Tuesday 20 November 2012

A cheesey post

There was a barge chugging up the river this morning. I think they chug, at least that's what it sounds like, chug chug chug. It's a blustery morning with threats of rain but the wind is blowing that strong it is sending the clouds scuttleing across the sky before they have chance to bombard us with their millions of rain drops. I like blustery weather where the trees bend sideways as the wind roars through their branches.
A walk round the fishing pond I think. There goes the barge upstream to the docks to unload it's cargo.
I fancied some pasta for lunch today. Ooops, I've eaten half of it before I thought to take the photo. Yes I do use a spoon, much easier to scoop the sauce up rather than it falling through the prongs of a fork. I cooked four big mushrooms (reduced, yellow sticker of course) in a lump of olive oil spread. Added a few drops of lemon juice. Then the magic ingredient, soft cheese spread with garlic.
This spread is very versatile and at only 50p it's quite affordable for those on a low budget. I don't make sauce the conventional way, in a pan with a packet sauce mix, in fact I rarely make a sauce at all, can't be bothered washing dirty sauce pans. This is an easy way to make garlicky cheese sauce. Put some of this in your cooked mushrooms, add a bit of grated cheese, stir it in, and just before serving add two desertspoons of plain yogurt. Absolutely divine, mushroom in garlic and cheese sauce.
The other uses I have for this cheese spread is, open the lid and have it next to my plate of steamed veg. I stick my fork in and scoop a splodge out, then stab a sprout, or a potato, or whatever is on my plate and yum, it melts in the mouth. Deeeeelishus. Sometimes I scoop the cheese out with a cream cracker or savoury biscuit. Yesterday I spread some on a couple of hot steamy crumpets. Sometimes I even spread it on bread or toast. Try this Everyday Value soft cheese, they do it without the garlic if you prefer. It is just as good as the branded names. Sounds like a sponsored post, ha ha, No I do not get paid to talk nicely about products, other supermarkets will have something similar.

Right, a bit more painting. Toodle pip.

14 comments:

  1. Love the pics of the barges on the river. When we stayed at the lovely campsite at the bottom of the hill, we looked out of the caravan window and saw a huge boat sailing past the end of the road... quite a sight.

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  2. I hope the painting is going well and you are having fun with it, Ilona :)

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  3. We use this cheese all the time, i love it on crackers and toast or i use it for cheese cause like you, i also use it in a creamy chicken which we then either have with rice/chips or it becomes pie filling, it really is very good value even on offer the well known brand is double the price.

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    1. Some good ideas there Sian, thanks. You can do lots with it.

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  4. Ship spotting rather than man spotting today eh?

    Your barge is Cargo Vessel Skadi by the look of her. Moored at Keadby now if I'm right: http://shipfinder.co/ship/325080000

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    1. You're probably right Brian, it was heading that way. I couldn't make out the name on the side, I zoomed in as far as my camera would allow.

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  5. That pasta looks delish! I just had shepherds pie made with soy mince, but I bet that cheese would have been nice stirred into the mash topping.

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  6. Hiya from House fairy.
    Love the boat pictures, I like the idea of travel. Anywhere.
    Pasta is one of my favorites. Last week I did a big dish of pasta in Ragu sauce. It lasted for about 3 days. I ate most and vegeta daughter ate some.
    Today for dinner I had pizza and chips and a home made pud. (we do not often have pud)
    I made apple and blackberry crumble and custard. Blackberries were frozen, from garden in late summer.

    bye...

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  7. Ilona, I use this cream cheese as dip for raw veggies. It`s yummy. The plain one can also be made into a cheap cheese cake mix with some beaten egg yolks and stiffly beaten egg whites, then filled into a blind baked pastry case and baked to finish in the oven. This type of cake can be topped with passion fruit, strawberry or kiwi topping during the the times when these fruits are in season. Many more options of use, I`m sure.

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  8. Just been watching George Clarke and thinking of you, sadly W has a wedding ring Ilona!!

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  9. Cheesy mushroom pasta is a staple here too, often I saute some onion and garlic with the mushrooms and add the soft cheese to that, yummy. Ali.

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  10. Yum! Mac N Cheese my favorite meal. I will use any cheese or pasta I have in the house to make it. Now I'm hungry.

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  11. Hi Ilona, I have all the ingredients for your cheesy pasta and mushroom dish so will give it a go tomorrow. I picked up the garlic and herb version in Aldi the other night, thought I'd give it a try after seeing your post. We sometimes make a dish using standard cream cheese, with peas, pasta and bacon in. Celery sticks would be good with the garlic and herb cheese too. Cheers for now, Christy.

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