Sunday 10 June 2012

Of Bread And Circuses

Simon Jenkins had an interesting piece in the Guardian this week about the Jubilee weekend. He said…

Putting on bread and circuses in the depths of a recession is a risk, especially with not much bread on offer…

All peoples have their national days, from socialist May days to US inaugurals. All crave their collective rituals, their consolidating tribal ceremonies. However ersatz, the [Jubilee]ceremonies were a good news relief from horror, tragedy and recession. During the jubilee, people smiled at each other, a habit rare among the British. These are transient phenomena.

Like the buzz of a school sports day or an afternoon's football victory, real life must resume thereafter. But the enjoyment is real. From time to time, there is no harm in sensing communion with one's country.

But now the clearing up is almost done, real life has resumed. The plastic bunting hung outside the church all week [I was too tired last Sunday night to remove it, and when we got back from Norfolk it was damp and clammy] But now it is drying in the sun on my whirligig in the back garden and later on I shall wind it carefully round pieces of card for its next outing.  ‘Whirligig’ is a much more satisfying name than ‘rotary dryer’ don’t you think?

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The other items left over from last Sunday included a load of cheap Asda bread rolls, and a bag of sausages [not quite as many hotdogs required as we’d thought]. The latter are in the church freezer, awaiting the Holiday Club BBQ – but I did not think the rolls [some rather sadly squashed] would freeze well.

I decided to ‘refresh’ some – by sprinkling them with water and putting them in the oven for a few minutes [it was already hot and cooking something else]

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But I forgot them! When I remembered twenty minutes later, I discovered that they had gone wonderfully dry and crispy. They tasted very like these…

ikea crisprolls

…except mine are white rolls not fullkorn [ie wholemeal]

But like this they keep well in a tin and will not be wasted. A good snack with paté or cheese and a few pickles. Or to accompany a bowl of chicken soup this evening after church.

A serendipitous discovery which pleases my thrifty nature.

From now on, I think I shall refer to this product as “Jubilee Rolls”

8 comments:

  1. So glad I am not the only one who forgets things in the oven, but I do not always have such a fortuitous outcome!

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  2. Very quick thinking! I'll have to remember that one.

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  3. The rolls could be made into croutons for salad too. I like crispy bread.

    I also enjoyed your Jubilee event. We watched with joy and awe right along with you. It is a good relief from the day-to-day politics and recession news.

    Jody

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  4. Your bunting looks cheerful, drying on the whirligig! I have SO enjoyed the Queen's Diamond Jubilee!

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  5. Your neighbours must think you are REALLY patriotic!
    Jane x

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    1. My neighbours think I am quite barmy!!

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  6. Worth bearing in mind next time I have some depressed bread! Thanks, Ang.

    Do you really think the British don't smile much at each other? I had a real shock when I came to France - Britain seemed very smily in comparison.

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  7. I LOVE the idea of "depressed" bread [is that different from Middle Eastern flatbreads?]

    I think Simon Jenkins has a different perception - Brits DO smile at each other. But sometimes it is up to US to be the ones to start the process. I make a habit of smiling [or sometimes insanely grinning] at people when my car is stopped at lights, or out of the bus window. It's wonderful to watch the smiles spreading like ripples on a pond. Maybe SJ is never a smile-starter so is surrounded by glum-ness, poor chap!!

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