pumpkinstrokemarrow

Moving back to pedantry, it has just occurred to me that the phrase '& etc' is a tautology. The etc being short for 'et cetera' which is the Latin for 'and other things'. So no need to the leading '&' at all. But I am sure I am not the only offender here.

Moving on to lunch, did very well yesterday with BH knocking out one of her excellent Quiche Lorraines (although perhaps not quite up to the standards of whoever writes for http://www.quiche-lorraine.com). Served with salad, boiled potatoes and a pleasant young Sancerre from the cow herd's estate. Or at least that is what the label seemed to be saying. Followed by an adequate goat's cheese from Swaledale (£24 or so a kilo) and an interesting date and walnut slice. I did not like the cheese as much as the Swaledale I used to get from the cheese shop in Upper Tachbrook Street, but which is a lot further away than our local Waitrose. Date and walnut slice good; must have been more or less solid date and walnut with just a touch of glucose syrup to bind it together. Must have packed some calories.

We pondered about variations on the Quiche theme. Some people think that calling it Quiche Lorraine is pretentious and that the things should be called bacon and egg flans. Regular country fare anywhere decently to the west or north of London. No need to go to France, let alone Lorraine. The catch with this to my mind being that one of our cook books talks about a bacon and egg flan which is made with entire eggs. Presumably you wind up with a flan with what look like four fried eggs sitting on top. Not sure I like the sound of this too much; certainly a very different animal to that with which we are accustomed.

Craster kippers, again from Waitrose, followed later in the day. Funny how kippers from street markets are generally greatly inferior, despite the high class flannel & banter which comes with them.