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Despite the temperatures being in the twenties all week, I have cooked a meal every day. Amongst this weeks offerings have been Bolognese, liver and onions and, earlier today, seafood pasta with a white sauce.
Would I be right in saying that you are out for a celebration meal today that ends with a cake with candles on it?
Would I be right in saying that you are out for a celebration meal today that ends with a cake with candles on it?
Hiyah Poppet ... x x xAwww? - bless you for remembering?!! I'm just having a quiet day with M&D - but we will be having a Chinese Takeaway tonight as a special treat. M&D have really gone all out and have done me so proud - my gift from them is for a mini-break with my Mum to go anywhere that I want to go, plus they have also bought me a huge Bouquet of the most fabulous Flowers ... AND a lovely iced Fruit Cake too that is completely covered in the most exquisitely made Orange Sugarpaste Roses! ;o>
That cake sounds fabulous- enjoy it and the rest of your day :)
I certainly will do - thank you ... x x x ;o>
happy birthday, suzy!hauf a hunner, still a scunner! :)
Thank you! ... I think? ;oOGoogle Translate says no! ... HA HA HA!!! ;o>
Late to the party but hope it's been a good one, Suzy!
Hope you enjoyed your momentous day, Suzy!
Even later, but hope it was a corker!Fruit cake... yum.
I'm probably late but many happy returns Suzy. Remember, this is the start of a year full of good things for you. 2018 may have been a trifle shitty to date, but it's all plain sailing from now on. I just know it! Enjoy your celebrations, especially the cake!!!
Happy Suzy Day for yesterday! 50 eeek. ;-)
Belated Birthday Greetings Suzy from all at Chez O'Brien xxxxxx!😉
Ohhh WoW?!! - thank you, all of you, so very much! ... x x xUnfortunately I keep on getting wiped out by the terrible Heat, not to mention the almost unbelievable strength of the huge Port & Lemons that my Mum has kept on insisting on making us both several times a day for the last two days! - but a very good time indeed has still been had here nevertheless ... HA HA HA!!! ;o>
And I am a very lucky bunny - as I was born at bang on midnight on the 8th and so we always celebrate my Birthday on the 8th and then we take it over into also celebrating on the 9th as well.
I wish I could send you all a piece of Cake! - no, really, I honestly do! M&D must have got themselves all over-excited because they ordered a massive 12" square Fruit Cake and there is only just the three of us! We have been eating it for two days now and have still barely managed to make any real impact on it at all! - LOL!!! ... so I think I'm going to have to cut it up and freeze it for next Christmas, and Easter, and also through to my 51st in 2019!!! ... ;o> ... ;o> ... ;o>
So? - this is what 50 feels like, hey? And here I am still feeling like I only just left Secondary School yesterday and the whole world is out there and all of my life still ahead of me?! Hmmm? - time to write exciting lists and make some fabulous plans, I think? ... but perhaps I shall start the day off with yet another one of Mum's huge Port & Lemons first?! ... as I am technically (almost) a grown-up now and it is already (almost) Lunchtime!!! ;o>
As a fan of all things theatrical, I was glued to today's Tony Awards ceremony. When Andrew Garfield (accepting his award for Best Actor in a play - the amazing "Angels In America") said "Let's just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked", guess who I thought of?
Awww..rollocks! I missed ya birthday sweetie! I had it in my head your birthday was on the 18th..poo!Ah well..a belated many happy returns Suzy, I hope you had a lovely day. :)
Any cake left?! *He asked rhetorically!*
@Val ... MEEEEEEE!!! - HA HA HA!!! ;o>@Duke ... over 3/4's of it is still on offer - minus some of the Icing down one side which unfortunately had to be cut off and put in the Bin.
Why? - well? ... my Mum temporarily placed it on one of our small low Side Tables (that usually go next to the Armchairs in the Lounge) while we ate our Chinese Takeaway Meal - so that we could keep the Dining Room Table clear to sit and to eat at.
I just happened to look over at the Cake while we were eating ... and saw our Mitz was stood there right next to it? ... with her long pink Tongue out and she was actually licking and tasting the Sugarpaste Icing down one side!!! ... HA HA HA!!! ;o>
She had only got just a few rather tentative licks in, if that, but was quite happily stood there, wagging away, and enjoying her very sneaky treat while we were all so busy chatting and looking the other way!
I honestly can't remember the last time I laughed so much?!! - and she just stopped, with her Tongue still on the Icing and looked at me with big innocent Eyes as if to say ... "what?!!" ... then Mum threw a Tea-Towel at her and chased her off around the Lounge, out the French Windows, and straight down the Garden - with Tia all excited and confused, racing and barking, after them!!! - LOL!!! ;o>
Tonight's Tea was ... Cottage Pie (I made it with Chicken, Bacon & Leeks instead of Beef Mince) served with Tenderstem Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Peas & Sweetcorn ... Yummy! ;o>
You've waited until now to say something, and I had to make do with bacon and mushroom butties!!
Been hearing about how this is predicted to be the hottest Summer for 12 years, with temperatures getting up into the thirties. I'm already struggling with the temperatures now, so come the end of Summer I'm gonna be a Crispygrump :)
All I can say is thank goodness for air conditioned cabs and refrigerated trailers - I'm asking for all the frozen deliveries for the foreseeable, as the temperature in those trailers is minus 21 :)
Been hearing about how this is predicted to be the hottest Summer for 12 years, with temperatures getting up into the thirties. I'm already struggling with the temperatures now, so come the end of Summer I'm gonna be a Crispygrump :)
All I can say is thank goodness for air conditioned cabs and refrigerated trailers - I'm asking for all the frozen deliveries for the foreseeable, as the temperature in those trailers is minus 21 :)
Oooh Bacon & Mushroom Butties ... Yum-Yum-Yum! ;o>My Dad fancied it and asked me to make it but I was so hot prepping and cooking it that I felt a bit sick by the time it was ready for the Table. I served up M&D's and then had mine at room temperature a couple of hours later when I felt more like eating.
Yep! - I've just been reading online that we are in for a hot dry Summer this year. I'm not looking forward to it much either as it only ever seems to cause me to suffer more Bone Pain when the temperature rises. It's been a dodgy day today even though I'm on maximum dosage Pain Relief.
I hope you get the best pick of all the Tesco Trucks this Summer ;o>
There's just one ingredient missing there - a large glass of port (hold the lemon - not diluted my port in over 30 years) to drink whilst cooking, and another with which to wash down dinner :)
Feel free to indulge yourself ;o>I always make my Mashed Potatoes up from scratch - although it is usually my Dad who peels and mashes them up for me these days. I also sometimes use Smoked Bacon Lardons, perhaps put some Fresh or Dried Herbs in with the Chicken, and maybe use just a smidgen now and then of wholegrain Mustard ;o>
It’s 617 cals per portion! Lardons are NOT bacon, they’re lumps of pork fat.
Half the amount of oil would be fine.
What’s the flour for?
How can a pack of mash be ‘fresh?
Ohhh? - I give up! ;o>We eat it only occasionally as part of a perfectly healthy balanced Diet and we also really enjoy eating it as well - LOL!!!
I gave out the original recipe - but I don't ever follow it all that precisely myself and whatever anyone wants to make of it is entirely up to them.
I've been trying out making stir fries for first time ever! Yep...I know..but I've never had them before....and gotta say, really liking them. Not too heavy, which in this weather I never really want a heavy meal..so stir fries are a very quick n easy, yet tasty meal. Soy sauce is lovely..again another thing I haven't tried. Just learning how to do them properly...as we've had a wok in our cupboards for ages, untouched. The first time I tried it..i followed the instructions on the veg packet precisely. Heat the wok dry to a hot temperature and then add a tablespoon of oil. I had only standard veg oil that time..so guess what...yip.....the darn thing ignited straight away!!Good job then, that I had a dampened towel ready to throw over it. You see...I've noticed that cooking instructions often leave out crucial detail...like the actual temperature of a hob? I mean how hot is hot? The word hot is meaningless and individual to each person. Also....no mention on the instruction as to what kind of oil to put in the wok. I could've used Castrol GTX for all the good those instructions were!
So...after cleaning the said wok out..i tried again..this time with the oil in the pan, and the temperature reduced. Put the veg in, started sizzleling nicely, then the rice noodles, protein & then finally the sauce..with a splash or two of dark soy sauce. A couple of minute in the wok..and straight out into serving bowls.
Tasted very moreish, but a bit gloopy and soggy. Guess I cooked the veg just wee bit too long....so i'll keep trying again. Having never actually seen a proper stir fry before...don't quite know how it supposed to be done..or look like. So, one of these days, I'd like to try a proper stir fry, for comparison.....which brings me to another point. In all of the Chinese take-aways & restaurants I've been to, I've never seen stir fries on the menu...why is this?
We like to treat ourselves to a House Special Chow Mein from Chinese Takeaways, Duke - and a Chow Mein is basically a Stir Fry with Noodles in it ;o>Just Google for Stir Fry Recipes and see what takes your fancy ...
https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes...
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/c...
because chow mein sounds more exotic, as i would say!
I have had Chow Mein noodles from my local before...but didn't like the taste of it...dunno why.But thnks for the links..i'll have a look at those.
Tech wrote: "because chow mein sounds more exotic, as i would say!"Sounds too close to MY chow to me..in German!
theDuke wrote: "I have had Chow Mein noodles from my local before...but didn't like the taste of it...dunno why.But thnks for the links..i'll have a look at those."
If it isn't a particularly authentic Chinese Takeaway (one that makes far more traditional kinds of Chinese Meals rather than very anglicised Dishes) then Takeaway Chow Mein can often be quite bland, or over-salty, or sauce-heavy and gloopy.
The one we go to uses Chinese Ingredients and the result is seriously yummy ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "theDuke wrote: "I have had Chow Mein noodles from my local before...but didn't like the taste of it...dunno why.But thnks for the links..i'll have a look at those."
If it isn't a particularly au..."
That's probably why I didn't like it then! The one I had, didn't consist of much, just noodles of some description, some other little bits and pieces, and was a bit on the gloopy side. That's the only thing I don't like about Chinese food in general...it tends to be very thick n gloopy..and yet I thought they did away with MSG some years ago. But it's still gloopy today..hence why I never have any of their soups....just looks horrible!
I like the idea of cooking something with fresh ingredients that retain a bit of crunch to it. I think that most Chinese take-away services, probably just heat up premade stuff in a pan, so it's not as fresh as it could be. My local take-away, which is by no means rubbish (they do a gorgeous Cashew chicken dish there)...but there aren't a restaurant, and as it's not a big building, so I guess it's all premade stuff they use.
There is a proper Chinese restaurant in the village near me..maybe I should give them a try, as I've not seen fit to venture in their premises yet.
The lovely 'crunch' from lightly-cooked Stir-fried Veg in Soy Sauce is absolutely delicious. Our favourite Takeaway uses Water Chestnuts, thin slivers of Carrot, Mixed Peppers, Bamboo Shoots, Chinese Mushrooms, Beansprouts, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) and Pak Choi in their Chow Mein ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "The lovely 'crunch' from lightly-cooked Stir-fried Veg in Soy Sauce is absolutely delicious. Our favourite Takeaway uses Water Chestnuts, thin slivers of Carrot, Mixed Peppers, Bamboo Shoots, Chine..."Sounds nice......love those bell shaped mushrooms they use. I can't get them individually here in my far out corner of Wales...just not the sort of area that has specialty food shops, and the local supermarkets don't stock 'em either, just the usual kinds, which I use instead. My old store that I worked for, used to stock Shittake mushrooms, but I haven't seen those for some years now.
I remember the first time I saw those mushrooms, as a young lad...and I didn't know how the name was supposed to be pronounced. I recall, I asking a shop assistance once, if they had any Sh*t-Ache mushrooms in! I got a very funny look from her!
We have various Ethnic and Specialised Food Aisles in all of our Supermarkets here as well as a lot of exclusively Polish, Chinese, Muslim and Jewish Shops - but we much prefer to get a Chinese Takeaway when we fancy one because all of the individual Ingredients really need to be used while they are fresh and at their best and they also aren't all that cheap to buy either. If we ate a lot of Stir-fry then it would certainly be well worth us buying everything in and there would be very little left-over and wasted - but we don't eat it often enough - and so an authentic Takeaway works out a lot cheaper and suits us far better ;o>
I've been eating stir fries almost every day this week! No waste in this household! Just need to use up some lardons and a bunch of flat leaf parsley now, which i'll put into an Italian style stew cum soup I wish to make...and then there's all the salad stuff to munch through...and erm….guess it'll be a pizza after that!
Happy belated birthday, Suzy! I'm glad you enjoyed cake. Mmmm. The pictures above look delightful. 😊🎂As for summer heat, our air conditioning chugs along. I'd be in a terrible state without it. My dad wouldn't even let me have a fan when I was a child so summer to me means no sleep. Now my a/c keeps the house cool and dry.
I hope the weather cools for you all. Be safe.
Thanks Granny! ... x x x ;o>I have a Ceiling Fan in my Bedroom and I simply wouldn't ever be without one now ;o>
Something I never see these days that I used to love are those Vesta chow mein meals with the little packets of noodles in that you cooked in the frying pan with a bit of oil. They came up all crispy and twisted, it's something I have never seen in a chinese takeaway or restaurant. Very much into stirfry in this hot weather as well, I use some fresh mixed chilli peppers in mine just to give it some zing, you don't need a lot and do make sure to wash those fingers thoroughly afterwards, a carelessly placed digit in the vicinity of a nose or eye can inflict a lot of painful irritation for ages!😈
Our nearest Tesco is some distance away and a long bus journey Suzy, I'm not sure I could be all that bothered for just one item but thanks for the tip though, I may try 'Zon if they're not too pricey.
It wasn't me, Martin, it was Lez Lee who provided the Tesco Link ;o>I must admit that, as well known and as iconic as they were in their time, I've never had a Vesta Meal. I know that I have seen them on sale in Poundland a few times though? And I might just buy one, the next time I am out and about, and try it out now ;o>
Oooops! Apologies Lez, got my wires crossed somehow.Suzy, as I remember the Risotto was quite tasty, I wasn't keen on their curries though.
I've just put pictures of the beautiful Birthday Cake and the gorgeous Bouquet of Flowers that M&D bought for me on my Profile ;o>
Stir fry in this house consists of mushrooms, cabbage (red and white),onions, thin flat strips of carrot (achieved by using the potato peeler), beansprouts, bamboo shoots and, on occasion, leftover broccoli and cauliflower. Mrs Grizzly doesn't like peppers (yet - but after 20 years I think I'm wearing down her resistance) so I just chuck them on mine raw.
I normally put turkey breast cut into fine strips in my stir fry, as it cooks nice and quick :)
I normally put turkey breast cut into fine strips in my stir fry, as it cooks nice and quick :)
I've already had my Tea ... Chicken Salad with Coleslaw ... and so I'm full but I'm still drooling here! ;o>
Chicken for me, spring onions chopped into half inch pieces, peas or green beans, thinly sliced slivers of carrots, sliced mushrooms, sweetcorn, mixed peppers, soy sauce and plenty of beansprouts. I tried tinned bamboo shoots but was decidedly underwhelmed, if I could find them fresh I would use them and water chestnuts also. This makes a tast meal on its own or with noodles. As an alternative I would leave out the beansprouts and stir in some plain boiled rice when cooked and let it absorb some of the liquid for a couple of minutes. Makes a tasty rice salad when cold.
Me too suzy - just had a look at the picture of your cake :)
The screen on my laptop is now pale blue so it looks as though I'm viewing everything as if it's at the bottom of a swimming pool!
However, by shaking it violently whilst balanced on my head with one foot sticking out of the window, I've just managed to see your cake and flowers in the colours they actually are :)
The screen on my laptop is now pale blue so it looks as though I'm viewing everything as if it's at the bottom of a swimming pool!
However, by shaking it violently whilst balanced on my head with one foot sticking out of the window, I've just managed to see your cake and flowers in the colours they actually are :)
HA HA HA HA HA!!! - I bet Phoebe thinks Daddy has gone nuts? ... again! ;o>
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We went for Help Yourself To Leftovers Buffet in the end - and all of it served deliciously cold straight from the Fridge! ;o>