Sunday, May 14, 2023

Happy Mday, dove, dandelion and sage

Happy mother's day, if it applies. Mine will be celebrated Tuesday, since today's a work day for Handsome Son.

Meanwhile yesterday's cooking involved chutney, since I have no pickle related condiments in the house. Apple and raisin, with onions, vinegar, ginger, lemons, cinnamon, apple juice 




Apples cooking down while jars sterilize in boiling water in the background


Raisins added in with cane sugar, lemons, cinnamon, to cook down slowly till thick 

And final product. I'll try it in about a week, after it's blended. This will be good with curried fish, or cheese sandwiches, or practically anything that needs a condiment.

And while I had the raisins out, being all out of breadesque food, I made a batch of walnut raisin scone things, nice for breakfast

Also for a snack for Handsome Son's Tuesday visit.

This morning's dove sighting, nearly vanished under henbit


The potatoes doing well, and the sage starting to flower


While I was picturing the dove, I picked a handful of greens. Probably a bit bitter for salad, but they'll work in today's fish sauce.


Surprising how much cooking I seem to need, always at it. I wonder what other people do? Maybe eat out, or buy prepared food or something, I dunno, but they don't seem to be always in the kitchen. Maybe they're more efficient cooks, too, though, there's always that.

Happy day everyone! Enjoy whatever's cooking chez vous, in any sense.



30 comments:

  1. Maybe they cook like me -- make sandwiches, or make rice and stir-fries, or scrambled eggs, or something else that takes 15 minutes or less! Your cooking is much more ambitious!

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    1. So you buy bread? Ah. That's a step in itself. Thank you for your description. It sounds like good food, just not as many steps!

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  2. You do a lot of high-prep cooking. Sue would sooner live on toast than cook. Whatever she does cook is low prep, such as a baked potato.

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    1. In order to live on toast you need to buy bread! Which I haven't for decades. There's a big project avoided right there!

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  3. I've never made chutney before -- that looks complex, but delicious!

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    1. It's really mainly assembly! No special skills involved. I hope it's good.

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  4. It’s great when we cook and prepare food for ourselves and those we love. It always tastes better I think. I’d rather cook at home and save the money for other things. Like yarn!
    I wonder how long before you have baby birds chirping

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    1. The dove on the nest right now looks a bit scruffy, but I don't know if it's because she hasn't been flying and preening. I bet she'd like hatching soon.

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  5. I just really, really want those babies to hatch today on Mother's Day. Of course, that's a pretty ridiculous wish.
    I, too, spend a lot of time involved with food. Not just cooking it but shopping for ingredients and also growing it! Good think I enjoy it.

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    1. I'm hoping for hatching soon. Doesn't look like today though. I always think it shouldn't take this much trouble to cook for one! But it's basically like cooking for more in terms of processes.

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  6. You are in the kitchen because you enjoy it and are an inspired cook. I love seeing what you create.

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  7. My grandmother used to make chutney very like the one you prepared. I remember it. My mother never made it, and I certainly didn't learn.

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    1. I love chutney and piccalilli, too, which I haven't made in a long time.

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  8. I can imagine the smells in your kitchen from the chutney and the cookies. Mouth watering!

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    1. There's usually something going on, yes.

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  9. I have been remiss in blog reading lately so I'm catching up. My word, I think I have a busy life. Do you ever stop? You are so talented in so any ways.

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    1. I don't really feel busy, oddly enough. I think I'm a serial doer.

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  10. I'll bet that smelled incredible. This week I prepared some wild food and it looks like I could gather much more after the 1/2 inch of rain we received. My sage plant has come back for the 3rd year which amazes me in our climate. It grows next to my chives. More wonderful fresh seasonings!
    Mother's Day here was very quiet and peaceful.

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    1. Sage and chives are tough old plants, amazing what they can survive. It's great to go out and forage if you can. You must be knowledgeable, to recognize edibles.

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  11. I like a bit of cooking, baking maybe once a month...lots of salads with the prep work for that. But I do tend to like getting a meal out a few times a week...and I still buy my favorite bread but am thinking it is costing way too much these days, so will try to make some soon.

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    1. I like the Healthy Bread book, and I've been using its recipes for years. Bread making isn't hard, and you know what you're getting! I was surprised to see the price of shop bread recently, ow!

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  12. I cook dinner twice a week. my husband provides dinner the other five. one of his nights is take out. I say he provides dinner while I cook because his efforts in the kitchen are very basic while I'm usually trying a new recipe or fixing a favorite meal, whichever, they involve far more effort than his.

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    1. Yes, there's a distinction between assembling food and cooking!

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  13. F puts our dandelions in risotto (nettles too). I, the Tigger, am pleased I am a carnivore... Mr B is not so lucky. Xxx Mr T

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    1. Dandelions are good food! Also very good for pollinators, so w never dig them up and I've persuaded my neighbor to leave his alone, too.

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  14. While Resident Chef was recovering from his surgery I was doing all the cooking and was reminded of just how much I dislike the entire process. Good thing he likes it because if it were up to me I'd eat grilled cheese every day.

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    1. I really like the whole thing now that I only have myself to please, no deadlines, plenty of time. It's become a luxury part of life.

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