Soop's kitchen for kindly folk...

Baggs what courage your daughter has to break that news. Brave girl indeed.? Soop you are having a difficult time just now. ? BladeAnnie your poor daughter too. ? Annsixty I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Brook I did some garden tidying today but lots of leaves again. It's like painting the Forth bridge.
I've been quiet and busy today. I dropped off dgs1 at nursery then pottered in the garden and house. I did some Spanish too. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

‘Evening All’

A glorious day of sunshine here in Málaga. We’ve strolled about, enjoyed coffee then sat in a very touristy square in Arroyo de la Miel. I enjoyed a crisp G&T at 3pm, applied some sunscreen to my forearms and leaned back to people watch and ‘tune in’ to the table of 4 pensioners from Dublin who were sat behind us.

Goodness, it was better than a soap on tv! ‘Fecking this & fecking that’. ?. They fly home tomorrow apparently to babysitting duties and preparations for Christmas. They return in January. I’d love a table next to them when they come out to hear their latest! Life’s rich tapestry indeed.

Thoughts to all in here who have sadness in their lives tonight.
Xx

Hello everyone. Well, the Christmas cake is made and is now cooling. Before I put it away I’ll feed it with dark rum. I’ve also made rum and ginger muffins, which I’ll ice with a simple frosting of lemon juice and icing sugar. This is a John Waite recipe - he won Bake off years ago. I am now catching up with the political news. Who’s in, who’s out. I’m glad Mr Mogg jumped before he was pushed. It’s my turn to cook tonight so I’m making a sort of fricassee using left over chicken, mushrooms, a sauce made with chicken stock and cream, and pasta. Have a good evening.

LLFL... It's that kind of day isn't it... I've just finished making the mincemeat for mince pies etc..and the apple.plum and pear chutney is bubbling away. I finally after 6 weeks feel like I've got some energy back...

Llfl Ditto Mr Mogg.

Naughtyneine You are inspirational.

Urms I am amused.

Have finished a mini-mountain of ironing. Mr Soop is busy reinforcing Sweetie Pie's (feral cat's) apartment. It has been letting in rain along one side. All in bits. He has since re-felted the roof and if Sweetie Pie isn't impressed, I shall be a tad disappointed.

Isn't it a good feeling when the Christmas cake is made, I made 2 on Sunday, one for us and one for DS2 and family. I may make DS1 a vegan one. I've worked from home today and am making roast chicken for dinner later. Its been a lovely day here, lots of sunshine and the washing even dried on the line. Thinking of all those with sadness and worry, there is too much of that around just now.

Naughtyneine I took have some energy today. Chutney was made yesterday, so the jars were labelled today. I have a pot of strawberry jam bubbling away, as the summer’s batch has all gone. The berries are still quite reasonable in the shops. DH has made a big batch of steak pie filling and I shall make pies once its cool.
Now the ironing to attack and a bit of packing for a quick trip tomorrow to see the grand baby. He is growing so quickly! ? We haven’t seen him for 3 of his 11 weeks because of my bug.
I am not moaning though, as I know how lucky we are with our healthy and happy family. Hugs to all with sadness and worries.

Oh my goodness you’ve all been so busy cooking in the kitchen today, a very well done to you all. I leave the Christmas cake making to my eldest DD she’s an absolute whizz at cooking and makes it much better than I could. But I have done some cooking today, a rather large vegetarian lasagne, garlic bread and salad and an Oaty, Plum and Ginger tray bake … all ready for our visitors arriving in the next half hour - hope they like it! I could have done with some of your home made ice cream too ladylfl but I’ve just got the Tesco one ?‍♀️
Have a lovely time tomorrow Nannytopsy and hope you get lots of baby cuddles
Sending gentle hugs to all in need of some tlc

Good evening dear Kitcheners. I’m afraid I haven’t been busy cooking . It has been a glorious sunny day and I have been out for a stroll along the riverside. The Autumn colours are so beautiful just now. I took loads of photos to be sorted and edited. Ham and cheese toasties for tea, I’m feeling sleepy after so much fresh air, now listening to the news from Downing Street. TOYA.

Good evening Kitcheners. I've been warming leftover boeuf bourgignone and served it with clapshot (mashed tatties and swede) . I haven't made any Christmas cake again this year as no one in my family like it. I've attached my latest pastel drawing from the still life class today. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Letting the side down here, no cooking/baking. I’ve had a day of driving, my son for three journeys as his electric bike has a fault and à voluntary drive. I’ve tweaked my back, an old ligament tear from over 20 years ago, sitting a lot today hasn’t helped. It’s annoying, there’s far worse off.
MrJ is rustling up dinner, I have a glass of wine, enjoy your evening all x

There is obviously something in the air re cooking...Jax and Blossoming you are let off and just need to recover from bugs and backs. Brooke and NannyT...and Chrissy..how organised are we...I suspect you ladies always are...I on the other hand ... I'm the one who always starts the Christmas letter on Nov 1st and is running out to post them on Dec 20th!!!!
Grandmabatty... You too are let off culinary duties of it means you produce beautiful pictures. Now before you get the idea I may get a glimpse of that domestic goddess award this year...fear not. We are having a Chinese Take out for dinner. Lol

Naughtyneine I must admit I'm only organised with regards to the Christmas cakes because I love baking, so far zero presents purchased

‘Evening All’

No mincemeat making here.
Nor Christmas cake or chutney.
No pastel drawings either (lovely by the way Grandmabatty!).
Not even a plum and oaty tray bake (sounds delicious brook).
?
Not even a pot of jam. ?

I’m officially rubbish.
I must have other skills.
Surely.

I’m good at making new friends. Eating and drinking. Making folk laugh. Ach, that’ll have to do!

You and me both urms.
I feel so inadequate compared to many other grans re my lack of culinary skills.
My skills are: I too am very sociable, I enjoy a g+t and a glass or two of sauv blanc and I like eating but am rubbish at cooking!
Quite good at warming M and S meals though! ?

Soop, after 10 days, there`s still a chance your painting will turn up. I have my TV Times delivered by post from the printers, the other week I received 2, the new one for the following week, and 1 for 3 weeks previously that hadn`t turned up!

Just quickly popping in to say goodnight - sleep tight all (hopefully) ??

Mamaa and Urms... Fabulous skills both of you...I do a lot of them too..( the last time I made mincemeat was 5 years ago).... And when I worked out how much it was probably costing I could have bought 4 jars from Aldi while picking up several bottles of Chenin Blanc at the same time...grrr.

Grandmabatty Take a bow. Wow!

Jax take it easy-ish. Ligament strains are a buggeration.

Hellogirl1 Mr Soop has returned from our local post office with a parcel that we wished to post. Their computer is malfunctioning. We now have to take it into Tarbert. Spittin' tacks.

Urms We are all gifted with some skill. Making people laugh is, in my opinion, one of the most important.

Blossoming The stunning colours of autumn - burnished gold and red and bronze are a gift of Nature.

Can`t stop now, just venting about my flabber being gasted whilst doing my Tesco online order. I buy Birdseye fish fingers because we don`t like the cheaper brands, but don`t buy too often because I get packs of 30. Last time they were £6, now they`re £7.75!!! When did fish fingers become a luxury item?

PS, our Sunday roast for the 2 of us costs less than that!

Hellogirl the Birds Eye omega 3 fish fingers are £4.80 for 30 in Iceland, 2 packs for £8. If you have a store locally.

Following covi D jabs yesterday we have both had a sleepy day today so nothing done.I have to say I'm with the non bakers now ,I used to make Christmas cake for us and my parents but my family arnt keen so I tend to buy one for us to eat over the holiday. Grandmattie you are very talented .

The children in the small village school bake a wee cake for all elderly people, including we two, every Christmas. It is delicious. Apart from that, we will buy a few mince pies. That's ample for the two-day festivities.

Hellogirl Heck as like!

Thanks for the info', Jax. Sadly, we do not have a local Iceland.

I have thoroughly cleaned all the kitchen cupboards. Don't ask.

I keep telling myself...be patient, the pet portrait will reach its rightful destination this side of Christmas. If not soon, I have another idea that may be a consolation prize.

Love to you all. I shall return tomorrow.

Hello dear kitcheners - a quiet day for me today, there's been too many busy ones of late. So I've been terribly lazy, browsed netflix and knitted. Nothing short of perfection imo ? TOYA