Hakuna Matata Frittata

 ...the Swahili phrase for no worries.

It has certainly felt as hot as Africa this week! Much daily watering of the raised bed, and my water butts are running low. As I harvest crops, I am continuing to have a ZeroWaste approach where possible. Somebody asked about using the broad bean tops in place of spinach. Here's a photo for you

I  trimmed the top 3" of leaves above the beans, and wilted them in a pan, plus a pat of butter as I served them.

I harvested my first rainbow chard leaves this week - I love that the stalks are red, green and yellow. The leaves were steamed and served at one meal. 

The stalks I chopped into shorter lengths, and used them in a frittata. This was definitely a 'fridge scrape' Zero waste recipe. Lots of bits and pieces to use up.

I had half an onion, the chard stalks, two of my potatoes [large dice] remains of some cooked ham, half a small cooking chorizo, and some  lettuce leaves cut into ribbons.[Thank you Col for the suggestion to put lettuce leaves into omelettes and stir fries] All those Ottolenghi recipes inspired me to add ground cumin and coriander. Three eggs made this easy lunch for two. Definitely a No Worries Frittata

Under My Skin...

 

Not so much under my skin, as on top of it. I had a minor skin complaint, and the GP prescribed some special emollient washing solution

It's fine, and doing the job it is intended for. But it comes with an alarming set of instructions, viz "after use, keep the body away from naked flames". For the next few weeks, I shall keep my naked body away from all naked flames - so no fireworks displays, barbecues, or candlelit suppers. 

Meanwhile Liz kindly sent me some sample tubes of Origins Skin Products, as I'd said my face had been quite dry.[Thanks Liz] 

The Night-A-Mins tube made me chuckle. The label on this product tells me it contains "fruit-derived AHAs". Now I know that means Alpha Hydroxy Acids, which are supposed to exfoliate the skin. But I cannot help thinking of the Abba Song [Knowing Me, Knowing You] which provided Alan Partridge with his catchphrase

At my age I don't expect to have the unlined skin and fresh-faced dewy complexion of a young girl. I have lines and wrinkles - but they are mostly laughter lines. Coco Chanel said "life shapes the face you have at 30, but at 50 you have the face you deserve". The Bible says "true beauty comes from the heart. The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" Aha! That's the secret! 

Flat Sharing

This post is not about accommodation, and HMO* - but rather about sharing flat things. My latest Postcard Project package arrived from Kirsten on Saturday morning.

Right at the beginning, K had this inspired idea; if we used small flat boxes, we could post at Large Letter Rate, way cheaper than regular parcels. And she had two empty 'Graze' boxes which were promptly designated for this purpose.

This will hold the piece of linen, its accompanying notebook, and a brief message from one stitcher to the other. And a small surprise gift. We never agreed that at the outset, but it sort of happened instinctively. Nothing expensive, just a little added extra.

This is both great fun - and also a challenge. The gift must be flat- less than 2cm high - or it won't go in the box. There have been all sorts of items...tiny bars of soap, hanging decorations, skeins of thread, packets of beads, bookmarks, an origami star, teabags, a length of lace trim.

Last time Kirsten kindly sent me one sheet of DMC Magic Paper. 

This is a similar principle to my Cross stitch waste canvas . You draw your design on the paper, use it as a foundation for your stitching, then dissolve it in water, leaving your embroidery neatly on the fabric. K has become an expert in this technique. In May she did a beautiful tea party, using some floral fabric to appliqué the tablecloth. Then stitched the teapot etc. All ready for those Jubilee street parties and garden parties.

This month, K chose to embroider some blue and white Delft tiles, which she has seen many times at Standen, a nearby NT property [on my 'to visit' list] It is an Arts & Crafts property, so I am sure I'd love it. There are lots of tiles there - these ones are in an alcove at the bottom of a staircase. Kirsten drew them in her sketchbook and made notes. The tiles were roughly but delicately drawn by the Dutch artists.

Using two strands of blue floss, in different shades, Kirsten has recreated the bird, elephant, plant tub and fruit bowl in tiny stitches.

I had already decided to use my Magic Paper this month and Kirsten has suggested a super idea for my theme. But now I have to think of a Flat Surprise to pop in the parcel when the embroidery is done.

Do you ever pop 'added extras' in with cards or letters? 

Anybody got any novel ideas for light, inexpensive Flat Shares?

Don't forget that if you are inspired by the postcard project, I can put you in touch with someone else to do your own collaborative pieces.

[*Houses In Multiple Occupancy]

The A B C of O P Q

Two more of my library books - O stands for [Yotam] Ottolenghi, the Israeli-born British chef. He says his mission is to "celebrate vegetables or pulses without making them taste like meat, or as complements to meat, but to be what they are. It does no favour to vegetarians, making vegetables second best." I like his recipes - they are always packed with flavour ["drama in the mouth" is another of his sayings]

This book, Shelf Love, was produced at the beginning of the pandemic, by his staff at the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen [OTK] which is located under the railway arches in Holloway. The title reflected the mood of the time- people were in lockdown, trying to produce interesting meals when getting to the shops was not always easy. Chapter One is 'that one shelf at the back of your pantry' - the place where forgotten ingredients lurk behind larger packets - random tins of beans, packets of unusually shaped pasta, a forgotten spice. I am trying to make my food more flavoursome [post covid I think my taste buds need waking up] without using lots of chillies.

These recipes vary from making your own basics [hummus, pita bread, through interesting fresh salads and warm soups, to comforting dishes with pasta and sausages, and sweet, indulgent cakes. And the ideas are inspired, helping you use things up- that bag of frozen mixed veg lurking in the back of the freezer becomes Moroccan Maakouda, a street food potato cake. A great way to get the 5-a-day into children. 

Instructions are good, and there are 'make it your own' boxes with suggestions for substitutions and space for notes. It is definitely a 'work book' - the indices are brilliant. ['dummies' editors please take note] 

As well as the standard alphabetical index of recipes and ingredients, there are category indices;  one-pot/kid-friendly/under-an-hour etc as well as a useful pantry checklist. The illustrations are clear. The writing is fun to read - and it is clear that the staff at OTK are a friendly team, working together and celebrating good ideas. This one is going on my Christmas list. Definitely *****

PQ stands for Pain Quotidien. We discovered PQ in Brussels on a family holiday in 2000. These Boulangerie Kitchens produced fresh breads, breakfasts and light lunches. We loved the morning pastries, the tartines - the French take on Scandi smorgasbord, the simple salads, and the delicious desserts.

But what I loved the most were the long, communal tables where the diners sat, and ended up in convivial conversation with strangers around them. This is part of the philosophy of the founder, baker Alain Coumont. A lovely sense of sharing 'our daily bread'. Seven chapters - Bread, Breakfast, Tartines, Soups, Salads, Sharing, and Desserts. Recipes are well explained and clearly photographed.

Scattered throughout are snippet of ACs thoughts on food [Vegetarian, raw, home grown, organic, less meat etc]  I took two of his tartine ideas as the basis for a summer lunch. 

beet caviar, caper and salmon tartine

labneh, herb and cucumber tartine [which is the picture on the cover]

For starters, I had no sourdough loaf- but I did have a part-baked baguette, which I sliced on the diagonal, and toasted lightly under the grill. In place of salmon, I used some canned tuna - with jarred beetroot and capers. In place of labneh I used regular cream cheese [kefir cheese would have worked too] and lots of my home grown herbs 

A super fresh lunch, enjoyed in the summer sunshine with glasses of sparkling water

I rate this one ***** also. But no, I wouldn't want to own a copy - it is mostly an inspirational 'ideas' book.

A Woman of Honour

On Thursday I attended a thanksgiving service to celebrate the life of my friend Honor.  She was 96 when she died in June. This is a photo from the 1940s when she was a young woman. Isn't she lovely? Honor [and her late husband Clifford] were very dear friends of my parents.

They lived on a farm and had three children. Honor was secretary of the little chapel at Necton - and often if Dad took the afternoon service, we'd be invited to Sunday Tea in the farmhouse.

Honor was one of three daughters- the other girls were Grace [a Baptist minister] and Joy [a Baptist Missionary] Their Dad was a Baptist minister - and he chose the names Grace, Joy and Honor for his girls. Back in the 1920s people did that sort of thing!

The chapel was very full for the service- and I saw lots of friends from half a century ago. Her second son, John is also a minister now. He gave a tribute and his wife sang a solo. My good friend Susan [H's other DIL] read John chapter 14.

Honor was an amazing woman- a good friend to so many people. There was always space at her table to feed unexpected guests. 

John spoke of the things around which her life was built - food, farming, friends, family and faith. When the little chapel in Necton closed, she set up an evening worship service in the farmhouse, and a ladies group.

Honor had planned her funeral service herself, specifying hymns, and readings, and the music to be played [she was an accomplished organist, and well into her 90s was playing the organ at the chapel in Dereham where I shall be preaching today

I got to the chapel on Thursday after listening to the extended radio lunchtime news programme about the resignation of the Prime Minister. It was good to sit in the peaceful place of worship, the sun streaming through the stained glass windows, and forget about the world outside. I thought of Proverbs 31

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honour her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

These are the good memories I have of this lovely lady. And one verse from the last hymn she had chosen seemed a fitting prayer for such a day when our government is in turmoil...

Lord, for our land, in this our generation

Spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care

For young and old, for commonwealth and nation

Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Making A Meal Of It

Much fuss this week about the rising price of Lurpak. If I want a buttery spread, I'm happy with Danpak from Lidl. That's just as good on my homegrown new potatoes. I've also enjoyed eating the tops of my runner bean plants. They cook up like spinach (just like Popeye's favourite veg, their volume decreases drastically when wilted) and my radish leaves make great pesto.

My kefir cheese worked well - I added a little salt, plus chopped mint and chives to serve with assorted salads for a summery lunch. The bulgur wheat salad has chopped carrots and pomegranate seeds. These seeds are usually expensive to buy fresh, and de-seeding a fruit is a bit messy. But Iceland sell large bags of frozen seeds. It takes minutes to defrost a spoonful for a garnish, and works out way cheaper than buying a whole fruit just to get a few seeds.

Thank you to my best friend Chris, for telling me that on Tuesdays,Iceland give a 10% discount to shoppers aged over sixty .

While on the subject of food efficiency, a quick book review. Zero Waste Cooking for DUMMIES. The clue is in the title! I think this 320 page book is designed for people who have never considered zero waste before. I'm afraid I found it incredibly disappointing. It is written by an American nutritionist, and very much designed for the US culture..

• Part One - Adopting a Food Waste Strategy
• Part Two - Waste no Want not in your kitchen
• Part Three - Zero Waste Recipes
• Part Four - The Part of Tens

The first two sections- the first third of the book - explain about sustainability, GM crops, the 'big picture' etc. The writing style is confusing- section headings have confusing titles like "technology and agriculture don't mix", then she explains that they do. Then she gets down to the specifics of your own kitchen. But really 'for dummies' [if you don't already realise single-use plastic is a bad idea, where have you been living? She says that 'best-by' and 'use-by' dates refer to food quality not food safety. I think the rules in the USA must be different. 

Section three, the greater part of the book contains the recipes [including a bizarre mocktails&cocktails section] I am not sure why these are labelled "zero-waste" - especially when she includes pre-prepared ingredients like "jar of premade tomato sauce" and "bagged of prepared coleslaw mix" - the former would be better made from scratch, using leftover veg trimmings, and the latter likely comes in a single use plastic bag! And recipes for Baked Apples, and Pimm's? really?!

Section four - ten ways to use up leftovers in these categories 

[a] eggs and produce [make hollandaise sauce with eggs, put veg into chutney]

[b] bread [make crumbs, croutons, or bread pudding - who would have thought of those ideas?] 

[c] dairy [use sour milk in scones or pancakes]

[d] restaurant 'doggie bags'. [use in jacket potatoes or as omelette fillings]

There could have been so much more stuff about 'use the whole veg - leaves and roots' and 'pad out the meat with oats, or lentils, or beans'. Or encouragement to buy goods from refill shops, or places where there is less plastic packaging.

Writing the review proved tricky, as the index is absolutely useless, and the illustrations look like they were hand-drawn as part of a pupil's exam project. 

This book gets a sad * ... I am sure she wrote it with good intentions so I give one star for that. But she tried to cover too much ground too thinly, instead of providing a few simple steps.

I must get back to today's kefir...

Why Thirty Five?

I thought I'd do a review of three of the needlework books on my library pile. Then I realised that the first one Stitching by Fiona Goble is subtitled "35 cute sewing projects to turn everyday items into works of art" and the second, My First Sewing Machine Book by Emma Hardy contains "35 fun and easy projects for children aged 7 years+" Why are 35 projects the optimum number, do you think? I found three other craftbooks on my shelf with 35 projects in. Here's my reviews

The book I have is called Stitching, but there are other editions of the identical book entitled Fun with Stitching and Stitching for Fun. It is all about adding decoration to premade objects [bags, bibs, boxes, 
blankets etc] Lots of cool templates and neat ideas.

The instructions are clear - and I think the templates are the correct size for each project. That's my only complaint. The little Miffy-like rabbits are cute, but it took ages to work out that they are only 10cm high. Good ideas, and you could easily mix and match the designs and the objects

Emma Hardy's book has also come out in another edition with a different cover. Its published by Cico, a great craft book company.  This one is all about simple machine sewing - clothes, accessories, bags, toys, games, things for your room.

****

Emma uses a selection of ginghams, stripes, polka dots and florals, and I can see that you can combine them in different ways to make various items. A child would enjoy producing 3 very different gifts from the supplies in her stash box, I think. Good templates and techniques sections [inc 'when you have gone wrong....']
 ****Finally Kaffe Fassett

A glorious riot of colour, quilts inspired by the island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon [a long way from Donna Leon's suspicious deaths!] 

This is a sit down, read through, and dream sort of book. Just nineteen quilts [35 would be spectrum overload, and cause a migraine I think] Each one uses KFs own signature fabrics. 

You really need his fabric to get the same nuanced shading and interplay of colours. But that would [a] cost you around £150 per quilt, and [b] even though the book only came out in 2020, some of the fabrics used are no longer available. The midnight diamonds on the right of the collage requires twenty eight different fabrics, totalling 16 yards. Plus the book, and the batting [wadding] That's a couple of hundred quid!  Lovely book, clear instructions, but beyond the wildest dreams of most of us in terms of time, money and effort. I'm still awarding max stars , for the sheer joy of reading it and dreaming.

*****

I sat next to a woman in a lovely knitted cardigan-coat at a teachers' training conference about 30 years ago. In the coffee break I admired it and asked "Is that a Kaffe Fassett pattern? did you make it yourself?" She explained that she had KFs book, and priced up the many, many shades of Rowan wool needed. It was expensive. The whole family agreed to pay for the wool for her Christmas gift. Her MIL hand made the ceramic buttons. And it took her a year to get the complex knitting finished. By which time she utterly loathed  the garment! "But I feel obliged to wear it, because it cost so much, and my whole family feel invested in it" I felt to sorry for her! I wonder what happened to her, and her cardigan-coat. I somehow feel this is the fate of many KF projects. 

Two popular phrases in craft circles..

There are many UFOs in her spare bedroom [Un Finished Objects]

I am staying in tonight to work on my PhD [Project Half Done]

Have you ever set out to complete a craft project from a book and been truly thrilled with it?

Is it better to have a smaller end product and get it done in a reasonable time?

HM's Horses On Holiday At Holkham

I just had to share this brief, beautiful clip of the Queen's Household Calvary [comprising the Life Guards, Blues and Royals] on holiday in Norfolk [where else?]  Look at these beautiful creatures enjoying Holkham Beach. After all the pomp and pageantry of the recent Jubilee celebrations, a chance to relax, and bond with their riders.[watch out for the artist too]

Well Spotted!

 My post about the ladybird on Sunday generated some interesting comments. Bushlady reminded me that across The Pond, they are ladybugs and Marit in Norway said they are marihøne. Further investigation revealed that in Germany they are marienkäfer. These last two -roughly translated Mary's hen and Mary's beetle show the medieval link with the Virgin Mary, often referred to as our Lady. But where did this link with the Mother of Jesus start? 

One idea is that the markings of the seven-spot ladybirds [very common in the UK and Europe] were signs of the "Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys" of Mary

By the medieval period in the West (from 10thC), there was a renewed interest in influences from Byzantine art. And this led to the use of blue lapis lazuli for Mary’s clothing, especially her mantle. At the same time, red also became associated with Mary, For example, almost all of the artwork of Mary by Raphael (one of the most notable artists in the 16th century, depicts her clothed in red, with a blue mantle - see left.)  And the 15th century master, Leonardo da Vinci, also often painted Mary in a red robe and blue mantle.

Then I discovered that in Sweden the creature is called Jungfru Marias Nycltelpiga, meaning 'the Lady Mary's keybearer,' and this relates to a children's story that the Virgin lost the keys of heaven, and that all the animals helped her to look for them. They were found by the ladybird, to whose care they are now entrusted. All quite fascinating! 

Ladybird, ladybird fly away home

Your house is on fire and your children are gone

All but the youngest and her name is Anne

And she has crept under the frying pan

I'm sure many of you learned a version of that rhyme as children - there are many variations [different pans, and in the north of England, it is occasionally not Anne, but John] As in Arthur Rackham's charming illustration, if a ladybird flew onto my hand,I would say the rhyme then gently blow the insect away as my grandmother taught me. [She was a Nonconformist, so no stories from her about the BVM though]

As E. commented, ladybirds are very useful - and one can consume 5000 aphids in a lifetime. I love this chart from BBC Wildlife showing all the different sorts of ladybirds we may find in Britain - not just the trad seven spot scarlet beauty.

Definitely looking again at the ladybirds now

Stitched Drawings

On our trip to London in April, Bob and I visited the Wellcome Collection - which describes itself as 'the free museum for the incurably curious' [Well worth visiting, decent loos and coffee shop, close to Euston Station] Fortunately for those of us 'out in the sticks' they organise touring exhibitions around the country. I was delighted that Georgie Meadows' "Stitched Drawings" was coming to our fantastic local Museum at Gressenhall for the summer. I went along with friends from the Craft Group I've recently joined.

Georgie trained as an occupational therapist, specialising in mental health, particularly among the elderly. She had always sketched and stitched- but did an art foundation course, and began to translate her pencil drawings into stitched pieces. She went on to organise Tea Dances in Monmouth, for the whole community, but especially her patients [check out the "Thursday Afternoons" film on this site]

Georgie's images are inspired by the elderly people with whom she has worked - those with depression, dementia or Alzheimer's. [None of these images are portraits of a specific individual] Her concern is to show care- without assuming, or categorising, especially when their health issues have resulted in loss of identity and control. She wants to encourage empathy, and celebrate their courage as they struggle with life.

It was somehow quite pertinent to see this exhibition displayed in a building which was originally a workhouse, where many elderly folk ended there days - and then later became a council OAP home. As a teenager I came here with my Dad to visit church members, some of whom had the beginings of dementia.

Our craft group found her free motion embroidery skills were excellent, but more importantly, we were all moved by the love and understanding she shows towards these elderly folk. 

I apologise that the lighting made it hard for me to photograph the captions. But I feel these amazing pieces do not need any comments from me.

 

In recent days, two friends have lost family members to dementia/Alzheimer's. My heart aches for them - and hope they are able to remember the good days, before their loved ones became so ill, and relationships became harder. These stitched drawings serve as a reminder that there is still a spark there, somewhere, of the real soul inside the aching, unco-operative ageing body. I have great respect for those who care for these folk, with all their frustrations and difficulties - and deepest sympathies for those who have lost precious parents or partners in this way,

Clip Clap!

Last year, when I blogged about George's "Porridge jumper" I mentioned the tin of clips I had recently bought myself.
These go by the name of 'knitting clips' 'quilting clips' and even 'wonder clips' 

I purchased them mainly because I am terrified of leaving a regular pin in a knitted baby garment after it has been sewn up!

Recently they have been useful in another context...

I have been making a playmat/bag as part of a birthday gift. One side is a water themed layout, and the other is plastic coated fabric. Stitching plasticised fabric is not the easiest activity. You cannot hold it together with pins because they leave permanent holes.

These clips have proved very useful - for knitting and sewing projects. I suspect "wonder clips" may prove to be a good name. So I applaud the person who devised them. Thankyou! 

👏👏👏👏👏

Be Encouraged

There are some lovely red flowers on my runner bean tipi. I took my phone outside to take a picture of them - vivid scarlet among the lush green leaves. How encouraging to see them there! And then I spotted the brightly spotted ladybird which had just settled.

The Norfolk name for the ladybird is bishy barnabee. At school we were told this was probably for Bishop Barnabas [the ladybird's markings resemble a mitre.] Certainly not for Bishop Bonner, the unpleasant Tudor cleric who lived in Dereham - there's evidence the name is older than that.

But who was Barnabas? He was originally called Joseph [Acts ch4] but was given the nickname Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement". He certainly seems to have helped, blessed and encouraged new Christians, assisted the foundation of new churches, and travelled with Paul on some of his missionary journeys. 

We all need to encourage and to be encouraged at times. Here's a lovely prayer from Hereford Cathedral about Barnabas 

Be encouraged! 

NOT Mr Sutherland

I have bought kefir drinks occasionally in the past, and quite enjoyed them. Hugh F-W in his "Eat Better Forever" book recommends the benefits of the 4 Ks of fermented foods -  kimchi, [sauer]kraut, kombucha and kefir. I don't enjoy the first two, kombucha seems overrated. But kefir makes a pleasant change from fresh milk. Could I make my own? I pondered, and looked on the internet. 

I've always called it Keff- ear,  so was surprised that many Australian YouTubers say Key-Fur. That is plain wrong imho.  He's a British Canadian actor, part of an acting dynasty, with dad Donald and daughter Sarah. But back to the fermented drink...

DC over at Frugal In Norfolk started posting about how she was making her own kefir. She not only patiently answered all my questions, but kindly offered to send me a sachet of starter grains.

These are mixed with whole, fresh milk, and left for 24 hours in a corner of the kitchen. Then you gently pour everything through a nylon sieve. The liquid kefir which goes into the jug is put into the fridge, and the sludge-like residue from the sieve goes back into the jar with another cup of milk...and this is repeated every evening.

I labelled my containers [plastic or glass not metallic] with the date. By Sunday evening had 3 containers in the fridge. On Monday I began my new regime of a small glass of kefir with my breakfast [Bob is having one as well]

It multiplies fast - and on Wednesday I had so much that I drained it through a coffee filter inside my silicone colander. This made a decent sized portion of kefir cheese [akin to cottage cheese or ricotta] I meant to save the whey for scones, but forgot and poured it down the sink by mistake!

I am hoping the kefir will be beneficial to my digestion, It is too early to make any firm conclusions about things. I hope to keep this up for a month. Unlike making my own yogurt, this process does not require any electricity - but I use UHT milk for yogurt making, whereas for kefir I use fresh. It isn't essential to make fresh every day - you can keep the starter in the fridge if you want to miss a day or two. 

The cost of buying premade kefir seems to be 3 or 4 times the cost of the milk , and I can add my own flavouring. But I like the taste of the plain drink, and have not felt the need to add sweeteners. 

Have you ever made kefir? and do you have any tips?

Living Life On The Veg

We came up behind a Riverford van. "I used to dream about having a weekly veg box" I said "Then I realised recently that I'm eating fresh, organic veg every day, which has been grown in my own garden"

I decided that my contribution to the Postcard Project for June should be a celebration of that. 

In the notebook which accompanies the stitching, I explained that. I put photos of the raised bed, the book that is my vade mecum, and some of the food we have already enjoyed. To date, we've eaten lettuce, spinach, radishes, potatoes and broad beans from the raised bed. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, plus mint, bay, chives and coriander from my herb patch. And courgettes and cabbage from the patio. I'm looking forward to beans, carrots, peas, kale, chard, leeks and beetroot - all currently growing in the raised bed. Tomatoes in the greenhouse, apples and pears on the trees. I honestly cannot believe the variety of produce. I'm truly grateful to all who have advised, encouraged, and given me seeds and plants. 

 For my embroidery, I stitched a row of different veg, using the cover of Huw's book as my inspiration. I posted the piece off to Kirsten earlier in the week.

As yet I have no idea at all about what to stitch for July!