Cooking Tonight #5

[Florence Fennel]

Egg mayo Justa last night as we had visitors (my GG going to New York today). We didn't eat the designated Apple pie either, so that's today, but goodness knows what we'll have before!

[greenishfing]

Yesterday ended up being an assorted nibbles kind of day.

I'm going to put some stew meat, or as the supermarket calls it, casserole steak, in the slow cooker shortly. I might make a pie with some of it later.

[Bren In Pots]

Fish pie this evening with 8 pence a bag sprouts and carrots.

[Florence Fennel]

Ended up giant battered fish fingers last night with home made crinkle chips and naked beans.
Probably soooop tonight and an egg custard.

[Snoop Puss]

Fasolakia. Mr Snoop doesn't know it and he won't be happy when he sees it. Altogether too healthy, but I've loads of veg to use up and this will be a good start. A decent pud will be required to cheer him up. Mince pies and cream might do the job.

[Nicos]

Roasted chicken with chips and french beans.
Choc- ice for pud

Bren I spotted there are 8p a bag deals in many supermarkets from now until end of December?
Hats off to the supermarkets.
It’ll make a big difference to those struggling…and for those who aren’t…well, who doesn’t like a bargain?

[Bren In Pots]

Bren I spotted there are 8p a bag deals in many supermarkets from now until end of December?
Hats off to the supermarkets.
It’ll make a big difference to those struggling…and for those who aren’t…well, who doesn’t like a bargain?

Aldi's veg is now down to 5 pence a bag

[Nicos]

Wow…that’s incredible Bren - It just goes to show what these guys can actually do as far as loss leaders are concerned.
Yep..they clearly want people to go in and buy other things there instead of at a rival suoermarket…but what a bonus for those who are seriously struggling.
Even though I grow most of my own veg, I’d still be buying in some of those. Can’t have too much carrot soup
Actually- that reminds me…. When we had a horse I used to buy sacks of horse carrots from the fam supplies shop….mostly broken , but if you went through the large bag , took out the stones, thoroughly washed off any pesticides and soil and dried them , they’d sore for ages. I think they cost about 50p a sack back in those days, but I wonder if they can still be bought even now? Incredible bargain!


No idea what we are having tonight. The car has gone in for its service and we have a courtesy car thank goodness for the day so at least we’ll be able to do the last of our grory hop before the family arrives.
A nice impulse purchase for supper would be a good thing don’t ya think?

[Snoop Puss]

5p - that's really quite shocking. Great for the consumer but dire for the farmer.

Padrón peppers, baked mushroom rice with cinnamon and allspice, mandarines.

Out of interest, Nicos, what did you decide about the mincemeat? I've got a couple of ancient Christmas puds (Tesco) and am not sure what to do about them.

[Nicos]

Yep…I’ll eat them later in the year…the lid is solid and the colour looks good..but will have a sniff when I open it….not that you can smell botulism
The family can have the new ones.

My granny used to keep her Xmas puds for years…like a fine Cognac.
Always batch cooked them, wrapped them well and stored in her pantry under the stairs.
They just went darker and richer and less chunky in time. I’d never hesitate in eating an old Xmas pud…which is why I feel pretty confident about the mincemeat.
I think the oldest pudding we ate was about 10 years old?
You’re probably going to steam them to death anyway…. Your call of course, but I think I’d be tempted to remove the cover and have a careful look …then cover them in foil again before steaming.

Quite envious you have those tbh!

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Nicos. I tend to cut slices of pud and then fry them in butter. Disgraceful I know, but steaming for hours isn't my thing.

[Florence Fennel]

Other "half" of the Chinese tonight.

[Nicos]

Thanks, Nicos. I tend to cut slices of pud and then fry them in butter. Disgraceful I know, but steaming for hours isn't my thing.

I’ll put the cardiac crash team on standby for you then.

[greenishfing]

I’ll put the cardiac crash team on standby for you then.

I don't suppose it's any worse than ladling vast amounts of brandy cream over them ... unless you do both

[Snoop Puss]

I probably use about the same amount of butter as I'd use on a piece of toast.

Which has probably got you thinking... Either it's not very much, especially in the grand scheme of everything that gets eaten at Christmas. Or it's a huge amount and we have that every time we have a piece of toast.