Val's Cafe

Joan I think facebook suggest people who are friends of your friends.  Decline the requests and they should go away.

Charley's GF is doing ok thank you and Charley still went into work last night in spite of the COVID being there and one death already 😕 she loves the residents too much.

Kath it's someone's Dad dying....the kids around him....his love calling him to the other side - hopefully his wife! Then the kids leave and he wants to warn them that there are bad things in life too, but he is already gone. Well that's my opinion anyway. Rather  lovely I thought?

Thank you very much for the trifle! That looks amazing 🙂 I am going to make the vegan haggis you posted the recipe for ages ago.   Tia is picking me up some mushies and red kidney beans ready :)

I say we had a quiet day yesterday didn't we?

Love to Carol and to mig and hope all is well with Barbara too

I am worried they have COVID at Charley's nursing home and goggles and only cheap masks.....as you all know she never had a test as the GOVt had stopped doing them😕

More cheerful subject!

Breakfast!

Daily poem (written 5 mins ago)

Pepe Long Stockings

by Kath

Now Tosca had a furry friend called Pepe

who really knew just how to wind her up.

He would stretch his back legs out

just as she passed him by

and then the cheeky monkey tripped her up.

Holly has just been and is taking the girl's for a picnic and fresh air. She's dressed up all summery bless.

Toni, almost right, a man whose wife has died and it also represents the death of love itself. Where did you get the kids from? Talking of which, I'm not surprised you are worried about Charlie. Can't you lock her in her room and not let her out until this is over?? Emily is due to start work soon. The children she will be teaching have parents who are key workers such as Charlie.

Joan, have you registered yourselves on Gov.UK? I have and I've been told I should get a food parcel every 2 weeks. Anita will register dad on there too.

Carol, I didn't listen to Mr T yesterday. He was playing Elvis songs and I don't like Elvis. I haven't been to look at today's.

Barbara, I'm glad you will get a telephone consultation with your own doctor soon. I hope you hear good news.

Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs

Ingredients

• 6-8 Carrots peeled

Marinade

• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce low sodium
• 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar Braggs
• 1/4 cup Vegetable Broth low sodium
• 2 Tbs Maple Syrup
• 1 Tbs Liquid Smoke
• 1 tsp Yellow Mustard
• 1 tsp Fresh Garlic minced
• 1 tsp Pickled Jalapeno Juice
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder

Instructions

1. Cut and peel carrots to make them "bun length'.
2. Boil carrots in water until just fork tender. About 10-15 minutes. 
3. Drain carrots, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Place carrots in a ziplock freezer bag. 
4. Whisk all marinade ingredients together and pour into bag with carrots. 
5. Marinate for 4-6 hrs. 
6. Grill carrots on an open grill, basting occasionally. 
7. Grill to heat all the way through and to get some blackened grill marks on each side. 

UPDATED INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add cut carrots and marinade to Instant Pot. Attach and seal lid, then cook on MANUAL for 3 minutes. After doing a Quick Release you can then leave the carrots in the pot until you are ready to grill. 
2. I would marinate the carrots after the pressure has been released for at least 1 hour. If not grilling soon - remove carrots and marinade and transfer to a container you can store in the fridge. 

Recipe Notes

Garnish with your favorite Hot Dog toppings. Goes great with my Vegan BBQ Beans, Vegan Potato Salad, or Vegan Pasta Salad.   

 

Evening all
Toni I did get on yesterday ..honestly..,:)
Charley bless is so good going in..its just not fair for them not to have the right mask..the poor girl...si you are having the haggis..not to myself must make it..Dr rang and she said the ABs will help with this infection and any kidney infection but make sure I take the stomach protectors...(((()))))
Joan it's been lovely today so I had a sit in the garden...not be long now till we can all get out and about and our cottage pie came today before dinner..:).((((())))
Kath wow smokey vegan dog sounds amazing but wonder what liquid smoke is..or did I read it wrong
How lovely to see Holly and her children all dressed up for summer.it must brighten your day and hers...:)bless..love the pic of the cat all stretch out and the poem...((((())))
.I hope all that are missing are doing ok..
Love to everyone
Xxxxxxxxxx

Barbara I am so glad you can take the ABs sometimes it's the lesser of two evils.....isn't it?

Liquid smoke (very often used in vegan cooking) is: "Liquid smoke is a water-soluble yellow to red liquid used for flavoring. It is used as a substitute for cooking with wood smoke while retaining a similar flavor. It can be used to flavor any meat or vegetable. It is generally made by condensing the smoke from wood, but can contain any number of food additives."

But it might be harmful so I use smoke paprika instead.

I expect your GD would be the same with her service users taking risks because she loves them. You can't take the 'care' out of a good carer.

Mig it's lovely to see you 🙂 I am very glad to hear your bloods are good - did they tell you your figures? How are your neutrophils? We always like to know that. 3 months is good they are happy with you.

Bless the lady from knit and natter - I admire her for facetiming at ALL at nearly 80.  Not a lot can cope with that can they much younger! I hope she does it again soon.

Enjoy your soup.

A quick wave to Joan and Sue ((()))

\I do hope Carol is well and the rest of the family too ((()))

Now for something for us to eat.....

Daily Poem

THEY SHOULD HAVE

ASKED MY HUSBAND

by

Pam Ayres

You know this world is complicated, imperfect and oppressed 
And it's not hard to feel timid, apprehensive and depressed. 
It seems that all around us tides of questions ebb and flow 
And people want solutions but they don’t know where to go. 

Opinions abound but who is wrong and who is right. 
People need a prophet, a diffuser of the light. 
Someone they can turn to as the crises rage and swirl. 
Someone with the remedy, the wisdom, and the pearl.

Well, they should have asked my ‘usband, 
He’d have told’em then and there. 
His thoughts on immigration, teenage mothers, Tony Blair, 
The future of the monarchy, house prices in the south 
The wait for hip replacements, BSE and foot and mouth.

Yes, they should have asked my husband 
He can sort out any mess 
He can rejuvenate the railways he can cure the NHS 
So any little niggle, anything you want to know 
Just run it past my husband, wind him up and let him go. 

Congestion on the motorways, free holidays for thugs 
The damage to the ozone layer, refugees and drugs. 
These may defeat the brain of any politician bloke 
But present it to my husband and he’ll solve it at a stroke.

He'll clarify the situation; he will make it crystal clear 
You'll feel the glazing of your eyeballs, and the bending of your ear. 
Corruption at the top, he’s an authority on that 
And the Mafia, Gadafia and Yasser Arafat.

Upon these areas he brings his intellect to shine 
In a great compelling voice that’s twice as loud as yours or mine. 
I often wonder what it must be like to be so strong, 
Infallible, articulate, self-confident... and wrong.

When it comes to tolerance – he hasn’t got a lot 
Joyriders should be guillotined and muggers should be shot. 
The sound of his own voice becomes like music to his ears 
And he hasn’t got an inkling that he’s boring us to tears. 

My friends don’t call so often, they have busy lives I know 
But its not everyday you want to hear a windbag suck and blow. 
Encyclopaedias, on them we never have to call 
Why clutter up the bookshelf when my husband knows it all!

Toni, chucky eggs and soldiers, and the eggs are soft so I can dip the soldiers in, wonderful, thank you. I hope you enjoy the Vegan hot dogs and vegan haggis too.

mig, potato soup, where's mine then? We get Batchelor's cuppa soups, Potato is one of my favourites.

Barbara, I'm so glad you can take the abs safely. That must be such a relief.

Joan, if only others thought as you did, you are so unselfish and thoughtful of others. Not like the idiots that take all the things that others need. Keep safe and well.

Evening all even later for me
Carol we are with talktalk and had no trouble up to today.. its really slow but saying that a lot of people are now working from home it's not surprising.. I am really enjoying Mr Ts music..I might forget to say so .. but thank him from me..no murders here yet.. I think it is getting most people down now..but we will get there xx
Kath I used to love Pam Ayres accent..:)..yes I can takes the ABs started this morning..not good on the tummy..I hope you are all doing ok..must sat I like cppa soups but not suppose to have them cause of the salt.. xx
Toni there are some lovely carers..just wish my gd would get into nursing but they cant afford it..even with the burser they are giving them.now ..now those boiled eggs were just perfect..I actually had one today.. :) xx
Joan I agree with Kath..you and Sue are so caring..and always think if others..and I'm glad to hear you have your shopping slot..(((((()))))
Right better get to sleep
Love to everyone
Xxxxxxxx

Forgot to add that the porridge is for Barbara I hope she's coping ok on her new ABs I had them for something I think pleurisy and they are STRONG!

Hope you're doing ok Barbara.

Love also to Carol.  Thinking of you and Mr T hope he is still coping with lockdown well. I hope also that all the children and Grandchildren are doing well and coping indoors ((()))

Might have some of mg's soup if she left any for my lunch...??

Kari is doing some art

and Charley's face shields have arrive from the Dr up the road who is making them if her work will let them use them of course🙄

Daily Poem (sorry if you've seen it before). Picture of dad alongside an old family grave . Tomlin was my maiden name. The little dog is Marley, Anita's Shih Tzu.

Memorial

What dust lies still, encased in stone

inscribed with reverential word?

Men who rose to heights unknown,

whose voices are no longer heard.

Their marble image still remains.

In effigy, they lie at rest.

Yet once, warm blood flowed through their veins,

a heart beat strong within their breast.

But time diminishes their power,

as others strive to take their place

and then in that one shining hour,

reach the pinnacle of Grace.

Joan, I'm so pleased you liked the flowers. You certainly deserve them. 2024, that's a long time to wait. 😕

Carol, I'm sorry your broadband is playing up. I have really been enjoying Mr T's musical interludes. He is a star.

Oh, my laptop has started playing up, so I'll try and post a recipe before it collapses completely.

 Potato Rösti

 

Serves 4

Ingredients 

• 2 lb (907g) potatoes, peeled 
• 1 large yellow onion, very finely chopped 
• 2 tsp sea salt 
• 1/2 tsp black pepper 
• 4 1/2 tbsp olive oil 
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh chives 
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 

Method

1. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, add the potatoes and parboil for 4 minutes. 
2. Immediately remove the potatoes and place in cold water to cool. Once cool enough to handle, roughly shred them into a bowl. Add the onion, salt, pepper, 3 tablespoons of the oil, chives, and parsley. 
3. Heat the remaining oil in a nonstick skillet over a high heat. When it is very hot, add the potato mixture, pressing down firmly with the palm of your hand. Reduce the heat slightly, then cook until golden brown, about 7 minutes. 
4. Ease a spatula under the rösti to release, then invert the rösti onto a plate. Slip the rösti back into the pan to cook the second side. If preferred, the second side can be cooked under a preheated broiler.

Morning everyone!

Thank you Joan Charley is just fine ATM apart from a little back pain due to being short staffed. 2024!  That is AGES!!😮

Kath thank you for the potato Rosti recipe I will definitely do those because we have run out of oven chips🙄

The photo came up HUGE so I couldn't see Dad 😕 I hope your lap top is behaving better today. The poem was lovely though quite emotional

Carol I missed you yesterday! I am so glad the high temp turned out to be nothing, but that proves how much we need testing doesn't it? 3 staff off from work for nothing!!

Please do post some pics I'd love to see some of the little people I miss seeing them.  I bet you are missing going out....no visits planned. A picnic outside is a lovely idea we used to do that with ours.  Eating out was a bigger treat anyway when mine were little we didn't have the money!

Glad to hear Mr T is still alive and well😆 No more clearing out to do? I suggested a game of monopoly to Paul….nah he wasn't keen 🙄

Barbara I thought the ABs will be playing havoc with your stomach ((()))🌈 they really are super strong ones! eat plenty of carbs with them.

I agree your GD needs to get trained and out of the caring profession so they are valued and protected more.  It does cost though that's the problem.

Well done doing that gardening.  I have done some pottering too :)

Breakfast anyone?

For Barbara

For Kath!

Daily Poem ( Thinking of all those lonely people unable to be with their loved ones due to isolation).

Eleanor Rigby

The Beatles

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby

Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been

Lives in a dream

Waits at the window

Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door

Who is it for?

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie

Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear

No one comes near

Look at him working

Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there

What does he care?

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong?

Toni, I only have problems on this site, all the others work fine. Thank you for my daily egg.I'm in even more pain than ever today, as I fell while outside yesterday. I had to crawl on my hand and knees to get to the fence and pull myself up!!! To top it all, the skin on my big toe and the fleshy bit above it, is so dry it's split right open and is really sore. Nothing to do with the fall, I think it's Vasculitis as my rash is flaring. 🤮

Joan, yes I have always looked just like my dad while Anita looks just like our mum. Hope the doggies are well, I've read that pet owners should keep their animals away from others as they can catch the virus from each other. But I don't think we can catch it from them. So they must also be kept safe too.

Barbara, I hope your brother is still doing well.

Sri Lankan braised roots stew & coconut dhal dumplings 

Method To make the curry powder: In a dry frying pan, toast the rice until it’s browning, then add all the spices and toast for 3-5 mins until darkish brown but not burned. Blitz it all in a spice grinder, or crush with a pestle and mortar, then pass through a sieve into a jar or airtight container. Will keep for 2-3 weeks.

Heat the oil in a wok. Scatter in the mustard seeds and curry leaves. When they sizzle, add the onion, leek, garlic, chilli, celery and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring, for 8-10 mins until the onion starts to colour. Add the curry powder and cook for 1 min more, then add the tomatoes, veg, coconut milk, a tsp of salt and 200ml water. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10-15 mins until the veg are tender.

For the dumplings, boil the lentils in a pan of water until just cooked, then drain. Melt the coconut oil in a pan, then add the mustard seeds and curry leaves and cook until sizzling. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Put the lentils, flour, chilli, onion, spices, desiccated coconut, lime juice and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. Mix with your hands until combined, then add the coconut oil and aromatics and mix to a dough. Form into 12 dumplings, then put on top of the stew, cover with a lid and cook on low for 5 mins. Top with pepper, coriander and spring onion to serve.

Ingredients 1 tbsp coconut oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 6 curry leaves 1 onion

, finely sliced 1 leek

, finely sliced 3 garlic cloves, 1 sliced, 2 minced 2 chillies

, deseeded and finely chopped 2 celery stalk, diced 1 tbsp roasted curry powder (see below) 400ml can chopped tomatoes

2 raw beetroot

, peeled and cut into batons 3 parsnips

, sliced 3 carrots

sliced 400ml can coconut milkFor the dumplings 100g split red lentils 1½ tbsp coconut oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tbsp curry leaves 75g self-raising flour ½ green chilli, finely chopped ½ red onion, finely chopped 1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp red chilli powder 80g desiccated coconut ½ lime

, juiced For the Sri Lankan curry powder 10g basmati rice 20g coriander seeds 15g cumin seeds 10g black peppercorns 5g fenugreek seeds 3g cloves seeds from 3g cardamom pods To serve sliced spring onionfresh coriander leaves

Think there might be something wrong with the forum..it freezes..I did think it was my phone but it only on this site xx