Thursday 1 January 2015

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.


14 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a good evening, despite the ice cream not working out. My sister always like snowballs when we were little - I never drank them, they looked revolting, I've still never tried one! It amazes me what people can do with nails nowadays - all the designs and things you can get! I'm far to un-girly to have my nails done! A visit to a salon is a horrific thought for me, I won't even have my hair cut (I do it myself!) Yours look lovely thought!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do look disgusting don't they?! Taste better than they look tho x. My nails are the only thing that fit me - therefore I have to make the most of em ;)

      Delete
  2. Your pulled pork recipe sounds delicious I'm definitely going to give it a try, and your nails look fab too x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mmmm may try the pulled pork!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Me too, I'll have a go at the pork recipe. Perfect whilst we have our wood fired cooker on the go.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the nails! Lazy day here as well, takes a lot longer to get over a night out these days! I remember having Babycham at Xmas when I was little. I have an old bottle and glasses that were my parents, I loved the little deer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. A friend of mine has one of the promotional deer and keeps it in a 50s style cocktail cabinet. It looks very at home.

      Delete
  6. Your nails look fantastic. My daughter loves pulled pork so I will definitely try that recipe. Happy NewYear. X

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's interesting. Since my gall bladder op I can't "process" fatty food and it gives me a lot of pain. My Mum used goose fat for her roast potatoes last Christmas and I had to go home early :-(
    When we make ours at home, we brush them lightly with a little rapeseed oil.
    Nails- the funny thing is, I have painted my toe nails since my teens, but never do my finger nails. My toe nail colour is "Purple passion" LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strange isn't it how our bodies react? I'm thinking of dark purple for tomorrow!!

      Delete

Working from home

I've taken a precious day of annual leave today.  I've really struggled this week with feeling so yuk and I needed the restorative ...