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Following the glorious day of yesterday, the morning starts wet and colder and that theme continues through the day, so I get on with stuff at my desk.
I do pop to the library to collect a book that’s arrived that I’ve had on reserve; The Sea Detective by Mark Douglas-Home - I read The Malice of Waves which is a later book in the series and enjoyed it, so this one’s being given a go. I really like to start a series of books at book one and then read through the series, though The Malice of Waves was on the sharing book shelves in the portico of our local library and I picked it up a few weeks back, popping in its place a Boy George biography in exchange that I’d picked up six months or so ago. Weather: Lots of rain overnight and a grey and mild start to the day. Definitely cooler than yesterday even when the sun did break through a few times all too briefly. Wet, much of the day drizzling. Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Baked Beans & Toast Lunch: Lidl Minestrone Soup (tin), Lidl Artisan Loaf, Homemade Hummus & Cucumber Supper: Cabbage in the Troo Style (vegetarian - dish inspired by a Tamasin Day-Lewis recipe. Needs tweaking prior to sharing), Boulangerie Potatoes, Peas and gravy
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 30 January 2025 (Thursday) The weather’s fabulous - a perfect winter's day - and Richard suggests we go out for the morning, not just out but out out… drive out somewhere with Fenella and have a good walk. My heart sinks and flutters happily at the same time… You see, things have been a bit challenging of late, and I’ve SO MUCH work work that I need to do at my desk…adverts need to be booked, artwork needs to be designed for said adverts, poster artwork for five shows needs to be checked and finalised and uploaded, the leaflets for the same shows need the same process (and in the case of a new show needs designing too!), stock needs to be added to the For Earth’s Sake till system, and each item has to have its wholesale price double-checked to ensure the price we sell at is correct and that a product hasn’t surreptitiously risen in price without us noticing (meaning we might sell a product at less than we buy it for… yes, that has happened, though not on my watch!)… and also, with the day being sunny I could really do with getting down to the plot and getting some decent jobs done. However, as I say, things have been challenging of late and both of us feel our tanks are empty and need some restoration, and a good few hours of walking will only do us good, and we need that at the moment. So, after an hour or so sorting various things at my desk, including booking ads, checking print deadlines and scheduling what absolutely needs priority when I get back to my desk this afternoon, AND after having a fabulous bowl of porridge made by Richard, we’re ready to set off… almost. Now, we’re at that age where a car journey of an hour or more requires several trips to the loo. Yes, I know wherever we go there’s likely to be trees, though it's cold in the shade and getting out what needs to be got out should either of us get caught short, well… Best empty these tanks as much as possible before putting a foot down on the accelerator. Richard drove, and unusually for a Thursday the M40 and connecting roads were really busy, and lots of middle-lane drivers too! We’d decided to head to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve, about thirty minutes up the M40 and a favourite haunt of ours. On the motorway there was a lot of avoiding potholes, some the size of old wheel hubs, especially at the turn off to High Wycombe where one would have virtually swallowed an elephant, albeit a baby one… When we then went onto the side roads to get to the nature reserve… well, in some places it was difficult trying to make out the road as it was more holes than tarmacadam! In the end we parked at Cowleaze Wood, about another mile on from Aston Rowant. At the best of times the side road that leads to the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve is well potholed, and seeing how the roads had been this one would likely have gotten worse, so Richard decided to avoid that road today. Good decision, no doubt! Out of the car, boot open, walking boots on, hat on, gloves on, boot shut, car doors shut, car locked, car locked again just to be sure, car keys put away in a zipped pocket, and we are ready to walk. Of course, the journey was worth it, as always.  The sun was out, warming us as we walked, and the breeze was lighter than usual, no wind, just a gentle breeze that sounds stronger than it actually was on the footage we took. If you watch Richard’s vlog he’ll have lots of footage of our walk, and on my A Week at the Plot, there’s some too, though I concentrate on how the land management of the area has cut back hedge and bramble growth quite a bit, leading to being much more muddy underfoot than it usually is. But that’s the thing with land management, sometimes to keep all in check things need a good cut back… a bit like my own hair post-pandemic! The walk was lovely, the rice cakes, buttery spread and yeast extract were lovely, the flask of sweet tea was lovely, the air and the views and the red kites gliding overhead in large numbers were lovely. I guess it’s fair to say, all was lovely. A few hours later, tanks restored and with lots of fresh air having gone through our lungs, it was time to wend our way home.. and then for me, an afternoon of desk work work ahead. Oh, and by the way, despite us both having tried to empty those other tanks prior to setting off, two trees were watered and given a boost of nitrogen! Weather: Gorgeous day - blue skies, fluffy clouds. Around 10° though feeling quite a bit warmer with the sun so glorious. Breakfast: Porridge, banana and bran sticks Lunch: Squash & Red Lentil Soup (from freezer), Artisan baguette from Lidl Supper: Lidl Veggie Pizza, Grated Carrot Salad - as last night  29 January 2025 (Wednesday) Well, quite a tumultuous week so far. A desk day, and Richard has news… we'll have to wait on this though. The highlight of today… Smoked Tofu & Red Kidney Bean Burgers! Recipe: Smoked Tofu & Red Kidney Bean Burger These have developed over a period of time. They started as Sweet Potato and Red Kidney Bean Burgers, though I always felt they were missing something - nice, though nothing to write home about. On opening one of my spice drawers a few weeks ago, I spotted the lovely smoked paprika I get from For Earth’s Sake, and on opening the cupboard below the drawer (where tins are kept) I saw some red kidney beans and thought… “Ahhh”. I followed on the “Ahhh” with an “Oooh” as I remembered that a few months ago I had bought some smoked tofu and popped it in the freezer. “What if I mix them all together and get a lovely smoky beanie burger?” After a few trials, a new recipe is born… Ingredients: 200g Smoked Tofu, mashed 1 Red Onion Grated Sweet Potato (200g ish) 400g Tin Red Kidney Beans, rinsed, drained and mashed (if you cook your own beans, use about 250g of cooked beans) Tablespoon Olive Oil Rounded Teaspoon Smoked Paprika Tablespoon Liquid Aminos or Soy Sauce Tablespoon Miso Paste Tablespoon Tomato Paste 2 rounded tablespoons Yeast Flakes 3 rounded tablespoons gram flour, vital wheat gluten or plain flour. Method: Rinse and well drain a tin of kidney beans, pat dry (if you have time), and then mash most of the beans in a bowl with a fork. Set this aside for using shortly. Remove the tofu from the packet and pat dry, then lightly mash with a fork. Add a small red onion, finely chopped, and grate a small’ish sweet potato (no need to peel, though cut of growing end) into the tofu and onion. Give all a stir, then add the olive oil, smoked paprika, liquid aminos (or soy), miso paste, tomato paste and yeast flakes and give all a thorough mix, making sure each ingredient is well incorporated. Then add in the mashed red kidney beans and again give all a thorough mix.  At this stage, the mix will be a little moister than we want, so add in the gram flour (or VWG / Plain flour) one spoon at a time, giving a good mix after each addition. If the kidney beans and tofu were patted dry well then once all the gram flour is incorporated the mixture will be much firmer. If it’s not, feel free to add another tablespoon of gram flour. Leave the mixture aside for ten minutes, just to get to know itself. After this time, portion the mix up into four and with slightly wet hands shape four burgers, either round and fat flatter if that’s how you like them - though not too thin! Set the burgers on a plate to rest. These burgers can be pan fried, baked in the oven, or even under a grill (though not on a rack, as they are then difficult to flip). I prefer to bake these, so here goes. Preheat an oven at 180C. Immediately pop in a baking tray to heat as the oven does, then once the oven is up to temp remove the baking tray using oven gloves, spoon a teaspoon of olive oil on and roll this around to roughly coat the base of the tray. Carefully add the burgers one by one, put a few drops of olive oil on each burger, and then pop the baking tray back in the oven. Cook for ten minutes, remove the tray (oven gloves again!), carefully flip the burgers over, pop the tray back in the oven and cook for a further 12-15 minutes, or until they are taking on some colour. If you wish to pan fry or grill, do so over a medium heat for the same cooking time, flipping the burgers over as above after ten minutes. Serve with the toppings and sides of your choice! I guarantee you will be making these again!! Weather: A bland sky first thing, so pale and dull. The day overall was grey… Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, oat milk, banana Lunch: Lidl Lentil Soup (tin), red lentils and final leftover of the Instant Chilli Supper: Smoked Tofu & Red Kidney Bean Burger, Lidl Skin On Fries, Grated Carrot salad (carrot, onion, celery, cucumber, radish in a grain mustard dressing) Not really quite sure where this day went, though I think it must have happened...
Weather: No idea... Breakfast: Bran Sticks, Pear and Yogurt Lunch: No idea, though I guess a soup, crackers and something Supper: Hmmmm.... can't remember A desk day with lots of work work going on…
Weather: Clear skies, and some sun going to greyer later on, though pretty mild during the day, around 10°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, oat milk, banana Lunch: Defrosted Squash, Mixed Bean and Coconut Curry blitzed and turned into soup, egg mayonnaise, sesame crackers, cucumber and radish. Supper: Instant Chilli leftovers from last night, baked sweet potatoes, celery and cucumber.  A rather busy day… with a lot of wassailing at For Earth’s Sake heritage orchard and morris dancing by Hook Eagle Morris in the Great Green Barn. More to come...
Weather: Clear skies first thing, and a blazing red sky which gave way by late morning to incessant heavy rain. The rain got lighter around 5pm, though it stayed present throughout the evening. Breakfast: Lidl German Rye Loaf, Flora Pro-Activ Buttery, yeast extract and peanut butter Lunch: Chickpea Soup & SØDT roll, Vegan Sausage Roll Supper: Instant Chilli leftovers from last night, baked sweet potatoes, celery and cucumber. We recorded Sunday Chat relatively early, and then had a really early lunch. After finishing an episode of Hart to Hart, I got changed, got down to the plot and started work on a bed.
It's a bed that had nothing growing in it last year, and on taking off the plastic cover the top surface was full of bindweed. After about an hour, the whole bed had been forked over and weeded really well, leveled off with a rake and is ready for topping with cardboard and compost at some point next week. It feels as though it's been a busy day, and certainly busier than I’d anticipated, especially as I’ve another day at For Earth Sake’s this week for the Winter Wassail; there's no doubt tomorrow will be a long day! Recipe: Instant Chilli, using leftovers, fridge veg and tinned products I used the remains of the Smoky Chick'n & Aubergine Ragu from last night. Cooked up some shallots, carrots and celery, added some miso, cocoa powder, a tin of drained red kidney beans, a tin of chilli beans and half a tin of water, mixed in the leftover Ragu, then brought it all to a simmer for ten minutes. Weather: Clear skies, and the crescent moon looked fab first thing. Sunny much of the day, though a little chillier than yesterday. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, oat milk, pear Lunch: Defrosted Squash, Mixed Bean and Coconut Curry blitzed and turned into soup, and sandwiches of Lidl Crusty Wheat & Rye Loaf with diced red onion, celery, cream cheese, miso and mayo. Supper: 'Instant' Chilli (see above), and we had with the remaining bulgur wheat, and some raw celery and cucumber.  Despite a boiling fresh cuppa being brought to me in bed, I had it lukewarm as I couldn't wake up. However, I was still off to Lidl for an 8am shop, then home and work work stuff at my desk.
An afternoon full of note making and supper thoughts; currently think of an aubergine and chick’n pilaf of sorts with bulgur. Recipe: Smoky Chick’n & Aubergine Ragu with Bulgur Wheat I decided a pilaf was too much faff, so went for a sort of ragu using chick’n pieces I’d bought as they were on offer at Lidl, a languishing aubergine, tinned toms and smoked paprika… bulgur wheat would be the starch. If the chick'n pieces are not to your liking you could use a drained tin of your favourite beans. I measured out a cup of dried bulgur wheat into a microwaveable dish. I then put a cup and a half of water into our kettle to boil, rinsing the bulgur in fresh water whilst I waited. I then added a teaspoon of bouillon powder to the bulgur, stirred it through, then added the boiled water, stirring to ensure all was coated. Putting a lid on, I then left the bulgur to soak up the liquid, and got on with the ragu. In a shallow metal casserole I sweated a sliced red onion and chunks of aubergine in a tablespoon of olive oil over a medium heat until both were taking on some colour then removed them. I then added the chick’n and cooked through stirring regularly (skip this step if using drained tinned beans) until they took on some colour - some stuck to the bottom and I sort of scraped them away from the surface with a wooden spatula. I then took these out and set them aside, adding the onion and aubergine back to the pan (Note: I guess I should have done this the other way around; chick’n pieces first and then the onion/aubergine mix). I added a tablespoon of water, a rounded tablespoon of miso, a teaspoon of mixed herbs, a slightly rounded dessert spoon of smoked paprika, and a teaspoon of bouillon powder and gave it all a good mix, cooking through on a low heat for a few minutes. I then added a tin of tomatoes, chopping the larger ones up, and brought to a fierce bubble and then turned all down to a gentle bubble, added a lid and let all cook gently for about 20 mins. I then added the lightly browned chick’n pieces (or your drained tin of beans) to the mix, stirred them through then cooked on a low heat with the lid on for five minutes. Whilst the ragi was cooking for its final five minutes I popped the bulgur wheat in the microwave on high for four minutes - this makes it become plumber and a little lighter. Serve the ragu spooned over the bulgur. Thick cucumber slices are nice, adding a nice crunch. Weather: Milder, touching 10°. A bit gusty, though Storm Eowyn has passed over us relatively quietly. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, Yogurt, Pear Lunch: Defrosted Squash, Mixed Bean and Coconut Curry blitzed and turned into soup with slices of Lidl Crusty Wheat & Rye Loaf and Flora Pro-Active Buttery. Supper: Smoky Chick’n & Aubergine Tomato Ragu, bulgur wheat and sliced cucumber. Off to Kew Gardens for a much needed walk in the fresh air. The afternoon was catching up on work work. I wanted to pop to the local community library to collect some books I’d reserved that had arrived, but that will wait until tomorrow as the weather is a bit too inclement.
Weather: Rain coming in showers, some heavy. A bit chilly though a good 5°. Breakfast: Porridge, banana and bran sticks Lunch: Lidl Lentil Soup, Pitta, cream cheese and cucumber Supper: Lidl Balsamic Red Onion Quiche, grated carrot, onions, cucumber and celery salad. A Vanessa day, so get up early and am out of the house by 7.30am. I need to pick up tablecloths at Bentley Brown in the industrial band of Guildford so go via the M25… no benefit with those ridiculous roadworks in me getting down to Guildford yet.
A bit of a heavy day - much to think about. Good news is my Barrett's specialist calls with good news - albeit 6 hours later than my appointment - not her fault, just emergencies coming in. Leave just just before 6pm and Google Maps diverts me due to an accident on the M25… and I seem to go miles out of my way, though I trust these directions and am home by 7.15pm. The trust paid off, this time! Richard has a delicious supper for me as I get home (he can track where I am), then a bit of Robbie Cumming, a Pompei programme (Richard wants to watch it and is soon asleep), and the second part of Silent Witness - why do I watch??? Weather: Cold and grey… all day… Breakfast: Bran Sticks, Yogurt, Banana Lunch: Ciabatta Roll with spinach, pepper, tomato and vegan cheese and some chips (!) - at Notcutts in Cranleigh. Supper: Lidl Vemondo Cumberland Sausages, homemade chips, roast carrots, peas and gravy - Richard cooked and all was delicious! |
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