and unused oil, to the whole egg and, within a few minutes, I had myself a full jar of smooth, lightly thickened Aioli.  I had also added two crushed garlic cloves and, fresh ground black peppercorns,  which was not in the detailed recipe; I just knew the final mixture would be improved by this addition!

Aioli may be served with hard boiled eggs, poached white fish, salads and cold meats; to which I would add, freshly cooked pasta, shell-fish and swirled into a simple soup.

It had been my intention to lunch on hot pasta and Aioli today but, came home much too late for lunch, going straight instead for a take-away Chinese meal of various items, which we enjoyed within thirty minutes of getting home.

So tomorrow....! I shall lunch on hot pasta with Aioli and maybe chopped hard boiled egg and raw, sliced red onion and I'll let you know just how good it tastes.

I'm also away from home tomorrow morning so, before I go, I'm going to whizz up a batch of Gremolata and try freezing small amounts in my ice-trays, for easy storage, for future use with chicken fillets or a roast bird and whatever other food combination I might dream up!

I made several batches of basic white sauce over the weekend and I shall use some to make up a batch of rissole mixture which, with left-over Christmas roast meats coming up soon, with Christmas cooking and eating, you might be able to use my suggestions for utilising your Christmas left-overs?

No photography to show you, as my computer is still away being repaired, and in its absence, I'm using His computer, making it difficult to feature my food pictures.  But be assured, I'm still snapping away and will show you the results just as soon as I can, once my computer is up and running!

I adore cooking for Christmas but, sadly, am doing very little myself this year, as I'm away from home,  What's keeping me interested is my current idea for things in pots and jars, for creating almost instant meals and lunch snacks, like my kale pesto, potted kale, creamed Cavolo Nero and sticky red onion marmalade.

Food-talk is so engrossing, hey???

Bye for now  - Daisy

Hi this is ME....just home from Book Club's eats evening for end-of-term "do" - Monday 16th December 2013

A really good evening with much chatter and lovely food and some good red wine - our perfect recipe for a splendid evening.  We even discussed books for  the next term, beginning in the second of |January, when we start with Ruth by Mrs Gaskell.  We are also reading Ernest Hemingway,  Robert MacFarlane possibly a Rose Tremaine and a biography, my choice, of the John Tradescants, two of the best known gardeners and plants gatherers ever known, encompassing time both before and during the English Civil War.  Plus a few others, so a good term's reading to look forward to!

Now just before going out this evening, my computer came up with a weird message, making the dear SO think something really awful happen - gosh, I may  not  be able to do much before Christmas even, apart from using his computer (big worry there, for him, as I rather click a lot and get into trouble easily, oh dear!!!!)

So off to a computer expert tomorrow morning and fingers crossed, all could be well, without too much money to put everything right!!!

Ah ha, we had my Super Ultra Fiesta Carrot cake at our eats do and it was rather good; and we also enjoyed some smashing chocolatey squares with cream!!!

That's all for now folks and hope to talk to you again very soon.

Daisy

ps keep your fingers crossed for me, please

IMG 3969 Hi this is ME....Christmas Words from A Christmas Stocking - my...

Hi this is ME......on Mushroom Saute for lunch on a busy Christmas Shopping Day, Saturday, 14th December, 2013.

Home from shopping and my hairdresser's and I'm hungry.

It's ages since breakfast time.  I've already walked Alice twice today, added more kitchen waste to my composter and done a spot of housework....phew!

We had to take a parcel to be posted - a Christmas Parcel - for my darlings in Australia - which is late for Christmas, of course, but it will get there in time for the much anticipated arrival of a new grandchild in January 2014.  So 2014 will start with huge excitement for our family......simply can't wait to get out there later on in the year, to meet the newest member of our family circle!  Babies are so wonderful!!!

I also had to pop into Marks and Spencer for more of their Made Without Wheat bread and crumpets and a quick look around their fashion departments. Then into WH Smiths, Millets and a very quick peep into a favourite shoe shop - just to look at their boots!

Coming home after all this shopping I was exhausted; the 'fridge was empty of obviously quick food items, such as my kale pesto and that creamed black cabbage mixture.  However, I found a few mushrooms wilting, at the back of the 'fridge, for lack of attention and, breaking them up into little pieces, I tossed them a little hot olive oil in a small saute pan with a good squeeze of garlic puree, fresh parsley sprigs and a teaspoon of cornflour with a grating of black peppercorns.  While these were cooking, I toasted two of my Marks and Spencer crumpets and, when the  mushrooms were cooked, I tipped them onto my hot crumpets and devoured them with a large mug of tea....bliss!  Don't you just love hot mushrooms on toast???

And here's a photo-shot for you -

A quick saute...

and my mushrooms are ready to be eaten...!

For supper tonight, we're eating Marks and Spencer Gastropub Beef Bourguignon with Crispy Potato Wedges from their Dine at home for £10.00 for  two which I'm very much looking forward to!

I have another two carrot cakes to bake, plus Gremolata and Aioli recipes to make up, from  a magazine article found while waiting for my hairdresser, very busy with pre-Christmas hair-do's!


Bye for now.......Daisy

IMG 3965 Christmas Boxes - from my collection - A Christmas Stocking - S...

IMG 3960 This is ME....mushroom snacking at lunch time on Saturday, 14th...

IMG 3938 Hi this is ME....on Christmas Parcels - Friday, 13th December, ...

IMG 3935 Hi this is ME......on Crunchy Roast Potatoes - Friday, 13th Dec...

Easy food for a busy day...Wednesday, 11th December, 2013.

We're busy all day so for supper, which He's cooking, we're having the left-over sausage casserole and, because there's only two sausages left, he's cooking two small, well, almost tiny steaks for the meat input!!

Steak with Sausage Casserole and Marks and Spencer Without Wheat Toasted, Buttered bread!!!

He loves meat, which goes beautifully with the red kidney beans, mushrooms, assorted root veggies and hot toasted Without Wheat Marks and Spencer bread.  I now keep this gluten-free bread in the freezer, removing just two slices, toast and spread with something nice, for eating with supper, or lunch!

My vegetable collections  -  on a plate!!

Daisy

Hi this is ME ....don't you just love carrot cake??? - Tuesday, 10th December 2013.

Here's a few photos for you to devour.....of my latest carrot cake creativity...!

The whole deal!!!

The well-cut cake!

Doesn't that look delicious?

About ten years ago, I created my new carrot cake recipe.

Then I turned it into my Fiesta Carrot cake, adding pineapple to the original recipe, using raisins and walnuts and that delicious Philadelphia Cream Cheese, butter with icing sugar and orange or vanilla flavouring - yum yum!

No photo-shots of that back when - but, here's a picture of my last version - date, walnut carrot cake with ......

Date, walnut carrot cake, pineapple flavoured frosting with carrot and candied peel scatter

its topping of candied peel and carrot grating.   And it tastes wonderful - He said so, and he's always refused carrot cake on the grounds that carrot is not a natural cake ingredient!!!


And next week, for my Book Club end-of-term Eats Evening - we have such an evening of glorious food at the end of each term's book readings..."


I shall bake my Ultra Fiesta Carrot Cake - my date, pineapple and walnut carrot cake, swathed in Philadelphia Cream Cheese Butter frosting, with its wonderful scattering of walnut, pineapple and carrot....I can hardly wait!

Toodle oo.........

Daisy

IMG 3910 Hi this is ME ....on my Composter build and carrot cake on Mond...

I built my own Composter...on Sunday, 8th December, 2013.

Well, I did it in the end!  I built my own composter because I found it was put together in such a way that even an idiot like me, could do it!!  So I did.

Instructions read - "easy to assemble.  Slots together. Start and finish with two half boards as illustrated" and that was that.  It's a 930mm x 930mm x 700mm square box by Grange Fencing Limited and its guaranteed for 15 years against rot, which I think is rather brilliant, don't you?

Here's some photo-shots for you -

The finished article...plus kitchen compostables!

Putting down a layer of chicken wire!!!

All ready to receive its first batch of kitchen compostables!!!

The only encountered difficulty was that of building it twice, once on the patio and again in situ at the edge of my garden plot.  He said to build it and carry it over when done...silly man and silly me, to think the constructed box could be  transported once assembled!   But, it was good to get the feel of how it was to be put together on dry land and really it only took a matter of moments to re-assemble it in situ, fit the chicken wire  in place, the cardboard and kitchen scraps and my cardboard lid, before completing the build.

Now, all I have to do is gather sufficient material, keep it nicely stirred and turned, for next year's summer growing season - or possibly the following summer -  all ready to feed my garden with good, homemade compost.

As one of my sister's always says "if a man can do it, so can I!!!!"

And I did ......hey ho, its a great life when you're prepared  to have a go, doing things for yourself!!!                                                              

Daisy x

Hi this is ME.....talking apples on Sunday, 8th December, 2013.

Hi there,

What an exciting an interesting day this has been for me...talking apples with my son in Australia, frosting my own recipe Festival Carrot Cake and building my new garden composter.

Yes, I did myself in the end, for it was made to be put together in such a straightforward way, it was just like building an upright jigsaw.  So now it's all set up and given its first load of kitchen compostable material and...it's all systems go - so terribly exciting!

I was rather on a roll this morning, just a little excited  and a trifle muddled, so let me put matters right now.  The first Petty family member arrived in Australia, from England, in 1853, one Thomas Petty, who chose land in the Doncaster and Templestowe region.  Thomas' grandson, Thomas Henry, was the first Petty to buy property located at Homestead Road, and the first of three generations to engage with the Homestead Road Orchard, which they continued to do up to 1981 when Parks Victoria became the orchard;s new owner.

Now, the orchard's collection of old and rare apples is looked after by The Heritage Fruits Society, who are part of a world-based movement concerned with the conservation and preservation of antique apple varieties.

The heritage collection comprises over 200 individual kinds of historic apples.

I shall visit Petty's Orchard when I'm in Australia next summer, to be with my family, and I'm very much looking forward to viewing its antique orchard, commercial orchard and other amenities contained within its 44 hectares.

It must be a wonderful venue for apples and humanity alike and the mere thought of being able to inspect it for myself, fills me with great enthusiasm.

I'm perfectly sure there is more to tell you but, right now, that's all I've taken on board...its getting late ...and I simply must stop writing....phew!!!

Also.....more news of my compost build!

All information about Petty's Orchard and The Heritage Fruits Society garnered from their websites, for which I am most grateful to be allowed to utilise.

Daisy

ps photos tomorrow!

IMG 3898 Hi this is ME.....enjoying an inspirational apple tree morning!!!

Apple Day event, Durley Memorial Hall

IMG 3896 Hi this is ME....Harrassed on Saturday, 7th December, 2013.

Hi this is ME on catch-up info - Friday, 6th December, 2013.

My gluten-free version of Smitten Kitchen's Sweet Potato Cake - it's so delicious!

One of my Christening Cakes

My Chocolate Cherry Cake

Hi there  -  you've had the video and now the back-up; well, I shouldn't like you to miss anything!!!

Wasn't it cold today but at least the wind had died down!  I was out driving yesterday, watching the wind whip up the leaves in a frenzy of December madness.  Quite amazing really that natural showtime but I imagine we are all mighty pleased the wind had abated today!

For supper I created a very speedy ratatouille in the pressure cooker, just for speed, you understand; and because it was Friday evening - I know, blah blah blah !  However, it is Friday evening, it's been a very  long week.  Not bad you understand, just long and trying and no doubt, you're all feeling more-or-less the same, hey???

With our rat... we had pork loin chops and small potatoes - it was quite satisfying; and then we finished off our evening meal with a slice of cherry cake and a cup of tea - and that was just splendid!  Thank goodness for cake - yummy!!!

Well, now for a spot of catch-up .....My favourite plant centre is Bunkers Hill, just beyond Kidlington, on the A4095.  Its postcode is OX5 3BA; telephone number - 01869 331492  and for contact go to - www.bunkershillgardenshop.co.uk

I've been visiting for several years, buying plants and things and having tea in the summer time, in their tea garden.  I've introduced friends and we've all enjoyed our visits.  Imagine my surprise then, this morning, to discover their email with attached Christmas tokens!  I can't wait to go shopping.

Next to Mr. Beadle's Best Roast Rump of Beef, enjoyed so much last Sunday at The Horse and Groom at Milcombe.  Well, Trev Beadle has his butcher's shop at Chipping Norton, on Market Street.  His postcode is OX7 5NQ and the telephone number is 01608 642629.  His beef really was excellent.

Our W.I. Christmas Party was great fun with a quiz and a musical session after we'd eaten.  We all wore silly hats, from the crackers we were given, and a glass of wine helped the evening go with a swing!!!

Now my weekend will be made if we manage to build my composter tomorrow!  I've got the compostable material, newspaper and cardboard to line the base, so all I need to buy is the Garotta to get my mixture going,  provided we erect my compost bin.  Ah well, fingers crossed, hey!!!

I'll let you know on Monday how things went...over the weekend.  I hope you all enjoy a good weekend, lots of Christmas shopping and card writing and a glass of your favourite tipple to keep the proceedings bright!

Happy weekend...

Daisy

ps how about a few cakes to view - inspiration for the weekend?

One of my Coffee Cakes

IMG 3883 Hi this is ME on catch-up info!!!

IMG 3871 Hi this is ME....on Cake, Compost, Maraschino Cherries and food...

Hi this is ME again....on today's thoughts and that sweet potato cake!!! Wednesday, 4th December, 2013.

I've made my gluten-free version of Smitten Kitchen's sweet potato cake and, hopefully, tomorrow afternoon will find me whipping up a batch of frosting ...can 't wait to try it out!!!

My compost bin has been ordered and could be here either tomorrow, or Friday, which is just as well, for I've already amassed a bin of compostable material and its getting a little high!!!

Our supper tonight was good.  An interesting casserole of British Beef casserole steak with a wide-ranging vegetable mixture, using Kole Rabi, Harlequin Squash, parsnip, red onion, celery, carrot and pumpkin.

To accompany this dish, we had a dish of potato mash and a pungent mix of red onions, mushrooms and garden-fresh kale, finished off with a sprinkling of roasted seeds, for a crunchy finish.

It's been a busy day.....but successful, thank goodness but, really, I must close-down my computer and sign off....it's almost tomorrow already....!!!

Goodnight,

Daisy

A bouquet to finish on.......

Maraschino Cherries...this is ME talking to you!!!

The Venue...!

Since talking lyrically about Maraschino cherries these last few days, I thought I ought to look into their background a bit, find out a little about them.

Their Affogato - Vanilla Ice-cream, a shot of Hot Espresso and an Amaretti Biscuit.



There is much info on the Internet, as you might imagine, but before I give out a few snippets of stuff, would you like to see a photo-shot of my delicious pudding, from Sunday -

My Belgian Waffle with Dark Cherries, Chocolate Ice-cream & Chocolate Sauce

The Menu

His Chocolate Brownie with Chantilly Cream


There is much about on the Internet, of course, and it made fascinating reading.

For now, suffice to say, the present-day Maraschino cherry is the result of a chemical process and not from an ago-old preservation recipe, known only to the indigenous society of early 19th century Croatia.

Today, the cherry is brined, coloured and flavoured, and presented as Maraschino Cherries without the use of the originally known "marasca" cherries, or the liqueur produced by the crushing and pickling habits of local village cooks and Vintners.

Ah well, things and processes change.  The original cherry supply could not keep up with demands. They became expensive to produce and supply, so the preserve of the monied classes and European crowned heads.

When the cherry was exported to the United States, growers there set about finding their own methods of preservation, cheaper and without the use of alcohol.  Eventually, Professor Ernest H. Wiegand, a horticulturist at Oregon State University, perfected his own recipe. based on indigenous preservation recipes, and the magic became a science.

The cherries I had last Sunday were called "Dark Cherries" but they had the same taste as the ones remembered from childhood and, as seen in the bars of  various pubs my parents ran during that same childhood, and the magic of those days is still with me....!

Also found in my research, a recipe for home-made maraschino cherries but, that as they say, is for another day....!

My research notes and ideas came from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, and I am very grateful for the helpful information.  I also read up on Maraschino cherries from my edition - The Concise Larousse Gastronomique - ISBN 0-600-60009-2 , Page 768.


Daisy

ps  the cherry is a luscious fruit, is it not???

IMG 3836 Hi this is ME.....on My Quick Sausage Casserole

IMG 3833 This is ME ...on Maraschino Cherries

IMG 3816 This is ME on........life - Saturday, 30th November 2013

Hi this is ME......on onion marmalade & cauliflower cheese

Hi, This is ME talking to you.....on paperwork and food, of course!!!

Hi this is ME........on Lists and other things - Friday, 29th November, 2013.

Two friends of mine have recently had to pack for an unexpected holiday admission and it set me thinking, how I would cope in a similar situation?

Well, so far, so good, for it's not happened but, what if it should?  What should I need to take with me....well, naturally -

Nightwear plus slippers, plus my lightest wrap or dressing gown

Sponge bag -
of course, but I bet I'd forget obvious everyday things such as dental sticks and such like (at home one uses an electric toothbrush - could you take that???
cotton wool, shampoo and conditioner, small face scrub, loofah, tweezers, medicated foot creams etc.)
Of course, I think you should keep an emergency sponge bag ready all the time, just in case - weekend jaunts, hospitals, emergency over-night stay somewhere - for work perhaps, and so on!

Nice wrap or light cardigan
Books - at least three
Food nibbles - fruit, biscuits, dark chocolate, water and squash
Magazines
Telephone book
Mobile 'phone and charger
Note cards or writing paper, envelopes and stamps
Torch and batteries
Money for hospital 'phone - just in case!
Money for hospital television - for moments of extreme boredom
Air freshener
Tissues
Small travelling clock
Silk Scarf
Hair brush, hair spray, comb etc. if not already in sponge bag
Extra large towel and bath hat
Something to do - knitting or sewing (with sewing kit) or a small jigsaw
Fresh home clothes


Now what have I left off my list.....?  Anything???  I think a copy of this list in my wardrobe, sellotaped up somewhere, would be useful!!!

I'm going to make another batch of onion marmalade and Kilner it, for the store cupboard, for future busy-day lunch or supper times.  It will always go with my pesto and potted mixtures, as well as my new Black Cabbage mixture made up last weekend - it's lovely!

Well, must dash, there's cooking to do and supper to prep.  There's no time to be bored!!!

Daisy

Hi, This is ME talking to you.....on paperwork and food, of course!!!

Hi..this is Me talking to you - Wednesday, 27th November 2013.

It's been a desk-bound day for me.  Simply masses of paper to sift thru', back-filing to attend to when, frankly, I'd much rather be surging forward, blogging and vlogging and well, cooking up a storm or two!!!

I've a  few new ideas to try out, see if I can make them work out well, and add some news recipe items to my own recipe book; just love the idea of publishing an own-book, one day...wow!!!

In the meantime, I finished off my third batch of beetroot and horseradish chutney and there's just a few apples left over to turn into applesauce...must use more of the sauce in the flourless cake of Mark Hix's that I made yesterday evening!  And today, I found a Smitten Kitchen Sweet Potato cake with soft Marshmallow topping, which looks absolutely gorgeous;  I shall try for a gluten-free version of Debra's cake for our weekend treat.

For supper tonight, we ate lamb chops and lamb steaks with my potato kale cakes and two or three fresh winter vegetables, with mint sauce and gravy.  He's such a good cook, it's a real treat to tuck into one of his plates of food!

Actually, I've eaten so much, I simply don't even want to think about eating even the tiniest morsel of my delicious cake - I can't face it!!!

It's been a useful day and there's still more paperwork to be organised, filed and recorded but, at least, I've made a start and from now on, it can only get better!!!

OK - see you later!

Daisy

ps here's another photo-shot of that cake !

Me on cooking, eating and books - 26th November 2013.

I've just made that cake I was telling you of earlier, Mark Hix's "flourless orange cake recipe" seen online on the Sunday Telegraph Food Page for Sunday, 24th November, 2013.

Now, I've had to change the recipe contents a smidgen, for I'd only two eggs, and no oranges, so I used my apple sauce mix, made the other day and flavoured with lemon and, only a little ground almonds, so I made up the required amount with ground walnuts.

I'd bought walnuts, for Sainsbury's were out of almonds altogether the other day, because of a product recall for some reason, and I've not been back since then, to see if their problem has been resolved.

I put my mixture into a two pound loaf tin, as I could not find a round cake tin of the required size.

Here's a few photo-shots for you -

All together now...?

Just baked...!

Ready to bake...!

Baked and finished...!

My version of Mark Hix's flourless cake with my cream cheese icing and ground walnuts......!!!

And, what did we have for supper...eventually....well, He cooked  -  Belly Pork slices with lashings of potatoes and veggies....!

Daisy

ps  here's my new, floral patterned,plastic bag holder from Chic Unique Brogdale...

Howzat!!!

Lists for Life.........My life!!!

Lists are great for all kinds of occasions, times, events and for going places?

My last list was for going to Brogdale and here it is -

Pink Cagoule
Apricot fleece
His Wellington boots
My Hunter boot liners
Comfortable rain hat
Extra thick socks - just in case
Sat Nav - map - address details
Warm underpinnings!
Full Coffee flask
Torch and spare batteries
My 'phone charger
Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel
Shopping bag
Bottled water
Wrap, handkerchiefs, gloves (which I forgot!)

And then my gardening things....!

Pruning saw and knife
Gardening gloves and cotton work gloves
Secateurs
Notebook and pen
Pruning book - well, I thought it might prove useful for a quiet moment!

An everyday walking coat
My dark blue Gilet
An extra jumper - just in case
Plus - one other coat - another just in case - well, you simply never know, do you???

A brilliant day - highly enjoyable and very instructive.  And no photo-shot of our day but one of Brogdale's Apple Day Festival in October....!

Apples on show for Apple Day - 21st October 2013


Daisy

This is ME talking to you - an anxiety of lavatories!

Why, oh why, do lavatory paper holders jam and lock in the very instance of (their) prime movement?

You're in an anxiety to perform, having either rushed up an escalator or, to the furthest corner of your favourite Supermarket or store, wondering if the loo will be clean.  I mean, you're thinking, should you just sit or, layer the seat with clean loo paper or, sit on your hands or - are you the clever type, who's practised the art of straddling, without touching anywhere....?   It's all such a bother really but, omg, the thing needs to be aired!

And then you're struggling to unclip, unfasten, unzip, all the while loaded with parcels, umbrellas and what-not?  It's enough to make one expire.....!

The problem is always the same - you settle yourself and then the wretched contraption doesn't co-operate.  All you manage to get your hands on is a torn and raggedy piece of material and, of course, we manage - just as always!

Hey ho, it's just one of life's little difficulties we women have to cope with - don't we?

However, perhaps somebody ought to do something about those awkward lavatory paper holders...what do you think???

Daisy

About Beetroot......a quick note for future use!

Ah ha, good old Sainsbury's supply beetroot in neatly vacuumed packs - in natural juice and easy to cook...!

Neat and ready to use - Sainsbury's Beetroot

And a new list......for your handbag, one of those large, capacious brown leather ones, we've all been toting around for ages.....a new handbag-essentials list - the extra items!

And today, having

popped out to visit friends, to  borrow their long-handled pruning clippers, and on the way back, harvested more fresh kale from the garden but, omg! I'd forgotten to bring my gardening gloves, and we'd rushed off so quickly I forgot to wash my  hands, all muddied from the bricks, stones and sticks holding down the netting over the veggie patch;  and guess what, I had none of that antibacterial hand-gel to hand - bother!!!

So, back to my new handbag list, my first new essential handbag item would be, you've guessed it, the antibacterial hand-gel....

And then, and then, that most essential item - a plastic carrier bag, for that shopping you hadn't bargained on buying today.  

Of course, if you have a really large "shopper-type" handbag, you could make it one of those hessian bags, with a name emblazoned across its side.  I favour these myself, for the handles are so much kinder to the hand, than a plastic handle, don't you agree?

So, there we are, the first two items for my new Lists for Life - essential items for handbags!

And, in the kitchen, I'm making apple sauce for our pork chops for supper; two large Bramley apples, peeled, cored and diced, in a small saucepan with a little water, a squeeze of lemon juice plus a small knob of butter, gently melted down over a low heat until thoroughly collapsed.  Give the whole a good stir to amalgamate and there you have it, a lovely apple sauce to enjoy with your pork chops for supper!!!

Daisy

IMG 3656 Kale Pesto for Sunday Supper...Sunday 17th November, 2013

Margaret Bakes a Gluten-free Red Velvet Cake with beetroot...!

Hi there, I thought you would like to see  my vlog - Margaret makes a gluten-free red velvet cake with beetroot.

And here's my cake...

Gluten-free and Gorgeous - My Red Velvet Cake with beetroot!

A really light and gloriously delicious cake, my version of a cake from America's Southern States and featured in "The Joy of Baking" by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker.

I've also recently enjoyed a girlfriend's recipe for chocolate and beetroot brownies, and they were just so good, soft and squidgy, and delicious.  And entirely gluten-free with ground almonds and no flour.  Really scrummy!

Good food - glorious eating!!!

Now, what shall I cook tomorrow?

Daisy

margarets vidio edit 3 Margaret makes...her own Gluten-free Red Velvet C...

Lists for Life.........The Detective......

Do you watch TV?  I mean, did you watch TV last night for the last Poirot?

Well I did but I'm not convinced by Poirot's performance as a dead private detective - it just wasn't convincing!

And I love watching Poirot, Miss Marple, Lewis and his sidekick and Foyle - they're all great.  Great stories, great detectives and.....talking of Greats....let's not forget Morse - as if one ever could!

Now his television death was memorable, emotional, convincing and utterly believable....and still, today, I feel the pain of his departure from our screens.  Lewis is brilliant with or without Morse...but he's not Morse; but I do like him very much.

Talking of detectives, must mention the original, for me anyway, Miss Marple, played by Joan Hickson.  Wow, she was and, still is, absolutely, my most favourite TV crime-solving TV presence.  Just one look from her candid, thoughtful persona, gave you that absolute surety of her knowledge of the human mind, that capacity for intrigue, deceit and mayhem.  Joan Hickson 's Miss Marple displayed an acute awareness, muffled up in knitting and that oh so sweet smile,  all concealing her razor-sharp intellect and deductive powers to get that criminal or criminally-inclined person.  Totally marvellous and brilliant!!!

But back to Poirot....has he really gone, never to return to our TV screens, never to listen to Miss Lemon's dulcet tones, never to reprimand Hastings for not using his mind.....has he really gone for ever???

He could walk in last night's programme ...we saw him....so why all the mystery of his ill-health, his death, his failing powers, when he told Hastings he could walk, which is why he'd sent his personal valet away?

It's all too mysterious for words.  I want Poirot back on our screens, catching the criminal, intent upon some dastardly dead....and I want his smiling assurance that all will be well, tapping his "little grey cells" with that enigmatic smile, so knowledgeable, so charismatic and believable

Daisy

Lists for Life.........My life!!!

Lists are great for all kinds of occasions, times, events and situations.  In fact, they are essential for most of us, most of the time.  Of course, making a list almost guarantees it will get lost, mislaid, forgotten, even ignored; yet still a remnant of your list will have become lodged in your brain as a faint memory, so all will not be entirely lost.  The situation is retrievable!!!

My list is for my life, right now, thus it is a very particular kind of listing, just for my situation now.  It could possibly work for others, if they are of the same frame of mind, and I rather guess, the basic ideas incorporated within its framework, would happily be applicable to others.  So let's see how my ideas pan out, once written down in an orderly manner?

Must-haves:-

mobile 'phone - ready charged to go
dog and lead - Alice likes to come with me too!
bottled water
car keys
house keys
money /cards
torch
map - just to check your car knows where it's going
wellington boots and rain hat
waterproof cover
first aid  kit
car cleaning materials
picnic - if you're on a long journey
car rug
shovel


Well, that's good for starters, but I may add, more items later on.  Let's see!


Bye for now

Daisy

Enlisted - me to you!

Away on holiday, it became increasing obvious to me that, unfortunately,  we or I, for that fact, should have been much better organised before we set off!

But the dear SO likes a spot of spontaneity, loves to act on an impulse and go where the wind takes him, on the spur, as it were.

Now me, I'm entirely different in that I like to plan ahead, list all those little necessary essentials of daily living, and take them all with me.  My idea is that, going away on holiday implies a break from daily life, away from the every day chore, with time to indulge oneself in the other things of life, craved and longed-for.

Not to bother with the little niggerly things of living makes the holiday more uplifting and enriching, I think.  Of course, it's fun to shop in new and different shops, elsewhere places, to see the how and why of other suppliers and to try out another language and style.

So to this end, I've been constructing lists for things, times and places, and this is my first essentials list for my holiday travel destinations.

My holiday list:

Torch and batteries
Medical kit with scissors
Extra Scissors - medium & large sizes
Home Comforts - own pillows, duvet + spare duvet cover, hot water bottle
Wellington Boots, stout raincoat or mackintosh, rain hat and gloves
Matches and fire lighters
Good supply of favourite loo paper
String
Favourite tea bags
Good ground coffee and percolator - unless your destination boasts its own one - a first need-to-know
Kitchen utensils - good vegetable knife, carving knife and favourite small, sharp knife
All basic foodstuffs eaten regularly plus  few delicacies normally reserved for extra special occasions
Any special dietary requirements like my Lacto-free milk, yoghurt and gluten-free bread
Persil Bio washing liquid and conditioner
Dog biscuits, drinking bowl and food bowl
Kitchen paper
Wardrobe comforts - thick jacket or woollen cardigan, two fine, warm jumpers, two scarves or wraps
Basic clothing necessities plus a few nice, favourite additions of choice, plus a smart jacket
Shoes - walking, converse, house shoes, slippers
Two or three holiday books and a craft activity - knitting, tapestry or quilting work

These are my thoughts for self-catering holidays, some of which you probably won't require if you are staying in an hotel, or flying off to somewhere hot.  In this case, you'll need to exchange warmth needs for cotton, linen or silk items.  But I do believe there's always a case for taking some warm wrap with you, for evenings are often cool, even at warmer destinations!

So there it is.  It's not definitive and no doubt other items will suggest themselves.  So watch this space for more ideas, your own essentials list may benefit from close attention to my thoughts?



ME-to-you

DaisyMargaret