Food, and things.

[curiouswombat]

It was our minister's last Sunday yesterday - he retires this week. We will miss him, and goodness knows when we will get a replacement, but the ministers and lay preacher from our sister church 15 miles away are going to fill-in, so it should be fine.

Quite a lot of us from Church went out for a meal with him, and his new wife, to mark the occasion. It was a good meal, with good company - but D-d tells me that their spiced red cabbage still wasn't as good as mine...

Last night I put some meat to marinade, then finished the prep during my lunch break today, left it in the oven on timer and... does anyone remember this line from my story Return of The Key -

‘Uh – wonder if I can face eating Bambi’s Pop?’ Dawn thought.

Well D-d and I decided that we could - I have to report that the venison stew was very, very good!

Well, I better start taking some cards and decorations down - D-d and I will go up to my mother's when I finish work tomorrow night, as it is her birthday, so we won't have enough time to do it all on Twelfth Night!

Comments

[jerusha]

Mmm...I think I could handle eating Bambi's Dad, too!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is very good stew - mind you marinating it in a bit of left over port probably did no harm...

[artykat.livejournal.com]

I love your mood icon-- hamster running in a wheel! Priceless!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I like the hamsters so much I've never looked for anything non-standard.

[momflower.livejournal.com]

i'm sorry about the loss of your minister, but i'm sure God will send someone wonderful in his place! i'd love to have the recipe for that spiced cabbage!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Actually there is a minister in Scotland who feels he is being called - but he is not URC, but Church of Scotland, and currently the Admin type Powers that Be are not happy to 'poach' a minister from another denomination that is short of ministers...

We will see where the Lord leads...

As for the cabbage -

Spiced Red Cabbage Recipe

Small red cabbage
1 large or 2 small cooking apples - Bramleys usually.
1 large or 2 small onions.
knob of butter (couple of teaspoonfuls or so) or tablespoon of cooking oil.
2-3 Tablespoonfuls wine vinegar (1/8- 1/6 cup)
1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoonful, rounded, ground cinnamon
handful of cranberries - about a cupful - totally optional.
salt to taste.

Chop cabbage, the peeled onions and the cored apples - you don't have to peel the apples. Melt the butter over a low heat, in a large pan, add all the other ingredients, and a couple of tablespoons of water, put a lid on and allow to cook very gently over a very low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 3 hours.

You can adjust the amount of cinnamon and salt to suit yourself - if worried that it might boil dry you can add another spoonful or two of water, or even orange or cranberry juice - but the fruit and vegetables usually make their own juice enough to cook without any more fluid.

Tastes even better re-heated the next day!

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Very similiar to the recipe I use, except I use cider vinegar, no cranberries and a cup of chicken broth.

In fact I made some on Sunday for Wednesday's roast chicken dinner.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of similar recipes - it is one of the best winter foods, isn't it? We can actually get it ready made from Tescos or M&S but they 'fast-cook' theirs, which is doubtless healthier than the slow-cooked version, but not such a well-rounded taste.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

That sounds quite wonderful!

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

Did you post the recipe for your red cabbage? (I was in a bit of a daze over Christmas). Or is it a secret recipe?

(Have you seen Kung Fu Panda, btw?)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I posted it a few years ago - but here it is, cetainly not a secret -

Spiced Red Cabbage Recipe

Small red cabbage
1 large or 2 small cooking apples - Bramleys usually.
1 large or 2 small onions.
knob of butter (couple of teaspoonfuls or so) or tablespoon of cooking oil.
2-3 Tablespoonfuls wine vinegar (1/8- 1/6 cup)
1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoonful, rounded, ground cinnamon
handful of cranberries - about a cupful - totally optional.
salt to taste.

Chop cabbage, the peeled onions and the cored apples - you don't have to peel the apples. Melt the butter over a low heat, in a large pan, add all the other ingredients, and a couple of tablespoons of water, put a lid on and allow to cook very gently over a very low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 3 hours.

You can adjust the amount of cinnamon and salt to suit yourself - if worried that it might boil dry you can add another spoonful or two of water, or even orange or cranberry juice - but the fruit and vegetables usually make their own juice enough to cook without any more fluid.

Tastes even better re-heated the next day!

We've cooked it this way for many years - D-d doesn't believe it's Christmas unless she has this as part of her dinner.

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

I will certainly try that! (Tesco's is pretty good, but home made is always better ;-)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I think the difference is that Tescos is fast-cooked to be healthier, the home made version is cooked for longer and the flavours meld better. But I also happily eat Tescos.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh - and no - I haven't seen Kung Fu Panda - should I, do you think?

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

I was given it for Christmas. His father makes 'secret ingredient soup'. It's a lot of fun and visually it's stunning.

[sammywol.livejournal.com]

Bambi's Pop tastes pretty god but he isn't a patch on Rudolf. Nom nom!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Happy new Year! Yep - I'm told reindeer is good - ours was just Scottish deer though!

Hope you are feeling well, and had a good time in Dublin.

I finally got around to posting the 3 chapter 'Dawn in Middle Earth' fic (http://curiouswombat.livejournal.com/170326.html#cutid1) whilst you were away - bit late for Christmas - more something to brighten up going back to work, or the kids going back to school! Mainly romance with a helping of erotica...

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Heh-- now I'll have to go and seek out the last two chapters!

Glad you had a good time. Though as someone who's eaten a lot of venison I prefer Bambi to his pop!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Last two chapters are the last two posts. This is my 'Starlight Bathing' icon - perhaps I should get around to putting words on it!

The remains of the port in the casserole may well have been the secret ingredient...

[winsomeone.livejournal.com]

I'm not a fan of venison, but the cabbage sounds very good.

I haven't had a chance to read your fic yet, with the quickie trip and all, but I plan to get to it this weekend.

Please give your mother my regards on her b-day.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The venison is a pretty rich meat, I think the addition of the remains of the port to it probably improved the casserole as well!

The fic is about 12,500 words - fluff, romance and erotica (possibly porn- depends on your definition!) - so designed to make you happy at this time of year, no real angst at all!

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

I adore venison - such a lovely strong flavour.

I also like reindeer which is quite different, but I'd hate to tell children I was eating Rudolph! LOL!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

sammywol prefers reindeer too - but it is easier to get farmed venison in Shoprite!

[debris4spike]

Yes, I stripped the ouse yesterday as well.

The new Minister - that will be a hrad choice. Is it something that the Church gets to choose, or is it left to a committee? That's one thing in The Brethren, we don't have ministers/pastors etc

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Pastoral Committee of the Mersey Region have to decide, basically, how many ministers they can afford, and hoe best to use them. They have decided that the island can now only have 1.5 whole time ministers between the two churches. As Ramsey have a full time minister we will become partly his responsibility and a new minister will form a team with that minister and the retired ones that we still have as non-stipendiary. In other words they have to retire at 65, but they usually still take some services and do some of the pastoral work as long as they feel able!

The Pastoral committee put out advertisements to all serving URC ministers, to ask if any of them feel called to this position, and if any of them do, then we, as a church, ask them to 'preach with a view to becoming our minister' - so we decide on the person between any who apply.

However, the minister who actually does feel called, without adverts or anything, is not URC, and so currently the PtB won't accept an application from him - GAAAAH! And these are the people who 'firmly believe' that ministers are 'called'.

[debris4spike]

Yes, a Minister should feel they are called in the first place - and then secondly to the place that they feel they can benefit a community.

That should be the important thing in any worship - sincerity, not the correct paperwork!

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Around here, you either eat Bambi's Pop, or hit him with your car! I barely missed Babi's mom and aunt, just a few days ago.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That would have left a dint in your bumper/fender!

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

More than a dent, at highway speed!

[vegmb.livejournal.com]

so we won't have enough time to do it all on Twelfth Night!
I have moved from an area that is mostly Catholic to one that is not, and it is surprising to me now that most people here don't know what Twelfth Night is. I have been asked by a few friends/neighbors when I planned to take down my decorations and then had to explain my answer when I told them Twelfth Night.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is fairly traditional here to take the decorations down on Twelfth Night, even though the island is mainly Protestant - I hadn't thought of Twelfth Night as in any way mre Catholic than Protestant. We celebrate Epiphany in church, but Twelfth Night is really more part of our pre-Christian celtic celebrations...

D-d and I got home from my Mum's about 8.30pm last night, and put the last bauble in it's box about 11pm.

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure whether I've eaten venison or not - might have had it at a restaurant once - but your casserole sounds rich and delicious.

I've also pinched the Red Cabbage recipe, as we had red cabbage at a friend's house over Christmas (not the odd friends, some normal child friendly ones) and it is something I never think about making.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Slow cooked red cabbage is just so different from fast cooked green stuff - and is definitely winter comfort food. Goes really, really well with bacon, sausages, or both.