Tuesday, November 02, 2021

 

La fete des morts


Again, there is little or nothing to report. Again, no knitting. No bath, either – the water wasn’t hot. It’s always hot, but we’ve been fiddling with the controls lately, trying to turn the central heating on. I think I’ve put it right – I must check before I go to bed. The boiler controls are every bit as bad as the ones for my new microwave.

 

The trouble with that is, it isn’t just a microwave. It’s also a convection oven (whatever that means) and an air fryer. I don’t think – from various comments here and there – that it’s desperately good at either of those two latter functions, but its party trick is that it can combine all three, as needed. I have been pursuing videos on YouTube, and have learned a little. The trouble is, the presenters either understand every button and function but haven’t really time to explain; or they are taking it out of the box for the first time and plugging it in and smiling, and don’t know any more than I do.

 

Chloe, I’ve heard from several sources that a microwave can be brilliant for vegetables. I think maybe I need some microwave-type containers with lids.

 

The cheetah kittens are three weeks old today. Their little legs are doing better at holding them up but they still can’t frolic about. This fourth week should make a big difference in that respect. Their spots are becoming more conspicuous under their mouse-fur.

 

William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who will one day be King and Queen, travelled to Glasgow by train for the jamboree, and have been going about doing public appearances in an electric car. That shows a proper respect for the topic, anyway. Biden arrived in three jumbo jets (one of them being Air Force One). But I don’t know whether the other two were for transporting limousines, or whether that was extra. Beverly (comment Sunday), I don’t think anybody needs that much protection.

9 comments:

  1. Microwaves are very good for vegetables. Just need some Saran Wrap or waxed paper to cover. I'm sure specific directions are online.

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  2. I do many vegetables in the microwave: asparagus, acorn squash, which I cut in half at the equator, remove the seeds, fill with orange juice, dust with nutmeg and allspice. I put it in a nice round bowl with high sides and cover with a microwave top. 8 minutes on high. Perfect!
    Mostly I use the microwave for reheating...
    Love hearing about the goings on in Glasgow.

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    Replies
    1. That squash recipe sounds delicious!

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  3. I bought a red plastic steamer from Lakeland some years ago and we do all our veg in that. I cook potatoes and roast veg (ahhh, roast garlic, mmm) and makes cakes and scones in the air fryer, a separate contraption.

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  4. I often pre-cook vegetables like beets, potatoes and winter squash, then finish roasting them in the oven. The process goes much more quickly and still has that oven roasted/baked goodness.

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  5. Anonymous5:17 PM

    I'd like to share with you my son's instructions on handing me the TV remote control.

    "Here you are, Mum" he said "Press buttons and hope!"

    Helen (Anon)

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  6. =Tamar5:54 PM

    If you don't like plastic, most ordinary china can be microwaved, just beware of metallic trim like gold or silver rims. I use Pyrex or the equivalent oven-proof tempered glass bowls. (Be cautious with other glass; they used to claim all glass would work, but some will shatter. Also, I believe Corelle [TM] china loses its shatter-protected qualities if microwaved.) Never run it empty; somehow that damages the works.
    I'm sure you can learn to use the controls - you have mastered computers!

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    1. I agree, I don't want more plastic (and not all are microwave safe!). like you I prefer pyrex, simple bowls will do and a normal plate as cover! I don't trust cling film that gets hot anyway, soft plastics can release stuff....

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  7. Yes I like the advice Helen received from her son - PRESS THE BUTTONS AND HOPE. That's it in a nutshell.

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