Thread 10 - TalkLair: “The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles.”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 9).

Although the nights are gradually drawing in, the new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey inside. The hearth is glowing, the walls covered in dubious artwork, books by non-approved authors line the shelves, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Well, quite. Imagine if people could change their identities just like that; it'd be chaos, wouldn't it? 😛

Wasn’t it a typo? Whatever the case it’s grate and you should keep it.

It was a conversation to do with mice and minges. I can't remember the details of it either.

Mouse mince and stepping in it...

Had a go at some parkin, and have to say, shiny new non-stick dish has done a top job, it plopped out clean as a whistle. Now waiting till it cools to see if I overdid the ginger!

Can you overdo ginger?

If you don't have enough of the other ingredients for it to hold together, you've possibly overdone the ginger. Otherwise I don't think there's a maximum quantity.

In Fiji I was served a curry in which root ginger was used as a vegetable rather than a spice. Some of the other guests seemed to think it was a mistake; I thought it was inspired.

Blimey, that looks good! I haven't had parkin for years.

I am heartened by your words! I never make full quantities from recipes (all that 'serves 6' malarkey), but if yo do half or less, there's always the issue of, have you got enough mix for the selected dish size? This was half quants and an 200 mm square shallow tin, seems to have worked out about right. This is partly in service of a rare visit from my DS tomorrow. I'm doing a mega Ottolenghi recipe tomorrow (chick-pea confit), which has its own thread!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/food_and_recipes/4941260-ottolenghis-confit-chickpeas-anybody-made-it?page=4&reply=130777113

Reader, it's perfect! 😁Very gingery, but if it only had a faint taste of it, it'd be a disappointment. Nice moist texture too.

It looks divine. You're making me drool!

DH makes a lovely parkin, and now I'm inspired to nag him to get baking!

This place looks magical! I need a lottery win!
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142098842?

I have a wonderful Aussie Women's Weekly recipe for ginger cake which is very popular with the local librarians when they run a Macmillan coffee morning. I suspect they scoff most of it themselves, which is fine by me. I do need to make a proper parkin, though - haven't had it since I was a teenager.

That's a gorgeous house, @Kucinghitam - you'd need to reorganise the upstairs though, because as it is you seem to need to go through the biggest bedroom to get to the other bedrooms. And it needs another bath/shower room. I'd turn the big bedroom into the "family room" and vice-versa, and turn the airing cupboard into an en-suite.

That's lovely.

My current 'if the premium bond comes up' house is https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134044052

The parkin looks delicious @duc748. And I have the same issue with having to halve everything.

@Kucinghitam i like the house although I’m not mad keen on the hexagonal tiles. The grounds are gorgeous.

@BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn pics 5 and 9 are unnerving me somewhat.

The most amazing Rightmove house I’ve come across was on the outskirts of Gateshead of all places. It was done out all Art Nouveau style, it was spectacular.

I’ve managed to find it! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78701187#/?channel=RES_BUY

Jesmond rather than Gateshead, oops. Also not quite as amazing as I recall but then nothing ever is, is it?

Pic 9 is a bit odd, I agree - they don't seem to have any idea what to do with that room. As it's next to the wine cellar I'd make it into a big pantry. Pic 5 just needs the scary painting removing and the books-by-the-yard replaced by books-to-be-read piles.

Amazing windows and skylights in the Jesmond house.

I love the house in Leeds! The garden is beautiful and there are some great views out. The upstairs layout is odd but I here’s enough space to make it work.

And the castle is great. I’m less keen on the Jesmond house. I’m not sure why as I’d expect to like it. I think it’s just a bit glitzy, somehow.

If I bought the Jesmond house I’d do it out in all beiges, golds, dusky pinks and sage greens and turn it into My Art Deco Womb.

Gorgeous houses! The castle is wonderful but I'd find it intimidatingly big, so it's the Jesmond Art Deco house for the win.

I look at the castle and am intimidated by maintenance! The Jesmond house is nice though. I'm currently combing through Zoopla and Rightmove for my son, who has to leave his flat mid-Dec and has a semi-disabled partner and a limited budget.