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Friday 2 January 2015

Cook Book Chosen.

Today has been a delight, bright sun, very little breeze and real warmth in the air, a little taster of things to come.

Ben and the others have been walked, which also means that I have doubled my usual walking time and distance.

A load of washing has been line dried and will be ironed later this evening.

I have pulled a cook book from the case and selected my recipes for a week, this will start on Monday.

 
This is my first book choice, I bought it a few weeks ago and thought it so good that I bought another for Fran. Who also rates it highly.
 
 

 
Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Soup, will be one meal. I will use frozen spinach in place of fresh and Turmeric in place of Saffron.
 I know that the taste is different but it is primarily for the colour, and Turmeric is a beneficial spice.

 
This Tuscan Pork and Bean casserole will be there one night, I have all the ingredients in stock.
 
In no particular order I will also be making Chili, Squash and Butterbean Stew,Chicken and Bacon Pot using legs in place of breasts and "cooking" bacon rather than Lardons, Winter Veg Tagine with cous cous and 3 cheese macaroni.
 
I have all the ingredients so there will be no shopping required, Woop Woop.
 
AND, it's a big and, there will be enough for 3 meals in each recipe, 1 to eat and 2 to freeze. I have been through the freezer and rearranged the contents and made quite a bit of room, also some of the ingredients will be coming from there.
 
I still have to decide which craft book to use first, it will probably be bags to start with. I will be making 9 patch blocks and can use some as panels in the bags. Win win, use a book and work through some scraps, I will be using 2 1/2 squares for the patches and can really make them scrappy. I will look for one with lots of different styles, that way I can utilize some of my machine features and stitches.
 
I have done a few rows of knitting today, I am struggling with the amount of stitches on my needles, I did go through my circular needles, but of course I had every size but the right one. I will persevere as I am not about to drive somewhere to buy one.
 
There is no telling where I would have to go for the correct gauge and length, next time I order yarn from the wool warehouse I will fill the gaps in my needle collection. I really have caught the knitting bug badly.
 
It may not seem like fun to most, but I get pleasure from walking in the sunshine and having Archie and Dolly to walk as well doubles the fun.
 
Fran has had an awful couple of days with a streaming cold, she went to bed early on 31st and only got up for an hour yesterday evening. She is slightly better today and is on the sofa watching The Walking Dead !? I will potter about until this episode is finished, I can not even listen to it.
 
I have no idea what is on tonight but I have Jools Hollands Hootenanny recorded and stacks of DVDs. Not forgetting the knitting.
 
I know that lots of you have made resolutions, more power to your elbow. I wish you all the strength to keep them going, I have never managed to.
 
                          TTFN                                          Pam


14 comments:

  1. You have been busy and your meals sound wonderful

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    1. I just hope that they taste as good as they sound. I have made a few meals from the book and they were good.

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  2. Making these meals sounds wonderful and putting a couple in the freezer for another day is great.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. I am looking forward to working my way through the book shelves, if I can not find a weeks worth of recipes the book will be gone. Apart from the baking books of course.

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  3. I will watch the slow cooker recipes with interest, I don't eat meat so the Winter Veg Tagine sounds amazing as does the Chilli, Squash and Butterbean Stew. I bought a slow cooker a few weeks ago and am still trying to build up a recipe folder of stuff that 'works' for us. So far it's rice pudding and veg stew which lacked a little 'something' in taste !

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    1. If they turn out well I will post the recipes.

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  4. Love the cooking idea, maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and do the same, I have enough to go at! Hubby has just said he will make spicy soup tomorrow :-)

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    1. I like to experiment and do not often follow a recipe slavishly. I will substitute what I have for what I do not, I will not be buying things just for 1 meal.

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  5. That looks a good cook book. I find it hard to find vegetarian recipes for the slow cooker! Would love to hear how successful the recipes are for you. Ali x

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    1. I am almost certain that it cost around £4, I will post my findings. I do adapt recipes and omit the meat. I add legumes and brown rice, whatever I fancy really. Sometimes they turn out interesting but I have not wasted any.

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  6. Hi Pam, I would love it if you could post pictures of the scrappy bags you are planning to make . You make such beautiful patch work bags xxx

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    1. I will post pictures of just about everything that I make, the only exception is if someone gives me a commission I want to experiment with different fabrics and methods. Just playtime fun really.

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  7. Hi Pam, I think I'll just come to your house for tea next week!! As for your knitting odds n sods - have a look on Amazon or Ebay - bargains to be found plus free p&p xx

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    1. Thanks for that, I will have to have a little look. I did get a bargain on some wadding yesterday.

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