Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, Coombe Barton said:

... sorting out the knickers and socks. It was getting to be a case of daily hide and seek to find out where I’d put them ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/10/07/covid-legacy-and-an-hs2-haiku/

 

1 minute ago, jamie92208 said:

As the geandad to a 4yrvold who has just started school I've been aware of the ptoblems of the lock down cohort for a while.  Emily found socialising in large groups difficult as well as noiisy environments.  Fortunately with two devoted and supportive Parents she seems to be coping very well. 

 

Jamie

My friends young son who attends a special school has a speech impediment. Before covid the school had a speech therapist and his speech was coming along nicely. Unfortunately after covid the speech therapist hasn't returned and his impediment has now got worse.

[Winslow Boy]

Ok could someone clarify/explain what DPU stands for? and don't say Damp Proof Underwear.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Well, I’ve had quite a productive day, I’ve re-potted around 14 of Sheila’s house plants. Of course, it also meant that I needed to clean out the new pots for each plant I re-potted. However, before I put any new compost in the pots, I placed a circle of polystyrene in each pot, to prevent the roots sitting in water, which is what I think happens. So, I got the chance to try out my new ‘hot wire’ cutter, which worked a treat. Once I’d finished the re-potting, I packed up all my gardening tools and decamped to the cellar and gave the underside of the shelves their first coat of varnish. 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Not quite sure what she is cooking but I hope for her sake the fat doesn't spit.

It’s certainly hot in that kitchen. 

[Sidecar Racer]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Not quite sure what she is cooking

 

 Nothing , the burner isn't lit , no reflection on the shiny surface .

 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Sidecar Racer

[jjb1970]

Potato cakes were common when I was growing up but seem to have faded away. I wonder if it's younger generations not making them at home? Many dishes seem to have been lost as older generations have died. Potato cakes are simple but need a bit of work to prepare and don't lend themselves well to ready meals. I remember my favourite was large ones with a fried egg on top. Another one was stovies, my Scottish grandmother did great stovies but it must be 40 years since I had them. I  have looked at various recipes on line but none of them resemble what I remember. 

 

Potato cakes are very popular here, the Indonesian perkedel variety. They're excellent. 

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

The only great fried potato discussion needed is to address the question of why one cannot obtain potato cakes* in the UK

 

* scallops in some jurisdictions. 

6 hours ago, TheQ said:

To me  scallops ( or scalloped potatoes)  are sliced potatoes.

Scalloped potatoes are different from what Rick describes.  I'm not sure how different these actually are from Potatoes au Gratin (Potatoes Dauphinoise). To me they are OK, but not really my thing.

 

6 hours ago, TheQ said:

A potato cake, which I have been known to make, is mashed spud and flour, sometimes with a comparatively small amount of egg to help it stick together.

5 hours ago, Tony_S said:

We had potato  cakes (my mother called them “Scollops”). Made with mashed leftover potato with an egg mixed in, shaped, and then fried. Usually served with baked beans. 

I've made potato cakes with left over mashed potatoes. Usually coated in panko and pan fried. Quite delicious.

 

A variation was my mother's fish cakes. Made with tinned pink salmon and onion and economized by the addition of mashed potatoes (to stretch them for family sized portions) and egg as a binder. I like to use oyster sauce for a  little umami.  It's comfort food for me and I make it occasionally.

 

What Rick refers to is a slice of potato - neither too thick or thin, battered with the same batter used for fish and deep fried at an Aussie fish and chip shop. They are delicious. In their case the 'scallop' reference is to the much more expensive deep fried battered diver scallops (the seafood).

 

[Erichill16]

Awake early, like bear, bonce working over time.

Been busy trying to get jobs jobbed but not been very successful. Expected four quotes for various jobs last week, not one arrived, what’s a matter with people.

As a result not been around much but 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO RICK AND SHARON.

 

 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

Apparently we set a record high for the day today - 85°F / 29°C. It was nice, but strange being as warm as it was with the sun relatively low in the sky. Nice but not as warm tomorrow (Sunday).

 

Rain on Monday.

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

 Nothing , the burner isn't lit , no reflection on the shiny surface .

 

And what's she watching, certainly not what she's cooking. 

 

As to potato cakes, we often had them on a Monday made with leftovers from Sunday.  One half of the big iron frying pan was full of potato cakes and the other half with the leftover cabbage and carrot mix that also tasted yummy when fried.  Usually with cold roast meat and gravy.  Very happy memories.  Over here in France we get a form of potato cake called rosti.  Bought frozen and heated up in the oven. I love them but Beth doesn't. 

 

Anyway congratulations to Rick and Mrs G. 

 

Here  my main job today is to go Limoges airport to collect our friend Joanne, whose coming to her maison secondaire for a week of peace and quiet.  With the timing of the flight it would be rude not to spend a bit of time watching trains at Limoges.  Not a bad day in prospect as   Shepherds pie followed by an Apple Crumble has been promised. Our neighbours across the road have a Bramley apple tree and as they are in the UK we have been told to pick what we need. 

 

Regards to all. 

 

Jamie

[CN6]

DPU is it Deltic Power Unit?

[monkeysarefun]

Heres one to warm the cockles of " Hang-em high" @polybear!     Boiling water mixed with jam - "Prison napalm".

 

 

https://www.9news.com.au/national/australias-worst-alleged-sex-offender-attacked-in-prison/4cc4ee0c-9b9a-43c5-b6a2-ddc2d3ed9b0e

Edited October 8, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Dinner out tonight. 
 

Never mind the introductory courses (one of which seemed to be half a pig and a field-full of assorted veggies) 

 

Here’s the dessert counter.  Or rather the half of it which I could get into a single-frame shot. 
 

That’s cruel, Rick.

Don’t you know Bear Baiting is illegal?

[polybear]

6 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Ok could someone clarify/explain what DPU stands for? and don't say Damp Proof Underwear.

 

Diesel Parcels Unit (aka Class 128).  No self-respecting shed owner should be seen without one.....

 

33 minutes ago, Erichill16 said:

Awake early, like bear, bonce working over time.

Been busy trying to get jobs jobbed but not been very successful. Expected four quotes for various jobs last week, not one arrived, what’s a matter with people.

 

 

Bear feels your pain - awake at what turned out to be 0416 for that bluddy no.1 🤬, only for the bonce to fire up just as soon as I was back in The Pit - various random thoughts (some dark) and at 0450 I suddenly felt hot and thought "oh buggerritt, I'm wasting my time" and bounced crawled my way down the little wooden hill.  Turdycurses.

 

Quotes?  I suspect that those firing off quotes in quick time have little else to do - which would make a Bear suspicious as to why; those taking their time may well be rushed off their paws as they've got loads of work on cos' they're good - and can afford to lose jobs here and there as a result.  Of course there will always be exceptions to Bear's scientific analysis......

 

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

Bear here......

Today starts with all the joys of doin' the washing ☹️, to be followed shortly afterwards by refitting the door handle and weather bar to the conservatory door and also applying splurge to various joints and seams as required.

And after that its......playtime.....☺️

The plan today is to carry out various experiments involving different methods of trackwork construction.  I may be some time.....

 

BG

[polybear]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Over here in France we get a form of potato cake called rosti.  Bought frozen and heated up in the oven.

 

Bear predicts that a certain Swiss Correspondent is currently choking on his cornflakes.....

 

18 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Heres one to warm the cockles of " Hang-em high" @polybear!     Boiling water mixed with jam - "Prison napalm".

 

 

https://www.9news.com.au/national/australias-worst-alleged-sex-offender-attacked-in-prison/4cc4ee0c-9b9a-43c5-b6a2-ddc2d3ed9b0e

 

Bear knows of an alternative method** using two very commonly available household ingredients (though not to those in Prison....I hope.....) that burns with a flame as well.  I've a feeling that a life ban may ensue if I was to reveal in here though....(I wouldn't anyway).

(**Discovered many years ago on the sort of website that would very quickly "get you a visit" if you looked at it now - it's very, very scary just what is on the 'net)

[iL Dottore]

9 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

The only great fried potato discussion needed is to address the question of why one cannot obtain potato cakes* in the UK

 

* scallops in some jurisdictions. 

Ah, but what sort of “potato cake” are you referring to?

”Potato Cake” could refer to:

• Pommes Anna
• Tattie Scones
• Aloo Tikki
• Rösti
• Latka

Or even

• Gerebnik

And that’s not even considering potato mixed with flour or béchamel or choux-pastry etc., shaped, breaded or battered  (or not as the case may be) and then deep fried or baked. All of which, technically, can be considered a variation on a cake made with potato.

 

Precision is important, without which we’d end up with “a whisky is a whisky is a whisky” or even “a cake is a cake is a cake” (to paraphrase Gertrude Stein).

[Hroth]

I got a number of Heljan 4mm scale DPUs in varying liveries when Hattons were selling off the first issue at about £60 a throw. Excellent mechanisms, though a bit odd to see them at the head of a 10 coach express. They certainly can shift...

 

(Sorry for bringing up explicit choo-choo stuff...)

 

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Hroth
Missing vital words of information/exculpation

[monkeysarefun]

9 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

The only great fried potato discussion needed is to address the question of why one cannot obtain potato cakes* in the UK

 

* scallops in some jurisdictions. 

 

 

Jeez dont bring that argument up again!  The UN has only just settled us all down after Mcdonalds raised the hackles of half the country in January!

 

McDonald's is adding potato scallops to its hot new summer menu

 

 

 

McDonald’s is introducing a new potato-based menu item that, depending on where you’re from in Australia, will have a different name.

 

The fast-food giant is debuting “Potato Scallops with Chicken Salt” at restaurants from Wednesday, January 11, but fans are already arguing over the name of Macca’s newest product.

 

Diners in Victoria are insisting the item is a “potato cake”, while those in SA are adamant it’s a “potato fritter”. However, those in NSW and Queensland agree the deep fried potato slice, which is coated in crunchy tempura batter, is a potato scallop.

A post shared by Foodie Mumma Ren on Facebook revealing Macca’s new menu-item has already received over 4000 comments, showing just how passionate Aussies are about the nostalgic menu item.

“Better not call it a potato scallop in Victoria. No one will know what they’re talking about,” one person wrote. “If you’re a South Australian you would call it a potato fritter,” another said. “I’m originally from NSW, they’ll always be scallops to me,” someone else added.

 

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

A Over here in France we get a form of potato cake called rosti.  Bought frozen and heated up in the oven. I love them but Beth doesn't. 

 

2 minutes ago, polybear said:

Bear predicts that a certain Swiss Correspondent is currently choking on his cornflakes.....

Over his Bauernfrühstück more like, but you got the general picture….

[Ozexpatriate]

8 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Ah, but what sort of “potato cake” are you referring to?

 

This sort.

 

Potato scallops / cakes / fritters

 

A battered, deep fried, par-boiled slice of potato.

 

6 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

McDonald's is adding potato scallops to its hot new summer menu

Trust McDonalds to make it look dreadful - like their greasy hockey pucks / "hash browns" that have nothing to do with anything resembling actual hash browns.

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

3 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Bauernfrühstück

Barfn'sick? 😉

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

14 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Latka

Usually spelled "Latke" ( לאַטקע ) here. Very nice. 

 

I am partial to them as Kartoffelpuffer or Placki Ziemniaczane. 

 

I don't think there's much difference.

 

I first encountered Kartoffelpuffers at a Schützenfest in South Australia when I was about thirteen. I was immediately converted. With lemon juice and sugar, applesauce or sour cream. All are good.

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[Hroth]

All this mashed potato, mixed with binders and battered/breaded before being fried/grilled reminds me of the indeterminate fishcakes we used to get at school. I say indeterminate because though they tasted fishy, there was never any description of the actual fish used to flavour them...