The dough for the bread is made in the morning and left to rise until the afternoon. In the afternoon it has its second rise and is then baked. Another of my morning jobs is to pick these.
I can easily pick 3 or 4 tubs of mange-tout each day at the moment. Up until now we've eaten them raw, as a side veg or I've put them in the freezer.
Time for some alternatives. I googled mange-tout soup and then concocted my own simple version. Dead easy.
3 take away tubs of mange-tout (about 500 - 600g)
5 small or 2 medium potatoes, diced (I used 5 new potatoes.)
1 litre of stock (I used a chicken stock cube.)
salt and pepper to taste (I only used black pepper.)
1 onion finely chopped.
Bung it all in a saucepan bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or until all the veg have cooked through. Whizz with a whizzer and it's done. The soup can be served hot or cold. There are many variations of this soup out there. This version tasted delish. The 2 resulting take away tubs of soup will now be put in the freezer.
My next alternative way of using the pods was in a stir fry. DH was having steak so I pinched a little bit, thinly sliced it and stir fried the strips for a few minutes. The meat was then put to one side and I stir fried mange-tout and broccoli. (We're ploughing our way through all these plants aswell - all the heads have arrived at once.)
Also in the mix was garlic and chilli. (Mine was dried chilli.)
Once everything was cooked through and the meat put back in the mix, I added this sachet which I purchased today from B&M Bargains for 29p. Noodles were quickly boiled up and added.
Voila!
This portion will be eaten tomorrow.
DD and I ate our own take away while DH had steak, and boiled broccoli and mange-tout with mushrooms.
During the afternoon as well as preparing veg, trotting down the road to the shop and cooking the tea I also baked the bread. I duly set my phone alarm to beep to remind me to take the bread out. I need the alarm to remind me of the time especially when I'm doing a few jobs at the same time. It beeped at the required time and I carried on with my creative cookery in the kitchen very pleased that I was so organised. What? You want to see a picture of the bread? No, sorry, no can do. I'm afraid the alarm went off and I gaily turned it off and carried on stir frying, forgetting totally to take the bread out of the oven. Today's bread has a very crisp crust! Ah well, win some, lose some.
Welcome to my new follower - I hope you enjoy your visits.
I've just worked my way down my Blog favourites list and my other longer list which I keep on NetNewsWire. These were blogs that have recently been updated (Monday 2nd July). My list will not stop at 10 and so it shouldn't. I read blogs which interest me even though I don't necessarily follow everyone else's interests. All of these blogs have inspired me in some way. It's comforting to know that other people feel the same way as I do, have some of the same interests as me and are living in the 'real' world. If you are reading this blog of mine
or are a follower
or are on my favourites list
or have received a comment from me on your blog
please accept the Sunshine Award from me because you have positively inspired me in some way. If you are an award free zone please accept a 'very well done' from me and thank you for being there.
Sunshine Award List from my blog reading tonight.
1. Sft - for indirectly giving me the jolt I needed to embrace travel - not that I'm going to make it a hobby!
2. Anne from Ungardened Moments for taking me on a wonderful bloggy tour of Europe.
3. Bunnymummy for inspirational observations of nature and great ideas for crochet and patchwork.
4. Lucy from Attic 24 for inspirational crochet work which spurs my creative endeavours.
5. Vix from Vintage Vixen for inspiring me to be more adventurous in my choice of clothes.
7. Ladyhawthorne from Canterbury Cottage who has inspired me with this quote on her blog.
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.
William Henry Channing 1810-1884
8. Kay and Sime from Just Human Beings. They are so full of life and make inspirational meals packed full of goodness.
9. Froogs of course from Frugal in Cornwall has inspired many of us with her frugal tips and her generosity.
10. And last but not least Jill from Land of the Big Sky. She really makes my day when she posts. Cheers Jill. Have one on me.
Hey, hey, hey - I've been awarded the Sunshine Award by Sandie from Sandie's Patch.
The Sunshine Award is an orange flower (marigold) that is given by bloggers to "bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere".
Thank you, Sandie. I wonder who else I've inspired?
Here are the things I must do now.
Thank the person who gave the award - done.
Answer 10 questions about yourself - see below. These questions seem to change on different blogs. I've used the majority of Sandie's questions and some of my own.
Pass on the award to 10 other deserving and inspiring bloggers, inform them and link to their blogs. I'm going to inform you here and you will find the links in the side bar or the followers list. It took me ages last time to work through everybody.
Here goes:-
1. What is your favourite animal?
This obviously has to be a cat (or rather 2 cats).
2. What is your favourite number?
I've always liked the number 6 - don't know why. I've never liked the number 4 because when I was little we had a set of playing cards and the 4 of hearts had a smeary, dirty mark on it. (Silly me.) I've not been enamoured by the number 4 since. I've always avoided the number 13 aswell. However this year, as one of my resolutions, I decided to embrace all numbers. eg I can cut up my banana into 13 pieces and not bat an eyelid! I can shave my leg with 13 strokes of the razor and not worry about anything untoward happening - apart from a nick on the leg! I also can spill salt (this is nothing to do with the question, I know) and not throw a little bit over my shoulder to get rid of the devil. How's about that, then!
3. What are your Passions?
I read this question many ways. Here are a few answers.
1. I'm not telling you any of my passions!!!
2. A huge Italian ice-cream fruit sundae I had while on holiday. It had every fruit you could imagine in it with ice-cream and ooh, ooh, ooh frozen banana puree. Each spoonful - after I'd eaten the fruit bowl around the top of the dish - was a deeee-light.
It only looks small but it was
ginormous!
I ate it all up.
3. Enjoying each day.
4. See my Labels
4. Do you enjoy Giving or Getting?
Both - equal satisfaction doing both.
5. What is your Favourite Pattern?
Changing patterns - eg granny squares with different colours or crochet stitches.
Natural patterns - eg found on pine cones, vegetables and plants. Just type Fibonacci into Google to find out more.
I do have a few stripey T shirts and jumpers.
6. What is your Favourite Day of the Week?
Used to be Saturday and Sunday when I worked. Now I've retired it could be any day.
"What day is it?" asked Pooh.
"It's today, "squeaked Piglet.
"My favourite day," said Pooh.
- A. A. Milne
7. What is your Favourite Flower?
Depends on the season.
Snowdrop - white, simple and innocent
Bluebell - A herald of Spring
Rose - beautiful perfume
But if you look closely every flower is beautiful.
8. What is your Favourite Country?
It has to be the country where I live but I'm sure where you live is equally as good. Just like the flowers each country has its own share of wonderful places. I really enjoyed travelling around Europe with Anne. England is my favourite country because it is my home.
9. What is your Favourite Colour?
Green
We have more than our fair share of green carpets, green painted walls in the Sun room and a green painted house.
10. What is your Favourite Meal?
Egg, chips and tinned tomatoes with 2 slices of bread to mop up.
I'm going to read blogs now and make my list which I'll post later on in the week. I know I've been inspired creatively by many of you. Thank you for being out there and sharing your talents.
Another blogger tried to trace the origin of this award and landed here. The person they received the award from now has a private blog so we can't go back any further but if you read the post there is no mention of answering any questions. Perhaps I should make an award of my own to offer to other bloggers. Hmm now there's a thought.
