Povey Prattle

Many of us are taking to the kitchen in these wretched Covid 19 days. This was my kitchen creation today:  "Soupe Savoyarde"   (Cream of Potato Soup with grated Gruyere Cheese) It came out well . Here is the recipe,  from the book "Twelve Months of Monastery Soups" by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila, ( Broadway Books 1998). 5 cups chicken stock. 4 large potatoes, peeled and sliced Two and a third cups of milk Four U.S. tablespoons of butter . 2/3  cup of  grated Gruyere cheese. Pour the chicken stock into a soup saucepan , and bring it to a boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook them, under cover for 30 mins. Blend the cooked spuds, then place them back into soup saucepan. Add the milk, butter, and grated Gruyere  cheese ( with salt and pepper to taste). Mix well and continue  to heat gently until the cheese is melted. (At my first taste test it was not cheesy enough, so I added some store bought grated "Mexican Blend" cheese). Then enjoy.

  I am part of a group of that name on Facebook. This is what I submitted today. It was published With my twin sister in 1944. I am the child holding the door key - evidently I was being fussy and the key served as a temporary rattle. My oldest sister (seven years older than we) was kneeling behind us to "prop us up" for the photo'. And yes, even little boys wore dresses in those days until they were potty trained. It made it so much easier to change nappies, in those days before velcro, disposable nappies and the like.

  Although the date for the the General Election in 3rd November 2020 I voted yesterday, for reasons I'll explain below. In truth I did not vote by mail.  "Just to be sure" I submitted my ballot in a sealed and signed envelope to the Office of the Supervisor of Elections;  at 11:00 a.m. yesterday. There were no queues, but I was one of a steady stream of early voters. The voting drop-box  "guarded " by an employee was wonderfully just inside the door. No walking long corridors! What a ballot it is Three pages of optical reader ballot forms  (one of the above is double sided); with a total thirty one political, public service; and referendum questions on which to vote. Can you imagine the long queues on election day, with voters hauling A4 sheets of paper out of their pockets to remind them of how they planned to place 31 votes!.  I voted early in the peace and quiet of my home. Voting was of course for President and Vice-President; for our Representati...

  The leftovers? Clotted Cream, too good to waste. The solution?  Take a "Granny Smith" Apple.  Score it and core it.   Stuff the core with raisins and brown sugar.   Bake it. Remove the peel. Top it with leftover clotted cream. So utterly delicious. But such a first world leftovers issue and solution.

  They put up signs, and I wonders!  ( Tongue in cheek, c/f Acts 6:12) Donald Trump's chief backer in Sarasota  (and maybe in Florida).  When Gruters was Chairman of the Sarasota Republican Party he twice honoured Trump as "Statesman of the Year", (before Trump ran for the Presidency). Road intersection jungle.   Which Sarasotans can identify the locality? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This one makes me sad. It makes me a bit sad because although we all understand the motivation; we also know that Jesus is not running for political office.   And "if he were?": -   we know from the Gospels that he would be neither a right wing Republican nor a left wing Democrat. You can't tie Jesus down that easily -  thank goodness. "Dear Jesus sign poster.  I know that you wish to witness to your faith.  But the finest way that Christians bear witness is through their  live...

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 ( See my previous posting "It Started With The Scones".) Scones with jam and clotted cream are usually eaten for Afternoon Tea (4:00 p.m. is the usual time in the U.K; and Afternoon  Tea is not to be confused with High Tea). Since I do not drink tea (nor do I indulge in Afternoon Tea)  I enjoyed the scones, jam and clotted cream for Breakfast. I won't make a habit of it, but once in a while this is a great way to start the day.

  Which my neighbour and friend John V made and brought to me. Scones need jam, usually strawberry.  I opted for gooseberry, goodness me I haven't had gooseberry jam in decades. (This one made in Ireland). Of course with clotted cream.  Label says made in Great Britain, let's hope it was in Devonshire or Cornwall. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nothing to do with scones, jam and cream,  but while I was at the store I bought a U.K. favourite  ----  Piccalilli ---  a super relish. Great in ham, meat or cheese sandwiches.  I'll use mine to help make Ham Salad later in the day. Also Ellcefechan Tarts from Scotland.  They are delicious -  these are as a gift to my friend Donna C.   Purchases at British Foods/ Scots Corner on 17th St in Sarasota.

  I was stopped at a traffic light on Beneva; waiting to cross Fruitville. Another car came up to my left.  I glanced over and thought "oh a couple of rednecks"; they were two young thirty something men. They smiled; then they laughed; then they pointed......... ....... at Zion who had his head out of the passenger seat window.  I drew up a bit so that they could get a better view. One said  "he is so beautiful, he has made our day". That's my Zion, creating joy each and every day. "Rednecks?".   I remember something about "never judge a book by its cover". Here's my boy, on Saturday 3rd October just after my friend Diego G and I had enjoyed coffee and conversation at the Panera Bread on University Parkway.