Povey Prattle

This week's special.   Old Clothes/ Ropa Vieja. Popular Cuban Dish. My brother Martyn put me on to this dish many months ago. I got around to making it today.  It is GOOD! Unfortunately I did not pay close attention to the recipe, and to  the cheaper cuts of beef which serves it well. I used bottom round which never became malleable enough to shred. Flank or chuck steak would have been better -  after long and low temperature cooking  those cuts are easily shredded with two forks - creating meat which looks like old torn clothes . I slow cooked then cubed the bottom round.  The flavour was good, but the dish never looked like ragged old clothes. Given the current extremely high price for all meats, many of us will be searching out those cheaper cuts which cooked carefully (which means slowly)  have great flavour. Many of us grew up on the flavour filled cheaper cuts of beef, lamb and pork.  We did well, thanks to our wise and skillful mothers...

MUNCHING It's that time of year in south west Florida.    It's ASPARAGUS TIME.  Oh heaven! Detwiller's Farm Market in Sarasota has White Asparagus in stock.  So sweet,  so tender.  So good that I am eating it raw. MUSIC I am a dedicated fan of Cleo Laine.  She (still alive at aged 97) has in my opinion the finest, purist, and most versatile singing voice in the western world. She nails it from Sondheim to Scat. I had a wonderful CD of Cleo singing the romantic classics with only a piano accompanist.  I lost or gave away it somewhere along the way. In need of a Cleo fix I ventured into the new world (for me)  of E-Bay. Cleo Laine - Unforgettable - The Best Of / Greatest Hits 2CD NEW/SEALED Total : GBP 13.89 Order number : 17-08250-95680 Item ID : 154588326176 It's on the way from the U.K    Estimated delivery: Sat, Feb 19 - Mon, Mar 14 Estimated delivery: Sat, Feb 19 - Mon, Mar 14   Your order will ship to: J Michael 3901 Glen O...

  INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp.  butter 1  clove garlic, minced 2 lb.  asparagus, ends trimmed, cut into 1" pieces Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 c.  low-sodium chicken broth 1/2 c.  heavy cream, plus more for garnish Freshly chopped chives, for garnish Freshly chopped dill, for garnish This ingredient shopping module is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content on their web site.   DIRECTIONS In a heavy pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add asparagus, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden, 5 minutes. Add broth and simmer, covered, until asparagus is very tender but still green, 10 to 15 minutes. Using an immersion or regular blender, puree soup. If using a regular blender, be sure to stop and remove lid a few times to avoid overheating the soup. Return to pot, stir in cream, then warm over low...

  What are we to think? Is it that the Cheesecloth is Gourmet?    If so,  can one also purchase "Comfort Food Cheesecloth" ,  or "Fast Food Cheesecloth"? Maybe I misunderstood.  Perhaps I am only allowed to use this cloth for Gourmet cheese. Which leads me to another question.  "Is there an International Society of Gourmands which supervises the appellation Gourmet"?  Or are Jane and John Doe who run a Café in Dullsville permitted to designate their BLT's  as GOURMET. Oh Dear. It starts with GOURMET CHEESE CLOTH.   It's a slippery slope.  If we let this pass it won't be long before GOURMET BATHROOM TISSUE will be on the market. Should I stop stop worrying about this?   Maybe I am confused.   It could be that Marjorie Taylor Green has been talking about  Gormless Cheesecloth. HELP!

  A charming and  amusing book by Roy Hattersley (one time Member of the U.K. Parliament, and Deputy Leader of the U.K. Labour Party). it's a telling, insightful and amusing account about the adoption of a Dog  f rom the dogs' point of view. The book has been published in the U.S.A.   It may or may not still be in print but I bet that you can find a pre-owned copy on- line Book Overview Buster, a half-German Shepherd mutt, was adopted by Roy Hattersley in December 1995. He began to dictate his diaries soon after his arrival. Buster became England's most famous dog in 1996 when he defended himself against a goose in St. James's Park -- a goose which, unfortunately, belonged to the Queen. Pursued by the press ever since, he has sought solace in writing. Buster's Diaries is the comically heart-warming true story of Buster's triumph over adversity, as he describes his rescue from a paw-to-mouth existence on scraps to his new life in the lap of luxury ...

I was visiting with my friend Ashley at Treymore Court  on Sat 5th Feb 2022 She and I wandered outside so that our dogs could have a pee break. Up the road came this wee one, visiting from North Carolina.   The little one was most taken with Zi.  He liked it. Oh for the joy of a tiny dog.  Oh for the sweetness of my dear Zion, being so tender with the wee one.  Brings tears to my eyes. Michael the Lachrymose.

  I received three in some change at a store today (6th Feb 2022), even though 7th Feb is the official release day. Already these commemorative quarters are on sale at $1.19 per  coin on various websites. Ain't  Capitalism great. Profiteering on a coin whilst being ignorant (or despising) the Woman being commemorated.