My Cooking from A to Zzzz project came off the rails tonight. I set the chicken casserole going and stuck a gammon joint in to cook. I didn’t fall asleep tonight but I did immerse myself in writing and forgot about things.
The chicken was OK and I thought the gammon needed a bit more time. The “bit” was slightly wooly as I’d forgotten what time I put it in. As you have probably guessed, I forgot about it until Julia sniffed the air and said: “Is the cooker still on?”
“Ooops!” I said. Or something approximately similar.
There is good news and bad news.
The plastic-wrapped Danish gammons you buy cheaply from supermarkets don’t spoil if you cook them for an hour and a half longer than you should do.
That is the good news.
If you are fussy about what you eat this is also bad news as no quality meat would put up with that sort of treatment.
This morning, little realising what was in store for me, I treated Julia to breakfast at Harvester.
Yesterday I emptied a tin money box yesterday in my search for old-style £1 coins. They are going out of circulation in a few weeks and I would like to get them used before then. After cutting off the bottom with a can opener I was surprised to find only two £1 coins. Fortunately there were fifty £2 coins. It’s a reminder of better days, when I used to be able to save £2 coins and not notice the difference.
It seemed only fair to treat Julia with my newly-discovered wealth, and after a leisurely late breakfast we had no need of lunch, so it turned out to be quite economical. Iturned down the offer of hash browns as I’m cutting down on carbs so they offered me chips instead. I turned them down too. I’d never thought I’d refuse chips…
I took pictures of some interesting red plants in the pub garden (tentatively identified as Heavenly Bamboo – Nandina domestica ‘Blush Pink’ after looking on the Thompson and Morgan website) and then snapped a picture of a Magpie when we got home. There were a couple of them playing the street like kids.
After breakfast and before overcooking the gammon we photographed the grey pub. Mentioning this allows me to set it in the timeline and link to it in a cynical attempt to generate more traffic.
The Heavenly Bamboo is lovely. Our blueberry bushes turn a scarlet in autumn, providing color here.
I don’t recall seeing it before – but I did like it. 🙂
Oh, I love that magpie! I have never seen one. That’s Julia Robert’s nickname in “Runaway Bride” – so I am overly fond of the word.
They are one of the species that has increased dramatically in the last 30 years. Trouble is that they rob nests so they aren’t always welcome.
Pretty only goes so far if you can’t behave yourself.
That’s what my Mum used to tell me! 🙂
I think your pretty goes a bit farther than most. Your misbehavior is part of your charm.
🙂 If I ever need a character witness…
Not cynical, clever. Nice pictures!
Thank you. I’m not altogether sure why I go after more readers when I happy with the ones I already have. 🙂
I also think that Magpies are like street urchins, swaggering about and into everything! They’ll be playing knock down ginger soon, I expect!
Beautiful photos of raindrops! Sorry about the gammon 🙁
The gammon is still surprisingly edible – as I say – not a quality product. It is in Julia’s sandwiches so I had to test it as I made them. 🙂
Beautiful photographs!
Thank you.
Just popped over from the pub
I imagine it’s not the first time you’ve used those words! 🙂
Moi?
🙂
I hope my link hopping has helped. Great pictures of leaves, raindrops, and magpie. I suppose grey is the appropriate livery for Castle Rock
I’m sure it has helped. 🙂
Thanks for the compliment on the pictures, and yes, grey and rocks does seem appropriate when I think about it.
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