Pork and Apples

31st January - last day of January - cold and wintry - I'm not sure I'll miss it!!

Had a ssslllloooowwwww cooked meal today in the SlowCooker, using browned, diced pork fillet, carrots, stick of celery, shallots, garlic, sliced potatoes and sweet potatoes, mustard, powdered coriander, pearl barley, stock and the secret ingredient - my homemade apple puree, made in the autumn and so good with a pork casserole.

Cooked together for a good 5 hours, it tasted wonderful and there were empty plates! 

Is more cold weather on the way?

Walked along the river opposite Upnor Castle yesterday afternoon, it was grey and cold, getting dark by three thirty, but very quiet with just a few birds calling.

Nice to get home and put feet up in the evening with tv and the paper!

A January Sunday

24 January 2010

A cold day, just right for reading the newspapers, drinking tea!

Nice to look at flowers too. You feel Spring might just be around the corner.

Let's hope it's not cold enough for

January Blues!

Typical Grey Day

A dull, dark January day, one to stay indoors in I think. Still I am having my hair done tomorrow so something to look forward to. Also have decided to brush up on my French and German which is very schoolgirlish. Can I remember back that far? So I am being very positive and have even done the ironing which can't be bad! Can I keep this up I wonder.

Another cold day - Time to cook!

Woke up to more snow, although it turned to sleet after a while. Hopefully it will wash away the snow, but it seems to be taking some time to do it!

Made a beef casserole and a fruit cake. The house smelt wonderful and the food tasted pretty good too.

For the casserole added to the browned beef some shallots, carrot, red pepper and mushrooms, some stock and red wine and cooked very slowly in the oven. Meanwhile, getting the cake ready: using dried fruit (dates, nuts, prunes, raisins, dried cranberries, plus some diced pineapple with a little syrup, chopped candied ginger too, steeped in some port for a while) creamed sugar and butter, added two eggs, flour and mixed up with a little apple juice.

That went in the oven with the casserole plus a baked potato.

A nice meal, enjoyed with a glass of wine!

Still Snowing

8th January 2010 (Elvis' birthday)

Still snowing - England is an icy wasteland it seems, saw a satellite picture today in the newspaper and it was showing England almost completely white. More snow here today and we broke off icicles to show the grandchildren and we all licked one of nature's ice lollies!

Dinner for Two on a cold snowy night.

7th January - evening meal.

My version of cauliflower cheese, which to the usual cauliflower I add a little bit of brocolli, a little fried chorizo and onion (no added oil here) one baked potato sliced and then a cheese sauce poured over. Top with cheese (mine was Wensleydale with cranberries - left over from Xmas) and breadcrumbs.

Pop in a hot oven for 35 to 40 minutes and what could be nicer!

Snow, snow and more snow!

Brrrrrrr!

A cold and wintry day - buses and trains restricted - certainly a day for staying at home.

Resolved to make my own Christmas cards for 2010 or 2011 - depending on how motivated I am. I have still got a few left to use, but the sales produced nothing I liked, so I'm determined to make my own.

So far, this is the result, sewing the motif freestyle onto a variety of strange backings!

Think it's time to think about dinner and a cauliflower cheese bake seems imminent. Warm comfort food for a chilly January day.