Nailing New Year.

Hello all

A very Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all had a peaceful start to the new year.

Our evening was filled with much hilarity as is usually the case when my lot get together.  The pork went down a storm and the warm brownies were gooey and fudgy.  The home made ice cream didn't happen as I found out far too late in the day that the bowl has to be put into the freezer for 8 hours before the process starts.  Doh!!  We had cream instead!!

I only had one alcoholic drink last night.  Since my gall bladder op, drinking hasn't agreed with me for some reason.  I went all retro and had a  Snowball having found some in our local shop. I always remember little bottles of Snowball, Cherry B and Babycham appearing around the festive period when I was younger.  I don't think I've had one for about 35 years!  (I can't believe I'm old enough to say that!)

I thought I'd just mention the method I use to cook pulled pork.  It has become a firm favourite at our parties. Set your oven at Gas mark 4 or equivalent.  Take one loin or shoulder joint of pork and remove any fat present.  Place it in a roasting tin and fill the tin up to half way up with stock (I use cubes), throw in some sliced onions if liked, and a good shake of dried sage.  Cover with foil and put the tray on the bottom shelf of the oven and leave to slow cook throughout the day, or for at least six hours.  After about four hours start to break the pork down by pulling and teasing it apart with two forks. If it doesn't do this readily then it just needs a little longer cooking. Add a little more stock if needed to ensure it doesn't dry out and adjust seasoning to taste.  We sometimes add a tablespoon of bbq sauce at this stage and stir it through.  I didn't on this occasion.  Then 're-cover with foil and put back into the oven for another couple of hours or until the pork readily pulls into 'strings'.  A small joint will produce lots of meat this way so it's a good way if making a little go a long way. You could also do much the same in a slow cooker. It's the simplest of things.

Last night we had it on soft baps with stuffing and Apple sauce. There were 8 of us who all had 2 baps each.  Then this evening 3 of us had it with chips, onions and mushrooms for a simple supper. This was using an average size pork loin joint.

You're welcome!!

We've had a ridiculously lazy day today.  It's been very dark, rainy and blowing a gale today. We got up late and have set up camp in the living room catching up on wildlife programmes and snoozing.

I am due to see some work friends tomorrow for lunch and then on Saturday it's nails day.

I've taken to having my nails done (shellac) every couple of weeks. I don't drink or smoke so this is my little treat to myself. The salon staff are lovely and I've built up quite a nice rapport with the ladies who do my nails.  They make me a posh coffee and I can relax for an hour.

October nails. Pumpkin coloured!

Halloween nails- I loved these!

Early December nails.

 

Christmas nails.  And a cheeky black forest hot choc!!

I just need to decide what colour to have for New Year.   How very taxing for me!

See you soon.