pea and ham soup
Normally I freeze the Christmas ham bone and make soup around Easter time, when it is cooler. But these aren’t normal times! Western Australia, where we live, will open the border to the other states of Australia at the beginning of February. Unlike the other states, WA has had only 9 Covid deaths and very little community transfer of Covid but that will certainly change when the borders open.
So I am cleaning out the things we don’t need in the freezer and packing it with essentials to keep us fed if we are locked down. The ham bone is now simmering in a pot with split peas. Instead of freezing some, as I usually do, we will be enjoying the soup for a few days. Pity this soup making project coincided with temperatures forecast in the high 30ºC s ! ( 100ºF plus)
I’ve never followed a recipe before for Pea and Ham soup but recently I’ve really enjoyed several recipes I’ve found on the blog recipetineats (here) Nagi makes her soup in a slow cooker but it’s already hot here and the heat and aroma generated by a slow cooker bubbling away all day was a bit off putting. I’m cooking the soup in a very old, often used Dutch oven. I bought this and a smaller version when I got engaged and that was 39 years ago! It’s a real workhorse.
The soup cooked for 2 hours. Then I removed the bone and the bay leaves. Scraped the remnant ham from the bone after I had emulsified the soup slightly with a stick blender. I’d added some extra chopped up ham because I didn’t want it thoroughly chopped and mushy.
mending the handles on a drawstring basket
Versatile, secure and fairly strong I have several useful drawstring baskets.
The handles of this basket are stitched on . I use this basket all the time. When one handle became loose, well, actually, came off, I knew I could repair it.
This thick strong cotton was perfect for the job. I searched my sewing supplies for a tapestry needle but couldn’t find one. Then I found this needle called a packers needle and it was perfect for the job! It’s long, blunt and has a big eye.
The cotton I used for the repair is quite a different colour from the original yellow thread but that’s fine. I double stitched the handle on for added strength.
Then I realised the handle on the other side was coming off, too, so repeated the task.
Resisted unpicking the remaining two handles as they seem quite strong.
I really like these drawstring baskets. They’re not like my big French Market baskets and are ideal for small shops, visits to the library and swimming. I can put my wallet, sunglasses, a drink bottle, phone and still have room for shopping, books, a towel and none of it is visible with the drawstring pulled. Worth repairing.
marbling paper
I’ve written in a journal every day for many, many years. I like the red and black Chinese notebooks available everywhere, until recently, but I add my own cover (here). These notebooks are quite light, have fairly thick paper (I’ve always used Fineliner pens which seep through thin paper) and fit easily in bags, baskets and a suitcase when I’m away from home. Their only down side is the colour of the covers, so I’ve always covered them and added marbled paper as front and back lining paper.(here)
I use Japanese inks to marble the paper. I have always used recycled printing paper or other recycled paper for marbling but will reassess this next time as some of the sheets tore and the printing on others seeped through and was evident when they dried. Not good.
In the past I have tried other techniques for marbling, includung shaving cream and acrylic paint (here) but the colours are too garish for me and some other paints, which tended to fade, so I just stay with the inks (here). The colours are clear and traditional and last, the inks are easy to use and clean up afterwards and they are kind to the environment.
Once the papers are dry I cut them to size, fold them down the middle, apply glue (UHU stick) and glue them into the already covered notebook. I also add a calendar, gluing it onto the last page. I tend to cover and line four or five notebooks at a time.
Western australia covid update
Despite no new cases of Covid in Western Australia, our Premier, Mark McGowan last night announced that the hard border separating us from the other states of Australia will stay in place. It was intended to open on 5th February. Our economy is strong and the unemployment rate is at an all time low. Schools will open as intended, in a week, and bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms and retailers are open, but we now have to wear a mask. The maximum in Perth has been over 40ºC all week and the same is forecast for today, so mask wearing adds to the heat! Thinking about people elsewhere who have been wearing masks and limited in their movements for two years now.