We always used Oxo. But when I had my guest who needed gravy with everything, I stocked up with Morrisons best granules, which include stock, and allow for variations in quantity. When the stockpile (!!) runs out, I'll have to rethink. I don't use the granules for actual cooking. Back to Oxo for that (I keep a mental map of who stocks the lamb version.)
I have a food intolerance that means I can't use anything with onion or shallot or the powders thereof, so Bisto, Oxo, and all granule things are out of bounds.
We use vegan gravy granules, but as I said upthread I'm not that keen a gravy fan.Marks and Spark's Plant Kitchen gravy isn't bad though, and I do make a rather nice red wine sauce at Christmas.
Husband and I have decided that to differentiate Fridays from other days of the week now we've retired, 5 o'clock shall be GIN time. Can't wait.
Husband and I have decided that to differentiate Fridays from other days of the week now we've retired, 5 o'clock shall be GIN time. Can't wait.
We have a Friday evening fixture as well; drinks with friends on Zoom. It's a real highlight to the week. We'll be having a FaceTime with the family later too, as it's Mr Nen's birthday.
I have Navarin of Lamb in the slow cooker, all the other veg is prepared, red wine at the ready and bubbly in the fridge. Bring it on.
If doing gravy for roast beef, I use the juice from the meat (cooked with onions), plus some water, Bisto Best and a bit of Lea & Perrins. It's edible, and better than the Bisto alone.
Mr H does the gravy (he usually does the roasts), with the meat juices, and corn flour, I think. He is also a fan of adding Worcester sauce. If I make gravy for sausage and mash I make onion gravy and add a knorr stock pot and a little flour.
Friday is takeaway evening, I'm not sure what yet as Mr H has popped to the office.
Mr H does the gravy (he usually does the roasts), with the meat juices, and corn flour, I think. He is also a fan of adding Worcester sauce. If I make gravy for sausage and mash I make onion gravy and add a knorr stock pot and a little flour.
Friday is takeaway evening, I'm not sure what yet as Mr H has popped to the office.
I’d like Friday to be take away evening. Mr Boogs doesn’t agree, he prefers to cook.
Mr F was to have dental surgery today but didn't because recent stroke.
Meanwhile I'd been to M&S to look for squidgy things in expectation of a weekend of very cautious eating. So it'll be lasagna tonight, re-instated steak tomorrow and cheese fondue on Sunday.
It was a Chinese takeaway from a place specialising in dumplings - might go there for dim sum one day in the future. Very good crispy beef, barbecue pork and cumin lamb. We also had noodles, rice and seaweed salad, with sweet bean dumplings for dessert.
Currently drinking a small pale ale.
The best bit of roasting bone-in meat like chicken thighs or wings is the what's left in the dish: meat juice, fat & leftover marinade. Makes a jellied stock starter that keeps in the fridge for a bit and can be thrown in other stuff to make it tastier.
I've discovered there's a Chinese takeaway almost as close to the flat as the chippy; I hadn't noticed it until yesterday as I usually cross the road before I get to it (and until recently it's been dark by the time I'm coming home).
I was going to order something last night but discovered they only take cash (remember what that is?) and I didn't have any, but I think I'll visit the cashline and give it a go next week.
I've discovered there's a Chinese takeaway almost as close to the flat as the chippy; I hadn't noticed it until yesterday as I usually cross the road before I get to it (and until recently it's been dark by the time I'm coming home).
I was going to order something last night but discovered they only take cash (remember what that is?) and I didn't have any, but I think I'll visit the cashline and give it a go next week.
I know! Our wonderful Sri Lankan take away only take cash for deliveries. So we can’t do it on a whim as cash needs to first be sought.
I’ve started a little sideline buying and selling on marketplace so that will provide some cash for such things in the future.
When they open again I intend to buy at charity shops and sell on Marketplace (no postage, all is picked up on the doorstep). I’ll let you know how it goes. I do have a good ‘eye’ for such things.
O - you missed a real Treat!
Bread, Dripping, and BEER are much to be looked forward to in Heaven...
I remember going to a pub in Nottinghamshire that put help-yourself bread and dripping out on the bar on a Friday night
Hmm. Just about as conducive to hygiene as the once-familiar bowls of peanuts or crisps, handled by everyone who came out of the loo without washing their paws...
... Our wonderful Sri Lankan take away only take cash for deliveries ...
This wasn't delivery - I was actually at the place and would have picked it up; the bloke told me they haven't got a card machine.
It's a nice but cold day here, and I'm just back from a pleasant little amble to the butcher's (where I got a lamb shank) and then down to Tessie's for a few bits and bobs (and WINE - I'll need some lubrication for the virtual Shipmeet later).
ETA: talking of WINE, they had Cloudy Bay, but as it was £22 a bottle*, I resisted.
* The last time we bought it in the UK it was £11, but that was about twenty-mumble years ago.
It's nice and sunny but cool here. I feel Virtuous because I aerated the whole lawn with a fork this morning. Admittedly it's not very big but I usually need two or three goes to do it all. Neighbours are pruning. My wife will cook Hungarian Paprika Chicken for dinner (one of her 'signature dishes').
Cold and grey here. I went for my walk and then pottered for a few minutes in the garden but it was too cold to think about sowing seeds in the shed.
I’ve just made green tea cake (using matcha powder) with a lemon icing glaze to off-set the bitterness of the tea.
Family online gaming tonight.
I was gifted a bottle of WINE from my neighbour because she doesn’t drink red and it’d been in her cupboard for 12 months. I merrily chug the stuff usually but took a look at this bottle and there’s wax seal before the cork (I just go for screw top 80% of the time at least) and a big widget and it looks like special occasion beverage. I’m trying to work out when I’ll next have a special occasion. My birthday is this month so I might save it until then.
@Heavenlyannie green tea cake with lemon icing sounds delicious - where did you get the recipe from?
green tea cake with lemon icing sounds delicious - where did you get the recipe from?
No special recipe, I just added a couple of tea spoons of matcha powder (I often drink matcha of an afternoon) to my usual loaf cake recipe. It can be quite bitter though if you are not used to the flavour. I made a drizzle of lemon juice and icing sugar to contrast which I poured over it while still hot.
I'm not sure where my nearest Lidl would be; there's an Aldi on the way to Sainz Breeze, but I haven't noticed a Lidl in these parts. The only branch of Lidl I've been in is in Kirkwall, and tbh I wasn't all that taken with it - I think Aldi's a nicer "shopping experience".
I usually get my smoked salmon in M&S, as they often have it on at 3 × 100g for £10, which strikes me as quite a good deal.
There was what would pass for sunshine just after lunch so I had a couple of hours in the garden, clearing dead stuff, planting a few pots with bellis and feeding the climbers (honeysuckle, rose, clematis, Virginia creeper and hydrangea).
I'm not seeing as much bulb action, especially from the crocus, as I'd expected given the number I planted, but the garden is usually a bit late.
Our crocus have been out a few weeks and the miniature narcissi are out in the front bed. The narcissi in the garden aren’t out yet but are in semi-shade.
There was a lovely display of crocuses (croci?) on the grass verge by the bus stop the other day - made me feel really quite Springish.
Supper chez Piglet was a lovely juicy steak* with new potatoes, broccoli, green beans and mushrooms and a glass of Merlot.
* I seem to have just about conquered how to cook a steak to my liking (medium-rare).
One of the minor glories of Edinburgh is bands of crocus planted either side of the road through the Meadows. Actually the Meadows (a grassy area criss-crossed by tree-lined paths) are a treasure in themselves for a city centre. In the 80s they were that close to being turned into a 6 lane motorway.
I noticed today that a hedge of forsythia in a nearby garden is beginning to bloom. That, to me, is a real sign that Spring is nearly here (despite the earlier advent of snowdrops, crocuseseses etc.).
There was a lovely display of crocuses (croci?) on the grass verge by the bus stop the other day - made me feel really quite Springish.
Now, now - steady on!
And it's so nice to see daylight at both ends of my working day: my walk to the station was really nice this morning.
Pity I missed the bus by a smidgen - I saw it pull away from the bus stop and there was nothing I could do. If my Railcard hadn't lost its magnetism and the bloke at the gate hadn't had to faff about with it ...
Grrrrr!
I'm going to load my new Smart card this evening - the old one doesn't expire until Wednesday, but I'm fed up with it not working.
Gorgeous sunshine here and I went for my usual walk and got a bit overly hot at one point. I also went The Other Way Round my customary route, so it was quite the adventure.
Having spiked holes into our small lawn on Saturday, I have just bought and spread a bit of sand on it to help improve the drainage. Didn't take long but my fingers are sore from the sand!
Comments
Husband and I have decided that to differentiate Fridays from other days of the week now we've retired, 5 o'clock shall be GIN time. Can't wait.
That's no moon...
I have Navarin of Lamb in the slow cooker, all the other veg is prepared, red wine at the ready and bubbly in the fridge. Bring it on.
Friday is takeaway evening, I'm not sure what yet as Mr H has popped to the office.
I’d like Friday to be take away evening. Mr Boogs doesn’t agree, he prefers to cook.
😏
Meanwhile I'd been to M&S to look for squidgy things in expectation of a weekend of very cautious eating. So it'll be lasagna tonight, re-instated steak tomorrow and cheese fondue on Sunday.
Currently drinking a small pale ale.
The best bit of roasting bone-in meat like chicken thighs or wings is the what's left in the dish: meat juice, fat & leftover marinade. Makes a jellied stock starter that keeps in the fridge for a bit and can be thrown in other stuff to make it tastier.
I was going to order something last night but discovered they only take cash (remember what that is?) and I didn't have any, but I think I'll visit the cashline and give it a go next week.
I know! Our wonderful Sri Lankan take away only take cash for deliveries. So we can’t do it on a whim as cash needs to first be sought.
I’ve started a little sideline buying and selling on marketplace so that will provide some cash for such things in the future.
When they open again I intend to buy at charity shops and sell on Marketplace (no postage, all is picked up on the doorstep). I’ll let you know how it goes. I do have a good ‘eye’ for such things.
Hmm. Just about as conducive to hygiene as the once-familiar bowls of peanuts or crisps, handled by everyone who came out of the loo without washing their paws...
Ewwww...
True, but no pubs, either.
Mind you, it's the Cafés that I miss.
Yes, indeed - but how long, O Lord, how long?
It's a nice but cold day here, and I'm just back from a pleasant little amble to the butcher's (where I got a lamb shank) and then down to Tessie's for a few bits and bobs (and WINE - I'll need some lubrication for the virtual Shipmeet later).
ETA: talking of WINE, they had Cloudy Bay, but as it was £22 a bottle*, I resisted.
* The last time we bought it in the UK it was £11, but that was about twenty-mumble years ago.
Complimentary peanuts.
I’ve just made green tea cake (using matcha powder) with a lemon icing glaze to off-set the bitterness of the tea.
Family online gaming tonight.
I was gifted a bottle of WINE from my neighbour because she doesn’t drink red and it’d been in her cupboard for 12 months. I merrily chug the stuff usually but took a look at this bottle and there’s wax seal before the cork (I just go for screw top 80% of the time at least) and a big widget and it looks like special occasion beverage. I’m trying to work out when I’ll next have a special occasion. My birthday is this month so I might save it until then.
@Heavenlyannie green tea cake with lemon icing sounds delicious - where did you get the recipe from?
Having refilled my wine glass rather more often than I should, I'm now vegging out on the sofa with some CHEESE.
Tea and biscuits may ensue before I go to bed.
Fixed.
I ought to get up soon and contemplate breakfast: poached* eggs and avocado on TOAST today, as I forgot to get smoked salmon yesterday.
* actually baked in the microwave, but you get the idea.
It looks like another nice day, so an amble may ensue later.
I usually get my smoked salmon in M&S, as they often have it on at 3 × 100g for £10, which strikes me as quite a good deal.
I'm not seeing as much bulb action, especially from the crocus, as I'd expected given the number I planted, but the garden is usually a bit late.
Supper chez Piglet was a lovely juicy steak* with new potatoes, broccoli, green beans and mushrooms and a glass of Merlot.
* I seem to have just about conquered how to cook a steak to my liking (medium-rare).
It's too late to plant bulbs in my newly acquired patch of garden, but I'm looking forward to putting lily of the valley in for next year.
And it's so nice to see daylight at both ends of my working day: my walk to the station was really nice this morning.
Pity I missed the bus by a smidgen - I saw it pull away from the bus stop and there was nothing I could do. If my Railcard hadn't lost its magnetism and the bloke at the gate hadn't had to faff about with it ...
Grrrrr!
I'm going to load my new Smart card this evening - the old one doesn't expire until Wednesday, but I'm fed up with it not working.
Brrrrrrrr - there’s sunshine but it’s cold!