Potatoes

[Robinia]

A friend (who has been a veg grower for years) has had a crop of potatoes that are semi-transparent & too hard to eat after cooking whether boiled or slow roasted.
Any ideas as to what the reason might be? he doesn't remember the variety name, they weren't his usual choice. Thanks.

[netibiza]

Good morning fellow biddies. Lovely day here after the rain last night.

Am pleased that things are going encouragingly for mr s.

Hope DH is feeling well.

Kit, we lived in big houses, it was one thing my father did in the war and that was invest in buildings. Our main family home from when I was 6-16yo was a 15 bedroom, 3 storey house, but even then we sisters shared a bedroom for a while, We had huge gardens, one a front one with lawns and rose and flowers beds, the side one was a tennis court and the back one was a huge veg garden with an apple orchard, veggies, fruit and sweet peas which I love. Also there was a huge cellar and wine cellar which I hated as I was so scared of it! We had a kitchen and a scullery, and servant bell pulls in all the rooms, which mother soon got rid off!! This is the reason I like small and cosy houses, but the rest of my siblings have big houses! The house was extremely cold in winter, our face flannels would freeze overnight. We had an aga in the kitchen and coal fire in the lounge and that was that, on High days and holidays we also had a fire in the dining room!

[netibiza]

ps I also had a Le creuset and didn't get on with it at all! It was Orange and I could hardly lift the thing. I love these halogen ovens that are on sale over here, but alas too heavy for me to take back. am hoping to cram in a food processor somewhere!

[Jude123]

Morning all. A lovely day is looming. I think. Hope you are all ok.
I'm pleased things are now moving for Mr S. Shaney. Fancy that a German specialist. They can have a good chat.
And Woofy hope DH is getting better and will be able to have his operation as arranged.
I have been putting winter pansies in my pots today. The very first time for years. don't know how long they will last but they're in..
Talking about cooking pans. I Steam all my veg in a steamer I boight cheap from Asda. I used a pressure cooker for many many years, then when I lived on my own I used ordinary saucepans for a short while got fed up with that and bought a Steamer.
Quick and efficient energy wise I think.
Going for a walk with Fuschia this afto. Hope you all have a good day.
See yer later 'gater(s)

[Jude123]

PS Pleased your'e having a good holiday Neti. don't think it will rain today for you though!!

[woofgang]

That's excellent news Shaney...I always think its a good omen too when you (well Mr S) and the staff have something in common. DH has passed his preassessment today, he was worried that the remainder of the cold would stop it but its okay. We have organised as much nice stuff as we can to pass the time till monday. Its a nice day here today, crisp and sunny. I have just been over to a local craft shop to stock up as it will be a while till i can go far by the time I have walked the dogs and visited DH...can't leave the boys for too long in a day. Neti I have a combi microwave which is magic...microwaves, steams, grills, bakes and also has a micro and bake facility for frozen stuff that does oven chips perfectly...also other battered and breadcrumbed frozen things...but that might be a bit heavy too. Its an LG if you are interested.
Got some lovely pots of houseleeks in Lidl yesterday...their olive oil in a tall thin bottle is superb and about a quarter of the price of similar quality elsewhere.

[woofgang]

PS my saucepans are John Lewis stainless steel, about 20 years old now, a bit battered looking but still excellent, my frying pans (I have 5, 2 wok shaped then small med and large frying pan shaped are Infinite Circulon by Meyer. they aren't cheap and are a bit heavy but the non stick is excellent and they are wearing well (I am hard on frying pans) We don't eat a lot of traditional fried food but I use them for most of my stove top cooking.

[VINNY100_2]

Arfternoon yokels.
hope the German specialist understands mr shaney....Blarst Me, oi watta be gittin on ze hum soon ya.!hehe..!:O)the black dark clouds are approaching from the west medears..get yer washin in..!just started to rain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVs05sNWIiw
booger..left me sunroof open>>>whoosh:O)

[netibiza]

My Henry is being collected tomorrow, so we spent today nipping to and fro the shop adding sweaters, boots anything that would go in the empty spaces in the box!! to save my luggage allowance!!!

[swedeheart]

Evening all. Been sheared today, not happy with it this time. My hairdresser is seeing herself forced to move from where she now lives and works and I think it's affecting her, she's usually the best. Incidentally Robi I can't stop thinking about your hairdresser who fell out of her wide bed, I think of her almost every night and it's been months since you told us the story...! I think of her and move a little closer to the wall ha ha. How DID she do it, I can't imagine.

Interesting stockings in that there avatar Vinny. My Dad had something similar. (Pin-up playing cards they were, not stockings he he.)

Thanks everyone for all the cookware info. I'm just so in love with the green colour of that Le Creuset... haven't decided yet! Fantastic childhood sceneries Neti, reads like a children's book, those gardens must have been magic for a child. And Woofy that's good about the preassessment:)

How weird finding things out about your father on the internet, jno. He could NOT have imagined anything like it, you sitting quietly at home in your chair and finding out. Just goes to show Ceiling Cat sees us so we'd better behave;-)

[woofgang]

morning all its persisting and blowing a hooligan here...dogs had a nice mad gallop round in the rain which saves bathing them. Today we are going to stock up the freezer.

Kit i hope you stay in love with the green colour when your neck plays up again lifting the weight :-( I am an occupational therapist (retired) and boringly practical about stuff like saucepans. one thing about hair, it always (almost lol) grows back again

[VINNY100_2]

Mornin..
persisting and rather windy.A bloomin massive ariel with a long heavy pole came down from the roof of a shop opposite superbug it was early or it could have been a different story..superbugs playing proper music again in store by the original singers...superbugs first advert for ten years tonight in the corrie break.See I bring you all the interesting news..:O)my ralph lauren 100% waterproof coat is leaking...and im soaking wet.....:O(I cleaned some carpets ere the other day..the choco smell was magic.
http://www.chocolate-emporium.co.uk/
laters>>

[woofgang]

oooh Vinny did you get samples?

[Robinia]

Morning spud bashers...another grotty day here, wild, wet & windy ...and that's just me. Yesterday was lovely but I felt so grotty it passed me by. Cold now reached the cross your legs & cough your eyeballs out stage. :o(

shaney I'm glad to hear Mr S got through his checks ok & that he had someone to help take his mind off things. It won't be long to wait now, it's the 1st today isn't it?

Le Creuset Kit?! Aren't you forgetting something?
http://www.jeresmith....o/comics/oliveoyl.jpg
It takes me all my time to pick the kettle up some mornings & that's a plastic one. My pans are Swift's st. steel & I love them, I hope they see me out. What I would like to know is how to get rid of the brown mark that boiling pasta leaves? (I don't scour them)

Hope the rest of you are well.

[jno]

I hope everything is being checked for aerodynamic qualities, Kit

http://www.comic-art....ia/jpegs/mcmns01b.jpg

Yes, it's odd the stuff that turns up on the internet. I've been trying to remember if my own name's been in the papers, but I don't think my past has ever made headlines that could come back to haunt me. But when even passing comments in hotel guest books turn up in ads online, well, I wonder if I should be minding my words more carefully in future.

[Jude123]

Morning All.
I once googled my name and a Web site came up where my name was mentioned and it was my sister in law who I hadn't seen for about 30 years looking for me. she was in Ireland and when we got in touch she said she had put my name on the site about 3 years before. We had a good chat and kept in touch for a while and I sent her christmas cards etc then she suddenly stopped and I haven't heard from her since even thought i have tried.

[Jude123]

Very rainy here. Going to just hibernate this afto I think.

[jno]

yes, drizzle drizzle (with occasional outbursts of gush gush). Gah. Don't like it.

[swedeheart]

Oi, stop bitchin' in my kitchen, biddies;-) Obviously I couldn't handle a Le Creuset at those times when I throw my back out. I remember I had ordered a BIG poster from AllPosters and when it arrived in it's cardboard tube I couldn't even carry that home... I could walk but I couldn't carry anything that affected my posture. I tried it, at the Post Office, but had to leave without it and have it delivered. And I couldn't - back thrown out or not - get that pot in and out of the oven. But I'm sure I can handle it from the cooker to the sink and back again. The reason I want it is because I like the 'dal' kind of food and I think you can leave the Creusets pretty much too it and not have to spend the next couple of hours stirring the curry every three minutes.

I see you even helped them name their chocolates, Vinny - splat! http://i56.tinypic.com/ddmi2r.jpg

Weird, Jude. People shouldn't shake your tree unless they like your cherries.

[netibiza]

Absolutely pouring down here and chilly :-)

Been shopping in a little town called Seaford, I think Lottie knows it. Had a pub lunch of scampi and chips and cider, scrummy!! The pub was so olde worlde (and it really was!) and no smoke fumes, excellent, but we were absolutely drenched, feet cold, so we got the bus home.
Kit, my le creuset used to burn if not stirred regularly! and yes so heavy couldn't possibly lift it now!

[VINNY100_2]

hehe..kip...I didnt pinch any of those..:O)yep I tried some ginger one's woofy..but I really wanted to bite the man made of chocky....just as well I didnt they covered it in varnish so it wouldnt melt in the summer..(:O)