PANCAKES AND PAINTING

Today I managed to finish painting the last of the wood work,leaving only the walls and the small room to do. Tomorrow the fun really begins as my son ,whom has manfully volunteered to help will wield the paint roller in earnest.

This will not be the first time we have decorated a room together,long time readers will perhaps recollect the painting of my sons room about two years ago...oh the fun and games,I remember it well!

We hope to finish the main room tomorrow and then ,after a day off we shall ,with luck paint what my son laughingly calls the annexe. Normal chores have been suspended to accommodate this work,well you know me,anything to avoid doing the ironing.

For dinner tonight I made chicken in the pot,which is exactly;y as it sounds with the addition of lots of lovely vegetable ,.pearl barley and lentils,perfect for a cold snowy evening with lots of home made crusty bread to mop up the gravy.

Tomorrow we must make an early start and so now we are all planning early nights, don't forget that tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, pancake day, night night.

EASY PANCAKES

8oz plain flour

1 pint milk

3 eggs

pinch of salt

dripping for frying is best.

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and add two of the eggs and half the milk. Beat until the lumps are gone then add the rest of the milk and beat again for about two minutes. Add the remaining egg and beat for a further minute. If you can leave the mix t stand for an hour or so great,if not carry on regardless,all will be well.

Heat the heaviest frying pan you have,or a griddle of course. Grease lightly and wait until the pan begins to smoke. Pour in enough batter mix to cower the bottom of the pan and cook until the underside is brown then turn and brown the flip side

Serve with lemon juice and sugar, bananas and cream, what even=r you prefer.

If you like try wrapping a slice of ham around a small blanched leek,roll in a pancake,cover in a basic cheese sauce and bake at 175oC for thirty minutes