Goals for March 2026

This month's goals are to exercise every day (when possible) and to make two items for my wardrobe.

The exercise consisted of half a km of very painful and slow walking. There are times when the body just does not want to co-operate.

My current wardrobe make is a cardigan/jacket made from King Cole Tints, in the colour 'Neptune'. It's a glorious combinations of teal and purple, and will be able to be worn with so many items in my wardrobe. There are some summer clothes it will clash with, but it's a thick super chunky yarn, and it isn't a summer yarn.

Books read or listened to in February 206

Fortunate Son - Caimh McDonnell

The Family Jewels - Caimh McDonnell

Firewater Blues - Caimh McDonnell

Dead Man's Sins - Caimh McDonnell

Angels in the Moonlight - Caimh McDonnell

Systems collapse

Fugitive Telemetry

Network Effect

Bastille Versus the Evil Librarians

Alcatraz Versus the Dark Talent

Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens

Alcatraz Versus the Knits of Crystallia

Alcatraz Verses the Scrivener's Runes

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

Orange and Poppy Seed Muffins

Ingredients

1 medium orange

1 Tsp chia seeds

3 Tsp cold water

2 medium bananas

120g SR gluten-free flour (1 cup)

200g sugar (1cup)

120ml oil (1/2 cup)

Method

Place the orange in a pan of boiling water. Reduce to a simmer, and simmer the orange for 20 minutes. Let the orange cool.

Pre-heat the oven to 200C.

Put the chia seeds into the water, and leave for a few minutes. The seeds will swell and produce a gelatinous goop.

Place the orange and the bananas into a blender, and blend until smooth. Add the oil and chia seeds. Then add the sugar, flour and poppy seeds. Mix well.

Line a muffin tin, and add the batter to the muffin liners.

Bake for 18 minutes until the top is golden brown, and the muffins are risen and bounce back when gently depressed.

Notes
The original recipe called for an un-simmered. Unfortunately, this can result in a bitter muffin. By cooking the orange the bitterness is removed.

If you don't want to use chia seeds, replace the chia seeds and water with one egg.

The gluten-free flour could be substituted for white SR flour.

The quantities make nine large muffins.

Books read or listened to in January 2026

A Man with One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell 

The book where it all begins. We meet Paul, Brigit, Phil, Jimmy Stewart and Bunny. Paul has one of those faces that puts people in mind of another person. However, this leads Paul, and Brigit into a whole host of trouble. In extricating themselves from some extremely dangerous situations they solve a decades old kidnapping.

In this book, Bunny is a minor character, but he just would leave the poor author alone. Bunny whispered in Caimh's ear, letting him know there were other stories to be told.  He also wouldn't stop waving his hurl around in a rather intimidating fashion. Not bad for a fictional character! 

The Final Game - Caimh McDonnell 

Paul is a friend of Dorothy. Or rather, he was a friend of Dorothy. She is dead, and believed she was going to be murdered. In a hilariously vicious video-will she set up a 'Hunger Games' competition to decide who gets her fortune. The players are Paul and the 'Leeches' (her description of her family). Each player has a co-player.

For the duration of the game, none of the players are allowed to leave the hotel or its grounds. Paul and Brigit play the game, and at the same time investigate Dorothy's death. On the outside, they are assisted by Jimmy Stewart and Phil.

Deccie Must Die - Caimh McDonnell 

Deccie, childhood friend of Paul and Phil, and annoyer of Brigit, is a radio talk show host, loved and hated in equal measures. During the night, his apartment is entered. When he wakes the following day, Deccie is confronted with the messaged 'Deccie must die' in red paint on his sitting room wall. Bridget, Paul, Jimmy Steward and Phil set out to keep Deccie safe and to solve the case.

The Bookshop Below - Georgina Summers

Every magical bookshop needs an owner. Prior to Chiron's death, he names Cassandra his heir. She sets out to restore Chiron's rundown bookshop, and to get her life back on the right tracks. In the process, she learns magic is disappearing, and who killed her former mentor, Chiron.

However, this is story that never really takes off. It lacks direction and oomph. We never learn about the nature of the magic. There's no world building. We're not drawn into to like the characters, and there's pitifully little character development.

The premise is excellent, but the execution is lacking.

All Systems Red, Artificial Condition - Martha Wells

A security unit (sec-unit) hacks its governor module and starts thinking for itself. All it wants to do is watch space operas. Sec-units are a melding of human and technology, but classified as 'inventory'. This particular sec-unit has partial memories of slaughtering a group of miners, and for this reason it has named itself 'Murderbot'.  The book is the first in a series of diaries composed by Murderbot.

This book is just over three hours long, but creates a rich universe. It's peopled by humans, augmented humans, sec-units, sex-units, bots and AI constructs. There's  Alliance and non-Alliance worlds,  different forms of government, big business, and small communes. 

'The Bookshop Below' rambles on for thirteen hours, and does not create such a compelling world, nor interesting characters. In addition, Murderbot has a story arc. It learns more about itself and the universe in which it lives. 

Books finished this month: 5

Soup Index

Soup	DF	GF	V	VE
Carrot	✓	✓	✓	✓
Carrot and Ginger	✓	✓	✓	✓
Chicken and Vegetable		✓
French-ish Onion		✓	✓
Parsnip and Apple	✓	✓	✓	✓
Parsnip and Maple	✓	✓	✓	✓
Pea and Leek	✓	✓	✓	✓
Stilton and Broccoli		✓	✓
Spiced Lentil	✓	✓	✓	✓
Spiced Parsnip	✓	✓	✓	✓
Tomato and Bean	✓	✓	✓	✓
Tomato and Lentil	✓	✓	✓	✓
Vegetable	✓	✓	✓	✓

Plain Bonnag

Ingredients

450g gluten-free SR flour

50g butter or butter substitute

1tsp salt

1 egg

oat milk 

Method

Preheat oven to 190C.

Rub the fat into the flour.

Into a measuring jug, crack the egg, and add the salt. Mix. Then add enough oat milk to take it up to 300ml.

Mix the wet with the dry, and spoon into two loaf tins. Flatten the top of the dough with a wet hand.

Bake for 35 minutes.

Notes

Traditional bonnag is not made in loaf tins. However, gluten-free flour requires more liquid. The dough doesn't hold up well enough to form it into a ball, and put on a baking sheet. 

My Recipe Book

Years ago, I was given a blank recipe book. The idea was I could either write down my favourite recipes, or cut them out from magazines and glue them into the book. This worked after a fashion.

When I was at university, a new hardback note was bought, and this is the one I used, until it started falling apart. By that time, I'd started storing my favourite recipes on my tablet. Later, they were transferred to this blog.

The problem now is when I searching for a recipe, and can't see it here, I've little idea where to look!

The recipe for bonnag fell into this little blackhole. But, today I found the recipe in my writing journal. It was written down as part of a story about Honey Hill Farm.

However, what was written wasn't for gluten-free bonnag. That's a recipe I created from one copied from an old recipe book in the library.

Today's challenge is to create a gluten-free version. The version baking uses SR flour rather than plain flour, sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar. The buttermilk has been replaced by oat milk and an egg, and the volume of liquid increased slightly. 

We'll have to see how it turns out.

Spiced Lentil Soup

Ingredients

25ml oil

2 medium onions, chopped finely

2 medium carrots, grated

1 can of green lentils (450g)

200g dried red lentils

1.5 litres  stock

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp cumin

2 tsp fresh ginger

2 tsp curry powder

Method

In a large pan, add the oil and onion. Saute the onions until they are cooked and are a light golden-brown.

Add the other ingredients and bring to the boil. Then reduce to a simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes. Check seasoning, and serve. 

Notes

An option is to add 50g of finely diced pancetta at the same time as the onion is being sauteed. 

Fat Balls

When decluttering the baking cupboard, there one or two, okay, a few, okay, far too many packets of nuts and seeds. Rather than see them being tossed into the compost big, they have been transformed into fat balls to feed the birds. 

One was set out yesterday, and the birds have already come across it. Unfortunately, it in a location where I can't see the bird eat my tempting confection. I'm going to have to have a thought about where the next one will be placed. The ideal location is way from cats, but somewhere I can  watch the birds.

Kitchen Declutter - part 6

Day 6

empty and clean root vegetable drawer

declutter vegetables

return retained vegetables

empty and clean kitchen linens drawer

declutter kitchen linens

return retained linens

empty and clean foil and wraps drawer

declutter contents

return retained items

Kitchen Declutter - part 5

Day 5

empty teas and coffees drawers

clean drawers

declutter teas and coffees

replace retained teas and coffees

empty cutlery drawer

clean drawer

wash cutlery

replace cutlery

Kitchen Declutter - part 4

Day 4
Metal utensils drawer and wooden utensils drawer emptied
Drawers cleaned
Utensils decluttered
Remaining utensils replaced
Clear and clear worktops
Clean stove top

Kitchen Declutter - part 3

Day 3

emptied baking cupboard

cleaned cupboard

decluttered baking ingredients

replaced retained ingredients

Kitchen Declutter - part 2

Day 2

emptied under sink cupboard

cleaned cupboard twice

tidied away saucepans

found space for baking tins

Decluttering in 2026

We're back in the kitchen at the start of another year. It's a very fine place to start.

wash dishes

dry dishes

wash sink

clear worktop around sink

clean worktop around sink

clean window sill and attend to herbs

clear out baking tins cupboard

clean the cupboard

declutter unused plastic food containers

put away air fryer into cupboard (its new home)

put away mandoline, grater, kitchen scales and weights

2025 Recipe Challenge

The challenge was to try twelve new recipes this year. Smashed it.

1. Roasted vegetables with orange glazed sausages
This was a great success. It is now one of our regulars.

2. Chicken and spinach orzo

It's essentially just chicken risotto made with pasta. It's fine, but nothing spectacular.

3. Apple, walnut and Brie pastries

Interesting, and tasty.

4. Paper dumplings
Nope. Never again. It's tried them twice, and I just can't get the rice paper to be good. If shallow friend, the rice paper welds itself to the skillet. Done in the air fryer, they don't get so crispy. And they take a fore ever to make.

5. Bonnag

6. Fruit Bonnag

7. Chicken and potato pie (version 1)

It was a pile of hot chicken and potato stodge. We felt like we'd had dinner, but it was all a bit meh.

8. Chicken and potato pie (version 2)

This was so much better. It is essentially cubes of chicken in a rich gravy, with lots of veggies, This was cooked in the skillet, and then topped with thin slices of potato. The potato is brushed with a little butter, and the whole lot baked for 40 minutes.

9. Chicken breasts with a lemon, pepper and herb crust
Delicious!  Gluten-free bread was rendered into bread crumbs. A couple of tea spoons of powdered garlic was added, along with Herb de Provence, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. The chicken was dipped in egg, and then into the crust. It was baked at 200C for 20 minutes.

10. Cheesecake Filling

A lovely cheesecake filling originally from a recipe for a pastry galette. The filling is quick and easy to make, and is egg free. It should be simple to make a vegan version.

11. Butterscotch Sauce

It's good stuff! It can be poured over ice cream, or rippled through. It's rather wonderful.

12. Sweet Potato and Leek Lasagne

13. Upside Down Goat's Cheese and Caramelised Onion Tarts

Scouse
The perfect food for a wet, blustery day.

Pickled Red Cabbage

The perfect accompaniment to Scouse.

2025 Reading/Listening Challenge

The aim was to read or listen to 52 books this year. The new reads/listens are marked with an asterisk. 
January (10)

• Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

• Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

• The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy

• Dark Days by Derek Landy

• Mortal Coil by Derek Landy

• Death Bringer by Derek Landy

• Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy

• Last Stand of the Dead Men by Derek Landy

• The Dying of the Light by Derek Landy

• *Geekerella by Ashley Poston (do not recommend)

February (17)

• The Library of the Dead by TL Huchu

• Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by TL Huchu

• The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle by TL Huchu

• *The Legacy of Arnston House by TL Huchu

• *Fortunate Son by Caimh McDonnell

• Doing Time by Jodi Taylor

• Hard Time by Jodi Taylor

March (27)

• Saving Time by Jodi Taylor

• The Crow Folk by Mark Stay

• Babes in the Wood by Mark Stay

• The Ghost of Ivy Barn by Mark Stay

• The Holly King by Mark Stay

• *The Corn Bride by Mark Stay

• All Systems Red by Martha Wells

• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

• Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

• Murder on Milverton Square by GB Ralph

• Poison at Penshaw Hall by GB Ralph

April (33)

• *Death in Douglas Glade by GB Ralph

• The Left-handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

• The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

• The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer

• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

• *Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

May (39)

• *HMRC - The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

• The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

• The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross

• The Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross 

• Angels in the Moonlight by Caimh McDonnell

• Dead Man's Sins by Caimh McDonnell

June (46)

• Firewater Blues by Caimh McDonnell  
• The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Olsen *
• The Family Jewels by Caimh McDonnell
• Fortunate Son by Caimh McDonnell
• A Man with One of Those Faces by Caimh McDonnell
• The Day that Never Comes by Caimh McDonnell
• Last Orders by Caimh McDonnell

July (49)

• Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
• Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Nothing recorded for August and September. I have no idea which books were consumed during these two months.

October (62)

• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
• A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
• The Stranger Times by Caimh McDonnell
• Love Will Tear Us Apart by Caimh McDonnell
• This Charming Man by Caimh McDonnell
• Relight My Fire by Caimh McDonnell
• Tales from The Stranger Times by Caimh McDonnell*
• Ring the Bells by Caimh McDonnell*
• Doing Time by Jodi Taylor
• Hard Time by Jodi Taylor
• Saving Time by Jodi Taylor
• About Time by Jodi Taylor
• Santa Grint by Jodi Taylor

November

• Killing Time by Jodi Taylor
• Out of Time by Jodi Taylor *
• The Library of the Dead by T L Huchu

December

Books - November 2025

 

1. Killing Time

Jodi Taylor

2. Out of Time

Jodi Taylor

3. The Library of the Dead

T L Huchu

4. Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments

T L Huchu

5. The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle

T L Huchu

6. The Legacy of Arniston House

T L Huchu

7. Secrets of the First School

T L Huchu

8. The Ballymuchmore Bog Rocket

Steven Hooper

Craftings November 2025

1. Cross stitch in all the high temperatures for October

2. Cross stitch all the high temperatures for November

3. Cross stitch all the high temperatures for September

4. Knit 30 squares on Domino Riot

Menu - 17th to 23rd November

Mon: pan-fried salmon
Tues: jacket potatoes
Wed: celebration meal

Thur: sausages and mash

Fri: sweet potato curry

Sat: roasted veggies and feta

Sun: lamb scouse