Once upon a time ...

around 2004 I went to Tesco Inverurie and bought a tin of chickpeas, planning to make hummous. It's 'use by' date is Dec 2007.

August 2007 - the tin goes to Montgaillard
October 2010 - it returns to Edinburgh

November 2012 I still haven't made hummous but spurred on by the Spicy Morrocan chickpea soup at the Filmhouse yesterday (they also do a mean chickpea curry) today I opened the tin and made spicy chickpea and tomato soup with red spices the may or not be paprika and cayenne, chilli flakes, lemon juice from the lemon that supplied the zest for the Christmas stuff, onion and garlic. Not the garlic I bought today, which is ail rose from Cadours (although Lautrec is the capital of ail rose, Cadours is the purple stuff.) The soup is good , accompanied by Scotmid's green olive bread. So you can keep stuff in tins, for ages! And if you look carefully, in the back of this blip is the bag of stoneground 'Oatmeal of Alford','use by' date Dec 2008, that has also been round the Inverurie, Tarn et Garonne, Marchmont loop. And it too is still good. I make my porridge from it every morning. Remember there are only 3 things you need for porridge - oatmeal (NOT porage oats), water and salt, pre-soak the oatmeal overnight and cook for about 4 or 5 minutes in the microwave, adding the salt half way through. Sets you up the whole day.

Elsewhere, #1 son announced yesterday, via Facebook , that the Chinese wedding is the 16 February 2013 and at church Karen preached about the benefits of having a day of rest. I believe in that but unfortunately here, today, I must clean and tidy, including using my new long handled scrubber (my other one is still at La G) to wash the kitchen floor. But it's roast chicken for dinner - the first time I've roasted one for just me for ages. The thought of garlic and herb marinade will keep me focussed while I do - housework.