Make Yourself at Home ~

Serious Questions or Simply for Entertainment. This blog can be anything you want it to be ... Click the FOLLOW button ... makes me feel better. Add your message to Gills' Guest Book. Post a Comment at the end of a blog ... Email me with your questions: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk


Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Question: How do I make Real Gravy?

Hello Daughter in Distress ...

Thanks for your question: How Do I Make Real Gravy?

Yum, Real Gravy is a must when nothing major to do on a Sunday other than make a roast dinner. Of course, all gravy makers will have their own preferred method and you can make a roast on other days ... but this is how my mum taught me ...


Crumble oxo cube or 2 if you require more gravy into jug.
Add table spoon [or 2] plain flour.
Whisk together with a fork till all lumps vanish.
Add white pepper.

Pour juices from roasting tray into a medium size pan [presume you are roasting some meat / chicken?].

Add cooking water from the vegetables. Heat up.

** [Add wine here - be sure to 'cook the alcohol off' = cook a little longer before mixing]

Fill up the jug with flour/water mix with veg and juices. Stir.

Very Slowly, pour in and stir the contents of the jug into the pan.

Bring to boil - stirring all the time.

Cook on low heat for few minutes [ to ensure flour is cooked ]

Add more salt and pepper to suit your taste.

**You can add red wine at the ** stage ~ especially if serving with beef.

Enjoy!

Jill

Friday, 14 January 2011

Apple Chutney : ~

Either I've got too much time on my hands or I was procrastinating again ...

Apple Chutney ~ from home grown apples [apparently, it's been a bumper year for apples in the UK ~ an interesting topic you could slip into conversation with your new date ...]

These are the last two jars. Am I imaginging this or do they look animated ... ?

Maybe I've been reading too much Joanne Harris ...
in 'Blackberry Wine', she has wine bottles talking to each other :D !!


Jill

Can't You Hear Me ?

Star Tip:

Don't be horrid to your mum if she hasn't just heard you correctly ... she's probably got a lot on her mind ~ planning the day's workload: deciding whether to make pork goulash or fillet mignon for tea; filling out the diary and stretching finances for your next holiday; arranging the plumber to fix a power pump into your shower. She's possibly worried about getting to the office on time, fitting in a meeting with a joiner during lunch break and food shopping on the way home ... She could be stressed about university fees, parking tickets [yours - not hers], the price of fuel [yours and hers], elderly relatives, the recent bi-election, snow conditions and floods in Australia ~ even though the relatives live in New Zealand. She might have a cold or even flu ... Or maybe, she just can't hear you properly ... you were just asking for a loan ... right ??

Only joking ... but do the washing up would you?

Jill

~ Something to Think about ...

Just remember girls and boys ... partners usually start as they mean to go on ...

Leopards don't change their spots ...

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear ...

Yet Life's not all beer and skittles ...

Other than that, you should be okay

Jill

Monday, 3 January 2011

Sweet ... Serious ... Sweet ... Serious

A Must See ...

www.youtubefunnyvideoclips.com/funnytvcommercials/102717/tvcommercialembracelifewearseatbelt.html

Jill

Ahh ... How cute ...

Couldn't help smiling at this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBA_lxUiwSg&feature=player_embedded

According to it's owners ...

Question: Can you please help me get rid of my hangover?

Hello Daughter clearly in distress ...

Hangover ~ well now, let's see ... You could have a go at this tried and tested day:

Breakfast:
Tumbler of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Bacon, Fried bread, Sausage, Beans, Tomato [Grilled - healthier than fried], Mushrooms, Fried egg [scrambled without butter if you're on a diet]. Brown toast with real butter [even if on a diet] Extra bread and butter. More beans.

Brunch:
Potato pie, chips and gravy.
At least 3 Cups of tea.

Lunch:
Heinz Tomato soup with plenty of white bread and real butter.
Maybe glass of squash.

Dinner:
Roast Beef, Yorkshire puddings, buttered carrots, cabbage, roast potatoes
Apple Crumble, custard, cream or ice-cream [or all three]
Glass or two of red wine.

Supper:
Half packet plain chocolate digestives.
Beaker of coffee.

Hope that does the trick.

Otherwise, drink gallons of water, take regular painkillers [as prescribed on packet] and stay in bed all day ...

either
with boyfriend / girlfriend
or
watching Love Actually or similar rom com.

Jill

Sunday, 2 January 2011

Daughters [not] in distress ....


Hello Daughters [not] in distress ...

How's this for a student Christmas home visit ...

Be jealous now mums:

Perhaps they'll do the turkey roast next year ??



Jill

Help ... I've spilt tea on a pale carpet ...

Hello Daughter in Distress...

Hope it's your carpet then there won't be a claims direct moment ...

If you've spilt tea on carpet:
Dab as much tea from the spillage as possible [with a CLEAN cloth]

Pour water onto the stain and soak up with CLEAN cloth [don't want any other stains accidentally adding themselves to the tea!]

[Don't rub carpet as the pile will break down and look all fluffy]

Either: Use a carpet stain remover according to directions on product container.

Or: Sponge half-and-half clear vinegar and warm water onto the stained area and allow it to sit for a few minutes.

Sponge the area with water and blot again - to remove traces of vinegar.

If still showing slight stain - mix drop of washing up liquid with warm water and dab.

Rinse with clear water and dab.

* Always Test on a small area first.

This worked for me but there are all types of carpet materials out there - so sorry can't completely guarantee the process.

*Disclaimer [I know it sounds serious here - but not wanting any claims so :-
Try this advice at your own risk.

Otherwise: Contact you local Chemdry Agent.

Hope it works for you.

Sunday, 26 December 2010

To All Daughters ... & Sons ...

Yep, one day it will be your turn to make Christmas Dinner. [Can't wait] So take a few tips from me in readiness for Next Year's celebrations :

Always have a spare table - there's often a couple of waifs or strays popularising themsleves just before Christmas with the dropped in comments ... 'Oh I don't mind being on my own' ... 'My parents have gone on a cruise for three weeks' ... 'I've split up with my boyfriend/girlfriend'... obviously these desperados are in great need of company ... joining you for lunch / dinner will be great comfort to them ... well done you ! Just make sure they do their fair share of washing up !

Don't make too many vegetables ~ it gets confusing ~ you'll need lots of large dishes ~ and they just take up too much space.

Always allow extra time for meat to cook.

Make a welcome drink ~ saves time serving an assortment.

Hey ~ and don't forget the napkins ~ so trending atm.

Cranberry Surprise:
save a couple of wine bottles and lids for storing this yummy welcome drink.

Med pack Dried Cranberries
3 Squeezed Oranges
3/4 Box Cranberry Juice
1/4 bottle Cointreau
1 Bottle Champagne or Cava

[
Alter quantities if you want more of a kick - or weaken it to pace yourselves]

Pour all ingredients into large bowl [but NOT Champagne/Cava/Bubbly stuff]
and put into sterilised bottles.
[to sterilise - place bottles in med heated oven 20 mins then cool or use straight from dishwasher - also when glass has cooled].
Store bottles of cranberry drink for 3 days in a dark place.
Chill
Shake and serve - drop a few cranberries into the bottom of each glass
Top up with Champagne, Cava or something bubbly.

*The cranberries soften in the juice and alcohol during the dark period in the cupboard and not only look impressive when served, glowing at the bottom of the glass but can be easily drunk in with the champagne, so ~ no ugly poking about in the glass to tease out the odd pieces of fruit lazing below the surface.

You've even got time to make it for New Year ???

Enjoy it !

Jill