Hello there...
thought it was time I checked in ....everyone okay?
Just a bit of everyday doings... maybe a bit boring ... a bit bland ... but hey! this is my life ... its not all Sex In The City ... or even Eastenders ....
We live a steady, quiet ...and contented life.
So yesterday ... the promise of a lamb hotpot kept Hubby P going all day...I like to cook a hotpot long and slow so I started in the morning.
We can't run (cannot afford to buy) to lamb chops for a hotpot all the time ...they are such a price. So I use half a pound of minced lamb ... browned in the frying pan ... it gives the hotpot a somewhat authentic lamb-y taste.
I fry it up with a bit of onion and here I have added a couple of spoonfuls of cooked rice ....left over from the previous evenings meal....it bulks out the mince well.
Just look at this gorgeous veg ... wonderful vibrant colours.
I layered it all with the mince and sliced potatoes...sprinkled an odd oxo and some good old Welsh water ...and put it in the oven.
Now even the best of hotpots doesn't justify the oven being on for hours ... simply for it alone.
So ... looking in the fridge and baking cupboard ...it looked a lot like cakes.
I lined a few cake tins ....in a rough and ready manner ...no frills here I'm afraid.
And set to....it doesn't take long ...just knocking up a few simple cakes .. I used what was to hand.
I made a coconut sponge, lemon sponge (yes .. still a lemon or two lurking about) and a chocolate marble sponge.
Nothing flash ... quick and easy... used the weight of eggs method.
That is ...weigh your eggs (or as I do put them on the side of your scale where normally you would put your weights)...then use equal amounts of sugar, butter and flour ...a basic sponge mix ...add whatever flavourings ...and bung in a tin.
I put a bit of lemon icing on the lemon cake and jam and coconut on the coconut....left the chocolate mable cake as it was ...choccy speaks for itself.
Of course this is a lot of cake for one household.... so I found some
odd/mismatched saucers ...gave them a good hot wash ... and plated up the cake.
I covered them well in cling film and took them to the boot sale today....everyone likes a bit of homemade cake.
And it raised a few pennies ....paid for me having the oven on and a delicious hotpot.
A pound to a penny some of the old dears will wash and return my old saucers ...it was what they were brought up to do ...anyone else remember collecting pop bottles to 'cash in' ...and get a few pennies back.
I remember too.. when my Grandparents had a Fish and Chip shop ...the local ladies would bring in their own plates and bowls for their fish dinners or whatever it was they fancied....and leave them to be filled .... Gran knew everyones household china ..
how things have changed.
Perhaps companies should bring back that deposit scheme ... I'm sure it would work, they have a similar scheme in other countries I think ... it must be an incentive to recycle.
What do you think ...would people do it these days ...does money back make a difference?
xx
