Friday 17 January 2014

The kitchen dance - slow, slow, quick, quick, slow...


I am so excited. I think I need tying down with a piece of string to stop me jumping up and down on the bed. We're going to see two old houses tomorrow. One is over two hundred years old. They are in a little country village called 'Sheepwash.' Can you believe the name? It's like something out of a nursery rhyme.

We shouldn't be looking yet because our house still isn't up for sale. We really wanted to wait for the spring, but the weather turned this week, the flood defence came up opening the road into town, the trees are in bud  and the birds are building a nest in the garden. We are itching to find somewhere new too.

So there has been more frantic decorating and sorting out. Somehow things have all got in the wrong place and as we sort out one room, we mess up another in the process. We've been camping in the living room whilst the paint dried upstairs...which was fun because we had breakfast in bed Sunday morning watching TV, but too much clutter caused me to spill a tin of white paint upside down in the kitchen...That wasn't so much fun.  

At last we've said goodbye to the Christmas tree. Non-one had the heart to take it out before. It smelt so fresh and piney and the lights looked cosy on dark afternoons. I think we were dragging our feet a bit because it may be the last Christmas we spend here, and it's been such a lovely one. H has stayed home a whole month. We didn't want it to end. She goes back to London on Sunday. I will miss her. But tomorrow she's coming along for the adventure...and to bagsy her room.

Busy times like these I find the tempo of my cooking takes on a kind of foxtrot pace; with some slow cooked food that I can leave to it's own devices, other quickly cooked that goes from pan to table in minutes. Sometimes there is a pair of helping hands, or two, making bread or salad; and the crock-pot seems like a third pair steadily taking care of it's contents, whilst I'm busy else where. 

Here are the steps of my kitchen foxtrot....


Slow:
slow-cooker vegetarian chilipotatoes baked in the oven until crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside.

Slow:

Slowly oven roasted garlic chicken or duck  to eat with quick salads,  or shop bought pancakes. Or baked unhurriedly in the slow cooker with mushrooms and herbs, till moist and tender.

Quick

Family favourite speedy spaghetti with prawns, chilli and ginger, pan fried fish or stir-fry

Quick

Amanda Soule's Left-over oatmeal muffinsflapjack crumble  or this new crumble recipe I've started making

Slow
Fruits left to leisurely plump up and caramelise in the slow cooker to eat in bowls with yoghurt. Baked apples stuffed with vine fruits and cinnamon that make the kitchen smell like Christmas all over again...

13 comments:

  1. I am so excited for you Debby and I hope you find the dream home you really want!
    Love seeing all the recipes, especially the shrimp and pasta, will have to prepare that for my guys next week.
    Have a great time and let us know what you find.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Tracey. I'll be armed with my camera to take lots of photo's. It's going to be an exploration. There are a number of houses that we've seen online and love in principal so hopefully even if we don't find the one today there will be something that we love soon. I can't wait for everyone to get up now so that we can go and start the adventure...
    happy weekend
    debx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Okay, I have to admit I am a bit...okay, alot...jealous of your house hunting. A 200 year old house, in village name Sheepwash, in England...what couldn't be dreamier?!??! I hope you take lots of pictures (and share with us...maybe). Have loads of fun on your adventure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had an amazing time thank you Emily. I will share them later.

      Delete

  4. Ohh Debby;
    It's very exciting find an old house, I like the old house in the country, I hope to see the photos.
    I am sorry to say goodbye to the Christmas tree also gives a very cozy atmosphere.
    The food you've cooked umm must be delicious.
    regards,













    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Montse. I will post share some photos later. I know it's sad to see the tree go. I went for a walk yesterday in the woods where I'd left it...it was still all green and smelt amazing when I walked past.
      Have a lovely week
      debx

      Delete
  5. Loving that quick quick slow cooking - even the sound of all that awakens the taste buds. House hunting I love that too even when I have no intention of moving I love peeking into houses although never 200 year old ones over here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love peeking into houses too, especially in the winter when it's all dark outside and they have lamps burning and it looks so cosy and warm inside.

      Delete
  6. I so enjoyed looking through your photos and reading this post! (Your blog always makes me hungry.) I love the pictures of that little bird in the hedge (I ♥ birds), and I am so happy that you are going to get to do some house viewing this weekend. 'Sheepswash' sounds like the perfect little country village for a knitter. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Susan. I love birds too. It's a beautiful cold crunchy morning and the sun is shining. The birds have been singing so loudly this morning and flying from bush to bush. I had to just stop for about ten minutes and watch them through the bedroom window. They looked so beautiful in flight.
      deb

      Delete
  7. fingers crossed you get a house!!! Love the name of the town....please pretty please take photos :) I want to see it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Funny when I saw the title I literally imagine a sort of kitchen dance. Very Disney princess like, twirling with a wooden spatula and stirring a pot fabulously. Loved catching up on you- good luck with the house love!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Really visually stunning recipes made by tea cups.I am astonished watching such a nice dishes.I think it takes less time to prepare compare to other metals.So finally get your dream staying in a 200 year old house.I love all your kitchen foxtrots.How nicely you prepare such dishes...wow..it would be very fun while preparing.Thank you so much guys...

    ReplyDelete