posted by Kate on Sep 26
photo credit: JoeBehrPalmSprings
The European Commission is imposing bans on imported milk products and other foods will be tested for melamine.
Maybe we just don’t realise how lucky we are in this country, we might be in a recession but our food safety standards remain high.
Still don’t think I’ll be having a takeaway anytime soon - but then I’ve always been wary of them!!!!
posted by Kate on Sep 24
Just here I found something that explained all the reasons for the work I am currently doing.
Babies in China being made ill or killed by the introduction of melamine to their baby milk formula. At best kidney stones or at worst, death. What kind of madness is that? According to form the company held back from recalling the product believing they could handle it, but the figures are huge: some 13,000 people affected and this could be the tip of the iceberg as other products are found to contain melamine.
Daily, in my job, I assist companies in the retail supply chain to fill in their supplier risk assessments for our clients, they log in and answer the food safety questions and submit the assessment onto our website. This provides traceability in the chain of food production and, should there be a problem our customers can see at a glance who supplies their ingredients and where they come from. I imagine China does not work to the same standard
Does this mean that given time these potentially lethal products containing melamine are going to land on our supermarket shelves or maybe they are already here? What do you think?
photo credit: Cindy Funk
posted by Kate on Sep 21
When I bought this bungalow six years ago I loved the fact that it had a carport which was joined both sides (mine and my next door neighbours) and ran the whole length of the house until it joined with the garage at the back, thus making it like an extra room. I housed the freezer out there and had some seating, decorated it with fairy lights and it made a lovely big area to sit in the evening.
Trouble was it had plastic corrugated roofing and this started to leak until it eventually cracked up and blew away in the wind this summer.
I had always had a dream that I would put the hot tub in there with some nice wooden garden furniture but that dream was fast becoming a nightmare.
My partner decided he would build me a new carport and attach it as before but with a proper felted roof and has spent many a weekend doing just that. But this weekend it was finished and I could start to dress it up a bit.
Yesterday, while he was coating the roof with aluminium paint I cleaned out the hot tub. Then we moved it in along with other items of furniture and many of my trinkets purchased in Gran Canaria.
We filled the tub and set it to heat - it takes a day and a half!
I moved a wardrobe that my daughter had discarded and put necessities like dog food and wellies in it, then took the shelving that the dog food had been on and stocked it with the hot tub paraphernalia.
So now I need to clear the garage which has the freezer, my daughter’s woodlathe and my gardening stuff in, not to mention the tumble dryer but that can wait!
Tonight I have an appointment with a large glass of cold rose wine and some hot fragranced bubbles. I am not going to look in the direct of the garage and more hard work - in fact I just might close my eyes!!!
Note to self - make sure Max is in the house before removing the lid of the tub!!!
posted by Kate on Sep 21
You know what its like - it gets to that time of year when your freezer has more ice than contents. you know you have to eat those strange things you don’t know why you bought, or, throw them away but that’s such a waste.
I’m fortunate, my daughter and I went through this a few months ago and now after a severe defrosting we actually have things we like in there, except the runner beans in my daughter’s case.
My partner, however is going through the final stages of clearing the freezer prior to blasting it with the hairdryer and making room for more goodies.
Last night he cooked a beautiful steak and kidney pud for me - it was delicious! But this morning he said that we would have to have fish in a bag this week as it was one of things that had to go. He made it sound horrible and I suppose it isn’t very enthralling at the best of times. I said I’d take the offending packet of four cod portions in parsley sauce and try to make them interesting for supper on Monday evening.
I’m hoping its worked but the proof of the pudding etc…….
I put the frozen blocks of fish in sauce in a dish and put a layer of broad beans, peas and sweetcorn over them. Then I mashed some potato with butter and cheese and forked it over the top, covered it with grated cheese and italian herbs and decorated with home grown tomato. It looks good doesn’t it?…….
I’ll let you know what it tastes like!!! But at least its not fish in a bag!!!!
posted by Kate on Sep 19
photo credit: fotosdexalapa
Night school began again last night and the numbers have diminished. Spanish 4 was attended by six people and 5 of us were together last year so it was a bit of a reunion.
Our teacher is lovely very young and a lot of fun.
We started and there were the usual embarrassed silences while our rusty brains started to work. Then it all came back (to me at least) and I found myself chatting again.
Trouble is I was getting asked loads after that and because I was cracking jokes in spanish I got the feeling ‘teach’ was picking on me - in the nicest possible way of course.
Still - its good to be back! I will let you know how it goes!
Hasta pronto amigos!!!
posted by Kate on Sep 18
Hello, Good evening and welcome to the best and most musical dinner party ever!
The house is clean and fairylit (as usual), candles flicker making the atmosphere relaxed and perfumed.
The menu is simple but good:
We will be starting with a fruit sorbet to clear the palate, followed by chicken with lemon, lime and ginger, baby herby roast potatoes, mixed salad and freshly cooked bread with butter.
The sweet is home made apple pie with cream, followed by a cheese board and coffee.
And all washed down with a few gallons of Nuit St George.
The guests are starting to arrive - come and meet them with me….
Firstly its my lovely son, Keiron who got me into all this in the first place. Computers, email, blogging and of course this meme.
“Grab a glass of vino KP and enjoy!”
Next, oh look its John Lennon:
“Hi John, thanks for attending - no don’t thank me, all I’ll take in payment is you singing ‘Woman” for me and my guests.”
“Hi Denis - your little task will be to sing ‘Hearts like yours and mine’ for me and ‘Shine Son’ for Keiron”
Note to self - take valium quickly - you know what Denis Locorriere’s voice does to you.
Here we are - Mark Bolan and Justin Hayward have just turned up together - “Welcome boys - my requests are ‘Get it on’ and ‘Forever Autumn’ - grab a glass of wine and tune up your tonsils!”
“Barry McGuire - good to see you - it will be ‘Eve of Destruction’ from you babe - that song says it all.”
“Leo Sayer fantastic we’ll be ‘Dancing the night away later!’
“And last but by no means least - the first guest singer of the evening - it’s Jon Bon Jovi!!! - Take it away Jon - ‘It’s my life’ - it certainly is - and what an evening. ”
photo credit: audrey_sel
Must go and enjoy……
Oh but before I go
The Rules:
Oh! who is that at the window peering through the glass wanting to come in? It’s Grandad Just back from France bless him! Sorry Grandad there’s no room - maybe next time
posted by Kate on Sep 14
As usual this time of year approaches and I need to convert my amazing mint leaves into mint sauce.
I have tried many different ways to chop the leaves small enough not to give the diner a huge mint leaf to chew with roast lamb, but mostly have ended up chopping the leaves for hours with scissors. Effective but soooo boring and time consuming.
This year I searched the internet as usual looking for ways and found out that some people use a food processor.
I remembered that I had one somewhere - it was one I had bought in 1970 when I used to make wedding cakes for my friends. It had been stored in a box in a cupboard (the worst thing you can do with a kitchen gadget) and had even moved house with me six years ago only to be stored in the same box in a different cupboard.
I got it out - noted that the newspaper it was wrapped in was twenty years old, gave it a wash and loaded it up with washed mint leaves.
It was a success, although the leaves get a bit mushy and a little vinegar and sugar mix was called for but, no problem and my mint sauce was made for another year.
Fired with enthusiasm I knocked up a batch of pastry mix for the fridge - much easier than mixing and rolling all in one go!
And then I decided to make yorkshire puds for the freezer - and they were amazing - just look…
And all this in minutes from my 38 year old Braun food processor - it will no longer be kept in a cupboard but on the worktop - possibly not next to my more up to date items, as you will agree it does look a little dated….
But obviously built to last!!
posted by Kate on Sep 6
I have got a new job!!!
After 21 years of dealing with complaints, data, health and safety and ISO I never thought that if I changed my job I would also change my career completely!
I applied for many different roles while I was job searching, many I would never have wanted but it took an interview to make me realise and why, oh why did the people who had the jobs I didn’t want, always want me?
In the end there were just three that were on my shortlist - one was a receptionist role where I could use my languages, one was another customer service role and last but not least was a sales and support role for a company called QADEX. A company that can provide a service to the food industry which in turn will ensure food safety for all of us consumers. And that was the one that I started last Tuesday. It was an exciting day and I received cards - that was a first, I have never had a new job card before…
I have to admit from the first interview I was really interested in this role, it’s been many many years since my City and Guilds Catering Course and my Food Handling Certificate, and though I have continued to have an interest in all types of cooking this job appeared to be way above my head!
The company provides a website where food companies can house information. All suppliers must fill in supplier audit questionnaires on an annual basis to satisfy the authority standard and QADEX has successfully automated the process. Technical managers whose company has signed up for this service just log on and fill their product specifications in online. Developed by food technologists this website has the potential to make paper based auditing a thing of the past.
My role is to support any supplier who has a concern with their questionnaire although if they have BRC accreditation their number of questions can be reduced quite dramatically. I also conduct online free demo’s of the site to show prospective suppliers what is undoubtedly the way forward for their supplier auditing. I also have a brand new crm system to administrate which is fantastic!
The boss is young and full of new ideas, an absolute pleasure to work with:
A brave man posing for my blog!!!
The days go so quickly and are never dull - I had almost forgotten what it is like to drive to work with a smile on my face. My colleagues all think the same although this one had a serious moment when I took his picture….
Well that’s it for now other than to show you my incredibly tidy desk
I’m sure I will have more to say when I understand it all!!!!
But hey! I’m happy and that’s what counts!
