Crepe And Stormy

[Cremo]

Over here Crepemunks!
Hope no one else has started one

cremo how is your DM today? You did an amazing job running there. Sorry about the job, and you BD.

MI favourite oldie...Some Like it hot. I still love watching it. Would that be appropriate?

I am still tired and jaded. Headache less painful but kind of the muzzy feeling you get in the aftermath. Had a colleague observe my class last night. She's lovely but it makes me more on edge and then when it was over, she wanted to hang around and chat. I just wanted to clear up and watch Holby on catch up. This morning I have been singing (nice) and now have to hang around the mall as DD is here shopping with her BFF and wants a lift home. Sometime today, hopefully.

On a very minor and unglamorous note, I think I have solved my knickers problem. Crepeys will remember, my trusty Sainsbos High legs weren't cutting it anymore. The suggestion was that I should embrace the full brief and give in to decrepit crepeydome. I bought a packet, But they cut into my thighs, which is why high legs are better. Any way, the solution has been M&S high legs (better bottom coverage than Sainsbos) not one, but TWO sizes too big..... Everything tucks in nicely, as the bigger size isn't really in the width but they come up higher iyswim.

Oh and ideas please for DDs prom dress...she wants long and black.

Am in Norwich. Mum having better day but sick. My sister will go home on Friday.

Which leaves me here till Monday morning. Must think of things to cook for me and for my dad...should I roast a chicken, do you think (thus leaving leftovers for lunch)? (And if so, how? DP does that sort of thing at home...)

Actually some firm instructions for meal planning would be much appreciated

Bloody hell, Victoria Wood has died! She was only 62! WTF?

MI, yes good idea about chicken (I do it buy putting upside down in tray, stuff it with a halved lemon, and put inch or two of water and halved onion in tray. Roast at 180 fan for an hour, turn and roast for half an hour other way up, or longer. Can stick a bit of butter/herbs/spices - I use ras el hanout - on breast when you turn if you want but it is fine without and doesn't dry out that way up). I would also buy: cheese, ham, eggs, fruit, tomatoes and salad stuff, oven chips, and some of those posh bags (M and S or Jamie Oliver) of flavoured cous cous, puy lentils etc that feed two, and can be jazzed up easily if fridge has anything in it. You've got several meals there and can use the chicken up. And gin and chocolate.

MI - I saw about Victoria too am ....

Thank you, Lalsy. Firm Instruction is what I need (thinks fondly of Victoria's exhortation to 'beat me on the bottom with my woman's weekly...')

So sad about Victoria Wood. Yet another going before her time.

Seize The Day, Crepey's.

Wow - yes - just saw FB post on Victoria Wood - you are right BTM - the trouble is by the time we realise this we are too old and knackered to actually seize the day, whereas DS on his computer all day - well I won't even start.

Rose - I like those shorty knickers. So do the DD's - although there was trouble when I put away DD1's knickers in DH's draw - can't tell the difference anymore!

Hatty
In our house DH wears stripy, DS wears check/plain for that reason, and when we went to stay with friends last year, we discovered that they had the same separations!

MI, pasta dishes? Lasagne (freeze into portions if you have nothing better to do?!) quiche is popular here and also freezes well. Risotto?

Can't believe Victoria Wood is gone - she'sonly a tear older thanme.

DH has just come back from seeing aunt in hospital - she is now 102 & has recovered from pneumonia & kidney problems & will probably be discharged next week. Her will to live & powers of recovery are amazing.

Off to France at the w/e so frantically washing stuff ready to go.

MI - I think chicken is brilliant. You can always freeze the cold meat if you don't eat all of it. FIsh is also quick & easy & I think fozen fish fillets are fine.

Ooh Lalsy - I'm going to try roasting chicken your way - ras el hanout and all.

I roast a chicken that way too, but haven't tried putting ras el hanout on it - sounds like a fab idea!

Roast chicken...my favourite is to rub garlic and onions over the skin. Then cut up the onions and scatter over. Then lay a couple of twins of rosemary (I don't take off the leaves...the are like twigs in your mouth afterwards!) over the top and roast covered in foil, removing the foil for the last half hour to get crispy skin. I don't add fat but some people rub butter or marge into the skin as well. I put the left overs into a risotto with mushrooms and any veg you like.

Have a really easy and foolproof recipe for chicken breasts in mustard and honey also, if you like the sound of that.

Off to google ras el hangout...

So sad about Victoria Wood. Didn't even know she was ill. Lost another of our national treasures.

Hatty I have the same problems with shorts knickers...they cut in to my thighs, and magnify the saddle bags a thousand fold...and it's not a pretty sight...

twins? TWIGS

hanout...oh ffs

Rose - I'd like the honey and mustard chicken breast recipe please.

Really sad news about Victoria Wood. DDad adored her, and actually wrote to her when she did a show local to him, asking her if she (and husband at the time) would like to come round for dinner afterwards. She wrote a lovely letter back, politely declining of course.

I'm going to weigh in with my own roast chicken recipe, which is (imho) FABulous:

Blitz into a paste, with a slosh of olive oil, the following:
1 stalk lemongrass
2 green chillies
small knob of ginger
1tsp turmeric
1tsp ground coriander
1tsp cumin
1 clove of garlic

Slap mixture all over chicken, leave to marinate for half an hour, into oven.

Half an hour before the end of cooking, pour over a can of coconut milk and return to oven. Voila!

(but I also like the sound of honey and mustard - yes please, Rose!)

I am slavering over all these chicken recipes.

MI, Local Hero is a safe film.

Yum, CV !!!

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken...

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 (half) cup honey
1/2 cup prepared mustard ( I mix whole grain with smooth dijon)
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Oven 350 degrees

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place in lightly greased baking dish.
In a small bowl combine honey, mustard, herbs and paprika and mix well. Pour half over the chicken and brush to cover.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 mins. Then turn the chicken over and add the remaining sauce. Bake for an additional 15 mins or until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. ( I am more generous with the cooking times as I usually make a greater quantity and I'm weird over making sure chicken is nuked proper cooked.)

Very good with mash....

OK MI... were you expecting to be bombarded with 1001 ways with chicken? Just yell when you've had enough (already)!

Bone in skin on chicken thighs - 2 pp. Brown on both sides in olive oil in wide shallow pan (approx 10 mins?). Remove and keep to one side.
In same pan fry good quantity chopped onions / shallots until golden with garlic to taste. Then add chopped red chilli and c 3 anchovy fillets and cook until anchovies have 'melted'. Add three large twins twigs of rosemary and c 200ml of sherry / vermouth / white wine and bring to boil. Return chicken to pan, laying on top of onions etc in one layer. Cook in oven (c 180 degrees) for c 30 mins or until chicken well cooked (test by stabbing with sharp knife - juices should run clear, not be bloody). Grate some lemon zest over top et voila!

Also, for lunch, no effort meals the following are all beyond easy - you might even get to force your ddad to learn to cook some (well, you can but dream).

• omelettes / fritatta
• soup
• roast vegetables
• cheese on toast
• tinned tuna / cannellini or similar beans / red onion
• microwave tilda rice (comes in loads of varieties) with tuna / veg / whatever mixed in
• pasta arrabbiata / tomato sauce / peas and pesto
• mozzarella salad
• avocado and prawns.

Take care MI. X

I am loving all these roast chicken recipes on our S&B thread

And now I've got to go and cook.... chicken!

Thanks for all the lovely chicken ideas. My range of recipes needed a boost.