The courtesy car is being delivered today, our car is being taken away tomorrow. It's looking very likely that it will be scrapped. I don't really care one way or the other, I don't get emotionally attached to any car, they're just a means of getting from A to B. I've been re-reading the paperwork the third party insurers emailed to us with regard to the courtesy car, it states that we may have the car for 'as long as you reasonably need it'. So presumably we can keep it until we get another car, as we'll have no other means of transport living in this very rural area - well I shall be pushing for that anyway, they do state it in black and white!
I made a dozen large cheese scones yesterday (HH I used the defrosted runny yogurt, it worked perfectly, and yes I'm sure straining the defrosted yogurt in future would thicken it, and provide whey to use in baking), I've frozen most of them. I also made a crustless quiche, we had half of it for dinner yesterday with some veg, the rest has been frozen. The final half cup or so of the defrosted yogurt will be used as a starter for a new batch of yogurt I'm making today, I'll make half the quantity I made the first time. I think I'll add some powdered milk when I'm heating up the milk initially, I read somewhere online that this helps to thicken it - it's worth a try.
By lunchtime it was too hot for any more cooking, so I was glad I'd already made the quiche for dinner. In the afternoon I made a few necessary phone calls and did some admin, then went upstairs and read my book - my bedroom stays reasonably cool as it's north facing. Husband mowed the lawns then spent the afternoon resting (dozing) in front of the TV.
I've got quite a lot of green veggies (broccoli, courgettes, runner and edamame beans, Savoy cabbage, chives from the garden) so will make a green risotto for dinner today, there's a 1/3 of a jar of pesto in the fridge which needs using up too. I will be using brown basmati rice rather than conventional white risotto rice - healthier and doesn't raise blood glucose as much. Husband will have some chicken with his risotto, I'll just have the risotto with a sprinkle of grated cheese. I'm happy to say I'm still losing weight, another 1lb off this week, making 13lb now altogether. I didn't lose anything last week, but didn't put any on either so was content with that. I've started introducing some carbs, but not every day and only small portions, seems to be working alright and I've not had any gut problems as a result. The risotto will be heavy on the veg, but only a small amount of rice. I'm anticipating there being at least half of it to freeze, I'm trying to build up a stock of ready made meals for our next caravan visit in a couple of weeks or so.
I make yogurt regularly but I don't add milk powder as I think that it alters the taste and seems 'woolly'. I strain my yogurt to make a really thick Greek style yogurt, and it is so delicious. I serve it with fresh fruit or a homemade fruit compote or, best of all, a spoonful of homemade lemon curd. I use a muslin cloth to line a sieve and let it drain until it's as thick as I want it. The whey that drains off can be kept in the fridge for other things if you like but being honest I don't keep it.
ReplyDeleteI immediately take out 2 tablespoons of yogurt to freeze as the starter for next time then I don't have to worry that someone could finish it all off and not leave any for the starter. I have never found de-frosted yogurt to be palatable on it's own, it always separates and looks disgusting.
That's good news about the car - not the scrapping, but the fact that you can keep the courtesy car for as long as needed. Great news on the weight loss, too. You seem to have found a way of eating that suits you. xx
ReplyDeleteI love reading about your cooking - it all sounds so delicious. And so glad you can have the car as long as you need it. Great news there. xx
ReplyDeleteI always used to add a tablespoon of good quality powdered milk to my homemade yogurt when I was making it, and I also used UHT milk, it was a gamechanger and turned it into lovely thick creamy yogurt.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you should be able to keep the courtesy car until you can get another one yourselves, being armed with the small print details is a good step.