It's no good - I know you've been here!

Unusually, we have had snow for a few days and a very cold start to the year. 

This bird was hunting for some food. 

I doubt it had ever seen snow before. 

These days it is unusual to get snow on the ground. In fact it is about 7 years since we had snow like this. Many winters pass without much snow at all.

Stuff of dreams - NOT amateur radio

 

Back in 2013 I was in hospital for 3.5 months with a stroke and I was expected to spend the rest of my life being fed via a tube into my stomach. I used to have dreams about tuna fish pie. In the next year I recovered and food could be eaten by mouth. Apart from my voice and giddiness, I largely recovered. Things could have been very different.

Christmas food - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year we make lots of minced pies and savoury tarts. I am responsible for rolling the pastry (the secret is to roll it very thin!) and doing the savoury tarts. All these go very very quickly. The savoury tarts have mushrooms, tomatoes and onion plus a small amount of chutney topped with cheese. Some have ham too.

Christmas shopping break - NOT amateur radio

This was my break in Cambridge this morning. 

Christmas shopping - NOT amateur radio

Just before lunch my wife and I did some shopping for food in Newmarket. 

We usually do our food shopping there, varying the shops.

Peacocks in Ely - NOT amateur radio

 

This was where we had lunch today: Peacocks in Ely, Cambs.. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. We tried to take a friend there on a Tuesday, but found it closed!

Greek food - NOT amateur radio

 

This was our "snack" yesterday in Corfu! Excellent.  Well, we all have to help the Greek economy.

Corfu food - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we ate in Corfu Town. 

My wife had sea bream caught in the morning and I had slow cooked lamb shank.  

Both were perfect as was the tzatziki Greek starter of yoghurt and cucumber.

Shopping - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we went shopping at one of the larger UK supermarkets beginning with T. It wasn't too busy. We stocked up on the wine I like, which was very inexpensive. I do not have great tastes! 

My wife drove as I was too giddy. 

Also she was unable to find a certain yeast extract at the shop beginning with W. There were huge stocks at this shop today so we bought a jar!

Happier times - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows happier times when we ate out. I cannot recall when or where. It looks good.

For a laugh - NOT amateur radio

This was on WhatsApp earlier, although I have no idea where it originated.   It brought a smile to my face. 

BTW, I have had some excellent vegan meals and could quite easily be a vegetarian, although I enjoy meat. Being a vegan would probably be a step too far.

See bcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/vegetarian-recipes

Beyond meat - NOT amateur radio

I am a meat eater, but I could quite happily be a vegetarian and never eat meat again. An American company called Beyond Meat is about to float and the shares are in high demand. If the world it to feed itself in years to come we may have to eat far more non meat foods.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48110704 .

More Italian food - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I mentioned that my wife and I met 51 years ago in 1968 and that we celebrated by eating out at an Italian restaurant in a nearby village. The first photo shows our main courses. My wife had cod and I had chicken. Both were on the very good fixed price menu. The second photo shows our desserts.

Food this afternoon - NOT amateur radio

The previous post mentioned the gathering we had this afternoon for a few friends. The photo shows some of the snacks. My savoury tartlets (cooked earlier today) proved very popular! Most had gone even though I made 24. I shall have to do more tomorrow. The fillings are onions, cheese, red peppers, mushrooms, tomato and a tiny bit of chutney. Some had ham too. The secret is to cook these first and then put more cheese on top before baking. My wife does the pastry the night before. I roll this out very thinly.

Taster menu - NOT amateur radio

To celebrate my wife being just 70 and me being 70 just before Christmas, we enjoyed a "Taster Menu" at a local restaurant. It was excellent, both the food and service. Why do I not feel hungry today? 😁

Italian Meal - NOT amateur radio

This lunchtime we went to a local Italian restaurant in a nearby village. It is very popular and at night you have to book weeks in advance.  The lunchtime fixed price menu is very good value (food and price). It was busy today. Service is excellent. They have obviously got a good reputation. There were 3 of us (wife, son and yours truly).

Breakfast with old friends - NOT amateur radio

We had breakfast with old friends today.

Eating out - NOT amateur radio

For the second time this month we ate out at a local Italian restaurant which has excellent service and a good fixed price menu. Honestly, I could not fault anything. Both my wife and I had the 3 course set menu and the photo shows her dessert (panna cotta).

Market Day - NOT amateur radio

Market Day in Bury St Edmunds is Wednesday and Saturday. Food is fresh and prices are great. We try to use the market whenever we go there. Fresh veg is always good as the photo shows.

Food - NOT amateur radio

Every Tuesday and Wednesday I travel into Cambridge for University of the Third Age lectures.

On Tuesdays it is, "Weather and Climate" and on Wednesdays, "Samuel Pepys". We are very lucky in Cambridge having a huge variety of courses.

Afterwards, my wife joined me for lunch.