Tuesday 17 November 2015

Smallholding Home/Supper On The Range.

It's storm Barney time here on the Sheeps Head Peninsula in South West Ireland today.    Living on a peninsula can be very windy at times.  The last few days have been horribly wet and windy outside.  

The garden  and the veg plot are far too wet and windy to work at present.  I can't mow the grass and I can't weed.  At least the cattle are in their shed with the slatted tank eating our hay we made back in June.

So it's was a stay inside day for us today.  The terrier (Fido) wasn't daft and she always finds the best seat or (bed) on the house.  Here she is plonked down in front of our Stanley Mourne (number 7) solid fuel range.  We are going through turf and firewood like there is no tomorrow at the moment. 



On top of the stove is our tea cooking away in our Tagine.  Beef Chilli Con Carne to be precise.  It's delicious cooked in a tagine.  

We have decided to have Sirloin steak for Christmas day.  I wouldn't mind a nice pudding or gateaux for afters.  We might make one.  Hmm...?

I believe Iceland is opening some new stores in Ireland.  So we will probably go to Tralee for Christmas shopping.  Wonder if they sell meat and potato pies in those plastic bags?  Hollands or Pukka will suffice!

Think I might treat myself to a nice bottle of Scottish malt too.  Dalwhinnie is superb.  What are you having for Christmas dinner?

24 comments:

  1. I dont blame you staying indoors its a bit wild here too, lights flickering on and off, glad we have a multifuel rayburn, Christmas is a very low key affair here, we will have a couple of lobsters with some scallops and crab claws in front of the fire :-)

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    1. Hi Dawn.

      The lights have been flickering here also. We always have the candles, matches and torches at the ready. Christmas is very quiet here. See to the cattle and read blogs, emails and settle down for Christmas dinner and a few drinks and watch the television. Your lobsters in front of the fire sound wonderful! I love looking into the fire. Will probably light the fire in the front room too.

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  2. Adore the photo of sweetpea, Fido asleep in front of the oven.
    Best place to be on a wet cold day.
    We still have Thanksgiving to get through before Christmes.
    But I am thinking Duck but we shall see.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Thanks angry parsnip. Fido is a pure pet and she's 13 years old. She's been a good ratter in her time. We had a Mexican theme for Christmas last year. We have decided to help the beef farmers and eat steak this year. Thanks!

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  3. Just started using our Rayburn wood burning stove, but only for heating at the moment. Your tagine looks intriguing, so will have a recce on YouTube to see what they are and how to cook in one. As for Christmas..... very low key here as well, no plans as yet, and none are likely to be made either, not this year anyway, still too much to do with trying to get the house straight! Good excuse don't you think!

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    1. Hi Vera. A tagine would be a great addition to your Rayburn. They are made out of clay and they steam/stew your meal but you don't lose your spices. I think they originate in Morocco. We bought ours from a French lady in Bantry. Look forward to following your smallholding adventures!

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  4. I always said that the next dog we had would be called Fido. Everyone said that NOBODY actually calls their dog that.. So you have proved them wrong! ha ha.
    Nothing low-key about Christmas Day here in wildest (very wild tonight) Derbyshire. A whole leg of our own pork and a free range turkey, bought by a dear friend who comes every Christmas day, for Dinner and cold roast beef and other cold meats and cheeses for tea/supper. 16+ for lunch and 25+ for supper. Same every year.
    Re. the garden, luckily we dug up the last of our potatoes yesterday, which was only just dry enough to dig. Whereas today it would have been impossible.

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    1. Hi Frugal In Derbyshire. Somebody asked me the same thing about Fido the other month. I said I had never met a dog called Fido so I called it her so. I think Fido is Latin for: "I trust" or "I obey".

      Wish we had company like that for Christmas. There will be just 4 or 5 humans for Christmas dinner helped with the cat and dogs. The cattle get a good feed too. Thanks!

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  5. Last year on Christmas Day, we pleased ourselves and BBQed ( yes in the NW of England) a huge piece of Aberdeen Angus ! It was divine!

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    1. Aberdeen Angus ("the black polly") is superb. Thanks!

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  6. Been very busy here making Christmas puddings for sale at the Craft fairs and loads of marmalade again for the craft fairs, first one this coming Sunday. Organic bronze turkey ordered and running around a few miles from here and a nice rib of Organic Dexter from the same farm, that's due for slaughter this week. We might make a pudding for ourselves and maybe we will make a cake if we can be bothered! It's far more fun doing it for other people.

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    1. They use to call the Dexter "the small farmer's cow" here in Ireland, Anne. I have seen it for sale in Dingle. Wouldn't mind some organic sirloin for Christmas dinner. You will have to show us all how to make your Christmas pudding on your blog. Thanks!

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  7. oh what I would give for a range :( lucky bugger :)
    we're having the usual Turkey so it will last us a few day more, being just me and the hubby, so it's more economical to get one, I'm buying cranberry juice this week , so we can have mulled cranberry juice, much cheaper than wine :) and I'm also buying mincemeat ingredients to start the mince pies. oh,and more candles in case of powercuts

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    1. Hi MEOD. We use to have a Christmas cupboard. Each week we would buy an extra few items and put them in the cupboard for Christmas. It didn't take long to fill the cupboard and we always had food in on rough winter days. Look forward to reading about your mince pies on your blog.

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  8. Your dog def looks like he's got the best place to keep warm. It's quite windy over here too. For xmas dinner I'm catering for a vegan, also a fussy eater and then the rest of the family, so who knows?

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    1. We usually have a buffet type Christmas dinner BG. It sounds like you are going to be busy keeping your guests happy. Why not suggest they give you a few ideas of what food they like? I am sure you will have a great day. Thanks!

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  9. P.s but the wine will be flowing so I guess I won't care!

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  10. Iceland's closed down up here Dave. We haven't decided what we're having for Christmas dinner yet, but everyone's fed up with turkey so I'll cross it off the list. ;-)

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    1. Hi Deb. Marks and Sparks have some excellent Christmas food and offers if you want to be posh. We hate leftovers (especially Turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey curry...) and the dogs get a good dinner and no awful poultry carcase next day. Especially if you are feeling a bit rough after too much over indulgence. We are having Sirloin steak because that's what we would choose if we went out for a posh slap up meal. Thanks!

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  11. We haven't had a turkey for several years now so maybe go back to that this year. Last year we had a brace of pheasants but I missed having cold meat for sandwiches the next day. I will see what happens when I get to the shops on Christmas Eve, there are always some fresh ones left and if not I'll take what I can get. Christmas doesn't start for me until Christmas Eve!

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  12. Christmas is one day for us Rachel. It's so dragged out and there is so little to do on the days after it. I might get Sky back so we can watch some football on the television again.

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  13. Love your stove! I am not sure what we will have for Christmas Dinner. Thanksgiving is next week and I have yet to get our meal planned for that :O).

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  14. Thanks Texan. The stove is great. We cook, heat the water and run 7 radiators off it. No big fuel bills. Enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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