Povey Prattle

For more than you need to know about Kippers see this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kipper British born as I am I'm a Kipper aficionado.   I consider them to be one of the great  gourmet foods from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. I ordered some from a Scottish Gourmet Foods outfit in Greensboro', North Carolina.   See https://www.scottishgourmetusa.com/index.php They arrived all smoked and butterflied looking like this: I beheaded them, de-tailed them, and de-finned them for my breakfast today.    I broiled one half,  and ate it for my breakfast with two poached eggs and some good bread. Oh Joy!   Oh Bliss!  Oh Gustatory Delight! Even better, I have another half Kipper for Sunday's Breakfast. If any of my American friends are willing to try Kippers I'll order some, on the condition that they are also willing to try and eat Steak and Kidney Pudding.

They arrived by U.P.S. at 7:15 p.m. I had been waiting all day! Wonderful Scottish Dundee Cake, and Kippers, glorious Kippers.  (Not to be eaten together!).  Kippers for breakfast or lunch, Dundee Cake for afternoon tea. I'll (somewhat grudgingly) share the kippers with my friends Jack and Donna Chrisman who grew to like them when they lived in the U.K. and in Norway).  --------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Scottish Gourmet, U.S.A  (based in Greensboro', North Carolina) ------------------------------------------------------------. Vive l'Ecosse

Oh the adventures I have! As Zion and I left Arlington Park in Sarasota at about 8:00 a.m. this morning  we came across a mother and son who were also completing their walk with their dog  (maybe a Shih Tzu mix)   The wee dog was a bit shy, but was soon seduced with Zion's charm. But the boy (maybe aged 10 and certainly named Isaac ) was utterly entranced with my dear Zion, and paid my dog some gentle physical attention - much to the liking of Z.   Isaac asked many questions about Z.  I pointed out Zion's double dew claws - perhaps an indication of Zion's Great Pyrenees heritage. It was time for us to go our separate ways : - Isaac to school with his Mum, and I to home. But just before we parted I said "Isaac, there is one more thing I want you to see". I hoisted my walking shorts about two inches and said "Isaac, here is a great pair of knees". This good boy paused for a second, and then he got it!..  He began to laugh, and laugh, an...

The hardback books which I often read are getting longer and heavier, e.g. anything by Ron Chernow or Robert Caro. My arms and hands are slowly losing strength  -  getting weighed down by heavy reading! Help is at hand.    My desktop/tabletop Lectern arrived today.

When I get crabby I think of crab cakes. I wasn't crabby today, but I had one of my home made cakes for supper tonight. Misshaped, albeit utterly delicious crab cake, with heirloom tomatoes and coleslaw. Oh so good!    I take no credit as a cook.  I am simply a "food assembler" who follows a fine recipe.   These home made crab cakes have a ratio of crab to filler (in this case 5:1), exceeding by far yer average restaurant version. And them heirloom tomatoes -  ah so sweet, ah so juicy. "Amish Style" coleslaw courtesy of Sarasota's  Detwiler's  Farm Market. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Eat your shells out Maryland!

I recently read an article which mentioned Dundee Cake. I salivated at the memory of such a rich fruit cake. I want some  -  or do I?   Memory is tricky. I am not very fond of American made cakes which all too often are very spongy, with a sickly sweet frosting. But I remember my mother's rich fruit cakes, and the store bought Dundee Cake. Here's a bit about the latter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundee_cake Despite all the American Christmas jokes about the fruit cakes which are passed on from generation to generation, I am a fervent fan of fruit cake. I am about to order (on line) a genuinely  Scottish make Dundee Cake. I'll let you know if it is as good as my memory tells me.