Now is the time for the Phantom to don his wooly hat and do his Bill Oddie impersonation. (Actually not that difficult, apart from the height difference (approximately one foot, before you ask.)).
Tomorrow sees the start of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, the 29th. Anyone, not just RSPB members, is invited to spend one hour sometime this weekend, logging the maximum number of birds in their garden, by species.
There is an identification chart on the website if you are not too good on telling a grebe from a goldfinch. Final species totals need to be recorded on the Birdwatch website. Don't feel worried if you only see common birds, or none at all. All the information gathered is of use.
Friday, January 25
Tuesday, January 22
Pasta Perfect
After the headlong rush towards Christmas, late December and early January can be difficult times to find motivation in the kitchen.
Work days seem to get longer and evenings shorter, leaving work in the dark and arriving home cold, wet and uninspired.
It is the weekends that offer a chance to take time and pains over a meal. A few weekends ago we invited the Legal Eagle and her Beau for supper. My wife and I discussed menu options the night before. I started off suggesting a casserole; she fancied something more individual, maybe fish. I dismissed this as too fiddly and being too 'last minute'. She suggested lasagna - now I was beginning to get enthusiastic. I saw her lasagne and raised it to cannelloni.
Even better, though, would be cannelloni with home made fresh pasta! I went to sleep happy,thinking of the day to come, and getting out the pasta machine...
I don't make pasta very often, but I always enjoy the process.
THERE IS A MAGIC IN MAKING PASTA FROM SUCH SIMPLE INGREDIENTS.
3 EGGS, 10oz OF FLOUR, NO NEED TO USE A BOWL.
MIX TO A DOUGH WITH A FORK,KNEAD FOR 10 MINUTES AND REST IN CLINGFILM
ROLL THE DOUGH THROUGH THE PASTA MACHINE, GETTING THINNER EACH TIME
REST THE PASTA ON TEA TOWELS WHILST WAITING TO BE ROLLED
THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME FOR YOUR VISITING CATS TO JOIN IN - HARDEN YOUR HEART!
WHEN THE PASTA IS AS THIN AS YOU CAN GET IT - DROP 3 OR 4 AT A TIME INTO BOILING WATER
BLANCH FOR 1 MINUTE
AND DROP INTO COLD WATER
GENTLY RINSE UNDER THE COLD TAP TO REMOVE EXCESS STARCH- YOUR PASTA IS NOW READY TO USE!
THE FINISHED DISH OF CANNELLONI BEFORE FINAL COOKING
AND AFTER!!
I have to say it tasted great too. And we had enough pasta left over (uncooked) to make lasagna the day after.
Work days seem to get longer and evenings shorter, leaving work in the dark and arriving home cold, wet and uninspired.
It is the weekends that offer a chance to take time and pains over a meal. A few weekends ago we invited the Legal Eagle and her Beau for supper. My wife and I discussed menu options the night before. I started off suggesting a casserole; she fancied something more individual, maybe fish. I dismissed this as too fiddly and being too 'last minute'. She suggested lasagna - now I was beginning to get enthusiastic. I saw her lasagne and raised it to cannelloni.
Even better, though, would be cannelloni with home made fresh pasta! I went to sleep happy,thinking of the day to come, and getting out the pasta machine...
I don't make pasta very often, but I always enjoy the process.
THERE IS A MAGIC IN MAKING PASTA FROM SUCH SIMPLE INGREDIENTS.
3 EGGS, 10oz OF FLOUR, NO NEED TO USE A BOWL.
MIX TO A DOUGH WITH A FORK,KNEAD FOR 10 MINUTES AND REST IN CLINGFILM
ROLL THE DOUGH THROUGH THE PASTA MACHINE, GETTING THINNER EACH TIME
REST THE PASTA ON TEA TOWELS WHILST WAITING TO BE ROLLED
THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME FOR YOUR VISITING CATS TO JOIN IN - HARDEN YOUR HEART!
WHEN THE PASTA IS AS THIN AS YOU CAN GET IT - DROP 3 OR 4 AT A TIME INTO BOILING WATER
BLANCH FOR 1 MINUTE
AND DROP INTO COLD WATER
GENTLY RINSE UNDER THE COLD TAP TO REMOVE EXCESS STARCH- YOUR PASTA IS NOW READY TO USE!
THE FINISHED DISH OF CANNELLONI BEFORE FINAL COOKING
AND AFTER!!
I have to say it tasted great too. And we had enough pasta left over (uncooked) to make lasagna the day after.
Sunday, January 20
Once Again, The Phantom Has Piles
I'm afraid they just keep on coming back. This is a photo of my post-Christmas bedside bookpile. I always know it's getting a bit out of hand when I can't see the bedside table anymore and start using the books instead.
Some of these will be bookcrossed. In fact the Bill Bryson on the right was released and caught earlier on today. Check the link here to my BookCrossing Journal entry.
If I was the type for resolutions I'd try and keep the bedside clear. I know it will never happen though. I'll check again at Easter and post a photo.
Thursday, January 10
Christmas Cooking
My old friend Welsh Dog asks (in his comment on my post below) about our Christmas dinner. I have to confess that no boats were rocked this year. There was prawn cocktail to start, gravy accompanied the turkey, and Christmas pudding was served at the conclusion, duly flamed in brandy. (The presence of my Mother at the Christmas board is now conditional on all three, after the infamous "No Gravy?" complaint of 2005)
My country cousin Stewart made the prawn cocktail dressing, mixing worcestershire, sweet chilli sauce and nutmeg into a chiffonade of lettuce and fennel in a style which was casual but dedicated. I have to say that prawn cocktail is practically the only dish that I ever allow the dreaded Iceberg lettuce anywhere near. (Apart, maybe, from in tortillas with chilli, cheese and guacamole.)
Our turkey, a free-range bronze, was supplied by Godfrey's of Highbury. Reared in Berkshire by Copas, it was delicious. Once again the highlight was the leg meat; rich, gamey, moist, almost like duck. If Copas could breed an octopod turkey with breasts like Twiggy I for one would be well happy.
A quick mention for the pudding is also deserved. It came from Duchy Originals, and was quite simply the best any of the eight of us had ever tasted. It was light, fruitfull, and moreish. At least half of us had seconds. The homemade rum and raisin ice cream never made a return journey to the freezer either.
All in all, a lovely meal. No photos though, just warm memories of a job well done.
My country cousin Stewart made the prawn cocktail dressing, mixing worcestershire, sweet chilli sauce and nutmeg into a chiffonade of lettuce and fennel in a style which was casual but dedicated. I have to say that prawn cocktail is practically the only dish that I ever allow the dreaded Iceberg lettuce anywhere near. (Apart, maybe, from in tortillas with chilli, cheese and guacamole.)
Our turkey, a free-range bronze, was supplied by Godfrey's of Highbury. Reared in Berkshire by Copas, it was delicious. Once again the highlight was the leg meat; rich, gamey, moist, almost like duck. If Copas could breed an octopod turkey with breasts like Twiggy I for one would be well happy.
A quick mention for the pudding is also deserved. It came from Duchy Originals, and was quite simply the best any of the eight of us had ever tasted. It was light, fruitfull, and moreish. At least half of us had seconds. The homemade rum and raisin ice cream never made a return journey to the freezer either.
All in all, a lovely meal. No photos though, just warm memories of a job well done.
Monday, January 7
Twelfth (or Thirteenth) Night
Tired out by the season of non-stop partying and overeating,
Tigger is here to remind you all that it was Twelfth Night on Sunday, and all of your Christmas decorations should have been taken down last night (Or even the day before, if that's the way you count. See the discussion on Wikipedia.) Of course, it's Fourteenth Night in Australia by now. Hello folks and Happy New Year.
Tigger is here to remind you all that it was Twelfth Night on Sunday, and all of your Christmas decorations should have been taken down last night (Or even the day before, if that's the way you count. See the discussion on Wikipedia.) Of course, it's Fourteenth Night in Australia by now. Hello folks and Happy New Year.
Wednesday, January 2
New Year, New Age.
Yes, I am back from my Christmas retreat. It is amazing what a diet of freshly-pressed wheatgrass and spring water does for the inner man. I was lucky to have made friends with the Native American in the Teepee next to ours. He plaited me a smaller belt (made from discarded dream-catcher twine) to keep my now far-too-large trousers up.
The days since I last posted have been dedicated to nurturing the Inner Phantom. Three hours a day in the lotus position contemplating the eternal questions such as “Why is Christopher Biggins?” and “What sex are Turkeys?” has honed my spiritual acuity whilst still leaving me time to practice my yoga, especially the Cleaning Dog position. (The first few days are the worst, until the tendons loosen enough to get both legs behind your neck at the same time.)
Only time will tell whether I will be able to keep my New Year resolutions of blogging at least every other day and always telling the truth.
OM.
The days since I last posted have been dedicated to nurturing the Inner Phantom. Three hours a day in the lotus position contemplating the eternal questions such as “Why is Christopher Biggins?” and “What sex are Turkeys?” has honed my spiritual acuity whilst still leaving me time to practice my yoga, especially the Cleaning Dog position. (The first few days are the worst, until the tendons loosen enough to get both legs behind your neck at the same time.)
Only time will tell whether I will be able to keep my New Year resolutions of blogging at least every other day and always telling the truth.
OM.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
