In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
of fruit. Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
"ripe and ready to eat."

I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
ripe and ready to eat. But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
tenderly cherished.

What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
possible?
--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 15:38:56 +0000, Jenny M Benson
<NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

>In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>of fruit. Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>"ripe and ready to eat."
>
>I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>ripe and ready to eat. But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>tenderly cherished.
>
>What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>possible?

Lucky? Sometimes they are ripe and sometimes not and they go from
unripe to rotting.

Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 15:38:56 +0000, Jenny M Benson
> <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>> of fruit. Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>> "ripe and ready to eat."
>>
>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>> ripe and ready to eat. But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>> tenderly cherished.
>>
>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>> possible?
>
> Lucky? Sometimes they are ripe and sometimes not and they go from
> unripe to rotting.
>

As an Umrat has stated in the past ‘Tricky Devil your Pear’.

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
> of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
> "ripe and ready to eat."
>
> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
> ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
> tenderly cherished.
>
> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
> possible?

I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.

OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.

P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 09/01/2024 19:15, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you.  I think you have
> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>
> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.

Delicious ripe and juicy pears from Sainsbury twice, and in fairness I
should mention gorgeous ("plump and juicy" was the description, I think)
from Asda.

(Perhaps also fair to mention that Asda bombed out with my order of
"Christmas Specials", a lot of which were out of stock and substituted
with inferior products (which I refused to accept. Tilting the
fairness meter again, they did send me a £10 voucher with their apology.

--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled in
the dust...

>On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>> of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>> "ripe and ready to eat."
>>
>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>> ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>> tenderly cherished.
>>
>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>> possible?
>
>I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>
>OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>
>P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the fridge.
When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it in the bowl
with one from the fridge.

Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I forget
the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last year
which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I threw them
out.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

On 09-Jan-24 20:25, Jenny M Benson wrote:
> On 09/01/2024 19:15, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>
>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you.  I think you have
>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>
>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>
> Delicious ripe and juicy pears from Sainsbury twice, and in fairness I
> should mention gorgeous ("plump and juicy" was the description, I think)
> from Asda.
>
> (Perhaps also fair to mention that Asda bombed out with my order of
> "Christmas Specials", a lot of which were out of stock and substituted
> with inferior products (which I refused to accept.   Tilting the
> fairness meter again, they did send me a £10 voucher with their apology.
>
Ocado did something similar to us, and sent us a £15 voucher as an apology.

The voucher didn't work.

Wofe contacted them again and...

They sent her a voucher as an apology for the non-working voucher.
I can't recall how much _this_ voucher was for, but certainly not enough
to compensate for Wofe for the impact on her blood pressure.

--
Sam Plusnet

In message <PKlnN.151213$c3Ea.87442@fx10.iad> at Wed, 10 Jan 2024
00:43:26, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> writes
[]
>They sent her a voucher as an apology for the non-working voucher.
[]
That definitely sounds like something one of the consumer prog.s would
love to report on (such as rip-off Britain).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Her [Valerie Singleton's] main job on /Blue Peter/ was to stop unpredictable
creatres running amok. And that was just John Noakes.
- Alison Pearson, RT 2014/9/6-12

Jenny M Benson <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 09/01/2024 19:15, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>
>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you.  I think you have
>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>
>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>
> Delicious ripe and juicy pears from Sainsbury twice, and in fairness I
> should mention gorgeous ("plump and juicy" was the description, I think)
> from Asda.
>
> (Perhaps also fair to mention that Asda bombed out with my order of
> "Christmas Specials", a lot of which were out of stock and substituted
> with inferior products (which I refused to accept. Tilting the
> fairness meter again, they did send me a £10 voucher with their apology.
>

“Please accept this voucher to spend on inferior goods you didn’t want as a
gesture of goodwill.”

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:23:00 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled in
>the dust...
>
>>On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>>> of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>>> "ripe and ready to eat."
>>>
>>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>>> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>>> ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>>> tenderly cherished.
>>>
>>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>>> possible?
>>
>>I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>>used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>
>>OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>
>>P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
>
>I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
>are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the fridge.
>When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it in the bowl
>with one from the fridge.
>
>Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I forget
>the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last year
>which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I threw them
>out.

Cook 'em. That'll learn the abstrads.

Upside-down pear pudding? Mmmmmmm!

Nick

On 10-Jan-24 16:27, Nick Odell wrote:
> On Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:23:00 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled in
>> the dust...
>>
>>> On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>>>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>>>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>>>> of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>>>> "ripe and ready to eat."
>>>>
>>>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>>>> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>>>> ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>>>> tenderly cherished.
>>>>
>>>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>>>> possible?
>>>
>>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>
>>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>>
>>> P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
>>
>> I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
>> are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the fridge.
>> When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it in the bowl
>> with one from the fridge.
>>
>> Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I forget
>> the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last year
>> which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I threw them
>> out.
>
> Cook 'em. That'll learn the abstrads.
>
> Upside-down pear pudding? Mmmmmmm!

I don't think I've ever been concerned about a pear's orientation before
now.
You have changed my life.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 10/01/2024 16:27, Nick Odell wrote:
> On Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:23:00 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled in
>> the dust...
>>
>>> On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>>>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>>>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>>>> of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>>>> "ripe and ready to eat."
>>>>
>>>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>>>> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>>>> ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>>>> tenderly cherished.
>>>>
>>>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>>>> possible?
>>>
>>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>
>>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>>
>>> P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
>>
>> I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
>> are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the fridge.
>> When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it in the bowl
>> with one from the fridge.
>>
>> Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I forget
>> the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last year
>> which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I threw them
>> out.
>
> Cook 'em. That'll learn the abstrads.
>
> Upside-down pear pudding? Mmmmmmm!
>
> Nick

I've recently discovered, on looking up recipes on Google, that pear and
redcurrant crumble is a thing and therefore deals instantly with those
two awkward ingredients, pears which aren't quite ripe and a glut of
redcurrants in the freezer.

Reader, it was delicious.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

On Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:27:34 +0000, Nick Odell wrote:

> On Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:23:00 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled
>>in the dust...
>>
>>>On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>>>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>>>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a
>>>> lot of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were
>>>> described as "ripe and ready to eat."
>>>>
>>>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last
>>>> time a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever
>>>> becoming ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as
>>>> had my gob tenderly cherished.
>>>>
>>>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes
>>>> this possible?
>>>
>>>I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>>>used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>
>>>OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>>
>>>P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
>>
>>I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
>>are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the
>>fridge. When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it
>>in the bowl with one from the fridge.
>>
>>Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I
>>forget the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last
>>year which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I
>>threw them out.

Do you believe in juiciness as a necessary sign of ripeness? Conference are
my favourites when they're still very firm and crunchy. There's still a water
content, and no trace of fibrosity or woodiness, or any lack of sweetness.

Carrying on the OTness, I'm going for more legumes, and thinking of getting
a pressure cooker to take the waiting out of wanting. Any specific factors I
should bear in mind? I've got my eye on a couple at the lower end
of the price range in the Argos sale. I'm wondering whether to stick with a
4 litre one, as I cook just for myself, or go for a larger one.
>
> Cook 'em. That'll learn the abstrads.
>
> Upside-down pear pudding? Mmmmmmm!
>
That sounds cruel. But then I understand you can cook puddings in a
pressure cooker, so perhaps I shouldn't be too judgmental.

Iain

On 11/01/2024 00:34, Iain Archer wrote:

>
> Carrying on the OTness, I'm going for more legumes, and thinking of getting
> a pressure cooker to take the waiting out of wanting. Any specific factors I
> should bear in mind? I've got my eye on a couple at the lower end
> of the price range in the Argos sale. I'm wondering whether to stick with a
> 4 litre one, as I cook just for myself, or go for a larger one.

If you cook and freeze, the larger the better.

EXCEPT - weight. The lighter the better. Somewhere there will be an
optimum combo of weight and size for you.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

Iain Archer wrote:

> On Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:27:34 +0000, Nick Odell wrote:

>> On Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:23:00 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled
>>>in the dust...
>>>
>>>>On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>>>>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>>>>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a
>>>>> lot of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were
>>>>> described as "ripe and ready to eat."
>>>>>
>>>>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last
>>>>> time a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever
>>>>> becoming ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as
>>>>> had my gob tenderly cherished.
>>>>>
>>>>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes
>>>>> this possible?
>>>>
>>>>I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>>>>used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>>
>>>>OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>>>
>>>>P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
>>>
>>>I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
>>>are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the
>>>fridge. When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it
>>>in the bowl with one from the fridge.
>>>
>>>Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I
>>>forget the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last
>>>year which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I
>>>threw them out.

> Do you believe in juiciness as a necessary sign of ripeness? Conference are
> my favourites when they're still very firm and crunchy. There's still a water
> content, and no trace of fibrosity or woodiness, or any lack of sweetness.

> Carrying on the OTness, I'm going for more legumes, and thinking of getting
> a pressure cooker to take the waiting out of wanting. Any specific factors I
> should bear in mind? I've got my eye on a couple at the lower end
> of the price range in the Argos sale. I'm wondering whether to stick with a
> 4 litre one, as I cook just for myself, or go for a larger one.
>>
>> Cook 'em. That'll learn the abstrads.
>>
>> Upside-down pear pudding? Mmmmmmm!
>>
> That sounds cruel. But then I understand you can cook puddings in a
> pressure cooker, so perhaps I shouldn't be too judgmental.

I have a old-fashioned. stove-top Prestige pressure cooker which came complete with a set of three concentric, chromed weights which I never separate. It's brilliant for things like softening chopped orange peel before making marmalade but to be honest, I find that most of its benefits have been replaced by the microwave oven so I don't use it all that much as a pressure cooker for day-to-day cooking. It is the standard model of its day which I think is about one gallon so it's very handy as a large saucepan or to use in non-pressure mode for steaming suet/steak and kidney/Christmas puddings and the like. I should emphasise that of course you can pressure cook those things very efficiently but in my opinion the cooking time as well as the temperature affect the flavour and I prefer the end result after conventional steaming.

Nick

Jane Vernon <spam@nopotteratthisaddress.co.uk> wrote:
> On 11/01/2024 00:34, Iain Archer wrote:
>
>>
>> Carrying on the OTness, I'm going for more legumes, and thinking of getting
>> a pressure cooker to take the waiting out of wanting. Any specific factors I
>> should bear in mind? I've got my eye on a couple at the lower end
>> of the price range in the Argos sale. I'm wondering whether to stick with a
>> 4 litre one, as I cook just for myself, or go for a larger one.
>
> If you cook and freeze, the larger the better.
>
> EXCEPT - weight. The lighter the better. Somewhere there will be an
> optimum combo of weight and size for you.
>

I find my size and weight combine against me only too easily.

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

Jane Vernon wrote:

>If you cook and freeze, the larger the better.
>
>EXCEPT - weight. The lighter the better. Somewhere there will be an
>optimum combo of weight and size for you.

Which prompts me to share something that I took far longer to get
round to than it really should have.

We do lots of batch cooking and freezing, and although I know
roughly the portion size I am aiming for, I would usually end up
trying to even out the containers bit by bit as I reached the
bottom of the saucepan, which could be a real pain.

My realisation was that if I simply put the tare weight of my
three largest saucepans into a spreadsheet, I can then enter the
gross, as weighed, and it will tabulate the portion size for a
range of numbers of portions.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
chris@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1
Plant amazing Acers.

On 11/01/2024 14:21, Chris J Dixon wrote:
> We do lots of batch cooking and freezing, and although I know
> roughly the portion size I am aiming for, I would usually end up
> trying to even out the containers bit by bit as I reached the
> bottom of the saucepan, which could be a real pain.

From time to time I receive a yard of genuine Cumberland sausage from
my daughter. She gave the same to my sister and I a few days ago. As
usual, I cut off portions preparatory to freezing. As usual I got to
the end of the length and had too much for 1 portion and not enough for
2 portions. My sister reported exactly the same.

--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

Jenny M Benson <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 11/01/2024 14:21, Chris J Dixon wrote:
>> We do lots of batch cooking and freezing, and although I know
>> roughly the portion size I am aiming for, I would usually end up
>> trying to even out the containers bit by bit as I reached the
>> bottom of the saucepan, which could be a real pain.
>
> From time to time I receive a yard of genuine Cumberland sausage from
> my daughter. She gave the same to my sister and I a few days ago. As
> usual, I cut off portions preparatory to freezing. As usual I got to
> the end of the length and had too much for 1 portion and not enough for
> 2 portions. My sister reported exactly the same.
>

It may still be genuine Cumberland - but is it still a genuine yard???!

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On 11/01/2024 15:02, Jenny M Benson wrote:
> On 11/01/2024 14:21, Chris J Dixon wrote:
>> We do lots of batch cooking and freezing, and although I know
>> roughly the portion size I am aiming for, I would usually end up
>> trying to even out the containers bit by bit as I reached the
>> bottom of the saucepan, which could be a real pain.
>
> From time to time I receive a yard of genuine Cumberland sausage from
> my daughter.  She gave the same to my sister and I a few days ago.  As
> usual, I cut off portions preparatory to freezing.  As usual I got to
> the end of the length and had too much for 1 portion and not enough for
> 2 portions.  My sister reported exactly the same.
>
You should both have taken more notice of the Cumberland Gap.

Jane Vernon <spam@nopotteratthisaddress.co.uk> wrote:
> On 10/01/2024 16:27, Nick Odell wrote:
>> On Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:23:00 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 19:15:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> scrawled in
>>> the dust...
>>>
>>>> On 09-Jan-24 15:38, Jenny M Benson wrote:
>>>>> In a somewhat belated and half-hearted effort to keep myself on this
>>>>> planet for a little longer I have recently taken to buying quite a lot
>>>>> of fruit.  Twice, now, this has included pears which were described as
>>>>> "ripe and ready to eat."
>>>>>
>>>>> I was a bit sceptical at first, not being able to remember the last time
>>>>> a store-bought pear had lived up to any low expectation of ever becoming
>>>>> ripe and ready to eat.  But I was not so much gob-smacked as had my gob
>>>>> tenderly cherished.
>>>>>
>>>>> What modern and wondrous technology has been discovered which makes this
>>>>> possible?
>>>>
>>>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you. I think you have
>>>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>>
>>>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>>>
>>>> P.S. Ignore the negative tone, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
>>>
>>> I find it varies with the pear variety. I don't buy those which say they
>>> are ready to eat. I put two in the fruit bowl and the rest in the fridge.
>>> When one is softening around the stem, I eat it, and replace it in the bowl
>>> with one from the fridge.
>>>
>>> Conference will usually ripen up, as do the small yellow variety I forget
>>> the name of. Usually works well, but I had 5 big yellow ones last year
>>> which hung around for months and remained hard as a rock until I threw them
>>> out.
>>
>> Cook 'em. That'll learn the abstrads.
>>
>> Upside-down pear pudding? Mmmmmmm!
>>
>> Nick
>
>
> I've recently discovered, on looking up recipes on Google, that pear and
> redcurrant crumble is a thing and therefore deals instantly with those
> two awkward ingredients, pears which aren't quite ripe and a glut of
> redcurrants in the freezer.
>
> Reader, it was delicious.

IRTA “Pear and reluctant crumble” and boggled rather.

Mike McMillan <toodle.pip1@virginmedia.com> wrote:
> Jenny M Benson <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 09/01/2024 19:15, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>
>>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you.  I think you have
>>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>
>>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>
>> Delicious ripe and juicy pears from Sainsbury twice, and in fairness I
>> should mention gorgeous ("plump and juicy" was the description, I think)
>> from Asda.
>>
>> (Perhaps also fair to mention that Asda bombed out with my order of
>> "Christmas Specials", a lot of which were out of stock and substituted
>> with inferior products (which I refused to accept. Tilting the
>> fairness meter again, they did send me a £10 voucher with their apology.
>>
>
> “Please accept this voucher to spend on inferior goods you didn’t want as a
> gesture of goodwill.”
>

Lidl never did get back to me once I’d got their stupid form to respond.

Didn’t want any more of their cranberry juice anyway.

Mrs McT

On Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:44:54 -0000 (UTC), Mike McMillan
<toodle.pip1@virginmedia.com> wrote:

>Jane Vernon <spam@nopotteratthisaddress.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 11/01/2024 00:34, Iain Archer wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Carrying on the OTness, I'm going for more legumes, and thinking of getting
>>> a pressure cooker to take the waiting out of wanting. Any specific factors I
>>> should bear in mind? I've got my eye on a couple at the lower end
>>> of the price range in the Argos sale. I'm wondering whether to stick with a
>>> 4 litre one, as I cook just for myself, or go for a larger one.
>>
>> If you cook and freeze, the larger the better.
>>
>> EXCEPT - weight. The lighter the better. Somewhere there will be an
>> optimum combo of weight and size for you.
>>
>
>I find my size and weight combine against me only too easily.

The awful thing is you shrink in height as you age. So you have to
weigh less to be at a healthy weight. I was 5'8 and am 5'5 and a half
now. Was 5'6 2 years ago when I had the previous bone density scan.

On 11/01/2024 16:43, Chris wrote:
> Mike McMillan <toodle.pip1@virginmedia.com> wrote:
>> Jenny M Benson <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>> On 09/01/2024 19:15, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I wouldn't bother doing the Lottery if I were you.  I think you have
>>>> used up all your astonishing luck with that one pear purchase.
>>>>
>>>> OTOH, please let us know if lightning continues to strike.
>>>
>>> Delicious ripe and juicy pears from Sainsbury twice, and in fairness I
>>> should mention gorgeous ("plump and juicy" was the description, I think)
>>> from Asda.
>>>
>>> (Perhaps also fair to mention that Asda bombed out with my order of
>>> "Christmas Specials", a lot of which were out of stock and substituted
>>> with inferior products (which I refused to accept. Tilting the
>>> fairness meter again, they did send me a £10 voucher with their apology.
>>>
>>
>> “Please accept this voucher to spend on inferior goods you didn’t want as a
>> gesture of goodwill.”
>>
>
> Lidl never did get back to me once I’d got their stupid form to respond.
>
> Didn’t want any more of their cranberry juice anyway.
>
I'm pleased it had cleared up for you.

> Mrs McT
>

--
Ric

On 11-Jan-24 13:22, Jane Vernon wrote:
> On 11/01/2024 00:34, Iain Archer wrote:
>
>>
>> Carrying on the OTness, I'm going for more legumes, and thinking of
>> getting
>> a pressure cooker to take the waiting out of wanting.  Any specific
>> factors I
>> should bear in mind?  I've got my eye on a couple at the lower end
>> of the price range in the Argos sale.  I'm wondering whether to stick
>> with a
>> 4 litre one, as I cook just for myself, or go for a larger one.
>
> If you cook and freeze, the larger the better.
>
> EXCEPT - weight.  The lighter the better.  Somewhere there will be an
> optimum combo of weight and size for you.
>
One other factor.
Make sure you have somewhere to keep the item, during the 99% of time
when it isn't in use (this being the bane of all kitchen devices and
gadgets).

--
Sam Plusnet