Frugal food and a new gadget

 I was pleased that I had picked lots of blackberries during the hot spell and made bramble jelly because the ones near here seem to have rotted in the rain. Last weekend there were still some so I took a box and my rucksack on my walk. I had to drop something into a friend and there is a cut-through near her house which goes past the community farm. It has been closed for ages but the gate was open and a box of veg and fruit with the message to "help yourself, donations welcome". I didn't have any money on me so hesitated then I saw a bag with cooking apples which I thought would go well with the berries. I saw some people inside and called out that I would donate next time. They were happy with that although actually they are happy for it just to be taken if you need it. I will make sure I have my purse next time.

I found quite a few blackberries at a pleasant spot with benches and a good view. Then I started home via another bramble spot and was doing quite well there. Then I espied apples on the ground. I managed to find 9 good windfalls which went into my rucksack with the others.  I spent a pleasant evening preparing apples and cooking them with the berries. Most have been frozen.

Then a few days ago a friend called and gave me produce from her allotment. 3 large potatoes which were delicious, a large beetroot which has now been cooked, several bulbs of garlic and more apples. These were made into a large apple cake. The garlic was very handy as I was cooking spaghetti bolognese that evening and only had powdered garlic which is fine but fresh is nice. 

Today I had a walk in a village a few miles away and was surprised to see so many good blackberries. So I will go back with a box and collect a few more. I am keeping my eye on an apple tree along the river. I have never seen so much fruit on it but it needs to mature a bit. 

The new gadget is a Danish Whisk which I bought from Amazon and I really like it. 

I have been amazed how easily it mixes ingredients up. Even little GD who is not 3 yet mixed her biscuits up with it. It is much easier to clean than most whisks and less washing up than an electric whisk. It is very solidly made as well. I do love a simple gadget.

Rubber bacon

 I have heard of rubber chicken where people eke it out to provide so many meals but I think this week I have managed rubber bacon. 

I bought a bacon joint for just over £5, boiled it and served 3 meals with new potatoes, veg and home made mustard sauce. Two more portions were frozen to do the same with this weekend.  Two meals of bacon rosti went down well. I also made and froze 4 bacon burgers so that's another two meals. I needed breadcrumbs for these but didn't want to use my fresh home made bread so found half a pack of sage and onion stuffing in the cupboard. Minced the bacon and mixed with the stuffing, an egg and some water. These were formed in my little burger press bought years ago at a car boot sale. The rest of the stock made 4 portions of split pea soup. 

I make that 13 meals so think it qualifies as rubber bacon. Very satisfied with that.

Tea on the Heath.......

 Only we had lunch. I booked this last week hoping the weather would change as we have been taking advantage of the "eat out to help out" offer. The weather forecast was changed yesterday but being stoic Brits used to carrying on whatever the weather we did.

The very kind owners could have squeezed us inside but we felt safer outside under a large parasol with our raincoats on. The food was all freshly made and delicious. We both had smoked salmon and cream cheese granary sandwiches with salad and shared a pot of tea. Then I opted for the chocolate fudge cake which was huge and DB had the special ice cream. I'm afraid I will have to go again to try the icecream!

I liked the fact that all of the crockery was all different and very pretty. 

I hadn't realized there were these lovely little independent shops behind the tea room so we explored the old fashioned toy and sweet shop. It had a mixture of new and pre-loved items so we chose a few things for little GD.

She has just learnt how to do 12 piece jigsaws so we had to have this one as her daddy loved Playschool. The game encourages counting and matching and is pre-loved. The two new items are wooden and are a ladybird yo-yo and a swaying snake. She will have fun with the snake. The owner was lovely and provided a chair for DB. I felt for her as she took the shop over, spent some time getting it all ready and was open for one day when the shut down came. She was still cheerful though. 

It was a lovely drive out to the village and we came back a different way in heavy rain but it felt good to have some time out. 

The beach!

I went back to Clacton for a few days to visit DD as she had to have her last dog put to sleep and for the first time in years she has been without one. It was sad but also a relief to her as she knew it was coming and there were a few false alarms. Also since this dog had pancreitis 2 years ago and nearly died she's had to have a low fat diet which she didn't like and that caused her to have toilet accidents. 

DD has been ill for 11 years since she caught swine flu at the care home we both worked in. She was very ill with secondary infection and has since been diagnosed with CFS so she is  restricted in what she can do. Really the dogs took all her energy so when I do visit we don't get to do much. I went to give her a bit of support and also steam clean the carpet. DD manages to clean the spots but can't cope with a major clean. We were also able to have some fun. The day after I arrived we decided to go to the beach about 10 am before it got too hot. We took it in turns to sit with our belongings and I had a lovely time with a bit of swimming and lots of floating. DD's energy levels would only let her float but it was the first time in years she has been in the sea. This is the beach.

 

DD is one of the dots in the water. We then had fish and chips and a pot of tea and headed for home so DD could have a sleep. We didn't go again as it became much hotter and also DD can't do much two days running. We did manage to see BIL and his wife which was lovely. We also took advantage of the eat out to help out offer the day I arrived at our favourite eatery near DD's home. 

I was allowed to stay with DD but we tried to stay apart and no hugging which was hard. 

Today DB and I went to the nearby carvery to use the offer again. We both had the roast which was a bit tricky as I had to carry them both back to the table as no way DB could stand in the queue or walk back with a dinner. It was delicious though and we also treated ourself to an icecream pudding.

I've taken to having a walk most evenings when it's cooler and quiet. I usually sit for a while beside the river watching the water birds. It is so peaceful and relaxing.

Eating out

We don't eat out very often but DB loves going out for coffee as being disabled and poorly it's the one thing he can enjoy. The lockdown hit him hard as he likes to go up to his favourite cafe on his mobility scooter every day to chat to people. A couple of times I ordered fish and chips on line and went to pick it up. Then as things eased up we have driven out to places on the river where the cafes were doing takeaway.

A couple of weeks ago we decided now places are open to go as a family to a pub nearby next to the river as it has lots of outdoor spaces. I downloaded the app onto my phone and booked the table. It kept telling me it wasn't confirmed so in the end I had to ring and was told it was confirmed!

When we arrived we were greeted at the gate of the garden and taken to our table. We had to order our meal on the app but it kept telling me it didn't recognize my email address even though I had received emails from them. I had to register all over again so it took half an hour to order but everything did come quite quickly afterwards. Tap water wasn't listed so I had to ask for it in person and finally it came. Four people were having chips and asked for salt and vinegar as we were told we had to wait until it was brought. They never did get any. One good thing was I paid when I ordered so no hanging about for the bill. We decided we wouldn't bother again.

However last week DB and I had 3 nights in a Marston's inn in Clacton so we could visit family. It was a bit different to usual as no staff were allowed to come into our room for the duration of our stay and each day we were handed a paper bag containing coffee and tea etc. We liked the fact that nobody came into our room to clean as it gave us more privacy.

The restaurant belonging to the hotel is where DD and I usually go when I visit her on my own. They have carvery but other menus as well and we love it. The staff are helpful and friendly and it was just the same this time. We didn't need an app although we had booked our table this time. One evening DB only wanted a sandwich which I collected from Lidls right across the road. Then I went in to the restaurant without booking and quickly got my meal brought to me. We also visited a couple of cafes, once sitting outside by the sea. It was all quite easy and enjoyable. Each time we had to give contact details in case of the virus being around.We had plenty of space around us each time and I actually felt better than being in the supermarket where people do not keep their distance.

A Discovery

I decided to walk along the river to a village a couple of miles away. I used to regularly walk there and back but haven't even walked one way for the last few years. It's very pleasant with lots of boats moored and moving about. Also lots of bird life. To my delight I saw the swan family with 5 cygnets. I had watched the swan on the nest and seen one hatched but when I went back they had all gone and I worried something had happened to them as didn't see them again.

I took my time watching buzzards, lapwings and grey wagtails plus the boats.

I started walking back along the road and then decided to get away from the traffic and try a footpath. My map is old and tatty but it looked easy enough. Walk through a little wooded area and turn left then come out in the industrial area nearer to my side of town. I seemed to be walking too far so took another path through a wood and came out by a group of fishing lakes. It was beautiful with lots of goldfinches on teasels and several men fishing. One man was putting stuff in his car and was friendly so I asked him what this place was. He said it was Timberland fishery and if I went past the lakes and the shop and cafe I would come out on the road. I couldn't believe I was right near the garage I use and only about two miles from home. I had never heard of those lakes but they seemed to be on the site of the timber yard that DB used to use. I looked them up later and found they are fairly new so not on my map. The footpath didn't seem to be there either. I think it's time to get a new map or buy the OS maps on line would be better. Who knows what is right on our doorsteps?

After the rain

Its been horrible weather wise today. Heavy rain and strong winds all day. Then about 6.30 the rain stopped and the sun came out so finally I went out for a walk. Just down to the river and along the tow path as hardly anybody about. The flower meadows are changing colour from white to pink.

Boats on the river including this unusual bright coloured one.

I've never seen this little otter statue sitting by the path before.

Walking back past the pub next to the river lots of activity getting ready to open on Saturday. There is a lot of outdoor space there so probably better than other pubs. Its a nice place for a meal sitting watching the boats but I wont be going yet a while.