Soop's Special Kitcheners

Phew, Bella, that was lucky! Glad you got your purse back, you need your wits about you these days, wherever you may be.

I saw Mia watching the base of the wheelie bin, went to move it, and there was the sweetest looking little mouse quivering underneath, it was only small, roundish, with charcoal grey fur, quite fluffy looking, so I gently replaced the bin, chased Mia off, then let the pretty little thing make it`s escape, couldn`t bear to think of her killing it.

Hubby goes into hospital tomorrow for his stoma reversal operation, can`t eat or drink after 6pm today, so we have to have tea earlier than usual. He has to check in no later than 7.30am in the morning, and I HATE getting up early!

Hello granspals, are there any of you in the kitchen? I've come to update you on our stay so far.

Last night we found a little Trattoria and had a superb meal (though please don't let my doctor know I fell off the wagon) Well, you can't be in Rome and not have a glass of vino

Today didn't get off to a very good start. We had a nice breakfast and then, because it was chucking it down with rain, decided to take the metro to Villa Borghese. We boarded a packed train and a young woman banged into me so I tried to find a bit of space nearer to DH. It was then I looked down and realised the zip on my handbag was open and my purse gone

Good thing I have a loud voice, because I protested loudly that this girl had my purse. She tried to get out of it by showing us her big, empty bag which she had hidden under a poncho. Fortunately, a few other passengers started having a go at her and she dropped my purse on the floor and fled at the next stop. Quite amazing how quickly she did it but I'm glad she didn't get away with it as all my credit cards, ID card etc would have had to be cancelled. It has taught me a lesson that's for sure.

We enjoyed the Borghese Galleries and it kept us out of the rain which has been relentless all day. Went to the Vatican this afternoon. Been many, many times but it is worth the queuing just to see Michaelangelo's Pieta.

Now back at our very nice hotel having a cuppa and catching up with all your news.

I love the mouse stories. We were plagued by them last year and one particular little brown one used to peek out from a corner of our bedroom. I took a photo of it and actually enjoyed its company as DH was in hospital at the time. It was so cute and Beatrix Potteresque, but DH had no qualms in annihilating the poor little thing and it's relatives

Take care everyone.

I counted 25 starlings on one of our cherry trees yesterday. We have never had them in the garden until,this year. I have noticed the blackbirds have started to,challenge them and I have a hiding place for one solitary robin who appears in the same spot every year. So far, the other lot haven't found it . We both do the spider thing but gosh, they are getting bigger every year!

What a fickle character Mike turned out to be Galen running off with a millionairess! Having impeccable taste does indeed have it's drawbacks. Finding one or two to fit your profile may be the answer

Thanks. I'll try that

We used to have a dishy milkman, years ago. It was only when he left that I discovered that it was more than milk that was being delivered. He lost his job when a couple of irate husbands found out, which was very sad because he was wonderful with the older single people on his round and really looked after them.

I am constantly revising it, Galen. Do you make bread? I started off making the enriched dough version, similar to that for hot cross buns. With eggs and butter. But found it to be too heavy, I wanted to recreate the fluffier drier less sweet ones I remember from my youth.

225g strong white bread flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp fast action dried yeast
15g soft light brown sugar (generous TBS)
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, or mixed spice
75g mixed dried fruits , I use either sultanas, or the mix with peel in it.
40g butter, melted (or lard)
120ml full fat milk, plus extra for glazing.

Sift the flour, salt, yeast, sugar and nutmeg into a large bowl. Stir in the dried fruits and make a well in the centre. Put the milk and butter into a saucepan and heat just until warm to the touch. Pour into the flour mixture and work together to make a soft dough.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and place onto a floured plate. cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and punch down. Divide into 8 portions of equal size. Shape each portion into a ball. Flatten slightly and arrange on a large nonstick baking sheet, or oil and flour a tray. Cover lightly with a large tea towel and leave to rise again until double in size, about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. Brush the tops with some milk. Bake for 15 minutes until risen and golden brown. Transfer after a couple of minutes to a wire rack to cool.

Or I make them in the breadmaker. I don't get such good results though, they don't rise as much.

I double the quantities above and make a dozen, we like our teacakes a bit larger. In which case they take around 20 mins.

Janer can I have your recipe for tea cakes? Pretty please?

I have impeccable taste in men ( it's so impeccable, I can't find one that comes up to spec!)

Mike the milkman was so dishy that a millionairess nicked him!

And soop - yes, he is lucky to have you.

Agus I have to admit that when it comes to spiders of more than 3" across, DBH does have his uses.

I am trying to keep the starlings off mine, I have resorted to using a teeny hanging house, but they still manage to cling to it. It rather makes me feel sorry for even the pigeons, as the starlings are newcomers to our garden but definitely have the upper hand. They want fat, but so do the robins.

I was so pleased when Winter watch mentioned 5 or 6 male robins all feeding together. I have two or three at once in this garden frequently at winter feeding time, but no-one has ever believed me!

The same happens here jane. Whenever there is a moose loose aboot the hoose, I am the one to deal with it then DH repeats the old chestnut, you are so much better at these things! . When he is asleep, not even the house alarm which I have accidentally triggered wakens him!

Agree it's vice-versa soop. Kismet no doubt.

I have been making fat balls this morning and some bird cake as I have discovered if I put any feed under a couple of benches, seagulls and pigeons can't access it

Indeed you are. I am the one who has to deal with mouse invasions and dripping noisy loos at night in this house. DBH cannot be roused, apart from a sort of grumbly rumbling.

I used to save up the mice in their humane houses traps and drive off to a distance of at least two miles with them. Than a friend said I was cruel because of the stress the experience was causing the mice, and I should use a normal trap! You really can't win.

The Males have eaten the whole batch of 12 teacakes, I only had one. I was rather shocked but have to admit it is rather the weather for them. I have just had to get another batch of them going. My calculation of a maximum of one a day in light of DBH's permanent diet was clearly way out.

I SO wish I was in Rome.

I think it's vice-versa too soop!

I have reached the conclusion that I am married to a most unusual, kind hearted man.

It is glorious here in bonnie Kintyre. The sea looks like shot taffeta as the sunshine glints off the rippled surface. There is not a whisper of a breeze. I took a photo of a red fishing boat as it passed by on Monday. MacSporran will put it on to a flash drive and I shall share with you later.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall tell you what happened at approximately 1.30 this cold and frosty morning.

I slept soundly the entire night through. As we drank our early morning tea, I asked MacS - did you sleep well? He replied...yes, apart from taking another (same?) mouse for a ride along the road to the Ronachan layby (approx. a mile away) where he was released into a bank of dry, cosy rushes. When I enquired - and what did Rory do when he saw you (in your anorak and woolly beanie hat) as you left the house with the mouse in the trap in the early hours...he replied, 'he went to the door with me and waited on the doormat until I returned'...

I have told MacS that this wee tail tale is being related to his Gransfans. He smiled becomingly.

Thanks Crafting- Grindelwald is where we used to go on school trips when I was a 6th Former here. 100 kids per dorm, in 50 bunks- and no showers, just stell sinks with cold taps! Last time was 1969- when they were filming On Your Majesty's Secret service- Diana Rigg and Lazenby.

Born and bred and live in the French speaking part though- near the town of Neuchâtel.

Granjura we have been to Interlaken, Grindlewald and Davos. Love them all especially in the snow.

Soop it sounds as though you are adopting another pet. Your mouse obviously likes shortbread, have you tried a wee dram too?

Are you sure about Galen's taste in men Soop? She went on holiday with Mike the milkman but never mentioned him on her return???

Yep, at least 1 mile- across the road just won't do-that moos will be back in the hoos.

Well done soop, or a wee dram for you!
I have been told mice need to be relocated at least a mile from 'home' it 'they will return' (clearly either very intelligent or incredibly stupid).
Yours obviously thought you were very generous and came back for seconds!
Rory clearly thinks his humans are capable of managing without his input...... Bless!

This is an historic moment...Our files are almost immaculate. MacSporran says that I'm a "wonder"...tee hee. Time to ride my exercise bike and then I must feed the pussy cats. Warm hugs. I shall look forward to catching up with you lovely lot tomorrow.

I've been dashing away with the smoothing iron for the best part of the morning. I do so love walking back into our cosy home, and settling down to drink freshly brewed coffee as I catch up with my Granspals. Good afternoon to you all.

Bella When in Rome...enjoy yourselves. Otherwise, us lot will be disappointed. Please try to take a photo of Galen's centurion. She has a wonderful taste in dishy men.

Charleygirl Tara's taste for curry, is certainly exotic. You are so right...a meal of roast chicken is top of Rory's wish list.

In the early hours of this morning, the humane trap click-closed. A wee mouse had succumbed to temptation...a piece of Tartan shortbread. Within minutes MacS had dressed warmly and removed the wee mouse to the bushes across the road. At 3am a mouse (possibly the very same one) called again and was trapped. In spite of the bitter cold, MacS went through the same procedure and said mouse was placed under the shrubs across the way. In the meantime, Rory (he who long ago was deemed savage and unapproachable) continued to sleep.

I'm in a better frame of mind today. I shall therefore return to tidying the Olympus desk top photo files...thousands of them.

Galen we have a road near us called (very picturesquely) Slash Lane which floods if a rain cloud even passes overhead. A Roman Centurion is rumoured to walk down there every evening at dusk looking for the other centurions. We are quite close to Fosse Way so it's feasible!!

Buon giorno from Rome.

annodomini it would have been lovely to have been able to meet! I wish we had been there last week as it is raining at present which is not the weather we ordered

Galen - I shall go in search of your centurion tomorrow and see if I can sneak a photo of him without having to pay for the privilege

Ciao for now, Granspals

Crafting, where have you been in Switzerland? Our area is not touristy at all (which is one of the reasons we love it).