Leon Now Does Kedgeree
I had to leave early to get to the Burnley match for the 12:15 start. So I had this breakfast of mackerel kedgeree in Leon at Kings Cross station.
Leon Now Does Kedgeree
Very nice it was too!
I always think that kedgeree should be cooked more often!
You might wonder what this has to do with my trip to Gdansk!
I will be flying out of Liverpool Airport to Gdansk after seeing Ipswich at Burnley.
Porridge For Those On An Extreme Diet
I bought this pot of Nairn’s porridge in Waitrose at Canary Wharf
Porridge For Those On An Extreme Diet
Is it for those on extreme diets or is it a taste of what the English will get out of Scottish independence?
Essential Supplies For My Trip To Gdansk
Getting snacks en route in Germany is difficult, as everything is generally bread based. So I’m taking plenty of essential supplies.
Essential Supplies For My Trip To Gdansk
I’ve already booked the hotels and those in Gdansk, Warsaw and Berlin, should be OK for my gluten-free diet.
So the two EatNakd bars a day should suffice, if I can’t find anywhere for lunch.
A Gluten-Free High Street In Watford
I went to see Ipswich play at Watford yesterday and ate lunch in Carluccio’s in the High Street there. Their restaurant is actually in a sandwich between Nando’s and Jimmy’s World Grill, both of which seem to cater for gluten and other allergies.
A Carluccio’s Sandwich
There is also a Pizza Express on the other side of the road.
For the first time, I used the Overground to get to Watford, by travelling to Watford High Street station. This station is due to be rebuilt in the next few years as part of the Croxley Link project. As the Watford Junction station and the tracks through it are also being remodelled, it looks like Watford is getting a full transport makeover.
A Shepherd’s Pie With A Crust
Last night I experimented with the Genius bread and parmesan crust on a shepherd’s pie.
The recipe I used was my standard one. I actually just made enough for one, although I’ve now got enough in the fridge for a lunch later in the week.
It was good, but the next one will be better! Especially in the looks department.
The great thing about it, is that you don’t need to feel and mash the potato. I’m quite capable of doing that with my gammy left hand, but I like to try to be the laziest cook in London.
Celery, Ham And Spinach Gratin
This recipe from Lindsey Bareham was my supper last night and there is enough left for lunch today.
Celery, Ham And Spinach Gratin
Perhaps the most interesting thing is the topping. I just took two slices of Genius soft brown sliced loaf, took off the crusts and then blitzed them in my Little Chopper with a couple of table-spoonfuls of finely grated parmesan. Simple, efficient and perfect every time! I use the same topping in Cinty’s fish pie.
I said I would have it for lunch today. This is the cold gratin on my plate.
Cold Gratin For Lunch
It was very nice and the crust held-up well after a night in the fridge.
To The Football At Huddersfield
I arrived in Manchester on my trip from Southport at Piccadilly and had the long walk from Platform 13 to the main concourse to get the tram to my hotel. There are plans to put another two platforms here, so careful design must be used to avoid worsening a nightmare interchange.
I had a bath and then returned to Piccadilly for supper in Carluccio’s. This branch seems to be much faster than most and I’ve not missed a train yet there, due to a slow meal.
I nearly did this time though, as the next Huddersfield train left at 18:11 and I didn’t get to Platform 13 until 18:15. But the crowded train was late!
I was in my seat half-an-hour before the match started.
Ipswich won 2-0 and I was able to catch the 22:00 train back to Manchester, where I had a non-alcoholic nightcap in Carluccio’s.
I suspect that Piccadilly needs almost to create a new concourse linking the dreaded Platforms 13 and 14 and the proposed two new ones to the lines in the main station, at the far end of the station.
Let’s hope some of the UK’s best architects are working on creating a station fit for the twentieth century, let alone the twenty-first!
The Kiosks In Kings Cross Square
When I wrote this post in February 2013, I said this about the architect’s job.
Note the short fat tower to the left of the centre of the picture. This must be the top of some sort of shaft and if you look it is also in the design of the new piazza. I bet the architects are cursing it, very loudly!
Today, I took these pictures, which show two kiosks for drinks and snacks.
The architects seem to have defeated the short fat towers.
Accurately Measuring Rice
I had half a chilli con carne last night for supper last night and I needed to cook some rice. My rice method needs 65 ml. of long grain rice for each person, together with 130 ml. of water
I have a standard Pyrex measure, but I generally measure things by weight using a letter balance. It is easy to convert water from ml. to grams, by just changing the units as the specific gravity of of water is unity. So I searched the Internet to find out what is the value of the specific gravity of long grain rice. I couldn’t find anything, so in the end I measured it using my letter balance. Surprisingly the specific gravity is nearly unity.
So I then weighed 65 grams of rice on the scale, after zeroing it to account for the tumbler and then carefully added 130 grams of water.
Accurately Measuring Rice
The rice certainly tasted as good as packet rice in the microwave.
The Anonymous Widower 