Saturday 3 January 2015

Nuts about nuts

Hello. I'm getting lost with the days, what with having the holidays mid week, I thought it was Sunday today. Not a very nice start, it was very dull, and raining. 
I know some of you like to know what I eat, sorry I'm not good with the recipes, I just make it up. If you read my blog regularly you will see lots of photo's of vegetables, because that's what I like best. I don't care if it doesn't look like a meal from a posh restaurant, I know it's going to taste delicious, well most of the time, ha ha. You can't really go wrong with steamed veg, all you need to do is prick them with a fork while cooking, and removed them from the heat pretty sharpish before they turn to mush. I don't usually have any anything else with them so as soon as they are ready they are eaten. A sprinkle of grated cheese is lovely. Occasionally I might make half a mug of veggie gravy in the microwave, if I can be bothered. Or as a treat I might buy some dips, or mayo. The taste of slightly crunchy sprouts is divine, oh, and broccoli is just scrumptious. My dinner from two days ago. 
A while ago I bought a box of Caffe Latte, I fancied something a bit different to plain Nescafe. I used some of the single sachet's, but the taste didn't excite me, not enough coffee in them.These three have been in the cupboard for ages. What to do with them. Empty them into the jar, and mix ordinary coffee in with them. Nothing wasted in this house.

I fancied some pasta yesterday. I never buy sauce in jars, always make my own, it's simple enough. I chopped a large onion into a medium size pan and added a portion of frozen home grown runner beans. Cook them in a slug of oil until they start to soften. Add whatever spices you have. I used garlic powder and turmeric, and a shake of this and that, ha ha. Chuck it all in. Then I added a tin of chopped tomatoes, and simmered a little while longer. When ready I zapped it with the stick blender. It was lovely. I made three portions of pasta and two portions of sauce. I ate one last night, one tonight, and the rest of the pasta I will eat with cheese and mayo tomorrow,

I had some packets of chopped nuts which needed using up, I eat a lot of nuts, so I thought I would see if they would turn into nut butter if I pulverized them in the food processor. I also have some linseeds so I put them in as well. It was a fairly stiff consistency so I added a slug of olive oil. Then I tasted it, yuk, not great. What to do next. 
I had to divide the mix in half because there was too much for the mixer to cope with. I opened a tin of chick peas and added that, plus some spices, and a squirt of tomato ketchup. Much better consistency now. 
Next I fashioned it into small patties. The mixture was sticking to my disposable gloves, I prefer to use them rather than use my bare hands. Under the grill they went. I got 18 out of it. They taste quite nice, an improvement would be more curry powder, a bit more spicy would be better. They are fine hot or cold, and would be a great addition to add to a snack box.

I wanted to top up the pet food so I went off to a small retail park this afternoon, not very far away. A few years ago most of the shops closed as they went out of business, but new companies have moved in to take their place. It's a nice place to shop now. Not too busy, and plenty of parking. Yes it's out of town, but it's an old established park, not like the brand spanking new ones that are springing up everywhere. It's got shops where I can actually afford to buy things. Poundstretcher, Home Bargains, Dunelm, Pound Shop, Iceland, and Matalan. If anyone needs sugar, it's still 49p in Poundstretcher. I got some Quorn burgers, sausages, and roast from the freezer in Iceland, all half price at £1 each.

Today's colour is.......blue. I didn't have far to go to take this. The daffodils are coming up in my back garden, near to the back door, and I keep stepping on them. A plastic ball on a stick does the trick to remind me to walk round them.

Hey, it's Saturday night, chill time. Thanks for looking in. Have a nice Sunday. I think it's going to rain again ;o(( Toodle pip.

29 comments:

  1. I'm one that loves to know what you are eating Ilona- love a good nosey! I also copy the idea of steamed veg with a bit of cheese for lunch. Delicious. I'm not a gardener really, but I did plant daffodil bulbs last year. They are coming through now, but isn't it too early yet?

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    1. Hi, normally it is a bit too early, but I have seen them coming through all over the place. I think the seasons are starting to get rolled into each other. Will be interesting to see when they come into flower, and how long they last.

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  2. Hey great to see you took my advice about using disposable gloves!! (would have been nice to have been given some credit though)

    nuts about nuts

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    1. Hi. I can't remember that, mind you I have had 27,126 published comments, some of them slip my mind. Thank you, Anon for your advice.

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  3. One of my treats is sachets of Cappuccino or Latte. I like Maxwell House cappuccino that I get for £1 for a box of 8 in either Poundland or Farm Foods. My lovely daughter bought me some Nescafe lattes for Xmas and I'm currently enjoying Gingerbread ones...they are delicious.

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  4. Ilona I had something nice this week. Lefover veggies from our dinner, laid in a casserole dish. Pour over a tin of (tomato) soup and cover with stale bread crumbs and grated cheese. Into the over for 20 mins. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  5. I like seeing what you are eating and like you my recipes always evolve from left overs! x

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  6. I mix those packets of cappuccino also. They really do need more coffee. I am so jealous your daffodils are coming up. We here in Manitoba, Canada are just entering our dog days of winter, -35c with windchill value of -44c. We will be like this for about six weeks. Won't see the daddy's until End of May or so. Love your blog. Particularly liked it when you were bimbling around Derbyshire. My father and some family came from Derby to Alberta Canada in 1913. Nice to see and learn a bit of where he came from.

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    1. Hello Jean. When the days start getting longer I will be out bimbling. Eight hours of daylight and freezing cold is not very appealing at the moment. Derbyshire is not very far away, one of my favourite counties.

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  7. You can't go wrong with fresh veggies!
    Jane x

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  8. I'll take your rain - we have a cold front moving through leaving us with a high temp on Sunday of minus 1 degree. Colder temps all week. It's been very mild, for the most part. January often means cold, cold and more cold. Long blasted month and so very chilly to boot! Ugh...On the food front, I made enchiladas - using refried beans, black beans, Rotel tomatoes and a bit of taco sauce for my filling - add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, roll up and put into a long glass dish, add enchilada sauce, bit more cheese and throw into the oven. Ummm. Added a bit of avocado on top when dishing up. Very tasty and warm food helps keep the inner oven burning, as well. Hope the rain stops soon. Ranee in MN

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    1. Hi. Your food sounds gorgeous, beans, tomatoes, cheese, all yummy. I'm coming for dinner ;o))

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  9. It's snowing in my neck of the woods! Hope you have a happy New Year! =0)

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    1. Hi. There has been snow in the UK, but not round here. Happy New Year to you.

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  10. I know this sounds weird to you and your readers, but I really don't like brussels or broccoli or broad beans or mushrooms. There I've said it - rather like standing up and declaring at an AA meeting!
    I do grow all these and many other veg as my husband LOVES them.
    Happy New Year Ilona
    Gillx

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    1. I love your hubby, my kind of man, ha ha. Happy New Year to you.

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  11. I would like to use nuts in cooking, but they're too expensive for me.
    I thought it was Saturday every day last week ! totally disorientated by holidays.

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    1. Hi. They are expensive, I shop around but can't find any really cheap ones. Sometimes Aldi, or the Asian shop, occasionally Tesco. I am saving money by not eating meat, and count nuts as a good substitute.

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  12. Love chickpeas - do you have a Home Bargains by you? I think they are the cheapest place to buy them (for me anyway). We are currently using everything up in the fridge and cupboards. Have not had to do a 'proper' shop since before Christmas! But we will certainly have to go and stock up either tomorrow but trying to hang on until Tuesday when everyone has gone back to work. Debbie

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    1. Hi, yes I get mine from Home Bargains, usually a good price. Much dearer in the supermarkets.

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  13. I am a vegetarian too. Is there any veggies you can't steam? Very interested. Natalie

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    1. I can't think of any that can't be steamed. I used a baskety thing in a saucepan. Just remember the harder the veg the longer it takes to cook. Cut the root veggies up a bit smaller and put them in first so they get a good dose of rising steam. The less dense veg can go on the top. Do the same with an electric steamer, the hard veg on the bottom.

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    2. hello Natalie, I have been thinking about your question since I read it. I can't think of any veg you can't steam. Experiment and enjoy!

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  14. It's fun experimenting, especially when it turns out to be edible! You can't beat plain steamed veggies with cheese...unless you have plenty of parsley and make some fresh parsley sauce!

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  15. Nothing's wasted in this house either. DH doesn't know that I've mixed in the cheap coffee granules with his favourite coffee granules. Just another cheapie jar to go. We bought some different teabags the other day and they made very weak tea so I mixed them in with the tea we already had. It's quite exciting wondering whether we'll get a good 'brew' or not. It's no hardship though and nothing is wasted.
    xx

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    1. Spot on, Mum, there are so many ways of using up things that are not particularly appealing on their own. The Nescafe International in the picture is a cheaper version, I get it to mix in with the original, like you say, it tastes fine.

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  16. Hello Ilona.Those patties look good and would be nice in a sandwich with tomato,green onions and lettuce,very yummy.(though might sub ground flax seeds instead of linseed) It's been stormy and then wet couple of days here with a freeze coming up they say.My hubby's truck slid down the driveway where it was parked and almost ended up on the road overnight.Luckily no damage etc.When you and your readers mention the prices of things over there I am always wistful and wish it were so here.Even at our dollar stores price increases result in paying more for large packaging with less product.Do they think we won't notice?Really like your "colour"theme photos lately,thank you for sharing and blogging.It's a bright spot in my day.Regards, Destemona

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  17. How long does it take to steam veg with one of those thingies that go in a saucepan? Mine take ages and I keep losing steam when taking the pan lid off to prod them.

    I've seen microwave steamer dishes, have you tried steaming veg in a microwave? Wonder if that would be more economical and avoid condensation in the kitchen too.

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    1. Hi Alice. Have you got one of those umbrella type baskets which has lots of holes and expands to fit the saucepan? If you have, a bigger saucepan is better because it opens out and there are more holes for the steam to rise through. If you have something like a colander the steam might not be getting through to the top.

      You need a tight fitting lid, and only need to prod them once. Put the pan on the cooker, bring it to the boil, a couple of minutes, turn it down but not too low. It could be that you are turning it too low. The water needs to bubble quite vigorously, the higher the heat the quicker it will cook. Give it 5 or 6 minutes then prod, you should be able to tell by that how much longer it needs. The more veg you put in it the longer it takes the steam to penetrate all through. Mine takes about 7 or 8 minutes in total.

      I have a plastic thingy to use in the microwave but I don't like it much. Seems to take longer. Open a window nearest to the cooker, that should help. ,

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