Baking - Tips, Questions, Discussions, Recipes.

Good morning Flamingo

A person of my own heart,  simple food cooked simply with lots of variation.  I support my local farm shop and local butcher who is a godsend by preparing my meat for cooking by chopping and trimming it for me, after I explained I had reduce dexterity in my hands because of my PN, I also take my own containers so eliminated the plastic.  My church is right next to an allotment where people give theif surplus produce to the Church which is left for people to take for a donation.  My DIL is a vegan, and I’ve embraced it sort of but could never give up meat, fish or dairy altogether

Lynda

Heya,

Good luck with the scones today, and yes, if you're shaping them as you mention above then it sounds like they're being overworked which will make them tougher in the mouth. Fingers crossed they work for you and you like them!

And yes, for someone looking to keep up the calories using ground almonds is a really good addition to porridge. Do you ever add seeds to it too? Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are quite tasty, especially if you toast them before you sprinkle them on. I found a cornmeal porridge in Asda a couple of days ago, so I grabbed a packet to see what it's like. I'll let you know when I finally get around to doing it.

I had an ultrasound on Friday on the new lumps, and it turns out they're just more lipoma as we thought. So that's good. Mini op on Tuesday coming to remove the mole to see what it is. Then womb lining being stripped again on the..... 22nd I think it is, and will then be sent off for testing to see if the cancer is in the polyps still.

How are things with you?

Lass

xx

Morning all

Thanks for kind remarks about food choices and Daloni's Anna jones recommendations and spider - your idea about the allotment produce is avery good one - there is always a glut and wonderful to find people who want it and need it. My garden is not up to scratch at the moment as only spending one week in three there due to sodding chemo regime. This is a very bad time of year to abandon it as I have planted loads of seeds but am not there to water in this hot weather or pick of the dreadful slugs and the pigeons and rabbits sometimes take more than their fair share. 

I am busy making a courtyard garden for my daughter which is great fun and a sort of legacy of my life and gardening knowledge that I can leave for her. She has a barn conversion on three sides around a large sun trap courtyard which we are planting mediterranean style with loads of sweet smelling, cooling flowers like lilacs, roses and lavenders. It will be beautiful one day.

She also has a new veggie plot with mainly bits taken from my Cornish garden, masses of soft fruit and artichokes. The rabbits here are enormous and voracious and there are deer and muntjaks in the woods that come and bite off the tenderest buds.

We take the baby and lie her among the broad beans or under an apple tree while we weed around her.

I sold up my family house in Somerset which I had extended and made a bit of money on and bought a wreck of an old granite cottage with a long neglected garden 8 years ago. I have been restoring and extending the garden and propping up the house ever since. It is an enormous joy to me and nothing gives me greater pleasure than to fill it with family and friends and sit round the kitchen table to make a feast. Paradise. You are all welcome at any time.

Feeling better today as steroid dose reduces, stomach healing but I know the weepy fatigue will hit me tomorrow along with the heatwave so I shall enjoy today.

love to all you lovely people.

flamingo

Hi There Lass! 

                         I am delighted about the lumps! Lord that sounds painful what your having done to your womb! Fingers crossed it all goes well please keep in touch and also hopefully the mole will come back as clear x So good luck for tomorrow my love x

Ah, the scones well that little task had to be put on hold as I can hardly stand due to my SJ joint at the base of my spine popping out of place again! Only its on the right side last time it was the left side so I am walking crab-like around the hose totally frustrated but still happy as the eyes are holding up and my sense of taste hearing and smell has returned! My hearing had started to become dreadful but on sat I noticed I could hear my neighbors talking in their garden and phone conversations were so much easier! As for my taste, I actually thought it was the meds although I do remember asking on here did cancer affect it as I remember long before any other symptoms my late Mum complained, well now I am convinced that really early signals for cancer are a change in taste buds mine haven't been great for months! that also kicked on sat I could not believe how beautiful my cod tasted and the green beans were full of flavor and I had a pear and thought lord that tastes really good!

I tried the almond porridge and I must say the texture was really lovely very smooth and the flavor was delicious I changed over to almond milk and had apple with it as I had eaten the strawberries lol So it will be a while yet before I can bake my scones as any prolonged standing really hurts and I never could bake or chop etc sitting down, Sorry you mentioned seeds no I steer clear of them as I have a few pouches in my bowels so they get stuck! plus I get a reaction to sunflower seeds which is a pity because they are so very healthy and good for you. I di, however, have the most delicious slice of Victoria sponge with jam and cream last Thursday I bought it in one of the cafes at Clatterbridge Cancer center Oh Lass it was mouth watering traditionally made with butter a cake with bite!  I had it with a cup of tea to celebrate my last radio session

How do you like this weather? I was never a fan of heat I am too fair skinned to sunbathe even walking around despite sunscreen I fry plus now I have to protect my scalp and part of my face from the sun due to the radio I think I convert to Islam the attire would certainly suit me!

Good luck tomorrow Lass

I will be thinking of you 

Love Bluebell xx

PS meant to ask what is a bridie?

Hey hey,

A Bridie. I used to have them when I was younger, it was always my pick at the bakers when we went for a treat for lunch. I'd have one of them and a Scotch Pie. Both of which ooze when you bite into them. The Bridie has a really tasty gravy sort of thing, while the Scotch pie oozes highly seasoned fat. They're both AMAZING!

What a bad joint you have! How's it doing now? Any better? Very glad to hear the senses are still kicking around though, that's such a good effect of the treatment you had!

And yeh, def steer clear of those seeds! lol. Hmmmm, I wonder though. Have you heard of chia seeds? You don't eat them as you would other seeds, is why I'm suggesting them. You put some in a bowl and then cover with some sort of liquid. So you could use any milk, or water, or even fruit juice if you wanted. I often use the Chocolate Oatly. Leave it to stand in the fridge overnight, or through the day, and when you come to eat it - the seeds have absorbed all of the liquid and puffed up to become almost like a semolina type of texture. So it's a REALLY quick pudding - in that you don't have to stand and stir or anything. lol. Chuck some fruit on top, and munch away!

And your final radiotherapy celebration sounds amazing! Very glad it was a good cake! There's nothing worse than going for a treat, taking a bite of whatever you've got yourself, and being disappointed in it! It's happened FAR too many times to me.

I like hot weather when I can get out in it. Luckily for me, all of my scars are well healed now so I don't have to worry about burning them - well, no more so than the rest of me. lol. But I like to be out, because I need some air movement, otherwise I have problems breathing. I had to buy myself a desk fan the other year for the sitting room, and I have my Granny's old floor fan for beside my bed. I have real temp control issues because of my lack of thyroid, and the meds keeping me at the hyper end of things. So they are lifesavers!

However, I'm a grumpy grump today. Didn't sleep well last night as I couldn't find a comfortable position with my leg. My usual two were out because of where the wound is. So I've got a 6" bandage on my inner thigh, right above my knee, can't bend my knee, and ow. Def underestimated how sore this would be, and how much it would affect my mobility. But ah well. When I saw the stitches, it was a bigger cut than I had expected, and it was in what was now a crater. So that's going to be a good look! Luckily, that's not a bit of my body I regularly show off. So only the poor people at the beach and pool will suffer that sight. lol

*Eyes time*

Time for second lot of pills, so I shall say bye for now. But I'll be on and off most of the day probably, in between working in the tutu sweatshop! (Figuratively and literally! lol)

Hope everyone has a good day!

Lass

xx

Hi Lass

             Thanks for that I have never heard of a bridie! It does sound tasty I like scotch eggs but never had a pie! Ah fat would be out for me I have gallstones and I used to love fat which probably caused them I like bacon with fat on it and steak I really believe the flavour of meat is in the fat and bones but nowadays everything is really lean yes fatty bacon and use the fat to fry bread or an egg very tasty! 

Yes, thanks lass the pain has eased but I am still having problems walking I was doing a crab-like movement yesterday but I discovered today it is less painful if I walk backward well not walk I have to slide my feet on the floor and shuffle around!

You know I have heard of chia seeds and read they are really good for you but I didn't realize you could steep them! Thanks for that I will try some!  Ah, lass, I didn't realize you had breathing problems that is very uncomfortable for you I remember when I had my heart failure at first my breathing was dreadful and it is not a nice sensation when you cant get air in do you not have oxygen to help?

That leg sounds sore you poor gal x keep an eye on as if you didn't have enough to contend with, lord your worse than me as that will tighten as it heals put plenty of cream around it to stop that horrible catching sensation you get when it stiffens I certainly do not blame you being grumpy so grump away its a tender place the thigh and also near a joint makes it worse

You have a good rest and look after yourself see you soon 

Love Bluebell xx

Hey hey,

I don't like shop bought scotch eggs, but Ido like home made ones. I find the meat has been overworked in the shop bought ones, so it goes dry and solid. It's alsonot usually spiced to my liking, so making them yourself means you can do it just how you like!

The fat in the scotch pie isn't added, I don't think, it's just what you would normally get from mince. But if you buy the reduced fat stuff then yeh, a scotch pie isn't for you - but you're DEF missing out!

I do hope the pain continues to dissipate. Seems unfair that you've got some independence back now you can see and hear again, but then you're kicked back again with sily joints! I'm not sure if I've got 'breathing problems' per say, it's certainly never been a diagnosis - mostly because I've never told the docs. lol. Just when it gets stuffy, my chest tightens and I get really uncomfortable, and I find I'm taking bigger breaths than normal. I've always just figured it's all in my head sojust get on with it. Most of my friends get that I like things cold, or outside, so they usually make sure they are dressed for the weather when we go out. Winter in a beer garden having a drink? 100%. Because inside there are lots of people generating heat, and they have the heating on. So Lass gets very uncomfortable and has to leave early, unless we sit outside. lol. So they take the seats under the heat lamps and I sit out of their way. XD

And yeh, as I mentioned in the other thread, I get to take the bandage off today to have a proper look at it and give it a gentle wash. So I'll see what's going on under there, and maybe with the bandage off I'll have a bit more mobility too as it's that sticky tape that runs from my knee up my thigh. There's no stretch to it at all. We shall see what happens. Have to meet with the police first though, about the kids in the street. So that'll be fun.....

Lass

xx

Hi Lass

              I agree about the shop bought scotch eggs they are very rubbery and believe it or not they are something I can make! I do them for parties and people seem to enjoy them I admit to buying the sausage meat but you make your own! Sorry I'm a bit lazy lol so a scotch pie is a mince pie I have eaten beef mince pies here and they were not greasy and yes I am inclined to go for the reduced fat mince although when I had a decent butcher near me I bought shin beef and got him to mince it for me because I found it far more flavoursome I do believe fat and bone gives meat its flavour.

The pain only affects me when I move thankfully and it seems to be getting slightly better although with this SJ joint I really need to go to the chiropractor I was hoping it would settle as sometimes it does but it is being stubborn! Sorry lass I misunderstood I thought it was your actual breathing, ah I am glad it's not. You have some very considerate friends!

Ouch, those leg bandages and the way they tape them up can be very painful! It really depends on who does it I am sure it will feel a lot better once that dressing is off I hope it heals quickly for you

I am still here longing for a homemade scone! Tomorrow regardless I am making some I will do it sitting down although I prefer to stand lol

Hey Bluebell,

I buy the sausagemeat, but the plain type. Then I add onion and spices etc myself. Do the same whenI make stuffing....... sidenote....... WHAT is with this rubbish that's called stuffing, but is totally meat free?! It's like, breadcrumbs or some rubbish. If I'm ordering something that says it comes with stuffing, I'm expecting spiced sausagemeat. Not some damp, limp, part crispy 'stuff' claiming to be stuffing! It's horrifying!

Yes and no on the Scotch Pie being a mince pie. When I think of a mince pie, I think of a pie shell, with mince in gravy, all loose. A Scotch Pie is just an outer shell, with a ball of mince in it. More like a burger type texture. Then a lid on top, but lower than the outer edge. You get the same outer edge in a macaroni pie - only no lid on it so the cheese goes all crispy.

Scotch Pie 

Inside a pie 

Macaroni Pie 

Took the main bandage off on Thursday there, but it's not made it any better. lol. If anything brushes against the plaster I've put onto it, it aches and burns - best description of the feeling. So I'm hobbling round the house with one trouser leg rolled right up to the top of my thigh. lol. It's certainly a look, though I'm not sure it will catch on! However, walking around is def easier without the tape on, so that's a positive!

How did the scones go? Did you manage to get some done without too much pain?

Lass

xx

Dear Lass,

Do you know of a Cornish pasty that’s worth eating? Apparently you can only call something Cornish if it contains certain ingredients. swede. God, I dislike it. I suppose I should make my own, I’m very good at pastry, bit sometimes you just get the urge suddenly. The least objectionable I’ve found so far is Morrison’s ‘the best’ haha frozen ones. 

Pepys xx