Cooker problem, Burns Night, haggis... all the usual stuff.

[curiouswombat]

Burns Night went very well. My speech was well received - I did include the bit about the debate on what sex a computer is.

Also a little about remembering Mrs Burns senior as we celebrate 250 years since she gave birth to her eldest - Robert himself. I included a bit about

Why the men always seemed to be sent downstairs to boil water -

1. It kept them out of the way.
2. It gave them something to do that was,probably, within their capabilities.
3. When all the work was done the midwife and the mother could do with a cup of tea.

As you can tell, it was not the most serious of speeches!

I also included a small vignette about
choosing a new cooker.

This was from life - because, guess what, my oven showered me with sparks and flames when I went to cook tea the other night. It was quite spectacular - somehow my kitchen appliances rarely die quietly, they always seem to go out with a bang. When attemps were made to resuscitate it, it proved to be quite dead.

After some discussion we decided to replace rather than repair, as it was likely that other parts might fail too, and we can afford a new one at the moment.

So we decided what we liked best about the old one, and what we liked least. D-d was included in the discussion, by phone.

We decided the worst things were that the grill pan has to be removed if you want to shut the top oven properly, and cleaning both the oven doors and around the knobs is a bugger - it never looks clean for more than a day.

I would like to keep the multi-cook function on the larger oven, so that I can slow cook without the fan. I want an easy timer, as I use it to do casseroles in the winter.

I saw a wonderful one - look - it is touch control - no knobs!

Then it occured to me that actually S2C might not cope with a cooker without knobs. D-d agreed that this might be a technological step too far - remember he cannot yet manage to even open a text, let alone send one, despite being so computer literate.

So I took him to a local dealer yesterday before he went to bed, to look at one. He likes the grill pan...

We think given time, and possibly writen instructions, he might eventually be able to use the hob, make cheese on toast, or bake a pizza - which is about all he needs! So I am going to go back and get a shiny cooker WITH NO KNOBS TO CLEAN AROUND! Oh - and very easily removed inner glass panels on the doors so I can easily keep them clean.

Of course, going back to Burns Night, the high spot is as much the food as the speeches.

We had split yellow pea soup, followed by the traditional haggis, taties and neeps, then pot roast pheasant with vegetables, and an oatcake, raspberry and cream confection for sweet, finished with coffee and mint chocolate shortbread. After that I really needed to go and lie down rather than listen to some excellent speeches, and then give mine!



For all you doubters - which I was for many years - haggis is really quite delicious. Especially with a tot of good single malt whisky.

If you have time to read, especially those of you of a scientific bent - you might enjoy this article on the very serious maths.ed.uk site about "Applications of ultrasonography in the reproductive management of Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati."

Bearing in mind that "Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati" translates literally as "great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race"...

The link was passed on to me by my friend D in Skye. When I get to work tomorrow I have promised to pass it on to the Speaker of The House of Keys - who is an expert on addressing the haggis. Honestly.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

YAY! Good links, all :)

I heard about Burns' birthday on the radio this morning and thought of all my pals over there.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

I love the stove! My mom has one a little like that; except that the cook-top and the ovens are separate. So much easier to clean, though I have to say I'm still not used to looking at the glass surface. Also, her kettle is used to the gas stove from her old house; it's not quite flat. On the glass surface it wobbles!

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

That's a very nice stove. And Happy Burns Night to you and yours! You're definitely going to need a nap after that spread.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

I covet that cooker!! Mine is a Zanussi but is a bugger to clean around the knobs which are round and collect all the crumbs from cooking!!

It's a shame because the oven went wrong and I was all excited about a new kitchen gadget and then Mr Cee managed to fix it... :(

Sounds like you had a good time!

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

I would make a haggis tonight, but I don't have the stomach for it.

I slay me.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

When we moved to our current home, I had to leave my Kitchenaid stove behind. The new home had a stove with a ceramic top, and I wasn't so sure about it, but I quickly fell in love with it. It's so easy to clean. However, the oven door doesn't have a glass window. I have to open the door to check on the baked goods. I hate that. One of the joys of baking is watching the cake rise or the cookies brown. It looks as though your new stove has two ovens? How nice!

[manoah.livejournal.com]

Cultural differences are so interesting! I've read all the preceding comments so the questions I was going to ask were answered.

A few years ago, on Christmas Day, my oven went...away. I had to go next door and borrow my neighbors! Not fun!

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Now I'm wondering how my boss' Burn Night speech went (he's from Edinburgh and commutes every week - I dread to think about his carbon debt). I spent an afternoon typing his notes and making his handouts!

[jerusha]

I don't know about haggis, but I'm willing to try anything once. The rest of the dinner sounds absolutely divine, however!

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

You clean things? Phew! [When my ex left I set out to test Quentin Crisp's assertion that the dust doesn't get any worse after four years -- and I can confirm that he's right. Unfortunately, the flat I'm in now is rented so I do have to move the dust about every so often...]

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your lovely new cooker! [I'm in the process of buying a house, which is why -- instead of being on line -- I've been spending most of the last few days crouching under the table, shaking.]

Your Burns Night sounds like a lot of fun, though Burns remains a mystery to me :-)

ETA And you were brave, giving a speech!

[cbtreks.livejournal.com]

I bought an electric kettle recently, thinking I'd drink tea more if I had one. Got it home - and it's a 3-prong plug! That surprised me; I associate 3-prong plugs with things like refrigerators and computer surge protectors, not small appliances. Not normally a problem, but our apartment is old with only two-whole outlets. I need to buy a few more adapters but I always forget when I'm out.

Burns Night always sounds like so much fun, especially when you write about it.

[draconin.livejournal.com]

I tried haggis once years ago and thought it was quite nice. It's a pretty rare beastie here in Australia so I've not had the opportunity again. :-)

I like your stove; it looks really convenient to use. I'd go for the gas version if they had one though. I've never been a big fan of electric stoves because of the time they take to react when you change the temperature. Not keen in the price though! *meeps*

haggis

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

How much whisky would I have to drink? ;-)

Interesting icon!

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

Glad the Burns Night supper and your speech went well.

The new cooker looks great, and I'm sure S2C will master it with a little tuition.