Val's Cafe

Kitty

I just wrote how I felt as a sentence, it didn't begin as a poem at al - serendipity.

Cauliflower rice with aubergine ragoût

 40 Minutes Serves 2Easy from Olive Magazine

This recipe for cauliflower rice with aubergine ragoût is great for a light meal. By blitzing cauliflower in a food processor, and quickly cooking, you get the consistency and texture of rice but without the carbs and with fewer calories. It still fills you up, and it’s quicker to cook, too

Ingredients

• onion 1, diced
• spray olive oil
• aubergine 1, diced 
• chopped tomatoes 400g tin
• cumin 1 tsp
• cinnamon 1/2 tsp 
• harissa paste 1 tbsp 
• coriander 1/2 bunch, finely chopped 
• cauliflower 1, broken into florets
• ground cumin ½ tsp
• ground coriander ½ tsp

Method

• STEP 1
• Fry the onion in a spray of oil until soft. Add the aubergine with another spray of oil and fry until golden. Tip in the chopped tomatoes, spices, harissa paste and a splash of water. Simmer for 20 minutes until the aubergine is starting to break down.
• STEP 2
• Pulse the cauliflower in a food processor until it starts to look like grains. Heat another spray of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan and toast the spices for a minute until fragrant, then tip in the cauliflower. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until heated through and season well. Serve with the ragoût, scattering over the chopped coriander.

Ellen

Love the poem Kath

This was posted by @Anfield

Moved so you can see it @kathleenT

Ellen.

bosh

Hi Toni thanks, my back isn’t too bad today thanks for asking, I see that’s interesting to hear that you have dry eyes as well the optician also said to me that dry eyes closed by arthritis can also be linked to some kinds of eczema flareups dry mouth dry nose dry skin in general so I didn’t fully understand before, especially didn’t know that it could be linked to eczema. To take supplements cod-liver oil I think but I think I will definitely check with the doctor first as you and I already have the stomach problems don’t reason I had to be careful with additional tablets. Yes Bill is quite a character indeed public voice control in now say chatting with inhibition, I think baby R is okay as far as I’ve heard, which is great news. Oh yes just wanted to say bill’s takeaway is really terrible, some v cheap obscure Biriani from an equally obscure cook, I think he would anything he can find, basically cat-food with a side of compost perhaps, I wouldn’t be was surprised, lol. Bye for now, got to do a few things will try to chat later. Xx

bosh

Hi all, just a quick local news flash, someone in a voluntary organisation my dad is involved in has been embezzling funds, oh dear! Xx.

bosh

Thanks Kathleen I still liked it 😄.

bosh

Hi again Toni , dad does tend to behave himself on the emergency babysitting shifts, lol, because he’s not used to looking after babies at all to be honest, when me and my sister were kids he didn’t really do much, so he’s a bit out of his depth and flustered now, haha. I’ve been told many times that when I was a baby I bit his face, so he phoned my mum who was at work and said “what should I do?”, so she said “ just give her a sort of little gentle slap and she’ll release her jaws”, apparently I’d been biting away for about 10 to 15 minutes and my dad of course I needed to seek my mum’s advice in order solve the problem, I must’ve had good instincts, lol. You’re Right the dry eye thing is very annoying indeed especially for me, in the fact for me that it seems to be related to my eczema as well. One annoying about the bill is that he’s never even boiled a pan of rice, as we all know it’s not all that difficult to make basic tasty healthy food, it reminds me I once had a male friend, well more of a family friend really but of a similar age to me and when we were , I don’t know exactly, possibly late 20s, he asked me once “ how do I roast a piece salmon in the oven? “.What?? So I answered “you put it in and then when it’s done you take it out again”, I don’t think he’ll be winning Masterchef somehow. Bye For now take care. Xx

barbara12

Evening all Sorry my eyes are really bad today I get lines 8f writing going into 8ne

Toni I am sure Aidan will meet P..I cab imagine them both together ❤ I hate the banger fireworks and think they should ge banned all the poor animals xx

Reshmi the test they do at the optician the one we're you have a presser ..and lean forward fir at least 15 mins per eye ..is horrible on my neck..hope dad has behaved xx

Joan it's safest through a window..hope you are all going OK..love to all of you xx

Mike I would ask your GP for something else to help you sleep...xx

Kath trouble us I like most biscuits 😅but chocolate ones hi down well xx

Love to all

Xxxxx

bosh

Hi Barbara, no need to apologise, bless you, I think I know which test you mean, yes that’s horrible, strangely also somehow reminded me of going to hairdresser, the neck - strain bit, why do we have to lean into basins? Both things are annoying indeed. Fireworks are horrible for animals I agree, also horrible for me when I’m trying to sleep, lol. Dad never fully behaves tbh, but today could’ve been worse, my dad thinks he knows all about mobiles, but he thinks he can only get reception at Waitrose car park!? Oh well, lol, hope you get to rest your eyes soon. Good night. Xx

frogmorton

Morning everyone😊

I bet Your voice was gone yesterday Mike! First your baby sister in the car then the chirop then Sue back at home!! I hope you got a nice treat for you all and your toes are all still there🤭

Joan 7 thousand people died well they are keeping that quiet aren't they? All we can do is try to keep ourselves safe. 3rd vaccine tomorrow for me. and wear our masks. Take care you and Sue ((())) xxx

Kitty Kat clearly your words made a poem to us the readers! A new person @Anfield even spotted them/it! Isn't that lovely?

I like cauliflower rice, a lot don't, but the way you've just presented it there with the aubergine ragoût no-one would be able to taste the difference.

Sleek will be with you already she said she has a couple of things to do before it gets too light. She doesn't like the neighbours watching her. Some winter cyclamen for you she reckons this cat looks like her beloved Pepe Longstockings!

Oh Reshmi! You do make me laugh cat food with a side of compost😂 your BIL is daft eating rubbish like that! He is risking his long term health.

Good news Baby R is doing ok and hope that Lord A managed to avoid catching it. I went for my walk with two baby boys yesterday they are adorable.

I knew dry eyes can be connected with Arthritis (Kath has it too) and can be difficult to treat. I use xailin night gel and it is pretty well ok all day with just the day drops. I haven't taken supplements for it, but I do have a heated eye mask which I use a bit (only a because it stresses me not being able to see) in the theory I think it stimulates the eyes. No more tablets for me if I can avoid it by belly has enough to deal with as does yours.

No wonder your Dad is scared of babies if you bit his face for 10-15 minutes😁 bless him he must have been terrified! Oh gosh Tia bit my brother on the nose once too and he used to bit my Mum a lot when he was a baby. They don't really know they are hurting anyone though do they to be fair.

Barbara I know what you mean big dangerous fireworks ought to be for public displays only and then only allowed for events not any old time. Poor animals P's doggie is terrified he froths at the mouth and all sorts. Sleek isn;t bothered.

As you and Joan say best watched from inside.

I don't like the eye test with the pressure puffer thing either, but it has to be done. I was hearing about OTC scans not sure how much they are though they sound good.

I hope your eyes have a good rest today and you take care ((()))

Mike1

I bet Your voice was gone yesterday Mike! First your baby sister in the car then the chirop then Sue back at home!! I hope you got a nice treat for you all and your toes are all still there🤭

Morning, twas nice to chat so much yesterday, I had not seen my sister for 3 weeks and Sandra the toe chopper for 6 weeks. Called in at the bakers on the way home and got us millionaire slices and small pasties, oh, and I had a sausage roll too. 😋

dachshund

Good morning everyone

Sorry I have not got time to read your posts I'm off to be double jabbed I should have had it last Friday with sue but I've had a sore throat.

have a good day all of you ((()))

Kitty

Morning my friends, I hope your double jab goes well Joan and Sue. X

Reshmi, there is a condition linked to RA called Sjogren's Syndrome (pronounced shergrens) which caised dry eyes, dey mouth and all your fluid producing glands are affected to a greater or lesser degree. I have it mega bad. Your tongue sticks to your teeth and the roof of your mouth, you can;t open your eyes because they are glued shut. and don't mention your nose! There is a website for it www.BSSA.uk.net it might be helpful to have a look.

Thanks to @Anfield for commenting on my little verse.

Barbara, remember my Cumbs poem? Here it is again just for you.

Crumbs!

Eeeny meeny macaracca, 

Malted Milk or cheesy cracker? 

Its Garibaldis for Uncle Roger, 

but Aunty Sue likes Jammy Dodgers. 

Granddad's in his garden hut, 

nibbling on a Ginger Nut, 

while Gran prefers a nice Rich Tea 

she sometimes shares a pack with me. 

Jaffa cakes are Jane's delight, 

she even eats them in the night! 

Chocolate Chips, just try a taste 

not one crumb will go to waste. 

Wagon Wheels, 

Toffee Pops, 

Cousin Joe thinks they're the tops. 

For me, before I go to bed, 

some Ovaltine and sweet Shortbread - crumbs!! 

Sorry no recipe today

bosh

Hi Toni, yes you’re right he’s not looking after him self at all that silly bill, well can’t do that’s really not going to give advice it doesn’t want to hear 😄. Thanks yes whats good is that Lord A is goes to nursery quite a few days in the week so he not as exposed to baby R as he could’ve been.

hi Joan just seen your message thanks yes it’s good that I’ve got been to the opticians even though there was a very weird waiting system going on, well, less a system, more a very disorganised queue of people shouting that they had fixed their glasses with Blu-Tack could anyone help, lol, quite annoying because even though I was early I ended up being late because of people who enjoy yelling in queues and so on and so forth. Hope you and Sue have a nice day too. Take care. Xx

bosh

Hi Toni sorry I have made a bit of messages, accidentally deleted a bit of a message so I’m trying again now, lol, thanks about LA , he goes to the nursery quite a few days so he’s less exposed to baby R, which is good. Oh I’m really not having much luck today was sending a message like a normal person so I had to go and relocate due to yet another family argument my goodness okay bear with me I’m almost there I think, thanks for The advice about the dry eyes.yes It’s true babies are innocent biters, lol, Thank you scared so much these days I think it’s more that he doesn’t know what he’s doing but our worry my mum is in my missus is that he is so responsible he will leave medication lying around on the table cloth The dining table it’s not like he has problems remembering things who remembers everything to do with date infernal Bengali cultural society that he is involved in he just doesn’t want to remember certain things each time before the babies come My mum and I check and recheck things to try and ensure that the house is safe for the babies he is becoming more and more of a nightmare I check the doors yours almost all the time the gas Doors connecting with external doors and On and so forth. He refuses to “learn” how to put on the thermostat so if he’s cold my mum and I have to sort it out he uses his phone for all the manner of BCS society rubbish imaginable but does not want to learn how to control the thermostat. The time when he was younger when he wasn’t this spiteful and he was much kinder, but he’s changed not for the better, I’m aFraid.

hi again Joan Hope the jabs go well take care

hi Kathleen how you ? thanks for that information I’m definitely going to have a look at that site at some point soon.bye for now, haven’t really checked this message properly loads of distractions going on in this house today but I’ve tried my best bye and take care everybody have a good afternoon.

frogmorton

Morning everyone!

Lovely millionaires and pastries and a sausage roll too Mike perfect. I hope your sister is well and coping ok with all the challenging customers at work🙄 I thought you did a really good reply on working matters by the way👍️

Joan did that mean flu one arm and COVID the other?😮 ((())) for you I hope you were able to sleep with potentially two sore arms! Love to you and Sue ((())) xxx

Morning Kitty Good call mentioning sjogren's syndrome to Reshmi could indeed be the case.

How are you doing? and Chris too, Dad and Anita and her wife?

Probably that poem is my favourite it's the speed of it. The 'upbeatness' Aidan would have liked that word i just made up there wouldn't he?😁

Waiting for Sleek to come back in - she had a sore eye yesterday hoping it's ok today though. She probably poked it in a hedge or something while she was out and about bless her.🤞

She happily let us bathe it in warm salt water last night at least.

Reshmi that is a worry your Dad being so inconsiderate and irresponsible with young children visiting! Honestly! Mind you I always 'child-proof' my house too if any small people come here. Tablets on tables glasses within reach, sharp objects, matches for the fire etc....

He is naughty being able to use his phone like that but unable to turn the heating up!!! What is he like?🙄 It's like a sort of 'selective dependency'! Mind you Paul is a bit like that with the telly I have to turn it on record stuff, but can manage his phone ok! Better keep an eye on him. Helpless! Hopeless🤭

Good job Lord A is out of the house a bit that will have minimised his contact with Baby R at least. How is he doing now?

I wonder when Carol is back from her cruise🤔 must be soon I think I bet she had a great time.

Barbara how are your poor eyes? When is it you see the specialist again about them? I hope they aren't too bad today.

We are off for a short trip up to Pickering in the motorhome tomorrow then pack t up for the winter sadly.... taht will be a learning curve won't it?

scrambled eggs

dachshund

Good morning everyone

Kath ((())) how many things do you have wrong with you ((()) how is Chris ((())) and Anita ((())) and Val ((())) and Emily ((())) and your Dad ((()))

Toni ((())) yes I had one in each arm sue had her's last Friday I cancelled because of a sore throat. Have a good journey in your motor home today ((())) love to Paul ((())) and Charley ((())) and Annie ((())) and the carers ((())) and Lucy ((())) and Tia ((())) and Kari ((())) ( I will always think of P was it her that had the dog ) and your lovely neighbours ((())) my treat for going was a chocolate muffin.

Reshmi ((())) I'm sorry you had a problem at the opticians. Have a good day all of you ((()))

Barbara ((())) how are you and Mr B ((())) and your son ((())) and your brother ((())) and his girlfriend ((())) and your niece (((())) and her fiancé ((()))

Mike have a good day ((())) and vixen

love to Carol ((())) and Mr T (((()))

Kitty

Morning Joan, oh dear - well you did ask, so here goes. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Vasculitis, Nodular Prurigo, IBS, Bronchiectasis, Asthma, Sjogren’s Syndrome. Apart from the two Osteosarcoma and the two lung diseases, all the rest are caused by my dizzy immune system. I suppose I should mention cancer, because even though I no longer have it, it never really goes away completely as Toni will confirm.

Antoinette, oh no Sleek has scratched her eye - flipping garden! I’m sure she has some eye salve to soothe it.

Five-bean chilli

Olive magazine

Ingredients

• rapeseed oil 2 tbsp
• 
onion 1 large, finely chopped
• celery 2 sticks, finely chopped
• red peppers 3, finely chopped
• garlic 2 cloves, crushed
• dried chilli flakes 1-2 tsp
• ground cumin 2 tsp
• passata 500ml
• vegetable stock 200ml
• black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans and haricot beans 400g tin of each, drained and rinsed
• chipotle paste 2 tbsp
• smoked paprika 2 tsp
• cocoa powder ½ tbsp
• cider vinegar ½ tbsp

TO SERVE

• cooked brown rice 800g
• coriander a handful of leaves
• avocado 1, chopped
• yogurt or dairy-free alternative 6 tbsp

Method

• STEP 1
• Heat the rapeseed oil in a large stock pot over a medium heat and fry the onion, celery and peppers for 20 minutes until very soft and tender. Add the garlic, chilli and cumin, fry for a minute more, then tip in the passata, stock, all of the beans, the chipotle paste, paprika, cocoa and vinegar. Season well.
• STEP 2
• Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes until thickened slightly, then taste for seasoning. Serve over the brown rice, topped with some coriander, avocado

ENJOY!

barbara12

Afternoon all quite foggy here

Toni off ti pickering ..we di love Yorkshire and gave been there many times ..Nice to take your home wuth you tho 😁not a clue when they will see me at the eye clinic last one was cancelled think I had better ring ...you enjoy xx

Joan I hope your double jab went OK and rhankyou for thinking 8f everyone xx

Mike a good natter is good especially with shortbread xx

Reshmi no apologies necessary..just remembered its called the field test my neck is si painful after ..thinking of your dad my hubby pretends ge can't use a phone but I catch him on utube 😅xx

Kath I remember that poem very well irs brilliant 👏 gosh you do have a lot to cope with..good job we have one another on here xx

Love to all

Xxxxxx

bosh

Hi Barbara , thanks, how are you? The Field test I see, thanks for the info , this time at the opticians I didn’t have to use the presser but I agree stretching our necks like that isn’t good , Plus the woman doing the test didn’t really give me time to adjust the chair properly, so I don’t think that was very professional of her, anyway it’s over now thank goodness . That’s funny what’s your hubby and and YouTube, lol. Hi Toni yes my dad is indeed a difficult character. I am realising that I need to take better care of my neck in general thanks for reminding me Barbara, so hi to Joan and Kathleen, Lord A Said to his dad “why do you have a little one in your tummy?”, his dad replied “boys can’t have little ones in their tummies”, so then LA asked, “why do you have a BIG one from your tummy then daddy?”, oh bless the little lord he certainly gets to the point, lol. Have a nice day everyone , Joan hope you and Sue enjoy the day, take care. Xx

frogmorton

Morning everyone 🤗

We are off up North later on. Just got Lucy into work. Back Saturday so not for long. Paul is pricing up a job in Leeds l think on our way back!

Reshmi good on Lord A that is so funny😁a BIG one! Oh brilliant! Maybe his Dad heard that and will eat less rubbish🤔 probably not though...

It's a bit wet and windy out there so I hope it's better in Pickering likely to be worse though.

Your eye test is done which is good an important job out of the way.

I bet Mike manages the heating and his phone and telly so why do all the men in our lives play dumb. Selective dependence. I've invented something new again!

Hope your day is good 🥰

Kitty 5 bean chilli sounds very healthy and looking at the ingredients rather yum. I'll have a rage portion each please for myself and Kari. 😻

It makes scary reading when you list all your conditions like that doesn't it? You do extremely well though coping as you do and still helping other people where you can.

I suspect Sleek hurt her eye in the garden she is wearing a patch being dramatic and saying oh aye me hearties...

Nope you never ever get over cancer. Talking of which how is Anita doing?

Morning Mike it's raining here hope you and Vixen are doing ok.

Barbara field eye test I've had those. I think I need to go back soon though as l think my hydroxy has done some harm.

Paul can go on youtube but plays dumb about everything else too tech wise🙄 Mr B also has selective dependence!

Joan yes P had a dog a gorgeous dog. I used to walk him with and sometimes for her. He hates fireworks bless him. Were your two ok?. P's dog lives with her daughter now and her two dogs he is really doing well 👍🐾

You deserved that chocolate treat after two vaccinations in one day!! ((())) xxx for you and Sue. My covid booster went ok yesterday .

Kitty

Glad to hear everyone’s news.

Toni, have a nice day at Pickering me hearties. I used to wear an eye patch when I had two eyes. Don’t bother now seeing as how seven operations all failed and I’m now blind in that one! Anita only talks to me about dad, but I think she’s fine. She posted a photo of mum on FB, and it looks just like Anita.

Won’t stop, as Asda is on it’s way.

love to you all.

dachshund

Good morning everyone

Kath ((())) I'm sorry you have all that to cope with it's no wonder your immune system gets mixed up. By the time you have taken all your tablets the days gone (((()))) love to Chris ((())) and Anita ((())) and Val ((())) and Emily ((())) and your Dad ((()))

Barbara ((())) yes I've had a field test it's so fast finding the dots. How long has Mr B got to wait for his operation (((())) love to your son ((())) and Niamh ((())) and your brother ((())) and his girlfriend ((())) and your niece (((())) and her fiancé ((()))

Toni Have a good time you need it ((())) sorry I meant to ask if you jab went well and I forgot to put it. Love to Paul ((())) and Charley ((()))) and Annie ((())) and the carers ((())) and Lucy ((())) and Tia ((()))and Kari ((())) and your lovely neighbours ((())) P((())) and Aidan ((())) are keeping an eye on us to make sure we are doing things right ((()))

Reshmi (((()))) have a good day all of you take care ((()))

Love to Carol ((())) and Mike a d vixen ((()))

Have a good weekend all of you ((()))

Mike1

I bet Mike manages the heating and his phone and telly so why do all the men in our lives play dumb. Selective dependence. I've invented something new again! Hope your day is good 🥰

That made me chuckle Froggie! 😁 Some blokes go straight from their Mummy's apron strings into a relationship so that they can be looked after. No rain down here and Vixen is fine thanks. Have a good trip.

bosh

hi all, very tiring day, blood test in the hospital nice picture of your mum Kathleen, yes LA is a source of many gems Toni, I might start being somewhat selective in what are right because I was I’ll be here forever and also neck will falloff and all the rest of it, lol, hope you have a nice journey north Toni, how are you today Barbara? Hi Joan I hope Sue and yourself are well today? Last night I managed to somehow fall into such a deep sleep and I fell asleep with one sock on and one sock off, lol. The LLF invited me to one of the meals in the café in December I said I’ll go but obviously depends on the weather and Covid and the whole lot of things, some other people will be there with gentle personalities that’s the main reason I might if it’s not too dangerous at the time, he was also feeling a bit guilty I don’t know because it isn’t it is a bit weird saying oh I do house work at a certain time can’t even be flexible for five or 10 minutes, there you go takes all sorts of oddballs to make a world, lol. She went through a phase of saying more or less “I’m no less intelligent than you are”, i’ve never said anything about my alleged intelligence or lack of it it is definitely strange and people have such an inferiority complex tiring to deal with really but anyway I’ll stop babbling about LLF situations now glad to be out of it generally speaking. I was saying to my mum though I can imagine her husband left her because she passed him to death oh dear deafly won’t say that to her face caffeine rotations will dry up automatically ha ha ha. Had some really nice vegan ice cream today just from the supermarket Swedish glace vanilla have you had that before? They do other versions like raspberry and chocolate I think it is but I try not to get obsessed with chocolate most of the time at least, lol, I think the raspberry has coconut in it which which can sometimes upset my stomach at least certain types of coconuts I think. It’s really nice, hi sugar probably low-fat yes. Oh well you can’t have your dessert and eat it was it cake ? joking, lol, okay I seem to have talk too much bye for now everyone I’m going to try and get some rest. Xx ps too tired to proofread, which I still have to do because the voice control is often a bit temperamental but hopefully this makes sense and is not offensive by accident okay bye .

barbara12

Evening all just a short post

Reshmi sorry I meant to say thankyou for the info on the socks..Lord A is si funny ..out of the mouths if babes ..glad you got got some deep sleep it will di you good ..has for necks I used the heated wheat cushions on mine then I can do my exercises xx

Toni you enjoy your break away ..I think the weather us meant yo be nicer this weekend ..I'm si please Ps daughter has her dog ..the poor thing must be wondering what's going on ..xx

Joan did your double jabs go OK..we are hoping Mr Bs op will be soon after the 29th ..fingers crossed xx

Kath that a lovely photo if your mum I can see all of you in her ..hope all your order came xx

Love to all

Xxxxx