Another week begins

 

So here we are on the last day of November and about to enter the last few weeks of 2020.

Its been some year!

I have decided that I am going to go all out this Christmas, ( putting the tree up is all out in this house).

I'm also planning on celebrating French style this year ( and might even write  blog on that).

Life is short and its time to take the bull by the horns and lockdown/Tier 3 or not, its time to try to get back to having fun.

This weekend I have been busy painting in the sitting room, yes good old one coat paint that always needs two coats!, there is still some things to finish off before the room is put back to normal. 

I also painted the airing cupboard ready for the shelving which I am still waiting for., the difference that a coat of paint makes is amazing, I will be laying some carpet in there tonight.

I've also been busy making candles, I got a couple of kits in lockdown 1 so I decided to make them ready for Christmas.

There is a lot that I want to do in the next few weeks,  so best pull myself up by my bootstraps and get on with it.

I saw last week out by finally deciding on and getting the new blinds fitted, not really what I wanted but I also didn't want to remortgage 'The Wickets' to have plantation shutters on the rather large windows, I opted for something cheaper.

Having had one quote for the bathroom and nearly fainting at the cost, any savings at the moment are good ones.

Last week there was a lot of discussion about the abolishing of cricket teas.

This made me very sad as I worked very hard for 4 seasons doing teas at 2 ( sometimes 3) cricket clubs. I had noticed how clubs were veering towards burger and chips for tea but  I stuck to my guns and produced a proper tea.

I will be sad to see this finish. I might start a campaign against stopping the teas.

Well when I have finished the decorating, baking, brewing and chutney making.................

Cricket over the weekend saw, England win the T20 series against South Africa with a game in hand. 

It helped to ease the monotony  of painting 

Good to see Maxi getting a century for Australia too end of last week.

Well time to head off to the office, I am contemplating taking a day off this week to help me push on with the work, and use up some hols.

Have a great day.

Thought for the day

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.

Gary

 

It was with huge sadness that this morning a lot of us became aware of the sudden passing of Gary.

A huge Yorkshire CCC fan, with the biggest smile you have ever seen.

He was a man who had many friends at Headingley and other grounds.

I was very lucky to have known him since I first started going to Headingley on my own, we would chat about many things and surprisingly we  both shared a love of the United Services Ground at Portsmouth, him due to being in the services and myself through visiting many times to watch Hampshire.

We would share a cup of coffee from my 'bottomless' flask and one of his birthdays we spent a couple of days celebrating with fizz ( alcoholic and non alcoholic) and cake.

I went to AGM's and would often sit with him, we would discuss Yorkshire in great detail. 

He talked to me a lot when I sponsored Ben and Tom, telling me that many years ago he sponsored a player ( he never said who) and that the player still took the time to speak when he saw Gary. He emphasised that support is everything.

Gary loved to tease Sophie and I when we were together at cricket and never failed to come and chat to us both ( even though Sophie is Notts ). 

We had a couple of great cocktail evenings at The Headingley Lodge prior to Yorks V Notts T20, Gary was always great company.

My favourite memory was him being asked by Ollie Rayner to take a photo of all of the Middlesex team on the rattler from Scarborough. Gary always thought it was funny

There are lots of other memories, but like a lot of you reading this I am in total shock.

I consider myself very lucky to have met this wonderful man.

My heart goes out to Dianne and Saskia who were his life.

I am sure that those of you reading this and whose life was touched by Gary will know the sadness that I feel.

Rest in peace Gary

Headingley has lost a great supporter.

Another day

 Ah the joy of being back in the office..................yep by  7.55am ( before actual start time) I was ready for home.

Not a great start.

However I did at lunchtime manage to complete some shopping for Christmas. Its amazing what you can buy on line! I never knew I needed a stuffed unicorn head!

All talk is about getting the country back to normal by April next year, which sounds great for us cricket fans, lets see if that happens.

Personally I just want to get back to having a bit of freedom of movement ( which ironically we lose totally on 31st December in certain areas).

It has been a tough year for us all in many ways, I personally know that I have struggled with stress from the first day I was working from the office in the first lockdown. I remember vividly on the first weekend wishing that I didn't have to go out back out of the door and just stay safely at home.

I know that many of us have faced similar stress and also in other areas.I empathise with you and know that better days are coming.

I'm not a huge Christmas fan, I struggle to put up the tree and although I try to get to a Christmas service to appreciate the true meaning of the day, I am usually glad when it is over ( its the commercial side of it that I really struggle with).

Yesterday we were talking about this and jokingly Mickey Dripping said, 'imagine what the Wise Men might have brought if they'd had 'Black Friday'. 

Yes just imagine!  An echo dot,  vegan cookbook and a couple of stuffed unicorn heads maybe?????

As you can tell cricket news is low on the ground and looking at the seriously lack lustre BBC Cricket website, I won't be  putting anything here.

So off I toddle down the road, it is only 4 weeks and a bit and then I get a few days more days off.

Have a great Tuesday.

Back to the saltmines

 Well my week off  is over and I am back to the saltmines today where I will be in a new office in the empty drawing office, apparently it makes sense to move me from my office off the main office where there are 3  staff and have been since March to the drawing office side where there are no staff. 

Obviously those who haven't set foot in the office since lockdown 1 in March know best.

I would love to tell you all that I got all my jobs done on my week off but this is not true, the airing cupboard is part painted and  upstairs looks like a bomb has gone off. I have the remnants of the shelving  on the landing. Lawn didn't get its final cut despite dry weather.

I did manage to complete the drinks trolley, because obviously that was essential!, I really need to get my priorities right.

Contents of airing cupboard spread all over upstairs bedrooms, but hey lovely trolley in the dining room looking pretty! 

I didn't get out and about much due too lockdown, I like being at home but sometimes you need to get a little further afield.

What did I do most  on my hols, well I finally found out how to sleep and then couldn't stop, sadly I fell back into 'Sunday night syndrome' last night  where no matter how tired you are you only sleep for a couple of hours.

Not a lot of cricket news, apart from the Aussies dumbing down the game even more in BBL where now you can have 'substitutes', two other changes to the T20 game down under where announced also which further made a mockery of it.

Seriously! I'm not the biggest fan of T20 but leave the bloody game alone!.

And with that I am off to see what the week holds for me, I am now counting down to the Xmas break.

Happy Monday 

Where has the week gone

 Its Thursday and although I had a lie in yesterday I cannot believe where the days has gone I seem to have been on the go all the time.

The house is in turmoil as I am trying to do 300 jobs at once. the upcycling of the 'drinks trolley' is halfway through, the new dining room door is half painted (front facing done), I have finally removed all the old shelving from the airing cupboard and now have to paint or wallpaper, decision still to be made.

I will then finally be able to get everything put away  again and get the house back into order, luckily no one can visit at the moment!

Today is going to be busy!

I am also trying to plan myself a special meal for Saturday night which will depend on the progress of the house.

I had a check on the cricket and was see that 3 currently unnamed South African players have tested positive for COVID 19

Lovely to see that Samit Patel has signed a deal setting him up for 20 years at Nottinghamshire, 

There is still ongoing investigation into racism.

Well I should be getting up and getting myself moving.

Have a great Thursday, I can't believe my holiday is nearly over.

Birthday week continues

 

Birthday week continues as I am on holiday, which reminded me of the birthday holiday I had to celebrate my 18th. 

We were in Tunisia for just over 3 weeks on holiday to celebrate my 18th, it had been a difficult year with me being in a near fatal car accident and having a lot of injuries to recover from, so my Mum and sister and I headed to North Africa for a bit of winter sun.

Flying out of Heathrow I bumped into Dee (Dave)Harris of band Fashion, he was really lovely chatted for a while before heading off to Hamburg. ( a few years later he teamed up with Richard Wright of Pink Floyd to record an album, Dave is now better known on the jazz circuit)

Flew into Tunis and whisked to Port El Kantaoui by taxi. The Port was very new at this time, a few hotels and apartments, beautiful marina and shops, not at all like the gaudy show that I saw a few years ago.

We were staying at the brand new Diar El Andalous apartments which were stunning, we were in a 2 bed apartment which was absolutely enormous, huge living area with a raised seating alcove, kitchen, large bathroom and 2 bedrooms. We were on the ground floor in an enclosed courtyard.

Stunning.

We spent the first few days walking and swimming and trying to to make sense of the menu at the one site restaurant. Our favourite was the translation to English for grapefruit juice. 'Creepsfruit juice' will always stay with me.

One afternoon we came back to the apartment to have a nap, and were then disturbed by constant mewing, opening the front door, we saw one of the feral cats that roam the grounds, giving birth on the door mat. 

My sister phoned reception and was told no of course it isn't. She said it is and there are a few kittens there already. Moments later the cat and the mat are removed, and a new mat put in place.

We were trying to figure out what to do for my actual birthday and were pointed in the direction of a town called Kazama to get a cake made, the best cakes according to everyone we spoke to.

the weather had turned and there was a lot of rain, which showed no sign of letting up. We dressed appropriately and still got out and about. Getting home one afternoon Mum went to put things in a kitchen cupboard.................only too open the door to water running down the walls. The courtyards were starting to flood, we went to help the staff brush water from the walkways down to the drains which were not coping too well.

I say this is quite a matter of fact way, when in act we were over knee deep in water trying to sweep it away from the complex  area.

The place was actually flooding, sand bags appeared at our door and we were then called and informed that we should pack and be ready to move next morning................my birthday!

These were the worst rains in 30 years and the newer hotels and apartments had not been built to withstand  this.

The sun came out again on the 15th November,we were in the reception waiting for taxis when we were called up to a room above the restaurant, there were drinks( non alcoholic for the staff) and cake the biggest cake I have ever seen, I went back to reception which was now empty ( all staff were upstairs) apart form 2 German men, who I asked to join us.

It turned out that they were being moved to the same apartments as us, so we made a morning of it

.I am not sure how many time that Happy Birthday was sung, I just know that it always makes me want to cry when it is sung to me.

Then all 6 of us were put into a louage and off on our journey.

We moved down the coast to Sousse ( a place we knew well) and stayed at The Nejma just off the Corniche, with glorious city and sea views.

Luckily the rest of our holiday went without incident, and was truly memorable. We also made great friends in Gunther and Stefan the two Germans ( or Bavarians as they preferred to be referred to).

Never one to have a 'normal' birthday(or holiday for that matter)

and lastly, wonderful word of the day

Adaw

a combination of two old English word, meaning to wake up or recover consciousness.

Have a great day 

Happy Birthday to me

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!

I'm so excited I have been up since 5am.

And I have to admit that I am an absolutely spoilt lady. In a year when we all have had our own problems magnified by everything that has gone on, I feel so very humbled by the kind wishes and gifts from wonderful family and friends.

I thank you all for the wonderful thoughts.

As soon as I am dressed I will be  heading out the door to go and drop off a card for my Auntie Norma, as she is housebound at the moment (lockdown), I have put together a birthday tea  for her ( with a cake and candle) and really hope that she enjoys it.

I am planning a special birthday dinner which I will be whipping up this afternoon, I think that I will be having a very lazy day though, not quite as planned but hey, it is what it is. I am healthy and that is the main thing, as many of you will remember last year was a very different and difficult time.

And you can be sure I will be lighting this bottle up today it is so beautiful.

So I hope that you all have a peaceful Sunday and rest and relax.

I'm off to sniff the jar of ground cardamom I got in a fabulous Middle Eastern hamper from Sophie and Terry, I cant stop sniffing it!

 

Last working day

 Well its the last day of the working week and its my last day in the office  until 23rd.

At the time that many of you are reading this I should have been either on the plane, arriving at Charles De Gaulle airport or speeding to my hotel in Dizy. 

Sadly not to happen this year, so I will be at my desk for half day Friday.

We have eaten a lot of cream cakes over the last couple of weeks due to birthdays in the office  so today I am loading the car with the slow cooker which has been doing its stuff over night and is full of Chilli con carne. We are having a special lunch with lots of lovely trimmings to the chilli.

Yesterday was an OK day, the problems I've had with water ingress has finally been sorted, I had the gutters cleaned and that didn't solve it, the builder who was supposed to be looking didn't come, so lovely Rhys  gave me a builder contact.

On Saturday I will be having a new downpipe installed ( the one for my house is at the end of next door) this way there is 2 ways for the water to go, Gary the builder will then be coming back to sort out pointing, all looked at and quoted in a matter of hours. Huge sigh of relief.

And it will mean that I can get some painting done next week. I haven't found wallpaper but have decided to paint a wall and the chimney breast to break up the cream walls for the time being.

I've got my eye on some new sofas but think that will wait until the new year and the  great door hanging challenge has ended.

Fingers crossed today will see the new shelving going into the airing cupboard, that will be exciting ( well as exciting as it gets in my house during lock down)

Now for wonderful word of the day 

Pigsney

Surprisingly this 17th and 18th century word, which literally means 'pig's eye' was a term of endearment on a par with 'sweetheart' 'pet' and even 'darling'

Not sure how that would go down today!

Lastly before I sign off for the weekend, I really want to try to get some proper sleep and rest so may not blog everyday next week. To be honest anything that I write  won't be half as interesting as anything from the postponed  8 day champagne tour.

There will only be so much lockdown at The Wickets you can take.

Have a great weekend

And Joyeux anniversaire to me

 

Christmas for one part 3 ( Vegan Christmas)

 So we are at Part 3 of Christmas for 1.

This is to give suggestions for a Vegan Christmas, something that I had for quite a few year and still occasionally make some vegan goodies for the big day.

Preparation of veg I still hold with doing on Christmas Eve, and most of the food can be prepared at the same time and put in the fridge ready for Christmas Day. Frozen veg is always an option and I know that in the years that I was vegan I kept a variety of veg ( and fruit) in the freezer.

This makes Christmas Eve slightly busy ( I'd say a couple of hours tops) but it means that Christmas day is much more relaxed and that is something that we all need I think.

During the years that I was vegan, I didn't buy ready  prepared supermarket 'Vegan' food as I preferred to cook from scratch and for it to be with fresh ingredients and as low processed as possible. the only exception was TVP ( textured vegetable protein) a by product of extracting soy bean oil. This has to be reconstituted as it is dried, but I used it for many things. It has no taste but takes flavours well, so has can be used in many ways.

Starters

As I have said I don't have a starter on Xmas day but that doesn't mean that you have to go without.

this recipe is for a fabulous soup which can be made in advance and frozen into individual portions.

Red Pepper and Lime Soup

4 red peppers, seeded and chopped

1 large red onion  onion, chopped

5ml/1tsp olive oil

1 small red chilli, sliced

45ml/3tbsp tomato puree

900ml/1.5 pints, vegetable stock

Finely grated rind & juice of 2 limes

Salt & Black pepper

Soy cream

METHOD

Cook the onions and peppers gently in the oil in a covered saucepan for about 5 minutes, stirring the pan occasionally, until softened.

Add the chilli with the tomato puree.  Stir in half the stock, and then bring to the boil.  Cover the pan and simmer for 10 minutes.

Cool, then puree in a food processer or blender.  Return to the pan, adding the remaining stock, the lime rind and juice, and seasoning

Bring the soup back to the boil.  Serve with a swirl of cream and few strips of lime rind.

Main Course

Savoury Parcels

makes 2 parcels

1/2 sheet ready roll puff pastry

1/4 of small squash ( peeled and chopped)

handful of cranberries

handful of chopped walnuts

sprig of thyme

salt & pepper

2 tsp mango chutney

roast the squash for about 30 mins until tender

Unroll pastry nd roll into one rectangle to cut into 2 squares.

brush each square with the mango chutney and then add the squash cranberries and walnuts.

Pull the points of the square up and together and brush with  little water to seal

Bake for approx 10 mins on 200c  or until golden brown.

Vegetables.

the world is your oyster(mushroom) where veg is concerned just choose your favourite..

Dessert

a couple of easy suggestions here

you could make some mini fruit pies with any left over puff pastry from the main course.

If pastry is too much try this 

2 ginger biscuits sandwhiched together with peanut butter and a tiny touch of stevia.

If you have some frozen raspberries, defrost and mash to make a kind of  couli ( I said kind of this is not how you make a couli). Add a touch of icing sugar or stevia and drizzle over the biscuits. serve with soy cream.

All I can say is don't knock it until you try it!

Stuffed dates make a great snack.  slit dates down the middle and stuff with an almond,  and try to just have a couple!!!

 If you are looking for  vegan wine have a look at this site, free delivery over £40 and some fabulous wines. ( not a paid advert)

https://www.foxywine.co.uk/

They have a great variety.

As a side to the above I have been asked for my recipe for Vegan Sausage rolls quite a few times and have refused, however I thought that I would add it here for those that are interested.

There are no measurements as I normally made this 'by eye' something left over from too many years in catering .

Vegan Sausage Rolls

Vegan ready roll puff pastry.( Jus roll ready roll pastry  is usually vegan unless otherwise stated)

TVP ( see above)

Sage and onion stuffing ( most supermarket brands are vegan)

Marmite

Nutritional yeast

Almond/soy milk.

cut block of pastry into 3 and roll out one piece into a long rectangle.

Put TVP into pan with water and marmite and stuffing, cook until all liquid is absorbed.

 Put teaspoon size  'drops' of mixture onto the pastry (12) dust top with nutritional yeast and fold over the pastry, sealing with almond/soy milk brushed on.

Cut into 12 'cocktail roll' size and then brush with 'milk' and more nutritional yeast. Cook until golden brown.

As I do tend to cook this way I am sorry that quantities are sketchy.

Although this  is a lot for one person, its a useful recipe to have to hand.

If you are a vegan and love chocolate try these

Not as expensive as the 'trendy ' brands that have just hit the market. Beeches are an established company. check them out online. Not all their products are vegan but  they have a great selection.

I hope that these ideas are of use to some of you.

Happy Eating

Midweek mixup

 Hecking flip, I slept in this morning, I woke up at 6am, which is late for me and meant that I have not been out for a walk this morning.

It was a boring day in the office yesterday , Teams meetings and doing things not in my remit but to facilitate the Tators to work from home. 

Home and another package for my birthday, my eyes lit up nearly as much as the bottle, more on that at the weekend.

I started to strip out the airing cupboard, easier said than done, however Mickey Dripping is bringing me an impact driver in today..........................Ive no idea what it is but I like the sound of it.

We had very sad news in the office yesterday as 'Our Ian' told us that his lovely Spaniel 'Little Alfie' has stomach cancer and only a couple of days to live, he is comfortable and not in pain and with Ian and Carol. There were some tears in private as Little Alfie is a beaut.

Life sucks on so many levels.

Well due to the over sleep I have to cut this short and head out the door,

However todays wonderful word is 

Ballard

In the middle ages a Ballard was a bald headed person.

Until tomorrow.

Miserable weather

 

Well I only did the 'little' block this morning as the weather is pretty rubbish, however on the upside of this is that it is remarkably mild. Which is a bonus as I don't have to wrap up like Scott of the Antarctic.

Last night was very busy as Lovely Rhys and I were texting back and forth trying to come up with a plan for the downstairs shower room door and the kitchen door, one is sliding and the other a standard door, which causes huge problems due to the position of the larder fridge. Short of having the kitchen refitted ( not an option),  it was new sliding doors on both, however the mechanism for the kitchen was a bit of a trouble spot. so I tentatively asked about bi-fold doors. 

Looks like this is what is happening!!!!!!

I also want to reconfigure the airing cupboard and had measured it. drawn up various options on CAD. Rhys now has the drawings and will be making new shelving, whilst I said I would strip out the other shelving and paint the cupboard. This is actually quite  a large walk in cupboard so hopefully it will look and function better than at present.

I am thinking with all this work going on I should change the name of the blog to 'Tales from the workshed!

I can't find any interesting cricket news, we are moving from the IPL to BBL, and that's about it for the next few weeks.

I have a shopping list as long as my arm to get; to see me through my week off next week, I am sure that it will be understood that 6 bottles of champagne is essential shopping.................well it is in my house.

Menu planning is still ongoing.......the list gets longer.

Now for the wonderful word of the day

The word is 'Snattock'

this was used in the 17th century and meant a  scrap or a fragment.

well there you go, another day with a snattock of info from The Wickets.

Stay safe

.

New week begins

 

Its Monday again and another week begins.

However what a weekend it has been.

Firstly I didn't do anything that I had planned to do. but that's OK.

 I did however open some birthday presents early and that was brilliant, you know how much I love my birthday. Instead of having a week of birthday fun, I have started a week early and am making 2 weeks of it, mainly to make up for missing it last year due to being ill. And hell, we can't go anywhere at the moment so I'm hanging it out as long as possible.

Saturday was essential shopping and a walk around the town centre which is looking very bare as more shops closing down. Its sad to think that before the council sold the shopping centre to London buyers, ( who continue to charge London rents) it was actually thriving with lots of independent shops.

Once home it was washing and a spot of tidying up and then settling down to watch rubbish TV.

Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday, I put out my cross and cried, and then spent a good hour crying a everyone else's posts on Facebook and Twitter! 

The  afternoon was spent doing vey little and watching rubbish TV.(again)

I have been out for a walk this morning and its getting very cold as well as being wet and very foggy, once home and showered  its been a two cup of coffee morning!!!!

I know one thing for sure this is going to be the longest week in history! 

Well I need to be heading out the door so time for 'Wonderful word of the day'

Today it is 

Trantles

Known in English from the 17th century, trantles were 'trifling things and articles of little value'.

Happy Monday 

Thank goodness its Friday

 I was bitterly disappointed yesterday morning as I set out for work, I was so sure that there would be no one on the roads and I would have the lovely relaxed drive to work as I did back in March and April. No not at all, there were probably more cars on the roads than there had been all week, and the queue at the McDonalds drive thru was well and truly encroaching on the road of Ladylaineyworkville.

I wonder how this is going to pan out?

I find it hard to comprehend people who blatantly flout what they have been asked to do, surely they don't want to catch a horrible virus or worse? 

I appreciate that some people are struggling and going through hard times, however last night I think every pay check went up into the sky as Ladylaineyville was lit up constantly from when I got home until well after 11pm. 

I don't know about dogs but I absolutely hated every long minute of it.

The bonfire that was set off very close to some house and had flames leaping higher than houses is still smouldering this morning!

Ah well best to head off and finish the week, then essential shop and home for the weekend.

before I go you will all know my love of books and words in general, I picked up a book on my last foray to the charity shop, which is about words so I thought I would give you a new word or phrase every day for the lockdown month.

todays is 

Merry-go-down

During the 16th century 'merry-go-down ' was slang for strong ale...................something I think we might all be partaking in this evening.

have a good Friday 

Here we go

 Lockdown 2.0 day 1.

Well the resident of The Wickets got up at normal time, drank a cup of coffee took a magnesium tablet, Vitamin A capsule and a zinc pill. Not sure if they do anything but its a routine.

I then went for a brisk walk around the 'big block' and then did my facial yoga before climbing back onto the bed and starting to write this.

I need to get a routine going, if only for  a little bit of normality in my day. It all seems to have gone a bit array of late.

I was chatting with Ben yesterday, lockdown is going to impact on winter training, however I am sure that they will be able to pull it back. It shard to believe we are nearly at the end of the year and Ive not seen a cricket match in the real this year.

However the saddest cricket news I have had since hearing that Chris Nash was retiring, is that Morne Morkel is leaving Surrey. That really has made lockdown day even worse.

However I have a trip to the post office to do on my way o work so I had best head off.

Have a great day what ever you are doing.

Stay safe and abide by the rukes.

Midweek and last day before lockdown

so here we are at lockdown eve, 4 weeks? well that's what they are saying.

You can imagine the sheer joy of the Richard Tators as they realised that they probably will not see the inside of our office until next year. To be honest if I never see them again it'll be too soon.

As I now try to sort out an emergency birthday plan I was struck with the fact that this time last year, I could neither walk or use my right arm. Hospitalised and very distressed at the fact that a soft tissue/ minor break turned into such a terrible time. The suspected pulmonary embolism was the absolute shocker, luckily it turned out to be severely torn muscles.

This was the main reason for the special trip, however I will do that trip at some point and it will be even more special.  I can now walk properly, I still get occasional pain  but nothing like the debilitating pain of last year. this is all thanks to a great physio who not only got me moving but got my arm back to some sort of normality.

In the mean time since I cannot go anywhere or go out to eat for my birthday I am guessing that I will be preparing some meal and that you will all be bored to death with the pictures spread over various forms of social media.

And lockdown, well there is no change in my life, I am still working from the office  and will be doing my weekly essential shop, the only thing that will halt again will be my trips to the charity shop which is a huge shame.

So make the most of today, I will  however not be going to the pub to drink 99p pints, I haven't been to the pub since the beginning of the year, so don't intend to change that.

Take care and stay safe, I  will try to blog everyday, although as the roads might be slightly clearer I might be having a few lie ins!

Happy Wednesday 

Christmas for One part 2 ( The one with the vegetarian options)

 Welcome to part 2 of Christmas for 1 ( multiply  if you want to use recipes for more than 1 person).

As we go into a four week lockdown we are still unsure of how Christmas  will pan out for us all this year, and so I am trying to help out by giving some tips and recipes that may help. Some of us will be on our own for the Christmas period, so here are some ideas to make the best of the situation.

Just because you are on your own, don't let things slide, treat yourself, its all part of self care which is even more important at the moment.

Lets make a start.

To be clear this is for lacto-ovo vegetarians  ( eats dairy and eggs), for other types vegetarians I will be doing a vegan blog which will be better suited to their needs.

So lets see what I can offer up for a vegetarian Christmas selection.

Have a look at the menus and see what you can buy prior to  Christmas, this will avoid extra stress, especially in these uncertain times.

I am going to give menu selections which can be adapted to fit your own routine.

I personally don't ever have a starter with Christmas lunch but for those who do I have put together  some suggestions

The picture of the starter can be seen above,

Insalata Tricole

1/2 beefsteak tomato

1/2 avocado ( other half kept with stone in, put in dish with splash of lemon juice can be used on toast for  Boxing Day brekkie)

4 thin slices of  mozzarella cheese.

Slice tomato and avocado, arrange on plate with the cheese and garnish with basil leaves.

Dress with vinaigrette  dressing. ( shop bought or home made)

This has to be made and served immediately.

Hearty Butternut Squash soup

1 butternut squash ( peeled and deseeded and chopped)

1 onion (red or white your choice)

2 veg stock cubes ( add to pan and then top with water to just cover the veg in pan)

2 carrots peeled and chopped

1 mild red chilli

1 clove garlic

Salt and pepper

butter

cream or Creme fraiche for serving

This can be made in advance and frozen in individual portions that way you can take it out and have for lunch at other times.

put butter into pan and cook onion until soft but not coloured (put lid on pan and cook on low heat)

Add all other ingredients and allow to cook until squash is softened.

Using a hand blender or food processor, blend down the soup mixture until  a smooth consistency.

Swirl on cream or creme fraiche as you serve

This should make approx  4 servings 

Or buy a carton of soup and add cream or creme fraiche, great timesaving  cheat and some left for another day.

Suggestions for Main course

 A good tip is to prepare the veg on Xmas eve and put into bowls of water, this way you can prepare more than needed and have it on hand for Boxing day or the day after, change the water every morning.

Alternatively bags of prepared veg are very useful and can be kept in the fridge until needed ( 2-3 day max I would say)

Melty Mushroom Wellington

1 large field mushroom

1tbsp olive oil

4oz spinach leaves

sprig of fresh thyme

100g ready roll puff pastry

35g stilton cheese

beaten egg

dusting of flour

salt and pepper

Heat oven to gas mark 7.

Remove stalk from mushroom and cook in olive oil until tender, remove from pan and put onto kitchen paper.

I same pan add the spinach and allow to wilt, season and then put into a sieve to drain ( any excess moisture).

Dust flour on a worktop and add thyme leaves roll out pastry  and using a saucer cut a 2 discs. Use the saucer as the dish to cook. add the mushroom, spinach and stilton cheese.

Put the pastry top on, cutting a couple of slits in the centre.

use the beaten egg to 'wash the top'.

Put in oven and cook until golden (approx. 20mins). Serve

Roast Sweet Potato and onion tart with goats cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion sliced

1 sweet potato peeled and cubed

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

25g cranberry sauce

pinch of chilli flakes

100g ready made puff pastry

100g goats chees with rind broken into chunks

beaten egg 

Thyme sprigs

Heat oven gas mark 6 /200c

Heat half of oil in frying pan add onions and cook until softened add vinegar and cranberry sauce and simmer until liquid has disappeared.

Toss potato in remaining oil with chilli flakes and salt and pepper on an ovenproof tray and cook in oven for approx 20 mins.

leave to cool.

Lower oven heat to gas 4/180c.

Line small baking try ( individual size ) with baking parchment and roll out the pastry to fit.

Leaving a gap around the edge of the pastry case add the onion and potato mixture and cheese. Brush edges with the beaten egg and put into oven baking until edges are golden brown.

slice and serve

Vegetable suggestions

apart from from the usual roast potatoes and Brussel sprouts here are some other ideas 

Green beans with shallots, cut a shallot into quarters and cook in a frying pan until tender, steam green beans, season and mix together.

Why not try parsnip and potato mash, it is really tasty and something different.

Carrot and swede mash is also good.

more ideas are on the  blog from last week, 'Christmas for 1 part 1 

Suggestions for desserts

If like me you are not a fan of Xmas pudding ( some puddings contain suet so not suitable for vegetarians) then alternatives are below.

Mixed Berry Meringue Nests

A  very quick and easy dessert that can be put together very quickly. 

1 meringue nest ( usually pack of 4 or box of 6 or 8 keep in the cupboard)

Mixed berries either fresh or frozen ( defrosted)

Pouring cream or whipping cream ( or tinned squirty cream which is great for liqueur coffees too).

Assemble berries in nest and top with cream.

Easy

Eton Mess

And a super easy alternative  to this is defrosted frozen raspberries ( or fresh) mixed with whipped cream and broken meringue nest.

There are also a couple of alternatives in the 'Christmas for one Part 1' from last week.

And a quick and easy cheat dessert.

trifle.

In a small glass bowl put some raspberries or strawberries .

Slice some 'smart price mini swiss rolls and put a payer onto the berries.

Add more berries and another layer of thinly sliced swiss roll.

Sprinkle with Fino sherry or kirsch and leave to soak in.

Meanwhile open a tin of ready made custard and  place on top of fruit and sponge, place in fridge for about half an hour.

 whip up some cream and put on top of custard, decorate with grated chocolate or more berries.

I hope that some of these might be useful to you.

I appreciate that if you are spending Christmas alone for the time it may be a little daunting preparing food just for yourself.

Take time to decide what you will be having, and give yourself the time to make it, you have the luxury  of deciding what time you eat. Nothing to worry about really.

Try to make the effort to decorate your home in some way, it doesn't have to be over the top.

I put up my 'Cricmas' tree and decorate the dining table as well as putting out some old red glass candlesticks on my mantlepiece.

I don't go overboard, but add pieces that are special to me.

Remember to treat yourself too, these are strange times and we have probably never  encountered them before. 

Have some champagne or cava ( which ever your budget allows). Christmas fruit of satsumas and dates are lovely to munch on. 

This is (hopefully) a one off situation for many of you ( not me though). If you want to sit in your PJ's all day then that's up to you and who is to say that you shouldn't. 

Above all enjoy your day.

If you have  any questions about any of the recipes please message me, I will always try to help  if I can.

My words of advice if you are on your own are, make the most of it and treat yourself. I personally know how hard this year has been on all of us and I am determined to make sure that I treat myself well over the festive period.

Self care is high priority. 

Take care and stay safe.

Countdown begins

 Here we are in November and we are preparing to go back into full lockdown again on Thursday. Judging by Tesco yesterday morning, people were stocking up for Xmas too, I watched in disbelief as a woman tried (unsuccessfully) to manoeuvre two trolleys. 

Having bought my milk I headed to the cafe for breakfast and  to watch the goings on, on the shop floor.

My birthday couple of nights away has now been cancelled by the Hotel as they close on Wednesday evening. So now to try to plan a birthday food menu. I've got the champagne.

It will be a week off work, but not even able to go out and about and most shops will be shut, dear me!

I put out a plea on FB last night to ask if any friends had a fire pit that I could 'loan' for a week, I thought if the weather wasn't too bad I would spend time in the garden. Not had any response so I will this week try to hunt one down.

I was up and out again this morning in the dark, I just had a quick march up to the station and back, its cold,  very wet under foot after a day of very strong wind and an evening of lashing rain. 

Winter is coming,!!!!!

Now time to head to work and see if they are keeping my remaining staff on furlough when they should have been coming back this week.

Well off I go, have a great Monday and stay safe.