I need to get some serious scoffing done.

This morning I noticed that my big freezer had iced and consequently switched itself off (there must be hundreds scrapped each year, simply because people think they've gone kaput, when all they need is to be defrosted and they work fine again). So it was a rush to pack all my Coleman X-Treme and Icy-Tek coolboxes with everything that was in there.

Re-packing after the defrost and I've got four freezer racks of fish: bass, bream, turbot, brill, plaice, cod, pollack and ling. Three shoulder of pork joints, about half a dozen packs of steak, various cuts of pork, lamb, chicken etc. Not to mention six Morrison's curries (the good ones), asparagus, mash, peas, gravies and other sundries. I even found six packs of Parmesan, various pasta sauces and pizza bases.

I don't think I'll be buying much between now and Christmas. The only problem with the fish is it's all vacuum-sealed in packs of 2 or 3 and now Emma and Jon have got their own gaff, I'm only cooking for meself.

They're the only fooking banks both in numbers opening and clients, that are thriving around here. Unfortunately they can't handle fresh, let alone frozen foods

rlThey are also thriving up here in your old stomping ground.rl

Another Tory success story.

Tried a red Lillet this week.
La Senora managed to find some at the Leeds branch of Gerry's (*).
Very nice ... I can only describe it being like a slightly herby port, more a digestif than an aperitif (oooh, get him) and very enjoyable.
Campari I'm already familiar with but I'll keep an eye open for St Raphael & Pontarlier.
Thanks for the tip.

I have recently also become quite partial to La Senora's home-infused Sloe Vodka, with chilled Schweppes tonic.(**)


(*) When we lived in London, Gerry's in Old Compton Street was my favourite shop in the whole world.
(**) The home infusing of the vodka took three years ... well, I say "took" three years, it was more "forgotten about" for three years on the cool, dark, spider-ridden shelf at the top of the cellar steps. During a tidy-up it came to light, so she strained it off and it's gorgeous.

Sorry mate but that just conjours up visions too nauseous to mention

Ah.
Maybe think of it pronounced as "Lillay" ... that might help.

Tried another aperitif this weekend.
Called "Cynar", it's Italian and made from an extract of artichokes.
I have no idea how it got into the house in the first place, I didn't buy it and my first impression is not that encouraging ... it's a bit sour/bitter and not a flavour I've experienced before except that a background flavour reminds me of a medicine I had as a kid when I had dysentery.
I had it neat but the instructions on the bottle say it should always have ice.
I will try it again but with ice and soda.

Lined-up for trying after that is "Bitterol" (another mystery visitor to the drinks cupboard) but I'll give it a shot.

Whilst reading last night, the glass at my elbow contained rum, "The Versailles Still", a Demerara pot-still, distilled 1984 and bottled from the wood by those gods at Bristol Spirits.
Very light, citrussy and fragrant with a touch of spiciness, although it spent 16 years in oak it's not over-vanilla-ed and has almost none of the sticky caramel flavour of most rums.
Yum.

I have become very friendly with a young lady who owns her own cafe/restaurant thingymajig in my home town.
I have been inundated with home made steak pies, chicken and mushroom pies, lasagna's etc etc.
Very handy when u can't be @rsed to cook for yourself.
All freebies as well, for services rendered.

Gerry's is amazing. There's a rather fab coffee and tea shop just down Old Compton Street (just around the corner from Dean Street) that's worth a mention if you're in the area. However much they try to clean it up, trendify it, franchise it and sanitise it, there are still hangouts of small, independent shops in Soho, and they're often absolute gems.

Generally: tried my first mint julep recently – not normally a whisky drinker, but that's nice.

Sticking with the being lazy theme I have been using a fair amount of Aldi's Four Seasons frozen vegetable medleys.
Not usually a fan of frozen veg but this brand is definitely passable.

I am currently having a little five day rest in a suite in the Midland hotel Manchester, had some interesting and very tasty food rlhererl and rlhererl



At around 3am Sunday morning my niece and I were tucking into a chilli laden kebab watching a bit of TV after a hard night eating, drinking and various Manchester pubs and clubs we both discussed in great detail the making of a chicken and mushroom pie. The best pie ever, we did bicker though over the addition of sweet corn (her) and carrot (me). She is currently scouring the shops of Manchester buying a varied selection of chicken pies for research purposes.

Carrot would be fine mate but I draw the line at sweetcorn.
Always been a bit phobic in relation to it.
No can do.

Just been nformed my sausage and bacon quiche is slowly cooling as we speak and ready for picking up.



Roll with it.

Quote: Mintball "Gerry's is amazing. There's a rather fab coffee and tea shop just down Old Compton Street (just around the corner from Dean Street) that's worth a mention if you're in the area. However much they try to clean it up, trendify it, franchise it and sanitise it, there are still hangouts of small, independent shops in Soho, and they're often absolute gems. Generally I think it is [iThe Algerian Coffee Store[/i to which you refer. rgarciaandsons.com/

Quote: Mintball "Gerry's is amazing. There's a rather fab coffee and tea shop just down Old Compton Street (just around the corner from Dean Street) that's worth a mention if you're in the area. However much they try to clean it up, trendify it, franchise it and sanitise it, there are still hangouts of small, independent shops in Soho, and they're often absolute gems. Generally I think it is [iThe Algerian Coffee Store[/i to which you refer. rgarciaandsons.com/

Quite right too.

Reminds me of when I was in the pub the other day (unlike me, I know ) and the landlady asked me to test a Cherry Stout.

I had a bit of a Peter Kay moment.

Cherry?
Stout?
Cherry Stout? What's that about then?
If you're half-Belgian, half-Irish ... it's the drink for you.
Cherry Stout, it's the future.

Trying to dispell the thoughts of alcohol from my mind.
Managed to enter my local at 11am Saturday morning and escaped at 3am Sun morning.
Back in at opening yesterday until 7pm then a few of us round to my mates for a firework display.
He decided to keep pouring me a large tumbler(s) of Pernod and Bacardi mixture with lemonade and like a t!t I kept firing them down.
I have managed to leave me sofa and quilt only to go to the boys room today.
Made myself a tin of Baxters chicken broth with a couple of slices of bread as I hadn't eaten.
Was sweetcorn free thankfully.
Think quiche might have to mature overnight and get collected tomorrow.