Wednesday 5 November 2014

Midweek miscellany


So, Wednesday already. Bonfire night tonight (although we were out driving on Saturday evening and could see fireworks going off for miles all around). There's a bonfire party at a pub up the road but I suspect it'll be packed out and I'm not sure whether being jostled around with a two-year-old in tow is the best idea. Maybe we'll feel braver later this evening...

November has well and truly arrived, bringing with it plenty of chilly weather and the faintest whiff of Christmas. For me that whiff is Eau de Panic: time to try and save a little money each week to ease the load. We don't 'do' extravagant gifts but I really like to buy some indulgent food from more a more upscale supermarket - ahem - Booths.

Christmas this year will be sad having so recently lost my mum. But it'll be exciting too - Joe will have a much firmer grasp of what's going on this time around and I'm hoping for a snowfall.

Anyway, enough talk of Christmas. Back to the week just past.


I'm trying to lose a bit of weight at the moment. My favourite jeans are way too small and even my looser ones are, well, snug. So it's out with the evening snacking and in with smaller portions, plenty of Asian-inspired food (it just feels cleaner, somehow) and willpower. All that festive eating on the horizon will give me something to keep going for.

The food thing leads me neatly into what I'm currently reading. Cookery books, always cookery books. The local library has a really good selection and I'm trying - for the first time - the Hairy Bikers. First up, their Asian Adventure. Lots of  recipes from Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand. I'm looking forward to giving some of them a go, as I love sweet and sour flavours, chilli (in moderation) and crunch.

Another of theirs, Great Curries, was borrowed with Jay in mind. He can do the cooking and I'll happily oblige by eating. In moderation.

In addition to books I've got a (secret) Pinterest board on the go with healthy recipe ideas. Thus far we've had a Chinese chicken salad which was zingy and virtuous and last night I gave courgette, feta and spinach fritters with tzatziki a go. They were almost worth all the washing up. And the Magimix is getting some serious workouts too (unlike me).

I have procured a new set of wooden cooking utensils. My old ones are very stained and must be flavoured with the ghosts of a thousand meals past. Joe can have them to play with and I'll use these, currently pristine, ones. I'm sure they'll get beautifully (and indelibly) stained the moment they hit anything tomato-based.


Here they are, styled (I know, I know) alongside another library book: Food From Plenty by Diana Henry. Jay describes it as 'my' kind of recipe book, i.e. lots of pretty photographs to gaze at. Although it's also a very sensible read, packed with good advice on buying food seasonally and using up leftovers.

One of the (few) houseplants I own has fallen prey to mealy bugs. I went and bought some spray today, and repotted it outside in the very, very fresh air. Whilst at the farm shop-cum-garden centre I picked up a few other things: beetroot, waxy potatoes, shortbread and a sweet little pink cyclamen. Another year, another attempt to try and keep one going beyond a month or so.


The weekend was lovely and relaxed and we managed plenty of walking, hence the photographs. I still need to start taking more landscape-orientated images rather than automatically going for portrait. They look better on the blog, I think. And the indoorsy ones here are SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera). You know, in the spirit of 'real' and 'honest' and all that. Truth be told though, I do love playing around with my photos so will continue to do so.

Whatever makes you happy, etc.


I succumbed to the temptation to buy yet more notebooks. They were very cheap supermarket purchases and I've personalised them with rubber stamps. You can never have too many notebooks. The ones I carry around with me are always secured with an elastic band to keep them closed. One of those little habits I have.


And finally, I'd like to say thank you for all your comments on my previous post. It's always good to get people interested and read their views. And thanks to some of those comments I've managed to get my images to a more reasonable size.

Enjoy the rest of the week (and the fireworks).

18 comments:

  1. I love this week's miscellany. Here are some miscellaneous comments. Those notebooks look great with your added flourish. I've been searching my recipe books for (more) inspiration to cook.I do like a nice recipe books that you can read like a novel. I like the look of that Diana Henry book. I've seen some others of hers and they were very good. Tonight when the girls are in bed I'm making a Shepherd's pie for tomorrow. Forward planning and all that :) I can feel smug for at least one meal. We're working on Christmas too. I hate the busyness in the last weeks. I like to feel smug (yes more smugness - it's the emotion of the week) knowing Santa's sorted and we're on top of things.
    I love how you've altered your photo size...they look great! And a beautiful shot of Joe (and presumably Jay). Have a lovely week. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same to you - even though the weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Yes, that's Jay with Joe looking out over Ramsbottom and beyond...
      I'm liking the idea of 'emotion of the week' - it sounds like a regular blog post series! x

      Delete
  2. I love a good cookery book and the Diana Henry one sounds very good. Beautiful photos - I love the colour and texture of the top one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks - the top photo is actually an extreme close-up of the door from the animal feed merchant up in the village. I like a bit of peeling paint!

      Delete
  3. Isn't it funny, my husband also describes cookery books with lots of photographs as "your kind of recipe book". He prefers the ones without photographs because apparently a homecooked meal is aesthetically less disappointing when one does not have a photograph with the styled version in mind. We have a roaring bonfire in our neighbours back garden, a tradition that has been going for years. I am sitting in with the little ones until they are asleep and then will go back outside again for a few minutes. I just love the smell of fire in my hair. Christmas, it is so soon. I'll be thinking of you. My dad passed away when Sam was Joe's age. Christmas was sad but Sam's excitement was really wonderful to witness and helped us all to have a lovely sad time. I don't know if that makes sense? Cx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do love a good bonfire but only if it's a small affair - I can't be bothered with funfairs and people running about in high-visibility vests telling you to keep well back (talk about stating the obvious). I also dislike crowds...
      Our longer-term plan is to move up to Scotland, ideally to a place with enough of a garden to have our own bonfire.
      And yes, that last sentiment does make sense. I'm currently living a sort of parallel life: one's happy and exciting as I watch Joe develop, the other's sad and still a bit shell shocked from the loss of my mum. It's nice to hear from people who understand, as many don't.
      S x

      Delete
  4. Snug jeans here as well. Sigh. I bought two sledges last year so I'm afraid there's very little chance of snow for the next five years or so, apologies. Love the cyclamen. I had a little pink one last year that flowered and flowered for months, I must look out for another one - that one is living in the garden now. You have reminded me to go and look for it tomorrow. I can never resist notebooks. Never. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Addictive, aren't they? I think notebook love is quite common...
      Cyclamen seem to have a real problem with me. I remember once going to a Greek island (possibly Corfu) and being amazed by a carpet of them growing wild under the trees. I struggle to keep even one tiny specimen going.
      S x

      Delete
  5. New set of wooden spoons here, too, a purchase sparked by the thought of mixing the Christmas cake with one that gave off an unmistakable whiff of garlic. I'm with you on the notebook thing (think I may need another one for Christmas planning) and reading about your menu changes makes me think we need a bit of a shake up on the meals front here. There are loads of recipe books in the kitchen. I should follow your example and read them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good to maybe try one new recipe a week. We often end up in a bit of a rut with the same old meals, so having a go at something different is quite interesting. Sometimes they work, others they're a bit disappointing. But I've discovered some really wonderful things to cook and as a result they've become favourites.

      Delete
  6. I really enjoyed reading your post. I have a Christmas dream every year where I suddenly realise it is Christmas day and I haven't bought any presents or food and I haven't sent any cards. I rush about trying to find things to give as presents, try to work out how to get cards to everyone in time, even though I still haven't bought them. Thankfully I wake up and still have time to get all the preparations done. But that sense of panic lingers until it's all done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Each year I try to stay a step ahead, and each ear I fail... but it's a good feeling when you know everything's dealt with and you can just relax. I can't understand how some people go out and do it all on Christmas Eve - I'd be a total wreck.

      Delete
  7. Hey Sarah,
    Can I recommend the Hairy Bikers diet cook book? I cook from it a lot. Their slimmed down curries are particularly good. I have found that a plentiful supply of satsumas have been great for evening snacking. And they are cheap as chips at the moment. I love the idea of stamping the exercise books to make them more personal. Christmas is on the radar here too. I'm writing a post about it this eve (maybe. If I have time).
    Your photos are great. As ever. The light here is very poor at the moment. And uninspiring. As is all the bloody rain. I haven't had a good photo taking session in an age.
    Leanne xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Leanne - I bet they've got that book in the library so will have a good look next week. And satsumas are great. I love the smell, they remind me of childhood Christmases.
      The rain's set in here too. Disappointing really as I was going to a car boot sale on Saturday with my stepdad and no Joe (freedom!!!) and it'll be cancelled if the weather doesn't pick up. Yes, the light's dismal. I thought about upping sticks and taking Mitenska HQ up to the loft where there are three Velux windows. Unfortunately whoever converted it didn't bother with insulation so it's pretty Arctic up there, and this being an old house I don't fancy keep creaking past Joe's bedroom door and waking him up. Nothing is worth that. I live for his naps some days!
      S x

      Delete
  8. I have plans to buy some cyclamen tomorrow on my travels, no idea if I will keep one alive though so I will be interested if you have any tips as you care for yours! I hope that whatever Christmas brings for you this year that you can find some love and hope and joy in it and enjoy the good times while remembering times past with your Mum. xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm always reading cookbooks too, love the sound of your courgette fritters x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sarah, how are you? Hope you are enjoying your weekend! The changing seasons are always a catalyst here for reviewing the type of food we eat. I love pulling out the recipe books and perusing for inspiration. I am at the stage where my three are and should be eating anything we do, but when you throw a severe nut allergy and three strong personalities into the mix, it isn't always simple. I long for the day when I put a meal down which it just accepted. My roast chicken dinner is the biggest success although two have it with pasta. Bizarre or what! Anyway I'm rambling now. Love your customised notebooks and cyclamen! Bee xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Can I just say that your landscape photos here are just gorgeous. Especially that last one, breathtaking. x

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...