View from the Back Door
Well, I've gone and done it. Yep, after a couple of years of deliberating, I have finally taken out a small mortgage and bought myself a Microplane. Now then, some of you will be wondering what took me so long, others will be wondering how I could bring myself to spend so much money. Still others of you will be worrying that I am too old to be taking up flying. Fear not!I have no intentions of buzzing irritatingly over your garden the minute weather turns fine and you want to spend some quiet time outdoors. I have just been and got myself a MICROPLANE GRATER!
Here it is, it cost me £12 from Sainsbury's and believe you me, this is not the most expensive one you can buy. In addition, this is a quite fine grater, you should really be splashing out for at least two, maybe three of these beauties to complete your batterie de cuisine. However I think I can manage with the (several) other graters in my collection for the coarser stuff. I always wondered how the tv chefs got their oranges and lemons to zest so perfectly, and a friend told me about microplanes. I wasn't having any of it when I saw the prices. So began my lengthy search to find a decent grater - I have about 5 and probably could easily have paid for this one with the money I spent - and more! Never mind. I'm here to tell you it was one of my best buys. It grates PERFECTLY and my zest couldn't be zestier - no wasting half of it in a disappointing sludge clinging to the grater, my parmesan drifts down onto the pasta like a veritable thistledown of cheesy gorgeousness So for once, the hype is right. Mind you, I still think they are priced beyond the pockets of most people starting up home.
So, after a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend - how fantastic was that? - the week has been a bit peculiar; I've been feeling all week that we are a day ahead, most off-putting. And the weather, having spent its goodwill over the weekend, decided to behave most capriciously, one day sunny, the next dull, and all the while very strong winds have made it quite unpleasant to be out in the garden. But I have done some potting up, and Jim has been having a good old tidy up so we look quite respectable out there. Wednesday was Stitch and Bitch, lovely to have a good natter, productive stitching time - I am making a quick class sampler of borders for the workshop:
Not finished yet, and not something to put on show, just some examples of how folks might like to edge their samplers. We consumed a few nice biscuits and some lovely cake - thank you Victoria! And thank you also for the lovely tulips which grace my kitchen window-sill.
Most of my garden tulips have come up white this year! What's that all about? There are just a few of these lovely pink-blushed blooms, unfortunately the sun was so strong it seems to have bleached the colour even further from them.
Wednesday continued beautifully with a lightening visit from big grandson Chris, home from uni, popping in for dinner and a pint down the pub with his granddad.
While they were there I was out at Rob and Marje's playing music and (as usual) putting the world to rights! When we all got home we sat up til midnight talking about Tolkein, fantasy film and books, and how without JRR none of them would have happened. (Giving a nod to older science fiction writers of course) From here we somehow got onto the music of Fleetwood Mac, and other old rockers, and why I chose not to go and see Bob when he last toured the UK. All in all a lovely day. And as if things couldn't get any better Thursday saw me trundling along the A47 to Norwich for my melodeon lesson. As always, deep joy! So, heading into this weekend, with its gentle routines and rhythms, nothing startling planned, just some 'mum' time of course. I hope we have some sunshine, and I hope you do too.
Ha, you deceptive person, you almost had me going there : a PLANE
ReplyDeleteI really was worried ;-)
But I think I will be looking out for a similar tool : in R'dam you have a big shop (and I mean B-I-G) called "Boiling Point" (Kookpunt) where they sell all the kitchen stuff you can possibly want .... they might have it ;-)
Ohhhh, the garden looks fine (hard to imagine after this late spring ...)
Hello Els, they really annoy me, those micro-light planes pootling over my head on nice days when I'm in the garden!
DeleteYes, I wish I'd bought my grater sooner, it really does a good job. Our lovely kitchen shop in our nearest town has closed down, great shame, now we only have the supermarkets which have a very limited range of kitchen things; unless I go into Norwich or Cambridge.
Yes, garden looking quite nice, just wish the wind would drop! Lx
Next time I offer grated Parmesan for the spag bol I shall say 'would anyone like a veritable thistledown of cheesy gorgeousness?'. You are getting quite poetic! xCathy
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy, well, one tries for a high literary standard! One does, after all, have one's readership to consider!!
DeleteThat is a very pretty jug those tulips are in, it sets them off a treat. I hope you have fun flying your microplane,they are expensive but do a brilliant job. Stitch and bitch hey, sounds like fun.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, we bought that jug in 1994 in Greve, Tuscany. I love it to bits, and even when it's empty it cheers me up when I stand at the sink. Our Stitch and Bitch group have been meeting for over two years now, it's very informal; most of us have known each other a long long time.
DeleteWell it certainly looks as if the sun has deserted us along with the warm temperatures. Strong wind out there again, just put some bedding out on the line and it is has come over really dark.... looks like the forecasted rain could be on its way. Answered your comment with the info requested.... over on my blog. Enjoy the weekend.. I am doing a sort out/reshuffle of 'stuff' in my workroom, putting up new shelves and so on, so the weather not important, but would have liked it dry for the washing. Enjoy yours...
ReplyDeleteHmm, back from my morning with mum, and to be honest it just feels like a late autumn day, when you really just want to bake in a warm kitchen, or curl up with a good book. I shall probably do both!
DeleteThanks for info, and good luck with your re-shuffle; it'd take more than that to sort my workroom out! Lx
Fran on one of her posts has mentioned some of her mint has come up white - maybe it was the winter weather who knows. Tried a 'ice cube' of wild garlic butter on our potatoes last night - v. strong. DB not at all sure (I like garlic more than him) so suggests next time we halve one plus extra butter. I can see I might be eating this on my own!
ReplyDeleteIt's really strange, I wouldn't buy white tulips because I would rather have the deep pinks/purple ones, so why this has happened is nobody's business!
DeleteI'm now using my WG oil, it is fairly mild to be honest; the pesto still going strong - and I mean strong - and we haven't tried the butter yet. Fortunately we are both garlic lovers so there won't be a problem.You could always slip a bit of it in and minimise the effect by adding extra butter..........!
I was also going to say how much I like your jug and seeing your pink tulips reminded me that mine haven't made an appearance this year. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteGillx
Hi Gill, thanks, I do love that jug, we bought two heavily decorated ones back and touch wood Jim hasn't managed to drop them yet! (Have I just tempted fate there?)
DeleteIt'll be interesting in a few weeks to ask people what they have noticed different in their gardens this year.Have a good weekend - I'm hoping for sunshine somewhere along the way! Lx
Oooh I have one of those microplanes they are brilliant, not so good for the fingernails though!! they are very sharp and grate parmesan in no time, brilliant for citrus fruits too.
ReplyDeleteWe have allsorts popping up in the garden including baby rabbits.. grrr... I'm quite happy for them to munch away on the weeds but wish they would leave MY plants alone!!!
Yay, the sun is shining.... followed by black clouds :-(
Rabbits and pigeons, Karen , have had their fill many a year; this time we have netted extensively. (I'm using the Royal 'we' here, you understand!)
DeleteYes, I am impressed with my grater - I'll maybe save up and get another one sometime. Lx
Well, you got me there....I was just trying to imagine you in a little plane, flying over Norfolk....I'm a tad disappointed that you aren't! Your garden is looking lovely....as are your stitches!!! :) x
ReplyDeleteheheheheh! I'd be the last person up in one of those, believe me! Thanks Ada.Lxx
Delete