This morning I was reading an article by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall about cooking with children. Please put that old joke down! I know we all like children just couldn’t eat a whole one! Anyway now that that’s out of the way – cooking with the aid of children – when I was little or younger (which ever term you prefer) Nan-nan (my grandmother) was always baking apple tarts. There was nothing I loved more than getting the remaining core of the cooking apples and dipping them in sugar to make them yummy and slightly crunchy. One year I insisted on getting a rolling pin – I don’t know if it was for a birthday or christmas present – because I tend to have cold hands a lot of the time it means I’m a dab hand at pastry. So to have my very own rolling pin was just wonderful! When I moved out of baking and home the rolling pin magically disappeared. I was living in a flat but I still wanted a rolling pin – it could come in handy!!! but I couldn’t find one that was just like the one I had – still handles and a rolling middle/barrel – no the one I got was an all in one 😦 Don’t get me wrong it worked it rolled out my shortbread biscuits to a treat but it just wasn’t the same. Anyway yesterday we went to Ikea and as we were walking around down stairs there was a random rolling pin lying about in the pictures section – I don’t know where it came from originally but I just had to have it.
So now I have my rolling pin and Hugh is cooking with children there is something that is telling cook an apple tart – all I need now is a tart dish and I shall be away in a hack.
Sorry but now that I mention the plate – I’ve just remembered the thrill of shaving off the excess pastry from the edges – I loved doing that. Ok my mission is now to get that plate and put it all to good use – I’ll post pictures if it doesn’t get eaten before I find the camera.
Month: July 2010
Library Book
Did I mention I’m now at the point in the book where all I want to do is spend the day reading.
A Visit To The Library
On Thursday I went to weight watchers but didn’t stay for the meeting (yes naughty naughty!) Anyway instead of going straight home we dropped into the library. I hadn’t been there since it was all done up – actually I hadn’t been in there since I was 15 or so and therefore we are talking about a long time! I have to say I was very impressed – so impressed that I joined straight away. The last time I was a member they had a card/ticket system now it’s all electronic.
I didn’t take anything out at that visit but today we decided to drop into our local library (they are both run by the same county council and therefore one card fits all). I had never been in this one and it was even better then the one in Malahide (but it’s not as pretty as Malahide). It was so good himself wanted to join but he didn’t have proof of address on him 😛 However I had my card and with a limit of 10 items we were sorted. Himself picked out some graphic novels and I picked out a CD by Kate Rusby (which I’m listening to as I type) and we picked up 2 DVDs about a series that had once been on RTE called Hands – it’s all about hand crafts in Ireland – the ones we got were no.s 1&2 wool spinning and Patchwork. When we were at the counter I spotted a book at the quick pick stand and decided to take a chance – Requiem For A Wren by Nevil Shute.
When we were leaving the two of us got very giggly and himself said “I’d forgotten how exciting it was to get stuff out of the library” You know he’s right it was great fun and still is – I have a feeling that I’m going to expand my reading horizons with very little pain to my pocket. I’m so excited I think I’m going to have to go and read my book!
The Flâneur
I have been longing to get away and my city of choice is generally Paris. I love it – I don’t know what it is or why and there are soo many french expressions to say that but I’m a bit rubbish at french. ANYWAY – as I’m stuck here for now looking out at the rain and the lightening and counting ’til the thunder I’m indulging in The Flâneur by Edmund White. Ok I really only started reading it today but I have decided that I need to have a map of the city to hand and a note book as I’m reading. I was very tempted to actually write on the book – just mark things as something to investigate later – when I did have that map and the internet near by.
I shall keep you updated as to how my stroll through Paris progresses.
Soggy Saturday
It is raining outside and I can hear the rain hitting the puddles. I love it!
On the other hand I’m surfing sites about Paris.
That First Coffee
Right now I’m after finishing my cereal and I’m having a coffee and it really has hit the spot. Not every cup of coffee (or mug) makes you think “you know, that was exactly what I needed” but the first one of the day tends to have a better hit rate – in every way 😉
Learning
Yesterday my email account was hacked and everybody in my address book was sent something – not sure what as I didn’t open it. Anyway three cheers for Google! They decided that it was spam and blocked it so the mails didn’t go anywhere. My only problem after that was to think of a new password and make the change so I looked to my bookshelves for inspiration. Eventually I came up with something so all is well with the world – however as I was looking at my books I noticed that I have a few books about learning some different languages. It really was an Oh Yeah! I have those books – so now I’m going to use those books! As I type I realise there is one other text book somewhere in the house – I will have to dig that one out although I can start with what I have. I have to admit that I’m rather looking forward to getting stuck in but it will require me to make sure that my desk is cleared – I have to get some stuff shredded 😉
I wonder if I will do any better by myself compared to school & a brief stint in college? At least there won’t be any exams – eek and bane of my life – you would think that as a grown up I’d be beyond that kind of thinking – I guess old habits die hard.
Speaking of looking at my shelves – I wonder if it really is the wrong time of year to dip in to one of my Christmas books? Possibly maybe I’ll save them for night time reading.
I’ve just realised that it is I’m going to dip into next – I started reading Maya by Jostein Gaarder but have never managed to finish it – I’m only hoping to get a little bit further on in it – yes finish what I’m reading and then have a look at that.
S.O.F.A.
Or Shankill Old Folks Association – have their regular book sale on the first Saturday of every month. We don’t normally get to go out to it too often as himself has to work – however since he is out sick we ventured out – mind you we don’t venture out for too long as himself doesn’t like to be out of his surrounding for too long. However today was slightly different – off we went and plunged into the books. I didn’t get too much ’cause I’m not really looking for books at the moment – I came away with:
Ngaio Marsh = Enter A Murderer – I can’t find an image of the book online but it does have a rather splendid cover illustrated by Philip Hood.
Rebecca Shaw = Omnibus edition of The New Rector & Talk Of The Village.
I haven’t read any of these but have seen them on occasion and thought for that price (€3-) why not give it a go?
Himself had a rather large haul but as this is about things that make me smile we won’t mention the boxes of magazines he got – nah I don’t really mind but sometimes it’s fun to pretend I disapprove 😉
Afterwards we went to visit one of the kittens we had to re-house. The new owner is an old friend of himself so it was interesting to sit there and listen to them swap stories. I have to say though it was really nice to sit out in the garden drinking orange with the sun shining and the cat & dogs picking people at random for rubs. I hope we get another chance to do that again.
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