*Soop's* ever welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

Afternoon all,

Our visitors have gone and we have a couple of quiet days to recover . But, oh what a wonderful time we had. The children are like sprouts and the Queen of the Universe is taller than me !!

Madgran I love Biryani and have just mastered it. I too struggle with spices and meals had got very humdrum but I signed up for this subscription [[ www.simplycook.com/landing/PPCB?utm_source=PPC&utm_medium=Brand&utm_campaign=Brand&KW=10001&msclkid=2aa3f5c6cdd91bfc9686953af484569]]9 ( I hope the link works) and have transformed my meals. They send you a pack with 4 meals in - you choose from a huge selection. The pack contains a simple to follow recipe card and three pots of spices for each meal. You add the fresh ingredients ( but its never more than 3 or 4 items) . And hey presto a perfectly spiced meal.

The trial is only £3 I think , so even if you don't carry on its a bargain. Let me know if you do try and see what you think?

I love the painting soop , as always I am in awe of your skills.

We are now planning for the little boys visit in a month. There is a kids dog show happening and we have signed up young Cooper to take part with Sam. They will be attempting Best Paw Shaker , Most Handsome Lad and The Fancy Dress Class. Cooper will be going as Super Mario and I am making Sam a costume. He will be Super Mario's faithful sidekick Luigi !! I shall take a picture when its complete.

I'm off to sit in the garden with a Magnum :-) anyone want one ?

PS added a picture of Grampy when we played crazy golf with the big kids !!

Just home from a lovely afternoon at dd's with sil and dgs. We had a gorgeous 'picky' lunch, otherwise known as a buffet. Lovely sunset Soop. Well done for going out Annsixty. I love the gorilla and your dh, Nannandgrampy. Tomorrow I'm going to a figure drawing workshop in the garden of my art tutor. I hope the model isn't nekkid as it's to be sunny here again and there's nothing worse than burnt nipples. I'm going to heat up some macaroni cheese for tea and open a bottle of wine. Have a good evening all.

N&G, just for a second I thought that was a real gorilla!
Soop, I love the painting of Toffee, you`ve made the eyes sl lovely, I`m sure the lady will love it. I can`t decide whether I want a "prim and proper" painting of Billy, or one of his comical poses.
Ann, so pleased you went for your meal out and enjoyed it. Doesn`t it often happen that when we least expect to enjoy something we enjoy it all the more?
Panache, thank you for joining us and telling us about your Dear Man`s funeral. He would have been so proud of you, and the way you carried out his wishes. All my best to you for the coming days, months and years.
My eldest son rang today to ask if I`d be interested in going to a family lunch out next Sunday. Would I? Is the Pope Catholic? Not sure how many of us are going, but would think at least 15.

Soop Yes the tiredness and sense of just dragging oneself round is awful. It depressed me too. I hope beyond hope that you will be through it soon. In the meantime you are doing SO well...lovely paintings, keeping this thread going that supports so many.

Good evening all.Looks like you had lots of fun N&G
Pleased you enjoyed going out Anne.
You’re evening out sounds Magical Grandmafrench.
Do hope your DD continues to feel better Muse.

It’s been very warm here today not much rain.Chinese takeaway for dinner tonight.
Boris has been very good and sends his love to you all.

Ooh Nannandgrampy* thankyou for the link, I'll take a look. My cupboard is now full of spices!! The biryani was just delicious tonight, so I shall make it here at home soon and it might become a regular! I went to another class at the same little cookery school a few weeks ago and made vegetable masala. That was also delicious. I shall keep reporting on my "spice experimenting" as I give different recipes a go!

NaanaandGrampy thank you for the link, I’ve been using
www.thespicetailor.co.uk/ for sauces. I used to cook from scratch when we had lots of people round, just for us or a few the myriad of spices go stale.
Mega storms last night at 2am, now sunshine, but cooler, very pleasant. We have the GC’s, staying tonight, they’ve been fed and now they and Grandad are mucking about with fidget toys, we’re about to have Waitrose curry, tried their delivery for the first time this week.
I’m chuffed, first ever aubergine, still a baby, in the greenhouse.
Have a lovely evening all x

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202107/medium-265327-1d6050e6-a708-4b16-8903-0b0486170fa6.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202107/medium-484021-e25c710a-e54d-44bb-9f6f-b7f423f6fccb.jpeg

Hello lovely kitcheners hoping everyone has had a good Saturday. We’ve been out walking around Loch an Eileen near Aviemore, it’s been another hot sunny day, so lucky with the weather. We’re sitting outside and spinach linguine pasta and salad is almost ready and the wine is open. I must make more of an effort with my cooking skills, I really enjoy the Indian spiced food but hopeless at making it. Your Biryani class sounds very good madgran and thanks for the link jaxj - note to myself must try harder
What a beautiful evening you had grandmafrench quite magical

Nannandgrampy Thank you. I'll be looking at that link too. Like Jax I use Spicetailor a lot especially the biryani.

Your lamb chops sound perfection too annsixty. Especially as they were cooked for you. Glad you did go out and enjoyed the evening.

Lovely Saturday here and I've been outside all day despite the warning of thunder etc this afternoon.

Hello Boris. Behave yourself for Yiayia4

Forgot, how could I, Imogen’s burn, nearly gone, amazing, but she still has to cover from the sun.

Such a difference Jax . Hope she has fun at Bude. ??‍♀️
Beautiful scenic shot brook2704. Enjoy the pasta.?

That’s good Jaxj almost completely healed, I hope she’s doing ok ?

Looking good Jax hope she enjoys her holiday.

Jaxjacky, Imogen's burn is looking so much better, she has youth on her side that makes for good recovery.
Hope all goes well for her, & that she's enjoying the school summer holidays.

Thank you for the link NanaandGrampy, I really should give it a try, I've never been very adventurous but have got more boring than usual.!!

I also chuckled at your DH (&his friend!)'s photo...!!

Phew - I’ve just caught up!
soop so glad your mojo is thinking of returning! I have achieved more in the last two days than in weeks although I am spurred on by lunchtime visitors tomorrow!
Jax we have a number of small aubergines too. Its our first time with them.
Once tomorrow is over - why do I say that? Since when is lunch for 4 a major event?! Am I out of practice?
Anyway, once tomorrow is over then we really start! Family are camping nearby, so Friday BBQ, Saturday at the beach then another BBQ then on Sunday they are all here for Christmas lunch. 10 of us - one vegan, two vegetarians, two fussy DGC and two who prefer pork to turkey. The whole point was to use the over large frozen turkey delivered by Tesco in December! Baking starts on Monday …
Panache my dad travelled the same hard road as your dear man and I am sure he would be so proud of you.
Night night all! DH will be a while - the British Lions highlights are on!

Is anyone else growing courgettes in their garden and finding that they are producing large flowers but the courgettes remain about 3 inches long, get no fatter and then just rot? Can't work out why! Any suggestions from vege. gardeners on here, I'm a bit of a novice!!

Is it hot? You bet. I am roasting.

Some super photos, thank you.

N&G Should I ever "come back", I'm determined to return as a grandchild of yours. Such high jinx!

Jaxjacky Imogen's skin has healed tremendously well. Quickly too.

Yia Ooooh, I would love to cuddle that curly-haired Boris He is adorable.

Hellogirl1 The choice is yours. If I have a wee selection of your favourite Billy images, I shall do my best.

This afternoon, we'll be delivering Toffee's framed portrait. After which, I have to take a few photos of a cat named Simon. His Mum has returned home after knee surgery.

Following photo is the framed portrait. I am well pleased.

Madgran77 yes, common this year according on an allotment website I’m on, most think it’s because of the cold earlier in the year, then the wet. It’s been a distinctly average year thus far for a lot of people’s veg, tomato and potato blight have ruined some crops.
Stunning soop ??

Afternoon all,

Our courgettes have gone mad Madgran but don't get me started on the tomatoes which are miserable.

I shall definitely look at Thespicetailor ! Thanks for the tip. I have used another site purely for curry spices but I'm enjoying the variety on the link I posted for a change.

Its been a quiet weekend as Grampy has a toothache and I feel for him as they really are the worst thing. But its meant Ive been on my own for food so Ive been eating what I want which has been lovely ( don't tell him I said that!!). He's a meat and 2 veg man and I'm a grazer, so its been a lovely treat!!

I'll leave you with a picture from the alpaca walk. They really are the loveliest animals , so calm.

Lovely photo N&G, I love alpacas, they have such pretty faces.
Jaxjacky, that burn is healing really well, I`m so pleased for Imogen.
Thank you Soop, I`ll start my selection soon.
Today`s Sunday dinner has had to be postponed till tomorrow, guess who forgot to take the joint out of the freezer?
I`m off out next Sunday to a family get together/lunch, there will be around 20 of us, all double jabbed and all family. Really looking forward to it.

Weakly waving at the kitcheners. I've been in a garden all day, drawing a model in different poses and using charcoal for the first time. I'm done. I wasn't at all happy with the results but I know I need to practise. The pork fillet with garlic is in the oven, the veg is ready to be put on and I'm making an onion, mustard and cream sauce. I'm hot and knackered. See you tomorrow x

Grandmabatty Keep on trying. I can assure you that you will be well rewarded in time. I gave the Toffee portrait to the dear lady owner and she shed a few tears. She assured me that the painting was perfect.

A virtual hug for Grampy. Toothache is a big buggeration.

Jax our neighbour's courgettes have done remarkably well. He has so many that he's giving them away.

Hellogirl1 I've taken a few decent photos of the cat called Simon. He is next on the agenda. Do take plenty of close-ups for me, please.

Time to leave. I need to put my feet up and look forward to the nine o'clock G&T (a large one to celebrate with.)

Until tomorrow, I hope that you all enjoy a peaceful evening.

soop I’m not at all surprised your cat portrait was so well received, talent shines.
Well the GC’s have been and gone, such a pleasure, I didn’t hover around Imogen, all as usual, shame it was raining and DD had a lovely, well deserved evening out. We’ve just won a beef joint in the meat draw at the local, not had beef for a while. Greenhouse ‘babies’ have been fed and watered, not chatted to them, yet!
I’ll wish you all a pleasant evening, keep taking care x .

Another beautiful hot sunny day here, we’re home now in Inverness and I’ve just come inside after doing battle with the weeds in the garden again. Think I’m just going to give in and buy some weedkiller!
A lovely picture with the Alpacas n&g and hope you enjoyed your art class grandmabatty - well done on giving it a go ?
Enjoy your G&T soop I might join you!
Take care everyone and enjoy your evening