August Goals.

 And so we are in to August. 

What do I have in mind for the month? My Chookshed challenge written way back in December was to make a start on my Turtle Mandala quilt. A kit I purchased in Baradine in 2023. But that won't be happening as I re wrote my list in an effort to try and get rid of some works in progress, then as you know some squirrels hopped in.

So what do I plan for this month?

It's still very cold here in South island New Zealand, there is a good frost this morning so I'll be continuing with my crochet ripple blanket. 

I'll also get on and complete the second blue green scarf.

Maybe I'll make a start on another crochet project using the off white yarn as I really don't want to put that in to the stash. Not that I really have much of a yarn stash.

I also need to get back to my Christmas ornaments.

Aside from the off white yarn, there will be no new projects. I'm only allowing myself to pick up WIPs  that are listed in the tab at the top of the page. I'll need to add the Off white yarn to that once I settle on a project for it. 

Oh and I need to share a recipe.

The July Round Up.

Lets take a look and see what went on in July here is Loulee world.

I rewrote my Chookshed challenge list, or what remains of it anyway. 

I was supposed to be working on a scrappy eye spy style quilt top, but squirrels got in the way.

I was able to complete knitting a scarf that was started some time ago.

I also started and made some progress on a scrappy crochet ripple blanket.

Not huge progress, but that's ok I'm happy with how things are going.

*

In an effort to bring a semblance of order to the scrap basket I took some time the other day to sort all my scrap yarns into bags.

Next time Tony goes digging for the next colour he won't make such a birds nest!

If you remember we were given a huge pile of yarn at work by a grateful family member. It is old yarn and what I selected is/was rather smelly. Rather than store it I decided to get it used up quick. So I started knitting more scarfs.

One is complete and another is half way. The yarn has lost some of the odd smell and the completed scarf is waiting to be washed.

There is still the matter of the 9 skeins of off white to be dealt with. More about that soon.

*

Another squirrel that hopped in and got stuck was a jigsaw puzzle.

This one has been on the go since May, a big push over the last week has seen it completed....

Of course a finish means a start.

I found this one while op shopping on Monday. Of course Tony was delighted and it had to be the next puzzle. Maybe this is why the kittens were completed so quickly?

We made a start as soon as the kitten puzzle was back in the box.

The warbirds puzzle is also the very first puzzle to go on our new puzzle board. It is actually an early birthday gift to me, but we both enjoy puzzles. It has drawers for storing sorted pieces and a cover. Much easier to tidy away when the children are due for visits. We will keep our old puzzle board though, so that the children can keep their puzzles as WIPs.

*

At the very last minute I squeezed in a new recipe. Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Sauce. If you look at the previous post you will find it. It's very tasty and is on our make again list.

*

I'm not really sure what August will bring. My remaining Chookshed Challenges all say to focus on completing a WIP, though I will be making a start on using up the off white yarn as soon as I get the second scarf completed. Then it can be washed. Much easier to wash garments or blankets than skeins of yarn. I still need to complete my Christmas ornaments and did I mention that I have acquired another incomplete cross stitch?

I'm off to do some chores, then I might find a movie to watch while I sit and knit. 

A last minute Recipe.

 Swedish Meat Balls in Creamy Sauce.

Meat Balls

500g  Beef Mince

1/2 cup grated onion

1/4 cup Almond meal

1 egg

1/2 tea spoon garlic powder

1/4 tea spoon all spice

salt and pepper to taste

2 table spoons olive oil

1 table spoon chopped fresh parsley.

Creamy Sauce.

1 cup chicken or beef stock

1/2 cup cream

1 tea spoon Dijon mustard

2 table spoons Worcestershire sauce.

In a mixing bowl combine the mince, grated onion, almond meal, egg, garlic powder and all spice. Season with 1/2 tea spoon each of salt and pepper. Mix well to combine and roll into approx 20 walnut size balls. 

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the meat balls in batches until browned all over. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Add the stock and cream to the pan and whisk over a medium heat. Add the mustard and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the sauce has thickened a little. Season with salt and pepper. Return the meat balls to the pan and simmer for another 2-4  minutes. Scatter with chopped parsley and serve.

You could serve this over pasta, but we don't bother, it's lovely on it's own.

There you have it, July's recipe. 

Not much has changed....

 The cold winter weather continues here in Timaru, with a -4 C frost this morning. There are some spots around town that do not see the sun at this time of year and the frost gets a little thicker each night.  Those areas that do get the sun sparkle very prettily for a few hours until it burns off. I put food out for the birds each day. Big pink fat balls with berries and bugs embedded in them. It is nice to see and hear the birds as they line up to await their turn on the feeder.

Work also continues. But it has it's benefits. A recent admission came bearing gifts. She was a knitter, sadly she now has dementia and can no longer knit. So her family donated all of her stash. A lot had to be thrown away as it was pure wool and had perished. What remained was offered to staff members. I was lucky enough to score nine skeins of a off white yarn. In Super fine kid mohair and merino.

I checked this stuff out, it was made here in NZ and at almost $50 per 100g skein not cheap. I'm not sure what condition it is in, it smells a little funky and I didn't open any of the skeins yet.

I also scored two pretty blue green skeins from the same company. This one is also Kid mohair and Merino mix. It is still available and goes for a similar price. When I opened the skeins to roll them into balls, I didn't have any problems and made a start knitting right away.

One skein, one scarf.

I started out doing a big 2x2 rib, but didn't like how that was going so it got ripped out and I went with a simple garter stitch on great big needles. Like the off white it smelled a little odd when I first started, but the smell has almost gone now and I'm sure that after a soak in a woolly washing product it should be just fine. 

I've also made a start on the second skein, another garter stitch scarf.

Considering I wasn't going to start anything new until I had cleared a few things off the list......

Not doing very well am I?

My ripple blanket has managed to grow a little. Here's a peep at that.

I missed out on a big bag of odds and ends that would have been perfect for this, but the colleague who did score them is planning to make a scrappy blanket to donate back to work, which is nice.

I went along to club on Saturday, but didn't stay all day as I had a headache. I did manage to get pictures of the show and tell though. Last month one of the ladies did a quick class/demonstration making a felt door stop. Here is a look at some of the finished items.

I plan to make one of these at some stage. I really like Angela's, that is the blue and pink one, with the rondels. But I think I'll go pin cushion rather than door stop. 

And that is my news. I spent the day doing mostly chores yesterday, so today and tomorrow are my own, I might sit and knit. But first I want to open up those off white skeins and hang them somewhere to let them air a little. Outside in the frosty sunshine might be a good start, then I could hang in a dark corner in the garage if it needs longer. I think I need to knit or crochet with it before I try washing it. 

A Focus Finish.

Last night at a minute to bedtime I completed the knitted scarf.  I haven't used all of the extra ball of yarn, just enough to add about 3 inches to the scarf. I completed the knitting yesterday afternoon as I sat with Debbie, we had a knit and natter. 

After tea I cast off and added a crochet shell border around the edges.

And this morning I buried the last two yarn ends and added my label.

Yay! A Finish. 

I did tell myself that once the scarf was done, I could make a start on my knitted mohair sweater, but as I was lying awake at stupid dark O'clock in the middle of the night, I decided that I might just impose the rule that I must complete the Down in the Garden Stitcheries first. I don't have that much left to stitch, so in the grand scheme of crafting it really isn't a big thing!

Stitchery is a day off well rested kind of thing in my world though, so for my 15 minutes before work and when I'm tired after work, I'll be continuing with the crochet ripple blanket.

This is where it's up to now.

It's just getting to be big enough to keep me warm as I work on it, which is lovely.

After having a day of knitting with Debbie yesterday I'll need to get on with my chores today before I can play, but hopefully they won't take me beyond lunch time, then I get all afternoon. 

Another job I need to do is to make a formal bloggy record of my WIPs , I wonder if I should do one for my wants to makes. LOL That would be a long list. 

Three days off.

 I've enjoyed my rostered days off. and Happy to say there were no phone calls asking me to go to work. I got to play with my crochet hook and my knitting needles. I ran out of sock yarn this morning, an hour before the postie called with a package.

Not only a ball of yarn, but also a tea bag and a chocolate. What a sweet surprise. I just might shop there again!

While I was waiting for the postie I picked up my crochet and did some more to that.

There are a couple more wavy colourful stripes since I took this photo.

Mid Winter has been and gone and already I notice that the daylight is appearing just a little earlier. I got a photo this morning.

That red sky in the morning was right, the day was mostly overcast and the rain arrived at about 3 pm. 

A good day to stay indoors and play with my yarn.

*

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to have a sort out and take stock of what I have in progress. I made a start on that and the list is not as long as I feared, however I still moved a few things away, leaving out just the focus items. One place I didn't look yet is the 'To Be Quilted' pile.  I'll get to that.

At some point I'll add a WIP tab or similar to the top of my page. (Jo, look what you started! Thank you. LOL). I think the Chookshed list will see some drastic alterations for the final few months and next years will look a little different too. 

So, what made it onto the priority list?

1) The knitted scarf, to be followed by the mohair sweater.

2) The crochet Ripple Blanket.

3) The Christmas ornaments. There are only a few left to complete.

4) The down in the Garden Stitcheries.

That is it, everything else is out of sight for now. That doesn't mean it will stay that way, you know how my muse works, a squirrel hops by and off I go. LOL But I intend to try.

Now I'm off to play with my crochet hook some more. 

Back to work tomorrow.

A whole week has gone by...

 And what do I have to show for it? 

Yet another squirrel and an abandoned project. LOL

But first...

In my last post I mentioned that a squirrel or two had wandered by and that I was very tempted. Well I did it, I bought the mohair yarn! I didn't get the same colour, opting for a beautiful teal instead.

And it is here already. The colour in this image is not right, even though I took the photo under my daylight lamp. There is a little more green in it and it is lighter than it appears here. And very soft and beautiful.  I don't believe I have ever knitted with mohair. Wish me luck.

Next, the abandoned project.

I cannot seem to find a record of it, but last year I purchased a ball of sock yarn and started a project. No not socks... I started a scarf. I recall having issues with it and rip, rip, ripping a good few rows out and picking up all the stitches again, then for what ever reason it was put aside. Well the other night I was looking for needles to go with the mohair and noticed a space in the box. Hmm, those needles are in the sock yarn. So I went hunting and pulled it out again

Progress has been made. 

The free pattern that came with the ball of yarn says there is enough yarn to make the scarf.

I think not, I think I need another ball of yarn if this is to be a big cosy scarf. I hope I can find the same stuff!

And the new squirrel? 

Before the mohair yarn turned up, and before I went looking for knitting needles and after saying I was loving working on the Down in the Garden stitcheries and that I have more than enough going on at the moment........

I started a new scrappy crochet project.

I have a bunch of granny squares sat here but I'm not happy with them, they may be ripped! And besides I wanted something else, so off I went to visit Lucy at Attic 24 and refreshed the memory on  her Neat Ripple and I was off! Hooking away on a new scrappy project.  

What was it I said about getting things finished?

Sigh.

Time, I think for a good tidy up and sort out of what exactly I have as works in progress.

I want and need to get some things completed and out of the picture before starting anything new.

(Fingers crossed behind my back here, I can start the mohair sweater as soon as I complete the scarf. 

Oh and a very special and very secret quilt project that I need before 21st June next year).

Today is the first of my three rostered days off. I'm exhausted, so even if they call, I won't be picking up extra shifts. I'm going to have that good tidy up and write a list of WIPs and must dos.

Top of the list will be to find another ball of the sock yarn. 

July.

 The year is half way gone!
How did that happen?
This month Deanna has selected number 9 for the chookshed challengers. For me that means I have to make a start on an eye spy quilt top.
I have a bundle of fabrics cut ready, I just need to sort out sashing fabrics. 

Problem is... I am really enjoying working on my Down in the Garden stitcheries. My hexies are calling I've acquired another incomplete cross stitch and yesterday not one but two squirrels hopped by.....

I've acquired a bunch of crafty magazines and in the bundle was a pattern for a sweater that my lovely mum made for me back when I was 16-17. I loved it, I wore it out, the elbows were gone and I remember asking Mum if she could fix it. Alas the reply was no.

But here is that very same pattern, in the very same shade of yarn.....

Loulee wants another one!

Mum is no longer here, so I will have to knit my own.

Then Tony got in on the act, he would love a cosy winter jersey please if I'm in the mood to knit..... So I started to look at patterns and yarn for him too. I need more projects like I need a hole in my head, but my fingers are itching for my knitting needles. LOL

Sigh, what's a girl to do? 

PULL HER FINGER OUT AND GET SOMETHING FINISHED!

That's what I'm telling myself anyway. 

I'm off to drool over pretty mohair yarns.....

The June Round Up.

 As you know, the end of the month was taken up with ill health. There are some nasty bugs going around here at the moment and I caught one. It has proven to be quite difficult to shake off. Friends and colleagues have said the same thing.

That aside I did get some quality time in the month of June. Lots of that time was spent dealing with a good harvest of 'Joas as young Master Torstein calls them.  We've had lots of 'Joa muffins and another batch of 'Joa jam. I have some different Feijoa recipes I want to try, hopefully soon. There are still a few fruits on the trees and next time the children are here I'll send them out with buckets or bowls to collect them.

Mid Winter has passed here in the Southern hemisphere, we marked it at work with our Matariki decorations. I was happy to catch an amazing sunrise on the day too.

The camera in my phone did not do it justice.

I was very lucky and acquired some great fabric bargains.

You can see more about them here if you need a reminder. 

I made a few more hexie flowers using up left over fabric pieces.

I completed the cross stitched Bumblebee just before the bug got a propper hold on me.

Then I pulled out my Chookshed challenge and I'm happy to say I made some good progress there.

I completed all of the stitching on this block and have another almost completed.  It is still in the hoop, so I apologise for the scrumpled appearance.

There is just a little more to do on the watering can stitchery.

That leaves only two more blocks I think. Hopefully I will get them completed this month, then I can start to put the top together.

I'm not making any promises though, you know how often squirrels hop through this house. LOL

And finally I shared three recipes with you. They are all easy to find on the recipe tab at the top of my page.

I wonder what number Deanna will call for Julys Chookshed challenge?

Matariki.

 This time of year in New Zealand is all about Matariki. A Maori festival that you can read more about here.

Matariki on Wiki

To celebrate Matariki we have been busy at work with the residents craft group.

Many stars were cut out and coloured, or had glitter added, then Jo the activities lady had me scooting up and down the steps adding them to a big black cloth we had pinned to the wall in the lobby. Of course they had to be in the correct configuration.

The birdbath to the right of the mural is representative of a Tangihanga.  Stones are placed into water as a symbolic way of honouring the dead. It is one of the many customs that are recognised during the mourning process. In recent weeks we have lost a great number of residents, many of them were active members of the craft group and those remaining felt it was a wonderful way to acknowledge their passing.

We also had some of the residents drawing around templates and cutting out feather shapes to make a Kahu huruhuru. The feather cloak worn as a ceremonial garment on special occasions.

In town on Friday evening we had the now traditional night market. It was introduced a few years ago and has become popular. Not so much this year as the weather gods didn't get the memo and it was not only bitterly cold but also pouring with rain.

The Timaru Patchwork and Crafters club were invited to join an exhibition showcasing some of the many clubs here in town.

The lighting was great for looking at the various exhibits, but really not good for photography.

I looked in briefly during the evening and there was a good crowd sheltering from the weather.

The members who were looking after our exhibition said there was a steady stream throughout the evening.

Lots of people looking to get some respite from the weather.

You might recognise one or two items. LOL

We shared the space with the local WI, the spinners and weavers, the embroiderers guild, the wood turners guild and not one but two choirs.

*

I'm off work again today. My head cold has made a comeback. 

Are these bugs and viruses getting nastier? Or is it just me?

Anyway, I'm sitting with my needle and thread making more progress on my Chookshed Challenge project. 

A Chookshed Challenge update.

 I wasn't roped in for extra shifts at work, so I've been enjoying resting on my days off. Not much has been done in the way of housework, just the minimum, you know cooking and a little laundry.  Wednesday I was off out early, I picked up Debbie as she dropped her car at the workshop first thing for it's service. We spent the morning together, Debbie knitting and I was busy with my Chookshed Challenge project. After lunch Debbie and I parted, I went in to work for a meeting before picking up some groceries, then I spent the remainder of the day, sewing some more.

Today I didn't even make it out through the front door. I've spent the majority of the day in my armchair, with a needle in my hand. It's been a good couple of days, I completed another block.

I've been working on this block all week, getting in my 15 minutes on two mornings before work.  It's kind of difficult to see in the above image, the bird house is done in chain stitch and the red border. All the other stitching is back stitch.

I have the next block loaded in my hoop and have made a start. Maybe I could complete it before the month ends. I have one more day off, so I should get a good start on it.

Feeling much improved.

 All of your good wishes were heard and I have to say that today I am feeling much improved. Thank you for those get well wishes. Whatever bug it was that got hold of me has loosened it's grip and I finally felt able to play a little.  At the start of the illness I was able to complete my Bumblebee cross stitch and blogged about it, then things took a down turn and I could barely think let alone concentrate on sewing. Looking back at my efforts to share the Crispy Chilli Beef recipe.... I could have done a better job, but I'll leave it alone.

So today I'm feeling better. I pulled out my Chookshed Challenge. And made progress.

This month if you remember it is my Down in the Garden project. A Leanne Beasley BOM I've had sitting around for a good few years. I took it with me to Scrub Stitchin' retreat and made some good progress. I made more after returning home, then it lay not forgotten but unattended for a few weeks. Today I pulled it out and took up needle and thread.

I've stitched one of two flowers and two pots of herbs.

I'm all lined up preparing to stitch a row of flowers next.

I'll pick away at it a little more this evening, and maybe after work over the next few days. I'm not sure how that will go though. I'm not the only staff member to be ill. It would seem that half of my colleagues are also poorly and in various stages of the illness. I may find myself roped in to working extra shifts. 

Thank you again for your get well wishes. 

Another recipe for you.

 There is a bit of a story to this one. 

Back on the Isle of Man there is a Chinese takeaway just at the end of the main shopping street in our home town of Ramsey. The Mandarin Takeaway. We enjoyed going there, it was close to home and you could watch the chef at work. There was no hidden kitchen, everything happened right there in front of your eyes. There is a big gas fired range with several burners and two or three chefs working away with their woks. Behind them and also to one side were boxes and boxes of ingredients. As they started each new dish you saw them taking a little of this and some of that adding them to the wok and working away, tossing all of the ingredients together. It was noisy and hot in there, the sound of the steel utensils against the edge of the woks, the big fans in the cooker hood drawing out the oily steams and the chefs chattering away to each other as they cooked. Then in what seemed like moments they would be tipping your order into a tray and the girl at the counter would call your number and off home to eat. It had a special kind of magic to it.

The Chinese takeaways we have found here in Timaru I have to say leave a lot to be desired. I ordered lemon chicken in one and took home a tray of chicken nuggets with some sort of sticky sauce from a plastic squeezy bottle poured over it! A far cry from what I was used to back in Ramsey! We still want good fresh Chinese food so had to find our own recipes. And we have had some successes. We've tried various packet mixes and jars but never really fell in love with any of them. I've yet to find a good replacement for the Beef Chow Mein I used to favour. The local Thai restaurant does a good sweet and sour and we have found other new favourites to make at home. 

One of Tony's favourites from the Mandarin take away was Deep Fried Crispy Shredded Beef in Hot Chilli Sauce. I scoured the internet for a substitute. Eventually I found one. Here you go...

Crispy Chilli Beef.

500g Thin cut beef. We use rump and slice it into strips.
1 egg beaten
2-4 table spoons corn starch.
Salt and pepper
Plenty of cooking oil
1 medium onion sliced
Veges (See notes)
1 red chilli finely sliced
1 tea spoon minced ginger
3 cloves garlic crushed
2 table spoons rice wine vinegar
3 table spoons dark soy sauce
2 table spoons tomato puree
3 - 4 table spoons caster sugar
2 table spoons tomato sauce/ ketchup
2 table spoons sweet chilli sauce.

Place the steak into a bowl with the beaten egg and mix well, then add the cornflour and seasonings and stir to ensure the egg soaks up the flour and the meat is coated.

Heat plenty of oil in a large frying pan or wok and cook the beef in batches. Your oil needs to be hot, We usually work 3 batches. Drop in the first batch and try to spread it out a little, but don't stir fry as this will reduce the crispiness. It generally takes about 5-6 minutes per batch. Give it only about 3 stirs to separate the pieces. Once it is dark brown and crispy lift it out with a slotted spoon or tongs and keep warm while you cook the next batch. You may need to add more oil.

Once all of the beef is cooked add more oil and reduce the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion and cook until it begins to soften, then add the other veg and stir fry for a couple more minutes. Next add the chilli, ginger and garlic stir frying for another minute before adding the remainder of the ingredients.  Allow it to warm and bubble for a minute or two until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the beef back in and give it a stir to coat the beef in the sauce.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Notes.

No, it's not keto friendly. Yes I've replaced the sugar with stevia and I could make my own sweet chilli sauce using stevia. 

The veges.

The recipe I found didn't mention any veg except the onion, but the dish Tony used to get back in Ramsey had carrot batons in it and sometimes there would be sliced capsicum, depending on which chef cooked it. I have experimented with various veg, but usually just add carrots or capsicum. Last night I was too tired to mess about chopping veg so just threw in a couple of hand full of ready sliced coleslaw. (Without the dressing of course). YUM! We'll do that again!

The beef.

As I mentioned, we use rump but you could use any beef that you would normally use to stir fry.

Don't stir fry though. Do your best to separate the strips but let them sit for a while then have another go after a good minute or two. I made the mistake of keeping it moving one time and we got soggy beef not crispy beef.

The sauce.

Once the beef and veg are cooked everything happens very fast. I prepare all of the ingredients and have them ready to go. I mix all of the liquids and pastes into a jug with the sugar and have it ready to add all at once.

We have played with the sauce recipe, reducing the sugar content, the original had 6 - 7 spoons of sugar! I'm very tempted to omit the ketchup/tomato sauce next time...

We used to serve it over rice. When we made it last night we didn't bother, we just had a big bowl of crispy beef in tangy chilli sauce. It was delicious.

No work for me today.

 You know I often wish I didn't work so many hours, or that I could retire. I should be careful what I wish for. I have me a nasty head cold and as you know in my line of work I'm not welcome at work with such bugs. Though I'm not feeling great I have been able to get on and complete my cross stitched bee. There really wasn't much left to do.

Now all that remains is for me to wash it and give it a really good press. It will be put away until I decide how I want to finish it. 

Next I hope to be getting on with my Chookshed challenge.

Wish me luck.

Steve's Surprise.

 We were recently invited to a gathering to farewell a friends daughter. She is going over seas to live and work for a few years. We were asked to bring a pot luck. I took along my slow cooked Chilli Con Carne, it always goes down well. That's not what I'm here to share, but I will one day. At the farewell party there was a platter with the most beautiful soft roasted beef nestled on a bed of mash. YUM! The next day I reached out to the guest who brought it along and he was kind enough to share.

The following is what he sent to me.

Hi Lou lol the recipe is pretty much Steve surprise (I'll be surprised if it works) What I did for last night: 1.5 kg beef ribs In the slow cooker on low for 11.5 hours Put them in at 0615 Salt pepper mixed herbs over the ribs mainly on the meat side Bay leaves (4) Rosemary sprigs one for each rib bone Ribs sitting on Swede slices about 1 cm thick Tin of watties basil tomates half on top and half around the Swede and half a tin of water into the base. I also added a touch of chilli powder as it was cold Let it do its thing and then mashed the Swede and tomatoes as the base and sliced onto the plate. I reckon you could use red wine in place of the water and it would add to the gravy It changes each time I do it depending on what I have available ie mushrooms courgette, etc

Like most slow cooker meals it looks pretty simple and also versatile.

Inspired I decided to have a go myself. I started at 07.15 though. 

I placed thickly sliced swede into the bottom of my slow cooker. Popped a 1.5 kg lump of topside roast on top of that. (I don't have ribs and as I have just put half of a home grown  cow into my freezer I wasn't going shopping for them). I sprinkled on plenty of salt, pepper, an Italian seasoning and a little beef stock powder. Then I  decided to add some sliced carrots around the beef. Next I poured in a pottle of Uncle Ruffies tomato sauce (Look on my recipe tab above for that). A little water, two huge cloves of garlic and some bay leaves and rosemary. Then as Steve says, I let it do it's thing.

I came back to it a few hours later after taking a frosty walk, completing my chores the grocery shopping and visiting a friend for a cuppa and a catch up. I decided it could do with a little more liquid so added the suggested red wine. Then I let it do it's thing for a few more hours while I cross stitched.

Later I strained off some of the fluid to make a gravy, adding some flour to thicken it. We pulled out the bay leaves and rosemary stalks and mashed the veges.  Tony carved the beef and we plated up with plenty of gravy and some steamed broccoli on the side. 

YUM!

I forgot to take photos of course and to be honest my version did not look as pretty as Steve's. But it did taste good and it was oh so soft. I've done pot roasts in the slow cooker before but it was nice to be reinspired.

So there you have it. Steve's Surprise pot roast.