Illness

Posted on March 10, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, Drawing, Food, Hospital, Ill, Life, Reflections, Sketching4 Comments

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Two years ago I ended up in hospital and had to go on intravenous antibiotics. I was so miserable I decided to get my partner to bring a sketch book in so I could at least draw the view.

The room I was in was on one of the top floors, so unless I got close to the window all I could see was a few rooftops then sky. I took a few photos of the drawings on my phone while I was there for a few days.

My most miserable memory was the food. Tasteless stuff, pap, soft with no flavour. How patients are supposed to get better when the food is so awful … I think it must have cost pence to make. I remember enjoying the sandwiches, they were the only tasty thing in there.

Apart from that everyone was good and kind. But I was pleased to escape. Unfortunately when the ambulance took me home there was no one there to let me in! Luckily my partner turned up so I managed to avoid being carted back to the hospital! Happily we don’t normally have to pay for treatment in this country. Long may it remain so.

Welcome

Posted on March 3, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Chilli, Chilly, Evening out, Food, Rest, Sawadee Thai taste, Tired1 Comment

This is what greeted us when we arrived at the Thai restaurant tonight. I’d decided to have a meal out after getting wet and chilly this afternoon.

The cats were a friendly gesture because we visit frequently and the owner knows I have cats.

Now I’m home and I’m going to put my feet up. There is nothing wrong with having a rest occasionaly.

Time for coffee I think.

Eating fish fingers after a walk in the rain

Posted on March 3, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Bread and butter, Comfort food, Fish fingers, Food, Leaflet, Rain, Storm, Walking, Wet, WindLeave a comment

We are just back from delivering leaflets house to house in the rain. Storm Freya is due to arrive in the next couple of hours. I was going to deliver them earlier in the week but I’m still not well.

What could be more comforting than fish finger sandwiches with a steaming cup of (decaff) coffee.

We didn’t quite finish the route and came home soaking wet. There is nothing much worse than rain getting through the seams of your coat, cold water trickling down your neck and the rain running off a waterproof coat and down onto your trouser legs. Add wet socks from crossing big puddles, wet hair and raindrops on your glasses and you get a picture of how I felt half an hour ago.

The fish finger sandwiches, with brown bread and butter and mayonnaise were very tasty. If I had taken more time I would have added sliced lemon and a few salad leaves but I just wanted something warm and tasty and quick.

Meanwhile the wind is gusting, the rain is hitting the windows. I can hear the wind blowing through a gap round the window and moaning slightly. It’s two hours before sunset but the world very dark and overcast. I might just have a nap.

Curry night

Posted on February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Balti, Bhuna, Curry, Food, Nan bread, Rice, Take away, Tandoori, TreatLeave a comment

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Every so often, after choir practice, I order a takeaway curry because I’m too tired to cook our evening meal. It feels like a real treat not to have to cook.

All I need to do is dish it out when it arrives. The local tandoori restaurant does really nice baltis and bhunas. Then pilau rice or garlic nan to accompany it.

I’ve done a drawing to illustrate as I will be otherwise engaged in a short while. There is an interesting movie on the TV and I might have a small glass of beer to go with the food.

Tomorrow I need to plan what paintings I’m going to do next, but tonight I’m going to chill with chilli!

Thai-m for food

Posted on February 14, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, Food, Life, Sawadee Thai taste, Stoke, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

Well after painting all afternoon we’ve decided to go out to our favourite Thai restaurant for tea. It’s valentines day so I’m treating my hubby.

We have ordered Tom Kha (Thai soup), Gang Phed Ped Yang (roast duck curry) and pork with pac choi, plus some rice. I think that’s plenty. I imagine I will be asleep before we finish it I’m so tired! As usual the chef has sent us out extra food!

Have a lovely valentines night if you are celebrating! Might be back later.

Cooking stuffed peppers

Posted on February 13, 2019February 13, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Cooking, Eating, Experiment, Food, Rice, Stuffed peppers, VegetablesLeave a comment

Experiment.

I used,

4 yellow bell peppers with their tops cut off and de-seeded.

Small amount of lean minced beef (I could have used quorn mince). 600 grams.

1 corgette finely chopped. (after I cooked this I suggest 1/2 instead)

8 baby corn cobs, finely chopped. (after trying this use 4)

1 small onion, finely chopped.

The tops of the yellow peppers, finely chopped.

1 small jar of Bolognese sauce.

A cup of brown rice. (1/2 a cup instead)

Garlic olive oil (or 3 garlic cloves and ordinary olive oil)

Grated cheese

Salt and pepper to taste.

Method,

Fry off the mince and vegetables till softened and cooked.

Boil the rice in water until aldente (cooked but still a bit hard)

Once the meat and veg are cooked add the bolognese sauce and the brown rice.

Spoon the mix into the peppers. Cook them in a gas mark 6 (medium hot) oven for 15 minutes then check and if not cooked put them back in for 5 minutes.

Eat …

Fingers crossed.

Result: very tasty but a bit too much for two! Use less brown rice, half a courgette (zucchini) and 4 baby corn instead. (I’ve altered the amounts in the recipe) the original amounts would do for 3 or 4 people. 20190213_221418

The cat got the cream

Posted on February 12, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Bad rhymes, Cat, Cream, Food, Fun, Humour, Poem, Poetry2 Comments

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How smug he is,

this grinning cat,

He ate the cream

He’s getting fat.

He purrs and purrs,

And stirs and stirs

The creamy bowl

While on the prowl.

His paws delights

In pudding bites

In pastry domes

And ice cream cones.

With cheese

If you please

And butter

In a flutter

But meat?

He won’t eat!

Carrot and ginger soup

Posted on February 8, 2019February 8, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Carrot, Carrot soup, Cooking, Food, Garlic, Ginger, Life, Meal, Olive oil, Onion, Vegetable, Vegetarian?Leave a comment

Ingredients
We used..a lot of carrots, half an onion, 3 large cloves of garlic, some garlic olive oil and plain olive oil. A knob of butter, a bit of flour, a bit of ginger powder, a couple of pinches of salt, some crushed black pepper, luck….
Mix the chopped up carrot onion and garlic in a blender with water and oil. When its blended cook for 20 mins….

Added black pepper, ginger and salt to taste. We tasted as we cooked and gradually added more flavouring as it was a bit bland to start. My blender does not completely pulp vegetables so it’s a bit chewy.

No chick peas, fish food or UFOs were used in the soup. My hubby was wearing a tweed but you dont need that either for flavour!

Downside…I took over a bit, should have let him do it all…

Barn dance coming up..

Posted on February 8, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Barn dance, Dance, Enjoyment, February frolics, Food, Fun, Life, Music, Penkhull, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

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Imagine whirling around with a bunch of people… Then imagine some of them looking completely confused, going in the wrong directions and flinging each other about in mad abandon. That’s a barn dance. Add amazing live music. A caller explaining the dance moves to people trying to understand what on earth he’s saying. The fun that can be had getting dizzy, twisting and turning, jumping about….

And a pie and peas supper that has both meat and vegetarian options.

It’s all in aid of the Penkhull Mystery play this July.

If you are in the area perhaps you would like to come along to these February Frolics and then get involved in the mystery play itself where there are openings to act, make props and help paint scenery. You never know you might enjoy it.

A Thai feast

Posted on February 5, 2019February 5, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged feast, Food, Fun, Restaurant, Sawadee Thai taste, Staffordshire, Stoke. Stoke-on-Trent, Thai foodLeave a comment

We’ve come out for lunch at our local Thai restaurant, Sawadee Thai taste. The owner, Apple, is celebrating Chinese New year because her great great grandmother was chinese.

Well we have had a feast of lovely food. Including fish, meat and vegetarian dishes.

Happy Chinese New Year xxx

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Food