Disasters.

I have been without a computer for a few days......... here are some key words to play with -
Bing - Bushy tail - glass of red wine - laptop!

Yes. You guessed correctly. Sadly I didn't realise at the time as I was too busy cleaning the carpet, wall and settee. The following morning when I switched on my laptop I knew something was wrong.
I frantically tried to clean the keyboard but it was quite obvious the damage lie deeper within the workings. Frantic research and the laptop battery was removed and all placed in a bag of brown rice in the airing cupboard for a few days.

Meanwhile I have been loaned a laptop so I am back on-line.

Then there is the sad news to share of Eva.

I let the hens out as normal yesterday. We were out for a couple of hours but when I went to lock up the henhouse, whilst the other 3 were inside Eva seemed hesitant and was standing by the open door. I noticed some severe damage to her back - a definite attack. I don't think it was a fox as it would have either taken her away or savaged her. I have no idea where the attack took place. I know around 3pm I had fed the hens some noodles. Only 2 hens came when I called. Mabel was inside the hut laying an egg, Bev and Olwyn were eating the noodles but there was no sign of Eva - as is often the case.
She managed to walk up the ramp to the sleeping area but I knew she would be attacked by the other hens - this is what they do when they sense weakness/injury and I knew it was a severe wound.
I brought her into the kitchen and we settled her in a nice warm box.
She passed away sometime between 4am and 6am as I was checking on  her.

It is a comfort to know that when attacked she made her way home.

F is for FANTASTIC!

It's pancake Tuesday today. Whilst I DONT have a sweet tooth I can eat pancakes for England, but that wouldn't do my diet any good. This version however is totally Fat Free! I ate mine with lemon juice and sugar substitute!.

You need....

3 Eggs

2-3 Teaspoons sweetener (depending on own taste)

3-4 Drops of vanilla essence

Seperate the white from the yolk and put into separate bowls, Whisk the egg white until fluffy and add the sweetener,

In the other bowl add the vanilla essence then fold the yolk into the egg white.

Heat a frying pan with frylight, add the mix and spread as you would a normal pancake (i made two out of this recipe) after a few mins flip over.

 

You could add any fruit or yoghurt for instance to make it how you like it

Eat well for less.

On Saturday we had a roast lamb dinner with a selection of vegetables.

 I experimented with a sauce 1 bramley apple, 1 onion half a de-seeded red pepper roasted together.

Made up half a pint of stock then blitzed and added more water.

As this was an experiment I made a standard gravy too.

 

Sunday - the left over roasted vegetables.

 I finely chopped this and left to one side.

 

 

 

I then beat an egg and stirred into the chopped veg.

 

 

 

 

I made up a packet of super rice and stirred it into the mixed veg mixture.

 

 

 

 

Placed 3 red pepper skins into a roasting bag and cooked for 15 minutes.

 

 

 

I then stuffed the peppers with the rice/veg mixture and cooked for 30 minutes in oven.

 

 

 

 

In a pan I placed the left over lamb, some extra onions and poured in the rest of the experimental sauce. I added curry powder, cumin and some dried chilli flakes.

 

 

 

I served the curry with the stuffed peppers - gorgeous.

I sliced the peppers so we had 6 portions in all.

 

The following night there was sufficient for 2 more portions.

 

The lamb cost £12.50 and we got 3 evening meals from it.

 

I am particularly pleased as I made this recipe from scratch with ingredients we had in.