Good morning! It's wet and dull out there this morning which is a right nuisance because I'm off into town. I'm glad I have 'waterproofed' my grey trainers although it's not pouring, just drizzly.
I set out yesterday armed with a great long list and managed to get most of it although there were some missing items.
I couldn't find marzipan anywhere. I'm sure ready made marzipan is a thing, isn't it? I suppose I could make it; as always, I've consulted Delia (shocked at how much sugar it contains) and it looks easy enough. Have any of you made your own marzipan? How did it turn out? Was it easy?
I also wanted some posher dried fruit for some biscotti I am making as part of a gift. Could I find dried cherries and blueberries anywhere? Not even in our big 24 hour Tesco. When I'm in town, I will look in Holland and Barratt and see if I can find any there. If all else fails, the recipients will have to make do with cranberries and the usual instead.
So I'm off into town, rain or no rain, with a not quite so long a list and some shopping bags.
I intend getting the bus just after nine. There's no way I would take the car and try to find a slot at this time of year; parking can be tricky on a Saturday anyway but at this time of year it is a bit of a nightmare.
Once in, I shall admire the lights (I hope) before trotting off to try and fulfiul an increasingly long list that also includes ribbon for the cake, some lacey bits, the fried fruit and so on. I might take a detour to Lakeland to have a nosey there too, just for the fun of it, and The Works is close by, as is Wilkinsons - I haven't looked around there for simply ages.
I can see that I will enjoy this morning!
Once home, I will deal with the washing that will have done while I'm out and then sit down with my size twelve knitting needles and get on with five Dickensian mice that someone has ordered from Kitty Stitches. It's a good excuse to sit and do not a lot (apart from the knitting, of course) and the house isn't too messy at the moment after the cleaners worked their usual magic yesterday, bless them. Beth will be round but she'll be here to work so I won't see much of her apart from plying her with coffee.
Saturday evenings are now dominated by Strictly which I enjoy very much indeed. Fingers crossed Anton (and Emma) get through - he's my favourite as dear old Brucie used to say!
All in all, it should be a pleasant Saturday, I think. I hope yours is too. xx
Morning Joy. I would have thought it would be fairly easy to buy marzipan at this time of year….obviously not! I've never made it, husband doesn't like it so not much point. Hope you get everything you need today, have a lovely day in town xx
ReplyDeleteI'd have thought so too, I was really surprised. I have time so I'#ll keep looking. Maybe they have some in town.
Deletexx
I've bought ready made marzipan from both Aldi and Morrisons so maybe the branches you visited had sold out. Do you have a shop called 'Grape Tree' where you live? They have an excellent choice of dried fruits and are very reasonable as well x
ReplyDeleteThe name doesn't ring any bells but I will look in town this moprning. There must be some about, somewhere. Maybe it's a bit early?
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Back from town and yes, we do! No dried cherries though but I did get some not-terribly-sweetened cranberries which is great!
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Yes I have made my own marzipan and it is not difficult but ready made is much easier. Of course at this time of year it is hot demand.
ReplyDeleteThat could be why, of course. I will keep looking, thanks.
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Strange about the lack of marzipan, I made my own once and only once!
ReplyDeleteVery wet, no boot sales - I shall have to make do with charity shops instead!
Only once!! That says it all - I will definitely keep looking. I've bought the icing, after all! :-)
Deletexx
They definitely sell it in Tesco and Sainsburys because I've bought it in previous years. Good luck with finding some when you're out.
ReplyDeleteI did find some eventually. Still no marzipan though. Very odd.
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I only just bought dried cherries and blueberries in Sainsbury's, maybe your local stores just need re-stocking. Are you anywhere near the Meadows Shopping Centre? Google tells me there is a Grape Tree outlet there. Be warned, it is a very tempting shop, on the pricey side but so good ...
ReplyDeleteYes, there is, I found it this morning. No cherries though - I asked. None in Holland and Barrett either.
DeleteAs you say, a very nice shop
xx
Maybe it wasn't a good year for cherries, hence no dried ones. I have made marzipan and it was better than the bought stuff IMHO! Not hard to do either. I don't make Christmas cake but sometimes buy a small plain one and decorate it myself, but I do make a Christmas Plum Pudding for Christmas dinner.
ReplyDeleteThat's something I have never made. I might give it a whirl next year but this year I have one to use up from last year. It's just as well they improve over time, isn't it?
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