soop's kitchen

Oh how lovely to relax for a few minutes with some fresh coffee! Sounds like the pizza party was fun, I hope Rory doesn't suffer too many after effects of the peperoni.

Right, must get a move on! Have a good day all

glad we didn't disturb anyone last night ! have picked my bike up and had a quick tidy round (you wouldn't know we were there) whenim64 you must stop leading me astray! hope Rory enjoyed the pepporoni (saved me scrubbing cleaning the carpet) by all.

soop on a more serious note! I can feel the disappointment in you both that your venture at the mo isn't going the way you wanted, we have/had a similar one much much smaller scale, when OH was reasonably fit and well, we had a little allotment , we bought polytunnels and had a big wodden greenhouse, OH started to grow the big Chrysanthemums the blooms and incurves, we used to show them and win prizes then people used to pass the allotment and we used to sell them the flowers, then a few shops started buying them, and then we went on to take cuttings, and advertised in the garden news.he grew them I packed them and labelled them I used to love it but it was shard work..then! OH became ill and quite poorly, we eventually had to give the allotment up, if we could have kept going we would have had a little business by now but then finances took a tumble and we had to move house to a smaller one...and now we have this up for sale but it is a very small modest house and although I (OH would supervise )we would have like to maybe start it up again, as that would be OH dream, but the house will not fetch enough funds to operate anything like that, so I can understand where your coming from..of course your project is a much larger scale, but I do hope that you may be able to tweek and jiggle things that you will be able to do something similar soon.

What a lovely warm welcome as I pitter patter through the kitchen door. You lot are absolutely marvellous. To be able to share concerns on a site like GN and be "understood" and receive messages such as yours, is priceless. I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lucky.

Sorry I missed the party. I switch the 'puter off at 5.30-ish. If I didn't, I would need to be lifted off my chair at the end of the day [possibly by a strong-armed rescue workman].

Faye How lovely that baybee has been found.
finnochio When I have my Saturday evening G&T I shall think of you.
A massive thank you for all the messages. They mean a lot to me.

biker (((hugs)))

Ooooh! Hot buttered crumpets, any left, PLEEEEASE? Afternoon all, hope you`re all well on this beautiful late summer`s day?

Hang on a mo' number, I'm just about to toast another dozen. Put your feet up and relax a while.

Did I hear crumpets mentioned? Just back from Auld Reekie where we went to the last morning concert in the Queens Hall for the Festival. Fantastic French quartet playing Brahms, Mendelsohn and Bartok. Lunch in the Royal Mile at Wedgwood and home over the Bridge on the train. Oh, thanks - just what I need a lovely cup 'o tea and a sticky bun

Gally Such a treat for you. Music, lunch, and a train ride for good measure. Settle down for a freshly made cup of tea. thatbags ate all the date slices when I wasn't looking. I can offer you a slice of Bara Brith [Welsh cake] There's plenty to go round. Help yourselves and please, no dirty shoes on my rag rug

Time to feed Rory and do a few jobs before I read of the newspaper and then, at six sharp...a LARGE Sapphire Gin and tonic with a generous slice of lime.

Look after each other. I shall return in the morning.

Hello everyone and Rory.

I have made a summer pudding it just needs some cream and I do have some lemon drizzle cake left. It will be good to sit down and relax now.
My lovely sister in law and hubby have just left after an overnight stop on their way north. I really enjoyed their company and want a nice long chat here now.

I love summer pudding. I'm making one tomorrow, when I've picked the remainder of my blackberries and strawberries, to add to the raspberries and redcurrants from my friend's garden.

I'm waiting for my Canadian rellies to arrive. They're wandering along the M6 and diverting off to see the odd village, having been in the Cotswolds for lunch. I'll probably be bringing a big apple pie round here later, if they've had their meal already.

I knew I shouldn't have looked round the door. I've just enjoyed a healthy - very healthy dinner - cooked by DH, and then all this talk of crumpets and date slices and summer puddings has encouraged me to scoff five Mint Crisp Chocolates. Well, they are nearing the sell by date. Perhaps another one. Anyone care to help me out here? They've got to be eaten before September 11th.

Thanks NFK - don't mind if I do!
Busy this morning preparing lunch for friends. Decided it might be a summery day (ha ha - just revved up the underfloor heating in the kitchen) so I'm giving them watercress soup followed by a plate of fish various : smoked salmon, hot smoked salmon, mackerel, mackerel pate, prawns and mussels with tiny new potatoes stuffed with cream and more salmon and lumpfish caviar. Pud is chocolate and pear cake and cheeses. Phew, wish I'd just stuck a leg of lamb in the oven, it would have been much easier . I think I might have overdone it, so do feel free to help yourselves to the leftovers this evening..

Wow! So many goodies to share. I scarcely know which to nibble on...talk of summer pudding makes my mouth water. If ever there was a more scrumptious, 'though simple pud, I've yet to taste it. I'll help you to scoff savour the remaining Mint Crisp Chocs, Nfk
Gally My answer to your question is...certainly not. What a wonderful feast. Your friends are very lucky peeps.
Nellie thank you for taking care of Rory for me. I see that he's heard the sound of foil being unwrapped: his Sunday lunchtime treat of diced chicken breast.
when When we lived in Cornwall, we used to spend "treat weekends" in the Cotswolds. Our favourite location was Bibury.
It's blowy and dampish here in bonnie Kintyre. The sea has quite a swell. I can hear the shingle shifting as the waves hit the shore.

For Soop and Rorys benefit this is copied and pasted from the limerick thread.

There once was a fierce cat called Rory
Who would leave people's legs looking gory.
Then one terrible night
He got into a fight
Soop's told us the rest of his story.

Nelliemoser how apt Rory has certainly found his feet moving in with mr. & mrs soop and he is spoilt by all the visitors to his territory with all his little tit-bits.

I just bought these wonderful chunky chips from a very smart food stand at our water festival down on the quay, and have magically whisked them up here for you to try. They are superb (thus speaks the chip addict) and I had to share them with you. Do you have any tomato ketchup, soop dear?

Oh dear, all a bit down market after the lovely food that others have brought.

Now I wish I had come in earlier, those chips must have been delicious. We have been eating leftovers from our meal with friends Saturday night. Made a crumble a la Nigel Slater so thought I would bring it in to share. The pumpkin seeds 'posh it up' a bit. The ginger and pear trifle though wasn't a great success so I have left it at home.

Oh boy it's good to sit down even though it is quiet in here. So cozy, I bet I will doze off again; just so lovely and relaxing.

Oh dear I've done it again, I knew I would doze off, got the pressure print of a recipe book on my face. Better boot off home quickly before anyone notices I have gone. Have a good day.

Ooohhh, thank you, Charlotte! Just in time for morning coffee. Shall I make it, soop? Oh dear, just put my finger in Cari's lemon flan, better just cut that bit out...yum yum!

Very kind GNHQ, but, I hope all these goodies include at least some that are GF or I shall feel really left out. Although, I suppose, that the gluten will only be virtual so the trips to the loo will only be virtual too

kitty I make a cracking GF cake, and will set to and make one just for you! (And anyone else who need GF, obviously.)

Thank you Ariadne - I'll be back after front gardening - I will do it, I will do it, I will do it

Yummy, lemon flan! Thanks! It's all sweet stuff - we'll cope - because I've got this apple and blackberry pie. Picked the last blackerries this morning. Here's a tub of lotted cream, too. I daren't have it in my fridge!