Roast Chicken

 


I’m sick of wearing surgical masks day in and day out, so bought me a selection of coloured printed ones which are much more comfortable for my tiny hamster ears, which always seemed to be pulled in a Shrek-like position , like the mini rounded ears on a tubby panda 

I walked the dogs after a long lie in and bought all the ingredients for a proper roast dinner from Sainsbury’s ……Roast potatoes, a whole chicken, stuffing, sprouts , stuffing and veg….I was feeling like some old fashioned proper cooking.
I popped around to Trefor to see if he wanted a plate of roast dinner but he declined , (which burst my being virtuous bubble somewhat) so I  will see how much I make and will plate some up for Animal Helper Pat later.



I placed the Christmas Wreath carefully on the front of the cottage and started to hang the few cards which have been delivered so far and placed my only set of battery lights on the mantle to make the cottage feel a bit more cozy.
The kitchen is already vaguely smelling of roast chicken and I’ve dug out some red berry jelly which was a gift from German Bernard & Rosemary who live on the other side of the village.
(Adding red berry jelly to any gravy makes for a superior jus) 
Dorothy is dribbling in the kitchen reading chair and Albert has turned up in the hopeful wait for a nice piece of breast.


In the end I had enough for Mrs H , animal helper Pat and Mr Poznan 
Great fun cooking again for more than one 



72 comments:

  1. Do you tear yourself to shreds on that rose each time you go indoors?

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    Replies
    1. Lol no, the rose is climbing through the honeysuckle
      I like that it, frames and hides the door…I’ve never liked the glass panel

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  2. Sounds wonderful John. I did much the same yesterday except with Turkey being the bird. I added whole cranberries to the stuffing. I was a bit concerned about the tartness, but they were a great addition. Enjoy your meal, and glad to hear you sounding better healthwise!

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    1. Hummmm….not there yet, but faking it to make it..I’m tired of moaning x

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  3. Has one of your friends here painted that Christmas card especially for you John-it's beautiful x

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  4. That "Winter Walkies" card which someone drew for you is adorable!

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    1. It is ……I get a few similar every year and am always grateful for them

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  5. I wear masks for work. Home Depot provides us with plastic neck pieces so the bands don't go around your ears. Think of it as small piece of plastic heaven.

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    1. Yes,I’m lazy, especially at work as I’m always donning and doffing

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  6. Yum yum. I've got one in my fridge, will probably roast it tomorrow.

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    1. I can’t think when it was when I made myself a roast dinner…..will have loads today so I will have enough for Mrs H who lost her hubby recently

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    2. I have a roast every week. My mother used to do roasts and deliver plate-fulls to people who had connections with the farm, helped with the animals and people we knew all our lives. I used to have to take the gravy in a jug. I still remember the people we visited. My brother does this and the men who came along later, younger of course, still visit him. Now they go to him rather them him to them. He is now the old man, not them.

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    3. Ive enjoyed cooking for a group today

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  7. A hearty, healthy meal to help you recover! Good idea! Wishing you good health for the holidays!

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    1. I would enjoy that meal with you John but have to pass on the bird/gravy - can I have have double stuffing and sprouts please? You are a born chef!
      Feel 100% better soon.

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    2. I’ve cooked the sprouts then pan fried them with some walnut oil and a bit of Parmesan
      The stuffing I made myself with chestnuts and Panko breadcrumbs

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  8. Your house looks cozy and inviting and it must smell wonderful too.
    I read somewhere that small ears symbolize a personality that is affectionate, respectful and disciplined. I hope that doesn't mean all the big eared people are lacking in those traits.

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  9. Barbara Anne3:18 pm

    Love the personalize Christmas card and hope you frame it for wintertime display! I've framed a few perfect cards that come whenever their seasonal/holiday design is suitable.
    Well done in making such a wonderful dinner! IMHO, your kind offer of a plate for Trefor is none the less virtuous because Trefor declined to take you up on it.
    When I was a baby, my mother was concerned I'd never grow into my large ears, but I did. The masks bother the backs of my ears.
    Enjoy your delightful cottage!

    Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. I’m chilling tonight
      The chicken carcass is in the slow cooker making soup

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  10. veg artist3:36 pm

    There is a chicken roasting in my kitchen as well. The cat is looking hopefully through the window.

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  11. Mmmmm! Will you make a soup with the remainders? That's always my favorite, after the crispy skin....

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    1. Yes, it’s in the slow cooker with onions, celery, potato , stock and sweet corn

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  12. Nothing nicer than a roast dinner, the house smells divine, and if it’s a chicken then lots of good leftovers, curry? Soup, pie? Simple well cooked food , to me, is far nicer than restaurant stuff , enjoy ! It’ll do you good x

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  13. The charm of your home, the delicious in your kitchen, and then you got to share it. A great day.

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    Replies
    1. Food is a great communicator as you know

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  14. I love the card. Someone knows you and your fur family well! I'm sure the recipients of your roast dinner will love it. xx

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  15. I hope you don't mind me asking John but would you have a spare vege sausage floating around spare x

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  16. Wearing surgical masks (and all the other PPE) all day must be horrible. And the virus might be with us for a few more years yet. Bloody hell.

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    1. That’s why I moved from surgical to an “ outfit” mask
      To normalise it all

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  17. That all looks delicious. :)

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  18. Lord have mercy..I not only wouldn't have turned it down. I would have come to collect it. ;)
    Did you do this kind of thing before covid?
    Remember, I haven't been here very long.

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    1. Anus-Have you applied to be a contestant for tvs Mastermind because you seem to think you know it all about John Gray

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    2. Flis, far be it from me to condone Anon riling John. Maybe the only purpose it serves is to amuse Anon.

      However, in reply to your comment, of course we do form impressions of people. Whether they are accurate is another question.

      U

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    3. Forget anon
      I never read the comments as soon as the gist is known

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    4. Peter4:39 pm

      Ursula - you would know all about riling John, because you became so good at it that you were banned from this blog.
      That was when he'd had enough of your vile comments. Why he's let you back on here I don't know, your very presence is a blight on a lovely blog. You knew you were upsetting him but persevered until he banned you - what sort of person does that make you?

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  19. Shelly Williams5:26 pm

    Looks absolutely lush !

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    1. It was a nice meal…I enjoy titivating a simple meal, such as the gravy. Or in this case the roasts ( using semolina to crisp them) using nuts in the stuffing

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  20. Funny -- I've done the opposite, abandoning my (very worn) cloth masks for lighter, more comfortable paper ones!

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    1. The paper ones remind me of the clinical
      I want my new ones to create a new “ normal” dies that make sense

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  21. The roast dinners look amazing. So lovely of you to share.

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  22. Cooking is love in material form

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    1. I’ve always showed my affection through food dave

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  23. I'm like Albert - partial to a nice bit of breast.

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    1. Tell me something that surprises me lol

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  24. It's lovely and rewarding to share food, but wouldn't the leftover chicken have provided good dinners for you this week?

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    1. Yes, but to be honest it was nice to cook for others

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  25. Your roast chicken dinner looks delicious. Your neighbors are very lucky people to be gifted a lovely meal. You are without doubt an excellent cook!

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  26. I love the mask, have always loved paisley and your roast looks wonderful, good on you for doing that

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  27. I have used colorful masks from the get-go. Besides being a bit jolly they make me more easy to spot on a crowd.

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    Replies
    1. I’ve seen the ones you’ve worn at the theatre x

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  28. This whole post was lovely. xx

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  29. Looks delicious.

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  30. Oo, sprouts!! I'd love me a pair of hamster ears rather than my great bat ears :)

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  31. My husband wears glasses and hearing aids. Using the regular elastic loops around his ears pops off his hearing aids and he's almost lost them. I looped a rubber band through each of the ear loops and threaded one through a large bead. He could loop put the bead at the back of his head and loop the other rubber band around it, so the mask wasn't fastened on his ears at all, just high on the back of his head. No more hearing aids flipped out of his ears and away. Recently I found an adjustable elastic clip on Amazon that actually worked better so ordered them. Very cheap, and even more comfortable. It looks like we're going to have to wear these masks for a while, might as well make them as comfortable as we possibly can.
    Good job with the delicious meals.

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  32. That mask is a nice change from the paper ones at work.

    The sheer enjoyment of cooking for others!

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  33. For some reason my recent comments to you dear John don't seem to publish! This is a 'test' to see what happens today!
    Mary in NC X

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    1. Seems OK now - fingers crossed for the future!

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  34. I have not worn a mask too often since May. I am not sure if that will continue to be the case as things change.

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  35. Anonymous11:04 pm

    I admire you wanting to cook, not only for yourself but for others too.
    Since I've been on my own, just over a year, I've not turned the oven on once and have either used just one small pan or the microwave.
    I know it's something I need to sort out, tonight's dinner was a tin of baked beans and I'm ashamed to say not only were they cold but I ate them out of the tin with a spoon. I just couldn't find the energy or enthusiasm to even warm them in the microwave.

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  36. Thanks John for all posts, your humour.....especially sproutbased...we have 2 smallish dogs who have made the last year or so bearable, funny and exasperating. Hope you are feeling better soon and take care xx

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