Random Ramblings - August 13th 2019 Edition

Today's going to be another one of my random posts, since it's been a couple of weeks since I've done a proper Tuesday post again, and a lot happened during the past two weeks. So...

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I wanted a doughnut.

Now, normally this wouldn't be a big deal. Well, unless it's a Sunday. But the rest of the time it's no big deal. I mean, we have a bakery just up the road, which is open Monday through Saturday. So, why is it worth mentioning?

Because the doughnuts at the bakery aren't vegan friendly.

Actually, since I know they don't see a problem with putting the vegetarian stuff in with the meat stuff - despite the fact I know they've had plenty of complaints about it from vegetarians - whether or not any of their supposedly meat-free stuff is even completely vegetarian friendly is debatable, never mind vegan friendly. So, going to the bakery was out of the question for me.

Yes. Some of the supermarkets do vegan friendly doughnuts. But since all of them take a cab journey to get to, going all the way to one of them just for a doughnut wasn't really an option either. Tempting as it was.

Besides, I did want to be making stuff myself as much as possible.

So I looked for a simple doughnut recipe that either was vegan friendly, or could easily be converted, because I didn't have one, having never actually made doughnuts before. Then I made these:


Yeah, I know they don't look like much, but I assure you they tasted great. It was probably - in fact, definitely - a very good thing I only made those dozen small doughnuts you see in the picture, that's all I can say. *wink*

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I saw mention of banana peel bacon on one of the groups I'm on over on Facebook. I'm sure I've seen it mentioned elsewhere too. Either way, it sounded interesting, and I thought it would be a good way to make use of the peels from the bananas I've been having in some of my smoothies, rather than just throwing the peel away. So I tried it.

However, as far as I'm concerned, this was a much less successful cooking experiment than the doughnuts were.

Banana peel bacon is not for me.

At least I can say I tried it.

Although, since I ended up burning my hand a little during the attempt, I have to say that no part of this particular cooking experiment was fun for me. I'm actually lucky I reacted fast enough that it was only a small burn to be honest. It could have been a lot worse. As it was, it was just part of my hand became red and tender, and I ended up with a small blister, all of which cleared up quickly, and none of which stopped me using my hand normally. We were worried it would be worse than that at first. It might have been if I hadn't reacted so quickly. My hand is fully healed now.

If you're wondering: I misjudged the location of things, and put my hand down on the plate of freshly fried banana peel bacon, which was coated in a "sauce" that involves syrup. So think of what it might be like to put your hand in hot caramel, and you'll have some idea of what I did, and why I was lucky I reacted fast enough to avoid it being worse than it was. I'm usually careful enough to avoid doing things like that, but apparently wasn't this time.

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I got a new slow cooker a few days ago.

Well, OK. I had one brought for me by my Mam.

I used to have a really good slow cooker several years ago, but it needed replacing, and never was. We got rid of the old one that didn't work right after it stopped working, but never got around to getting a new one. Since I'm making most of my food myself these days, and having the cooker on for a long time turns the flat in to a sauna - not only on warm days either - I figured I should get one for those times when I want to make soup, chilli, curry, etc, but don't want to feel like it's me being cooked rather than the food. Plus, they don't have to be watched as carefully as a boiling or simmering pot does, which is a huge bonus. Now I don't need to worry about getting one, because Mam beat me to it.

It's only a small one. But I did tell Mam that's all I wanted. Partially because it makes finding room for it in our little kitchen easier. But also because that's really all I need. Just one big enough to do me dinner for two nights, or tonight's dinner and some leftovers to go in the freezer, or - as will be the case with some things, depending what I'm making, and what I decide to have with it - two days dinner plus leftovers. Either way, I didn't need a large one, so Mam just got me a little one, as requested. As a bonus, it's really simple to use, so no complication of trying to remember what button does what, and needing someone to tell me again if - or when - I forget.

I tried it out over the weekend. I made some vegan chilli. It was really good! It's lucky I think so, since I had enough for two days dinner, plus some leftovers (which are now in the freezer, since I didn't want to be having chilli for more than two days in a row). I had a baked potato with the chilli on Saturday and Sunday, and will likely do that again when I have what's in the freezer, since that's my favourite way to have chilli.

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I recently reorganized the kitchen cupboards so we could see exactly what we had in there, and get some order to them. Then I stocked them back up with a variety of grains, herbs and spices, nuts, seeds, etc, so there are plenty of non-perishable items in them to use - along with fresh fruit and veg, which I'll buy as needed - to make my meals.

I guess doing that put me in the mood for some decluttering, because I didn't stop there.

I went through my craft stuff. Organized it better, and got rid of a few things I know I won't use. I don't know if some of the things are actually of any use to the charity shop near us (and I do mean near... It's literally across the street from us) but I bagged them up for them anyhow, since we were taking other stuff to them, so they could use what they can, and pass on what they can't. I figured it was better to give them stuff they can't use, than find I didn't give them stuff they can use. We just told them to do what they want with anything that's no good to them.

I also went through clothes. I checked what's showing so much wear I need to get new really soon, and bagged up anything I know I won't wear again (stuff I was given at some point and don't really like, or stuff I got that I like but don't like how it fits me). I ended up with several bags of clothes, which we took to the charity shop too. Hopefully someone can make good use of them. As I said, I also figured out what I need to replace of the clothes I actually do wear, which thankfully isn't much. Going to have to do a bit of clothes shopping soon though. Ugh! I hate clothes shopping! That's one of the reasons why I wait until I actually need to replace things, along with not wanting to contribute to waste more than I need to. I'm at the point where I can't wait much longer with some things now though, unfortunately.

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We got another baby gate.

We have a special stair gate at the top of our stairs, and a pressure fit one in the living room doorway. The stair one is so we can answer the door without the dogs escaping. The other one is so we can keep them out of the kitchen area when we're cooking, and give Joshua and Mollie a break from them in the evening. This new gate - also a pressure fit one - is for the computer room doorway, so they can be in there with me out of the way when Kelly's dealing with bringing the shopping in, and that kind of thing, so needs them to not be under foot.

I used to just pick Lilie up when that was happening. That worked fine with both of them at first too, while Logan was still tiny. Now Logan's getting bigger, it's more difficult for me to keep hold of both of them, since the way I have to hold both means I can't guarantee they can't jump out of my arms. I suppose I could put them on their leashes, which would keep them with me easily. But I feel kind of mean putting them on a leash if they're not going for a walk, and would only want to use that option if I had no other choice, or could be sure they could go for at least a short one right afterwards. Hence buying another baby gate, and being glad we have small-ish dogs, so baby gates work as barriers.

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Avout two weeks ago - after having been kept busy elsewhere for the past few months - the repair guy came to do a few of the jobs in our building again, though not the ones in our place. Although, he did test the fire alarms, since they need to be tested regularly, and were due for that again. We wish he'd been here to fix that stupid skylight though.

Last week, we had him back here, but it wasn't for the skylight then either. It was because the cooker stopped working. Every time we tried to make dinner, it would blow the main fuse, and the electric would go off, only finally able to be turned back on again when we turned off the cooker.

So, we got a new cooker out of it.

At least, we half have, and eventually will. It should have been a quick replacement, but our cooker is one of those in two parts because it's built in to the kitchen units. They had the oven part in stock, so we had that replaced within 48 hours, but they didn't have the hob part in stock, so had to order it, and haven't made it back to install that yet. It meant we didn't have access to a cooker at all for two days, and have so far not had access to the hob part for about a week, which is a bit of a pain. Not to mention, I'm a bit annoyed that they said they'd be back, "Friday or Monday," to install the hob - which they said would be available for them to pick up on Thursday - and neither came back, or let us know they wouldn't be coming for whatever reason. If they weren't doing it on one of the promised days, they should have at least had the decency to let us know.

I'm happy about the result being a new cooker for us, since the one we had hasn't been all that great the whole time we've been here, so it was about time we got a new one, if you ask me. But I'm not too happy about the new hob still not being installed.

I'm starting to wish we'd moved after all...

Not to mention, I REALLY wish they'd fix that stupid skylight. Preferably before the Autumn and Winter storms show up. It's annoying enough with the Summer storms happening and it not having been fixed yet.

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We've had some storms, some hot and sunny days, and some days where it's overcast but dry and warm. We really never know from one day to the next what the weather will be like, and sometimes it changes from hour to hour.

Luckily, Logan's getting better about tolerating the storms. Now he just wants to cuddle close during them, which is fine by me, since I happen to think cuddling up with a puppy listening to storms is a great way to spend your time. Of course, Lilie wants to get in on the cuddle time too. So, I end up curled up on the bed with Lilie and Logan, and get to enjoy the storm and puppy cuddles at the same time. Yep... Works for me!